Angled Condenser Surfaces for Transport Refrigeration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transport refrigeration machines for vehicles face limited space constraints, leading to small condensers that result in high energy consumption, reduced cooling capacity, and increased wear on components due to high condensing pressures, with lower cooling performance compared to stationary systems, especially in fresh food and deep-freeze applications.
Innovation Solution
The transport refrigeration machine features at least two condensers with inflow surfaces arranged at an angle to each other, typically between 45° and 130°, with one surface perpendicular and another parallel to the direction of movement, increasing the heat exchanger surface area and air intake, supported by fans, which reduces energy consumption and enhances service life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the condenser is dimensioned small due to limited space, then the refrigeration machine fits within vehicle space constraints, but the condensing pressure increases and energy consumption rises
Solution Approach 1:
The condenser is designed with multiple inflow surfaces (front surface and lower surface) arranged at angles to each other, transitioning from a single-plane to a multi-dimensional heat exchange structure. This increases the effective heat exchanger surface area without proportionally increasing the occupied volume, allowing adequate condensation performance within limited space while maintaining acceptable condensing pressures and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The condenser is divided into multiple independent heat exchange surfaces (front inflow surface and lower inflow surface) that can be optimized separately. Each surface is equipped with its own airflow generation means, allowing independent optimization of air flow paths and heat exchange efficiency across different segments, maximizing the use of available space
2Volume of moving object
If the condenser is dimensioned small due to limited space, then the refrigeration machine fits within vehicle space constraints, but the cooling capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By arranging inflow surfaces at angles (preferably 90° to 100°, with one perpendicular and one parallel to the direction of movement), the condenser captures air flow from multiple directions simultaneously. This multi-dimensional approach increases the effective heat exchange surface area exposed to ambient air, enhancing cooling capacity without requiring a proportional increase in condenser volume
Solution Approach 2:
The condenser is segmented into multiple heat exchange surfaces with dedicated airflow generation for each surface. This allows each segment to operate at optimal airflow conditions, maximizing the cooling contribution of each surface area and thereby increasing total cooling capacity within the constrained volume
3Volume of moving object
If the condenser is dimensioned small due to limited space, then the refrigeration machine fits within vehicle space constraints, but the wear on components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-surface condenser design distributes the condensing load across multiple heat exchange surfaces rather than concentrating it on a single small surface. This reduces the condensing pressure and the corresponding mechanical stress and thermal load on the compressor and refrigerant circuit components, thereby reducing wear and extending service life
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the condenser into multiple surfaces with independent airflow control, the system can optimize heat exchange efficiency at each surface, preventing excessive pressure buildup and reducing the workload on the compressor, which directly reduces mechanical wear on critical components
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
This configuration significantly enhances energy efficiency, reduces noise, and increases the service life of components by lowering condensing pressure and fan power requirements, while maintaining high refrigeration capacity and reliability, especially in constrained vehicle spaces.
Implementation Method 1
the condensers, with their inflow surfaces arranged at an angle to one another, increase the heat exchanger surface
Implementation Method 2
air flow through the condensers is usually supported by one or more condenser fans
Implementation Method 3
Condensers that are too small result in high condensing pressures
Implementation Method 4
the air flow through the condensers is usually supported by one or more condenser fans, which can be driven mechanically, hydraulically or electrically
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The device (1) has condensers with incident-flow surfaces, which are angularly arranged relative to each other. An angle between the incident-flow surfaces ranges from 80 degree to 100 degree. One of the incident-flow surfaces is arranged perpendicular to a moving direction and other incident-flow surface is arranged parallel to the moving direction. The condensers are integrated in a housing, which is arranged above a tiltable driver cabin (4) of a lorry. The housing is pivotable by a tilting hydraulic system.