Rheem Manufacturing Company (Atlanta, GA)

Inserts for heat exchanger tubes to be used in the heat exchanger tube inside a fuel-fired apparatus or non-fired storage tank heat exchanger. The heat exchanger insert is comprised of an inner rode as well as the cap. At least two protruding, helical guides are designed to guide heated fluid around the heat exchanger tube’s inner circumference.

Heat exchangers can be used to alter the thermodynamic properties of a particular or a few fluids. They include heat exchangers that are used in ventilation, heating and water heaters (HVAC) systems and other similar devices (generally called heat exchangers). Sometimes, HX tubes, sometimes referred to as heat exchanger tubes can be used to transfer working liquid through the HX tubes. This changes the thermal properties of both the fluid inside the HX tube and the outside fluid. The design of the device, temperatures of both the working fluid and the fluid outside can vary. Both the outside and working fluid are unable to mix. Numerous ways have been discovered to boost the efficiency (HX tube) of the device. The overall efficiency of the thermal performance of a device depends on the working fluid it is in as well as its outside fluid.

One method to improve the thermal efficiency of the HX tube is to increase the turbulence of working fluid within the HX tube by incorporating baffles or turbulators within the tube. Another approach is to ensure that the HX tube features multiple dimple likedeformations on the HX tube’s surface to increase the speed of the fluid when it deforms and thus increase the turbulent flow.

This disclosure proposes an alternate way to increase efficiency and heat exchange within a HX tube. This HX tube insert increases the time of residence for working fluids flowing through HX tubes and improves fluid contact time around the tube’s inner circumference, thereby increasing the efficiency. The HX tube insert is able to improve performance and limit the pressure drop to normal limits for combustion systems.

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