A complex structured heat exchange device and an additive manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

The application discloses a complex-structure heat exchange device and an additive manufacturing method thereof, which comprises a hemispherical base in a cavity structure, wherein the lower end of the hemispherical base is provided with a cold water inlet, and the upper end of the hemispherical base is provided with a plurality of water outlet channels; the upper end of the hemispherical base is connected with a hollow columnar thin shell structure, the side wall of the hollow columnar thin shell structure is provided with a to-be-cooled liquid inlet and a to-be-cooled liquid outlet in directions away from each other at the upper and lower ends; the upper end of the hollow columnar thin shell structure is connected with a hemispherical top cover in a cavity structure, the upper end of the hemispherical top cover is provided with a hot water outlet, and the lower end of the hemispherical top cover is provided with a plurality of water inlets; a multi-stage branch structure flow channel combination is arranged in the hollow columnar thin shell structure after arraying, the water inlets of the multi-stage branch structure flow channel combination are communicated with the water outlet channels on the hemispherical base, and the water outlets of the multi-stage branch structure flow channel combination are communicated with the water inlets on the hemispherical top cover.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of additively manufactured heat exchangers, and in particular to a heat exchange device with a complex structure and an additive manufacturing method thereof. Background Art

[0002] A heat exchanger is an energy-saving device that transfers heat between two or more fluids at different temperatures without mixing the fluids. It transfers heat from a higher-temperature fluid to a lower-temperature fluid, allowing the fluid temperature to meet the process's specified specifications and meet the needs of the process. It is also one of the primary devices for recycling fluid thermal energy and improving energy efficiency. As the core of the first law of thermodynamics, heat transfer has always been a ubiquitous challenge, and the efficiency of heat transfer is affected by the structure of the heat exchanger. Traditional heat exchanger structures are mostly designed with a single straight or curved channel. Although the manufacturing process is relatively simple, its heat transfer efficiency is limited, making it difficult to meet the needs of efficient heat exchange and complex operating conditions.

[0003] Biological structures in nature, particularly termite nests, achieve efficient temperature regulation through their unique multi-level branching structure, providing an ideal template for heat exchange structure design. Termite nests gradually cool incoming hot air through their curved, small channels. By the time the air reaches the central main channel, its temperature has significantly dropped. This multi-level branching heat exchange structure significantly improves the cooling efficiency of the airflow while ensuring the stability of the nest structure.

[0004] Currently, traditional heat exchanger manufacturing methods struggle to accurately construct such complex microchannel structures and typically rely on welding and bolting, which can easily lead to stress concentration and fatigue failure, impacting service life and reliability. The development of additive manufacturing technology, particularly laser powder bed fusion, has opened up new possibilities for the precise manufacture of complex microchannel structures. This technology, through layer-by-layer printing, can create complex three-dimensional structures in a single step without the need for welding or bolting, significantly improving the integrity and precision of complex structures. Therefore, it is expected to be used in the preparation of biomimetic heat exchange devices with complex structures. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the challenges of improving the heat transfer efficiency of traditional heat exchangers and the difficulty of manufacturing complex structures using traditional processes, this complex heat exchanger mimics the multi-level branching structure of an ant nest, achieving uniform heat distribution and improved heat transfer performance, better meeting industry requirements for heat transfer efficiency. Furthermore, grid-like reinforcement ribs provide greater structural strength.

[0006] A heat exchange device with a complex structure comprises a hemispherical base with a cavity structure, a cold water inlet at the lower end of the hemispherical base and a plurality of water outlet channels at the upper end of the hemispherical base;

[0007] The upper end of the hemispherical base is connected to a hollow cylindrical thin shell structure, and the upper and lower ends of the side walls of the hollow cylindrical thin shell structure are provided with an inlet for the liquid to be cooled and an outlet for the liquid to be cooled in directions away from each other;

[0008] The upper end of the hollow cylindrical thin shell structure is connected to a hemispherical top cover with a cavity structure. The upper end of the hemispherical top cover is provided with a hot water outlet, and the lower end of the hemispherical top cover is provided with multiple water inlet channels.

[0009] The multi-level branching structure flow channel assembly is arranged inside the hollow cylindrical thin shell structure after being arrayed, and the water inlet of the multi-level branching structure flow channel assembly is connected to the water outlet channel on the hemispherical base, and the water outlet of the multi-level branching structure flow channel assembly is connected to the water inlet channel on the hemispherical top cover.

[0010] A method for additive manufacturing of a complex structure heat exchange component comprises the following steps:

[0011] Step 101. Perform printing pre-processing, i.e., slicing processing, to generate layered contour data and deposition work routes;

[0012] Step 102: First, a hemispherical substrate is printed using pure copper powder as the material through laser powder bed fusion technology;

[0013] Then print the multi-level branch structure flow channel assembly;

[0014] Printing of hollow cylindrical thin shell structures;

[0015] Printing of hemispherical top cover;

[0016] The laser printing parameters were as follows: spot diameter 1 mm, laser power 650 W, scanning speed 200 mm / min, and shielding gas flow rate 10 L / min;

[0017] Step 103: Using steel alloy powder as material, printing grid-shaped reinforcement ribs by laser powder bed fusion technology;

[0018] The printing parameters of the steel hollow mesh structure are: spot diameter 1mm, laser power 500W, scanning speed 350mm / min, powder feeding rate 20g / min, shielding gas flow rate 10L / min, and powder carrier gas flow rate 12L / min.

[0019] After passing through one end of the hemispherical base, the cold water enters the hemispherical top cover after passing through the multi-stage branch structure flow channel assembly, fully absorbing the heat of the liquid to be cooled.

[0020] Beneficial effects of the present invention:

[0021] The present invention mimics the multi-level branching structure of an anthill, achieving uniform heat distribution and improved heat exchange performance, which can better meet the industry's requirements for heat exchange efficiency. At the same time, the grid-like reinforcement ribs achieve higher structural strength. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the termite nest structure;

[0023] Figure 2 It is the overall schematic diagram of the regular octahedron split flow pipeline;

[0024] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the bulge inside the pipe;

[0025] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the structure of the heat exchange device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In order to make the purpose, processing design scheme and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the design scheme and manufacturing method in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the embodiment drawings in this application.

[0027] As shown in the figure, a complex structure heat exchange device includes a hemispherical base with a cavity structure, a cold water inlet at the lower end of the hemispherical base, and multiple water outlet channels at the upper end of the hemispherical base;

[0028] The upper end of the hemispherical base is connected to a hollow cylindrical thin shell structure, and the upper and lower ends of the side walls of the hollow cylindrical thin shell structure are provided with an inlet for the liquid to be cooled and an outlet for the liquid to be cooled in directions away from each other;

[0029] The upper end of the hollow cylindrical thin shell structure is connected to a hemispherical top cover with a cavity structure. The upper end of the hemispherical top cover is provided with a hot water outlet, and the lower end of the hemispherical top cover is provided with multiple water inlet channels.

[0030] The multi-level branching structure flow channel assembly is arranged inside the hollow cylindrical thin shell structure after being arrayed, and the water inlet of the multi-level branching structure flow channel assembly is connected to the water outlet channel on the hemispherical base, and the water outlet of the multi-level branching structure flow channel assembly is connected to the water inlet channel on the hemispherical top cover.

[0031] Furthermore, the multi-stage branching structure flow channel assembly is composed of a plurality of multi-stage branching structure flow channels connected end to end in sequence.

[0032] Furthermore, the multi-stage branch structure flow channel is composed of four turn-shaped pipes connected end to end, each turn-shaped pipe forms a 90° corner at the midpoint, the angle between two adjacent turn-shaped pipes is 90°, and the four turn-shaped pipes are distributed in a regular octahedron structure.

[0033] Furthermore, a plurality of anti-erosion protrusions are distributed inside the bent-type pipeline, and the protrusions are arranged in a staggered manner, thereby protecting the bent-type pipeline.

[0034] Furthermore, the outer wall of the hollow cylindrical thin shell structure is covered with a grid-like reinforcement rib to protect the hollow cylindrical thin shell structure and prevent the hollow cylindrical thin shell structure from being damaged by pressure. The hollow cylindrical thin shell structure cannot be made too thick, otherwise it will affect its own heat dissipation.

[0035] As shown in the figure, an additive manufacturing method for a complex structure heat exchange component includes the following steps:

[0036] Step 101. Perform printing pre-processing, i.e., slicing processing, to generate layered contour data and deposition work routes;

[0037] Step 102: First, a hemispherical substrate is printed using pure copper powder as the material through laser powder bed fusion technology;

[0038] Then print the multi-level branch structure flow channel assembly;

[0039] Printing of hollow cylindrical thin shell structures;

[0040] Printing of hemispherical top cover;

[0041] The laser printing parameters were as follows: spot diameter 1 mm, laser power 650 W, scanning speed 200 mm / min, and shielding gas flow rate 10 L / min;

[0042] Step 103: Using steel alloy powder as the material, printing grid-shaped reinforcement ribs by laser powder bed fusion technology;

[0043] The printing parameters of the steel hollow mesh structure are: spot diameter 1mm, laser power 500W, scanning speed 350mm / min, powder feeding rate 20g / min, shielding gas flow rate 10L / min, and powder carrier gas flow rate 12L / min.

[0044] After passing through one end of the hemispherical base, the cold water enters the hemispherical top cover after passing through the multi-stage branch structure flow channel assembly, fully absorbing the heat of the liquid to be cooled.

Claims

1. A complex structure heat exchange device, characterized in that: It comprises a hemispherical base with a cavity structure, a cold water inlet is provided at the lower end of the hemispherical base, and a plurality of water outlet channels are provided at the upper end of the hemispherical base; The upper end of the hemispherical base is connected to a hollow cylindrical thin shell structure, and the upper and lower ends of the side walls of the hollow cylindrical thin shell structure are provided with an inlet for the liquid to be cooled and an outlet for the liquid to be cooled in directions away from each other; The upper end of the hollow cylindrical thin shell structure is connected to a hemispherical top cover with a cavity structure. The upper end of the hemispherical top cover is provided with a hot water outlet, and the lower end of the hemispherical top cover is provided with multiple water inlet channels. The multi-stage branched flow channel assembly is arranged inside the hollow cylindrical thin shell structure after being arrayed, and the water inlet of the multi-stage branched flow channel assembly is connected to the water outlet channel on the hemispherical base, and the water outlet of the multi-stage branched flow channel assembly is connected to the water inlet channel on the hemispherical top cover; The multi-stage branch structure flow channel assembly is composed of multiple multi-stage branch structure flow channels connected end to end in sequence; The multi-stage branch structure flow channel is composed of four bend-shaped pipes connected end to end. Each bend-shaped pipe forms a 90° corner at the midpoint, and the angle between two adjacent bend-shaped pipes is 90°. The four bend-shaped pipes are distributed in a regular octahedron structure.

2. A complex structure heat exchange device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inside of the curved pipe is distributed with multiple anti-erosion protrusions, which are arranged in a staggered manner.

3. A complex structure heat exchange device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The outer wall of the hollow cylindrical thin shell structure is covered with grid-shaped reinforcing ribs.

4. A method for additive manufacturing of a complex structure heat exchange component, for processing the complex structure heat exchange component according to claim 3, characterized in that: The steps include: Step 101: Perform printing pre-processing to generate layered profile data and deposition work routes; Step 102: First, a hemispherical substrate is printed using pure copper powder as the material through laser powder bed fusion technology; Then print the multi-level branch structure flow channel assembly; Printing of hollow cylindrical thin shell structures; Printing of hemispherical top cover; The laser printing parameters were as follows: spot diameter 1 mm, laser power 650 W, scanning speed 200 mm / min, and shielding gas flow rate 10 L / min; Step 103: Using steel alloy powder as the material, printing grid-shaped reinforcement ribs by laser powder bed fusion technology; The printing parameters of the steel hollow mesh structure are: spot diameter 1mm, laser power 500W, scanning speed 350mm / min, powder feeding rate 20g / min, shielding gas flow rate 10L / min, and powder carrier gas flow rate 12L / min.

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