Heat exchanger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat exchangers without heat transfer fins do not effectively account for the state changes of refrigerant along the refrigerant channels, leading to suboptimal heat exchange efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The heat exchanger features refrigerant channels defined by heat transfer tubes with varying outer and inner edge sizes along the channel direction, and includes protrusions on the tubes for enhanced fluid channeling and drainage, allowing for improved heat exchange efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If heat transfer fins are not used in the heat exchanger, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is simplified, but the heat exchange efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heat transfer tube employs local quality variation by changing the cross-sectional dimensions (width and height) at different positions along the refrigerant flow direction. The tube has a first cross-section at the inlet end and a second cross-section at the outlet end with different dimensions, creating localized variations in heat transfer characteristics that compensate for the absence of fins while maintaining overall structural simplicity
2Manufacturing precision
If the heat transfer tube cross-section is uniform along the refrigerant channel, then the manufacturing precision is easier to maintain, but the heat exchange efficiency deteriorates due to inability to adapt to refrigerant state changes
Solution Approach 1:
The heat transfer tube implements dynamic adaptation by progressively varying its cross-sectional dimensions along the refrigerant flow direction. Instead of a static uniform cross-section, the tube transitions from a first cross-sectional size at the inlet to a second cross-sectional size at the outlet, allowing the heat transfer characteristics to dynamically adapt to changing refrigerant states (temperature, pressure, phase) along the flow path
3Loss of energy
If protrusions are added to the heat transfer tube outer surface, then the heat exchange efficiency is improved through enhanced fluid channeling, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple functions into the protrusions on the heat transfer tube surface. These protrusions simultaneously serve to: (1) guide and channel the external fluid flow, (2) enhance heat transfer between the refrigerant and external fluid, and (3) provide structural integration with the tube body. This consolidation achieves enhanced heat exchange efficiency without adding separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity
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 design enhances heat exchange efficiency by adapting to refrigerant state changes and ensures proper fluid flow and drainage, thereby reducing pressure loss and maintaining heat transfer performance.
Implementation Method 1
the outer surface of the heat transfer tube has a concave and convex shape in the first direction... improve the heat exchange efficiency
Implementation Method 2
when the refrigerant flows through each refrigerant channel, the refrigerant changes its state by exchanging heat with the external fluid
Implementation Method 3
the refrigerant changes its state by exchanging heat with the external fluid
Data Source
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AI summary
A heat exchanger having high efficiency is provided. In a heat-source heat exchanger (50), a plurality of refrigerant channels (P) extending in a vertical direction is arranged along a right-left direction intersecting with the vertical direction and is arranged along a front-back direction intersecting with the vertical direction and the right-left direction. The heat-source heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat transfer tubes (60) defining the refrigerant channels (P). In the heat transfer tube, at least one of a size of an outer edge and a size of an inner edge is different between a first position and a second position in the vertical direction.