Heat Exchanger With Thermal Storage Tanks For Engine-Off Air Conditioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat exchangers are not suitable for fluids under high pressure, such as carbon dioxide, and fail to maintain air conditioning in vehicles when the engine is stopped, as they rely on engine-powered fluid circulation.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger design featuring a core of tubes with alternating heat exchange inserts and thermal storage material tanks, where the tubes have a sheet metal plate structure with cavities for fluid circulation and storage, enhancing heat exchange performance and allowing for continuous air conditioning even when the engine is off.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If conventional heat exchangers are used with engine-powered fluid circulation, then heat exchange function is provided when engine is running, but air conditioning cannot be maintained when engine is stopped
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by storing thermal energy in advance during engine operation. The thermal storage material tanks accumulate heat or cold when the heat transfer fluid circulates, preparing the system to maintain air conditioning when the engine stops and fluid circulation ceases.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces thermal storage material tanks as an intermediary between the heat exchanger and the air conditioning system. These tanks store thermal energy and release it when needed, mediating the gap between engine-powered operation and engine-off conditions to maintain continuous air conditioning.
2Productivity
If heat exchange inserts are added to increase heat exchange surface, then heat exchange performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heat exchange inserts with the thermal storage material tanks into a single integrated assembly. The inserts are arranged between the tubes within the same structure that contains the storage tanks, combining multiple functions (heat exchange and thermal storage) into one unified device rather than separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional assembly where the same structural unit serves multiple purposes: the heat exchange inserts provide enhanced heat transfer surface area while the surrounding structure contains thermal storage material tanks, allowing the device to simultaneously perform heat exchange and thermal energy storage functions.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If thermal storage material tanks are combined with heat exchanger, then continuous air conditioning is enabled, but suitability for high-pressure fluids like carbon dioxide is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the structure into distinct functional zones: the heat transfer fluid circulates through sealed tubes that can withstand high pressure, while the thermal storage material tanks are positioned externally in an assembly. This segmentation allows the high-pressure fluid pathway to remain isolated and pressure-resistant while still enabling thermal storage functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested arrangement where the heat exchange tubes (handling high-pressure fluid) are positioned within or alongside the thermal storage material tanks. The tubes are inserted into the assembly of tanks, allowing the high-pressure fluid pathway to be nested within the lower-pressure thermal storage environment, maintaining pressure integrity while enabling continuous operation.
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 design effectively enhances heat exchange performance and maintains air conditioning in vehicles by allowing thermal storage and fluid circulation channels, suitable for high-pressure fluids like carbon dioxide, ensuring continuous air refreshment without engine operation.
Implementation Method 1
thermal storage material tanks, in which the material stores heat or cold when the heat transfer fluid is circulating in the system, and restores them to the external fluid when the heat transfer fluid is no longer circulating
Implementation Method 2
heat exchange inserts are arranged between the tubes and intended to increase the surface available for the heat exchange, and to disrupt the external fluid flow so as to enhance the performance of the heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
disrupt the external fluid flow so as to enhance the performance of the heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
A plate (20) for a heat transfer tube (4) made from a metal sheet includes a peripheral outer wall (10) and having at least one first cavity (24) and least one second cavity (26) respectively formed in the metal sheet. The first cavity (24) is in contact with the peripheral outer wall (10) and the second cavity (26) is arranged at a distance from the outer wall (10). A heat transfer tube (4) of a heat exchanger (1) includes a pair of such plates (20) and a heat exchanger (1) includes a plurality of such tubes (4).