Outdoor Heat Exchanger Assembly With Corrective Members Against Warping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchangers in refrigerating apparatuses face issues with warping due to individual differences in heat transfer tubes, leading to alignment problems and reduced effectiveness in heat transfer, especially when the number of tubes is increased to expand the heat transfer area.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger assembly featuring a header with heat transfer tubes aligned longitudinally, secured by fins and corrective members that sandwich the tubes, fins, or header, with optional buffer and insulative members to stabilize and prevent warping, and secure the assembly within a casing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the number of heat transfer tubes is increased to expand the heat transfer area, then the heat transfer effectiveness is improved, but warping of the heat exchanger occurs due to individual differences in tube dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces corrective members that physically adjust the position of heat transfer tubes, changing the spatial parameters of the assembly to compensate for manufacturing variations. This allows maintaining the intended heat exchanger geometry even when individual tube dimensions vary, thus preventing warping while preserving the expanded heat transfer area.
Solution Approach 2:
The corrective members act as intermediary elements between the heat transfer tubes and the overall heat exchanger structure. These intermediaries absorb and compensate for dimensional variations in the tubes, preventing the accumulation of errors that would lead to warping, while allowing the system to maintain its designed configuration and heat transfer performance.
2Length of moving object
If the effective length of heat transfer tubes is increased to expand the heat exchange range, then the heat transfer area is improved, but warping occurs due to center of gravity deviation
Solution Approach 1:
The corrective members adjust the spatial positioning of long heat transfer tubes, changing their effective orientation and position parameters. This compensation mechanism allows the long tubes to maintain proper alignment and weight distribution, preventing center of gravity deviation and resulting warping while preserving the extended heat exchange range.
3Quantity of substance
If heat transfer tubes are aligned in multiple rows to expand the heat exchange range, then the heat transfer area is improved, but the distance between rows varies due to warpage differences
Solution Approach 1:
The corrective members serve as intermediary positioning elements between the heat transfer tubes in different rows. They compensate for warpage variations in each tube, ensuring that the relative positions and distances between rows remain uniform. This allows the multi-row configuration to maintain its geometric precision and expand heat exchange area without suffering from row distance variations.
4Stability of the object's composition
If corrective members are added to suppress warping, then the heat exchanger stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The corrective function is segmented into individual corrective members, each responsible for adjusting specific heat transfer tubes or sections. This segmentation allows the complexity to be distributed and managed locally rather than requiring a complex overall structure, making the system easier to assemble and maintain while achieving the stability goal.
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 suppresses warping and stabilizes the heat exchanger assembly, ensuring proper alignment and enhanced heat transfer efficiency even with variations in tube dimensions, while preventing electrical corrosion and softening impact between components.
Implementation Method 1
The first corrective member extends along the longitudinal direction of the header on a downstream side of the air flow of the heat transfer tubes or the header. The second corrective member extends along the longitudinal direction of the header on an upstream side of the air flow of the heat transfer tubes or the header. A sandwiched object, which is at least any one of the heat transfer tubes, the fins, and the header, are sandwiched by the first corrective member and the second corrective member.
Implementation Method 2
a buffer member, at least part of which is interposed between the first corrective member and the sandwiched object, and/or between the second corrective member and the sandwiched object
Implementation Method 3
an insulative member, at least part of which is interposed between the first corrective member and the sandwiched object, and/or between the second corrective member and the sandwiched object
Implementation Method 4
a plurality of heat transfer tubes, which are aligned along a longitudinal direction of the header, and are connected to the header
Implementation Method 5
a plurality of fins, which are secured to the heat transfer tubes
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a heat exchanger assembly and an outdoor unit of a refrigerating apparatus, in which warpage of a heat exchanger can be suppressed. At least any one of components among heat transfer fins (21a) secured to flat multi-perforated tubes (21b) connected to a folding-back header (24) and/or an outlet/inlet header collecting tube (26) of an outdoor heat exchanger (20), the flat multi-perforated tubes (21b), the folding-back header (24), and the outlet/inlet header collecting tube (26) is sandwiched in a front-to-back direction by a front-side corrective member (70) and a rear-side corrective member (60), via a rearward insulative buffer member (86) and/or a forward insulative buffer member (87).