Core-In-Shell Heat Exchanger Drains for Baffle Pressure Imbalance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The single drain configuration in core-in-shell heat exchangers with baffles leads to unequal refrigerant levels, causing inefficient heat exchange and mechanical integrity issues due to pressure gradients and gas ingestion, which affects the thermal performance and lifespan of the heat exchanger.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a plurality of drains on opposite sides of baffles in a core-in-shell heat exchanger to equalize shell-side liquid levels and reduce hydraulic pressure drops, while maintaining slosh suppression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single drain configuration is used in core-in-shell heat exchanger with baffles, then the device complexity is reduced, but the refrigerant levels become unequal causing inefficient heat exchange
Solution Approach 1:
The single drain is segmented into multiple drains positioned at different locations (first drain near first baffle, second drain near second baffle, third drain near third baffle). This segmentation allows each drain to independently manage refrigerant levels in its respective zone, ensuring uniform heat exchange efficiency across all cores while maintaining relatively simple device complexity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If baffles are added to reduce sloshing, then the stability of shell-side liquid is improved, but pressure gradient increases causing unequal refrigerant levels
Solution Approach 1:
Different drain positions are assigned to different zones created by baffles. The first drain serves the zone near the first baffle, the second drain serves the zone near the second baffle, and the third drain serves the zone near the third baffle. This local quality approach allows each zone to independently manage its refrigerant level, compensating for the pressure gradient effects introduced by baffles while maintaining liquid stability.
3Productivity
If multiple drains are positioned on opposite sides of baffles, then refrigerant levels are equalized improving thermal performance, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple drains positioned on opposite sides of baffles serve dual functions: they equalize refrigerant levels across different zones to improve thermal performance, and they work in conjunction with baffles to maintain liquid stability and reduce sloshing. This multi-functionality justifies the increased device complexity by delivering multiple benefits simultaneously.
4Ease of manufacture
If single drain is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but gas ingestion occurs reducing mechanical integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The drain system transitions from a single-point drainage (0D/1D) to a distributed multi-point drainage system (2D/3D arrangement). By positioning drains at multiple locations including opposite sides of baffles, the system creates a spatial distribution that prevents gas ingestion pathways while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized drain component repetition.
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 arrangement ensures consistent refrigerant levels, enhances thermal performance, and reduces thermally induced fatigue, thereby improving the operational efficiency and mechanical integrity of the heat exchanger.
Implementation Method 1
the baffles cause a pressure gradient or horizontal pressure drop across the shell
Implementation Method 2
efficient heat exchange, in the form of boiling of the refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
efficient heat exchange, in the form of boiling of the refrigerant
Implementation Method 4
baffles are used between cores of the heat exchanger to address the sloshing of the shell-side liquid (refrigerant)
Data Source
AI summary
A core-in-shell heat exchanger, a method of fabricating the core-in-shell heat exchanger, and a method of exchanging heat in a core-in-shell heat exchanger disposed on a slosh-inducing moving platform are described. The method of exchanging heat includes introducing a shell-side fluid into a shell of the core-in-shell heat exchanger and introducing a fluid to be cooled into each of one or more cores of the core-in-shell heat exchanger, the one or more cores being arranged along an axial length of the shell with a plurality of baffles disposed on either side of the one or more cores along the axial length of the shell to reduce slosh of the shell-side fluid. The method also includes draining excess shell-side fluid using a plurality of drains, at least two of the plurality of drains being disposed on opposite sides of one of the plurality of baffles.