Flattened Heat Exchanger Tubes with Wave Crests
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchangers face inefficiencies in heat transfer due to the use of stainless steel materials with low thermal conductivity, leading to increased flow resistance and reduced heat exchange effectiveness, particularly in applications like personal computers and engines where size reduction and thermal efficiency are critical.
Innovation Solution
The heat exchanger features multiple thermally conducting hollow tubes with a flattened cross-section, having sequential wave crests and troughs on their outer and inner walls, arranged at specific angles to enhance secondary fluid flows and improve heat transfer efficiency, while maintaining a compact size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If stainless steel fins are used to improve corrosion resistance, then reliability is improved, but heat transfer efficiency deteriorates due to low thermal conductivity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses aluminum fins combined with stainless steel tubes, creating a composite heat exchanger structure. The aluminum fins provide high thermal conductivity for efficient heat transfer, while the stainless steel tubes provide corrosion resistance. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by combining materials with complementary properties in different functional zones.
2Use of energy by moving object
If cooling fins are added to enhance heat exchange efficiency, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs curved or inclined fin structures rather than traditional straight fins. The curved fin geometry enhances heat transfer efficiency by improving fluid flow patterns and increasing surface area exposure, while the optimized curvature reduces overall structural complexity compared to multi-component fin assemblies.
3Volume of moving object
If the heat exchanger size is reduced for compact design, then volume is reduced, but heat transfer efficiency may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes inclined or three-dimensional fin arrangements that optimize heat transfer in the vertical and lateral dimensions. This dimensional optimization allows compact horizontal footprint while maintaining effective heat transfer surface area, resolving the contradiction between size reduction and heat transfer efficiency.
4Use of energy by moving object
If internal pressure increases to improve heat transfer, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but tube deformation occurs reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined or curved tube geometry distributes internal pressure more evenly along the tube structure, reducing stress concentration points. This geometric optimization allows higher operating pressures for improved heat transfer while maintaining tube structural integrity and preventing deformation.
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 configuration significantly enhances heat transfer efficiency, reduces flow resistance, and allows for a smaller, high-performance heat exchanger design, effectively addressing the limitations of previous technologies by optimizing fluid flow and thermal conductivity.
Implementation Method 1
heat exchange between the heat exchanging fluid flowing inside the multiple heat exchanging tubes and a heat exchanged fluid flowing between the multiple heat exchanging tubes
Implementation Method 2
cool down or heat up a heat exchanging fluid through heat exchange
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanger assembled from multiple heat exchanging tubes. Each of the multiple heat exchanging tubes is formed as a flattened tube of 0.5 mm in thickness by press work or bending work of a stainless steel plate member having a thickness of 0.1 mm. Each of the multiple heat exchanging tubes is structured to have multiple lines of sequential wave crests and multiple lines of sequential wave troughs formed on each of flattened faces of the heat exchanging tube. The multiple lines of the sequential wave crests and the multiple lines of the sequential wave troughs are arranged to have a preset angle γ relative to a main stream of an air flow. The lines of the sequential wave crests and the lines of the sequential wave troughs are symmetrically folded back about folding lines arranged at a preset interval W along the main stream of the air flow.