Wolverine Tube, Inc.

Wieland-werke Ag

Nikolai Zoubkov

Petur Thors

The invention relates to enhanced heat transfer surfaces and methods and tools for making enhanced heat transfer surface. Certain embodiments include a boiling surface that include a plurality of primary grooves, protrusions and secondary grooves to form boiling cavities. The boiling surface may be formed by using a tool for cutting the inner surface of a tube. The tool has a tool axis and at least one tip with a cutting edge and a lifting edge. Methods for making a boiling surface are also disclosed, including cutting through the inner surface of a tube to form primary grooves, then cutting and lifting the inner surface to form protrusions and secondary grooves.

Method for making enhanced heat transfer surfaces

A method of forming a plurality of protrusions on the inner surface of a tube to reduce tube side resistance and improve overall heat transfer performance. The method includes cutting through ridges on the inner surface of the tube to create ridge layers and lifting the ridge layers to form the protrusions. In this way, the protrusions are formed without removal of metal from the inner surface of the tube, thereby eliminating debris which can damage the equipment in which the tubes are used.

Method of forming protrusions on the inner surface of a tube

An improved tool assembly for enhancing the surface of a heat transfer tube is provided. The tool assembly includes rods having cutting tips and positioned in rod guides which are slidably positioned in shafts provided in a tool holder. In an equilibrium state, the cutting tips do not extend from the tool holder. When a force is applied to the rod guides, the rod guides move in a first direction along the shafts in the tool holder, resulting in exposure of the cutting tips which enhance the tube surface. When the force is removed from the rod guides, the rod guides move along the shafts in a direction opposite the first direction to retract the cutting tips within the tool holder. In this way, the cutting tips are protected when not in use.

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Moscow, Russia

Nikolai Zoubkov