Turbulence Enhancer for Keel Cooler

摘要

A keel cooler assembly comprising a coolant tube including a plurality of turbulence enhancers for improving the heat transfer of the coolant without substantially increasing pressure drop of the coolant. In one embodiment, the turbulence enhancers provide a means for generating turbulent wakes in the coolant for disrupting laminar boundary layers for improving heat transfer. In another embodiment, the turbulence enhancers provide a means for generating and propagating turbulent vortexes in the coolant to enhance mixing of the bulk coolant for improving heat transfer. In other embodiments, turbulators, including inserts or impediments, are provided having various configurations and being arranged in predetermined patterns for enhancing turbulence of the coolant for improving keel cooler heat transfer efficiency without substantially increasing pressure drop.

主权项

1. A keel cooler assembly for use on a marine vessel, said keel cooler assembly exchanging heat with an internal coolant flowing through the keel cooler assembly, said keel cooler assembly comprising:
a header; at least one coolant tube extending in a longitudinal direction from said header, said at least one coolant tube comprising:
at least one inlet for ingress of the coolant;at least one outlet for egress of the coolant;an elongated body portion extending between said at least one inlet and said at least one outlet, said elongated body portion including an interior surface forming an internal channel for allowing flow of the coolant in a longitudinal direction along a length of said elongated body portion; and a means for enhancing the turbulence of the coolant flowing through said at least one coolant tube for improving heat transfer without substantially increasing pressure drop of the coolant above an identical at least one coolant tube lacking said means for enhancing turbulence; wherein said means for enhancing turbulence comprises a plurality of turbulence enhancers extending inwardly into said internal channel from said elongated body portion interior surface, said plurality of turbulence enhancers being arranged in a predetermined pattern; wherein said predetermined pattern comprises a plurality of longitudinal rows of said turbulence enhancers, said plurality of longitudinal rows of said turbulence enhancers including a first longitudinal spacing (XL) between respective longitudinally adjacent turbulence enhancers located in the same longitudinal row, and a second transverse spacing (XH) between respective transversely adjacent turbulence enhancers located in adjacent longitudinal rows.