Equipment Rack Heat Exchanger Using Bi-Phase Refrigerant Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rear door heat exchangers using water as a cooling medium are not acceptable due to policy or environmental aversion, and alternative coolants with lower specific heat capacity are insufficient in cooling capacity.
Innovation Solution
A bi-phase heat exchanger using a coolant that is part liquid and part gas, such as R134a refrigerant, which utilizes the latent heat of phase transition to enhance cooling capacity, with a primary and secondary circuit thermally coupled to condition air flowing through equipment racks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water is used as a cooling medium in rear door heat exchangers, then cooling capacity is high due to high specific heat capacity, but customer acceptance is poor due to policy or environmental aversion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the coolant from liquid water to bi-phase refrigerant (liquid-vapor mixture), which allows the system to achieve high cooling capacity through latent heat of vaporization while using an environmentally acceptable refrigerant instead of water
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition (evaporation) of the refrigerant in the heat exchanger to absorb heat from the air, leveraging the latent heat of vaporization to achieve efficient cooling without requiring water, thus resolving the contradiction between cooling capacity and customer acceptance
2Adaptability or versatility
If alternative coolants such as refrigerant are used instead of water, then customer acceptance improves, but cooling capacity is insufficient due to lower specific heat capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs phase transition of the refrigerant (liquid to vapor) to compensate for its lower specific heat capacity compared to water. The latent heat absorbed during vaporization provides sufficient cooling capacity, effectively resolving the contradiction between using acceptable refrigerants and maintaining high cooling performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal mechanism from specific heat capacity-based cooling (liquid water) to latent heat-based cooling (bi-phase refrigerant), altering the fundamental thermal parameter used for heat transfer to achieve adequate cooling capacity with environmentally acceptable refrigerants
3Ease of operation
If conventional cooling mediums are used, then ease of operation is maintained, but cooling capacity is insufficient due to lower specific heat capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the natural phase transition process of the refrigerant, which occurs automatically as it absorbs heat from the air, providing sufficient cooling capacity while maintaining ease of operation. The bi-phase flow self-regulates the heat absorption process without requiring complex control mechanisms
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 bi-phase heat exchanger effectively conditions air by increasing the specific heat capacity of the coolant, allowing it to absorb more heat and maintain efficient cooling without the use of water, thus addressing the limitations of conventional coolants.
Implementation Method 1
A bi-phase heat exchanger using a coolant that is part liquid and part gas, such as R134a refrigerant, which utilizes the latent heat of phase transition to enhance cooling capacity
Implementation Method 2
The bi-phase coolant is part liquid and part gas as the bi-phase coolant flows through the coolant channel
Implementation Method 3
The bi-phase coolant is configured to condition the air flowing through the air channel
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanger includes an air channel configured to receive air from an equipment rack. A fluid circuit is provided having a bi-phase coolant flowing therethrough. The fluid circuit includes a coolant channel coupled to the equipment rack and positioned adjacent to the air channel. The bi-phase coolant is part liquid and part gas as the bi-phase coolant flows through the coolant channel. The bi-phase coolant is configured to condition the air flowing through the air channel.