Offset-Foil Heat Exchange Matrix for Compact Evaporative Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat exchange devices, such as adiabatic coolers and heat recovery wheels, face challenges in optimizing efficiency and reducing volume while maintaining effective heat exchange and humidification, often resulting in increased bulk and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchange matrix comprising a plurality of planar foils with strips offset from the main plane, arranged in a configuration that minimizes laminar boundary layer formation, enhancing heat exchange capacity and flow efficiency by ensuring strips are spaced to prevent excessive boundary layer interference and promoting turbulent flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional adiabatic coolers use stacks of corrugated plates to optimize cooling efficiency, then heat exchange performance is improved, but device volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from conventional two-dimensional corrugated plate stacks to a three-dimensional structured matrix with strips offset in multiple dimensions. The strips are arranged in a spatial configuration where they extend in one direction and are offset perpendicular to the flow direction, creating a multi-dimensional heat exchange structure that increases surface area density without proportionally increasing device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by creating regions of different strip offsets within the matrix. Strips are offset to different extents in different local areas, creating varied flow paths and heat exchange zones. This localized variation optimizes heat transfer in specific regions while maintaining overall compactness, allowing efficient cooling in a reduced volume.
2Reliability
If conventional heat exchangers increase matrix volume to enhance heat exchange capacity, then heat transfer coefficient is improved, but flow resistance increases and energy consumption rises
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces dynamic flow characteristics by arranging strips at different offsets, which creates varying flow velocities and turbulence levels throughout the matrix. This dynamic flow pattern enhances heat transfer coefficients without requiring increased matrix volume, as the varied flow paths naturally promote better mixing and heat exchange while maintaining acceptable pressure drop.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchange matrix is segmented into multiple strips with different offsets rather than using continuous corrugated plates. This segmentation creates discrete heat exchange zones that can be optimized independently, allowing high heat transfer coefficients in each zone while maintaining overall flow efficiency and reducing total energy consumption.
3Ease of operation
If conventional adiabatic coolers use large flow through area to reduce pressure drop, then flow efficiency is improved, but device bulk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a nested structure where strips are offset within a compact matrix arrangement. The offset strips create internal flow channels that are efficiently nested within the overall device volume, maximizing flow through area utilization without increasing external device bulk. The multi-layered strip configuration allows effective nesting of flow paths.
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 matrix achieves higher heat exchange capacity per unit volume and improved flow resistance, reducing energy consumption and bulk, while maintaining efficient evaporative cooling and moisture uptake, thus optimizing HVAC applications.
Implementation Method 1
arranged in a configuration that minimizes laminar boundary layer formation, enhancing heat exchange capacity and flow efficiency by ensuring strips are spaced to prevent excessive boundary layer interference and promoting turbulent flow
Implementation Method 2
minimizes laminar boundary layer formation, enhancing heat exchange capacity and flow efficiency by ensuring strips are spaced to prevent excessive boundary layer interference
Implementation Method 3
As water evaporates into the air stream, the latent heat of evaporation of this water is provided by the cooling of the air stream
Implementation Method 4
the latent heat of evaporation of this water is provided by the cooling of the air stream
Implementation Method 5
Heat exchange may also take place between different media: - gas, liquid and solid media can be interfaced in all combinations according to the performance required
Implementation Method 6
Heat exchange may also take place between different media: - gas, liquid and solid media can be interfaced in all combinations according to the performance required
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~3b
Figure 4~4a
AI summary
A heat exchange matrix comprises a plurality of generally planar foils (32, 34) comprising a water retaining material, arranged in spaced, substantially parallel relationship. Each foil (32, 34) defines a main plane (P) having a flow direction (F) and a transverse direction (T) and the foils (23, 34) comprise strips (36a, 36b, 36c) that extend a strip length in the transverse direction (T) and are separated from each neighbouring strip (36a, 36b, 36c) in the flow direction (F) and each strip (36a, 36b, 36c) is offset from the main plane (P) by a distance that is different from that of its neighbour. The matrix may be provided in a flow channel for air to be humidified and cooled.