Fluid Temperature-Regulating Unit With Shared Expansion Tank
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Solution Overview
Problem
In fluid-type temperature-regulating units with closed circuits, the expansion of fluid due to temperature increase can damage conduits, and providing multiple expansion tanks for multiple temperature-regulating devices requires significant space and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A communication tube with a smaller cross-sectional area is used to direct the expanded fluid to an expansion tank, which is positioned to communicate with the intake port, allowing the fluid volume increase to be absorbed without directly sending the pumped fluid to the expansion tank, thereby reducing pressure loss and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple expansion tanks are provided for multiple temperature-regulating devices, then the fluid expansion from each device can be accommodated, but the space required and system cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple expansion functions into a single expansion tank by using communication tubes to connect the tank to multiple temperature-regulating devices. This allows one expansion tank to serve multiple devices, reducing the total number of tanks needed while maintaining the ability to accommodate fluid expansion from each device independently
Solution Approach 2:
The communication tube acts as an intermediary component that connects the expansion tank to multiple temperature-regulating devices. It mediates the fluid expansion accommodation process by providing a controlled pathway for fluid to enter and exit the expansion tank from different devices, enabling a single tank to handle expansion from multiple sources
2Device complexity
If a communication tube with smaller cross-sectional area is used to direct expanded fluid to the expansion tank, then pressure loss increases, but the system can effectively accommodate fluid volume increase at lower cost
Solution Approach 1:
The communication tube is designed with a smaller cross-sectional area specifically at the sections where it connects to the expansion tank and where it needs to induce pressure differential. This localized variation in cross-sectional area creates the necessary pressure loss in specific locations without requiring the entire tube system to be small, balancing cost reduction with functional requirements
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 effectively accommodates the increased fluid volume at a lower cost, reduces the likelihood of conduit damage, and maintains system performance by directing the volume increase to the expansion tank through the communication tube, which induces higher pressure loss.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger configured to impart cold-heat or hot-heat from a refrigerant to a fluid
Implementation Method 2
The communication tube induces greater pressure loss than any of the first feed channel, the first recovery channel, the second feed channel, and the second recovery channel
Implementation Method 3
When the temperature of a fluid increases, the volume of the fluid expands
Data Source
AI summary
<Problem> To implement a low-cost configuration that accommodates increases in fluid volume in a fluid-type temperature-regulating unit for supplying heat or cold to a plurality of temperature-regulating devices. <Solution> A fluid-type temperature-regulating unit (10) is provided with: a heat exchanger (20); a first feed channel (31), a first recovery channel (32), a second feed channel (33), and a second recovery channel (34) for connecting a first feed port (11), a first recovery port (12), a second feed port (13), and a second recovery port (14), respectively, to the heat exchanger (20); an expansion tank (45) and a first pump (41) provided to the first recovery channel (32); a second pump (42) provided to the second recovery channel; and a communication tube (38) for directing a portion of the fluid flowing through the second recovery channel to the expansion tank (45). The communication tube (38) induces a greater pressure loss than any of the first feed channel (31), the first recovery channel (32), the second feed channel (33), and the second recovery channel (34).