Forced-Convection Condenser Assembly Without Thermal Treatment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchangers in refrigeration appliances face challenges in enhancing heat transfer performance while maintaining structural integrity under internal and external forces without thermal treatment.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger design featuring serpentine-form refrigerant flow tubes supported by upright elements with accordion-like fins, which are secured through mounting slits and fixing clips, providing enhanced thermal communication and structural balance without thermal treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If thermal treatment is used to enhance heat transfer performance, then heat exchange capacity is improved, but structural integrity under internal and external forces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is divided into modular components: upright elements with mounting slits, serpentine refrigerant flow tubes, and accordion-like fins. These segmented parts are mechanically assembled without thermal treatment, allowing each component to maintain its structural integrity while collectively achieving enhanced heat exchange capacity through increased surface area and improved thermal communication.
Solution Approach 2:
Accordion-like fins are folded into a compressed three-dimensional configuration that expands the heat transfer surface area within a compact volume. The zigzag folding pattern creates multiple surfaces for thermal exchange without requiring thermal treatment, effectively adding dimensional complexity to enhance heat transfer performance while maintaining mechanical strength.
2Strength
If mechanical components are assembled without thermal treatment, then structural integrity is maintained, but heat exchange capacity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant flow tubes are configured in serpentine form with curved paths instead of straight lines, increasing the heat transfer surface area and improving thermal communication between the refrigerant and surrounding air. The curved geometry enhances heat exchange capacity through extended contact area while the tubes are mechanically assembled without thermal treatment, maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
Accordion-like fins are constructed from thin plate-like metal sheets folded into flexible zigzag structures. These thin-film components provide large surface area for heat transfer while remaining mechanically assembleable without thermal treatment. The flexible nature of the thin sheets allows them to be compressed and secured mechanically, achieving both structural integrity and enhanced heat exchange capacity.
3Productivity
If accordion-like fins are compressed to fit into rectangular openings, then heat exchange capacity is enhanced, but structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The compressed accordion-like fins exert lateral forces on the upright elements that are structurally balanced by locking means secured to the upper parts of the upright elements. This counterbalancing mechanism prevents the upright elements from moving apart despite the compressive forces, maintaining structural stability while the fins remain compressed to maximize heat exchange capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The accordion-like fins are pre-compressed into their final compact configuration before being installed into the rectangular openings. This preliminary compression ensures that the fins are already in their optimal heat transfer configuration when assembled, eliminating the need for post-installation compression that could compromise structural stability. The locking means are then applied to maintain this pre-compressed state.
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 design achieves improved heat exchange capacity and structural integrity by maintaining the mechanical components' structural balance and enhancing thermal communication, effectively dissipating thermal energy while withstanding internal and external forces.
Implementation Method 1
Heat transfer from the condenser to the outer environment can hence be accomplished in a pretty efficient manner such that removal of the heat by enforced convection is provided via a fan blowing air over the condenser
Implementation Method 2
The refrigerant fluid undergoes a phase change from the liquid phase into the gas phase by way of absorbing the ambient heat of the foodstuff preserved within the cabin while passing through the evaporator
Implementation Method 3
the pressurized refrigerant fluid releases its heat on the condenser surface
Implementation Method 4
The accordion-like fins are placed in compressed form and in contact therewith so as to provide and enhance thermal communication
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a refrigeration appliance having a compressor for effecting the refrigeration cycle, a heat exchanger (1) for condensing the refrigerant fluid through refrigerant flow tubes (2) in serpentine form where the refrigerant flow is provided, said heat exchanger (1) being disposed against a fan (3) that is structurally integrally provided to effect forced heat convection for cooling said heat exchanger (1) by blowing air thereon.