Meandering Flow Passage Heat Transport Structure for High Heat Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchangers face challenges in increasing the heat transmission coefficient between fluids while maintaining structural integrity and cost-effectiveness, particularly due to the difficulty in creating complex flow passage structures that reduce the distance between fluid passages without compromising strength.
Innovation Solution
The heat transport device features meandering first flow passages with a consistent distance to second flow passages, manufactured through a method involving flat plate working, plastic working, and joining processes to form serpentine flow paths, enhancing heat transmission while maintaining strength and reducing size and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the distance between fluid passages is reduced to increase heat transmission coefficient, then heat transmission coefficient is improved, but structural strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The first flow passages are designed with meandering (curved) paths instead of straight lines, allowing the passages to wrap around and maintain consistent spacing with second flow passages. This curved configuration increases the heat transmission coefficient by reducing distance while the overall plate structure maintains structural strength through its rigid framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow passages transition from simple linear paths to three-dimensional meandering paths that extend in multiple directions. This dimensional complexity allows the passages to achieve closer proximity to second flow passages throughout their length, increasing heat transmission while the plate structure maintains its strength through the distributed geometry.
2Reliability
If complex flow passage structures are created to reduce distance between passages, then heat transmission coefficient is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat transport device is divided into multiple plates, each containing a portion of the meandering flow passages. This segmentation allows the complex meandering paths to be manufactured in simpler individual plate sections that are then assembled together, reducing overall manufacturing difficulty while maintaining the heat transmission benefits of the meandering configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The meandering flow passage patterns are pre-formed during the plate manufacturing process through standardized design and fabrication procedures. By establishing these complex geometries in advance during plate production rather than attempting to create them through complex assembly operations, the manufacturing process becomes more manageable and cost-effective.
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 achieves increased heat transmission coefficient, leading to downsized, lighter, and thinner heat transport devices with improved structural integrity at lower costs.
Implementation Method 1
heat exchange between two fluids flowing through meandering first flow passages and second flow passages
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The present invention addresses the problem of providing a heat transport device which has a high heat transmission rate because one flow passage meanders and the interval between two flow passages is kept substantially constant, and as a result thereof, a reduction in size, a reduction in weight, or a reduction in thickness, etc. can be achieved. This problem is solved by a heat transport device comprising first flow passages through which a first fluid flows, and second flow passages through which a second fluid flows, wherein a cross-section A satisfying the following [Requirement 1] to [Requirement 3] can be achieved. [Requirement 1] The cross-section A is a cross-section perpendicular to the second flow passages. [Requirement 2] The holes of the second flow passages are disposed so as to be aligned in the left-right direction and to form layers in the up-down direction; and when comparing layers with holes adjacent in the up-down direction, the holes of the second flow passages are not disposed at the same position in the left-right direction. [Requirement 3] The first flow passages exist between the layers with holes adjacent in the up-down direction, and the first flow passages meander in the up-down direction so as to avoid the holes of the second flow passages in the layers with holes that are sandwiched in the up-down direction.