Appeal No. 2004-1037
Application No. 09/680,387
THE INVENTION
The Appellant’s claimed invention relates to a heat exchanger having a tube
bundle inside of a shell. The tubes have mini-vortex generators comprising ridge
members that encircle at least a portion of the exterior surface of tube. According to
Appellant, “[t]he mini-vortex generators function to abruptly interrupt the flow of the
shell fluid proximal to the exterior surface of the tube.” (Brief, p. 2). Claim 11 which
is representative of the invention is reproduced below:
11. A heat exchanger comprising:
(a) a shell;
(b) a tube bundle inside the shell, the tube bundle comprising a plurality
of substantially parallel tubes for passage of a first fluid, each tube
having a base diameter of between about 0.5" and about 1", at least a
portion of the tubes having on their exterior surface mini-vortex
generators comprising two or more ridge members that encircle at least a
portion of the exterior surface of a tube, the height of each ridge
member being between about 0.2 mm and about 1.0 mm, the spacing
between any two ridge members being between about 2 mm and about
40 mm;
(c) a sinuous baffle for supporting the tubes, the sinuous baffle
comprising a plurality of wiggle bar tube support members disposed
between the tubes;
(d) a tube inlet for passage of the first fluid into the tubes and a tube
outlet for passage of the first fluid out of the tube;
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