Heat Exchanger Header With Triangular Wall And Parallel Manifolds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large heat exchangers used in systems like construction and agricultural machinery face challenges in withstanding high pressures from process fluids, especially when compact packaging is required, as circular headers can be difficult to accommodate in larger designs.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates cylindrical fluid manifolds with arcuate wall sections and a thickened triangular wall section, featuring apertures for fluid communication and a plug brazed to the planar outer surface for enhanced structural integrity and compactness, allowing for multiple fluid manifolds in parallel to manage elevated pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the heat exchanger size is increased to accommodate larger fluid flow rates, then the heat transfer capacity is improved, but the mechanical stress from fluid pressure on the header structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The header is divided into multiple cylindrical fluid manifolds arranged in parallel rather than using a single large header. This segmentation reduces the surface area of any single manifold exposed to fluid pressure, thereby reducing mechanical stress while maintaining the total flow capacity needed for large systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional flat or circular header profiles to a three-dimensional configuration with multiple cylindrical manifolds arranged in parallel. This dimensional change allows the header to distribute pressure across multiple surfaces and provides more efficient stress distribution throughout the structure
2Strength
If circular header profiles are used to withstand high pressures, then the mechanical strength is improved, but the packaging compactness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The header is divided into multiple cylindrical fluid manifolds arranged in parallel rather than using a single large header. This segmentation reduces the surface area of any single manifold exposed to fluid pressure, thereby reducing mechanical stress while maintaining the total flow capacity needed for large systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional flat or circular header profiles to a three-dimensional configuration with multiple cylindrical manifolds arranged in parallel. This dimensional change allows the header to distribute pressure across multiple surfaces and provides more efficient stress distribution throughout the structure
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 robustness of heat exchangers by distributing pressure more effectively, reducing mechanical stresses and enabling larger systems to handle increased fluid flow rates without sacrificing compactness.
Implementation Method 1
the plug is brazed to the planar outer surface
Data Source
AI summary
A header for a heat exchanger includes a first and a second cylindrical fluid manifold extending in parallel. Each of the first and second manifolds have tube slots that extend through an arcuate wall section of the manifold. A thickened wall section of the header having a generally triangular wall section is bounded by the first and second fluid manifolds and by a planar outer surface of the header. An aperture extends through the thickened wall section to provide a fluid communication pathway between the first and second cylindrical fluid manifolds.