Heat exchanger, electric control box and air conditioning system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plate heat exchangers in air conditioning systems are large in size and have low heat exchanging efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger with micro-channels and a fluid-collecting tube assembly is designed, featuring first and second micro-channels and fluid-collecting tubes, allowing for efficient heat exchange between cooling media and reducing the size of the exchanger.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional plate heat exchanger is used, then the heat exchanger can perform heat exchange function, but the size is large and heat exchanging efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional macro-scale plate heat exchanger channels to micro-scale channels with dimensions in the micrometer range. This dimensional change increases the surface area to volume ratio, enabling more efficient heat exchange within a compact footprint. The micro-channels create numerous small flow paths that dramatically increase the heat transfer surface area without proportionally increasing the overall device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the heat exchange channels from macro-scale to micro-scale dimensions. By reducing channel diameter and thickness to micrometer levels, the heat transfer coefficient increases due to enhanced turbulence and larger surface area relative to volume. This parameter change directly improves heat exchanging efficiency while reducing the overall size requirement of the heat exchanger.
2Volume of moving object
If a conventional plate heat exchanger is used, then the heat exchange capacity can be maintained, but the size is large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs micro-scale dimensional changes to achieve the same heat exchange capacity in a more compact form factor. The micro-channels provide vastly increased surface area within a reduced volume, maintaining heat exchange capacity while shrinking the overall heat exchanger size.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the geometric parameters to micro-scale dimensions, the patent achieves higher heat transfer coefficients and increased surface area density. This allows the heat exchanger to maintain or exceed the heat exchange capacity of conventional designs while occupying significantly less space.
3Productivity
If micro-channels are used to reduce size, then the heat exchanging efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is segmented into multiple discrete micro-channel plates that can be individually manufactured and then assembled. Each plate contains an array of micro-channels, and multiple plates are stacked and sealed together to form the complete heat exchanger. This segmentation allows for standardized manufacturing of complex micro-structures while simplifying assembly and maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sealing elements and gaskets as intermediary components between the micro-channel plates. These intermediaries facilitate the assembly of complex micro-structured plates while maintaining the integrity of the micro-channels and enabling easy disassembly for maintenance. The sealing elements mediate between the complex micro-structure and the simpler assembly process.
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
The design enhances heat exchanging efficiency and reduces the size of the heat exchanger while maintaining the same heat exchange capacity, improving refrigerating and heating capacities of the air conditioning system.
Implementation Method 1
heat is exchanged between the first cooling medium flowing through first micro-channels and the second cooling medium flowing through second micro-channels
Implementation Method 2
The economizer absorbs heat by adjusting fluid of the cooling medium and evaporating the cooling medium
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanger includes: a heat exchanger body, the heat exchanger body being provided with first micro-channels and second micro-channels; and a header assembly, including a first header and a second header. The first header is provided with a first header channel which is used for providing a first refrigerant flow to the first micro-channels and/or collecting a first refrigerant flow flowing through the first micro-channels, and the second header is provided with a second header channel which is used for providing a second refrigerant flow to the second micro-channels and/or collecting a second refrigerant flow flowing through the second micro-channels, and heat is exchanged between the first refrigerant flow flowing through the first micro-channels and the second refrigerant flow flowing through the second micro-channels.