Glass-Ceramic Heat Exchanger Surface Texture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) heat exchangers have low thermal conductivity, which reduces their efficiency in high-temperature environments.
Innovation Solution
A method of manufacturing a heat exchanger core from glass ceramic matrix composite involves placing reinforcing fibers around mandrels in a mold cavity, infiltrating them with a glass matrix material, and removing the mandrels to create passages. Surface features like protrusions or grooved indentations are formed on the inner and outer surfaces to enhance heat transfer by increasing turbulence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If CMC materials are used for heat exchangers, then high temperature resistance is improved, but thermal conductivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses glass-ceramic matrix composite materials that combine ceramic fibers with glass matrix to create a composite structure. This composite material approach allows the heat exchanger to maintain high temperature resistance while improving thermal conductivity through the synergistic properties of the combined materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates porous structures and surface features (protrusions, grooves, dimples) on the heat exchanger surfaces. These porous elements increase turbulence and surface area for heat transfer, thereby improving thermal conductivity while maintaining the high temperature resistance of the CMC material.
2Loss of energy
If surface features are added to enhance heat transfer, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates surface features (protrusions, grooves, dimples) during the initial manufacturing process rather than adding them as separate post-processing steps. The mold itself contains these surface features, which are formed simultaneously with the heat exchanger body, thereby reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite the enhanced heat transfer functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the heat transfer enhancement features with the structural components of the heat exchanger into a single integrated manufacturing process. The surface features are molded directly into the heat exchanger body, merging the structural and heat transfer functions into one manufacturing operation rather than requiring separate steps.
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 approach significantly enhances heat transfer efficiency in CMC heat exchangers by increasing turbulence and reducing porosity, thereby improving thermal conductivity and mechanical properties.
Implementation Method 1
A glass matrix material infiltrates the one or more reinforcing fibers
Implementation Method 2
Surface features like protrusions or grooved indentations are formed on the inner and outer surfaces to enhance heat transfer by increasing turbulence
Implementation Method 3
CMC heat exchangers are particularly useful in high temperature environments
Data Source
AI summary
A method of manufacturing a heat exchanger core from glass ceramic matrix composite includes placing one or more reinforcing fibers around one or more mandrels into a mold cavity. A glass matrix material infiltrates the one or more reinforcing fibers to produce an infiltrated core and the one or more mandrels is removed to create one or more passages passing through the infiltrated core.