# US 2022/0034593 A1 · Heat exchanger devices and systems and associated methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0034593 A1 - Document ID: US20220034593A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/943,275 - Filed: 2020-07-30 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-30 - Assignees: Rheem Manufacturing Company - Applicants: Rheem Manufacturing Company - Inventors: Yang Zou; Sivakumar Gopalnarayanan; Ammar K. Sakarwala; Chitra Sadanandan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220034593A1 ## CPC - F28D 1/0426: {with units having particular arrangement relative to the large body of fluid, e.g. with interleaved units or with adjacent heat exchange units in common air flow or with units extending at an angle to each other or with units arranged around a central element} - F28D 7/0066: {Multi-circuit heat-exchangers, e.g. integrating different heat exchange sections in the same unit or heat-exchangers for more than two fluids (F28D7/103 takes precedence)} - F24F 1/0067: by the shape of the heat exchangers or of parts thereof, e.g. of their fins - F24F 13/30: Arrangement or mounting of heat-exchangers - F28F 13/08: by varying the cross-section of the flow channels - F28D 1/0477: {the conduits being bent in a serpentine or zig-zag} - F28F 13/06: by affecting the pattern of flow of the heat-exchange media {(F28F13/003 takes precedence; static flow control means in header boxes F28F9/026)} - F28F 2210/08: Assemblies of conduits having different features - F28F 2215/02: Arrangements of fins common to different heat exchange sections, the fins being in contact with different heat exchange media - F28F 2215/04: Assemblies of fins having different features, e.g. with different fin densities - F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general) - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16) ## Abstract Systems and methods for improved heat exchange performance are disclosed. The system can include a first slab of refrigerant tubes having an upstream side and a downstream side. The system can further include a second slab of refrigerant tubes having an upstream side and a downstream side. The system can additionally include an airflow distribution device configured to distribute air along the first and second slabs. Further, the downstream side of first slab can be set apart a first distance from the downstream side of the second slab and the upstream side of the first slab can be attached to the upstream side of the second slab. The airflow distribution device can include a perforated plate having perforations of various dimensions or various sized vanes positioned in the path of airflow. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heat exchanger comprising: a first slab of refrigerant tubes, the first slab having (i) an upstream side, (ii) a downstream side, (iii) a linear shaped region, and (iv) a curved region, the linear shaped region being disposed closer to the upstream side than the downstream side and the curved region being disposed close to the downstream side than the upstream side; a second slab of refrigerant tubes, the second slab having (i) an upstream side, (ii) a downstream side, (iii) a linear shaped region, and (iv) a curved region, the linear shaped region being disposed closer to the upstream side than the downstream side and the curved region being disposed close to the downstream side than the upstream side, wherein the downstream side of the first slab is set apart a first distance from the downstream side of the second slab and the upstream side of the first slab is set apart a second distance from the upstream side of the second slab, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The heat exchanger of claim 1 further comprising: a third slab of refrigerant tubes, the third slab having (i) an upstream side, (ii) a downstream side, (iii) a linear shaped region, and (iv) a curved region, the linear shaped region being disposed closer to the upstream side than the downstream side and the curved region being disposed close to the downstream side than the upstream side, wherein the downstream side of the third slab is set apart a third distance from the downstream side of one of the first or second slabs and the upstream side of the third slab is set apart a fourth distance from the upstream side of one of the first or second slabs, and wherein the third distance is greater than the fourth distance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The heat exchanger of claim 2, wherein the first slab is subdivided into a first group of tubes closer to the upstream side of the first slab than the downstream side of the first slab and a second group of tubes closer to the downstream side of the first slab than the upstream side of the first slab. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The heat exchanger of claim 3, wherein the second slab is subdivided into a third group of tubes closer to the upstream side of the second slab than the downstream side of the second slab and a fourth group of tubes closer to the downstream side of the second slab than the upstream side of the second slab. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The heat exchanger of claim 4, wherein the third slab is subdivided into a fifth group of tubes closer to the upstream side of the third slab than the downstream side of the third slab and a sixth group of tubes closer to the downstream side of the third slab than the upstream side of the third slab. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The heat exchanger of claim 5, wherein: a number of tubes in the first group of tubes is greater than a number of tubes in the second group of tubes, a number of tubes in the third group of tubes is greater than a number of tubes in the fourth group of tubes, and a number of tubes in the fifth group of tubes is greater than a number of tubes in the sixth group of tubes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The heat exchanger of claim 5, wherein: a diameter of each tube in the first group of tubes is greater than a diameter of each tube in the second group of tubes, a diameter of each tube in the third group of tubes is greater than a diameter of each tube in the fourth group of tubes, and a diameter of each tube in the fifth group of tubes is greater than a diameter of each tube in the sixth group of tubes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The heat exchanger of claim 5, wherein the heat exchanger is a microchannel heat exchanger and the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth groups of tubes comprise flat tubes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The heat exchanger of claim 8, wherein: a width of each tube in the first group of tubes is greater than a width of each tube in the second group of tubes, a width of each tube in the third group of tubes is greater than a width of each tube in the fourth group of tubes, and a width of each tube in the fifth group of tubes is greater than a width of each tube in the sixth group of tubes. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The heat exchanger of claim 8, wherein: a height of each tube in the first group of tubes is greater than a height of each tube in the second group of tubes, a height of each tube in the third group of tubes is greater than a height of each tube in the fourth group of tubes, and a height of each tube in the fifth group of tubes is greater than a height of each tube in the sixth group of tubes. ### Claim 11 A heat exchanger comprising: a first slab of refrigerant tubes, the first slab having (i) an upstream side and (ii) a downstream side; a second slab of refrigerant tubes, the second slab having (i) an upstream side and (ii) a downstream side, a third slab of refrigerant tubes, the second slab having (i) first side and (ii) a second side, wherein the downstream side of the first slab is set apart a first distance from the downstream side of the second slab, wherein the upstream side of the first slab is attached to the first side of the third slab and the upstream side of the second slab is attached to the second side of the third slab. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The heat exchanger of claim 11, wherein the third slab is a curved slab having a curved region located between the first and second sides. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The heat exchanger of claim 11, wherein: the first slab is subdivided into a first group of tubes closer to the upstream side of the first slab than the downstream side of the first slab and a second group of tubes closer to the downstream side of the first slab than the upstream side of the first slab, and the second slab is subdivided into a third group of tubes closer to the upstream side of the second slab than the downstream side of the second slab and a fourth group of tubes closer to the downstream side of the second slab than the upstream side of the second slab. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The heat exchanger of claim 13, wherein: a number of tubes in the first group of tubes is greater than a number of tubes in the second group of tubes, and a number of tubes in the third group of tubes is greater than a number of tubes in the fourth group of tubes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The heat exchanger of claim 14, wherein: a diameter of each tube in the first group of tubes is greater than a diameter of each tube in the second group of tubes, and a diameter of each tube in the third group of tubes is greater than a diameter of each tube in the fourth group of tubes. ### Claim 16 A heat exchanger comprising: a first slab of refrigerant tubes, the first slab having (i) an upstream side and (ii) a downstream side; a second slab of refrigerant tubes, the second slab having (i) an upstream side and (ii) a downstream side; and an airflow distribution device configured to distribute air along the first and second slabs; wherein the downstream side of the first slab is set apart a first distance from the downstream side of the second slab and the upstream side of the first slab is attached to the upstream side of the second slab. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The heat exchanger of claim 16, further comprising: a third slab of refrigerant tubes, the third slab having (i) an upstream side and (ii) a downstream side; wherein the downstream side of the third slab is attached to the downstream side of the second slab and the upstream side of the third slab is set apart a second distance from the upstream side of the second slab, and wherein the airflow distribution device is further configured to distribute air along the third slab. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The heat exchanger of claim 17, wherein: the first slab is subdivided into a first group of tubes closer to the upstream side of the first slab than the downstream side of the first slab and a second group of tubes closer to the downstream side of the first slab than the upstream side of the first slab, the second slab is subdivided into a third group of tubes closer to the upstream side of the second slab than the downstream side of the second slab and a fourth group of tubes closer to the downstream side of the second slab than the upstream side of the second slab, and the third slab is subdivided into a fifth group of tubes closer to the upstream side of the third slab than a downstream side of the third slab and a sixth group of tubes closer to the downstream side of the third slab than the upstream side of the third slab. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The heat exchanger of claim 18, wherein: a number of tubes in the first group of tubes is greater than a number of tubes in the second group of tubes, a number of tubes in the third group of tubes is greater than a number of tubes in the fourth group of tubes, and a number of tubes in the fifth group of tubes is greater than a number of tubes in the sixth group of tubes. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The heat exchanger of claim 18, wherein: a diameter of each tube in the first group of tubes is greater than a diameter of each tube in the second group of tubes, a diameter of each tube in the third group of tubes is greater than a diameter of each tube in the fourth group of tubes, and a diameter of each tube in the fifth group of tubes is greater than a diameter of each tube in the sixth group of tubes.