Heat exchanger having microchannel tubing and spine fin heat transfer surface
AssigneeAmerican Standard Inc.
InventorsMark O. Bergman, Richard E. Cawley, Stephen S. Hancock
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A heat exchanger for an air conditioner outdoor unit includes tubing of the microchannel type which is internally partitioned into separate, parallel refrigerant flow passages and a wrapping of heat conductive flexible heat transfer material, commonly known as spine fin. The heat exchanger provides for greater heat transfer and a more compact package. Further, such heat exchangers allow for a reduced refrigerant charge in the air conditioning unit in which they are used.
Claims20
A heat exchanger coil for an air conditioning system comprising:
- microchannel tubing having a generally flat profile, said microchannel tubing defining at least a first and a second flow passage internal of which refrigerant flows, said tubing being wound around an axis such that portions of said tubing are vertically adjacent in said coil;
- and
- a fin surface, said fin surface being of the spine fin type, said spine fin surface being a distinct fin surface element wound onto and covering substantially all of the exterior surface of said wound tubing.
A heat exchange element for use in the outdoor unit of an air conditioner comprising:
- a tubular wall having a generally flat profile made of heat-conductive material and having an internal surface and an external surface, said internal surface defining an enclosed space extending generally along an axis, said tubular wall being wound around a second axis so that portions of said tubular wall are vertically adjacent and form a wound coil;
- at least one partition wall made of the same heat-conductive material of which said tubular wall is made, said wall being disposed in said enclosed space and dividing said enclosed space into at least two separate passages extending generally along said axis of said enclosed space;
- and
- a wrapping of heat-conductive, flexible material contacting said external surface, said wrapping having integral spines projecting outward therefrom and covering substantially all of said exterior surface of said tubular wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.