Channel System Flow Directors for Pressure Drop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing channel systems for heat and mass transfer in applications like internal combustion engines and industry face challenges in achieving an optimal balance between pressure drop and heat, moisture, and mass transfer efficiency, often resulting in increased pressure drop without proportional gains in transfer efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A channel system with varying cross-section areas at flow directors, where the first cross-section area is smaller than the second, arranged in a specific configuration to minimize pressure drop while maintaining or improving conversion efficiency, incorporating curved transitions and mirror-inverted flow directors to enhance turbulent flow and reduce friction losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flow directors are arranged in the channels to increase heat, moisture and/or mass transfer, then the mass transfer coefficient is improved, but the pressure drop increases dramatically
Solution Approach 1:
The flow directors are designed with varying cross-sectional areas along their length, creating different flow characteristics at different locations. The first portion has a larger cross-section to generate turbulence and enhance mass transfer, while the second portion has a smaller cross-section to reduce pressure drop, thus applying local quality variations to optimize both mass transfer and pressure characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow directors incorporate a varying cross-sectional area that changes along the flow direction, transitioning from a larger area at the first portion to a smaller area at the second portion. This dynamic geometric variation allows the structure to adapt flow characteristics along its length, enhancing mass transfer where needed while minimizing pressure losses.
2Ease of manufacture
If the cross-section area of channels is kept uniform along the entire length, then the manufacturing is simplified, but the heat, moisture and/or mass transfer efficiency is reduced due to boundary layer formation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniform cross-sections, the flow directors are designed with local variations in cross-sectional area. The first portion has a larger cross-section to actively disrupt boundary layers and enhance transfer efficiency, while the second portion has a smaller cross-section. This local quality variation optimizes mass transfer at critical locations without requiring complex manufacturing throughout the entire channel system.
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 reduces total pressure drop while maintaining or improving heat, moisture, and mass transfer efficiency, leading to a more efficient system with lower power requirements and reduced production costs due to minimized precious metal usage.
Implementation Method 1
To increase the mass transfer coefficient, the fluid must be made to flow toward the surface of the channel side so that the boundary layers are reduced and the flow transfer from one layer to another is increased. This may take place by what is referred to as turbulent flow. Due to the low velocities in the channels, it is therefore desirable to create turbulence by artificial means, such as by arranging special flow directors in the channels.
Implementation Method 2
What is most important in the context is the heat, moisture and/or mass transfer between the fluid or the fluid mixture flowing through the channels and the channel walls in the channel system.
Implementation Method 3
A channel system for improving the relation between pressure drop and heat, moisture and/or mass transfer of fluids flowing through the system
Data Source
AI summary
Present invention relates to a channel system for improving the relation between pressure drop and heat, moisture and/or mass transfer of fluids flowing through said system, said channel system comprising at least one channel comprising at least a first and a second flow director, said channel having a cross-section area A and a first and a second cross-section area A1, A2 at respective flow director, said flow directors extending in a fluid flow direction and transversely to said channel, and comprising an upstream portion, deviating, in said fluid flow direction, from a channel wall of said channel inwardly into said channel, a downstream portion returning, in said fluid flow direction, towards said channel wall, and an intermediate portion located between said upstream and downstream portions, wherein said first cross-section area A1 at said first flow director is smaller than said second cross-section area A2 at said second flow director.