Bulkhead Heat Exchanger With Sinusoidal Walls for Heat Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bulkhead heat exchangers face challenges in optimizing the shape of the heat transfer surface for improved heat transfer performance while maintaining a compact design.
Innovation Solution
The bulkhead heat exchanger features a laminated structure with alternating first and second heat exchanger plates, each with sinusoidal flow path recesses and walls conforming to a sine curve, optimizing the flow path geometry for enhanced heat transfer and compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the heat transfer surface shape is optimized by trial and error, then heat transfer performance may be improved, but the design process becomes inefficient and difficult to optimize
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies sinusoidal curvature to the flow path walls, transforming straight flow paths into sinusoidal patterns. This curvature increases the heat transfer surface area and enhances thermal exchange efficiency between fluids without requiring complex trial-and-error optimization processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the flow paths by introducing sinusoidal patterns with specific amplitudes and wavelengths. This parameter modification optimizes heat transfer performance while maintaining a systematic design approach rather than relying on trial and error
2Volume of moving object
If the heat exchanger is made compact, then space efficiency improves, but heat transfer performance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the third dimension by creating sinusoidal patterns in the flow path walls, effectively increasing the heat transfer surface area within the same footprint. This dimensional approach allows compact heat exchanger design while maintaining enhanced heat transfer performance
Solution Approach 2:
The alternating arrangement of first and second heat exchanger plates with sinusoidal flow paths creates a nested laminated structure. This nesting approach maximizes heat transfer surface area within a compact volume by efficiently stacking multiple heat exchange surfaces
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 design enhances heat transfer performance while maintaining structural integrity and reducing thermal resistance, achieving efficient heat exchange in a compact form factor.
Implementation Method 1
each with sinusoidal flow path recesses and walls conforming to a sine curve, optimizing the flow path geometry for enhanced heat transfer
Implementation Method 2
a bulkhead heat exchanger which performs heat exchange between fluids separated by a bulkhead
Data Source
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AI summary
A bulkhead heat exchanger includes a first bulkhead (45), a second bulkhead (61), and a plurality of first flow path walls (48-1 to 48-n) which divide a space formed between the first bulkhead (45) and the second bulkhead (61) into a plurality of first flow paths (65). In this case, the first bulkhead (45) and the second bulkhead (61) separate the plurality of first flow paths (65) from a plurality of second flow paths (66) through which a second fluid different from a first fluid flowing through the plurality of first flow paths (65) flows. The plurality of first flow path walls (48-1 to 48-n) have a plurality of first side flow path wall surfaces (52) and a plurality of second side flow path wall surfaces (53) which respectively conform to a plurality of sine curves.