Heat exchanger support device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchanger support devices fail to completely prevent the freezing of melt water, leading to damage to heat exchanger components and increased risk of galvanic corrosion due to material differences between the heat exchanger and the base.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger support device made of resin, featuring a base unit with a groove and a first drain hole, and a water guide face that directs drain water away from the base, preventing freezing and reducing galvanic corrosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a freeze preventing heater is installed on the metal base, then ice melting capability is improved, but melt water still freezes in areas without the heater and the top portion of the heater eventually freezes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful melt water from the metal base surface by providing dedicated drain holes (first drain holes) that lead water away from the base. This removes the water that would otherwise freeze and cause damage, making additional heating measures unnecessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces resin blocks as intermediary components between the metal base and the heat exchanger. These resin blocks provide thermal insulation and prevent direct contact between water and the cold metal base, thereby preventing freeze prevention issues without requiring heaters.
2Quantity of substance
If the metal base has a corrugated shape to receive melt water, then water reception capability is improved, but water drainage is insufficient and ice buildup occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the base surface into multiple regions with numerous first drain holes distributed across the resin blocks. This segmentation allows water to be drained from multiple locations simultaneously, improving overall drainage efficiency while maintaining the corrugated shape for water reception.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a vertical drainage dimension by creating through-holes that pass completely through the resin blocks from the upper surface to the lower surface. This three-dimensional drainage path enables water to be efficiently removed from the base surface.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the heat exchanger header and metal base are made of different materials (aluminum and steel), then functional requirements are met, but galvanic corrosion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces resin blocks as intermediary components between the aluminum heat exchanger header and the steel metal base. These resin blocks electrically isolate the two dissimilar metals, preventing galvanic corrosion while allowing both materials to be used for their respective functional advantages.
4Productivity
If drain holes are opened in the metal base, then water drainage is improved, but ice may form around the drain holes and block them
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses resin blocks as intermediary materials surrounding the drain holes. These resin blocks provide thermal insulation that prevents the drain holes from becoming freezing points, thereby preventing ice formation and blockage while maintaining effective water drainage.
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 device efficiently drains water from the heat exchanger without it contacting the base, preventing ice buildup and damage to heat exchanger components, while also reducing the occurrence of galvanic corrosion.
Implementation Method 1
The water guide face is formed in the groove and progressively or continuously descends from a second end of the groove toward the first drain hole opened at the first end
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanger support device is disposed between a heat exchanger and a base disposed below the heat exchanger, is made of a resin, and includes a base unit, a groove, a first drain hole, and a water guide face. The groove is formed in the base unit, is hollowed downward, and extends in a widthwise direction of the base unit. The first drain hole is opened at a first end of the groove in an extending direction of the groove and is a through-hole passing through a planar thickness of the groove. The water guide face is formed in the groove and progressively or continuously descends from a second end of the groove toward the first drain hole opened at the first end. The second end is positioned opposite to the first end in the extending direction of the groove.