Air Treatment Module Bypass Duct for Heat Exchanger Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
The effectiveness of heat exchange in air treatment modules is reduced due to low air flow across or along heat exchanger tubes, leading to high temperature zones and reliability issues, which existing solutions like increasing fan capacity or adding baffles or fins are costly and not always effective.
Innovation Solution
An air treatment module with a bypass duct that redirects air flow to regions of lower pressure, increasing air flow over heat exchanger tubes and maintaining thermal efficiency by reintroducing bypass air into the main flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air flow is increased across heat exchanger tubes to improve heat transfer effectiveness, then heat exchange performance is improved, but system cost and complexity increase due to larger fans, increased fan power, or additional flow control components
Solution Approach 1:
The air plenum is segmented into multiple flow paths: a primary flow path through the heat exchanger tubes and a secondary bypass flow path. This segmentation allows independent control of air flow distribution without requiring system-wide changes, improving heat transfer effectiveness while avoiding increased system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Flow control members are introduced as intermediary components within the bypass ducts to regulate air flow distribution. These intermediaries enable precise control of air flow to heat exchanger tubes without requiring larger fans or complex system-wide modifications
2Reliability
If traditional methods such as increasing fan capacity or adding flow baffles are used to improve air flow distribution, then air flow uniformity is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Flow control members are placed locally at specific positions within the air plenum where air flow distribution needs improvement. This localized approach achieves air flow uniformity without requiring system-wide modifications or expensive components throughout the entire system
Solution Approach 2:
The flow control members are designed as simple, inexpensive components that can be easily manufactured and installed. These basic flow control elements provide effective air flow distribution without the high cost of complex fan systems or extensive baffle structures
3Reliability
If fins are added to heat exchanger tubes to increase heat transfer surface area, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of modifying the heat exchanger tubes by adding fins, the invention inverts the approach by modifying the air flow path. Flow control members are added to the bypass ducts to optimize air flow distribution across the existing tubes, achieving improved heat transfer efficiency without increasing heat exchanger complexity
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
Enhances heat transfer and uniformity of air flow across heat exchanger modules, reducing hot spots and improving system reliability while being less costly than traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
The heat exchanger tube is disposed in the air flow path within the air plenum for conveying a heat transfer fluid in heat exchange relationship with the flow of air to be treated
Implementation Method 2
The bypass duct has an inlet opening in flow communication with the air plenum in juxtaposition with a selected region of the heat exchanger tube downstream with respect to air flow of the heat exchange tube and an outlet opening in flow communication with a zone of lower air pressure
Data Source
AI summary
An air treatment module includes an air plenum, a heat exchanger tube and a bypass duct. The bypass duct has an inlet opening in flow communication with the air plenum in juxtaposition with a selected region of the heat exchanger and an outlet opening in flow communication with a zone of lower air pressure. The presence of the bypass duct improves air flow over the heat exchanger tube in the selected region.