Vortex-enhanced heat exchanger
A tube and fin heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat exchange tubes configured for flowing a refrigerant therethrough, a plurality of fins positioned such that the plurality of heat exchange tubes pass through a plurality of tube openings in the plurality of fins, and a plurality of vortex generators extending from a fin surface of the plurality of fins. The plurality of vortex generators are arranged to define nozzle like passages at the heat exchange tubes.
1. A tube and fin heat exchanger, comprising:
a plurality of heat exchange tubes configured for flowing a refrigerant therethrough;
a plurality of fins disposed such that the plurality of heat exchange tubes pass through a plurality of tube openings in the plurality of fins; and
a plurality of vortex generators extending from a fin surface of the plurality of fins, the plurality of vortex generators arranged to define nozzle like passages at the heat exchange tubes;
wherein a ratio of a vortex generator height from the fin surface to a span between adjacent fins of the plurality of fins is between 0.01 and 1.
2. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein one or more vortex generators of the plurality of vortex generators are one of triangular or rectangular in shape.
3. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vortex generators are disposed at a nonzero angle of attack relative to a general direction of an airflow across the heat exchanger.
4. The heat exchanger of claim 3 , wherein the angle of attack is between 5 degrees and 70 degrees.
5. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein an upstream most end of the vortex generator is upstream from an associated tube of the plurality of heat exchange tubes.
6. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of heat exchange tubes are arranged in a plurality of streamwise-extending rows.
7. The heat exchanger of claim 6 , wherein vortex generators are disposed at alternating heat exchange tubes of each streamwise-extending row.
8. The heat exchanger of claim 6 , wherein vortex generators are disposed at only an upstreammost heat exchange tube of a streamwise-extending row of the plurality of streamwise-extending rows.
9. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is an evaporator.
10. A tube and fin heat exchanger, comprising:
a plurality of heat exchange tubes configured for flowing a refrigerant therethrough;
a plurality of fins disposed such that the plurality of heat exchange tubes pass through a plurality of tube openings in the plurality of fins; and
a plurality of vortex generators extending from a fin surface of the plurality of fins, the plurality of vortex generators arranged to define nozzle like passages at the heat exchange tubes;
wherein the vortex generator has an aspect ratio of streamwise length to height from the fin surface greater than 1.
11. A heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R) system, comprising:
a compressor;
a condenser fluidly connected to the compressor; and
an evaporator fluidly connected to the compressor and the condenser;
wherein one or more of the evaporator or the condenser are configured as a tube and fin heat exchanger, including:
a plurality of heat exchange tubes configured for flowing a refrigerant therethrough;
a plurality of fins disposed such that the plurality of heat exchange tubes pass through a plurality of tube openings in the plurality of fins; and
a plurality of vortex generators extending from a fin surface of the plurality of fins, the plurality of vortex generators arranged to define nozzle like passages at the heat exchange tubes;
wherein a ratio of a vortex generator height from the fin surface to a span between adjacent fins of the plurality of fins is between 0.01 and 1.
12. The HVAC&R system of claim 11 , wherein one or more vortex generators of the plurality of vortex generators are one of triangular or rectangular in shape.
13. The HVAC&R system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of vortex generators are disposed at a nonzero angle of attack relative to a general direction of an airflow across the tube and fin heat exchanger.
14. The HVAC&R system of claim 13 , wherein the angle of attack is between 5 degrees and 70 degrees.
15. The HVAC&R system of claim 11 , wherein the vortex generator has an aspect ratio of streamwise length to height from the fin surface greater than 1.
16. The HVAC&R system of claim 11 , wherein an upstream most end of the vortex generator is upstream from an associated tube of the plurality of heat exchange tubes.
17. The HVAC&R system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of heat exchange tubes are arranged in a plurality of streamwise-extending rows.
18. The HVAC&R system of claim 11 , wherein vortex generators are disposed at alternating heat exchange tubes of each streamwise-extending row.