Heat exchanger article with hollow tube having plurality of vanes

Abstract

A heat exchanger article includes a hollow tube that has a tube wall with an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior surface defines a flow passage through the hollow tube. The hollow tube also includes a vane cluster in the flow passage. The vane cluster includes a plurality of vanes and each of the vanes extends inwardly from the tube wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger article comprising:
 a hollow tube including,
 a tube wall with an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface defines a flow passage through the hollow tube, and 
 a vane cluster in the flow passage, the vane cluster includes a plurality of vanes, and each of the vanes extends inwardly from the tube wall. 
   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger article as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the vanes of the vane cluster extend inwardly toward a common central axis of the hollow tube. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger article as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the vanes has a twist from a vane leading edge to a vane trailing edge. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger article as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the vanes has an airfoil shape. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger article as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the vanes of the vane cluster meet at a central hub. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger article as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the hollow tube includes a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly from the exterior surface. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger article as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the vanes has a length from a vane leading edge to a vane trailing edge and a span from a vane outer side to a vane inner side, and a ratio of the length to the span is greater than 1:1. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger article as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the hollow tube is monolithic. 
     
     
         9 . A heat exchanger article comprising:
 a hollow tube including,
 a tube wall with an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface defines a flow passage through the hollow tube, and 
 a series of vane clusters spaced apart in the flow passage, each of the vane clusters includes a plurality of vanes, and each of the vanes extends inwardly from the tube wall. 
   
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger article as recited in  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the vane clusters has a clockwise twist and at least one other of the vane clusters has a counter-clockwise twist. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger article as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the series of vane clusters has an alternating arrangement of vane clusters with regard to clockwise twist and counter-clockwise twist. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger article as recited in  claim 9 , wherein each of the vane clusters has a twist, and the series of vane clusters has a progressively changing twist. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger article as recited in  claim 9 , wherein each of the vane clusters has a twist, and the series of vane clusters has a progressively changing twist between clockwise twist and counter-clockwise twist. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger article as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the flow passage is unobstructed between the vane clusters. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the hollow tube is monolithic. 
     
     
         16 . A heat exchanger article comprising:
 a hollow monolithic tube that has first and second ends, the monolithic tube including,
 a tube wall that circumscribes a flow passage that extends from the first end to the second end, and 
 a plurality of vanes that are spaced from at least one of the first and second ends and that extend inwardly from the tube wall. 
   
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger article as recited in  claim 16 , wherein each of the vanes extends inwardly toward a common central axis of the monolithic tube. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger article as recited in  claim 16 , wherein each of the vanes has a twist from a vane leading edge to a vane trailing edge. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger article as recited in  claim 16 , wherein each of the vanes has an airfoil shape.