Flat-Pipe Heat Exchanger Layout for Double Flow Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing double-flow-path heat exchangers have complex structures that make manufacturing and assembly inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger design featuring flat pipes with refrigerant cavities, inlets, outlets, and through holes, where inlets and outlets communicate with the refrigerant cavity but through holes do not, allowing for flexible arrangement and assembly by matching different flat pipes with liquid inlet or outlet pipes, eliminating the need for complex isolating assemblies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If isolating assembly is disposed in liquid collecting pipes to separate inner cavity into upper and lower parts, then double flow paths are realized, but structure becomes complex and manufacturing and assembly become inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the isolating assembly from the liquid collecting pipes, extracting the complex separation mechanism and replacing it with a simpler flat pipe design that inherently provides flow path separation through its structure and connection configuration
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using isolating assemblies to create flow paths, the patent inverts the approach by using the flat pipe structure itself with strategically positioned inlets, outlets, and through holes to define the flow paths, eliminating the need for additional isolating components
2Adaptability or versatility
If isolating assembly is disposed in liquid collecting pipes to separate inner cavity into upper and lower parts, then double flow paths are realized, but manufacturing and assembly become inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the isolating assembly from the liquid collecting pipes, extracting the complex separation mechanism and replacing it with a simpler flat pipe design that inherently provides flow path separation through its structure and connection configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The flat pipe is segmented into multiple functional sections with distinct inlets, outlets, and through holes positioned at specific locations, allowing each section to handle different flow paths independently while simplifying the overall manufacturing process
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 design simplifies the structure, facilitates manufacturing and assembly, and enables efficient double flow paths, maximizing heat exchange area and energy utilization without the complexity of isolating assemblies.
Implementation Method 1
a micro-channel heat exchanger for double compressors is disclosed, which includes flat pipe groups and liquid collecting pipes
Implementation Method 2
the fin part of the heat exchanger can still be in complete contact with another flow path for heat exchange
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanger, including at least one flat pipe, each flat pipe is provided with a refrigerant cavity, an inlet, an outlet and two through holes, the inlet and the outlet are located at two ends of the refrigerant cavity, respectively, and both the inlet and the outlet communicate with the refrigerant cavity; the two through holes are respectively located at two ends of the refrigerant cavity, and the two through holes do not communicate with the refrigerant cavity. The flat pipe is provided with the inlet, the outlet and two through holes, when the plurality of flat pipes are matched with liquid collecting pipes (liquid inlet pipes or liquid outlet pipes) of the heat exchanger, different flat pipes can choose to use the inlets or outlets to communicate with the liquid collecting pipes, and the through holes are able to be used to avoid the liquid collecting pipes.