| 摘要 |
An improved heat exchanger with two counter-flow passages, a first passage through a round, central tube and a second passage which is annular to the first flow passage. The fluids enter the passages tangentially or past swirl-generating foils at the tube entrance such that fluids are driven to flow in a vortex. The central tube contains a swirling flow of cooler fluid. The annular passage contains warmer swirling fluid flowing in the opposite axial direction from the cooler fluid. The purpose of the heat exchanger is to heat the cooler swirling fluid as it flows through the central tube or to cool the warmer swirling fluid as it flows through the annulus. In some embodiments, fins or other projections on the wetted surfaces of the tubes will be oriented to sustain vortex flow throughout the passages. In some embodiments the outlets may be tangential to recover the some of the kinetic energy of the vortex flow. The tangential outlets may be enlarged for still greater kinetic energy recovery. Heat transfer between the two fluids is stimulated because warmer portion of warm fluid in the annular passage will be driven inward toward the inner surface between annular passage and the inner tube and wherein colder, denser, portion of the colder fluid is forced outward by centrifugal force against the outer wall of the central tube to maintain the maximum temperature difference across the tube wall. Thus, heat transfer is enhanced in an energy efficient manner.
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