Oil Cooler U-Turn Flow Path for Heat Exchange and Layout

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional multilayered oil coolers face inefficiencies in heat exchange and layout flexibility due to increased pressure loss and reduced flow velocities with more laminated plates, and a configuration where fluid inlets and outlets are disposed at both ends of the plate lamination direction is not ideal for vehicle mounting.

Innovation Solution

An oil cooler design with core plates having three oil and three cooling water pass holes, where oil and cooling water flow independently perpendicular to the plate lamination direction, changing flow direction by a U-turn, and inlets and outlets are intensively disposed at opposite ends, allowing for efficient heat exchange with a smaller number of plates and improved layout flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the number of laminated plates is increased to enhance heat exchange, then the amount of exchanged heat is improved, but pressure loss increases and flow velocities reduce

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of exchanged heatVSAvoidpressure loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a flow direction changing mechanism that allows fluid to flow in multiple dimensions - first perpendicular to plate lamination, then changing direction via U-turns to flow parallel to lamination direction. This dimensional change enables effective heat exchange with fewer plates while maintaining flow velocity and reducing pressure loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic flow path design where the fluid flow direction is not fixed but changes within the heat exchanger. The flow direction changing mechanism enables the fluid to adapt its path, flowing perpendicular to plates initially, then turning to flow parallel to lamination, optimizing both heat exchange and flow characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the number of laminated plates is increased to enhance heat exchange, then the amount of exchanged heat is improved, but flow velocities of fluids are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of exchanged heatVSAvoidflow velocities

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a flow direction changing mechanism that allows fluid to flow in multiple dimensions - first perpendicular to plate lamination, then changing direction via U-turns to flow parallel to lamination direction. This dimensional change enables effective heat exchange with fewer plates while maintaining flow velocity and reducing pressure loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If inlet and outlet portions are disposed at both ends of plate lamination direction, then heat exchange function is achieved, but layout flexibility for vehicle mounting is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat exchange functionVSAvoidlayout flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the inlet and outlet portions to the same end face of the heat exchanger, combining functions that were previously separated at opposite ends. This merging enables flexible layout configurations for vehicle mounting while maintaining effective heat exchange through the internal flow direction changing mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a flow direction changing mechanism that allows fluid to flow in multiple dimensions - first perpendicular to plate lamination, then changing direction via U-turns to flow parallel to lamination direction. This dimensional change enables effective heat exchange with fewer plates while maintaining flow velocity and reducing pressure loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

Enhances heat-exchanging efficiency while maintaining flow velocities and improving layout flexibility during vehicle mounting, achieving effective heat transfer with fewer core plates.

Implementation Method 1

a heat-exchanging section where the core plates are laminated to define an inter-plate oil flow passage and an inter-plate cooling water flow passage alternately between an adjacent pair of the core plates, in which oil and cooling water can mutually independently flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11668530B2Oil cooler

Publication Date: 2023.06.06 MAHLE INT GMBH

AI summary

Oil cooler is provided to include: a number of core plates each of which has three oil pass holes where oil flows and three cooling water pass holes where cooling water flows; heat-exchanging section where core plates are laminated to define inter-plate oil flow passage and inter-plate cooling water flow passage alternately between an adjacent pair of core plates, in which oil and cooling water can mutually independently flow in direction perpendicular to core plate lamination direction while changing its flow direction by U-turn thereby proceeding in core plate lamination direction as a whole; one end part located at one side of core plate lamination direction and provided with both oil inlet and oil outlet; and the other end part located at the other side of core plate lamination direction and provided with both cooling water inlet and cooling water outlet.