Absorption Plate Layout for Mixed-Flow Refrigerant Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing absorption air conditioning systems for vehicles face efficiency limitations due to saturation of the absorbent fluid and complex, costly manufacturing processes, particularly in the automotive field where compactness and flexibility are crucial.
Innovation Solution
An absorption plate design featuring two exchange surfaces arranged to force the absorbent fluid to mix, enhancing refrigerant absorption efficiency without additional components, allowing for compact and cost-effective implementation by ensuring homogeneous temperature and concentration across the exchange surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If the absorbent fluid flows through a conventional absorption plate, then the system size is reduced, but the absorption efficiency is limited due to heat transfer rate constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The exchange surfaces are designed as porous grids that allow the absorbent fluid to pass through while providing extensive surface area for refrigerant absorption. The porous structure enables the fluid to be distributed throughout the grid thickness, creating multiple absorption zones and enhancing heat transfer efficiency without increasing overall system volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a conventional single-sided absorption approach to a through-flow configuration where the absorbent fluid passes through the exchange surface from one side to the other. This dimensional change allows absorption to occur across the entire thickness of the plate, effectively utilizing the third dimension to increase absorption capacity within the same footprint.
2Productivity
If protrusions are added to tube surfaces to create turbulence, then absorption efficiency improves, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The relative arrangement of the two exchange surfaces themselves creates the turbulence and mixing effects needed to enhance absorption. The surfaces force the absorbent fluid to cross through them and mix, generating the desired flow patterns without requiring additional protrusions or complex surface modifications. The system uses its own structural configuration to achieve the mixing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines the exchange surface structure with the mixing function into a single integrated component. Rather than adding separate protrusions or turbulence-generating elements to the tubes, the exchange surfaces are designed to perform both heat transfer and fluid mixing functions simultaneously, simplifying manufacturing and reducing component count.
3Productivity
If the passage section between exchange surfaces is reduced to force fluid crossing, then mixing efficiency improves, but pressure drop increases
Solution Approach 1:
The exchange surfaces are designed with locally varied properties, including regions of different porosity and thickness. This allows the passage section to be reduced in specific areas where mixing is most needed, while maintaining larger passage sections in other areas to minimize overall pressure drop. The local quality variation enables optimized mixing efficiency without excessive pressure penalties.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design significantly improves absorption efficiency by ensuring uniform mixing of the absorbent fluid, achieving high yields in a compact form suitable for automotive integration while maintaining economic feasibility.
Implementation Method 1
the exothermic absorption of a so-called refrigerant fluid in the vapor phase taking place through the said two exchange surfaces by increasing a concentration of the refrigerant fluid in the absorbing fluid
Implementation Method 2
the relative arrangement of the two exchange surfaces forces at least a part of the flow of absorbent fluid to cross at least once one of the exchange surfaces and causes mixing of the flow of absorbent fluid
Implementation Method 3
the relative arrangement of the two exchange surfaces causing mixing of the flow of absorbent fluid is a decrease in the passage section between the exchange surfaces for the flow of absorbent fluid
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to an absorption plate, in particular of an absorption air conditioner for a vehicle, crossed by a stream of liquid absorbent fluid (10) flowing between two exchange surfaces (35) arranged relatively opposite one another, the exothermal absorption of a so-called coolant fluid in vapour phase taking place through said exchange surfaces (35) by increasing a concentration of the coolant fluid in the absorbent fluid (10), characterised in that the relative arrangement of the two exchange surfaces (35) forces at least one portion of the stream of absorbent fluid (10) to pass at least once through one of the exchange surfaces (35) and causes mixing of the stream of absorbent fluid (10).