Modular Heat Exchanger Manifolds with Staggered Apertures
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchanger designs face challenges in efficient heat transfer and fluid flow management, particularly in modular configurations, where maintaining effective fluid communication and preventing flow restrictions while allowing for flexible assembly and corrosion resistance is difficult.
Innovation Solution
A modular heat exchanger design featuring mats with planarly-arranged heat exchange tubes connected to headers with positioning features for stacked assembly, supported by flexible elements that maintain tube alignment and facilitate airflow, and manifolds with staggered apertures for efficient fluid flow and sealing, allowing for efficient heat transfer and assembly without welding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If modular heat exchanger sections are stacked together with conduits formed by attached plate portions, then assembly flexibility and ease of manufacture are improved, but fluid flow restrictions and heat transfer efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by forming conduits through attached plate portions within each heat exchanger section, where the conduit portions are integrated into the plate structure itself. This nested configuration allows fluid to flow through the thickness of the stacked sections without creating restrictions at the interfaces between stacked modules, thereby maintaining heat transfer efficiency while preserving modular assembly flexibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If heat exchanger sections are stacked in modular configuration, then ease of assembly and adaptability are improved, but fluid communication consistency and flow management deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing each heat exchanger section with standardized inlet and outlet conduits that can be consistently connected across multiple stacked sections. The manifold chambers are configured to universally receive and distribute fluid through the attached plate portions, ensuring that fluid communication remains consistent and reliable regardless of the number of sections stacked or the specific configuration assembled.
3Reliability
If conventional heat exchanger designs are used with multiple pipes and chambers, then heat transfer functionality is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements merging by combining multiple functional elements into a single integrated plate structure. The attached plate portions simultaneously form conduit walls, define manifold chambers, provide structural support, and enable fluid distribution. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components needed compared to conventional designs with multiple pipes and chambers, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining heat transfer functionality.
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 modular design enhances heat transfer efficiency by ensuring consistent fluid flow and preventing flow restrictions, while allowing for flexible assembly and improved corrosion resistance, thus improving the overall performance of the heat exchanger.
Implementation Method 1
heat exchangers which may be assembled modularly... heat exchange fluid flowing therethrough... temperature thereof is brought closer to that of the environment, thereby cooling or heating it
Implementation Method 2
heat exchange fluid flows through the tubes... temperature thereof is brought closer to that of the environment
Implementation Method 3
supported by flexible elements that maintain tube alignment and facilitate airflow
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~3B
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
A module for constructing therefrom a heat exchanger is provided. The module comprises two manifolds and a plurality of parallely arranged mats spanning between the manifolds. Each mat comprises a plurality of heat exchange tubes arranged so as to define a plane, the heat exchange tubes being in fluid communication with the manifolds and spanning therebetween. Each of the manifolds comprises selectively sealable end openings formed in facing ends thereof and defining a longitudinal flow path substantially perpendicular to the tubes and parallel with the planes defined thereby. Each of the manifolds further comprises selectively sealable side openings on facing sides thereof and each defining a lateral flow path substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal flow path and to the planes defined by the tubes.