Corrugated Heat Exchanger Core With One-Directional Louvers

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Solution Overview

Problem

The performance of heat exchange in corrugated-fin-type heat exchangers with louvers cut and raised in one direction is limited and cannot be improved beyond conventional-type fins, regardless of adjustments in core height, width, and cutting angle.

Innovation Solution

A heat exchanger core design where corrugated fins are aligned in parallel with louvers cut and raised in the same direction, with specific constraints on core height, louver width, and cutting angle, satisfying the inequality H > Qup/(Qup-1) × ΔH, to optimize heat transfer efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If louvers are cut and raised in one direction only, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but air flow stagnation occurs at end portions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelouver configuration complexityVSAvoidair flow顺畅性
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating louver configurations between central and end portions. The central region uses one-directional louvers for simplified manufacturing, while end portions use multi-directional louvers to prevent flow stagnation. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying different louver strategies to different spatial zones based on their specific flow requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The fin surface is segmented into distinct regions: a central region with one-directional louvers and end regions with multi-directional louvers. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized independently - the central zone for manufacturing simplicity and the end zones for flow management - thereby resolving the contradiction between manufacturing complexity and flow顺畅性.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If core height and louver dimensions are increased to improve heat transfer, then heat exchange performance improves, but air flow resistance increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat exchange performanceVSAvoidair flow resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent systematically optimizes critical parameters including core height H, louver width W, and louver angle θ to satisfy specific mathematical relationships. By carefully selecting and coordinating these parameters, the design achieves enhanced heat transfer performance while controlling air flow resistance through optimized geometric proportions rather than simply increasing all dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces the louver angle θ as an additional dimensional parameter beyond just height and width. By utilizing the angular dimension, the design can optimize heat transfer efficiency independently of flow resistance, as the angle affects heat transfer coefficient while having minimal impact on flow path length, thus resolving the contradiction through dimensional diversification.

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

3Ease of operation

If multi-directional louvers are used, then air flow distribution is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow distributionVSAvoidlouver configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating louver configurations between central and end portions. The central region uses one-directional louvers for simplified manufacturing, while end portions use multi-directional louvers to prevent flow stagnation. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying different louver strategies to different spatial zones based on their specific flow requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The fin surface is segmented into distinct regions: a central region with one-directional louvers and end regions with multi-directional louvers. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized independently - the central zone for manufacturing simplicity and the end zones for flow management - thereby resolving the contradiction between manufacturing complexity and flow顺畅性.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 enhances heat exchange performance by improving the heat transfer ratio while minimizing air flow resistance, with the core height and louver width configuration ensuring a higher heat transfer rate compared to conventional multi-directional louver fins.

Implementation Method 1

a number of corrugated fins being aligned in parallel in a width direction of fins where fluid flows and including louvers all processed by being cut and raised to incline in a same direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Convection

Implementation Method 2

performance of heat exchange is improved by improving the heat transfer ratio while minimizing air flow resistance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3150951B1Heat exchanger core
Publication Date: 2019.02.20 T RAD CO LTD
  • EP3150951B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3150951B1 patent drawingFigure 2(A)~2(B)
  • EP3150951B1 patent drawingFigure 3(A)~3(B)

AI summary

To form a corrugated fin-type heat exchanger such that the direction in which louvers are cut and raised is inclined in one direction only, and improve the heat transfer performance above that of conventional fins. To satisfy the relationship To satisfy the relationship H>Qup/Qup−1×ΔH. H represents the core height of the heat exchanger, Qup represents the ratio of the amount of heat exchanged per mountain between one-directional louver fins and multi-directional louver fins in an airflow part, and ΔH represents the amount of increase in a heat transfer reduction region of a heat exchanger core as a result of changing from multi-directional louver fins to one-directional louver fins.