Integrated Liquid Air Cooled Condenser with Parallel Cores
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated heat exchanger assemblies face a challenge in reducing packaging size while maintaining heat exchange capacity, as stacking heat exchanger cores in air flow direction reduces downstream heat exchange effectiveness, and avoiding stacking increases air flow area, compromising packaging size and configuration options.
Innovation Solution
An integrated heat exchanger assembly is designed with a configuration of multiple heat exchanger cores, including a liquid cooled condenser core, an air cooled condenser core, and a low temperature radiator core, arranged in parallel along a common plane, with each core exchanging heat with fluids independently to prevent heat energy transfer from upstream cores, and using a liquid coolant to enhance heat exchange efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If heat exchanger cores are stacked in air flow direction to reduce packaging size, then packaging size is reduced, but downstream heat exchange capacity deteriorates due to air having already exchanged heat with upstream cores
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a one-dimensional stacked arrangement (along air flow direction) to a two-dimensional parallel arrangement (side-by-side along common plane). This dimensional change allows multiple heat exchanger cores to operate independently with separate air flows, eliminating the heat exchange capacity deterioration problem while maintaining compact packaging through vertical integration of liquid coolant channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the air flow into multiple independent portions, with each heat exchanger core receiving its own dedicated air flow path. This segmentation prevents heat exchange interference between cores while maintaining compact size through shared liquid coolant infrastructure. The housing divides air flow into first, second, and third portions that independently pass through different heat exchanger cores.
2Reliability
If heat exchanger cores are arranged in parallel along common plane to maintain heat exchange capacity, then heat exchange effectiveness is improved, but air flow area increases leading to larger packaging size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple heat exchanger cores into a single integrated assembly with shared header tanks and common liquid coolant flow paths. This combining approach maintains the heat exchange capacity of parallel cores while reducing overall packaging size by eliminating redundant structures and optimizing space utilization through vertical integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes liquid coolant hydraulics to transfer heat between multiple heat exchanger cores and a common cooling system. By using liquid coolant channels that vertically integrate the cores, the system achieves efficient heat exchange without requiring large horizontal air flow areas, thus reducing packaging size while maintaining heat exchange capacity.
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple heat exchanger cores share common header tanks and liquid coolant flow, then manufacturing is simplified and packaging size is reduced, but heat exchange effectiveness must be maintained across all cores
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universal header tanks and liquid coolant flow paths that serve multiple heat exchanger cores simultaneously. This multi-functional design simplifies manufacturing by using common components and assembly procedures while maintaining individual heat exchange effectiveness through proper fluid distribution and independent air flow paths for each core.
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 maintains heat exchange capacity while reducing packaging size by ensuring each air-passed heat exchanger core receives untainted air, allowing for a more compact design and efficient heat transfer, simplifying manufacturing, and adapting to various cooling system requirements.
Implementation Method 1
The first heat exchanger core is in fluid communication with a liquid coolant and a refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
each of the first tubes in fluid communication with a liquid coolant and a refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
the second heat exchanger core in fluid communication with a first portion of a flow of air and the refrigerant
Implementation Method 4
exchanging heat with fluids independently to prevent heat energy transfer from upstream cores
Implementation Method 5
the third heat exchanger core in fluid communication with a second portion of the flow of the air and the liquid coolant
Implementation Method 6
using a liquid coolant to enhance heat exchange efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated heat exchanger assembly comprises a first header tank, a second header tank, a first heat exchanger core extending between the first header tank and the second header tank, a second heat exchanger core extending between the first header tank and the second header tank, and a third heat exchanger core extending between the first header tank and the second header tank. The first heat exchanger core is in fluid communication with a liquid coolant and a refrigerant, the second heat exchanger core in fluid communication with a first portion of a flow of air and the refrigerant, and the third heat exchanger core in fluid communication with a second portion of the flow of the air and the liquid coolant.