Heat Exchanger Intermediate Cylinder Flow Path Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat exchangers experience abnormal noises due to the water hammer phenomenon during suppression of heat exchange, caused by rapid condensation of gaseous second fluids, which is not adequately addressed by existing solutions like mesh members at communication holes.
Innovation Solution
A flow path structure with an intermediate cylinder that partitions the fluid path into inner and outer flow paths, featuring communication holes in the radial direction, which allows gaseous second fluids to be present and reduces the vapor mass, thereby minimizing abnormal noises.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the heat exchanger constantly collects waste heat from the first fluid to the second fluid, then heat recovery efficiency is improved, but abnormal noises occur due to rapid condensation of gaseous second fluids
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path for the second fluid is segmented into an inner flow path and an outer flow path by the intermediate cylinder. This segmentation allows different regions to serve different functions: the inner flow path facilitates heat exchange when needed, while the outer flow path provides a return path that prevents water hammer phenomena by controlling fluid flow dynamics.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate cylinder acts as an intermediary structure between the inner and outer cylinders. It creates the dual flow path configuration and includes communication holes that regulate fluid movement between the inner and outer flow paths, thereby controlling the condensation process to prevent abnormal noises while maintaining heat recovery efficiency.
2Power
If the second fluid is rapidly condensed to recover heat, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but water hammer phenomenon occurs causing abnormal noises
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically controls the flow state of the second fluid through the communication holes in the intermediate cylinder. By adjusting the flow configuration between inner and outer flow paths, the system optimizes heat exchange efficiency while preventing rapid condensation that would cause water hammer phenomena.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual flow path structure ensures continuous and controlled heat exchange action. The communication holes maintain a steady flow regime that prevents sudden phase changes and water hammer phenomena, while continuously recovering heat from the first fluid to the second fluid.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If mesh members are placed at communication holes to suppress abnormal noises, then noise reduction is achieved, but heat recovery efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for mesh members by redesigning the flow path structure. The intermediate cylinder with communication holes creates a flow configuration that inherently prevents water hammer phenomena without requiring additional noise suppression components, thereby maintaining heat recovery efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adding mesh members to suppress noises (adding resistance to flow), the invention inverts the approach by designing a flow path structure that naturally prevents water hammer phenomena through proper fluid flow control. This removes flow resistance and maintains high heat recovery efficiency while achieving noise reduction.
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
The proposed structure effectively reduces abnormal noises and improves heat recovery efficiency by stabilizing the vapor mass and controlling heat exchange states without external control.
Implementation Method 1
a heat recovery member 40 having a radially outer side faced with the inner flow path 31b, wherein heat of the first fluid flowing inside can be transmitted to the radially outer side
Implementation Method 2
when a temperature of the inner cylinder is equal to or higher than the boiling point of the refrigerant (when it is not necessary to recover the waste heat), the gaseous refrigerant generated by boiling and vaporizing is present in the inner-side outer peripheral flow path
Implementation Method 3
abnormal noises due to the water hammer phenomenon during suppression of heat exchange, caused by rapid condensation of gaseous second fluids
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanger 100 includes: an inner cylinder 10 through which a first fluid can flow, the inner cylinder 10 being configured to be capable of housing a heat recovery member 40; an outer cylinder 20 disposed so as to be spaced on a radially outer side of the inner cylinder 10 such that a second fluid can flow between the outer cylinder 20 and the inner cylinder 10; and an intermediate cylinder 30 disposed between the inner cylinder 10 and the outer cylinder 20, the intermediate cylinder 30 partitioning a flow path for the second fluid into an inner flow path 31b and an outer flow path 31a. In the heat exchanger, the intermediate cylinder 30 includes communication holes 32 that are communicated in a radial direction, and the communication holes 32 are provided in an axial direction of the intermediate cylinder 30.