Heat exchanger with enhanced airflow

A heat exchanger, comprising:

• an arrangement of heat exchange tubes including
• a first heat exchange tube;
• a second heat exchange tube;
• and
• a fluid flow gap configured from an arrangement of the first heat exchange tube and the second heat exchange tube.
• the first heat exchange tube comprises:
• a first leg, a second leg, a bend portion connected to the first leg and the second leg, and a flow passage through the first leg, the bend portion, and the second leg,
• the bend portion disposed between the first leg and the second leg,
• the first and second legs are generally parallel to each other due to the connection with the bend portion, the bend portion is disposed at one end of the first heat exchange tube, and the first and second legs have free ends disposed at an end opposite the bend portion,
• the flow passage suitable to pass a fluid therethrough to establish a heat exchange relationship with a fluid passing over and outside the first heat exchange tube,
• the bend portion includes a first bend that connects the first leg to the bend portion and a second bend that connects the bend portion to the second leg, the first and second bends create a fluid flow opening proximate the bend portion suitable to promote fluid flow therethrough and to pass outside the first heat exchange tube,
• the second heat exchange tube respectively comprises:
• a first leg, a second leg, a bend portion connected to the first leg and the second leg, and a flow passage through the first leg, the bend portion, and the second leg,
• the bend portion disposed between the first leg and the second leg,
• the first and second legs are generally parallel to each other due to the connection with the bend portion, the bend portion is disposed at one end of the second heat exchange tube, and the first and second legs have free ends disposed at an end opposite the bend portion,
• the flow passage suitable to pass a fluid therethrough to establish a heat exchange relationship with a fluid passing over and outside the second heat exchange tube,
• the bend portion includes a first bend that connects the first leg to the bend portion and a second bend that connects the bend portion to the second leg, the first and second bends create a fluid flow opening proximate the bend portion suitable to promote fluid flow therethrough and to pass outside the second heat exchange tube,
• the fluid flow gap formed by a portion of the bend portion of one of the first heat exchange tube and the second heat exchange tube extending beyond a portion of the bend portion of the other of the first heat exchange tube or the second heat exchange tube,
• wherein the fluid flow gaps are defined by the fluid flow openings of the first heat exchange tube and the second heat exchange tube being at least partially exposed.

A method of fluid heat exchange through an assembly of heat exchange tubes, comprising:

• directing a fluid through an arrangement of heat exchange tubes;
• directing another fluid over and outside of the arrangement of heat exchange tubes, the arrangement of heat exchange tubes including a first heat exchange tube, a second heat exchange tube, and a fluid flow gap,
• a) the first heat exchange tube comprises:
• a first leg, a second leg, a bend portion connected to the first leg and the second leg, and a flow passage through the first leg, the bend portion, and the second leg, the bend portion disposed between the first leg and the second leg, the first and second legs are generally parallel to each other due to the connection with the bend portion, the bend portion is disposed at one end of the first heat exchange tube, and the first and second legs have free ends disposed at an end opposite the bend portion, the flow passage suitable to pass a fluid therethrough to establish a heat exchange relationship with a fluid passing over outside the first heat exchange tube, the bend portion includes a first bend that connects the first leg to the bend portion and a second bend that connects the bend portion to the second leg, the first and second bends create a fluid flow opening proximate the bend portion suitable to promote fluid flow therethrough and to pass outside the first heat exchange tube,
• b) the second heat exchange tube respectively comprises:
• a first leg, a second leg, a bend portion connected to the first leg and the second leg, and a flow passage through the first leg, the bend portion, and the second leg, the bend portion disposed between the first leg and the second leg, the first and second legs are generally parallel to each other due to the connection with the bend portion, the bend portion is disposed at one end of the second heat exchange tube, and the first and second legs have free ends disposed at an end opposite the bend portion, the flow passage suitable to pass a fluid therethrough to establish a heat exchange relationship with a fluid passing over outside the second heat exchange tube, the bend portion includes a first bend that connects the first leg to the bend portion and a second bend that connects the bend portion to the second leg, the first and second bends create a fluid flow opening proximate the bend portion suitable to promote fluid flow therethrough and to pass outside the second heat exchange tube,
• c) the fluid flow gap formed by a portion of the bend portion of one of the first heat exchange tube and the second heat exchange tube extending beyond a portion of the bend portion of the other of the first heat exchange tube or the second heat exchange tube, wherein the fluid flow gaps are defined by the fluid flow openings of the first heat exchange tube and the second heat exchange tube being at least partially exposed;
• directing the another fluid through the fluid flow gap at the ends of the heat exchange tubes where the bend portions are disposed;
• and
• limiting increase in pressure drop when the another fluid passes through the fluid flow gap.