Heat Transfer Tube

Abstract

A finned tube (e.g., for use in a flooded and falling film evaporator) is provided. The finned tube includes a tube body with an interior surface and an exterior surface. The finned tube may include a plurality of adjacent helical fins (e.g., continuously or intermittently) protruding circumferentially around the exterior surface of the tube body. At least one channel is disposed between the plurality of adjacent helical fins. Each respective helical fin includes at least one sidewall and a fin top. Each channel includes at least one channel enhancement impressed radially into and transversely through at intervals around the circumference of the exterior surface of the tube body. The finned tube may also include at least one top enhancement and/or sidewall enhancement impressed radially into and transversely through at intervals around the circumference of the exterior surface of the tube body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A finned tube comprising:
 a tube body comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface;   a plurality of adjacent helical fins intermittently protruding circumferentially around the exterior surface of the tube body, at least one channel disposed between the plurality of adjacent helical fins, each respective helical fin comprising at least one sidewall and a fin top, each channel comprising at least one channel enhancement impressed radially into and transversely through at intervals around the circumference of the exterior surface of the tube body, each sidewall comprising at least one sidewall enhancement impressed radially into and transversely through at intervals around the circumference of the exterior surface of the tube body.   
     
     
         2 . The finned tube of  claim 1 , wherein there are between thirteen (13) and twenty-eight (28) helical fins per centimeter (between thirty-three (33) and seventy (70) per inch) of tube length. 
     
     
         3 . The finned tube of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio (H f /D o ) of a fin height (H f ) to an outer diameter (D o ) of the tube body is between 0.02 and 0.05. 
     
     
         4 . The finned tube of  claim 1 , wherein each respective channel enhancement comprises a depth (D e ) between 0.05 and 0.2 of a fin height (H f ). 
     
     
         5 . The finned tube of  claim 1 , wherein each respective sidewall enhancement comprises a depth (D e ) between 0.05 and 0.2 of a fin height (H f ). 
     
     
         6 . The finned tube of  claim 1 , wherein each fin top comprises at least one top enhancement impressed radially into and transversely through at intervals around the circumference of the exterior surface of the tube body. 
     
     
         7 . The finned tube of  claim 6 , wherein each respective top enhancement comprises a depth (D e ) between 0.05 and 0.2 of a fin height (H f ). 
     
     
         8 . The finned tube of  claim 1 , wherein each respective sidewall is devoid of a protruding wing. 
     
     
         9 . The finned tube of  claim 1 , wherein each respective helical fin is approximately cross-sectionally symmetrical. 
     
     
         10 . A finned tube comprising:
 a tube body comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface;   a plurality of adjacent helical fins continuously protruding circumferentially around the exterior surface of the tube body, at least one channel disposed between the plurality of adjacent helical fins, each respective helical fin comprising at least one sidewall and a fin top, each channel comprising at least one channel enhancement impressed radially into and transversely through at intervals around the circumference of the exterior surface of the tube body, each sidewall comprising at least one sidewall enhancement impressed radially into and transversely through at intervals around the circumference of the exterior surface of the tube body.   
     
     
         11 . The finned tube of  claim 10 , wherein there are between thirteen (13) and twenty-eight (28) helical fins per centimeter (between thirty-three (33) and seventy (70) per inch) of tube length. 
     
     
         12 . The finned tube of  claim 10 , wherein a ratio (H f /D o ) of a fin height (H f ) to an outer diameter (D o ) of the tube body is between 0.02 and 0.05. 
     
     
         13 . The finned tube of  claim 10 , wherein each respective channel enhancement comprises a depth (D e ) between 0.05 and 0.2 of a fin height (H f ). 
     
     
         14 . The finned tube of  claim 10 , wherein each respective sidewall enhancement comprises a depth (D e ) between 0.05 and 0.2 of a fin height (H f ). 
     
     
         15 . The finned tube of  claim 10 , wherein each fin top comprises at least one top enhancement impressed radially into and transversely through at intervals around the circumference of the exterior surface of the tube body. 
     
     
         16 . The finned tube of  claim 15 , wherein each respective top enhancement comprises a depth (D e ) between 0.05 and 0.2 of a fin height (H f ). 
     
     
         17 . The finned tube of  claim 10 , wherein each respective sidewall is devoid of a protruding wing. 
     
     
         18 . The finned tube of  claim 10 , wherein each respective helical fin is approximately cross-sectionally symmetrical.