Heat Exchanger Bending Support Structure for Consistent Tube Spacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchanger bending technologies face challenges in maintaining a consistent distance between different areas of adjacent heat exchange tube sections due to varying bend radii, affecting the shape and heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising support members or rollers with fixed or adjustable distances between support surfaces, arranged to maintain a consistent distance during the bending process, ensuring that the heat exchanger maintains its designed dimensions and shape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If heat exchange tubes are bent to increase heat exchange area, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but the distance between adjacent heat exchange tube sections becomes inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple support members arranged along the bending path, with each support member providing localized support to specific sections of the heat exchange tubes. This segmentation allows precise control over the position of each tube section during bending, maintaining consistent spacing throughout the entire structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus uses adjustable support members with modifiable support surfaces and spacing parameters. By changing the positional parameters of support members and their support surface characteristics, the system can adapt to different bending requirements while maintaining consistent distance between tube sections, resolving the precision issue during heat exchange area expansion.
2Adaptability or versatility
If varying bend radii are used for inner and outer rows of heat exchange tubes, then bending flexibility is improved, but relative motion between tube sections occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Different support members are configured with different support characteristics tailored to local requirements. Support members for inner rows and outer rows can have different spacing, support surface areas, and positioning, allowing each row to accommodate its specific bend radius while maintaining stable relative positions through localized adaptive support.
Solution Approach 2:
The support members are designed to be movable or adjustable during the bending process, allowing the support structure to dynamically adapt as tubes are bent. This dynamic capability enables the system to maintain stability of tube section positions even as the overall configuration changes during bending operations.
3Productivity
If multiple rows of heat exchange tubes are bent simultaneously, then processing efficiency is improved, but maintaining consistent spacing becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The bending apparatus is segmented into multiple independent but coordinated support members, each responsible for supporting specific tube sections. This segmentation allows simultaneous bending of multiple rows while maintaining precise spacing control through individual support member positioning, resolving the conflict between processing efficiency and spacing consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple support members are combined into an integrated apparatus that operates in coordination to support and bend multiple rows of heat exchange tubes simultaneously. The combined system maintains consistent spacing between rows through synchronized positioning of all support members, achieving both high processing efficiency and manufacturing precision.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and a method for bending a heat exchanger. The apparatus includes: a plurality of support members, each of which includes a first support plate having a first support surface, a second support plate having a second support surface, and a connecting plate. The first support plate and the second support plate are spaced apart in a transverse direction. A distance between the first support surface and the second support surface keeps unchanged during bending a heat exchanger. A distance between a first support surface and a second support surface of one support member of any two support members is equal to a distance between a first support surface and a second support surface of the other support member. A connecting component connects the plurality of support members in a longitudinal direction.