Heat Exchanger Tubes And Tube Assembly Configurations

Abstract

A tube for a thermal transfer device can include at least one wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, where the inner surface forms a cavity. The inner surface can be non-cylindrical. The cavity can be configured to receive a fluid that flows continuously along a length of the at least one wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tube for a thermal transfer device, wherein the tube comprises:
 at least one wall comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface forms a cavity,   wherein the inner surface is non-cylindrical,   wherein the cavity is configured to receive a fluid that flows continuously along a length of the at least one wall.   
     
     
         2 . The tube of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wall is pinched inward forming a first protruding feature at a first location along the length of the at least one wall, wherein the fluid flows around the first location. 
     
     
         3 . The tube of  claim 2 , wherein the inner surface at the first location makes contact with itself in the cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The tube of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one wall is further pinched inward forming a second protruding feature at the first location. 
     
     
         5 . The tube of  claim 4 , wherein the inner surface at the first location makes contact with itself in the cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The tube of  claim 4 , wherein the inner surface at the first location is separated from itself by a gap. 
     
     
         7 . The tube of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one wall is further pinched inward forming a second protruding feature at a second location along the length of the at least one wall, wherein the cavity is continuous around the second location, and wherein a distance between the first protruding feature and the second protruding feature represents a frequency of protruding features. 
     
     
         8 . The tube of  claim 7 , wherein the second protruding feature forms a second protruding feature angle along the inner surface at the second location. 
     
     
         9 . The tube of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wall is rotationally twisted along its length. 
     
     
         10 . The tube of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one wall is pinched inward forming a first protruding feature at a first location where the at least one wall is rotationally twisted along its length, wherein the fluid flows around the first location. 
     
     
         11 . The tube of  claim 10 , wherein the inner surface at the first location makes contact with itself in the cavity. 
     
     
         12 . The tube of  claim 10 , wherein the inner surface at the first location is separated from itself by a gap. 
     
     
         13 . The tube of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one wall is further pinched inward forming a second protruding feature at the first location. 
     
     
         14 . The tube of  claim 13 , wherein the first protruding feature and the second protruding feature are disposed opposite each other around the at least one wall. 
     
     
         15 . The tube of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one wall is further pinched inward forming a second protruding feature at a second location where the at least one wall is rotationally twisted along its length, wherein the cavity is continuous around the second location, and wherein a distance between the first protruding feature and the second protruding feature represents a frequency of protruding features. 
     
     
         16 . The tube of  claim 15 , wherein the second protruding feature forms a protruding feature angle relative to the first protruding feature when viewed along the length of the at least one wall. 
     
     
         17 . The tube of  claim 15 , wherein the second protruding feature forms a second protruding feature angle along the inner surface at the second location. 
     
     
         18 . The tube of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wall has coupled thereto at least one protruding feature disposed within the cavity, wherein the at least one protruding component contributes to the inner surface being non-cylindrical. 
     
     
         19 . An array of tubes for a thermal transfer device, wherein the array of tubes comprises:
 a tube sheet comprising a plurality of apertures that traverse therethrough; and   a first tube disposed within a first aperture of the plurality of apertures of the tube sheet, wherein the first tube comprises at least one first wall having a first inner surface and a first outer surface, wherein the first inner surface forms a first cavity, wherein the first inner surface is non-cylindrical, and wherein the first cavity is configured to receive a fluid that flows continuously along a first length of the at least one first wall.   
     
     
         20 . The array of tubes of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a second tube disposed within a second aperture of the plurality of apertures of the tube sheet, wherein the second tube comprises at least one second wall having a second inner surface and a second outer surface, wherein the second inner surface forms a second cavity, wherein the second inner surface is non-cylindrical, and wherein the second cavity is configured to receive the fluid that flows continuously along a second length of the at least one second wall.