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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Method for braze-joining spirally wound tapes to inner walls of heat exchanger tubes

Patent ·
OSTI ID:865136

The present invention is directed to a method of fabricating heat exchanger tubes in which twisted tapes are utilized for promoting turbulence and heat transfer. The method of the present invention provides for the brazing of the tapes to the inner walls of the tubes for enhancing heat transfer between the fluid within the conduit and a fluid medium outside of the conduit by conduction through the tape. The braze joint of the present invention is coextensive with the tape over the entire length thereof within the conduit. The practice of the present invention is achieved by placing a filler wire of brazing metal along the tape at a location removed from the side walls and then heating the conduit and tape sufficiently to effect the displacement of the filler metal by wicking to the contact point between the tape and the conduit wall to form a braze joint coextensive with the length of the tape within the conduit. This arrangement provides maximum heat transfer and assures that the tape is in contact with the conduit over the entire common length thereof.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Number(s):
US 4466567
OSTI ID:
865136
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English