Transport Chilling Unit Airflow Layout to Prevent Heat Re-Intake

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Solution Overview

Problem

In transport chilling units, the proximity of the intake grille to the exhaust grille can lead to heated outside air being reintaken, causing adverse effects on the chilling cycle's operation point and narrowing its operation range, especially during high load cooling operations.

Innovation Solution

The transport chilling unit design includes a cover panel with strategically positioned outdoor heat exchanger fans and side outlet ports, which introduce outside air and discharge it in a manner that minimizes re-ingestion of heated air, using guide portions to direct airflow effectively and prevent air stagnation, while also incorporating gap shields and an air deflector to reduce air resistance and prevent high-temperature air from entering the heat exchanger.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the intake grille is positioned in the vicinity of the exhaust grille, then the device complexity is reduced and the structure is simplified, but heated outside air discharged through the exhaust grille is taken in through the intake grille, causing adverse effects on operation point of chilling cycle and increasing energy input

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural complexityVSAvoidenergy input
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the exhaust grille on the rear surface of the housing while the intake grille is on the front surface, utilizing the spatial dimension to separate air intake and exhaust paths. This dimensional separation prevents heated air from being drawn back into the intake, resolving the energy loss issue while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If the intake grille is positioned in the vicinity of the exhaust grille, then the device complexity is reduced, but the operation range is narrowed due to pressure rise under high load cooling operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural complexityVSAvoidoperation range
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the intake and exhaust grilles onto opposite surfaces (front and rear) of the housing, the patent creates independent airflow paths that prevent pressure buildup from affecting the intake operation. This maintains the operation range across different load conditions while keeping the structure simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Temperature

If outside air is taken in through the intake grille to cool the condenser, then the condenser cooling efficiency is improved, but heated outside air discharged through the exhaust grille may be taken in again, causing adverse effects on chilling cycle operation point

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecondenser cooling efficiencyVSAvoidchilling cycle operation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the exhaust grille on the rear surface while the intake grille is on the front surface, creating spatial separation that prevents discharged heated air from being drawn back into the condenser. This maintains both cooling efficiency and chilling cycle stability by ensuring continuous intake of cool ambient air.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 prevents adverse effects on the chilling cycle's operation point and range under high load cooling, reduces air resistance, and effectively cools the outdoor heat exchangers with minimal re-ingestion of exhaust heat, enhancing the unit's performance and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

outdoor heat exchanger fans 16 and side outlet ports 22A, which introduce outside air and discharge it

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

outdoor heat exchangers 8, which are positioned on both sides of the outdoor heat exchanger fans 16

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat Exchanger: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP3276286B1Transport chilling unit
Publication Date: 2021.10.20 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND THERMAL SYST
  • EP3276286B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3276286B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3276286B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Provided is a transport chilling unit to prevent an adverse effect on operation point of a chilling cycle and narrowing of an operation range under high load cooling operation. A chilling unit (1) is mounted on a front surface of a van trailer body of a transport vehicle. The chilling unit includes a heat exchange room which houses an outdoor heat exchanger (8) therein. An upper cover panel (13) defines a front side of the heat exchange room, and outdoor heat exchanger fans (16) for guiding outside air to outdoor heat exchangers (8) are mounted on a center portion of the upper cover panel (13). Side portions of the chilling unit define lateral sides of the heat exchange room, and side outlet ports (22A) are formed in the side portions of the chilling unit so as to discharge outside air which passes through the outdoor heat exchangers (8) to an outside of the heat exchange room.