Black layer coated heat exchanger
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorJames W. Otter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Hot combustion products exchange heat with air in a heat exchanger of a condensing furnace. The hot combustion products flow on one side of the heat exchanger, and the air flows on the opposing side of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is electrochemically coated with a coating of copper metal. The copper coating is oxidized with an aqueous oxidizing alkaline solution to form a matte black layer of cupric oxide. As the layer of cupric oxide is black, the layer has a high emissivity and emits more heat, increasing the efficiency of the primary heat exchanger. Alternatively, iron can be electrochemically coated on the primary heat exchanger and oxidized to black magnetite to increase emissivity.
Claims21
A method for making a heat exchanger of a furnace system comprising the steps of:
- providing said heat exchanger having a first surface and an opposing second surface;
- applying a layer of an oxidizable material on both said first surface and said second surface;
- oxidizing said layer of oxidizable material to form a layer of dark material having a high emissivity;
- and
- exchanging heat between a first fluid flowing over said first surface of said heat exchanger and a second fluid flowing over said opposing second surface of said heat exchanger.
A heat exchanger of a furnace system comprising:
- a first surface and an opposing second surface;
- a layer of dark material having a high emissivity applied on both said first surface and said second surface;
- and
- a first fluid flowing over said first surface and a second fluid flowing over said second surface, and said first fluid and said second fluid exchange heat therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.