Multi-Passage Heat Exchanger Assembly for Compact Thermal Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchangers in gas turbine engines face challenges in achieving efficient heat transfer while minimizing weight, footprint, and costs, particularly in aircraft applications where weight is a significant concern.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a heat exchanger with a first fluid circuit and a second fluid circuit in thermal exchange contact, featuring a first mouth that divides into multiple passages for enhanced heat transfer, and an adapter that secures to the first mouth to establish fluid flow communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the flow is divided into multiple flow paths to improve heat transfer efficiency, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is divided into multiple flow paths by creating several passages within the housing, allowing fluid to flow through multiple channels simultaneously. This segmentation increases the heat transfer surface area and efficiency while maintaining a compact overall structure, resolving the contradiction between improved heat transfer and increased device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter is integrated within the housing structure, with the fluid source positioned inside the housing and the adapter connecting internal passages to external ports. This nesting arrangement allows multiple functional components to be compactly arranged without significantly increasing the external footprint, thereby improving heat transfer efficiency while limiting the increase in device complexity.
2Weight of moving object
If weight is reduced by improving heat transfer efficiency, then weight is reduced, but durability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger utilizes thin-walled passages and streamlined internal structures that provide sufficient structural integrity for weight reduction. The housing and adapter are designed with optimized wall thicknesses that maintain durability while minimizing material usage, allowing weight reduction without compromising the structural strength needed for durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger employs materials with high strength-to-weight ratio characteristics, combining durability requirements with weight reduction goals. The selective use of materials in different components (housing, adapter, passages) optimizes the balance between weight and durability by selecting materials that provide necessary structural strength while minimizing overall mass.
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 configuration improves heat transfer efficiency by dividing the flow into multiple passages, thereby reducing weight and costs while maintaining durability and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
Heat exchangers are used in various contexts to transfer heat from one fluid stream to another
Implementation Method 2
the second fluid circuit in thermal exchange contact with the number of passages in a heat transfer region of the heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
The heat exchanger can have a first fluid circuit extending from a first inlet to a first outlet, one or both having a first mouth dividing internally into a number of passages within a periphery, a second fluid circuit fluidly distinct from the first fluid circuit, extending from a second inlet to a second outlet, the second fluid circuit in thermal exchange contact with the number of passages in a heat transfer region of the heat exchanger, and an adapter having a second mouth secured to the first mouth in a manner to establish internal fluid flow communication therewith.