Flat-Tube Heat Exchanger Drainage Structure to Prevent Ice Bridging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fin-and-tube heat exchangers with flat tubes face issues of water droplet bridging and stagnation due to surface tension, leading to ice formation and potential damage, and have complex manufacturing methods for water-guiding pieces.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger design featuring plate-like fins with flat tubes and water-guiding members arranged between adjacent flat tubes, where the water-guiding members are in contact with the flat surfaces of the tubes, preventing droplet bridging and enhancing drainage, and are easily manufactured.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If water-guiding pieces are formed by lugging a side plate, then water drainage is improved, but the manufacturing method becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the water-guiding function from the side plate structure and creates a separate, integrated water-guiding piece that is formed by bending the plate material itself. This separates the drainage function from the complex lugging process while maintaining effective water guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the manufacturing parameter from lugging (joining separate parts) to bending (forming from single material), which simplifies the manufacturing process while achieving the same water-guiding function. The water-guiding piece is formed by bending the plate material to create a curved surface that guides water droplets.
2Power
If flat tubes are used as heat transfer tubes, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but water droplets stagnate on flat surfaces due to surface tension increasing the risk of ice formation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a water-guiding piece as an intermediary element between the flat tube surface and the accumulated water droplets. This water-guiding piece provides a curved surface that facilitates water drainage, mediating between the flat tube structure and the water removal function to prevent ice formation while maintaining heat transfer efficiency.
3Reliability
If water-guiding pieces are added to remove water droplets, then ice formation is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the water-guiding function with the existing heat exchanger structure by forming the water-guiding piece from the plate material itself through bending. This integration combines multiple functions into a single component, preventing ice formation without significantly increasing device complexity.
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 effectively prevents water droplet bridging and ice formation, ensuring the safety and efficiency of refrigeration cycle apparatuses by promoting drainage and simplifying the manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
water is liable to stagnate on flat surfaces of the flat tubes due to the surface tension
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a heat exchanger that is capable of avoiding a bridge phenomenon caused by water droplets between a plurality of flat tubes and is easily manufactured. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of plate-like fins arranged in parallel at intervals, the plurality of flat tubes inserted into the plurality of plate-like fins, and at least one water-guiding member arranged between adjacent ones of the plurality of flat tubes projecting from at least one of both outermost ones of the plurality of plate-like fins and having both end portions held in contact with projecting flat surfaces of the adjacent ones of the plurality of flat tubes.