Dual-Circuit Heat Exchanger Layout for Shared Fin Performance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dual system heat exchangers in air conditioners experience insufficient heat exchange performance when both systems operate simultaneously due to sharing the same heat exchange surface, affecting efficiency and use effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger design featuring staggered arrangements of first and second heat exchange tubes with varying widths and non-coincident projections, combined with fins that increase the effective heat exchange area while minimizing wind resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If two systems share the same heat exchange surface in a dual system heat exchanger, then the device complexity is reduced, but the heat exchange performance becomes insufficient when both systems work simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is segmented into a first heat exchange tube and a second heat exchange tube, each serving different systems. The tubes are arranged at intervals in the length direction with non-coincident projections in the width direction, allowing independent heat exchange paths while maintaining a unified fin structure. This segmentation enables both systems to operate simultaneously without interfering with each other's heat exchange performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the fin structures of two separate heat exchangers into a single unified fin that serves both the first heat exchange tube and the second heat exchange tube. The fin width is designed to be greater than the width of each individual tube, allowing both tubes to be connected to the same fin. This merging reduces device complexity by eliminating redundant fin structures while maintaining adequate heat exchange performance through proper spatial arrangement of the tubes.
2Productivity
If the width of fins is increased to provide sufficient heat exchange area for two systems, then the heat exchange performance is improved, but the wind resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fin width is locally optimized to be greater than the width of individual heat exchange tubes, providing sufficient heat exchange area where needed. However, the fin does not extend unnecessarily in the width direction beyond what is required to accommodate both tubes. This local quality approach ensures adequate heat exchange performance while minimizing the overall fin width and reducing wind resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing fin width excessively to accommodate both systems, the patent utilizes the length direction arrangement of tubes at intervals. This dimensional approach allows sufficient heat exchange area to be provided through the extended length of fins along the tube length, rather than increasing width, thereby reducing wind resistance while maintaining heat exchange effectiveness.
3Volume of moving object
If the first heat exchange tube and the second heat exchange tube are arranged closely to save space, then the device compactness is improved, but the heat exchange performance deteriorates due to mutual interference
Solution Approach 1:
The first heat exchange tube and the second heat exchange tube are arranged asymmetrically in the width direction with non-coincident projections. This asymmetric arrangement prevents direct overlap and mutual interference between the tubes while maintaining compact overall dimensions. The tubes are positioned at intervals in the length direction, creating an optimized spatial configuration that balances compactness with heat exchange performance.
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
Improves overall heat exchange performance by optimizing heat transfer and reducing frosting, enhancing system efficiency under frosting conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat exchange tube and a second heat exchange tube; one end of the first heat exchange tube is directly or indirectly connected with the first tube, the other end of the first heat exchange tube is directly or indirectly connected with the third tube, and the first heat exchange tube communicates the first tube with the third tube
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of heat exchange tubes, in which each heat exchange tube is a flat tube and includes a plurality of channels extending along a length direction of the heat exchange tube
Implementation Method 3
fins including a first fin, in which the first fin is connected with one first heat exchange tube and connected with one second heat exchange tube in the length direction of the first tube
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanger includes: a first assembly including first and second tubes; a second assembly including third and fourth tubes; a plurality of heat exchange tubes including first and second heat exchange tubes; and fins. The first heat exchange tube is in communication with the first and third tubes, the second heat exchange tube is in communication with the second and fourth tubes, and the first heat exchange tube, the fin and the second heat exchange tube are arranged in a length direction of the first tube. Both widths of the first and second heat exchange tubes are smaller than a width of the first fin, which is smaller than a sum of the widths of the first and second heat exchange tubes. Projections of the first and second heat exchange tubes in a plane perpendicular to the length direction of the first tube are at least partially non-coincident.