Flexible Heat Transfer Unit for Prefabricated Vessel Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat transfer units for prefabricated vessels are either large and bulky, require complex assembly, or have limited heat transfer capabilities, making them inefficient and costly to install and maintain.
Innovation Solution
A heat transfer unit with a central core and flexible fins that extend at an angle, allowing for efficient heat transfer and easy insertion into prefabricated vessels, with the fins returning to a base position when not under external force, facilitating both efficient heat transfer and easy installation/removal without damaging the vessel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If large bulky heat transfer units are used, then heat transfer capability is improved, but vessel manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heat transfer unit is divided into multiple modular sections that can be individually manufactured and then assembled together within the vessel. Each section contains fins and can be inserted separately through the vessel opening, eliminating the need to manufacture the entire vessel around a single large unit while maintaining comprehensive heat transfer coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat transfer unit is designed to be inserted into and nested within the prefabricated vessel after the vessel is already manufactured. The modular sections are inserted through an opening in the vessel and assembled inside, allowing the vessel to be prefabricated first and the heat transfer unit to be installed subsequently without requiring the vessel to be destroyed.
2Reliability
If large sectional heat transfer units are used, then heat transfer capability is improved, but assembly difficulty and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heat transfer unit is segmented into multiple manageable sections that can be individually inserted through the vessel opening and assembled in sequence. Each section is designed to be inserted independently and connected to adjacent sections, reducing the complexity of in-vessel assembly compared to installing a single large unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The fins are designed with flexibility to bend and deform during the insertion process, allowing them to pass through the vessel opening and then return to their operational position once inside. This dynamic flexibility simplifies the insertion process while maintaining the rigid structure needed for effective heat transfer during operation.
3Ease of operation
If small heat transfer units are used, then ease of insertion is improved, but heat transfer capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple small modular sections are used instead of a single large unit, allowing each section to be easily inserted through the vessel opening. When assembled together, these multiple sections provide comprehensive heat transfer coverage throughout the vessel, combining the insertion ease of small units with the heat transfer capability of a large unit.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple modular heat transfer sections are combined and assembled together within the vessel to create a comprehensive heat transfer system. Each individual section is easy to insert, but when merged with other sections, they collectively provide sufficient heat transfer capability throughout the entire vessel volume.
4Reliability
If rigid fins are used, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but insertion difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fins are designed with flexible material properties that allow them to bend and deform during insertion through the vessel opening. Once inside the vessel, the fins return to their rigid operational position to provide effective heat transfer. This dynamic behavior during insertion transitions to static rigidity during operation, resolving the contradiction between insertion ease and heat transfer efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state of the fins changes from a flexible, deformable state during insertion to a rigid, structurally stable state during operation. This parameter change allows the fins to be easily inserted when flexible and then maintain their shape for efficient heat transfer when in position, eliminating the need to choose between rigid and flexible designs.
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
The solution provides improved heat transfer capabilities throughout the vessel while allowing for efficient and cost-effective installation and maintenance, eliminating the need for complex assembly or vessel destruction.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the plurality of fins is flexible and biased towards the base position such that each of the plurality of fins returns to about the respective base position when not under the influence of an external biasing force
Implementation Method 2
the central core is operable to provide heat transfer
Data Source
AI summary
Vessel assemblies, heat transfer units for prefabricated vessels, and methods for heat transfer prefabricated vessel are provided. A heat transfer unit includes a central rod, and a plurality of peripheral rods surrounding the central rod and connected to the central rod. The plurality of peripheral rods are movable between a first collapsed position and a second bowed position, wherein in the second bowed position a midpoint of each of the plurality of peripheral rods is spaced from the central rod relative to in the first position. The heat transfer unit further includes a heat transfer element connected to one of the plurality of peripheral rods.