Heat Reservoir Diffuser Section for Uniform Flow Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat accumulators face inefficiencies in fluid flow distribution, leading to pressure losses and suboptimal thermal exchange, as they rely on deflection and air baffle plates which do not ensure uniform distribution and result in wasted thermal energy.
Innovation Solution
The heat accumulator incorporates a diffuser section within its inlet passage with an increasing flow cross-section and strategically placed second storage elements, allowing for uniform fluid distribution and reduced pressure loss, enabling efficient thermal energy absorption and release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If deflection and air baffle plates are used to distribute working medium, then flow distribution is attempted, but pressure loss increases and uniform distribution is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the deflection and air baffle plates from the system entirely. Instead of using these components to distribute the working medium, the design relies on the natural flow patterns and the geometry of the heat exchange tubes themselves to achieve uniform distribution, thereby eliminating the pressure losses associated with these deflection components
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than using additional components (baffle plates) to force distribution, the invention inverts the approach by designing the inlet passage and tube arrangement to naturally promote uniform flow distribution without requiring active deflection mechanisms
2Speed
If working medium flows at high rate, then thermal exchange speed increases, but distribution uniformity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates different flow conditions in different regions of the heat exchanger. The inlet passage geometry and tube arrangement are designed to ensure that high-velocity flow near the inlet transitions to more uniform distribution in downstream regions, allowing fast thermal exchange where needed while maintaining distribution uniformity overall
3Device complexity
If conventional heat accumulator design is used, then structure is simple, but thermal energy efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the inlet passage function with the flow distribution function by designing the inlet passage geometry to inherently promote uniform distribution. The heat exchange tubes are arranged and dimensioned to serve both as thermal exchange surfaces and as flow distribution elements, eliminating the need for separate distribution components and reducing overall thermal energy waste
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 design ensures a consistent and efficient distribution of the working fluid, reducing pressure loss while maintaining uniformity, thereby enhancing thermal interaction with storage elements and improving the overall efficiency of the heat exchanger.
Implementation Method 1
The inlet passage has a diffuser section which has an increasing flow cross section in a direction from the inlet opening to the housing
Implementation Method 2
first storage elements (106) for storing thermal energy, with the first storage elements being arranged in the housing
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a heat reservoir (100) comprising a housing (101), first reservoir elements (102) for storing thermal energy, and an inlet port (103). The first reservoir elements (102) are arranged in the housing (101). The inlet port (103) is coupled to the housing (101) in such a way that a working fluid can flow into the housing (101) through the inlet port (103). The inlet port (103) is provided with an inlet orifice (104) through which the working fluid can flow from the surroundings of the heat reservoir (100) into the inlet port (103). The inlet port (103) includes a diffusor portion (105), the cross-section of which increases in the direction running from the inlet orifice (104) to the housing (101).