Aluminum alloy tube-fin heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a tube including a first aluminum alloy; and a plurality of fins in thermally conductive contact with the exterior of said tube, the fins including a second aluminum alloy comprising a base alloy selected from the group consisting of AA1100, AA8006, and AA8011 and zinc or magnesium in an amount sufficient to provide the second aluminum alloy with an electrochemical solution potential of at least 10 mV more negative than the electrochemical solution potential of the first aluminum alloy, as determined according to ASTM G69-97.

1 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a tube comprising a first aluminum alloy; and   a plurality of fins in thermally conductive contact with the exterior of said tube, said fins comprising a second aluminum alloy comprising a base alloy selected from the group consisting of AA1100, AA8006, and AA8011 and zinc or magnesium in an amount sufficient to provide said second aluminum alloy with an electrochemical solution potential of at least 10 mV more negative than the electrochemical solution potential of said first aluminum alloy, as determined according to ASTM G69.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first aluminum alloy has an electrochemical solution potential of −695 mV to −770 mV as determined according to ASTM G69. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the first aluminum alloy has an electrochemical solution potential of −710 mV to −750 mV. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the second aluminum alloy comprises from 0.1 to 10 wt. % zinc or magnesium. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein the second aluminum alloy comprises from 0.25 to 8 wt. % zinc or magnesium. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein the second aluminum alloy comprises from 0.7 to 8 zinc or magnesium. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein the second aluminum alloy comprises from 0.15 to 4 wt. % zinc. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein the second aluminum alloy comprises from 0.25 to3 wt. % zinc. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein the second aluminum alloy comprises from 0.7 to 1.5 wt. % zinc. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the second aluminum alloy has an electrochemical solution potential of at least 40 mV more negative than the electrochemical solution potential of the first aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein said base alloy is AA1100. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein said base alloy is AA8006. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein said base alloy is AA8011. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein said first aluminum alloy is AA3003.