Heat Exchanger Partitioning for Multi-Coolant Heat Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water cooled heat exchangers are ineffective in utilizing waste heat from coolants of different kinds, particularly in electric vehicles, as they are not designed to exchange heat between refrigerant and coolant of different types, leading to suboptimal heat exchange efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger with separate refrigerant and coolant flow paths, partitioned into distinct heat exchange sections, allowing for independent heat exchange between different types of coolants and refrigerant, with a partition plate enabling refrigerant flow between sections and adjustable heat exchange area ratios based on coolant temperature differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional water cooled heat exchanger structure is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot exchange heat between coolant and refrigerant of different kinds
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is divided into multiple heat exchange sections (first heat exchange section and second heat exchange section) with different configurations. Each section is designed to handle specific coolant-refrigerant pairs, allowing the system to accommodate different coolant types without requiring a complete redesign of the entire heat exchanger structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger is designed with multi-functional capability to perform heat exchange between different coolant-refrigerant combinations (e.g., first coolant with refrigerant, second coolant with refrigerant) within a single device. This universal design allows the same heat exchanger structure to serve multiple heat exchange purposes.
2Productivity
If separate heat exchange sections are added to handle different coolant types, then heat exchange efficiency between different coolants and refrigerant is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple heat exchange functions are merged into a single integrated heat exchanger device. The first heat exchange section and second heat exchange section are combined within one compact structure, allowing efficient heat exchange between different coolant-refrigerant pairs without requiring separate heat exchangers for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger utilizes a stacked plate configuration where different heat exchange sections are arranged in the vertical dimension. This dimensional arrangement allows multiple heat exchange functions to coexist in a compact space, improving heat exchange efficiency without proportionally increasing the device's footprint or complexity.
3Loss of energy
If a single heat exchanger handles multiple coolant types, then waste heat utilization is enhanced, but controlling heat exchange area ratios becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Different heat exchange sections are designed with locally optimized characteristics, including specific heat exchange area ratios tailored to the thermal properties of each coolant-refrigerant pair. The first heat exchange section and second heat exchange section can have different plate configurations, flow path arrangements, and heat exchange surface areas to match the specific heat transfer requirements of different coolant types.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger design allows for adjustment of key parameters such as heat exchange area ratios, flow path configurations, and plate spacing to optimize heat transfer efficiency for different coolant types. By changing these parameters locally in different sections, the system maximizes waste heat utilization while maintaining manageable complexity.
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
Enables efficient heat exchange between coolants and refrigerant of different kinds, enhancing waste heat utilization and optimizing heat exchange efficiency in electric vehicles by controlling heat exchange area ratios according to temperature differences, thereby achieving a triple heat exchanger effect.
Implementation Method 1
a first coolant inlet for introducing the first coolant into the heat exchanger and a first coolant outlet for discharging the first coolant are disposed at one side in the stacked direction of the plates, and a second coolant inlet for introducing the second coolant into the heat exchanger and a second coolant outlet for discharging the second coolant are disposed at the other side in the stacked direction of the plates
Implementation Method 2
The refrigerant flowing into the heat exchanger through refrigerant inlet 2 flows through the refrigerant channel formed by the plates 1 and is discharged out through the refrigerant outlet 3, so a refrigerant flow path 7 as illustrated in FIG. 2 is formed. Moreover, the coolant flowing into the heat exchanger through the coolant inlet 4 flows through the coolant channel formed by the plates 1 and is discharged out through the coolant outlet 5
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a heat exchanger capable of exchanging heat between coolant and refrigerant of different kinds in one device and providing an effective heat exchange ratio between the coolant and the refrigerant. The heat exchanger includes a refrigerant flow path having a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet, and a coolant flow path through which coolant flows to exchange heat with the refrigerant. The coolant flow path includes a first coolant flow path where first coolant flows, and a second coolant flow path where second coolant with a different kind from the first coolant flows. The heat exchanger is partitioned into a first heat exchange section, in which the first coolant exchanges heat with the refrigerant and a second heat exchange section, in which the second coolant exchanges heat with the refrigerant, so that the heat exchange in the first heat exchange section and the heat exchange in the second heat exchange are carried out independently.