Heat Exchanger Bottom Expansion Element Thermal Stress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchangers for exhaust gas cooling require additional holding elements due to thin-walled housings, leading to increased costs and space requirements, and experience thermal expansion issues that can cause deformation and stress on components.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger design featuring a housing with a bottom that includes an expansion element, such as a metal ridge or concertina, allowing for axial and radial relative movement between the bottom and housing, which absorbs thermal expansion of the tubes, ensuring secure connection and preventing deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of stationary object
If thin-walled housings are used in heat exchangers, then material costs and weight are reduced, but additional holding elements are required which increase costs and space requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a flexible membrane as the housing material that can elastically deform to accommodate thermal expansion of the tubes. This flexible shell replaces the need for rigid thick-walled housings and additional holding elements, while maintaining structural integrity and allowing thermal movement without deformation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If rigid housings are used to prevent deformation, then structural stability is improved, but thermal expansion causes stress and deformation of components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mechanical parameter of the housing from rigid to flexible by using an elastomeric material. This allows the housing to dynamically adjust its stiffness characteristics, remaining stable in position while accommodating thermal expansion through elastic deformation, thereby reducing thermal stress on connected components.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible structure that can adapt its shape during operation. The elastomeric material allows the housing to dynamically respond to thermal expansion forces, maintaining structural stability while preventing stress concentration that would occur with rigid constraints.
3Reliability
If tubes are firmly fixed in the housing, then connection reliability is improved, but thermal expansion causes inadmissible deformation and stress
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible elastomeric housing provides a compliant mounting environment for the tubes. The tubes can be firmly connected to the flexible housing, which absorbs thermal expansion through its elastic deformation rather than transmitting stress to the tube connections, thereby maintaining both connection reliability and dimensional precision.
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 reduces the need for additional holding elements, minimizes space requirements, and effectively manages thermal expansion, preventing inadmissible deformation and stress on components, thereby enhancing the structural integrity and efficiency of the heat exchanger.
Implementation Method 1
the plastic bottom, on account of its modulus of elasticity, is capable, by elastic deformation, of following certain extensions, such as occur in the tube bundle when the exhaust gas heat exchanger is in operation
Implementation Method 2
a tube bundle, through which exhaust gas flows and around which the coolant flows
Implementation Method 3
exhaust gas flows and around which the coolant flows
Implementation Method 4
the tubes of the heat exchanger experience thermal longitudinal extension and thermal transverse extension
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a heat exchanger, especially for cooling exhaust gases. Said heat exchanger comprises at least one first flow channel for a first medium, at least one second flow channel for a second medium, at least one bottom that can be connected to the housing, said bottom having at least one expansion element.