Heat Exchanger Tube Coupling Part Width Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat exchangers have a large overall package size due to the presence of partition walls and sealing structures, which also limit the reduction of separation distance between tube rows, resulting in increased material usage for heat radiation fins.
Innovation Solution
A compact heat exchanger design featuring multiple rows of tubes with a reduced coupling part width and increased thickness, integrated with a heat radiation fin that couples opposing tubes in neighboring rows, allowing for independent flow paths and reduced space between tube rows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If partition walls and sealing structures are added to the header tank, then airtightness and flow path separation are improved, but the overall package size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the partition wall structure from the header tank while maintaining flow path separation through the tube slot part design. The sealing structure is extracted and integrated into the tube slot part itself, eliminating the need for separate partition walls and reducing the overall package size while maintaining airtightness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the sealing function and flow path separation function into the tube slot part. The tube slot part serves both as a structural component for tube insertion and as a sealing element that defines independent flow paths, eliminating the need for separate partition walls and reducing the overall package size.
2Quantity of substance
If the separation distance between tube rows is reduced, then material usage for heat radiation fins is reduced, but the coupling part width must be reduced which affects structural strength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the coupling part have different dimensions than the heat exchange part. The coupling part has a smaller width to allow closer tube row spacing and reduce fin material usage, while the heat exchange part maintains its original width for proper heat radiation performance. This localized dimensional change resolves the contradiction between reducing fin material and maintaining structural strength.
3Volume of stationary object
If the coupling part width is reduced to decrease overall package size, then the separation distance between tube rows can be reduced, but the coupling part thickness must be increased to maintain structural strength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dimensional parameters of the coupling part by reducing its width and increasing its thickness. This parameter change allows the coupling part to fit between closer tube rows while maintaining sufficient structural strength through the increased thickness, thereby reducing the overall package size without compromising strength.
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 achieves a compact configuration with reduced overall package size and material usage in the heat radiation fin, while maintaining efficient heat radiation performance.
Implementation Method 1
a heat radiation fin 400 interposed between the tubes 300
Implementation Method 2
a heat radiation fin interposed between the tubes, wherein the tube includes a heat exchange part coupled to the heat radiation fin
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a heat exchanger comprising: a header tank having a plurality of flow paths in which a heat exchange medium flows; multiple rows of tubes connected to the header tank; and heat radiation fins interposed between the tubes, wherein the tubes include a heat exchange part coupled to the heat radiation fins and a coupling part that is formed on a longitudinal end of the heat exchange part and coupled to the header tank, the width of the coupling part is formed to be less than the width of the heat exchange part so that the overall package size of the heat exchanger may be reduced, thus enabling a compact configuration, and the space between neighboring rows of the tubes may be reduced, thus making it possible to reduce the material of the heat radiation fins.