Integrated Heat Exchanger Unit Element with Shield Ribs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat exchangers used in ventilation systems face issues with air leakage due to poor sealing, incorrect stacking leading to reduced heat conversion efficiency, and high manufacturing costs due to multiple components and complex processing steps.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger design featuring unit elements with integrated spacing and shield ribs, and a stacking error detection mechanism to ensure correct alignment and reduce the number of components and processing steps, enhancing productivity and sealing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If spacer and heat transfer plate are stacked without bonding to suppress manufacturing cost, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but sealing property deteriorates causing air current leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the spacer and heat transfer plate into a single integrated component where the spacer ribs are formed as integral parts of the heat transfer plate. This eliminates the need for separate assembly while maintaining the sealing function, thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing cost and sealing property.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat transfer plate is segmented into functional regions including spacer ribs that protrude from the plate surface. These segmented structures perform both heat transfer and sealing functions simultaneously, allowing the component to maintain reliability while simplifying manufacturing.
2Ease of operation
If spacer is stacked in the same direction to simplify assembly, then assembly complexity is reduced, but heat conversion efficiency deteriorates due to incorrect ventilation path formation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces asymmetric features including directional arrows on the heat transfer plate and corresponding arrow-shaped grooves in the spacer. These asymmetric elements provide built-in guidance that ensures correct stacking orientation, allowing simplified assembly while guaranteeing proper ventilation path formation for optimal heat conversion efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The asymmetric guiding features enable the components to self-align during assembly. The directional arrows and arrow-shaped grooves automatically guide the spacer to the correct orientation relative to the heat transfer plate, eliminating the need for complex assembly procedures while ensuring correct ventilation path formation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components are used for spacer and heat transfer plate to achieve functional separation, then functional performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines multiple functional components (heat transfer plate and spacer) into a single integrated component. The heat transfer plate includes integral spacer ribs that perform both heat transfer and spacing functions, reducing the number of components while maintaining functional performance through carefully designed multi-functional structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated heat transfer plate serves multiple functions simultaneously: heat transfer through its plate structure, spacing through protruding spacer ribs, and sealing through the interaction between spacer ribs and corresponding grooves. This multi-functionality reduces component count while maintaining overall system performance.
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 solution effectively prevents air leakage, improves heat conversion efficiency, and reduces manufacturing costs by simplifying the assembly process and minimizing component count.
Implementation Method 1
heat exchanger for exchanging heat through a heat transfer plate by flowing a primary air current and a secondary air current to a ventilation path
Implementation Method 2
Heat transfer plate 102 having heat transfer property and moisture permeability
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanger for exchanging heat through a heat transfer plate by flowing a primary air current and a secondary air current to a ventilation path. An unit element including the heat transfer plate, and the ventilation path formed between the heat transfer plates by stacking the unit element in plural are arranged. The unit element is configured by integrally molding a spacing rib for holding a spacing of the heat transfer plate, and a shield rib for shielding leakage of the air current with resin. Furthermore, the unit element includes a stacking error detecting unit for determining a stacking error when stacked.