A clamshell heat exchanger comprises upper and lower clamshell plates assembled
together and sealed at the peripheral edges thereof, the assembled plates defining
at least three internal passageways communicating in a serpentine configuration.
The passageways include an inlet passageway having an inlet port for receipt therethrough
of combustion gases, an intermediate passageway and an exhaust passageway having
an exit port for the discharge of combustion gases, all such passageways lying
generally parallel to each other. In one arrangement of the heat exchanger, the
upper and lower clamshell plates define an air gap between the inlet passageway
and the intermediate passageway, with the intermediate passageway and the exhaust
passageway being joined by a secured flattened portion of the upper and lower clamshell
plates. In another arrangement, instead of an air gap, the inlet passageway and
the intermediate passageway are also joined by secured flattened portions of the
upper and lower clamshell plates. Turbulent flow structure is provided by dimpled
surfaces projecting inwardly into the intermediate and exhaust passageways and
a longitudinally extending rib projecting into the intermediate passageway. A drain
shunt, defined by a generally tubular channel, communicates between the intermediate
passageway and the exhaust passageway to allow drainage of condensation from the
heat exchanger when the heat exchanger is disposed in any orientation.