Non-metallic baffle for heat exchanger

Abstract

A tube bundle assembly includes at least one tube and a baffle. The baffle includes at least one hole for receiving the at least one tube. The at least one hole has a non-uniform diameter such that only a portion of a periphery of the at least one hole is positionable in contact with the at least one tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tube bundle assembly comprising:
 at least one tube; and   a baffle comprising at least one hole for receiving the at least one tube, wherein the at least one hole comprises a non-uniform diameter such that only a portion of a periphery of the at least one hole is positionable in contact with the at least one tube.   
     
     
         2 . The tube bundle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle is formed from a non-metallic material. 
     
     
         3 . The tube bundle assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the baffle is formed from a polymeric or elastomeric material. 
     
     
         4 . The tube bundle assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one tube is formed from an aluminum material. 
     
     
         5 . The tube bundle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hole has a plurality of lobes protruding inwardly towards a center of at least one hole. 
     
     
         6 . The tube bundle assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of lobes are equidistantly spaced about the at least one hole. 
     
     
         7 . The tube bundle assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of lobes comprises between three and ten lobes. 
     
     
         8 . The tube bundle assembly of  claim 5 , wherein a configuration of each of the plurality of lobes is substantially identical. 
     
     
         9 . The tube bundle assembly of  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of lobes has a land positionable in contact with the at least one tube. 
     
     
         10 . The tube bundle assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the land is positionable in contact with the at least one tube. 
     
     
         11 . The tube bundle assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the land has a convex curvature. 
     
     
         12 . The tube bundle assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the convex curvature has a radius C and a diameter B extends between an origin of the radius C for oppositely positioned lobes at the at least one hole, wherein the radius C is between 0.09 and 0.15 times the diameter B. 
     
     
         13 . A vapor compression system comprising:
 a compressor for circulating a refrigerant; and   a tube bundle assembly for transferring the refrigerant through a shell of the vapor compression system, the tube bundle assembly comprising:   a plurality of tubes; and   at least one baffle comprising a plurality of holes for receiving the plurality of tubes, wherein each respective hole comprises a non-uniform diameter such that only a portion of a periphery of each hole is positionable in contact with each tube.   
     
     
         14 . The vapor compression system of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of holes are arranged in a plurality of rows, and a diameter A is defined by an outermost surface of the plurality of holes surrounding each hole of the plurality of holes. 
     
     
         15 . The vapor compression system of  claim 13 , wherein holes in adjacent rows are separated by a first axial distance P and the first axial distance P is between 0.75 and 1.2 times the diameter A. 
     
     
         16 . The vapor compression system of  claim 13 , wherein adjacent holes within the same row are separated by a second axial distance Rw and the second axial distance Rw is between 0.8 and 1.5 times the diameter A. 
     
     
         17 . The vapor compression system of  claim 13 , wherein each respective hole comprises a plurality of lobes protruding inwardly towards a center of the respective hole. 
     
     
         18 . The vapor compression system of  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of lobes comprises a land positionable in contact with the tube. 
     
     
         19 . The vapor compression system of  claim 18 , wherein the land of each of the plurality of lobes defines a maximum allowable diameter of the at least one tube and the diameter A is between 0.81 and 1.16 times the maximum allowable diameter. 
     
     
         20 . The tube bundle of  claim 17 , wherein a base of each of the plurality of lobes has a fillet radius Z and the fillet radius Z is between 0.05 and 1.1 times the diameter A.