Some engine applications place spatial constraints on heat exchangers,
such as oil coolers. In such a case, a heat exchanger having an oblong
rather than a circular cross section can satisfy spatial constraints, and
with certain internal geometry, may permit improved heat rejection
performance while potentially enabling a cost reduction through a
reduction in materials. The heat exchanger has a housing which defines a
heat exchanging cavity within which a tube bundle is positioned. The tube
bundle is made up of a plurality of tubes in a hexagonal packing pattern
that are supported by a plurality of baffles. The tube bundle and the
housing define a serpentine flow path between an inlet and an outlet. The
serpentine flow path includes a plurality of segments that are generally
perpendicular to the tubes, and these segments are separated by flow
direction changing windows. The tube bundle has a gap distance at the
windows that is relatively large, and a gap distance away from the
windows that is relatively small. In addition, each of the tubes of the
tube bundle is adjacent to at least three other tubes, such that the
perimeter set of tubes creates a hexagonal shape.