Evaporator Caps for Brazing Gas Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing of cross-flow evaporators using brazing is challenging due to the difficulty in circulating gases and removing oxygen and volatile elements during the brazing process, which can lead to defective welds and contamination, especially in the intermediate chambers where the brazing atmosphere cannot easily access.
Innovation Solution
The evaporator design incorporates caps with openings to facilitate the circulation of gases and the removal of oxygen and volatile elements, allowing for a controlled atmosphere during brazing while maintaining the compact and efficient heat transfer configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the evaporator uses a compact plate configuration with multiple chambers for efficient heat transfer, then the heat exchange efficiency is improved, but the brazing process becomes difficult due to restricted gas circulation and oxygen removal
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator is divided into multiple separate chambers (first chamber, second chamber, third chamber, etc.) that are interconnected through heat exchange tubes. This segmentation allows the brazing atmosphere to access each chamber independently through dedicated openings in the plates, solving the gas circulation problem while maintaining the compact heat transfer configuration
Solution Approach 2:
Opening elements are introduced as intermediaries in the plates to facilitate the entry of brazing atmosphere and removal of volatile elements from the chambers. These openings act as mediators between the external brazing environment and the internal chamber spaces, enabling proper brazing without compromising the compact design
2Reliability
If the chambers are sealed to maintain pressure and prevent contamination during operation, then the operational reliability is improved, but the brazing atmosphere cannot access the intermediate chambers for proper welding
Solution Approach 1:
The openings in the plates are designed to be closed during operation to maintain sealing integrity, but during the brazing process, these openings remain open to allow atmosphere access. This preliminary configuration enables the brazing process to be completed successfully before operational sealing is required
Solution Approach 2:
The plate openings transition between two states: open during brazing to allow atmosphere circulation and volatile element removal, and closed during operation to maintain pressure and prevent contamination. This dynamic state change resolves the contradiction between manufacturing accessibility and operational reliability
3Volume of moving object
If the heat exchange tubes are arranged transverse to the gas flow for compact design, then the device volume is reduced, but the intermediate chambers become inaccessible to the brazing atmosphere
Solution Approach 1:
The openings in the plates provide a new dimensional pathway for the brazing atmosphere to reach intermediate chambers. Instead of relying on lateral access through the transverse tube arrangement, the atmosphere can now access chambers through the plate thickness dimension, maintaining the compact transverse configuration while enabling manufacturing access
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 solution enables effective welding and assembly of the evaporator components, ensuring proper sealing and reducing pressure drops by allowing easy access for the brazing atmosphere and removal of volatile elements, thus preventing contamination and improving the overall manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
The heat exchange tubes alternately communicate the chambers of both plates, establishing a specific path for the fluid intended to change phases
Implementation Method 2
Evaporators are heat exchangers designed to transfer the heat of a hot gas to a liquid that is not only heated up but also changes phase
Implementation Method 3
The present invention relates to a cross flow evaporator adapted to generate vapor from the heat of the exhaust gases
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a cross-flow evaporator adapted to generate vapor from the heat of the exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine. The evaporator is constituted, among other elements, by two plates spaced from one another which contain chambers. The heat exchange tubes alternately communicate the chambers of both plates, establishing a specific path for the fluid intended to change phase. The tubes extending between the chambers of the two plates are arranged transverse to the flow of the hot gas.This evaporator is suitable for heat recovery systems using a Rankine cycle, making use of the heat from the exhaust gases.The invention is characterized by a special configuration of the chambers by means of caps that allow the evacuation-of the gases generated during a brazing welding in the manufacturing process.