Multi-Pipe Heat Exchanger for Compact Heat Pump Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional heat pumps face challenges in achieving a balance between compact size and high thermal efficiency due to bulky and inefficient heat exchangers, leading to pressure drops and inadequate heat transfer rates.
Innovation Solution
A heat pump system incorporating a multi-pipe heat exchanger with concentric pipes, where refrigerant flows through inner and surrounding channels, allowing simultaneous heat transfer to both the refrigerant and a heat sink fluid, enhancing efficiency and reducing system size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional heat exchangers are used, then heat transfer function is provided, but the heat pump system becomes bulky and requires significant installation space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-pipe heat exchanger where pipes are arranged in a nested configuration with inner pipes surrounded by outer pipes. This nesting arrangement allows multiple refrigerant flow paths to occupy the same spatial envelope, dramatically reducing the overall volume of the heat exchanger while maintaining adequate heat transfer surface area and efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional two-dimensional heat exchanger layouts to a three-dimensional multi-pipe nested structure. By utilizing vertical and radial dimensions in the pipe arrangement, the design achieves compact volume without sacrificing heat transfer performance, as heat exchange occurs across multiple concentric surfaces simultaneously
2Productivity
If traditional heat exchanger design is used, then heat transfer function is achieved, but pressure drops occur and heat transfer rates are inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the heat exchanger into multiple separate pipe channels with independent flow paths. This segmentation allows optimization of each channel's hydraulic characteristics, reducing turbulence and pressure drops while increasing overall heat transfer capacity through the combined effect of multiple parallel channels
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different pipe diameters, wall thicknesses, and material properties to different sections and layers of the multi-pipe heat exchanger. This local quality optimization ensures that each pipe is designed for its specific flow requirements and heat transfer duties, minimizing pressure drops while maximizing heat transfer rates in each local region
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional heat exchangers are used, then heat transfer is facilitated, but the design results in inefficiencies and difficulty in maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-pipe heat exchanger is designed as an assembly of modular pipe sections that can be manufactured separately and then assembled. This segmentation enables simplified manufacturing processes for each component while allowing easy disassembly and maintenance of the overall structure, as individual pipes or sections can be accessed and replaced without dismantling the entire heat exchanger
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 multi-pipe heat exchanger increases heat transfer efficiency, reduces the heat pump's size, and improves overall system performance and reliability by facilitating compact design while maintaining effective heat transfer.
Implementation Method 1
a multi-pipe heat exchanger configured to provide heat transfer from refrigerant in the heat dissipation stage to refrigerant the heat absorption stage and to the heat sink fluid
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2
AI summary
There is provided a heat pump for heating a heat sink fluid by circulating a refrigerant, the heat pump comprising: a heat absorption stage configured to allow the refrigerant to absorb heat; a compressor configured to compress the refrigerant; a heat dissipation stage configured to dissipate heat from the refrigerant to the heat sink fluid; and a multi-pipe heat exchanger configured to provide heat transfer from refrigerant in the heat dissipation stage to refrigerant the heat absorption stage and to the heat sink fluid, wherein the multi-pipe heat exchanger comprises a first pipe and a second pipe, wherein the first pipe is arranged inside the second pipe such that the first and second pipes form an inner channel and a surrounding channel, wherein refrigerant in the heat absorption stage is configured to flow through the inner channel and refrigerant in the heat dissipation stage is configured to flow through the surrounding channel.