Planar Heat Exchanger Element With Airflow-Guiding Protrusions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dehumidification systems face inefficiencies in heat exchange due to suboptimal design of planar elements in heat exchangers, leading to inadequate airflow guidance and thermal conductivity, which affects dehumidification performance.

Innovation Solution

The design of planar elements with specific protrusions and recesses to guide airflow and maintain defined gaps, enhancing counter-flow heat exchange by interdigitating embossed elements with high and low thermal conductivity, allowing for both two-dimensional and three-dimensional heat exchange configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional planar elements are used in heat exchangers, then the structure is simple, but the heat exchange efficiency is insufficient due to inadequate airflow guidance and thermal conductivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat exchange efficiencyVSAvoidplanar element structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The planar element is divided into multiple functional zones (first zone with inlet region, second zone with cooling core accommodation, third zone with outlet region) and multiple protrusions (first blockage protrusion, second blockage protrusion, guiding protrusions, gap-maintaining protrusions). Each segment performs a specific function to optimize heat exchange while maintaining manageable structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the planar element are designed with different properties: the first zone has blockage protrusions to control airflow direction, the second zone has cutouts for cooling core integration with specific thermal conductivity, the third zone has guiding protrusions for airflow management. This local differentiation optimizes heat exchange efficiency in each specific area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If planar elements without airflow guidance protrusions are used, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the airflow guidance is inadequate leading to reduced dehumidification performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedehumidification performanceVSAvoidplanar element fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Guiding protrusions are pre-formed on the planar elements during manufacturing to establish proper airflow guidance from the beginning. This preliminary structuring of airflow paths ensures optimal dehumidification performance without requiring complex post-manufacturing assembly or adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If planar elements without defined gap maintenance protrusions are used, then the assembly is simpler, but the thermal management is insufficient affecting heat exchange efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat exchange efficiencyVSAvoidplanar element configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Specific protrusions are placed at strategic locations (along side edges adjacent to inlet/outlet regions and around cutouts) to maintain defined gaps only where needed for thermal management. This localized approach optimizes heat exchange efficiency without unnecessarily complicating the overall planar element configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

This configuration significantly enhances heat exchange efficiency, improving dehumidification performance by ensuring effective airflow guidance and thermal management, leading to improved humidity removal and condensate drainage.

Implementation Method 1

enhancing counter-flow heat exchange by interdigitating embossed elements with high and low thermal conductivity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCounter-flow heat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

interdigitating embossed elements with high and low thermal conductivity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS9976817B2Planar element for forming heat exchanger

Publication Date: 2018.05.22 WATERGEN LTD

AI summary

Planar element adapted to form, when stacked with a plurality of other such elements, a heat exchanger, comprising an inlet region, a first zone adapted to direct flow from the inlet region towards a second zone, a second zone comprising at least one cutout in the plane of the planar element, adapted to accommodate a cooling core, a third zone, adapted to direct flow from the second zone towards an outlet region and an outlet region, the planar element comprising a first blockage protrusion disposed along a first group of said side edges, the first group comprising at least a side edge adjacent to said outlet region, and a second blockage protrusion disposed along a second group of said side edges, the second group comprising at least a side edge adjacent to said inlet region.