Patents Examined by Margaret A. Fogarino
  • Enhanced heat transfer surfaces
    Patent number: 4846267
    Abstract: Aluminum alloys suitable for fabrication into plate and fin type heat exchangers are subjected to a chemical etching procedure in order to improve the heat transfer efficiency thereof. Applicants have found that a high temperature heat treatment of an aluminum alloy plate material to produce a precipitate, followed by exposure to an etching composition, results in a heat exchanger surface modified by the formation of pits. The heat exchangers so modified may be advantageously used in the reboiler/condensor section of air separation units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter J. Shattes, Nikhiles Bandyopadhyay, Paul C. Krueger