Heat Exchanger Manifold Support to Prevent Corrosion and Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchanger arrangements in refrigeration circuits face challenges with effective heat exchange, ease of installation, and longevity, particularly due to corrosion and vibration issues caused by metal-to-metal contact and the need for complex support structures.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger arrangement featuring a metallic support structure with non-metallic manifold support portions that prevent direct metal-to-metal contact, allowing for suspension of heat exchangers, reduced contact points, and mechanical decoupling to prevent corrosion and vibrations, facilitating easy installation and condensate drainage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal-to-metal contact is used between heat exchanger and support structure, then structural strength and stability are improved, but corrosion occurs due to electrochemical effect at metal interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
A non-metallic support portion is introduced as an intermediary element between the metallic heat exchanger manifold and the metallic support structure. This intermediary prevents direct metal-to-metal contact, eliminating the electrochemical corrosion pathway while still providing mechanical support and stability to the heat exchanger assembly.
2Stability of the object's composition
If heat exchanger is supported from below, then stability is improved, but installation complexity increases and condensate drainage becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of supporting the heat exchanger from below as in conventional designs, the invention inverts the support approach by suspending the heat exchanger from above using the non-metallic support portions attached to the upper manifold. This inversion simplifies installation, enables natural condensate drainage, and maintains stability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple contact points are used between heat exchanger and support structure, then structural stability is improved, but vibration damping is reduced and water accumulation areas increase
Solution Approach 1:
The non-metallic support portion acts as a mediator that reduces the number of direct contact points between the heat exchanger and support structure. This reduction minimizes vibration transmission and eliminates areas where water could accumulate, while the distributed design of the non-metallic support maintains structural stability.
4Manufacturing precision
If rigid metal support structure is used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but thermal dilatation compensation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter of the support portion from metallic to non-metallic, which has different thermal expansion characteristics. This allows the support structure to compensate for thermal dilatation and deformation of the heat exchanger coils while maintaining manufacturing precision through the rigid metallic main support 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
The solution provides effective heat exchange, reduces corrosion and vibration, and simplifies installation by eliminating the need for bottom support, while allowing for thermal compensation and efficient condensate management.
Implementation Method 1
This avoids corrosion caused by the electrochemical effect which is likely to occur at the interface of two (different) metals.
Implementation Method 2
the heat exchanger in particular is suspended from the support structure by means of the manifold support portions
Implementation Method 3
Exemplary embodiments of the invention also provide a mechanical decoupling between the heat exchanger(s) and the support structure resulting in an effective damping of vibrations.
Implementation Method 4
They further allow compensating for thermal dilatation and deformation of the heat exchanger coils.
Implementation Method 5
heat exchangers are used for transferring heat between a circulating refrigerant and the environment
Implementation Method 6
heat exchangers are used for transferring heat between a circulating refrigerant and the environment
Implementation Method 7
installation of the heat exchanger(s) within the support structure is facilitated. It further facilitates collecting and draining condensate generated on the surface(s) of the heat exchanger(s) in an area below the heat exchanger(s)
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanger arrangement (2) comprises at least one heat exchanger (4) including at least one substantially horizontally oriented manifold (6a, 6b) forming an upper side of the at least one heat exchanger (4), the at least one manifold (6a, 6b) having lateral end portions (8); and a support structure (10) including a main portion comprising, at least partially, a metallic material, and manifold support portions (14) associated to respective lateral end portions (8) of the at least one manifold (6a, 6b). The manifold support portions (14) are made at least partially from a non-metallic material and configured to receive the lateral end portions (8) of the at least one manifold (6a, 6b) for preventing the at least one manifold (6a, 6b) from contacting any metallic portions of the support structure (10).