Radiator Outlet Joint Geometry for Gas-Liquid Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing joints for connecting cooling medium discharge ports to tubes in radiators struggle to effectively separate gas from the liquid, leading to potential air locks and reduced discharge pressure, which affects cooling efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A joint design with offset connection ports and angled tubular portions that promote gas-liquid separation by ensuring the cooling medium collides with an inner wall, featuring a larger first connection port, smaller second connection port, and an angled air discharge port to enhance separation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the joint is configured with intersecting axes at 90 degrees (as in prior art), then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the inner wall collision area is insufficient and gas-liquid separation function cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The joint employs asymmetric positioning of connection ports where the first connection port (radiator side) and second connection port (tube side) are offset from each other vertically. This asymmetric configuration creates an inner wall portion that the cooling medium collides with during flow, enabling effective gas-liquid separation while maintaining structural simplicity for manufacturing.
2Loss of energy
If the cooling medium flows without sufficient inner wall collision, then the flow path is smooth and pressure loss is reduced, but air locks are generated and discharge pressure cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The inner wall portion acts as an intermediary element between the cooling medium flow and the air bubbles. As the cooling medium flows through the joint and collides with the inner wall portion created by the offset connection ports, it effectively separates and discharges air bubbles, preventing air locks and maintaining stable discharge pressure without causing excessive pressure loss.
3Ease of manufacture
If the connection ports are positioned at the same height, then the joint structure is symmetric and easy to manufacture, but the cooling medium cannot collide with inner wall to separate gas effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The joint deliberately breaks symmetry by positioning the first connection port and second connection port at different heights (offset vertically). This asymmetric design creates the necessary inner wall collision zone that enables effective gas-liquid separation, directly improving separation efficiency while remaining manufacturable through standard molding or fabrication processes.
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 design prevents air locks and maintains high cooling efficiency by efficiently separating gas from the cooling medium, reducing pressure loss and ensuring consistent discharge pressure.
Implementation Method 1
performing gas-liquid separation of the cooling medium, and includes: a first connection port connectable to the cooling medium discharge port; a second connection port connectable to a tube that allows the cooling medium to flow toward the downstream side; and an air discharge port through which air separated from the cooling medium is discharged
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a joint that connects a cooling medium discharge port through which a cooling medium is discharged from a radiator and a tube which allows the cooling medium to flow toward a downstream side, and that has a gas-liquid separation function. A joint is applicable to a radiator that exchanges heat between a cooling medium and outside air, is capable of allowing the cooling medium discharged from a cooling medium discharge port of the radiator to flow toward a downstream side and performing gas-liquid separation of the cooling medium, and includes: a first connection port connectable to the cooling medium discharge port; a second connection port connectable to a tube that allows the cooling medium to flow toward the downstream side; and an air discharge port through which air separated from the cooling medium is discharged. A center of the second connection port is located below a center of the first connection port. The joint further includes a first tubular portion having the first connection port; a second tubular portion having the second connection port; and a coupling portion coupling the first tubular portion to the second tubular portion such that an axis of the first connection port and an axis of the second connection port form an angle of one degree or greater with each other. The air discharge port is provided in an upper portion of the coupling portion.