Monoblock Heat Exchanger Inversion for Gas Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current heat exchangers for motor vehicles require additional, costly, and leak-prone connections between high and low temperature parts, and their design restricts efficient heat exchange due to issues like gassing and manufacturing limitations, preventing the high temperature part from being positioned below the low temperature part.

Innovation Solution

A heat exchanger design where the high temperature part is positioned below the low temperature part, with a direct connection between their collectors, utilizing a dip tube or analogous device to prevent gas formation, ensuring the same fluid traverses both parts without intermediaries, and featuring collectors with specific dimensions and insulation to enhance efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If an additional hose connection is used to link the high temperature and low temperature parts, then the heat exchanger can be assembled with separate parts, but the assembly complexity increases and leakage risks appear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly flexibilityVSAvoidnumber of connections
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the high temperature and low temperature parts into a single integrated heat exchanger body, eliminating the need for separate hose connections. The collectors are directly formed as part of the monoblock structure, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining manufacturing flexibility through the integration of previously separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If a flexible hose is used for connection, then the assembly is easier, but the connection becomes fragile and liable to deteriorate rapidly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection easeVSAvoidconnection durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the collectors directly into the heat exchanger body as a monoblock structure, the patent eliminates fragile hose connections entirely. The direct formation of collectors ensures durable, leak-free connections while maintaining ease of assembly through the integrated design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If the high temperature part is positioned above the low temperature part, then the assembly is straightforward, but gassing occurs and heat exchange efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidheat exchange efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional positioning by placing the high temperature part below the low temperature part. This inversion prevents gassing and improves heat exchange efficiency while maintaining assembly simplicity through the integrated monoblock structure that facilitates straightforward manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Reliability

If the high temperature part is positioned below the low temperature part, then heat exchange efficiency improves, but additional connection means are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat exchange efficiencyVSAvoidconnection structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by merging the collectors into the monoblock structure, enabling the high temperature part to be positioned below the low temperature part for optimal heat exchange efficiency without requiring additional connection means. The integration eliminates the need for separate hoses or connectors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

5Reliability

If a rigid hose is used for connection, then the connection is resistant, but the connection with collectors becomes particularly difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection resistanceVSAvoidconnection difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the collectors directly into the heat exchanger body as a monoblock structure, the patent eliminates the need for rigid hose connections entirely. This integration maintains connection resistance while dramatically reducing manufacturing difficulty, as the collectors are formed directly as part of the single-piece structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 prevents gas formation during fluid transfer, reduces manufacturing complexities, and enhances heat exchange efficiency by allowing the high temperature part to be positioned below the low temperature part, eliminating the need for additional connections and materials, thus improving overall performance and reliability.

Implementation Method 1

a bundle of tubes connecting fluid outlet/inlet manifolds for at least one high temperature part and at least one low temperature part... this fluid traversing first the high temperature part then the low temperature part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP2208010B1Heat exchanger for high and low temperature fluids
Publication Date: 2018.11.14 VALEO SYST THERMIQUES SAS
  • EP2208010B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2208010B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2208010B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a heat exchanger (1, 2) for high and low temperature fluids, which comprises a tube bundle (9, 10) connecting fluid outlet/inlet manifolds (5, 6, 7, 8) for at least a high-temperature part (3) and at least a low-temperature part (4). Said two parts: are coursed by one and the same fluid, this fluid passing firstly through the high-temperature part (3) and then the low-temperature part (4); comprise an inlet/outlet manifold (5/7 and 6/8) respectively; and are mutually coplanar, characterized in that the outlet manifold (7) of the high-temperature part (3) is connected directly to the inlet manifold (6) of the low-temperature part (4) and in that the high-temperature part (3) is located beneath the low-temperature part (4).