Heat Exchanger Bypass Valve for Complete Flow Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchanger systems with bypass valves do not effectively allow all fluid to bypass when the valve is opened, leading to inefficient temperature regulation, as a portion of the fluid still passes through the heat exchanger, and it becomes difficult to prevent excessive temperature increase or decrease.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger system with a valve configured to switch between a first state where the fluid flows through the heat exchanger and a second state where the fluid bypasses the heat exchanger, using a single poppet valve body that shuts off specific passages to redirect the fluid flow based on temperature, allowing all fluid to bypass when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a bypass valve with a through-hole is used to allow fluid to bypass the heat exchanger, then the valve structure is simple, but only part of the fluid can bypass while the rest still flows through the heat exchanger, failing to achieve complete bypass
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is segmented into multiple independent flow paths: a bypass passage that allows fluid to bypass the heat exchanger, and a through-hole that allows fluid to pass through the valve body. The valve member can selectively close either the bypass passage or the through-hole, enabling complete control over fluid routing to achieve 100% bypass when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the valve have different functions: the bypass passage is designed for complete bypass flow, while the through-hole is designed for heat exchanger flow. The valve member selectively activates or deactivates each region based on temperature conditions, ensuring that the appropriate flow path is used locally where needed.
2Temperature
If the bypass valve is opened to prevent excessive temperature increase, then the valve allows some fluid to bypass, but a portion of the fluid still flows through the heat exchanger along the same path, making it difficult to significantly reduce or prevent temperature increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve member dynamically switches between different positions based on temperature feedback: it can close the bypass passage to force all fluid through the heat exchanger when cooling is needed, or close the through-hole to force all fluid through the bypass passage when rapid temperature increase prevention is needed. This dynamic switching enables complete control over the 100% bypass capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the bypass function from a simple open/close valve and creates a dedicated bypass passage that can be completely isolated from the heat exchanger flow path. By separating the bypass flow path from the heat exchanger flow path and providing independent control, the system can extract and redirect 100% of the fluid away from the heat exchanger when necessary.
3Device complexity
If a single poppet valve body is used to control both bypass and through-flow paths, then the configuration is simplified to meet weight and size restrictions, but the valve must reliably switch between states to ensure complete bypass when opened
Solution Approach 1:
The single poppet valve body performs multiple functions: it can close the bypass passage to allow through-flow, close the through-hole to allow bypass flow, or be in intermediate positions for partial flow control. This multi-functional design achieves complete flow control capability with a single valve component, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining 100% bypass reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the bypass valve and through-flow valve into a single integrated poppet valve body with a single valve member that controls both flow paths. This consolidation reduces the number of components, simplifies the actuation mechanism, and meets weight and size restrictions while maintaining reliable flow path switching through the single valve member's positional control.
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 enables reliable fluid bypass around the heat exchanger, quickly adjusting the fluid temperature within a desired range by switching the valve state based on temperature, thereby preventing unnecessary cooling or heating, and simplifying the configuration to meet weight and size restrictions.
Implementation Method 1
The bypass valve includes a valve body urged toward a valve seat by a compression coil spring
Implementation Method 2
The bypass valve is opened by a differential pressure such that a through-hole of the bypass valve communicates
Data Source
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AI summary
A heat exchanger system (100) includes a heat exchanger (1) and a valve (2). The valve is configured to be switchable between a first state (P1) in which an external inlet (2a) and a supply port (2c) are connected to each other, and an external outlet (2b) and a return port (2d) are connected to each other and a second state (P2) in which at least one of the supply port (2c) and the return port (2d) is shut off, and the external inlet (2a) and the external outlet (2b) are connected to each other.