Cold generator and refrigerating plant having a cold generator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cold generators require complex production, inspection, and maintenance processes due to large spatial distances between heat-emitting and heat-absorbing heat exchangers, leading to high capital outlay and potential refrigerant hazards.
Innovation Solution
Integration of heat-emitting and heat-absorbing heat exchangers into a single heat exchanger unit with a stacked flow path layer structure, utilizing separate heat transport circuits to minimize refrigerant circulation and reduce hazards, while maintaining efficient heat exchange through parallel flow paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If heat-emitting and heat-absorbing heat exchangers are placed far apart to ensure proper heat exchange, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but spatial distance and capital outlay increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heat-emitting heat exchanger and heat-absorbing heat exchanger into a single integrated heat exchanger unit with stacked flow path layers. This merging allows the components to be in close proximity while maintaining functional separation through the stacked layer structure, thereby reducing spatial distance and capital outlay without compromising heat exchange efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a horizontal arrangement of heat exchangers to a vertical stacked configuration. By arranging flow path layers in the stack direction (vertical dimension), the heat exchangers can exchange heat efficiently across adjacent layers while occupying minimal horizontal space, thus resolving the contradiction between heat exchange efficiency and spatial footprint.
2Power
If refrigerant circuit components are distributed over large distances, then heat exchange capacity is maintained, but production complexity and maintenance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple refrigerant flow paths and heat transport flow paths into a single stacked heat exchanger unit. This consolidation maintains the necessary heat exchange capacity through parallel flow paths while significantly reducing production complexity (fewer separate components to manufacture and assemble) and maintenance difficulty (centralized unit requiring less inspection and servicing).
3Loss of energy
If refrigerant volume is increased to ensure adequate heat exchange, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but hazard potential increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stacked flow path layer configuration enables efficient heat transfer across adjacent vertical layers with minimal refrigerant volume. The close proximity of heat-emitting and heat-absorbing paths in the stack direction allows effective heat exchange without requiring large refrigerant quantities, thus maintaining heat transfer efficiency while reducing hazard potential.
4Area of stationary object
If heat exchangers are integrated into a compact unit, then spatial footprint is reduced, but heat exchange efficiency may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves compact spatial footprint by stacking flow path layers vertically in the stack direction. Heat exchange occurs efficiently between adjacent layers through thermal conduction across the thin separator walls, maintaining high heat transfer coefficients despite the compact horizontal footprint. The vertical arrangement preserves adequate heat exchange surface area while minimizing the unit's spatial footprint.
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 reduces refrigerant volume and hazard potential, minimizes heat exchange losses, and simplifies maintenance by eliminating the need for extensive refrigerant circuit components, allowing for compact and efficient cold generator design.
Implementation Method 1
the heat exchange occurs parallel to the stack direction so that the losses owing to the heat exchange are minimal
Implementation Method 2
the heat exchange occurs parallel to the stack direction so that the losses owing to the heat exchange are minimal
Data Source
AI summary
A cold generator incorporates a heat exchanger unit integrating a heat-emitting heat exchanger and a heat-absorbing heat exchanger. The heat exchanger unit has a flow path layer stack built up in a stacked construction. In order to form the heat-emitting heat exchanger in the flow path layer stack, at least one heat-emitting refrigerant flow path and at least one heat-absorbing second heat transport flow path are provided. A second heat transport medium guided in a second heat transport circuit is arranged to flow through the second heat transport flow path. At least one heat-absorbing refrigerant flow path and at least one heat-emitting first heat transport flow path are provided in order to form the heat-absorbing heat exchanger in the flow path layer stack with a first heat transport medium guided in a first heat transport circuit that is arranged to flow through the first heat transport flow path.