Curved Heat Exchanger Protection Grid Deforms to Increase Gap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchanger protection grids fail to effectively prevent damage from high-speed debris due to their close proximity to the radiator core, leading to potential abrasion and failure, and also contribute to unwanted noise from vibrations.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a spacing element on the protection grid that deforms to a curved profile, increasing the gap between the grid and the radiator core, and using clip members to secure the grid to the heat exchanger, which reduces vibrations and noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the protection grid is positioned close to the radiator core to effectively block debris, then the protection against articles is improved, but the risk of grid deflection causing damage to the radiator core increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protection grid is deformed from a flat configuration to a curved profile, creating an arc-shaped structure that increases the gap between the grid and radiator core at the center while maintaining effective debris blocking at the edges. This curvature allows the grid to deflect without striking the radiator core.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacing between the protection grid and radiator core is varied across different locations - smaller at the edges for effective blocking and larger at the center to prevent damage. The grid's shape parameter is changed from flat to curved to achieve this variable spacing.
2Reliability
If the protection grid is positioned close to the radiator core, then the blocking effectiveness is improved, but the vibrations and noise from the grid increase
Solution Approach 1:
The curved profile of the protection grid reduces vibrations and associated noise while maintaining blocking effectiveness. The arc shape distributes impact forces more evenly and prevents the grid from rigidly contacting the radiator core, thereby reducing vibration transmission.
3Strength
If the protection grid is made rigid to withstand debris impact, then the protection strength is improved, but the risk of grid deflection striking the radiator core increases
Solution Approach 1:
The curved configuration allows the rigid grid to absorb impact forces through its arc shape rather than through rigid deflection. When debris strikes the grid, the curved structure distributes the force along the arc, preventing localized deflection that could strike the radiator core.
Data Source
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AI summary
An embodiment of the invention herein provides a heat exchanger assembly comprising a heat exchanger and a protection grid. The heat exchanger comprises a plurality of tubes with open ends, a pair of manifolds comprising tanks and headers configured to receive the open ends of the tubes and headers configured to receive the open ends of the tubes. The protection grid mounted on the heat exchanger comprises a first pair of sides parallel to headers and a second pair of sides parallel to the tubes. The protection grid is fixed to the heat exchanger along second sides. The protection grid comprises at least one spacing element on at least one of the first side of the protection grid, which interacts with the heat exchanger to deform the protection grid to a curved profile so that at least a portion of the first edge is spaced away from the heat exchanger.