Heat exchange device

Abstract

A heat exchange device includes a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger. At least one of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger is provided with a spraying device that can be turned off. An air outlet of the first heat exchanger is connected to an air inlet of the second heat exchanger. An atomization device that can be turned off is provided at an air inlet of the first heat exchanger, so that after atomized particles undergo evaporation heat exchange in the first heat exchanger, atomized particles which have not undergone sufficient heat exchange can enter the second heat exchanger for sufficient heat exchange. The provision of both the spraying device and the atomization device in the heat exchange device allows for selecting different cooling modes according to different cooling powers.

Description

[0001] The present application claims the priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202223582238.9, titled “HEAT EXCHANGE DEVIE”, filed on Dec. 30, 2022 with the China National Intellectual Property Administration, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD

[0002] The present application relates to the technical field of heat exchange, and in particular, to a heat exchange device.BACKGROUND

[0003] At present, a dry heat exchanger and a plate-type wet heat exchanger are used in combination in the conventional technology. For instance, a hybrid heat exchange device and a method for operating the same are disclosed in the Chinese Patent Application No. 201180044407.9, in which two plate-type wet heat exchangers are provided. One of the plate-type wet heat exchangers has a water spraying device that may be selectively turned on or off. When the water spraying device is turned off, this plate-type wet heat exchanger functions as a dry heat exchanger. When the heat exchanger can be used as both a dry heat exchanger and a wet heat exchanger, there may be constraints in the two uses. Consequently, when the heat exchanger functions as a dry heat exchanger, it cannot achieve a better heat exchange effect than a dedicated dry heat exchanger. However, in practical applications, when the heat exchanger is operated in a single wet cooling mode or dry cooling mode, it cannot achieve more precise adjustments of cooling efficiency, leading to an increased service life of the heat exchanger, for example caused by the overuse of wet cooling.

[0004] In summary, it is desired for those skilled in the art to effectively solve the issue of a short service life of the heat exchange device.SUMMARY

[0005] In view of this, an object of the present application is to provide a heat exchange device, which can effectively solve the issue of a short service life of the heat exchange device.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the following technical solutions are proposed according to the present application.

[0007] A heat exchange device includes a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger. At least one of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger is provided with a closable spraying device that is configured to be turned on or off. An air outlet of the first heat exchanger is connected to an air inlet of the second heat exchanger. A closable atomization device that is configured to be turned on or off is provided at an air inlet of the first heat exchanger.

[0008] In this heat exchange device, during operation, the spraying device or the atomization device may be turned on based on the cooling power requirements for the object being cooled. For instance, at a lower cooling power, both the atomization device and the spraying device may be turned off simultaneously, and only air cooling is performed. The air flows through the two heat exchangers sequentially to fully utilize the air for cooling. When the cooling power is increased and air cooling alone is insufficient, the atomization device may be turned on. Atomized particles from the atomization device undergo evaporative heat exchange at the first heat exchanger, and some atomized particles that have not undergone sufficient heat exchange can enter the second heat exchanger for evaporative heat exchange. When the cooling power is further increased and atomization cooling is no longer sufficient, the spraying device can be additionally turned on. By providing both the spraying device and the atomization device in this heat exchange device, different cooling modes can be selected based on varying cooling power requirements, which can better prolong the overall service life. Moreover, the atomization device is positioned at the air inlet of the first heat exchanger, so that after the atomized particles can undergo evaporative heat exchange at the first heat exchanger, some atomized particles that have not undergone sufficient heat exchange can then enter the second heat exchanger for sufficient heat exchange, which can further improve the heat dissipation efficiency and prolong the service life. In conclusion, this heat exchange device can effectively solve the problem of a short service life of the heat exchange device.

[0009] Preferably, only the first heat exchanger is provided with the spraying device, and the second heat exchanger is a dry heat exchanger.

[0010] Preferably, the atomization device comprises an atomization nozzle device and / or a wet membrane humidification device.

[0011] Preferably, the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are arranged side by side in a horizontal direction.

[0012] Preferably, an exhaust fan is provided at an air outlet of the second heat exchanger.

[0013] Preferably, a water baffle is provided between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.

[0014] Preferably, the first heat exchanger is a bare-tube heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger is a plate-fin heat exchanger.

[0015] Preferably, only the second heat exchanger is provided with the spraying device.

[0016] Preferably, a heat exchange channel of the first heat exchanger is connected in series or in parallel with a heat exchange channel of the second heat exchanger.

[0017] Preferably, an inlet of the heat exchange channel of the first heat exchanger is in communication with an outlet of the heat exchange channel of the second heat exchanger.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] For more clearly illustrating the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or in the conventional technology, drawings referred to describe the embodiments or the conventional technology will be briefly described hereinafter. Apparently, the drawings in the following description are related to some embodiments of the present application, and for those skilled in the art, other drawings may be obtained based on these drawings without any creative efforts.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of a heat exchange device provided according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0020] FIG. 2 is a schematic structural view of another heat exchange device provided according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0021] FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of another heat exchange device provided according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0022] Reference numerals are as follows:1. first heat exchanger;2. second heat exchanger;3. spraying device;4. atomization device;5. exhaust fan.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0023] A heat exchange device is provided according to an embodiment of the present application to effectively solve the problem of a short service life of the heat exchange device.

[0024] The solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely hereinafter in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. It is apparent that the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present application. Based on the embodiments of the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without any creative work will fall into the protection scope of the present application.

[0025] Reference is made to FIGS. 1 to 3, FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of a heat exchange device provided according to an embodiment of the present application; FIG. 2 is a schematic structural view of another heat exchange device provided according to an embodiment of the present application; and FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of another heat exchange device provided according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0026] In a specific embodiment, a heat exchange device is provided. Specifically, the heat exchange device includes multiple heat exchangers, for example, two, three or more heat exchangers. For the sake of clarity in explanation, two of the multiple heat exchangers may be defined as a first heat exchanger 1 and a second heat exchanger 2 respectively.

[0027] In addition, an air outlet of the first heat exchanger 1 is connected to an air inlet of the second heat exchanger 2, so that a ventilation channel of the first heat exchanger 1 is connected in series with a ventilation channel of the second heat exchanger 2. It should be noted that the series connection here represents only one use state of the heat exchange device, and there may be other use states. For instance, in another use state, the ventilation channel of the first heat exchanger 1 may be connected in parallel with the ventilation channel of the second heat exchanger 2.

[0028] The connection between the air outlet of the first heat exchanger 1 and the air inlet of the second heat exchanger 2 allows, with assistance of an air-generating device, the air to firstly flow through the first heat exchanger 1 and then enter the second heat exchanger 2. Generally, ambient air flows into the first heat exchanger 1, and then enters the second heat exchanger 2, and finally flows back into the environment from an air outlet of the second heat exchanger 2.

[0029] At least one of the first heat exchanger 1 and the second heat exchanger 2 is provided with a spraying device 3, that is, the first heat exchanger 1 and / or the second heat exchanger 2 has a spraying device 3. The heat exchanger with the spraying device 3 is a wet heat exchanger, and its specific structure can refer to a spray-type wet heat exchanger in the conventional technology. Such an expression as “closable spraying device 3” means that the spraying device 3 may have two use states. In one use state, the spraying device 3 is turned on, allowing for spray cooling; and in the other use state, the spraying device 3 is turned off, allowing for air cooling or other cooling means.

[0030] An atomization device 4 is provided at an air inlet of the first heat exchanger 1 to create atomized liquid particles at the air inlet of the first heat exchanger 1. These atomized liquid particles are carried by airflow into the first heat exchanger 1 and undergo evaporative heat exchange in the first heat exchanger 1. Some atomized liquid particles that have not undergone evaporative heat exchange follow the airflow into the second heat exchanger 2 for further evaporative heat exchange, and air cooling may be performed in the second heat exchanger 2 at the same time. Such an expression as “closable atomization device 4” means that the atomization device may have two use states. In one use state, the spraying device 3 is turned on, and spray cooling is performed; and in the other use state, the spraying device 3 is turned off, and only air cooling or other means is performed. It should be clarified that the spraying device 3, the atomization device 4, and the air-generating device may be turned on or off independently. Generally, the spraying device 3 and the atomization device 4 may be not turned on simultaneously. Alternatively, the spraying device 3 or the atomization device 4 may be turned on alone, or both of them may be turned off simultaneously. The air-generating device may be turned on alone, or it may be turned on with the spraying device 3 or the atomization device 4 simultaneously.

[0031] In this heat exchange device, during operation, the spraying device 3 or the atomization device 4 may be turned on based on the cooling power requirements for the object being cooled. For instance, at a lower cooling power, both the atomization device 4 and the spraying device 3 may be turned off simultaneously, and only air cooling is performed. The air flows through the two heat exchangers in sequence to fully utilize the air for cooling. When the cooling power is increased and air cooling alone is insufficient, the atomization device 4 may be turned on. Atomized particles from the atomization device 4 undergo evaporative heat exchange in the first heat exchanger 1, and some atomized particles that have not undergone sufficient heat exchange may enter the second heat exchanger 2 for further evaporative heat exchange. When the cooling power is further increased and atomization cooling is no longer sufficient, the spraying device 3 may be additionally turned on. In this heat exchange device, the provision of both the spraying device 3 and the atomization device 4 allows for selecting different cooling modes based on varying cooling power requirements, which can better prolong the overall service life. Moreover, the atomization device 4 is provided at the air inlet of the first heat exchanger 1, so that the atomized particles may undergo evaporative heat exchange in the first heat exchanger 1, and some atomized particles that have not undergone sufficient heat exchange may enter the second heat exchanger 2 for sufficient heat exchange, which can further improve heat dissipation efficiency and prolong the service life. In summary, this heat exchange device can effectively solve the problem of a short service life of the heat exchange device.

[0032] At least one of the first heat exchanger 1 and the second heat exchanger 2 is provided with a closable spraying device 3. It may be a case that the first heat exchanger 1 is provided with the spraying device 3, and the second heat exchanger 2 is not provided with the spraying device 3. Alternatively, the second heat exchanger 2 is provided with the spraying device 3, and the first heat exchanger 1 is not provided with the spraying device 3.

[0033] In some embodiments, one of the first heat exchanger 1 and the second heat exchanger 2 may be a wet heat exchanger with a spraying device 3, and the other is a dry heat exchanger. Compared with the wet heat exchanger with the spraying device 3, the dry heat exchanger has a larger heat exchange area. Typically, many fins are arranged in the dry heat exchanger to be in sufficient contact with the air, thereby ensuring sufficient heat exchange with the air. For example, the dry heat exchanger is a plate-fin heat exchanger. The plate-fin heat exchanger may be a finned-tube heat exchanger or a plate heat exchanger. The wet heat exchanger is generally a bare-tube heat exchanger, that is, it only has tubes, and the liquid falls onto outer surfaces of the tubes for evaporative heat exchange, thereby avoiding any obstruction to liquid flow. Alternatively, the wet heat exchanger may be a non-bare-tube heat exchanger, that is, it may have a small number of fins, as long as they do not impede liquid flow. Providing one of the first heat exchanger 1 and the second heat exchanger 2 as a dry heat exchanger can achieve effective air cooling, thereby reducing the operating time of the spraying device 3 and the atomization device 4 and further prolonging the service life.

[0034] In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 1, for the first heat exchanger 1 and the second heat exchanger 2, the spraying device 3 is only provided at the first heat exchanger 1, and the second heat exchanger 2 is a dry heat exchanger. In this case, the atomization device 4 is provided at the air inlet of the first heat exchanger 1. When the atomization device 4 is turned on, the spraying device 3 may be turned off. Atomized liquid particles from the atomization device 4 follow the air into the first heat exchanger 1 for evaporative heat exchange. Some liquid particles that have not yet evaporated flow out from the air outlet of the first heat exchanger 1 and enter the second heat exchanger 2. At this point, the content of the liquid particles has been significantly decreased. Although the second heat exchanger 2 is a dry heat exchanger, it does not adversely affect the flow of the liquid particles. On the contrary, a small number of liquid particles can undergo evaporative heat exchange in the second heat exchanger 2, which can improve the heat exchange efficiency of the second heat exchanger 2, and prolong the overall service life of the entire heat exchange device.

[0035] In some embodiments, the atomization device 4 refers to a device capable of atomizing a liquid. The atomization device 4 generally has the following two forms. In one form, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the atomization device 4 is an atomization nozzle device, which employs an atomization nozzle. In this case, when water flows through the atomization nozzle, water is not sprayed out but rather emitted in the form of mist. In this atomized state, the airflow contains a very high concentration of liquid particles. In the other form, as shown in FIG. 2, the atomization device 4 is a wet membrane humidification device, which employs a wet membrane. In this case, when air flows through the wet membrane, it will carry away liquid, forming liquid particles. A large number of liquid particles are atomized in the airflow.

[0036] In some embodiments, as depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the first heat exchanger 1 and the second heat exchanger 2 may be arranged side by side in a horizontal direction, so that the atomized particles flowing through the first heat exchanger 1 can enter the second heat exchanger 2 more conveniently, thereby ensuring the heat exchange efficiency of the second heat exchanger 2.

[0037] Alternatively, the first heat exchanger 1 and the second heat exchanger 2 are arranged side by side in a vertical direction. For instance, the second heat exchanger 2 is positioned directly above the first heat exchanger 1. In this case, it is preferable that the second heat exchanger 2 is a dry heat exchanger, and a spraying device 3 is provided between the first heat exchanger 1 and the second heat exchanger 2.

[0038] In some embodiments, the air-generating device may be either an exhaust fan 5 or an air supply fan. For example, an exhaust fan 5 may be provided at the air outlet of the second heat exchanger 2, and / or an air supply fan may be provided at the air inlet of a single heat exchanger. Generally, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, it is only necessary to provide an exhaust fan 5 at the air outlet of the second heat exchanger 2. This arrangement keeps the airflow away from the liquid, thereby improving the service life of the fan.

[0039] In some embodiments, a water baffle may be provided between the first heat exchanger 1 and the second heat exchanger 2. Particularly when the first heat exchanger 1 is equipped with a spraying device 3 and the second heat exchanger 2 is a dry heat exchanger, the water baffle is configured to prevent a large amount of water from entering the second heat exchanger 2, which would otherwise adversely affect the service life of the second heat exchanger 2. The water baffle is typically an air guide plate that is configured to change the airflow direction. Large liquid particles are carried by the airflow and impact the water baffle, then flow with the water baffle downward under gravity to separate from the airflow. The number of the water baffle may be selected based on the number of liquid particles received by the second heat exchanger 2 to control the amount of water blocked. Generally, the water baffle is provided at the air outlet of the first heat exchanger 1.

[0040] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, for the first heat exchanger 1 and the second heat exchanger 2, only the second heat exchanger 2 may be equipped with a spraying device 3, and an atomization device 4 is provided at the air inlet of the first heat exchanger 1. In this case, the second heat exchanger 2 acts as a spraying heat exchanger, and the first heat exchanger 1 functions as an atomization heat exchanger. Generally, the atomization heat exchanger has a larger heat exchange area than that of the spraying heat exchanger. That is, the atomization heat exchanger can have a small number of fins to increase the contact area with the airflow, thus achieving sufficient contact with the liquid particles in the airflow.

[0041] In this heat exchange device, the spraying device 3 and the atomization device 4 may be turned on simultaneously, which can further ensure the heat exchange efficiency and prolong the service life. During operation, the spraying device may be turned on alone, or the spraying device 3 may be turned on alone. Alternatively, both the spraying device 3 and the atomization device 4 may be turned on simultaneously. When both the spraying device 3 and the atomization device 4 are turned on simultaneously, the atomized particles evaporate at the first heat exchanger 1, so that the air volume is increased, and the airflow at the spraying device 3 can be better pushed out.

[0042] In some embodiments, a heat exchange channel of the first heat exchanger 1 may be connected in series or in parallel with a heat exchange channel of the second heat exchanger 2. When the heat exchange channel of the first heat exchanger 1 is connected in parallel with the heat exchange channel of the second heat exchanger 2, the high-temperature fluid flows out from the heat source, and a portion of the high-temperature fluid enters the heat exchange channel of the first heat exchanger 1 and the other portion of the high-temperature fluid enters the heat exchange channel of the second heat exchanger 2. After exchanging heat in the first heat exchanger 1 and the second heat exchanger 2 respectively, the fluid flows out of the heat exchange device again. It should be noted that the fluid flowing within the heat exchange channel is generally a fluid capable of exchanging heat, which may include Freon, water, or other fluids.

[0043] When the heat exchange channel of the first heat exchanger 1 is connected in series with the heat exchange channel of the second heat exchanger 2, an inlet of the heat exchange channel of the second heat exchanger 2 can be in communication with an outlet of the heat exchange channel of the first heat exchanger 1, so that the fluid flows through the first heat exchanger 1 firstly and then through the second heat exchanger 2.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 1, it is preferable that an inlet of the heat exchange channel of the first heat exchanger 1 is in communication with an outlet of the heat exchange channel of the second heat exchanger 2, so that the fluid flows through the second heat exchanger 2 firstly and then through the first heat exchanger 1. For instance, when the second heat exchanger 2 is a dry heat exchanger and air cooling is mainly performed at the second heat exchanger 2. Specifically, high-temperature refrigerant undergoes air cooling firstly when flowing through the second heat exchanger 2, to reduce the temperature of the refrigerant in the heat exchange channel. Then the refrigerant flows to the first heat exchanger 1 for evaporative cooling, which can reduce evaporation amount of the liquid and prolong the service life of the first heat exchanger 1.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 3, the inlet of the heat exchange channel of the second heat exchanger 2 may be in communication with the outlet of the heat exchange channel of the first heat exchanger 1. In this case, both air cooling and evaporative cooling are carried out at the first heat exchanger 1, while evaporative cooling is mainly performed at the second heat exchanger 2, so as to reduce the evaporation amount for the evaporative cooling and thereby prolong the service life.

[0046] The embodiments in the specification are described in a progressive manner, and each embodiment focuses on the difference from other embodiments. Same and similar parts among these embodiments may be referred to each other.

[0047] According to the embodiments disclosed described above, those skilled in the art can implement or use the present application. Many modifications to these embodiments are obvious for those skilled in the art. The general principle defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present application. Therefore, the present application is not limited to the embodiments described herein, but should be conform to the widest scope consistent with the principle and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A heat exchange device, comprising a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, wherein at least one of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger is provided with a closable spraying device that is configured to be turned on or off, an air outlet of the first heat exchanger is connected to an air inlet of the second heat exchanger, and a closable atomization device that is configured to be turned on or off is provided at an air inlet of the first heat exchanger.

2. The heat exchange device according to claim 1, wherein only the first heat exchanger is provided with the spraying device, and the second heat exchanger is a dry heat exchanger.

3. The heat exchange device according to claim 2, wherein the atomization device comprises an atomization nozzle device and / or a wet membrane humidification device.

4. The heat exchange device according to claim 3, wherein the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are arranged side by side in a horizontal direction.

5. The heat exchange device according to claim 4, wherein an exhaust fan is provided at an air outlet of the second heat exchanger.

6. The heat exchange device according to claim 5, wherein a water baffle is provided between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.

7. The heat exchange device according to claim 6, wherein the first heat exchanger is a bare-tube heat exchanger, and the second heat exchanger is a plate-fin heat exchanger.

8. The heat exchange device according to claim 1, wherein only the second heat exchanger is provided with the spraying device.

9. The heat exchange device according to claim 1, wherein a heat exchange channel of the first heat exchanger is connected in series or in parallel with a heat exchange channel of the second heat exchanger.

10. The heat exchange device according to claim 9, wherein an inlet of the heat exchange channel of the first heat exchanger is in communication with an outlet of the heat exchange channel of the second heat exchanger.

11. The heat exchange device according to claim 2, wherein a heat exchange channel of the first heat exchanger is connected in series or in parallel with a heat exchange channel of the second heat exchanger.

12. The heat exchange device according to claim 3, wherein a heat exchange channel of the first heat exchanger is connected in series or in parallel with a heat exchange channel of the second heat exchanger.

13. The heat exchange device according to claim 4, wherein a heat exchange channel of the first heat exchanger is connected in series or in parallel with a heat exchange channel of the second heat exchanger.

14. The heat exchange device according to claim 5, wherein a heat exchange channel of the first heat exchanger is connected in series or in parallel with a heat exchange channel of the second heat exchanger.

15. The heat exchange device according to claim 6, wherein a heat exchange channel of the first heat exchanger is connected in series or in parallel with a heat exchange channel of the second heat exchanger.

16. The heat exchange device according to claim 7, wherein a heat exchange channel of the first heat exchanger is connected in series or in parallel with a heat exchange channel of the second heat exchanger.

17. The heat exchange device according to claim 8, wherein a heat exchange channel of the first heat exchanger is connected in series or in parallel with a heat exchange channel of the second heat exchanger.

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