Pulsating Heat Pipe Heat Exchanger Orientation Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchangers require a specific installation position to function properly, limiting their versatility and flexibility in orientation, particularly in applications where upside-down or horizontal installation is necessary.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger design featuring capillary-sized channels and fluid distribution elements at opposite ends, allowing it to operate as a Pulsating Heat Pipe (PHP), enabling efficient heat transfer in any orientation without the need for a pumping unit and with a smaller fluid volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a thermosyphon type heat exchanger is used, then cooling efficiency is improved, but installation position restriction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the pulsating heat pipe principle where fluid dynamically oscillates back and forth within closed channels due to vapor expansion and condensation. This dynamic two-phase flow mechanism replaces the static thermosyphon approach, enabling the heat exchanger to function efficiently in any orientation without requiring specific installation positions while maintaining high cooling performance
2Device complexity
If traditional heat exchanger design is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but fluid volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger channels are segmented into small capillary-dimension passages that distribute the working fluid efficiently throughout the structure. This segmentation allows the system to achieve effective heat transfer with significantly reduced fluid volume compared to traditional designs, while the modular channel structure maintains overall structural simplicity and manufacturability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes capillary channels that function similarly to porous structures, where the small dimensional passages create capillary forces that enhance fluid distribution and heat transfer efficiency. This approach reduces the required fluid volume while maintaining structural simplicity and manufacturing feasibility
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 heat exchanger achieves efficient cooling in any orientation with reduced sensitivity to installation position and lower fluid volume, eliminating the need for separate condenser or evaporator pipes and pumps, while maintaining performance.
Implementation Method 1
channels having capillary dimensions
Implementation Method 2
oscillations occur in a small channel loop heat pipe due to the bidirectional expansion of vapour inside the channels
Implementation Method 3
a first heat transfer element is arranged in a vicinity of the first end of the heat exchanger for transferring a heat load to a fluid in said evaporator channels
Implementation Method 4
oscillations occur in a small channel loop heat pipe due to the bidirectional expansion of vapour inside the channels
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a heat exchanger (1) comprising at least a first group (2) and a second group (3) of channels arranged to provide fluid paths between a first end and a second end of said heat exchanger (1), connecting parts (5, 6) arranged at said first end and at said second end of said heat exchanger (1) a first heat transfer element for transferring a heat load to fluid, and a second heat transfer element (8) for transferring a heat load from said fluid. In order to obtain an efficient and cheap heat exchanger the channels have capillary dimensions, the connecting parts (5) comprises fluid distribution elements, and the first and second heat transfer element contact all channels