Heat transfer tubing for natural gas evaporator

Claim 2

A heat transfer tube assembly including extrudates of aluminum for a water spray-panel type evaporator for the gasification of liquified natural gases comprising: a plurality of heat transfer tubes each comprising a tubular body, an opposite pair of planar members each projecting outwardly from the peripheral surface of said tubular body and radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of said tubular body and extending longitudinally along said axis, said planar members and said tubular body being provided with a plurality of external fins extending in parallel with said longitudinal axis, and a helical fin element including extrudates of aluminum and having a helical lead L and an outer diameter D, said helical fin element disposed within said tubular body and including at least three fin members each having a thickness in the range of 1.0 to 1.5 millimeters and each projecting radially outwardly with respect to said longitudinal axis to provide a helical formation extending along and about said longitudinal axis such that each said helical fin element comprises a ratio of L/D in the range of 9 to 10, the helix of said helical formation contacting the internal surface of said tubular body in a pressure-fitting relationship; and said plurality of heat transfer tubes being interconnected in a row with said planar members lying in a common plane and adjoining planar members being secured to each other in a parallel and juxtaposed relationship.

Claim 3

A heat transfer tube assembly according to claim 1 wherein said fin members of each of said helical fin elements comprise 6 to 10 fin members.

Claim 4

A heat transfer tube assembly according to claim 2 wherein said fin members comprise 8 fin members.

Claim 5

A heat transfer tube assembly according to claim 1 or 3 wherein said fin members of said helical fin element have a plurality of longitudinally extending surface undulations.

Claim 6

A heat transfer tube assembly according to claim 1, or 3 wherein said external fins projecting from each of said tubular bodies comprise 10 to 20 external fins.

Claim 7

A heat transfer tube including extrudates of aluminum for a water-spray-panel evaporator for the gasification of liquified natural gases comprising: a tubular body, an opposed pair of planar members each projecting outwardly from the peripheral surface of said tubular body and radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of said tubular body and extending longitudinally along said axis, said planar members and said tubular body including a plurality of external fins extending in parallel with said longitudinal axis and having a substantially equilateral triangular sectional configuration; and a helical fin element including extrudates of aluminum and having a helical lead L and an outer diameter D, said helical fin element disposed within said tubular body and having at least three fin members each having a thickness in the range of 1.0 to 1.5 millimeters and each projecting mradially with respect to said longitudinal axis to provide a helical formation extending along and about said longitudinal axis such that said helical fin element comprises a ratio of L/D in the range of 9 to 10, the helix of said helical formation contacting the internal surface of said tubular member in a pressure-fitting relationship.

Claim 8

A heat transfer tube including extrudates of aluminum for a water-spray-panel evaporator for the gasification of liquified natural gases comprising: a tubular body, an opposed pair of planar members each projecting outwardly from the peripheral surface of said tubular body and radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of said tubular body and extending longitudinally along said axis, said planar members and said tubular body including a plurality of external fins extending in parallel with said longitudinal axis and having a substantially equilateral triangular sectional configuration; and a helical fin element including extrudates of aluminum and having a helical lead L and an outer diameter D, said helical fin element disposed within said tubular body and having at least three fin members each having a thickness in the range of 1.0 to 1.5 millimeters and each projecting mradially with respect to said longitudinal axis to provide a helical formation extending along and about said longitudinal axis such that said helical fin element comprises a ratio of L/D in the range of 9 to 10, the helix of said helical formation contacting the internal surface of said tubular member in a pressure-fitting relationship.

Claim 9

A heat transfer tube according to claim 6 wherein said fin members of said helical fin element comprise 6 to 10 fin members.

Claim 10

A heat transfer tube according to claim 7 wherein said fin members comprise 8 fin members.

Claim 11

A heat transfer tube according to claim 6, or 8 wherein said fin members of said helical fin element are respectively provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending surface undulations.

Claim 12

A heat transfer tube according to claim 6, 7 or 8 wherein said external fins projecting externally from said tubular body comprise 10 to 20 external fins.

Claim 13

A heat transfer tube according to claim 6, 7 or 8 wherein said external fins each has a substantially equilateral-triangular sectional configuration.

Claim 14

A heat transfer tube assembly including extrudates of aluminum for a water-spray-type panel evaporator for the gasification of liquified natural gases including a plurality of heat transfer tubes each comprising: a tubular body, an opposed pair of planar members projecting outwardly from the peripheral surface of said tubular body and radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of said tubular body and extending longitudinally along said axis, said planar members and tubular body proper including a plurality of external fins extending in parallel with said longitudinal axis and having a substantially triangular sectional configuration, and a helical fin element including extrudates of aluminum and having a helical lead L and an outer diameter D, said helical fin element disposed within said tubular body and having at least three fin members each having a thickness in the range of 1.0 to 1.5 millimeters and each of said at least three fin members projecting radially outwardly with respect to said axis to provide a helical formation extending along and about said axis such that each said helical fin element comprises a ratio of L/D in the range of 9 to 10, the helix of said helical formation contacting the internal surface of said tubular body in a pressure-fitting relationship, said plurality of heat transfer tubes being interconnected in a row with said planar members lying in a common plane and adjoining planar members being secured to each other in a parallel and juxtaposed relationship.

Claim 15

A heat transfer tube assembly including extrudates of aluminum for a water-spray-type panel evaporator for the gasification of liquified natural gases including a plurality of heat transfer tubes each comprising: a tubular body, an opposed pair of planar members projecting outwardly from the peripheral surface of said tubular body and radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of said tubular body and extending longitudinally along said axis, said planar members and tubular body proper including a plurality of external fins extending in parallel with said longitudinal axis and having a substantially triangular sectional configuration, and a helical fin element including extrudates of aluminum and having a helical lead L and an outer diameter D, said helical fin element disposed within said tubular body and having at least three fin members each having a thickness in the range of 1.0 to 1.5 millimeters and each of said at least three fin members projecting radially outwardly with respect to said axis to provide a helical formation extending along and about said axis such that each said helical fin element comprises a ratio of L/D in the range of 9 to 10, the helix of said helical formation contacting the internal surface of said tubular body in a pressure-fitting relationship, said plurality of heat transfer tubes being interconnected in a row with said planar members lying in a common plane and adjoining planar members being secured to each other in a parallel and juxtaposed relationship.

Claim 16

A heat transfer tube assembly according to claim 12 wherein said fin members of said helical fin element comprises 6 to 10 fin members.

Claim 17

A heat transfer tube assembly according to claim 13 wherein said fin members comprise 8 fin members.

Claim 18

A heat transfer tube assembly according to claim 12, 13 or 14 wherein said fin members of said helical fin element are each provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending surface undulations.

Claim 19

A heat transfer tube assembly according to claim 12, 13 or 14 wherein said plurality of external fins projecting out of said tubular body proper comprise 10 to 20 external fins.

Claim 20

A heat transfer tube assembly according to claim 12, 13 or 14 wherein each of said external fins has a substantially equilateral-triangular sectional configuration.

Claim 21

A heat transfer tube including extrudates of aluminum for a water-spray-type panel evaporator for the gasification of liquified natural gases comprising: a tubular body, an opposed pair of planar members projecting outwardly from the peripheral surface of said tubular body and radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of said tubular body and extending longitudinally along said axis, said planar members and said tubular body proper being provided with a plurality of external fins extending in parallel with said longitudinal axis, to the exclusion of a base portion of each of said planar members, and a helical fin element including extrudates of aluminum and having a helical lead L and an outer diameter D, said helical fin element disposed within said tubular body and having at least three fin members each having a thickness in the range of 1.0 to 1.5 millimeters and each of said at least three fin members projecting radially outwardly with respect to said longitudinal axis to provide a helical formation extending along and about said longitudinal axis such that said helical fin element comprises a ratio of L/D in the range of 9 to 10, the helix of said helical formation contacting the internal surface of said tubular body in a pressure-fitting relationship.

Claim 22

A heat transfer tube including extrudates of aluminum for a water-spray-type panel evaporator for the gasification of liquified natural gases comprising: a tubular body, an opposed pair of planar members projecting outwardly from the peripheral surface of said tubular body and radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of said tubular body and extending longitudinally along said axis, said planar members and said tubular body proper being provided with a plurality of external fins extending in parallel with said longitudinal axis, to the exclusion of a base portion of each of said planar members, and a helical fin element including extrudates of aluminum and having a helical lead L and an outer diameter D, said helical fin element disposed within said tubular body and having at least three fin members each having a thickness in the range of 1.0 to 1.5 millimeters and each of said at least three fin members projecting radially outwardly with respect to said longitudinal axis to provide a helical formation extending along and about said longitudinal axis such that said helical fin element comprises a ratio of L/D in the range of 9 to 10, the helix of said helical formation contacting the internal surface of said tubular body in a pressure-fitting relationship.

Claim 23

A heat transfer tube according to claim 18 wherein said fin members of said helical fin element comprise 6 to 10 fin members.

Claim 24

A heat transfer tube according to claim 19 wherein said fin members comprise 8 fin members.

Claim 25

A heat transfer tube according to claim 18, 19 or 20 wherein said fin members of said helical fin element are respectively provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending surface undulations.

Claim 26

A heat transfer tube according to claim 18, 19 or 20 wherein said external fins projecting out of said tubular body proper comprise 10 to 20 external fins.

Claim 27

A heat transfer tube assembly including extrudates of aluminum for a water-spray-type panel evaporator for the gasification of liquified natural gases including a plurality of heat transfer tubes each comprising: a tubular body, an opposed pair of planar members each projecting outwardly from the peripheral surface of said tubular body and radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of said tubular body and extending longitudinally along said axis, said tubular body and said planar members including a plurality of external fins extending in parallel with said longitudinal axis except on a base portion of each of said planar members; and a helical fin element including extrudates of aluminum and having a helical lead L and an outer diameter D, said helical fin element disposed within said tubular body and having at least three fin members each having a thickness in the range of 1.0 to 1.5 millimeters and each of said at least three fin members projecting radially outwardly with respect to said longitudinal axis to provide a helical formation extending along and about said axis such that said helical fin element comprises a ratio of L/D in the range of 9 to 10, the helix of said helical formation contacting the internal surface of said tubular body in a pressure fitting relationship.

Claim 28

A heat transfer tube assembly including extrudates of aluminum for a water-spray-type panel evaporator for the gasification of liquified natural gases including a plurality of heat transfer tubes each comprising: a tubular body, an opposed pair of planar members each projecting outwardly from the peripheral surface of said tubular body and radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of said tubular body and extending longitudinally along said axis, said tubular body and said planar members including a plurality of external fins extending in parallel with said longitudinal axis except on a base portion of each of said planar members; and a helical fin element including extrudates of aluminum and having a helical lead L and an outer diameter D, said helical fin element disposed within said tubular body and having at least three fin members each having a thickness in the range of 1.0 to 1.5 millimeters and each of said at least three fin members projecting radially outwardly with respect to said longitudinal axis to provide a helical formation extending along and about said axis such that said helical fin element comprises a ratio of L/D in the range of 9 to 10, the helix of said helical formation contacting the internal surface of said tubular body in a pressure fitting relationship.

Claim 29

A heat transfer tube assembly according to claim 23 wherein said fin members of each of said helical fin elements comprise 6 to 10 fin members.

Claim 30

A heat transfer tube assembly according to claim 24 wherein said fin members comprise 8 fin members.

Claim 31

A heat transfer tube assembly according to claim 23, 24 or 25 wherein said fin members of said helical fin element are each provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending surface undulations.

Claim 32

A heat transfer tube assembly according to claim 23, 24 or 25 wherein said external fins comprise 10 to 20 external fins.

Claim 33

A heat transfer tube including extrudates of aluminum for a water-spray-type panel evaporator for the gasification of liquified natural gases comprises: a tubular body, an opposed pair of planar members projecting outwardly from the peripheral surface of said tubular body and radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of said tubular body and extending longitudinally along said axis, said planar members and said tubular body proper being provided with a plurality of external fins extending in parallel with said longitudinal axis and having a substantially triangular-sectional configuration excluding a base portion of each of said planar members, and a helical fin element including extrudates of aluminum and having a helical lead L and an outer diameter D, said helical fin element disposed within said tubular body and having at least three fin members each having a thickness in the range of 1.0 to 1.5 millimeters and each of said at least three fin members projecting radially outwardly with respect to said longitudinal axis to provide a helical formation extending along and about said axis such that said helical fin element comprises a ratio of L/D in the range of 9 to 10, the helix of said helical formation contacting the internal surface of said tubular body in a pressure-fitting relationship.

Claim 34

A heat transfer tube including extrudates of aluminum for a water-spray-type panel evaporator for the gasification of liquified natural gases comprises: a tubular body, an opposed pair of planar members projecting outwardly from the peripheral surface of said tubular body and radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of said tubular body and extending longitudinally along said axis, said planar members and said tubular body proper being provided with a plurality of external fins extending in parallel with said longitudinal axis and having a substantially triangular-sectional configuration excluding a base portion of each of said planar members, and a helical fin element including extrudates of aluminum and having a helical lead L and an outer diameter D, said helical fin element disposed within said tubular body and having at least three fin members each having a thickness in the range of 1.0 to 1.5 millimeters and each of said at least three fin members projecting radially outwardly with respect to said longitudinal axis to provide a helical formation extending along and about said axis such that said helical fin element comprises a ratio of L/D in the range of 9 to 10, the helix of said helical formation contacting the internal surface of said tubular body in a pressure-fitting relationship.

Claim 35

A heat transfer tube according to claim 28 wherein said fin members of said helical fin element comprise 6 to 10 fin members.

Claim 36

A heat transfer tube according to claim 29 wherein said fin members comprise 8 fin members.

Claim 37

A heat transfer tube according to claim 28, 29 or 30 wherein said fin members of said helical fin element are respectively provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending surface undulations.

Claim 38

A heat transfer tube according to claim 28, 29 or 30 wherein said external fins comprise 10 to 20 external fins.

Claim 39

A heat transfer tube according to claim 28, 29 or 30 wherein each of said external fins has a substantially equilateral triangular sectional configuration.

Claim 40

A heat transfer tube assembly including extrudates of aluminum for a water-spray-type panel evaporator for the gasification of liquified natural gases including a plurality of heat transfer tubes each comprising: a tubular body; an opposed pair of planar members projecting outwardly from the peripheral surface of said tubular body and radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of said tubular body and extending longitudinally along said axis, said planar members and said tubular body proper including a plurality of external fins extending in parallel with said longitudinal axis and having a substantially triangular sectional configuration excluding a base portion of each of said planar members; and a helical fin element including extrudates of aluminum and having a helical lead L and an outer diameter D, said helical fin element disposed within said tubular body and having at least three fin members each having a thickness in the range of 1.0 to 1.5 millimeters and each of said at least three fin members projecting radially outwardly with respect to said longitudinal axis to provide a helical formation extending about and along said longitudinal axis such that each said helical fin element comprises a ratio of L/D in the range of 9 to 10, the helix of said helical formation contacting the internal surface of said tubular body in a pressure fitting relationship, said plurality of heat transfer tubes being interconnected in a row with said planar members lying in a common plane and said planar members being secured to each other in parallel and juxtaposed relationship.

Claim 41

A heat transfer tube assembly including extrudates of aluminum for a water-spray-type panel evaporator for the gasification of liquified natural gases including a plurality of heat transfer tubes each comprising: a tubular body; an opposed pair of planar members projecting outwardly from the peripheral surface of said tubular body and radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of said tubular body and extending longitudinally along said axis, said planar members and said tubular body proper including a plurality of external fins extending in parallel with said longitudinal axis and having a substantially triangular sectional configuration excluding a base portion of each of said planar members; and a helical fin element including extrudates of aluminum and having a helical lead L and an outer diameter D, said helical fin element disposed within said tubular body and having at least three fin members each having a thickness in the range of 1.0 to 1.5 millimeters and each of said at least three fin members projecting radially outwardly with respect to said longitudinal axis to provide a helical formation extending about and along said longitudinal axis such that each said helical fin element comprises a ratio of L/D in the range of 9 to 10, the helix of said helical formation contacting the internal surface of said tubular body in a pressure fitting relationship, said plurality of heat transfer tubes being interconnected in a row with said planar members lying in a common plane and said planar members being secured to each other in parallel and juxtaposed relationship.

Claim 42

A heat transfer tube assembly according to claim 34 wherein said fin members of said internal fin element comprise 6 to 10 fin members.

Claim 43

A heat transfer tube assembly according to claim 35 wherein said internal fin members comprises 8 fin members.

Claim 44

A heat transfer tube assembly according to claim 34, 35 or 36 wherein said fin members of said helical fin element are respectively provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending surface undulations.

Claim 45

A heat transfer tube assembly according to claim 34, 35 or 36 wherein said external fins comprise 10 to 20 external fins.

Claim 46

A heat transfer tube assembly according to claim 34, 35 or 36 wherein each of said external fins has a substantially equilateral triangular sectional configuration.