US 2014028.

4037A1
(19) United States
(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2014/0284.037 A1
Mokire et al. (43) Pub. Date: Sep. 25, 2014
(54) ALUMINUM TUBE-AND-FINASSEMBLY (52) U.S. Cl.
GEOMETRY CPC ................. F28F I/025 (2013.01); F28F I/105
(2013.01)
(71) Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC. Peoria, IL (US) USPC .......................................................... 165/183
(72) Inventors: Mahesh Kumar Mokire, Dunlap, IL
(US); Neil Alan Terry, Edelstein, IL
(US); Sudhakara Reddy Gopireddy, (57) ABSTRACT
Dunlap, IL (US); Sumeeth Sivangere,
Dunlap, IL (US)
A tube-and-fin assembly comprises a generally elliptical,
(73) Assignee: Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US) cylindrical, elongated aluminum tube and a plurality of alu
minum fins. Each fin extends outward from a side of the tube
(21) Appl. No.: 13/847,867 body to an apex. The aluminum assembly has a ratio offin
1-1. height to fin density (Mokire ratio) of between about 0.3200
(22) Filed: Mar 20, 2013 and about 0.4125. The fin height is about 6.4 mm to about 6.6
Publication Classification mm and the fin density is about 16 to 20 fins per inch (FPI).
The fins may be part of a corrugated sheet affixed to either
(51) Int. Cl. side of the tube. The aluminum assembly achieves heat trans
(2006.01) fer performance similar to that of copper assemblies while
(2006.01) maintaining a similar space claim.

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Patent Application Publication Sep. 25, 2014 Sheet 2 of 2 US 2014/028.4037 A1

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US 2014/028.4037 A1
ALUMNUMITUBE-AND-FINASSEMBLY
GEOMETRY
TECHNICAL FIELD
0001. This disclosure relates generally to tube-and-fin
style heat exchangers. More particularly, this disclosure
relates to a tube-and-fin style assembly for use in an alumi
num grommetted tube (AGT) radiator.
BACKGROUND
0002 Large heavy duty machines such as track-type trac
tors, loaders, off highway trucks and excavators require large
radiators for engine cooling. One common radiator design is
the tube-and-fin structure, where numerous tube-and-fin
assemblies are mounted to coolant manifolds and arranged in
columns and rows. One example of a tube-and-finassembly is
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,357.513 by L&M Radiator, Inc.
(“Support for Heat Exchanger Tubes). The 513 patent dis
closes fins fitted to a flattened tube. Copper grommetted tube
(CGT) radiators, in which copper tube-and-finassemblies are
secured to a coolant manifold or other radiator component,
are expensive, which has led to the development of aluminum
grommetted tube (AGT) radiators.
0003 Aluminum is less expensive than copper, but copper
has betterheat transfer performance. Aluminum is also lighter
than copper but not as strong. To compensate for aluminum's
relative weakness and reduced heat transfer capability com
pared to copper, an aluminum grommetted tube radiator
requires different geometry. The present disclosure is
directed toward providing an aluminum tube-and-fin assem
bly that delivers the same heat transfer performance as a
copper tube-and-fin assembly but maintains a similar space
claim (and thus fits within the same space) and so can be used
either as original equipment or to replace copper tube-and-fin
assemblies in the field.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
0004. In one aspect of the disclosure, an aluminum tube
and-fin assembly is provided having a geometry that delivers
the same heat transfer performance as copper tube-and-fin
assemblies but maintains a similar space claim. The alumi
numfin-and-tube assembly comprises an aluminum tubehav
ing a tube body and a plurality of aluminum fins disposed on
the body. The Mokire ratio, i.e., the ratio of fin height,
expressed in millimeters, to fin density, expressed in fins per
inch of the tube, is greater than about 0.3200.
0005. In another aspect of the disclosure an aluminum
tube-and-fin assembly for a heat exchanger is provided com
prising a generally cylindrical, elongated aluminum tubehav
ing a body with flat sides connected by ends and a plurality of
aluminum fins extending outward from one or both sides of
the tube, each fin terminating in an apex. The assembly has a
fin density of about 16 to about 20 FPI and a fin height of
about 6.4 to about 6.6 mm.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
0006 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tube-and-finassem
bly for use in an aluminum grommetted tube radiator,
0007 FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the tube-and-fin
assembly of FIG. 1;
0008 FIG. 3 is a partial close up view of the tube-and-fin
assembly of FIG. 2; and
Sep. 25, 2014
0009 FIG. 4 is a partial side view of an alternative
embodiment of a tube-and-fin assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
0010 While a tube-and fin assembly according to this
disclosure may be embodied in many forms, there is shown in
the drawings and will herein be described in detail one or
more embodiments of a tube-and-fin assembly, with the
understanding that this disclosure is to be considered an
exemplification of the principles of the tube-and-finassembly
and is not intended to limit the tube-and-fin assembly to the
illustrated embodiments.
0011. In the description that follows, the following terms
are used:
0012 Fin height (H) is the distance from the surface of
the tube side 18 to the fin apex 32.
0013 Fin density (D) is the number of fins 14 per unit
length of the tube 12 on each side 18 of the tube 12.
0.014 Fin thickness (T) is the thickness of the fin wall,
e.g., the thickness of the corrugated sheet 30 that forms
the fins 14.
(0.015 Mokire ratio (MR) is the ratio offin height (H),
expressed in millimeters, to fin density (D), expressed in
fins per inch of the tube 12 on each side 18 of the tube 12.
0016 Turning to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a
perspective view of a tube-and-fin assembly 10 of the kind
used in a radiator for a large heavy duty machine. The assem
bly 10 comprises a tube 12 and a plurality of fins 14.
(0017. The tube 12 comprises a generally elliptical, cylin
drical and elongated body 16 having flattened sides 18 con
nected by rounded ends 20 and defining an axis A. The tube 12
may further comprise a generally cylindrical top end 22 and a
generally cylindrical bottom end 24 for attachment to coolant
manifolds. Each fin 14 extends outward from a side 18 of the
body 16. A plastic clip 28 enclosing the fins 14 may connect
adjacent tube-and-fin assemblies 10 to each other for
improved stability.
0018. The fins 14 may be an indivisible, unitary part of a
corrugated sheet 30 affixed to either side 18 of the tube 12.
The corrugated sheet 30, and thus the fins 14, may be welded,
brazed or otherwise affixed to the sides 18 of the tube 12.
0019. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each fin 14 extends
outward from a side 18 of the tube 12 and terminates in an
apex 32. In copper grommetted tube (CGT) assemblies the
tube 12 and the fins 14 are both made of copper. CGT assem
blies typically have a fin density D of 22 fins per inch (FPI)
and a typical fin thickness T of about 0.1 mm. The tube
thickness in CGT assemblies is also very small.
0020. The present disclosure describes an aluminum tube
and-fin assembly for an aluminum grommetted tube (AGT)
radiator having a geometry that allows the aluminum tube
and-fin assembly to approximate the heat transfer perfor
mance of a coppertube-and-finassembly while maintaining a
Substantially similar space claim. This has been accom
plished by researching and developing an algorithm for deter
mining the fin thickness T, fin density D and fin height H that
allows for the aluminum tube-and-fin assembly to have
approximately the same heat transfer performance as a cop
per tube-and-fin assembly while maintaining a substantially
similar space claim, despite the decreased heat transfer effi
ciency of aluminum as compared to copper.
0021. The relationship between fin height (H) and finden
sity (D) was deemed critical to the Success of an aluminum
tube-and-fin assembly, so ratio offin height (H) to fin density
US 2014/028.4037 A1
(D) (“Mokire ratio’) was developed from the data that accom
plished the dual objectives of achieving approximately the
same heat transfer performance as a copper tube-and-fin
assembly while maintaining a substantially similar space
claim.
0022. The following table summarizes the differences
between geometry in a copper tube-and-fin assembly and the
aluminum tube-and fin assembly of the present disclosure:
Copper tube-and-fin Aluminum tube-and-fin
assembly assembly
Fin Thickness (T), mm O.1 O.2
Fin Density (D), fins 22 16-2O
per inch
Fin Height (H), mm 6.15 6.4 to 6.6
Mokire 0.2795 O.32OO to 0.4125
Ratio (MR) (HD)
0023 For a typical copper tube-and-fin assembly, fin
thickness T is about 0.1 mm, fin density D is about 22 FPI and
fin height H is about 6.15 mm.
0024. In an aluminum tube-and-fin assembly according to
the present disclosure, the fin thickness (and tube thickness) is
increased over that used in a typical copper tube-and-fin
assembly because aluminum is weaker than copper and to
improve heat transfer performance. Further, to maintain
proper airflow around the aluminum fins, fin density is
reduced. But since reducing fin density can cause a drop in
heat transfer performance, fin height is increased to improve
performance.
0025. After research and development, a suitable fin thick
ness T for an aluminum tube-and-fin assembly was deter
mined to be about 0.2 mm. The fin density D for the aluminum
tube-and-finassembly was determined to be less than or equal
to about 20 FPI and as low as about 16 FPI. Fin height H for
the aluminum tube-and-fin assembly was determined to be
between about 6.4 and about 6.6 mm. The Mokire ratio (MR)
was determined to be between about 0.3200 (6.4 mm/20 FPI)
and about 0.4125 (6.6 mm/16 FPI). The newly configured
aluminum tube-and-fin assembly was determined to come
close to matching the heat transfer performance of a copper
tube-and-fin assembly while maintaining a substantially
similar space claim.
0026. For example, in one example a suitable aluminum
tube-and-fin assembly was developed having a fin thickness
(T) of 0.2 mm, a fin density (D) of 20 FPI and a fin height (H)
of 6.55 mm. The Mokire ration (MR) was 0.3275.
0027 FIG. 4 is a partial side cross-sectional view of an
alternative embodiment of a tube-and-fin assembly 40 in
which substantially planar fins 42 extend outwardly from a fin
base plate 44 adjacent the tube 46. A tube-and-fin geometry
similar to that used in the previous embodiment 10 may be
used.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
0028. The aluminum tube-and-fin assembly described
herein is less expensive than traditional copper tube-and-fin
assemblies while maintaining similar heat transfer perfor
mance and space claim. The aluminum tube-and-finassembly
may be used as a component of large radiators used in heavy
duty machines, especially where cost and performance are
design factors. The aluminum tube-and-fin assembly 10 may
Sep. 25, 2014
also be used an after-market, drop-in, replacement for exist
ing copper tube-and-fin assemblies.
0029. It is understood that the embodiments of the disclo
sure described above are only particular examples which
serve to illustrate the principles of the disclosure. Modifica
tions and alternative embodiments of the disclosure are con
templated which do not depart from the scope of the disclo
Sure as defined by the foregoing teachings and appended
claims. It is intended that the claims cover all Such modifica
tions and alternative embodiments that fall within their scope.
We claim:
1. An aluminum tube-and-fin assembly for a heat
exchanger, the assembly comprising:
an aluminum tube having a body; and
a plurality of aluminum fins disposed on the body;
wherein the Mokire ratio is greater than about 0.3200.
2. The aluminum tube-and-fin assembly of claim 1
wherein:
the Mokire ratio is about 0.3200 to about 0.4125.
3. The aluminum tube-and-fin assembly of claim 1
wherein:
the fin height is about 6.4 mm to about 6.6 mm; and
the fin density is about 16 FPI to about 20 FPI.
4. The aluminum tube-and-fin assembly of claim 1
wherein:
the fin thickness is about 0.2 mm.
5. The aluminum tube-and-fin assembly of claim 1
wherein:
the aluminum tube is a generally cylindrical, elongated
structure having a body with flat sides connected by
ends; and
each aluminum fin extends outward from a side of the tube
and terminates in an apex.
6. The aluminum tube-and-fin assembly of claim 1
wherein:
the fins are an indivisible unitary part of a corrugated sheet
affixed to either side of the tube.
7. The aluminum tube-and-fin assembly of claim 1
wherein:
the fins are substantially planar and extend outwardly from
the tube.
8. The aluminum tube-and-fin assembly of claim 1
wherein:
the fins are substantially planar and extend outwardly from
a fin plate adjacent the tube.
8. The aluminum tube-and-fin assembly of claim 1
wherein:
the Mokire ratio is about 0.3275.
9. The aluminum tube-and-fin assembly of claim 8
wherein:
the fin thickness is about 0.2 mm.
10. The aluminum tube-and-fin assembly of claim 9
wherein:
the aluminum tube is a generally cylindrical, elongated
structure having a body with flat sides connected by
ends; and
each aluminum fin extends outward from a side of the tube
and terminates in an apex.
11. The aluminum tube-and-fin assembly of claim 10
wherein:
the fins are an indivisible unitary part of a corrugated sheet
affixed to either side of the tube.
12. An aluminum tube-and-fin assembly for a heat
exchanger, the assembly comprising:
US 2014/028.4037 A1 Sep. 25, 2014

a generally cylindrical, elongated aluminum tube having a

body with flat sides connected by ends; and
a plurality of aluminum fins, each fin extending outward
from a side of the tube to an apex;
wherein the assembly has a fin density of 16 to 20 FPI and
a fin height of 6.4 to 6.6 mm.
13. The aluminum tube-and-fin assembly of claim 12
wherein:
the fins have a thickness of about 0.2 mm.
14. The aluminum tube-and-fin assembly of claim 12
wherein:
the fins are an indivisible unitary part of a corrugated sheet
affixed to either side of the tube.
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