Load-Bearing Heat Pipes for High-Side Exchanger Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional cooling systems rely on anchor tubes to suspend and support high-side heat exchanger components, which do not enhance heat removal capabilities and can lead to refrigerant tube stress and potential leaks if anchor tubes are absent.
Innovation Solution
Replacing anchor tubes with heat pipes that provide structural support and increased heat removal capacity, allowing the heat pipes to bear the weight of refrigerant tubes and components while enhancing heat transfer efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If anchor tubes are used to support high-side heat exchanger components, then structural support is provided, but heat removal capability is not enhanced
Solution Approach 1:
The heat pipes are designed to perform dual functions: providing structural support by bearing the weight of high-side heat exchanger components and simultaneously enhancing heat removal capability through their heat transfer properties. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the support structure itself contribute to heat rejection rather than merely serving as a passive mechanical element.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the previously separate functions of anchor tubes (structural support) and heat exchanger components (heat removal) into a single integrated heat pipe assembly. The heat pipes combine mechanical load-bearing capacity with thermal transfer functionality, eliminating the need for dedicated anchor tubes and enhancing overall heat rejection capability.
2Loss of energy
If anchor tubes are absent, then heat pipes can enhance heat removal, but refrigerant tubes risk leaking from additional stress
Solution Approach 1:
The heat pipes serve as multi-functional elements that simultaneously provide structural support to bear the weight of heat exchanger components and maintain refrigerant tube integrity. This prevents the refrigerant tubes from experiencing excessive stress that would lead to leaking, while also enhancing heat removal capability - thus resolving the contradiction between heat removal enhancement and reliability maintenance.
3Loss of energy
If heat pipes replace anchor tubes, then heat rejection capability is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By designing heat pipes to perform both structural support and heat transfer functions simultaneously, the invention eliminates the need for separate anchor tubes. This integration reduces overall system complexity despite the advanced functionality of heat pipes, as it consolidates multiple components into one multi-functional element rather than adding complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the structural support function previously performed by anchor tubes with the heat transfer function of heat exchanger components into a single integrated heat pipe assembly. This consolidation simplifies the overall device architecture by reducing the number of separate components, even though the heat pipes themselves are technologically advanced.
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 enhances heat rejection capability, maintains physical space, and increases the efficiency of high-side heat exchangers and overall cooling systems by efficiently transferring heat and preventing refrigerant tube leaks.
Implementation Method 1
one or more heat pipes contacting the frame that, collectively, bear at least 25% of the weight of the one or more refrigerant tubes, are coupled directly to the frame, and are configured to remove heat from the flowing refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
heat pipes... are configured to remove heat from the flowing refrigerant
Data Source
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AI summary
In a particular embodiment, a cooling system (100) contains a compressor (102) configured to compress a refrigerant, a high side heat exchanger (104) configured to remove heat from the refrigerant, and a load (106) configured to cool a space using the refrigerant. The high side heat exchanger (104) has a frame (202) and one or more refrigerant tubes (204) extending through the frame (202), wherein each refrigerant tube (204) has at least one cavity configured to allow the refrigerant to flow through the refrigerant tube (204). The high side heat exchanger (104) is configured to remove heat from the refrigerant as the refrigerant flows through the one or more refrigerant tubes (204). The high side heat exchanger (104) also has one or more heat pipes (400) contacting the frame (202) that, collectively, bear at least 25% of the weight of the one or more refrigerant tubes (204), are coupled directly to the frame (202), and are configured to remove heat from the flowing refrigerant.