Abstract: Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems and heat exchangers are provided that include nubbed, collared, and/or flapped fins. In certain embodiments, the fins include openings or slots with protrusions for spacing multichannel tubes from the fins. During assembly, the protrusions may be deformed by the tubes. Braze alloy may be positioned in the gaps created by the protrusions to affix the multichannel tubes to the fins. In other embodiments, the fins include flaps or collars designed to interface with the multichannel tubes. In these embodiments, the tubes may be expanded into the fins.

Abstract: A technique is provided for forming and coating heat exchangers. The heat exchanger may be of any suitable type, such as employing two or more manifolds, with tubes, such as multichannel tubes extending between the manifolds, with fins being provided around or between the tubes. The overall heat exchanger structure is made as a slab that is advanced through an oven, such as in a brazing zone. Heat applied in the brazing zone heats the entire slab to an elevated temperature, and immediately after the brazing zone the slab is hot formed to provide bends or other configurations or contours. A coating is then applied at the elevated temperature, and the heat exchanger may advance through a curing station at which cooling is controlled to promote curing of the coating. The overall process provides a streamlined integrated assembly and manufacturing procedure for formed and coated heat exchangers.

Abstract: A multichannel heat exchanger is provided that may be used in any suitable application, such as air conditioning, refrigeration, heat pump, and similar systems. The heat exchanger provides for enhanced thermal exchange density within reduced envelope dimensions. Multichannel tubes may be oriented such that their major width is generally in a vertical plane, but such that their edges are inclined with respect to the vertical. The resulting envelope dimensions are reduced. Moreover, liquid condensate that may collect on the heat exchangers (e.g., when used as evaporators) may be channeled toward lower edges of the multichannel tubes along which the condensate flows for evacuation and collection.

Abstract: A heat exchanger of the type used for a condenser in a vehicle air conditioning system includes a pair of parallel, tubular headers which are spaced apart with a plurality of refrigerant flow tubes extending between the headers. The flow tubes have upper and lower flat sides, and forward and rearward outermost edges. The forward and rearward outermost edges longitudinally extend the length of the flow tubes to define forward and rearward outermost planes of the flow tubes, respectively. A plurality of serpentine fins have alternately disposed ridges and furrows which define upper and lower crests. Portions of some of the crests are indented to provide recesses, with tabs extending from one end of the crests. The tabs extend outward and in contact with one of the edges of the flow tubes. The headers and serpentine fins are brazing clad for passing through a brazing furnace to braze the headers and serpentine fins to the flow tubes. The heat exchanger is brazed while in a horizontal plane.