Multi-Row Heat Exchanger Design for Uniform Temperature Profile
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchangers in electric vehicles have limited capacity and non-uniform temperature profiles, requiring additional electric heaters that reduce vehicle range and compromise passenger comfort.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger design with multiple rows of tubes and alternating flow paths to enhance capacity and uniformity, utilizing carbon dioxide as coolant and incorporating corrugated ribs for increased surface area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a single row of tubes is used in the heat exchanger, then the installation space requirement is reduced, but the heat exchanger capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-row configuration to a multi-row configuration of tubes arranged in longitudinal sections. This dimensional change allows the heat exchanger to achieve higher capacity by utilizing multiple rows of heat transfer surfaces while maintaining a compact overall structure suitable for vehicle installation spaces.
2Temperature
If additional electric heaters are added to compensate for limited heat exchanger capacity, then the heating performance is improved, but the vehicle range is reduced due to increased energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the heat exchanger by implementing a multi-row tube configuration with optimized flow paths. This increases the heat transfer capacity and efficiency, allowing the system to achieve required heating performance while minimizing or eliminating the need for additional electric heater assistance, thereby preserving vehicle range.
3Power
If the heat exchanger operates with carbon dioxide as coolant at high temperature, then the heat transfer potential is increased, but the temperature profile uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the heat exchanger into multiple longitudinal sections with multiple rows of tubes. This segmentation allows the hot carbon dioxide coolant to distribute its thermal energy across multiple parallel flow paths, preventing localized overheating and achieving a more uniform temperature profile throughout the heat exchanger while maintaining high heat transfer potential.
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 design achieves high capacity and uniform temperature distribution, reducing the need for electric heaters and enhancing passenger comfort by minimizing temperature disparities.
Implementation Method 1
A second medium can flow around the tubes in the heat exchanger, such that heat is exchanged between the first and second medium
Implementation Method 2
The tubes are flat tubes, with corrugated ribs between them
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a heat exchanger, preferably a condenser, in particular for a motor vehicle, exhibiting: height, width, length, and tubes through which a first medium flows. A second medium flows around the tubes. The heat exchanger contains at least three rows across its width of tubes along its length. Each of the tubes are combined in the at least three rows to form at least one flow path for the first medium. The first row has at least one flow path through which the first medium flows vertically. The first flow path preferably comprises at least one third of the length of the heat exchanger, such that the temperature profile of the heat exchanger is improved. This is obtained in that the occurrence of disparities in the temperature profile is significantly reduced or even prevented.