US 12,392,567 B2
Heat exchanger with varying surface roughness
Sean Schoneboom, Livonia, MI (US)
Assigned to DENSO International America, Inc., Southfield, MI (US)
Filed by DENSO International America, Inc., Southfield, MI (US)
Filed on Aug. 26, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/002,943.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/946,587, filed on Dec. 11, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0180888 A1, Jun. 17, 2021
Int. Cl. F28D 13/00 (2006.01); B33Y 80/00 (2015.01); F28F 13/18 (2006.01); F28D 1/047 (2006.01)
CPC F28F 13/185 (2013.01) [B33Y 80/00 (2014.12); F28D 1/0471 (2013.01); F28F 2260/00 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A heat exchanger comprising:
a tube configured to transfer a first fluid, the tube including:
an outer surface configured to exchange heat with a second fluid as the second fluid flows over the outer surface of the tube,
an inner surface defining an interior configured to contain and transfer the first fluid, and
a plurality of surface features integrally formed as part of the inner surface at a localized region of the tube, wherein the surface features extend radially inward toward the interior and are configured to increase a surface area of the inner surface to improve heat exchange between the tube and the first fluid, and wherein the outer surface of the tube is smooth and not provided with surface features at the localized region of the tube;
wherein a portion of the tube is S-shaped to define a corresponding S-shaped curved flow path for the first fluid, wherein the S-shaped tube includes a first curve that is curved in a first direction and a second curve downstream of the first curve that extends in a second direction opposite the first direction;
wherein at the first curve, a first portion of the inner surface of the tube is radially inward of a second portion of the inner surface of the tube;
wherein at the second curve, a third portion of the inner surface of the tube is radially inward of a fourth portion of the inner surface of the tube; and
wherein the surface features are located on the first and third portions of the inner surface, and wherein surface features are not provided on the second and fourth portions of the inner surface.