Heat Exchanger Tubes with Raised Elements for Fluid Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multi-tube heat exchangers face inefficiencies due to improper fluid flow around tubes and thermal gradients, which hinder optimal heat exchange efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The process involves creating heat exchanger tubes from a bent and shaped stainless steel sheet with angled raised elements on flat walls to ensure proper fluid flow and contact between adjacent tubes, optimizing heat exchange by guiding and slowing fluid flow and equalizing temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional multi-tube heat exchangers are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the fluid flow around tubes is improper and thermal gradients occur, reducing heat exchange efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating raised elements at specific locations on the tube surface (flat walls) to modify fluid flow locally. These raised elements are positioned to create channels that guide coolant flow between adjacent tubes, ensuring proper flow distribution and thermal equalization without changing the overall tube structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension by adding surface features (raised elements) to the otherwise simple cylindrical tube. This dimensional addition creates three-dimensional flow channels on the tube surface, enabling better fluid distribution and heat exchange without fundamentally changing the tube's basic geometry or increasing system complexity.
2Temperature
If conventional tubes are used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but thermal gradients between tubes occur, negatively affecting heat exchange efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The raised elements are created through localized forming operations on specific portions of the tube (flat walls), allowing thermal equalization to be achieved through local structural modifications rather than changing the entire tube design. This maintains manufacturing simplicity while improving temperature distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The raised elements are formed during the tube manufacturing process itself, before the tubes are assembled into the heat exchanger. This preliminary action ensures that the flow-guiding structure is already in place, which will automatically equalize temperatures across all tubes during operation without requiring additional adjustment steps.
3Productivity
If conventional tubes are used, then the structure is simple, but fluid flow around all tubes is not correct, reducing heat exchange efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies only specific portions of the tube surface (flat walls) with raised elements, rather than changing the entire tube structure. This localized modification creates effective flow channels for guiding coolant between adjacent tubes, improving heat exchange efficiency with minimal increase in structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The raised elements create curved or angled surfaces on the otherwise cylindrical tube. These curved features guide the fluid flow smoothly between adjacent tubes, preventing dead zones and ensuring proper flow distribution across all tubes in the bundle, thereby improving overall heat exchange efficiency.
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 design ensures optimum heat exchange efficiency by creating channels for fluid flow and maintaining contact between tubes, improving thermal equalization and overall heat transfer compared to conventional exchangers.
Implementation Method 1
first raised elements 8, for suitably conveying and slowing the motion of the fluid to optimise heat exchange
Implementation Method 2
maintaining contact between tubes, improving thermal equalization and overall heat transfer
Implementation Method 3
heat exchangers in whose tubes exhaust gases pass, for example from engines, and around which a coolant fluid flows
Data Source
AI summary
A process for making heat exchanger tubes includes the operating steps of cutting a piece of sheet, subjecting the piece of sheet (3) to a forming step to obtain a plurality of first elements (8, 9) which mirror one another, and bending the piece of sheet (3) to create a tubular element (1) which has two flat walls (4) with the raised elements (8, 9) on them, the flat walls being opposite one another and joined by two connecting walls (5). The first raised elements (8) have an extended shape according to their main direction of extension. The forming step involves making one or more higher second raised elements (9).