Cooling device
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing cooling devices in multi-stage compressors suffer from reduced heat exchange efficiency due to the presence of a separation plate that prevents fluid from reaching the outlet region, leading to fluid concentration on the inlet side and inefficient heat transfer.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device design featuring a cylindrical shell with an inlet and outlet nozzle, a cooler with internally circulating fluid, and a partition member that includes a main partition plate and guide portions to distribute the fluid flow uniformly, enhancing heat exchange efficiency by guiding the fluid to spread across the cooler's surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separation plate is provided to prevent fluid from bypassing the cooler, then fluid leakage is prevented, but fluid flow distribution becomes uneven and heat exchange efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The separation plate is divided into multiple segments (first separation plate and second separation plate) arranged at different positions along the axial direction. This segmentation allows the fluid to be guided through different paths, ensuring that fluid leaks are prevented while maintaining uniform flow distribution across the cooler surface area.
Solution Approach 2:
Guide portions are introduced as intermediary structures that connect the separation plate to the cooler. These guide portions actively direct the fluid flow from the inlet side to the outlet side, ensuring the fluid passes through the cooler rather than bypassing it, thereby resolving the contradiction between leakage prevention and heat exchange efficiency.
2Reliability
If the separation plate extends fully to the inner peripheral surface, then fluid bypassing is prevented, but fluid concentrates on the inlet side and flow homogeneity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The separation plate structure is segmented into multiple parts positioned at different axial locations. The first separation plate is positioned closer to the inlet side while the second separation plate is positioned closer to the outlet side. This segmentation creates multiple flow paths that distribute fluid uniformly across the cooler surface, preventing concentration on the inlet side while still preventing bypass.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation plate structure utilizes both axial and radial dimensions strategically. By positioning separation plates at different axial locations and extending them to different radial positions (with guide portions connecting to the cooler), the structure creates a three-dimensional flow distribution pattern that achieves both bypass prevention and flow uniformity.
3Productivity
If the cooler surface area is increased to improve heat exchange, then heat exchange efficiency improves, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooler employs a finned tube structure with curved surfaces optimized for heat exchange. The fin plates are arranged in a pattern that maximizes surface area within the available cylindrical space, improving heat exchange efficiency without requiring excessive device complexity or space.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooler structure uses fin plates with varying densities and configurations in different regions. Areas with higher heat exchange requirements have denser fin arrangements, while other areas have sparser arrangements. This local optimization achieves high overall heat exchange efficiency without uniformly increasing complexity throughout the entire device.
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 design improves heat exchange efficiency by homogenizing fluid flow distribution, ensuring that the fluid covers a wider area within the cooler, thereby increasing the cooling effectiveness and reducing thermal deformation of the fin plates.
Implementation Method 1
a cooler (3) disposed inside the shell main body (21), and configured to cool the fluid (G) flowing from the inlet nozzle (24) toward the outlet nozzle (25) by internally circulating the fluid (G)
Implementation Method 2
a partition member (5) fixed to the first surface (320), and partitioning a space portion between the cooler (3) and an inner peripheral surface (21f) of the shell main body (21) into a first space (21S) communicating with the inlet nozzle (24) and a second space (22S) communicating with the outlet nozzle (25)
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling device includes a cooler disposed inside a shell main body formed in a cylindrical shape, and having a first surface facing an inlet nozzle and an outlet nozzle, and a partition member fixed to the first surface, and partitioning a portion between the cooler and an inner peripheral surface of the shell main body into a first space communicating with the inlet nozzle and a second space communicating with the outlet nozzle. The partition member includes a main partition plate disposed between the inlet nozzle and the outlet nozzle in an axial direction, a first guide portion extending from an end portion of the main partition plate toward a first end surface of the shell main body, and a second guide portion extending from an end portion of the main partition plate toward a second end surface of the shell main body.