Concentric Pipe Heat Exchanger for Low Thermal Transmittance Fluids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchangers are impractical or inefficient for fluids with low thermal transmittance, requiring excessive length or inadequate cooling due to their design for high thermal transmittance fluids.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger design with at least two sets of concentric pipes, each comprising an internal, intermediate, and external pipe, connected by curved pipes in series, allowing for a circuit that enables effective heat exchange with a coolant flowing inside and outside the fluid, using connecting conduits to manage fluid flow efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional heat exchanger designs are used for fluids with low thermal transmittance, then the heat exchange effectiveness is insufficient, but increasing the length of the heat exchanger makes it impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the intermediate pipe inside the external pipe, creating a concentric tube configuration. This nested structure allows the heat exchange medium to flow both inside the internal pipe and in the annular space between the intermediate and external pipes, effectively doubling the heat exchange surface area within a compact footprint, thereby achieving adequate cooling of low thermal transmittance fluids without excessive length
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimensional heat exchange path to a multi-dimensional configuration by creating concentric cylindrical flow paths. The heat exchange medium circulates through multiple concentric zones (inside internal pipe, between internal and intermediate pipes, between intermediate and external pipes), utilizing radial and axial dimensions simultaneously to maximize heat transfer surface area within a compact volume
2Length of stationary object
If tubes are made wider to reduce heat exchanger length, then the cooling effectiveness becomes inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
By nesting multiple pipes concentrically, the invention creates multiple heat exchange zones within the same axial length. The heat exchange medium flows through the internal pipe and the annular spaces, providing extensive heat transfer surface area without increasing the overall tube diameter or heat exchanger length, thus maintaining effective cooling while keeping dimensions practical
3Device complexity
If a single heat exchange assembly is used, then the device is simpler, but the heat exchange effectiveness for low thermal transmittance fluids is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the heat exchange function into multiple concentric zones within a single assembly. Instead of using multiple separate assemblies, the internal pipe is divided into sections with intermediate pipes connecting them, creating multiple heat exchange zones that work in series. This segmentation allows the heat exchange medium to flow through multiple zones, achieving adequate cooling of low thermal transmittance fluids while maintaining a relatively simple single-assembly structure
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
Achieves effective heat exchange in fluids with low thermal transmittance without impractical dimensions, facilitating cleaning and transport through removable connections and optimized fluid flow paths.
Implementation Method 1
Heat exchangers for the heat treatment of fluids are known in the prior art
Implementation Method 2
concentric external pipes for the circulation of a heat exchange medium
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
Heat exchanger (1) for fluids, comprising at least two sets of pipes (10), each set of pipes (10) including an internal pipe (11), an intermediate pipe (12) and an external pipe (13), concentric to each other and forming between them spaces for the longitudinal circulation of fluids, wherein the intermediate pipes (12) are connected in series by means of curved pipes (20), wherein each set of pipes (10) comprises an inner connecting conduit (31) that fluidically connects one end of the internal pipe (11) with an element external to the set of pipes (10) itself, an intermediate connecting conduit (32) that fluidically connects the other end of the internal pipe (11) with the adjacent end of the corresponding external pipe (13), and an outer connecting conduit (33) that fluidically connects the other end of the external pipe (13) with another element external to the set of pipes (10) itself.