Heat Exchanger Assembly With Insulating Air Gap Against Thermal Bridges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air conditioning systems for aircraft face thermal bridge issues due to the close proximity of heat exchangers, which can disrupt heat exchange efficiency, especially when handling fluids of different temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger assembly design with adjacent heat exchangers in a transverse direction, utilizing a ram air flow channel with a longitudinal direction, featuring a thermally insulating air gap between exchangers to prevent heat transfer, and produced in the same mold for cost-effective assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If heat exchangers are arranged in close proximity to reduce size and simplify maintenance, then device complexity is reduced, but thermal bridges form between exchangers causing heat transfer disruption
Solution Approach 1:
An insulating element is introduced as an intermediary component between adjacent heat exchangers to block thermal bridges. This mediator prevents direct heat transfer between exchangers while allowing them to remain in close proximity, thus maintaining both compact structure and heat exchange efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The space between heat exchangers is segmented into distinct regions using insulating elements, creating thermal barriers that divide the thermal field. This segmentation allows independent thermal zones while maintaining physical proximity, preventing thermal interference between exchangers.
2Ease of manufacture
If heat exchangers are positioned adjacent to each other, then manufacturing cost is reduced through simplified assembly, but thermal bridges disrupt the operation of heat exchangers handling fluids of different temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
Insulating elements serve as intermediary components that are integrated into the assembly process, providing thermal isolation between heat exangers. These intermediaries are incorporated during manufacturing to prevent thermal bridges while maintaining the simplified adjacent arrangement that reduces assembly complexity.
3Device complexity
If a common ram air flow channel is used for multiple heat exchangers, then device complexity is reduced, but thermal bridges can cause disruptions in heat exchanges when fluids have different temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
Insulating elements are positioned within the common ram air flow channel between adjacent heat exchangers to block thermal bridges. This allows the flow channel to remain common and simple in configuration while the insulating intermediaries prevent thermal interference between exchangers handling different temperature fluids.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating elements are strategically positioned at specific locations within the flow channel where thermal bridges would otherwise form between heat exchangers. This localized application of insulation maintains the simplicity of the common flow channel configuration while preventing thermal interference at critical points.
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
Prevents thermal bridges, ensuring efficient and independent operation of heat exchangers while maintaining a compact design, reducing production costs and simplifying installation.
Implementation Method 1
an air passage which is provided between the heat exchangers and forms a thermally insulating air gap between said exchangers
Implementation Method 2
the ram air passing through said channel forms a cold pass of each heat exchanger by passing through said heat exchanger in said longitudinal direction
Data Source
AI summary
Heat exchanger assembly comprising a ram air flow channel (14) extending in a longitudinal direction, and characterized in that said assembly comprises: at least two separate heat exchangers (12a, 12b) that are adjacent in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, are arranged in the ram air flow channel (14), and are configured such that the ram air passing through said channel (14) forms a cold pass of each heat exchanger (12a, 12b) by passing through said heat exchanger (12a, 12b) in said longitudinal direction, each heat exchanger (12a, 12b) also being configured for the passage therethrough of a fluid that is intended to be cooled and that forms a hot pass (20a, 20b); and an air passage which is provided between the heat exchangers and forms a thermally insulating air gap (18) between said exchangers (12a, 12b), and through which the ram air flows, said air passage extending in said longitudinal direction of said ram air flow channel (14).