Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly for use in an HVAC system is provided. The heat exchanger assembly includes: a shell-type casing; a plurality of tubes located inside the shell-type casing, each of the tubes having an outer surface and an irregular inner surface; and a plurality of electrodes. Each electrode is located inside one of the corresponding tubes to create a space between the electrode and the inner surface of the tube. A first fluid is located in each space between the electrodes and the inner surfaces of the tubes. A second fluid is located in a space between the tubes and the shell-type casing to flow across the outer surfaces of the tubes. A voltage is applied on the electrodes in order to increase the rate of heat transfer between the first fluid and the second fluid. The invention also includes a method of exchanging heat between a heat transfer fluid and a refrigerant in a shell and tube heat exchanger.