Heat exchange unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional heat exchange units with notches facing downward in vertical or horizontal attitudes experience decreased condensed water drainage performance, leading to increased ventilation resistance and reduced heat exchanging capacity.

Innovation Solution

A heat exchange unit with inclined first and second heat exchangers, featuring fin communicating parts on both sides of flattened tubes and notches facing each other, and gaps between fin columns to facilitate drainage, ensuring effective water passage and uniform refrigerant flow in both attitudes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If notches are formed on one side of the fins for conventional heat exchanger installation, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but condensed water drainage performance decreases when installed in vertical or horizontal attitudes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidcondensed water drainage performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fin communicating parts are positioned asymmetrically on both sides of the flattened tubes rather than symmetrically on one side. This asymmetric arrangement allows condensed water to drain effectively regardless of whether the heat exchange unit is installed in vertical or horizontal attitude, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and drainage performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The drainage path is extended from a single-sided notch to a two-sided fin communicating part structure. By adding drainage capability in another dimension (both sides of the tube), the system maintains effective drainage performance across multiple installation orientations without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If heat exchangers are installed horizontally with fins facing upward, then installation flexibility is improved, but condensed water accumulates on the fins causing increased ventilation resistance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation flexibilityVSAvoidventilation resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By positioning fin communicating parts on both sides of the flattened tubes rather than on one side only, the structure enables effective condensed water drainage in horizontal installation orientations. This asymmetric two-sided configuration prevents water accumulation on the fins, thereby maintaining low ventilation resistance while preserving installation flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Device complexity

If conventional single-sided fin communicating parts are used, then manufacturing complexity is low, but heat exchanging capacity decreases due to condensed water accumulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing complexityVSAvoidheat exchanging capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The fin communicating parts are positioned on both sides of the flattened tubes in an asymmetric arrangement. This design prevents condensed water accumulation that would otherwise reduce heat exchanging capacity, while adding minimal manufacturing complexity compared to conventional single-sided configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

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

Maintains good drainage performance and heat exchanging capacity in both vertical and horizontal attitudes, reducing the risk of condensed water accumulation and ventilation resistance.

Implementation Method 1

heat exchangers which use flattened tubes and fins

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

heat exchangers which use flattened tubes and fins

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConduction (thermal): Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

first fin communicating parts and the second fin communicating parts are disposed in lowermost parts of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, respectively, irrespective of whether the heat exchange unit is installed in the first attitude or in the second attitude

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS10527356B2Heat exchange unit

Publication Date: 2020.01.07 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD

AI summary

A heat exchange unit includes a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger being disposed inside a casing so that an inclined installation thereof is possible in both the first attitude and the second attitude. The first heat exchanger has a plurality of first flattened tubes and a plurality of first fins. First fin communicating parts of the plurality of first fins are formed on both sides in a cross-sectional longitudinal direction of the first flattened tubes. The second heat exchanger has a plurality of second flattened tubes and a plurality of second fins. Second fin communicating parts of the plurality of second fins are formed on both sides in a cross-sectional longitudinal direction of the second flattened tubes.