Fin having elliptical collar bases and airfoils and related fin-and-tube heat exchanger

Abstract

A fin-and-tube heat exchanger and a fin are disclosed. The fin includes a corrugated plate having a first side and a second side opposing the first side, the corrugated plate having a plurality of alternative peaks and valleys relative to the first side of the corrugated plate; one of a plurality of elliptical collar bases protruding from the first side of the corrugated plate; and a first airfoil and a second airfoil extending between a major axis and a minor axis of, and curving around, the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases. The first airfoil is disposed in a first quadrant for the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases. The second airfoil is disposed in a second quadrant for the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases, the second quadrant is adjacent to the first quadrant at the major axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fin comprising:
 a corrugated plate having a first side and a second side opposing the first side, the corrugated plate having a plurality of folds that includes alternative peaks and valleys relative to the first side of the corrugated plate;   one of a plurality of elliptical collar bases protruding from the first side of the corrugated plate; and   a first airfoil and a second airfoil extending between a major axis and a minor axis of, and curving around, the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases, wherein
 the first airfoil is disposed in a first quadrant for the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases, and 
 the second airfoil is disposed in a second quadrant for the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases, the second quadrant being adjacent to the first quadrant at the major axis. 
   
     
     
         2 . The fin of  claim 1 , wherein the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases embosses into the second side and protrudes from the first side over one of the peaks. 
     
     
         3 . The fin of  claim 1 , wherein the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases extends across three adjacent folds on the corrugated plate and within five adjacent folds on the corrugated plate. 
     
     
         4 . The fin of  claim 1 , wherein
 a transitioning side connects the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases to the corrugated plate.   
     
     
         5 . The fin of  claim 4 , wherein
 the transitioning side wedges outwardly from the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases to the first side of the corrugated plate.   
     
     
         6 . The fin of  claim 1 , wherein
 the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases is centered over one of the peaks.   
     
     
         7 . The fin of  claim 1 , wherein
 the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases is flush with the one of the peaks.   
     
     
         8 . The fin of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first airfoil extends across one of the valleys in a trailing area of the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases.   
     
     
         9 . The fin of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first airfoil comprises
 a trailing end extended toward the major axis of the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases and 
 a leading end extended toward the minor axis of the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases. 
   
     
     
         10 . The fin of  claim 1 , wherein
 a leading end of the first airfoil is disposed further away from the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases than a trailing end of the first airfoil.   
     
     
         11 . The fin of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first airfoil is extended within three adjacent folds of the corrugated plate.   
     
     
         12 . The fin of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first airfoil embosses into the first side and protrudes from the second side of the corrugated plate.   
     
     
         13 . The fin of  claim 1 , wherein the fin further includes a rippled edge. 
     
     
         14 . A fin-and-tube heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of heat transfer tubes extending through a plurality of fins, wherein one of the plurality of fins comprise:
 a corrugated plate having a first side and a second side opposing the first side, the corrugated plate having a plurality of folds that includes alternative peaks and valleys relative to the first side of the corrugated plate; 
 one of a plurality of elliptical collar bases protruding from the first side of the corrugated plate; and 
 a first airfoil and a second airfoil extending between a major axis and a minor axis of, and curving around, the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases, wherein
 the first airfoil is disposed in a first quadrant for the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases, and 
 the second airfoil is disposed in a second quadrant for the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases, the second quadrant being adjacent to the first quadrant at the major axis. 
 
   
     
     
         15 . The fin-and-tube heat exchanger of  claim 14 , wherein
 the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases embosses into the second side and protrudes from the first side over one of the peaks, and   the first airfoil embosses into the first side and protrudes from the second side of the corrugated plate.   
     
     
         16 . The fin-and-tube heat exchanger of  claim 14 , wherein
 the one of the plurality of fins further comprises a fin collar connected to the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases, and   an external surface of one of the heat transfer tubes is contacted with the fin collar.   
     
     
         17 . The fin-and-tube heat exchanger of  claim 14 , wherein
 the first airfoil extends across one of the valleys in a trailing area of the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases, and   a leading end of the first airfoil is disposed further away from the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases than a trailing end of the first airfoil.   
     
     
         18 . The fin-and-tube heat exchanger of  claim 14 , wherein
 a transitioning side connects the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases to the corrugated plate, and the transitioning side wedges outwardly from the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases to the first side of the corrugated plate.   
     
     
         19 . The fin-and-tube heat exchanger of  claim 14 , wherein
 the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases is centered over one of the peaks, and   the one of the plurality of elliptical collar bases is flush with the one of the peaks.   
     
     
         20 . The fin-and-tube heat exchanger of  claim 14 , wherein
 the one of the plurality of fins has a leading edge and a trailing edge, and   a rippled edge is disposed on one or both of the leading edge and the trailing edge.