Heat exchanging module having a housing comprising an inner frame and an outer frame

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Solution Overview

Problem

Heat exchangers in air conditioning systems experience undesired heat transfer with the environment, leading to reduced performance and increased maintenance needs due to vibration-induced wear.

Innovation Solution

A heat exchanging module with a housing featuring an inner and outer frame separated by a non-null distance to provide thermal isolation and vibration dampening, using ribs and flanges to enhance heat transfer efficiency and reduce environmental heat loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the heat exchanger is enlarged to compensate for undesired heat transfer with the environment, then the heat transfer performance between fluids is improved, but the device complexity and space occupation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat lossVSAvoidheat exchanger size

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is segmented into an inner frame and an outer frame separated by a non-null distance, creating a thermal isolation chamber. This segmentation allows the heat exchanger to be protected from environmental heat transfer without requiring the heat exchanger itself to be enlarged, thus resolving the contradiction between reducing heat loss and maintaining compact size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The space between the inner and outer frames acts as an intermediary thermal isolation layer. This intermediary structure protects the heat exchanger from undesired heat transfer with the environment, allowing the heat exchanger to maintain its original size while still achieving the desired thermal performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If the heat exchanger is enlarged to compensate for heat transfer losses, then the heat transfer performance is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat lossVSAvoidhousing structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing structure serves multiple functions: it provides thermal isolation through the double-frame design, dampens vibrations through the spacing between frames, and protects the heat exchanger. This multi-functionality allows the system to reduce heat loss without proportionally increasing device complexity, as a single structural element addresses multiple problems simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The thermal isolation function and vibration dampening function are merged into a single structural feature - the space between the inner and outer frames. This merging allows the system to achieve both thermal performance and mechanical protection without the need for separate complex systems, thus resolving the contradiction between reducing heat loss and maintaining simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the heat exchanger is subjected to vehicle vibration, then the mechanical durability deteriorates due to wear and breakage risks, but the vibration dampening capability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical durabilityVSAvoidvibration impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The space between the inner and outer frames provides beforehand cushioning against vibration. This structural feature is designed in advance to absorb and dampen vibrations from the vehicle environment, protecting the heat exchanger from mechanical stress and wear before the vibration can cause damage, thus improving mechanical durability while accounting for the harmful vibration factor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 enhances the performance of the heat exchanger and the entire air conditioning system by minimizing heat loss and vibration-induced wear, allowing for downsizing and easier reconfiguration, while reducing maintenance costs and extending the module's longevity.

Implementation Method 1

the inner frame and the outer frame are separated by a non-null distance configured to form a thermal isolation between the heat exchanger and a surrounding environment of the housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal isolation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

Furthermore, such a housing dampens the vibration subjected to the heat exchanging module by the vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration dampening: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS11747096B2Heat exchanging module having a housing comprising an inner frame and an outer frame

Publication Date: 2023.09.05 VALEO AUTOSYSTY

AI summary

Heat exchanging module (1) comprising at least a heat exchanger (2) between two fluids and a housing (6), said housing (6) having at least an inner frame (20) and an outer frame (60), the inner frame (20) being arranged for holding the heat exchanger (2), the outer frame (60) being arranged for holding the inner frame (20), characterized in that the inner frame (20) and the outer frame (60) are separated by a non-null distance (100) configured to form a thermal isolation between the heat exchanger (2) and a surrounding environment of the housing (6).