Inclined Heat Exchanger with Tapered Ends

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed that include providing a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system with a tapered end heat exchanger (TEHE) having a first tapered end disposed at a lower end of the TEHE with respect to an incoming airflow and on the downstream face of the TEHE and having a second tapered end disposed at an upper end of the TEHE with respect to an incoming airflow and on the upstream face of the TEHE. A drain pan having louvers is disposed about the lower end of the TEHE and configured to restrict airflow through narrow portions of the first tapered end of the TEHE. A baffle is disposed about the upper end of the TEHE and configured to restrict airflow through narrow portions of the second tapered end of the TEHE.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 an upstream face and a downstream face;   a plurality of tubes arranged in a plurality of rows;   a plurality of fins disposed along the tubes; and   at least one tapered end disposed on the heat exchanger, wherein the tapered end is closer to being perpendicular to a primary incoming airflow direction than at least one of the upstream face and the downstream face of the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the tapered end is disposed on the downstream face of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the tapered end is disposed on the upstream face of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein a first row of tubes comprises more tubes than a second row of tubes. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein the second row of tubes comprises more tubes than a third row of tubes. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein a baffle is disposed at least partially about the at least one tapered end. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein a drain pan is disposed at least partially about the at least one tapered end. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , wherein the drain pan comprises a plurality of louvers. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of louvers comprise different sizes and are configured to restrict airflow through the at least one tapered end. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a second tapered end disposed on an upstream side of the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein a baffle is disposed at least partially about the second tapered end of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein the baffle is configured to restrict airflow through the second tapered end. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second heat exchanger comprising at least one tapered end, wherein the heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are configured in at least one of an A-frame arrangement and a V-frame arrangement.   
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of heat exchangers, each comprising at least one tapered end, wherein the plurality of heat exchangers are configured in at least one of an N-frame arrangement, inverted N-frame arrangement, M-frame arrangement, and a W-frame arrangement.   
     
     
         15 . A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
 a heat exchanger comprising:
 an upstream face and a downstream face; 
 a plurality of tubes arranged in a plurality of rows; 
 a plurality of fins disposed along the tubes; and 
 at least one tapered end disposed on the heat exchanger, wherein the tapered end is closer to being perpendicular to a primary incoming airflow direction than at least one of the upstream face and the downstream face of the heat exchanger. 
   
     
     
         16 . The HVAC system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one tapered end is disposed on the downstream face of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         17 . The HVAC system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one tapered end is disposed on the upstream face of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         18 . The HVAC system of  claim 16 , wherein a baffle is disposed at least partially about the at least one tapered end. 
     
     
         19 . The HVAC system of  claim 17 , wherein a drain pan is disposed at least partially about the at least one tapered end. 
     
     
         20 . The HVAC system of  claim 19 , wherein the drain pan comprises a plurality of louvers. 
     
     
         21 . The HVAC system of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of louvers comprise different sizes and are configured to restrict airflow through the at least one tapered end. 
     
     
         22 . The HVAC system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a second tapered end disposed on an upstream face of the heat exchanger, wherein a baffle is disposed at least partially about an upper end of the heat exchanger and configured to restrict airflow through the second tapered end.   
     
     
         23 . The HVAC system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a second heat exchanger comprising at least one tapered end, wherein the heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are configured in at least one of an A-frame arrangement and a V-frame arrangement.   
     
     
         24 . The HVAC system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of heat exchangers, each comprising at least one tapered end, wherein the plurality of heat exchangers are configured in at least one of an N-frame arrangement, inverted N-frame arrangement, M-frame arrangement, and a W-frame arrangement.   
     
     
         25 . The HVAC system of  claim 11 , wherein the heat exchanger is disposed in an indoor unit of the HVAC system. 
     
     
         26 . A method of operating a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
 providing at least one heat exchanger comprising an upstream face, a downstream face, and at least one tapered end in an HVAC system;   orienting the tapered end closer to perpendicular to a primary incoming airflow direction than at least one of the upstream face and the downstream face of the heat exchanger;   operating the HVAC system in at least one of a cooling mode and a heating mode;   restricting an airflow through the at least one tapered end of the heat exchanger; and   exchanging heat between the airflow and a refrigerant carried by the at least one heat exchanger.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one tapered end is disposed on an upstream face of the heat exchanger, and wherein a baffle is disposed at least partially about the at least one tapered end. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one tapered end is disposed on an downstream face of the heat exchanger, and wherein a drain pan is disposed at least partially about the at least one tapered end. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the restricting an airflow through the at least one tapered end of the heat exchanger is accomplished by disposing a baffle at least partially about the at least one tapered end. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the restricting an airflow through the at least one tapered end of the heat exchanger is accomplished by disposing a drain pan comprising a plurality of louvers at least partially about the at least one tapered end.