Turbulence enhancer for keel cooler

A keel cooler assembly for use on a marine vessel, said keel cooler assembly exchanging heat with an internal liquid coolant flowing through the keel cooler assembly, said keel cooler assembly comprising:

• a header;
• at least one liquid coolant tube extending in a longitudinal direction from said header, said coolant tube comprising;
• an elongated body portion comprising an interior surface forming an internal channel for allowing flow of the liquid coolant in a longitudinal direction along a length of said elongated body portion;
• and
• a plurality of turbulators extending inwardly into said internal channel from said elongated body portion interior surface and being configured to interact with the liquid coolant for enhancing the turbulence of the liquid coolant for improving heat transfer without substantially increasing pressure drop of the liquid coolant above an identical at least one liquid coolant tube lacking said turbulators, said plurality of turbulators being located in longitudinal rows with adjacent rows being offset from each other;
• wherein said at least one liquid coolant tube is configured as a rectangular parallelepiped, said at least one liquid coolant tube comprising opposing upper and lower walls, and opposing first and second sidewalls transverse to said opposing upper and lower walls, said first and second sidewalls operatively connecting said upper and lower walls for forming said internal channel;
• wherein each of said plurality of turbulators comprises an elongated body portion extending between at least one of (i) said opposing first and second sidewalls and (ii) said opposing upper and lower walls, said respective turbulator elongated body portions having opposing end portions being operatively connected to each of said respective opposing walls;
• wherein said respective turbulator elongated body portions are configured as at least one of:
• a solid cylinder having a round cross section for enhancing the turbulence of the liquid coolant for improving heat transfer without substantially increasing pressure drop above an identical at least one liquid coolant tube lacking said turbulators;
• a hollow cylinder having a round cross section for enhancing turbulence of the liquid coolant without substantially increasing pressure drop above an identical at least one liquid coolant tube lacking said turbulators, said hollow cylinder having round openings on said opposing end portions with an interior channel formed therebetween for allowing flow of ambient liquid through said turbulator interior channel for increasing heat transfer of the liquid coolant flowing through said liquid coolant tube and around said turbulator elongated body portion;
• and
• a solid bar having a wing-shaped cross section for directing turbulent wakes of the liquid coolant in a predetermined direction for enhancing the turbulence of the liquid coolant increasing heat transfer without substantially increasing pressure drop of the liquid coolant above an identical at least one liquid coolant tube lacking said turbulators.

A keel cooler assembly for use on a marine vessel, said keel cooler assembly exchanging heat with an internal liquid coolant flowing through the keel cooler assembly, said keel cooler assembly comprising:

• a header;
• at least one liquid coolant tube extending in a longitudinal direction from said header, said liquid coolant tube comprising;
• an elongated body portion comprising an interior surface forming an internal channel for allowing flow of the liquid coolant in a longitudinal direction along a length of said elongated body portion;
• and
• a plurality of turbulators extending inwardly into said internal channel from said elongated body portion interior surface and being configured to interact with the liquid coolant for enhancing the turbulence of the liquid coolant for improving heat transfer without substantially increasing pressure drop of the liquid coolant above an identical at least one liquid coolant tube lacking said turbulators;
• wherein said at least one liquid coolant tube is configured as a rectangular parallelepiped, said at least one liquid coolant tube comprising opposing upper and lower walls, and opposing first and second sidewalls transverse to said opposing upper and lower walls, said first and second sidewalls operatively connecting said upper and lower walls for forming said internal channel;
• wherein said plurality of turbulators are arranged in a predetermined pattern, said predetermined pattern comprising a plurality of adjacent longitudinal rows of said turbulators, said plurality of adjacent longitudinal rows of said turbulators including a first longitudinal spacing (XL) between respective longitudinally adjacent turbulators located in the same longitudinal row, and a second transverse spacing (XH) between respective transversely adjacent turbulators located in adjacent longitudinal rows, adjacent ones of said longitudinal rows being offset from each other.

A liquid coolant tube for use in a keel cooler, said liquid coolant tube exchanging heat with an internal liquid coolant flowing through the liquid coolant tube, said liquid coolant tube extending in a longitudinal direction from a header, the header including an upper wall, an end wall, a bottom wall, opposing sidewalls, and an inclined surface operatively connecting said upper wall, bottom wall and sidewalls, said liquid coolant tube comprising:

• an elongated body portion comprising:
• an interior surface forming an internal channel for allowing flow of the liquid coolant in a longitudinal direction along a length of said elongated body portion;
• opposing upper and lower walls, and opposing first and second sidewalls transverse to said opposing upper and lower walls, said first and second sidewalls operatively connecting said upper and lower walls for forming said internal channel;
• said elongated body portion having a rectangular cross-sectional configuration;
• and
• a plurality of turbulators extending inwardly into said internal channel from said elongated body portion interior surface and being configured to interact with the liquid coolant for enhancing the turbulence of the liquid coolant without substantially increasing pressure drop of the liquid coolant above an identical at least one liquid coolant tube lacking said turbulators;
• wherein each of said plurality of turbulators comprises an elongated body portion extending between at least one of (i) said opposing first and second sidewalls and (ii) said opposing upper and lower walls, said respective turbulator elongated body portions having opposing end portions being operatively connected to each of said respective opposing walls;
• wherein said plurality of turbulators are arranged in a predetermined pattern, said predetermined pattern comprising a plurality of adjacent longitudinal rows of said turbulators, said plurality of adjacent longitudinal rows of said turbulators including a first longitudinal spacing (XL) between respective longitudinally adjacent turbulators located in the same longitudinal row, and a second transverse spacing (XH) between respective transversely adjacent turbulators located in adjacent longitudinal rows, said adjacent longitudinal rows being offset from each other.