Alternating Spiral Flow Channels for Low-Loss Heat Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchanger structures with periodic minimal curved surfaces face fluid flow collisions and stagnation due to adjacent flow channels turning in the same direction, leading to decreased heat exchange efficiency and increased pressure loss.
Innovation Solution
A partition wall structure with alternating first and second flow channels turning in opposite directions, forming separate flow channel spaces that align fluid flow directions to prevent collisions and stagnation, enhancing heat exchange efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If periodic minimal curved surfaces are used to increase specific surface area, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but fluid flow collisions and stagnation occur leading to increased pressure loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional design where all adjacent flow channels turn in the same direction. Instead, it alternates the turning direction of adjacent flow channels (first direction, then opposite second direction), which aligns fluid flow directions at meeting regions and eliminates collisions and stagnation, thereby reducing pressure loss while maintaining high heat exchange efficiency through the periodic minimal curved surface structure
2Device complexity
If all adjacent flow channels turn in the same direction, then structural simplicity is maintained, but fluid flow collisions occur reducing heat exchange efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the turning direction of adjacent flow channels locally while maintaining the overall periodic minimal curved surface structure. Each flow channel alternates its turning direction (first direction for one channel, opposite second direction for the next), creating localized flow direction alignment at meeting regions without fundamentally changing the global structural simplicity of the periodic curved surface design
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a structure (1) for heat exchange, the structure (1) including a partition wall structure (10) that forms a first flow channel space (12) and a second flow channel space (14) with the first flow channel space and the second flow channel space separated from each other, the first flow channel space (12) being a space in which a plurality of first flow channels (12a) extending spirally in a certain direction are formed in communication with each other, the second flow channel space (14) being a space in which a plurality of second flow channels (14a) extending spirally in the certain direction are formed in communication with each other. Two adjacent first flow channels (12a) among the plurality of first flow channels (12a) are formed such that, when viewed along the direction in which the plurality of first flow channels (12a) extend, one first flow channel of the two adjacent first flow channels (12a) turns in a first direction, and the other first flow channel of the two adjacent first flow channels (12a) turns in a second direction opposite to the first direction. Two adjacent second flow channels (14a) among the plurality of second flow channels (14a) are formed such that, when viewed along the direction in which the plurality of second flow channels (14a) extend, one second flow channel of the two adjacent second flow channels (14a) turns in the first direction, and the other second flow channel of the two adjacent second flow channels (14a) turns in the second direction opposite to the first direction.