Concentric Tube Bundle Heat Exchanger With Monocollector Flow Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing condensation heat exchangers face inefficiencies in thermal performance, pressure drops, and structural limitations, leading to suboptimal energy transfer and potential boiling issues, which affect both energy efficiency and the longevity of the equipment.
Innovation Solution
A condensation heat exchanger design featuring a monocollector with concentric bundles of tubes, where the heat transfer fluid circulates in parallel through all tubes of a group, and the collector is made of a thermally conductive material, with strategically placed partitions and spacers to manage fluid flow and reduce pressure drops, allowing for efficient heat exchange and modular power ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If water flows through inner and outer bundles alternately (prior art), then heat exchange occurs, but thermal efficiency decreases and boiling phenomena occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tube bundles into distinct groups (inner bundle and outer bundle) with dedicated flow paths. Water flows simultaneously through all tubes of the same bundle in parallel, rather than alternately between bundles. This segmentation prevents temperature averaging issues and eliminates boiling phenomena by ensuring uniform heat distribution across all tubes receiving water at the same temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension to the flow arrangement by organizing tubes into concentric bundles radiating from a central burner. Instead of sequential flow through inner then outer bundles, water is distributed to multiple bundle groups simultaneously in parallel, creating a multi-dimensional flow architecture that maximizes thermal efficiency while preventing localized overheating.
2Loss of energy
If conventional heat exchanger design is used, then heat transfer occurs, but pressure drops increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the water flow into multiple parallel paths through different tube bundles, reducing the flow velocity and pressure drop in each individual path. The manifold system divides incoming water into several streams that flow simultaneously through different bundle groups, thereby minimizing overall pressure losses while maintaining effective heat transfer across the entire exchanger.
3Quantity of substance
If smoke tube exchanger design is used, then high water capacity is achieved, but device becomes bulky and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested configuration where tube bundles are arranged concentrically around a central burner. The inner bundle tubes are positioned within the outer bundle tubes, creating a compact nested structure. This nesting approach maximizes water capacity within a reduced volume and weight compared to traditional smoke tube exchangers, while maintaining effective heat transfer surface area.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional tube arrangement is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to different power ranges is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tube bundles into modular groups that can be independently configured. Each bundle consists of multiple tubes arranged in specific patterns (radial, tangential, or mixed) that can be adapted to different power requirements. This modular segmentation allows the same basic design to be manufactured in various configurations to meet different power ranges from small to large scale applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal heat exchanger design that can serve multiple power ranges and application types. The tube bundle configuration, manifold arrangement, and burner integration are designed to be scalable and adaptable, allowing the same fundamental design to be manufactured for different power requirements through variations in tube count, bundle arrangement, and dimensions, rather than requiring entirely different designs for each application.
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 achieves maximum thermal efficiency, minimizes pressure drops, and extends equipment longevity by ensuring uniform heating and cooling, preventing overheating and boiling, while maintaining a compact and cost-effective power/size/weight ratio.
Implementation Method 1
a heat transfer fluid is intended to circulate inside said tubes... the hot gases produced make it possible to heat the tubes and therefore the water which circulates inside them
Implementation Method 2
the collector is made of a thermally conductive material... the collector... made of a material which is thermally good conductive
Implementation Method 3
Condensation heat exchanger provided with a heat exchange device... condensation and water-tube heat exchangers... These cooled gases would then be at a temperature above the dew point (equal to 55°C) and would not condense
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a condensation heat exchanger which comprises: – at least two concentric bundles (5, 5') of tubes made from a material that is a good thermal conductor, inside which tubes a heat-transfer fluid is intended to circulate, each bundle of tubes (5, 5') comprising a series of tubes (50, 50') in the form of an arc of a circle, the tubes of each bundle (5, 5') being arranged in parallel planes with a gap (53, 53') between two adjacent tubes (50, 50'), – a single collector (6) made of a material that is a good conductor of heat and to which the two ends (51, 51', 52, 52') of each tube (50, 50') of the various bundles (5, 5') are connected, this collector (6) being equipped with inlet (61) and outlet (62) couplings. This exchanger is notable in that the collector (6) comprises several partitions delimiting various channels, which allow the fluid that is to be warmed up to be made to circulate in the various successive bundles from the outermost bundle to the innermost bundle.