Multi-Mode Heat Exchanger Assembly for Latent Cooling and Reheat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal management systems are inefficient in controlling both sensible and latent heat in environmental air, often requiring additional energy and having a large footprint, making them unsuitable for scalable and compact applications.
Innovation Solution
A multi-mode thermal management assembly with a selectable coolant flow path that includes two heat exchangers in series, allowing for counter-flow routing of the coolant, enabling latent heat removal and sensible reheat without additional energy input, and is designed to be compact, scalable, and adaptable for various environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a phase change heat exchange system is used, then latent cooling capability is improved, but system complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchange system is divided into separate latent heat exchanger and sensible heat exchanger components, each handling specific thermal management functions. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component while maintaining overall system effectiveness for both latent and sensible cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchange assembly is designed to perform multiple functions including latent cooling, sensible cooling, and reheat operations through a single integrated unit with selectable coolant flow paths. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate phase change systems while achieving comprehensive thermal management.
2Reliability
If a phase change heat exchange system is used, then latent cooling capability is improved, but additional energy consumption occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures waste heat from the latent cooling process and redirects it through the sensible heat exchanger to provide reheat functionality. This converts what would otherwise be wasted thermal energy into a useful heating function, eliminating additional energy consumption for reheat operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers thermal energy from the coolant after it passes through the latent heat exchanger by routing it through the sensible heat exchanger. This recovery process utilizes the temperature differential to provide sensible cooling and reheat functions without requiring additional energy input.
3Reliability
If a traditional heat exchange system is used, then cooling function is provided, but footprint size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latent heat exchanger and sensible heat exchanger are merged into a single integrated heat exchange assembly with shared coolant flow paths and structural components. This consolidation achieves comprehensive thermal management (both latent and sensible cooling plus reheat) in a compact footprint that is smaller than separate traditional systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchangers are arranged in a vertical configuration with coolant entering and exiting from the bottom, utilizing vertical space rather than horizontal footprint. This dimensional reorganization allows the system to maintain effective heat exchange surface area while minimizing the floor space required for installation.
4Productivity
If heat exchangers are arranged in series, then thermal efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates selectable coolant flow paths with valves that allow dynamic switching between different operational modes (latent cooling mode, sensible cooling mode, combination mode). This dynamic configuration capability enables the system to optimize thermal efficiency for different environmental conditions while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized components.
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 system effectively reduces both temperature and absolute humidity without additional energy consumption, is compact and scalable, and can be easily integrated into small spaces, offering flexible operation modes and efficient thermal management.
Implementation Method 1
the latent heat exchanger cools and dehumidifies
Implementation Method 2
two heat exchangers (coolers), each having side-by-side vertical paths whereby coolant both enters and exits from the heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
the routing of the working fluid can be routed in a counter-flow orientation in each heat exchanger
Implementation Method 4
the routing of the working fluid can be routed in a counter-flow orientation in each heat exchanger. This advantageously allows for an appropriate temperature differential (between the working fluid and the air) on each side of the heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a multi-mode thermal management assembly with a selectable coolant flow path, and in particular to an assembly that selectably removes latent and/or sensible heat. Coolant (working fluid) is routed through openings in the bottom of the thermal management assembly. The assembly can have two heat exchangers (coolers), each having side-by-side vertical paths whereby coolant both enters and exits from the heat exchangers at their respective bottoms. Plumbing is provided that can be selected to route coolant for one of the user selected cooling modes. Valves allow the user to select at least between a combination mode (latent cooling with sensible reheat) and a sensible only cooling mode. In the combination mode, the latent heat exchanger cools and dehumidifies, and the sensible heat exchanger partially reheats the air while requiring no additional work to be done on the system by external power consuming devices.