US3568766A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Corrugated heat exchange member for evaporation and condensation
Assignee: United States Atomic Energy Commission
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Filing: 1969-03-11
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Granted: 1971-03-09
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Expires: 1989-03-11
Abstract
Abstract An improved heat exchange member having an evaporating surface on one side and a condensing surface on the opposite side is provided. The improved heat exchange member is fabricated of thin sheet material formed with spaced-apart longitudinally extending corrugations which draw condensate from the condensing surfaces and feed liquid to the evaporating surfaces between corrugations as a result of surface tension effects. The heat exchange member and corrugations therein are designed to operate in a vertical inclination to facilitate liquid flow along the corrugations. A thin film of liquid is maintained on the condensing and evaporating surfaces between corrugations with a resulting increase in the overall heat transfer coefficient. The heat exchange member may assume tubular as well as flat platelike configurations.
Inventors
- 👤 David G Thomas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:11
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28F; F28F13/00; F28F13/04; B; B01; B01D; B01D1/00; B01D1/22; C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/02; C02F1/04; C02F1/043; F28D; F28D17/00; F28D17/005; F28F1/00; F28F1/10; F28F1/42; F28F1/424; F28F1/426
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
In a vertically oriented, thin heat exchange wall having opposed heat exchange surfaces for condensing water vapor and evaporating water, respectively, the improved means for causing said heat exchange wall to have a large overall heat transfer coefficient comprising a multiplicity of vertically extending corrugations formed in said wall, each of said corrugations being spaced apart from at least one adjacent corrugation along its entire length, said corrugations causing condensate formed on the condensing surface of said wall and feed water on the evaporating surface of said wall to be drawn through the action of surface tension forces from the wall portion between corrugations to flow channels formed by said corrugations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
In a vertically oriented, thin heat exchange wall having opposed heat exchange surfaces for condensing water vapor and evaporating water, respectively, the improved means for causing said heat exchange wall to have a large overall heat transfer coefficient comprising a multiplicity of vertically extending corrugations formed in said wall, each of said corrugations being spaced apart from at least one adjacent corrugation along its entire length, said corrugations causing condensate formed on the condensing surface of said wall and feed water on the evaporating surface of said wall to be drawn through the action of surface tension forces from the wall portion between corrugations to flow channels formed by said corrugations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said heat exchange wall is a vertically oriented heat exchange tube and wherein said corrugations are formed longitudinally in the wall of said tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The heat exchange tube of claim 2 wherein said corrugations comprise U-shaped folds projecting radially outward.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The heat exchange tube of claim 2 wherein said corrugations comprise U-shaped folds projecting radially inward.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The heat exchange tube of claim 2 wherein said corrugations are spaced apart by a distance of from 0.05 to 0.4 inch along the circumference of said tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The heat exchange tube of claim 5 wherein said corrugations project beyond the wall of said tube between corrugations by a distance of from 0.02 to 0.2 inch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The heat exchange tube of claim 2 wherein said corrugations comprise U-shaped folds projecting both radially inward and radially outward, and wherein pairs of inwardly and outwardly projecting folds are joined together to form a single continuous corrugation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The heat exchange tube of claim 2 wherein said corrugations comprise U-shaped folds projecting both radially inward and radially outward, and wherein said folds projecting inward and outward are alternately spaced about the circumference of said tube.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-08 | 1974-09-07 | 1975-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-08 | 1978-09-07 | 1979-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-08 | 1982-09-07 | 1983-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |