Microcellular Heat Exchanger With Local Filtering for Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional TPMS heat exchangers face challenges in effectively controlling fluid flow, leading to decreased heat exchange efficiency and increased pressure drop due to complex shapes and fluid concentration issues.
Innovation Solution
A microcellular structural heat exchanger with local filtering is introduced, utilizing a TPMS structure with selective inlet and outlet filters and barrier filters to control fluid flow, enhancing thermo-fluidic efficiency by separating hot and cold fluid flows and reducing pressure drop.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the number of stacked heat transfer plates is increased to improve heat exchange capacity, then the heat exchange capacity is improved, but the size of the heat exchanger increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional 2.5-dimensional plate-type heat exchange to three-dimensional heat exchange using TPMS structures. The TPMS geometry creates interconnected channels in three-dimensional space, allowing heat exchange to occur throughout the volume rather than just at plate surfaces, thereby increasing heat exchange capacity without proportionally increasing external dimensions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs microcellular structures within the TPMS framework, creating a porous-like architecture that provides extensive internal surface area for heat transfer. The microcellular geometry increases the effective heat transfer area within a compact volume, resolving the contradiction between heat exchange capacity and size
2Area of stationary object
If the TPMS structure is used to enable three-dimensional heat exchange, then the surface area per unit volume is increased, but the fluid flow control becomes difficult due to complex shape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local filtering by modifying the signed distance field of the TPMS in specific regions. By adjusting the field parameters locally rather than uniformly throughout the structure, the invention enables selective control of fluid flow paths while preserving the overall three-dimensional TPMS architecture and its high surface area characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the signed distance field function to control fluid flow. By varying the field parameters (such as offset values or frequency parameters) in different regions of the TPMS structure, the invention selectively opens or closes flow paths, enabling fluid flow control without changing the fundamental TPMS geometry
3Volume of moving object
If the inlet and outlet are positioned to enable transverse fluid circulation, then the compactness is improved, but the pressure drop increases due to rapid change in cross-sectional area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs the inherent curvature and smooth transitions of the TPMS geometry to manage flow transitions. The continuous, curved surfaces of the TPMS structure provide gradual changes in cross-sectional area rather than abrupt transitions, reducing flow separation and pressure drop while maintaining compact transverse flow configuration
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 heat exchanger achieves improved heat exchange performance and flow characteristics by selectively controlling fluid flow, allowing for compact design suitable for high-capacity applications like electric vehicle battery cooling.
Implementation Method 1
a triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structural body whose inside is separated into two flow channels using a TPMS composed of three-dimensional combinations of sine/cosine functions
Implementation Method 2
three-dimensional heat exchange is performed while a first hot fluid and a second cold fluid flow separately through the two flow channels
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a microcellular structural heat exchanger with local filtering, which is capable of providing various functionalities by applying local filtering and adjusting a signed distance field of a TPMS so as to selectively control a flow of fluid to enhance thermo-fluidic efficiency in a TPMS microcellular structural heat exchanger.