A panel, for retaining a heating or cooling tube relative to a substrate, has a standoff extending from a primary flap, wherein the standoff includes a tube contacting surface. A lateral fold extends from the standoff and includes a jaw having a tube retaining surface, wherein the tube contacting surface and the tube retaining surface are located to define a tube retaining channel in a closed position of the jaw. The panel can be formed of a single piece of sheet metal, wherein the sheet metal and configuration of the panel bias the jaw to the closed position.

The application relates to a heat exchanger having a block with ribs and rectangular tubes. The block is arranged between a first collecting box and a second collecting box. Each collecting box is closed off by a base which has eyelets for receiving the tubes, and a trough-shaped circulating section for receiving the collecting box extends along the edge of the base. The base has an elevated contact region on at least one end face for the tube which lies directly opposite the end face in order to allow a stable structure of the heat exchanger, collecting boxes, and block.

The application relates to a heat exchanger having a block with ribs and rectangular tubes. The block is arranged between a first collecting box and a second collecting box. Each collecting box is closed off by a base which has eyelets for receiving the tubes, and a trough-shaped circulating section for receiving the collecting box extends along the edge of the base. The base has an elevated contact region on at least one end face for the tube which lies directly opposite the end face in order to allow a stable structure of the heat exchanger, collecting boxes, and block.

A concentrating solar collector module includes improvements in performance and assemblability. In one configuration, the module includes a reflector having a reflective front surface shaped to concentrate incoming solar radiation onto a focal line, first and second rails, one rail attached to each edge of the reflector, and a set of truss connectors attached to the rails. The truss connectors and rails may form ways that enable constrained sliding engagement of the truss connectors along the rails before attachment of the truss connectors to the rails. The module may also include a plurality of framing members connected to the truss connectors and forming a structural lattice that cooperates with the reflector to lend rigidity to the solar collector module. At least some of the framing members may be disposed in front of the front reflective surface.

A concentrating solar collector module includes improvements in performance and assemblability. In one configuration, the module includes a reflector having a reflective front surface shaped to concentrate incoming solar radiation onto a focal line, first and second rails, one rail attached to each edge of the reflector, and a set of truss connectors attached to the rails. The truss connectors and rails may form ways that enable constrained sliding engagement of the truss connectors along the rails before attachment of the truss connectors to the rails. The module may also include a plurality of framing members connected to the truss connectors and forming a structural lattice that cooperates with the reflector to lend rigidity to the solar collector module. At least some of the framing members may be disposed in front of the front reflective surface.

A tube for a heat exchanger includes a tube outer body enclosing a tube inner volume, and a corrugated insert received within the tube inner volume. The tube outer body has a pair of broad planar walls joined by arcuate end walls. The corrugated insert defines flow channels through the tube, with opening in flanks of the insert allowing for flow communication between adjacent flow channels. Bypass channels adjacent the arcuate end walls are fluidly isolated from the adjacent flow channels by the absence of such openings in the end flanks. Flow through the bypass channels is obstructed by flow blocks at one or both ends of the bypass channels.

Methods for expanding a tube to create a tight fit or an interference fit with one or more fins for the manufacture of a heat exchanger are disclosed. The methods can include providing an internal pressure to the tubes in a successive pulsing manner with each pulse having a short duration. The methods can include creating a temperature differential between the bend sections of the tubes and the straight sections of the tubes such that the bend section has a lower temperature than the straight sections. The methods can include creating an external pressure differential between the bend sections of the tubes and the straight sections of the tubes such that the external pressure acting on the bend sections is greater than the external pressure acting on the straight sections.

Systems and methods for pressure expanding a tube to fit a heat exchanger fin are disclosed. The systems can include one or more pressure relief devices, and each pressure relief device can be configured to release at least some pressurized fluid via a respective auxiliary flow path in response to a pressure of the pressurized fluid being greater than a predetermined pressure relief threshold.

A method for producing a heat exchanger having tubes that are each received at a longitudinal end side in an associated header, the tubes and the headers are formed out of aluminium. The method may include soldering the tubes and the headers to one another to form a coolant-conducting channel structure, and cold-forming the heat exchanger following the soldering of the tubes to the headers such that strength is thereby increased.

A heat transfer tube and a heat exchanger incorporating at least one heat transfer tubes are provided. The heat transfer tube and the heat exchanger are configured to operate in both a heating mode and a cooling mode (e.g., to optimize the reversible function a heat pump). The heat transfer tube includes a tube body with an interior surface and an exterior surface. The tube body defining an outer diameter (D.sub.o) and a wall thickness (W.sub.T), wherein a ratio (W.sub.T/D.sub.o) the wall thickness (W.sub.T) to the outer diameter (D.sub.o) is between 0.061 and 0.071. The heat transfer tube includes a plurality of adjacent helical fins protruding circumferentially around the interior surface of the tube body, and at least one groove disposed between the plurality of adjacent helical fins. The configuration of the heat transfer tube(s) is optimal for the reversible function of the heat pump.