Flexible Modular Heat Exchanger for Easy Installation and Maintenance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Geothermal heat exchangers face challenges such as lack of maintainability, difficulty in installation due to rigid components, and time-consuming installation processes, limiting their widespread adoption for heat recovery in built environments.
Innovation Solution
A modular heat exchanger unit designed for easy installation, maintenance, and recyclability, featuring flexible and thermally conductive materials, allowing for flexible surface application and connection of multiple units for efficient energy transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional geothermal heat exchangers use rigid piping circuits embedded in grouting material, then heat exchange effectiveness is improved, but installation difficulty and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is divided into modular panels that can be independently manufactured and assembled. Each panel contains integrated piping circuits within a flat structure, eliminating the need for on-site embedding of rigid pipes in grouting material. This segmentation allows for pre-fabrication quality control while enabling simple modular assembly during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces flexible piping circuits within the rigid panel structure, allowing the internal fluid pathways to adapt during installation without requiring complex embedding procedures. The flexible circuits maintain structural integrity while enabling easier integration into various building surfaces.
2Reliability
If traditional geothermal heat exchangers use embedded piping circuits, then thermal energy transfer is improved, but maintainability and replaceability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the heat exchanger into modular panels with self-contained piping circuits, each module can be independently accessed, removed, and replaced. This modular architecture allows maintenance personnel to service or replace specific panels without disturbing the entire system, significantly improving maintainability while preserving thermal performance through standardized high-quality connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular panel design enables individual panels to be replaced when degraded, while the rest of the system continues operating. Used panels can be recovered and refurbished or replaced with new ones, facilitating easier maintenance cycles and system upgrades without complete system replacement.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid piping circuits are used in geothermal heat exchangers, then structural stability is improved, but installation time and construction schedule impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
All piping circuits, thermal pathways, and structural elements are pre-assembled and tested during panel manufacturing before delivery to the construction site. This preliminary action ensures structural stability is achieved during fabrication under controlled conditions, while installation time at the construction site is reduced to simple modular assembly operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger system is segmented into pre-fabricated panels that maintain structural integrity through their rigid panel construction. These stable modules are designed for rapid assembly using simple connection mechanisms, thereby preserving structural stability while minimizing installation time and disruption to construction schedules.
4Reliability
If traditional geothermal heat exchangers are designed for permanent installation, then heat exchange performance is optimized, but adaptability and flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The modular panel design allows the heat exchanger to be adapted to various building surfaces and geometries by assembling different numbers and configurations of standard panels. Each panel maintains optimized thermal performance through its integrated piping circuit design, while the modular nature provides flexibility for different installation locations and building types.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized panel design with universal connection interfaces enables the same module to be installed in various locations and configurations across different building types. The panels can be arranged in series or parallel configurations to meet different thermal demands, providing both performance optimization and installation flexibility.
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 modular heat exchanger unit facilitates efficient energy transfer, is environmentally friendly, and cost-effective, enabling continuous heating and cooling in built environments with minimal greenhouse gas emissions and easy installation, addressing the limitations of traditional geothermal systems.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible support (100), at least one hollow tubular member (200) having its longitudinal or main axis substantially parallel with a plane defined by a surface of the flexible support (100), a conductive flexible matrix (300) at least partially embedding the at least one tubular member (200)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides in one embodiment a heat exchanger module (1) comprising a) a flexible support (100); b) at least one tubular member (200) having its main axis substantially parallel with the plane of the flexible support (100); c) a conductive flexible matrix (300) embedding the at least one tubular member (200); and d) a flexible case (400) enwrapping the flexible support (100), the at least one tubular member (200) and the conductive flexible matrix (300). A coating for a built environment comprising a plurality of heat exchanger modules (1) can be implemented, as well as a system further including pumping means (600). The invention also foresees a method for providing heat exchange processes between the heat exchanger module (1), the coating or the system of the invention and a built environment.