Cross-Flow Heat Exchanger Module for Uniform Vehicle Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ventilation devices for motor vehicle heat exchangers, featuring blower-wheel fans, suffer from non-uniform heat exchange due to turbulent airflow, bulkiness, and integration challenges, especially in electric vehicles with limited space.
Innovation Solution
A cross-flow fan-based ventilation device with guide means, including air guiding elements that can pivot to control airflow, ensuring uniform cooling and easy integration by eliminating the need for a blower wheel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a blower-wheel fan is used to generate airflow toward the heat exchanger, then the heat exchange between the heat transfer fluid and ambient air is increased, but the airflow becomes turbulent and reaches only part of the heat exchanger surface, resulting in non-uniform heat exchange
Solution Approach 1:
Air guiding elements are introduced as intermediary components between the blower-wheel fan and the heat exchanger. These elements channel and direct the airflow generated by the fan, ensuring it reaches the entire heat exchanger surface uniformly. The guiding elements act as mediators that transform the turbulent, localized airflow into a distributed, uniform flow pattern across the heat exchanger, thereby maintaining high heat exchange efficiency while achieving uniformity.
2Productivity
If a blower-wheel fan is used to increase airflow toward the heat exchanger, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but the fan becomes bulky due to the necessary dimensions of the blower wheel
Solution Approach 1:
The air guiding function is segmented from the blower-wheel fan itself and implemented through separate, modular air guiding elements. This segmentation allows the fan to be smaller in size while the guiding elements, which can be thin and elongated, handle the airflow distribution. The fan no longer needs to be oversized to accommodate built-in guiding structures, as the guidance function is provided by independent elements that can be positioned optimally in the airflow path.
Solution Approach 2:
The air guiding elements are designed as thin, planar structures that extend in the direction of airflow rather than adding radial bulk to the fan. By transitioning from a three-dimensional radial guiding structure (within the fan housing) to two-dimensional planar elements positioned in the airflow path, the solution achieves effective airflow guidance without increasing the fan's radial dimensions, thus reducing overall bulk.
3Productivity
If a blower-wheel fan is used for engine cooling, then adequate cooling is achieved, but integration into the motor vehicle becomes lengthy and tricky, especially in electric vehicles with limited space
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation system is segmented into functionally independent components: a compact blower-wheel fan and separate air guiding elements. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and integrated flexibly into the vehicle's available space. The air guiding elements can be positioned in various locations along the airflow path and adjusted to match different vehicle geometries, simplifying the integration process compared to a monolithic fan design with built-in guiding structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The air guiding elements are designed to be adjustable and repositionable rather than fixed in a rigid configuration. This dynamic capability allows the guiding elements to be adapted to different vehicle models and spatial constraints, enabling easier integration into various motor vehicle platforms including electric vehicles with limited space. The adjustability provides flexibility in the integration process, reducing complexity.
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
The solution provides more uniform and effective cooling of heat exchangers, reduces bulk, and simplifies integration into various vehicles, including electric vehicles, by utilizing a cross-flow fan and pivotable air guiding elements to manage airflow efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
a cross-flow fan for setting in motion an air flow intended for the heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
heat exchange elements connected to these tubes, often designated by the term 'fins' or 'spacers'. The fins may be used to increase the exchange surface between the tubes and the ambient air
Implementation Method 3
The flow of air generated by the blades of such a fan is turbulent... The exchange of heat is therefore not uniform across the entire surface of the tubes and of the fins
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchange module includes at least a first heat exchanger and a ventilation device intended to generate a flow of air. The ventilation device includes at least one cross-flow fan for setting in motion an air flow and a guide means that includes at least one air guiding element for guiding the air set in motion by the cross-flow fan. The first heat exchanger and the ventilation device are positioned relative to one another in such a way that the air flow set in motion by the ventilation device is fed into the heat exchanger and, when the fan is in operation, this air is drawn in by the cross-flow fan passes through the heat exchanger before entering the cross-flow fan.