Composite pipe and refrigerating apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

In refrigerating apparatuses, the adhesiveness of heat transfer sheets to curved sections can deteriorate, leading to direct contact between dissimilar metal cooling pipes and jackets, causing interface corrosion.

Innovation Solution

A composite pipe design with a refrigerant pipe, a plate-shaped member of the same metal, a bonding section, and a sheet-shaped heat transfer member between the plate-shaped member and a cooling member of different metals, minimizing direct contact and enhancing adhesiveness to prevent corrosion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a heat transfer sheet is installed on a curved section to reduce thermal resistance, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but adhesiveness of the heat transfer sheet deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidadhesiveness of heat transfer sheet

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling structure is divided into a curved section (for accommodating the pipe) and a flat section (for installing the heat transfer sheet). This segmentation allows the heat transfer sheet to be installed on the flat section where adhesiveness is maintained, while the curved section still provides the necessary thermal contact through its geometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flat section acts as an intermediary between the curved cooling section and the heat transfer sheet. It provides a stable mounting surface for the heat transfer sheet while being thermally connected to the curved section, thus mediating between the requirements for adhesiveness and heat transfer efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If dissimilar metals are used for cooling pipe and cooling jacket, then material properties are optimized, but interface corrosion occurs due to direct contact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial selection flexibilityVSAvoidinterface corrosion

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heat transfer sheet serves as an intermediary layer between the dissimilar metal cooling pipe and cooling jacket. This intermediate layer prevents direct galvanic contact between the dissimilar metals, eliminating the corrosion pathway while still allowing thermal energy to transfer through the sheet.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs a composite structure consisting of multiple materials: the cooling pipe material, the heat transfer sheet material, and the cooling jacket material. This composite construction allows each material to be optimized for its specific function while the combination prevents the harmful interaction between dissimilar metals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 interface corrosion between dissimilar metals and improves adhesiveness, effectively cooling heat-generating parts while minimizing contact between the cooling member and refrigerant pipe.

Implementation Method 1

a sheet-shaped heat transfer member installed between the plate-shaped member and the cooling member so as to be adhered to the second side plane of the plate-shaped member and the first surface of the cooling member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a cooling member configured to cool heat generating parts via the plate-shaped member by the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant pipe

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat absorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3422402B1Composite pipe and refrigerating apparatus

Publication Date: 2021.01.27 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND THERMAL SYST

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AI summary

A composite pipe includes a refrigerant pipe (10) formed of a metal, a plate-shaped member (28) formed of the same metal of the refrigerant pipe (10) and having a first side plane (28a) in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the refrigerant pipe (10) and a second side plane (28b) opposite to the first side plane (28a), a bonding section (34) installed between the first side plane (28a) of the plate-shaped member (28) and the outer circumferential surface of the refrigerant pipe (10), a cooling member (26) configured to cool heat generating parts (25A,25B), which is formed of a different metal from the refrigerant pipe (10) and the plate-shaped member (28), and has a first surface (26c) facing the second side plane (28b) of the plate-shaped member (28) and a second surface (26d) opposite to the first surface (26c) and in contact with the heat generating parts (25A,25B), and a sheet-shaped heat transfer member (33) installed between the plate-shaped member (28) and the cooling member (26).