Tube for use in a heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger tube having a smooth outer surface and a textured inner surface. The inner surface is composed of parallel ribs which run at an angle deviating from 90.degree. relative to the longitudinal axis of the exchanger tube. The ribs further have inclined flanks, channels delimited on the sides by the ribs, and depressions formed in the ribs, which may run crosswise at a distance from the bottom of the channels. The depressions are formed so as to follow a sine-shaped progression, in longitudinal cross-section of the ribs, which are provided with a surface micro-roughness and which are rounded on the top. The center longitudinal planes of the depressions are arranged at an angle deviating from 90.degree. relative to the longitudinal axis of the exchanger tube. The opposite flanks of adjacent ribs are connected by means of rounded channel bottoms. The micro-roughness of the rib surfaces is produced by corundum blasting or laser beams.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.