Gas Heat Exchanger Tubes with Transverse Protuberances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current EGR heat exchangers face inefficiencies due to poor refrigerant fluid flow distribution, often requiring additional deflectors that increase costs and complexity, and lack transverse protrusions on tubes to enhance flow distribution.
Innovation Solution
The heat exchanger design features parallel tubes with transverse protuberances oriented to create a 'Z' path for the refrigerant flow, eliminating the need for external deflectors by using the protuberances as internal barriers to direct the fluid flow effectively around the tubes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional deflectors are used to improve refrigerant fluid flow distribution, then flow distribution improves, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the deflector function with the existing tube structure by adding transverse protuberances directly to the tubes. This integration eliminates the need for separate deflector components while maintaining the flow distribution function, thereby reducing device complexity and manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The tubes serve dual functions: heat exchange and flow distribution. The transverse protuberances on the tubes create deflecting surfaces that guide the refrigerant fluid flow without requiring external deflectors. This self-service approach allows the tubes to improve flow distribution while eliminating additional components.
2Reliability
If additional deflectors are used to improve refrigerant fluid flow distribution, then flow distribution improves, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector function is merged with the tube structure through the addition of transverse protuberances. This integration eliminates the need for separate deflector components, reducing part count, assembly steps, and manufacturing cost while maintaining flow distribution performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The tubes with transverse protuberances perform both heat exchange and flow distribution functions. This self-service design eliminates the need for additional deflectors, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Reliability
If refrigerant inlet and outlet conduits are located at opposite ends, then flow distribution improves, but ease of connection to engine coolant circuit decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the flow path within the housing by using transverse protuberances on the tubes to create multiple flow zones. This allows the refrigerant to travel a longer effective path even when inlet and outlet are positioned on the same side, improving flow distribution without compromising connection ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The transverse protuberances on the tubes create flow barriers in the transverse dimension, forcing the refrigerant to navigate around these obstacles. This three-dimensional flow path extension allows effective flow distribution while maintaining convenient inlet/outlet positioning on the same side of the housing.
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 improves refrigerant fluid distribution and turbulence, enhancing cooling efficiency and durability by ensuring the fluid circulates around the tubes, avoiding direct paths and reducing thermal fatigue risks.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger for gases, in particular for the exhaust gases of an engine, of the type which comprises a plurality of parallel tubes, arranged inside a housing, through which circulate the gases to be cooled by heat exchange with a cooling fluid
Implementation Method 2
improves refrigerant fluid distribution and turbulence, enhancing cooling efficiency
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a gas heat exchanger (1), in particular for the exhaust gases of an engine, which includes a plurality of parallel tubes (2) arranged inside a housing (3), and through which the gases to be cooled by heat exchange with a coolant flow, the coolant intake (4) and output (5) pipes each being arranged at an opposite end of the housing (3), preferably on a single side of said housing (3). Each tube (2) includes a projection (6) facing the flow direction of the gases, said tubes (2) being capable of being assembled by stacking one on another, such that the projections (6) of the respective tubes (2) define a deflector-type barrier (6a, 6b) intended to create a predetermined path suitable for appropriately distributing the flow of the coolant, from the intake (4) thereof to the output (5) thereof, around the tubes (2) and along the exchanger (1). The distribution of the flow of coolant passing through the exchanger is improved while avoiding the use of conventional deflectors.