Heat exchanger and heat exchange type water heater
By incorporating a turbulence-inducing device in the heat exchanger and filling the hollow tubular structure with an energy storage medium, the problems of low efficiency in bare tube heat exchangers and high processing difficulty in corrugated tubes are solved, achieving efficient and low-cost heat exchange.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-05
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-03
AI Technical Summary
Existing bare tube heat exchangers have low heat exchange efficiency, and corrugated tubes are difficult and costly to process. Traditional methods result in excessive size and increased material costs.
A turbulence-inducing device is installed in the heat exchanger, including a main body and a turbulence-inducing structure. The turbulence-inducing structure is arranged along the extension direction of the heat exchange tubes. Combined with the hollow tubular structure filled with energy storage heat exchange medium, spiral turbulence-inducing vanes are used to improve the turbulence effect.
It improves heat exchange efficiency, reduces material costs, avoids volume increase, achieves more uniform heat exchange, and extends service life.
Smart Images
Figure CN224080404U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of water heater technology, and more particularly to a heat exchanger and a heat exchange water heater. Background Technology
[0002] The heat exchanger is a crucial component in a heat exchange type electric water heater. When bathing water flows through the heat exchanger, it exchanges heat with the heat exchange medium to heat the water. In related technologies, heat exchangers typically use either corrugated tubes or smooth tubes. Smooth tubes are easier to manufacture, but their heat exchange efficiency is low. To improve heat exchange efficiency, the length of the heat exchange tube is usually extended. However, extending the heat exchange tube not only leads to an excessively large heat exchanger but also increases material costs. Corrugated tubes, on the other hand, have corrugated protrusions machined on the surface of a smooth tube to increase the heat exchange area and improve efficiency. However, machining corrugated protrusions on the surface of a smooth tube makes the heat exchanger more difficult to manufacture and increases costs. Utility Model Content
[0003] This application provides a heat exchanger designed to solve the problem of low heat exchange efficiency in bare tube heat exchangers.
[0004] In a first aspect, this application provides a heat exchanger, including: a heat exchange tube and a flow-dispersing device, wherein the flow-dispersing device is disposed inside the heat exchange tube, the flow-dispersing device includes a main body and a flow-dispersing structure, the main body extends along the extension direction of the heat exchange tube, the flow-dispersing structure is connected to the surface of the main body and is evenly distributed along the extension direction of the main body, and the maximum outer diameter of the flow-dispersing structure is smaller than the inner diameter of the heat exchange tube.
[0005] In one embodiment of this application, the main body is a hollow tubular structure, the interior of the main body is filled with an energy storage heat exchange medium, and the two ends of the main body are connected to sealing plugs to seal the energy storage heat exchange medium.
[0006] In one embodiment of this application, the energy storage heat exchange medium is a phase change material.
[0007] In one embodiment of this application, the turbulence structure includes turbulence plates disposed along the surface of the main body, the turbulence plates being arranged in a spiral shape.
[0008] In one embodiment of this application, the baffle is a continuous spiral plate, or the baffle is a plurality of segments arranged along a spiral line.
[0009] In one embodiment of this application, the spoiler and the main body are an integral structure.
[0010] In one embodiment of this application, the heat exchange tube is a straight tube, and after the turbulence device is installed inside the heat exchange tube, the heat exchange tube and the turbulence device are bent into a serpentine structure.
[0011] Another aspect of this application provides a heat exchange water heater, including the aforementioned heat exchanger, the heat exchange water heater further comprising:
[0012] The shell has an internal cavity filled with an energy storage and heat exchange medium.
[0013] The heat exchanger is disposed within the receiving cavity, and the energy storage heat exchange medium is used to enclose the heat exchanger.
[0014] In one embodiment of this application, the energy storage heat exchange medium includes an energy storage liquid;
[0015] The heat exchange water heater also includes a heater, which is disposed in the receiving cavity and located at the bottom of the receiving cavity.
[0016] In one embodiment of this application, the heat exchange water heater further includes a temperature sensing probe, which is used to detect the temperature inside the containment cavity.
[0017] Compared with the prior art, the above-mentioned technical solution provided in this application has the following advantages: by setting a turbulence device on the heat exchanger, and setting a turbulence structure on the turbulence device, the main body of the turbulence structure extends along the extension direction of the heat exchange tube, so that the turbulence structure can be arranged along the extension direction of the main body, thereby turbulentizing the water flow passing over the surface of the main body, so that the water flow can generate turbulence in the heat exchanger, thereby enabling the water flow in the heat exchanger to fully contact the heat exchanger and improve the heat exchange efficiency. Attached Figure Description
[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.
[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0020] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference numerals in the accompanying drawings. These illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are denoted as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings are not to be limited by scale.
[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a thermal storage heat exchanger provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0022] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of the heat exchanger;
[0023] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged view of section A in the middle;
[0024] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of one embodiment of the turbulence device inside a heat exchanger.
[0025] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:
[0026] 100. Heat exchanger; 10. Heat exchange tube; 30. Fluid turbulence device; 31. Main body; 33. Fluid turbulence vane; 35. Sealing plug;
[0027] 200. Shell; 201. Outer shell; 203. Inner shell; 205. Insulation layer;
[0028] 300, heater; 400, temperature sensor; 500, energy storage heat exchange medium;
[0029] 1000. Heat exchange type water heater. Detailed Implementation
[0030] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.
[0031] The following disclosure provides numerous different embodiments or examples for implementing various structures of the present invention. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. These are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Furthermore, reference numerals and letters may be repeated in different examples. Such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and arrangements discussed.
[0032] For ease of description, spatial relative terms may be used in the text to describe the relative position or movement of one element or feature relative to another element or feature, as shown in the figure. These relative terms include, for example, "inside," "outside," "middle," "outer," "below," "below," "above," "front," "back," etc. Such spatial relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation, other than those depicted in the figure. For example, if the device in the figure undergoes a positional flip, orientation change, or change of motion, these directional indications will change accordingly. For instance, an element described as "below other elements or features" or "below other elements or features" will subsequently be oriented "above other elements or features" or "above other elements or features." Therefore, the example term "below" can include both upper and lower orientations. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or in other directions), and the spatial relative descriptors used in the text will be interpreted accordingly.
[0033] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a heat exchange water heater provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of heat exchanger 100; Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged image in the image, Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the turbulence device 30.
[0034] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 This application provides a heat exchanger 100, including a heat exchange tube 10 and a flow disturbance device 30. The flow disturbance device 30 is disposed inside the heat exchange tube 10. The flow disturbance device 30 includes a main body 31 and a flow disturbance structure. The main body 31 extends along the extension direction of the heat exchange tube 10. The flow disturbance structure is connected to the surface of the main body 31 and is evenly distributed along the extension direction of the main body 31. The maximum outer diameter of the flow disturbance structure is smaller than the inner diameter of the heat exchange tube 10.
[0035] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution of this application has the following advantages: By providing a turbulence-inducing device 30 in the heat exchanger 100, and a turbulence-inducing structure on the turbulence-inducing device 30, with the main body 31 of the turbulence-inducing structure extending along the extension direction of the heat exchange tube 10, the turbulence-inducing structure can be arranged along the extension direction of the main body 31. This design causes the fluid to be obstructed and disturbed by the turbulence-inducing structure when flowing through the heat exchange tube 10, resulting in turbulence within the heat exchanger 100. This increases the contact area and contact time between the fluid and the inner wall of the heat exchange tube 10, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency. Furthermore, the heat exchanger 100 in this application avoids the problems of excessive volume and increased material costs associated with traditional heat exchangers that increase the heat exchange area by extending the length of the heat exchange tube 10 or processing corrugated pipes.
[0036] Understandably, since the maximum outer diameter of the turbulence-inducing structure is smaller than the inner diameter of the heat exchange tube 10, it ensures that the turbulence-inducing device 30 can be smoothly installed inside the heat exchange tube 10 without increasing the volume or material cost of the heat exchanger 100 due to excessive size. At the same time, the design of the turbulence-inducing device 30 also has a certain degree of flexibility; the shape, number, and distribution of the turbulence-inducing structure can be adjusted according to actual needs to further optimize the heat exchange effect. For example, the main body 31 of the turbulence-inducing device 30 is roughly tubular in shape, and can be a solid tube or a hollow tube, etc. The main body 31 can be a single hollow tube with a large outer diameter, or a combination of multiple tubes with smaller outer diameters, etc.
[0037] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 In one embodiment of this application, the main body 31 is a hollow tubular structure, the interior of the main body 31 is filled with an energy storage heat exchange medium 500, and the two ends of the main body 31 are connected to sealing plugs 35 to seal the energy storage heat exchange medium 500.
[0038] In one embodiment of this application, the main body 31 is a hollow tubular structure, with openings at both ends to facilitate the filling of the main body 31 with an energy storage heat exchange medium 500. The energy storage heat exchange medium 500 allows the heat exchanger 100 to store and release heat during the heat exchange process, further improving heat exchange efficiency. The energy storage heat exchange medium 500 can be a phase change material, which can be filled inside the hollow tubular structure in the form of an energy storage bag, or it can be in a bulk, unpackaged form. By using two sealing plugs 35 to seal the end structures at both ends of the main body 31, leakage of the energy storage heat exchange medium 500 can be ensured, guaranteeing the stability and safety of the heat exchanger 100 and preventing contamination of the bathing water flowing through the heat exchanger 100 by the energy storage heat exchange medium 500.
[0039] By designing the main body 31 as a hollow tubular structure and filling it with an energy storage heat exchange medium 500, the hollow tubular structure not only reduces the overall weight of the heat exchanger 100 but also reduces the material cost of the main body 31. By filling the main body 31 with the energy storage heat exchange medium 500, the medium can store a large amount of heat energy during heat absorption, thereby increasing the overall heat storage capacity of the water heater. This energy storage medium can then be slowly released when needed, allowing the water flowing through the heat exchanger 100 to exchange heat both inside and outside the heat exchanger 100, significantly improving heat exchange efficiency. Simultaneously, the water flowing through the heat exchanger 100 can also exchange heat from both the inside and outside of the heat exchanger 100, enabling a more uniform heat distribution during heat exchange and preventing localized overheating or undercooling.
[0040] The energy storage heat exchange medium 500 can be an energy storage liquid, a phase change material (PCM), or a mixture of both. In one embodiment, the energy storage heat exchange medium 500 is a PCM, which can exist in the form of an energy storage pack or in bulk. Understandably, PCM is an important type of energy storage heat exchange medium 500. PCM stores and releases heat through a phase change process, and the heat change during phase change is much larger than that of ordinary materials. PCM can include inorganic substances such as inorganic hydrated salts and nitrates, organic substances such as paraffin wax, fatty acids, and liquid crystals, and composite materials composed of a heat transfer medium and a PCM, such as heat storage plates and heat storage balls, are also common energy storage heat exchange media 500.
[0041] The heat exchanger 100 structure in this application has significant advantages such as high heat exchange efficiency and low material cost.
[0042] Reference Figure 4 In one embodiment of this application, the turbulence structure includes a turbulence plate 33 disposed along the surface of the main body 31, the turbulence plate 33 being arranged in a spiral shape.
[0043] In one embodiment of this application, the turbulence-inducing vane 33 is arranged in a spiral shape. This causes the fluid flowing through the heat exchange tube 10 to be obstructed and disturbed by the vane 33, forming turbulence. This increases the contact area and contact time between the fluid and the inner wall of the heat exchange tube 10, thereby improving heat exchange efficiency. The spiral-shaped turbulence-inducing vane 33 not only guides the fluid to form turbulence within the heat exchange tube 10, enhancing the heat exchange effect, but also reduces fluid pressure loss, lowers energy consumption, and guides the fluid to distribute evenly within the heat exchange tube 10, avoiding local overheating or undercooling, thus improving the overall heat exchange uniformity of the heat exchanger 100. Furthermore, the spiral-shaped turbulence-inducing vane 33 is not difficult to manufacture, and manufacturing costs can be effectively controlled.
[0044] It should be noted that the spiral baffles 33 can be a continuous spiral or multiple segmented baffles 33 arranged along a spiral line. The segmented arrangement of multiple baffles 33 allows for flexible adjustment of their number and spacing according to actual needs. The baffles 33 and the main body 31 are integrated, effectively improving the connection strength between them. This ensures that the heat exchanger 100 maintains structural stability and integrity even under high fluid pressure. Furthermore, the integrated structure simplifies the manufacturing process, reducing manufacturing costs and time. It also prevents the formation of dead angles or vortices at the connection between the baffles 33 and the main body 31, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency and fluid flow uniformity of the heat exchanger 100. This makes the heat exchanger 100 less prone to loosening or damage during long-term use, extending its service life and reliability.
[0045] In one embodiment of this application, the turbulence structure may also be a plurality of turbulence teeth (not shown) protruding from the surface of the main body 31 and evenly distributed at intervals, or a turbulence plate (not shown). The turbulence teeth and the turbulence plate have a certain degree of flexibility and can undergo a certain degree of deformation under high fluid pressure.
[0046] In one embodiment of this application, the heat exchange tube 10 is a straight tube, and after the flow-dispersing device 30 is installed inside the heat exchange tube 10, the heat exchange tube 10 and the flow-dispersing device 30 are bent into a serpentine structure. This serpentine structure enables the heat exchanger 100 to achieve efficient heat exchange within a limited space, reduces material costs, and avoids localized overheating or undercooling, thus improving the overall heat exchange uniformity of the heat exchanger 100. By first installing the flow-dispersing device 30 into the straight tube and then bending it, the assembly difficulty of the flow-dispersing device 30 can be effectively reduced, and the assembly efficiency improved. The serpentine structure increases the length of the heat exchange tube 10 and the flow path of the fluid within it, thereby increasing the heat exchange area and heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 100.
[0047] Reference Figure 1 This application also provides a heat exchange water heater 1000, including the heat exchanger 100, the heat exchange water heater 1000 further includes: a shell 200, the shell 200 having a receiving cavity formed inside, the receiving cavity being filled with an energy storage heat exchange medium 500, the energy storage heat exchange medium 500; the heat exchanger 100 is disposed in the receiving cavity, and the energy storage heat exchange medium 500 is used to surround the heat exchanger 100.
[0048] In this embodiment, the shell 200 provides a closed container for the heat exchanger 100, the energy storage heat exchange medium 500, and the heat exchanger 100, enabling the energy storage heat exchange medium 500 to store energy for a long time and exchange heat when necessary. The shell 200 includes an inner shell 203 and an outer shell 201, with an insulation layer 205 formed between the inner shell 203 and the outer shell 201. The accommodating cavity specifically refers to the space formed inside the inner shell 203. The insulation layer 205 is attached between the inner shell 203 and the outer shell 201, effectively reducing heat loss and increasing the heat storage time of the water heater. Since the specific structure of the heat exchanger 100 refers to the above embodiment, and since this heat exchange water heater 1000 adopts all the technical solutions of all the above embodiments, it at least has all the beneficial effects brought by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, which will not be repeated here.
[0049] In one embodiment of this application, the energy storage heat exchange medium 500 includes an energy storage liquid and a phase change material, wherein the phase change material is immersed in the energy storage liquid; the heat exchange water heater 1000 further includes a heater 300, wherein the heater 300 is disposed in the receiving cavity and located at the bottom of the receiving cavity.
[0050] In one embodiment of this application, the energy storage heat exchange medium 500 includes an energy storage liquid and a phase change material. The energy storage liquid can be water, an aqueous solution of ethylene glycol, pure ethylene glycol, silicone oil, or a heat exchange type energy storage liquid, etc. The phase change material is directly immersed in the water, and the heater 300 directly heats the energy storage liquid, avoiding direct heating of the phase change material by the heater 300. This achieves rapid energy storage of the phase change material and also solves the problem that high-power heaters 300 cannot directly heat phase change materials. The energy storage liquid has good thermal conductivity and storage performance. Understandably, the energy storage liquid can better contact the heat exchanger 100. Compared to the energy storage tank, it increases the contact area with the heat exchanger 100, thereby improving the efficiency of heat conduction. The heater 300 is located at the bottom and extends in the opposite direction along the length of the heat exchanger 100. It can heat the energy storage heat exchange medium 500 from the bottom. Utilizing the characteristic that the heated energy storage liquid can rise, the medium in the entire containment cavity can be heated, improving the uniformity of the energy storage heat exchange medium 500 in the containment cavity.
[0051] In one embodiment of this application, the heat exchange water heater 1000 further includes a temperature sensing probe 400, which is used to detect the temperature inside the receiving cavity. In one implementation of this application, the temperature sensing probe 400 is used to detect the temperature inside the receiving cavity, enabling real-time monitoring and control of the water heater's heating process, thereby improving the water heater's performance and user experience. The temperature sensing probe 400 is typically located at the top of the heater 300, roughly in the middle of the receiving cavity. The temperature sensing probe 400 can be an NTC probe or a PTC probe, etc.
[0052] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts that are not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.
[0053] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.
[0054] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.
[0055] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.
[0056] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature being directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.
[0057] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. The illustrative expressions of the above terms in this specification should not be construed as necessarily referring to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification.
[0058] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Since these modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims and their equivalents, this application also intends to include these modifications and variations.
[0059] The above description describes specific embodiments of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of various equivalent modifications or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in this application, and these modifications or substitutions should all be covered within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A heat exchanger (100), characterized in that, include: Heat exchange tube (10); and A flow disturbance device (30) is disposed inside the heat exchange tube (10). The flow disturbance device (30) includes a main body (31) and a flow disturbance structure. The main body (31) extends along the extension direction of the heat exchange tube (10). The flow disturbance structure is connected to the surface of the main body (31) and is evenly distributed along the extension direction of the main body (31). The maximum outer diameter of the flow disturbance structure is smaller than the inner diameter of the heat exchange tube (10).
2. The heat exchanger (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main body (31) is a hollow tubular structure. The interior of the main body (31) is filled with an energy storage heat exchange medium (500). The two ends of the main body (31) are connected to sealing plugs (35) to seal the energy storage heat exchange medium (500).
3. The heat exchanger (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The energy storage heat exchange medium (500) is a phase change material.
4. The heat exchanger (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The turbulence structure includes turbulence plates (33) disposed along the surface of the main body (31), and the turbulence plates (33) are arranged in a spiral shape.
5. The heat exchanger (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The baffle (33) is a continuous spiral blade, or the baffle (33) is segmented into multiple segments, with the multiple baffles (33) arranged along a spiral line.
6. The heat exchanger (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The spoiler (33) and the main body (31) are an integral structure.
7. The heat exchanger (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat exchange tube (10) is a straight tube. After the turbulence device (30) is installed inside the heat exchange tube (10), the heat exchange tube (10) and the turbulence device (30) are bent into a serpentine structure.
8. A heat exchange water heater (1000), characterized in that, Including the heat exchanger (100) as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, the heat exchange water heater (1000) further includes: A housing (200) has an internal cavity filled with an energy storage heat exchange medium (500). The heat exchanger (100) is disposed in the receiving cavity, and the energy storage heat exchange medium (500) is disposed to enclose the heat exchanger (100).
9. The heat exchange water heater (1000) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The energy storage heat exchange medium (500) includes an energy storage liquid; The heat exchange water heater (1000) also includes a heater (300), which is disposed in the receiving cavity and located at the bottom of the receiving cavity.
10. The heat exchange water heater (1000) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The heat exchange water heater (1000) also includes a temperature sensor (400), which is used to detect the temperature inside the containment cavity.