Variable fin density coil
A heat exchanging coil that has at least one straight length of tube and at least one bend in the tube where fins are attached to the tube with unequal fin densities based upon tube orientation, and the fin density is different for straight lengths of tube than at bends in the tube.
1 . A coil for air-conditioning equipment, comprising:
at least one tube having an outer wall surface, the at least one tube including at least one substantially straight section and at least one bend section;
the at least one tube having a plurality of fins attached to the outer wall surface of the at least one tube;
the fins being disposed in a spaced relationship from adjacent fins along the outer wall surface of the at least one tube;
the fins disposed along the at least one straight section having a first fin density;
the fins disposed along the bend section having a second fin density; and
the first fin density is unequal to the second fin density.
2 . The coil of claim 1 , wherein the first fin density is greater than the second fin density.
3 . The coil of claim 1 , wherein the first fin density is less than the second fin density.
4 . The coil of claim 1 , wherein the first fin density is approximately between 14 to 24 fins per inch, and the second fin density is approximately between 6 to 13 fins per inch.
5 . The coil of claim 4 , wherein the first fin density is approximately between 16 to 20 fins per inch, and the second fin density is approximately between 8 to 13 fins per inch.
6 . The coil of claim 1 , wherein the bend section in the at least one tube forms an angle approximately between 60 and 179 degrees.
7 . The coil of claim 6 , wherein the bend section in the at least one tube forms an angle between 90 and 120 degrees.
8 . The coil of claim 1 , wherein the fins are constructed from a heat conducting material, and the same heat conducting material is used for the at least one tube.
9 . The coil of claim 1 , wherein the fins are constructed from a different heat conducting material and the at least one tube is made of a different heat conducting material.
10 . The coil of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tube is made of copper or aluminum.
11 . The coil of claim 10 , wherein the fins are made of copper or aluminum.
12 . The coil of claim 1 , wherein the fins are wrapped around the outer wall surface of the at least one tube.
13 . The coil of claim 1 , wherein the fins include a fin collar having an interior diameter.
14 . A method of manufacturing a coil for use in air-conditioning equipment, comprising the steps of:
providing at least one tube having an outer wall surface, the at least one tube to have at least one straight section and at least one bend section;
attaching a first plurality of fins at a first fin density upon the outer wall surface of the at least one tube where the at least one straight section will be present;
attaching a second plurality of fins at a second fin density upon the outer wall surface of the at least one tube where the at least one bend section will be present; and
utilizing a first fin density that is unequal to the second fin density.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the first fin density is greater than the second fin density.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the first fin density is less than the second fin density.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first fin density is approximately between 14 to 24 fins per inch, and the second fin density is approximately between 6 to 13 fins per inch.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the first fin density is approximately between 16 to 20 fins per inch, and the second fin density is approximately between 8 to 13 fins per inch.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the fins are attached by wrapping the fins around the outer wall surface of the at least one tube.
20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein at least some of the fins have a fin collar having a fin collar interior diameter and the at least one tube has a first exterior diameter, which diameter is smaller than the fin collar interior diameter; including the steps of:
expanding the at least one tube until the at least one tube has a second expanded diameter, and the second expanded diameter is greater than fin collar interior diameter.
21 . An air-conditioning condenser unit, comprising:
a housing;
a compressor adapted to compress a refrigerant;
a condenser coil including at least one tube having an outer wall surface, the at least one tube having at least one straight section and at least one bend section;
a plurality of fins attached to the outer wall surface of the at least one tube, the fins being disposed in a spaced relationship from adjacent fins along the outer wall surface of the at least one tube;
the fins disposed along the at least one straight section having a first fin density;
the fins disposed along the at least one bend section having a second fin density;
the first fin density being unequal to the second fin density; and
a fan for drawing air across the condenser coil.
22 . The air-conditioning condenser unit of claim 21 , wherein the first fin density is greater than the second fin density.
23 . The air-conditioning condenser unit of claim 21 , wherein the first fin density is less than the second fin density.
24 . The air-conditioning condenser unit of claim 21 , wherein the first fin density is approximately between 14 to 24 fins per inch, and the second fin density is approximately between 8 to 13 fins per inch.
25 . The air-conditioning condenser unit of claim 24 , wherein the first fin density is approximately between 16 to 20 fins per inch, and the second fin density is approximately between 9 to 13 fins per inch.