Heat Exchanger Fin Notch Design for Pitch Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchangers face challenges in maintaining consistent fin arrangement and efficient heat transfer due to the design of plate-shaped fins and flat tubes, where the raised portions of fins abutting each other can lead to deformation and reduced interval maintenance between fins.
Innovation Solution
The heat exchanger design incorporates plate-shaped fins with tube receiving openings in a notch shape, featuring open and closed end protruding tabs and joint portions that maintain the fin interval and facilitate brazing to flat tubes, ensuring consistent spacing and improved heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If raised portions are formed continuously from edges of notches to maintain fin arrangement pitch, then fin spacing is maintained, but deformation occurs and heat transfer efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous raised portion is segmented into discrete protruding tabs positioned at specific locations (open end and closed end of tube receiving openings). This segmentation allows the fin arrangement pitch to be maintained at critical points while eliminating the continuous raised portion that causes deformation and reduces heat transfer efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful continuous raised portion is extracted and replaced with discrete protruding tabs only where necessary for maintaining fin spacing. This removes the source of deformation while preserving the essential function of maintaining fin arrangement pitch.
2Stability of the object's composition
If plate-shaped fins with continuous raised portions are used, then fin arrangement is maintained, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex continuous raised portion structure is segmented into simple discrete protruding tabs. This reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining the stability of fin arrangement, as the tabs are easier to manufacture and assemble than continuous raised portions.
3Manufacturing precision
If raised portions abut on adjacent fins to maintain pitch, then spacing is constant, but contact deformation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The protruding tabs are positioned locally at the open end and closed end of tube receiving openings, providing fin spacing maintenance only where critical. This localized approach maintains fin spacing while minimizing contact deformation by reducing the overall contact area between adjacent fins compared to continuous raised portions.
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 maintains consistent fin intervals, reduces deformation, and enhances heat transfer efficiency by ensuring proper alignment and contact between fins and tubes, thereby improving the overall performance of the heat exchanger.
Implementation Method 1
a first protruding tab (40) protruding from the longer side edge portion (34) in a direction intersecting with the fin body (31) and having a tip end portion (41) that is located opposite to the longer side edge portion (34) in the direction intersecting with the fin body (31) and makes contact with the fin body (31) of an adjacent one of the fins (30)
Implementation Method 2
a second protruding tab (50) protruding from the longer side edge portion (34) toward the same side as the first protruding tab (40), the second protruding tab (50) protruding less than the first protruding tab (40) in a direction orthogonal to the fin body (31). The second protruding tab (50) makes contact with the flat tube (20) inserted into the tube receiving opening (33)
Implementation Method 3
a heat exchanger (10) comprising: a flat tube (20) having a width greater than its thickness; and a plurality of fins (30) fixed to the flat tube (20)
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanger includes: a flat tube having a width greater than a thickness of the flat tube; and fins fixed to the flat tube and that each include a plate-shaped fin body. The plate-shaped fin body of each of the fins faces the plate-shaped fin body of an adjacent one of the fins. Each of the fins has a tube receiving opening into which the flat tube is inserted. An edge of the tube receiving opening includes a first longitudinal side edge portion extending in a width direction of the flat tube. The tube receiving opening is in a notch shape that has: an open end on a first side of the first longitudinal side edge portion; and a closed end on a second side of the first longitudinal side edge portion.