Heat Transfer Fin Collar Structure Without Filler Gaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fin-tube heat exchangers face challenges in increasing the contact area between the heat transfer tube and fin without reducing recycling efficiency, leading to increased environmental load due to the use of fillers that complicate material segregation and recycling.
Innovation Solution
The design features a heat transfer fin with a plate-shaped base, a tubular collar, an inclined recession part, and a flare part that expands radially, allowing for increased surface contact between adjacent fins and improved heat transfer without the need for fillers, thereby enhancing the contact area between the heat transfer tube and fin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If filler is used to fill gap between collar parts, then thermal conductivity is improved, but recycling efficiency is reduced and environment load is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the filler material from the heat exchanger structure by redesigning the fin configuration. The flare part is modified to reduce or eliminate the gap between adjacent fins, making filler unnecessary and enabling complete metal recycling without contamination from non-metallic materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the fin structure, specifically modifying the flare part angle and dimensions to control the gap between adjacent fins. By optimizing these parameters, the gap is reduced to a level where filler is no longer needed, while maintaining structural integrity and thermal performance.
2Area of stationary object
If gap between collar parts is reduced, then contact area between heat transfer tube and fin is increased, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies curvature to the fin structure through the flare part, which naturally tapers from the base toward the tip. This curved geometry allows adjacent fins to make better contact while distributing manufacturing stresses and simplifying the forming process compared to attempting to create perfectly flat, tight-fitting fins.
3Area of stationary object
If flare part expands outward in radial direction, then contact area with adjacent fin is increased, but gap between collar parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs asymmetric design where the flare part angle and expansion pattern are optimized to create an uneven gap distribution. The gap is smaller in regions critical for heat transfer and larger in less critical areas, allowing maximum contact area where needed while managing overall gap volume through strategic asymmetry.
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 increases the contact area between the heat transfer tube and fin, improving heat exchange efficiency while maintaining recycling efficiency and reducing environmental impact by eliminating the need for fillers.
Implementation Method 1
the contact area between heat transfer tube 110 and collar part 123 is small, and heat is not easily transmitted from heat transfer tube 110 to heat transfer fin 120
Data Source
AI summary
A heat transfer fin (3) comprises a plate-like base section (4), a cylindrical collar section (5), a recessed section (7) which has a sloped surface (7a), and a flare section (6) which, when combined with another heat transfer fin (3), is in surface contact with the sloped surface (7a) of the another heat transfer fin (3). The sloped surface (7a) of the recessed section (7) and the root of the collar section (5) are connected, the connection portion where the sloped surface (7a) of the recessed section (7) and the collar section (5) are connected is bent at an acute angle, and the root of the collar section (5) reaches a position beyond a reference plane (S) which is in contact with a surface (4a) of the base section (4), the surface (4a) being located on the side opposite the flare section (6).