Heat exchanger or chiller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchangers and chillers require numerous interfaces, significant assembly effort, large installation space, and are costly, with limited control capabilities due to the use of traditional thermostatic expansion valves.
Innovation Solution
Integration of an electronic expansion valve directly into the connection flange of a heat exchanger or chiller, eliminating the need for separate lines and flanges, allowing precise control of refrigerant flow and reducing installation complexity and space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a thermostatic expansion valve is used, then the refrigerant flow can be controlled via pressure drop and mass flow rate, but the controlling is limited to on/off function and external influence is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermostatic expansion valve with an electronic expansion valve that uses electronic control signals instead of mechanical pressure-drop-based control. This allows for continuous modulation of the refrigerant mass flow rate via electronic actuators, enabling precise control of the evaporation process and eliminating the limitations of binary on/off control while reducing structural complexity through integration.
2Ease of manufacture
If separate lines and flanges are used for the expansion valve, then the valve can be mounted, but the installation space is large and assembly effort is significant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the expansion valve with the connection flange by integrating the valve body directly into the flange structure. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate mounting flanges and connecting lines, significantly reducing the number of interfaces and assembly steps while minimizing the overall installation space occupied by the refrigerant flow control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection flange is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the connection interface for refrigerant lines and as the mounting structure for the expansion valve. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for dedicated valve mounting components, reducing part count and simplifying assembly while maintaining ease of manufacture and installation.
3Device complexity
If traditional expansion valves are used, then the structure is simple, but the number of interfaces is large and assembly effort is significant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the expansion valve body with the connection flange into a single integrated component. This merging eliminates multiple separate parts that would otherwise require assembly through multiple interfaces, thereby reducing assembly effort and simplifying manufacturing while maintaining the functional simplicity of the valve 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 enables precise control of refrigerant flow, reduces installation effort and space, and enhances efficiency by ensuring cooling energy is used exclusively within the heat exchanger block, minimizing external energy loss and weight.
Implementation Method 1
an expansion valve for influencing a mass flow rate of the refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
evaporation of the refrigerant first occurs in the second fluid channel of the heat exchanger/chiller
Implementation Method 3
by means of which a coolant is cooled with the aid of an evaporating refrigerant
Implementation Method 4
a heat exchanger block with a first fluid channel for a coolant and with a second fluid channel for a refrigerant
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanger or chiller may include a heat exchanger block having a first fluid channel for a coolant and a second fluid channel for a refrigerant, an expansion valve for controlling a mass flow rate of the refrigerant, and a connection flange having an inlet channel and an outlet channel for the refrigerant. The expansion valve may be designed as an electronic expansion valve. The inlet channel may be connected to the second fluid channel in a transition region of the inlet channel. The connection flange may have an insertion opening, which may communicate with the transition region of the inlet channel, and into which the expansion valve may be inserted such that the expansion valve may control the mass flow rate of the refrigerant in the transition region and evaporation of the refrigerant may first occur in the second fluid channel.