Heat Exchanger Fin Protrusions for Expansion-Free Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchangers face challenges in securely supporting coolant tubes and maximizing heat transfer efficiency during manufacturing, as they often require complex processes like pipe expansion to ensure tight contact between tubes and fins.
Innovation Solution
The design features protrusions and fin part connecting parts that securely support coolant tubes without the need for pipe expansion, with the protrusions being shorter than the connecting parts and spaced apart, allowing for surface contact and increased heat transfer area between the tubes and fins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If pipe expansion process is used to ensure tight contact between coolant tubes and fins, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fin part connecting parts are pre-formed with protrusions that fit into corresponding recesses on the coolant tubes during assembly, establishing secure contact before operation. This preliminary structural preparation eliminates the need for complex post-assembly pipe expansion processes while ensuring tight contact between fins and tubes.
Solution Approach 2:
The fin part connecting parts serve as intermediary elements between the coolant tubes and fin parts, providing a mediating structure with protrusions and recesses that facilitates secure connection without requiring direct tube-fin contact through expansion. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the overall assembly process.
2Manufacturing precision
If pipe expansion process is used to ensure tight contact between coolant tubes and fins, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but manufacturing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fin part connecting parts are pre-formed with protrusions that fit into corresponding recesses on the coolant tubes during assembly, establishing secure contact before operation. This preliminary structural preparation eliminates the need for complex post-assembly pipe expansion processes while ensuring tight contact between fins and tubes.
Solution Approach 2:
The fin part connecting parts serve as intermediary elements between the coolant tubes and fin parts, providing a mediating structure with protrusions and recesses that facilitates secure connection without requiring direct tube-fin contact through expansion. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the overall assembly process.
3Area of stationary object
If protrusions are made shorter than fin part connecting parts, then heat transfer area is maximized, but structural strength may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fin part connecting parts are segmented into multiple protrusions distributed along the connection interface, with each protrusion providing both structural support and heat transfer surface. This segmentation allows the protrusions to be shorter individually while collectively providing sufficient strength and maximizing heat transfer area through distributed contact points.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple protrusions are arranged in a distributed pattern across the connection interface, transitioning from a single long contact point to multiple shorter contact points distributed in space. This dimensional distribution maximizes the total heat transfer surface area while maintaining structural integrity through redundant contact 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
This configuration enhances the productivity of heat exchanger manufacturing by eliminating the need for pipe expansion and maximizes heat transfer capability through optimized contact areas between the coolant tubes and fins, leading to improved heat exchange performance.
Implementation Method 1
the protrusions are brought in contact with the coolant tubes, thus more securely supporting the coolant tubes... maximized heat transfer area between the coolant tubes and the fins upon heat exchange
Data Source
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AI summary
According to the present invention, a heat exchanger comprises a plurality of coolant tubes; a plurality of fins contacting the plurality of coolant tubes, wherein each of the plurality of fins comprises: a plurality of fin parts spaced apart from each other; an upper fin part connecting part connecting respective upper portions of the plurality of fin parts with each other, the upper fin part connecting part contacting one of the plurality of coolant tubes; a lower fin part connecting part connecting respective lower portions of the plurality of fin parts with each other, the lower fin part connecting part contacting another one of the plurality of coolant tubes; an upper opening formed at an upper portion of each of the plurality of fin parts; a lower opening formed at a lower portion of each of the plurality of fin parts; an upper protrusion protruded from an upper portion of each of the plurality of fin parts, the upper protrusion contacting the first coolant tube; and a lower protrusion protruded from a lower portion of each of the plurality of fin parts, the lower protrusion contacting the second coolant tube. Accordingly, the present invention provides increased productivity without the need of a separate pipe expanding process.