Heat Exchanger Fin Structure for Air-Side Heat Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing heat exchanger design with projecting portions from heat transfer pipes has an insufficient heat transfer area on the air stream side, limiting the heat exchange performance between refrigerant flowing through the pipes and the air stream.
Innovation Solution
The heat exchanger design includes heat transfer pipes arranged horizontally with extending portions and heat transfer plates, where the extending portions and plates form a heat transfer plate that increases the heat transfer area, allowing for improved airflow and heat exchange efficiency by optimizing the width and thickness dimensions of these components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If projecting portions are formed on heat transfer pipes to facilitate dew condensation water drainage, then drainage performance is improved, but heat transfer area on air stream side remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extends the heat transfer surface from the pipe surface into the air stream passage by forming plate-like extending portions that protrude from the pipe surface. This dimensional extension creates additional heat transfer area in the air stream direction without compromising the drainage function, as the extending portions are configured to allow water to flow along their surfaces to drainage ports.
2Productivity
If heat transfer area is increased by adding extending portions, then heat exchange performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention integrates multiple functions into a single component: the extending portions simultaneously serve as heat transfer surfaces and as drainage guides. By merging the heat transfer function with the drainage guidance function in one integrated structure, the design avoids adding separate components, thereby improving heat exchange performance without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The extending portions are designed to perform multiple functions: they provide additional heat transfer area for improved heat exchange performance, while also serving as drainage pathways that guide dew condensation water to the drainage ports. This multi-functionality allows a single structural feature to address both heat transfer enhancement and drainage requirements.
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 heat exchange efficiency and performance by increasing the air stream-side heat exchange efficiency while maintaining pressure loss control, thus improving the overall heat transfer between refrigerant and air stream.
Implementation Method 1
heat exchange performance between refrigerant flowing through the heat transfer pipes and the air stream
Data Source
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AI summary
In a heat exchanger, each of a plurality of heat exchange members includes: a main body portion including a heat transfer pipe; and extending portions provided to the main body. The extending portions extend from ends of the main body portion in a third direction. When a dimension of the main body portion in the third direction is represented by La, a dimension of the extending portions in the third direction is represented by Lf, a dimension of a wall thickness of each of the heat transfer pipes is represented by tp, and a thickness dimension of each of the extending portions is represented by Tf, relationships: Lf/La≥1 and Tf≤tp are satisfied.