Radiator with Segmented Flow Channels for Air Temperature Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radiators exhibit temperature imbalances in air distribution around them, leading to high-temperature air being consistently directed towards nearby components, which can reduce their lifespan due to uneven heat dissipation.
Innovation Solution
A radiator design featuring a tank with split flow channels and multiple tubes connected in parallel, where the tubes' ends communicate with the tank's chambers, allowing refrigerant to flow through channels that alternate between high and low temperature sections, thereby mixing air temperatures and reducing thermal imbalances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional radiators are used with simple tube arrangements, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but temperature imbalances occur in air distribution around the radiator
Solution Approach 1:
The radiator is segmented into multiple tubes (first tube, second tube, third tube, fourth tube) arranged in a specific pattern, with each tube contributing to different sections of air flow. The tank is also segmented into chambers that correspond to different temperature zones. This segmentation allows different parts of the radiator to handle different temperature ranges, achieving balanced air temperature distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The tubes are arranged asymmetrically with respect to the tank, with the first and third tubes extending in one direction and the second and fourth tubes extending in the opposite direction. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that hot and cold air streams are distributed evenly across the radiator surface, preventing temperature imbalances in the air distribution.
2Temperature
If multiple tubes are arranged to balance temperature distribution, then temperature balance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple tubes are merged into a single integrated radiator structure with a common tank. The first, second, third, and fourth tubes all connect to the same tank chambers, combining their cooling functions into one unit. This merging approach achieves temperature balance without requiring separate radiator units for different temperature zones, thus limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The tank chambers serve multiple functions: they serve as connection points for multiple tubes, as heat exchange chambers, and as distributors for refrigerant flow to different tube sections. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, achieving temperature balance while controlling device complexity.
3Volume of moving object
If the radiator uses a compact tube arrangement, then the radiator size is reduced, but heat dissipation efficiency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The tubes are arranged in a two-dimensional pattern extending in opposite directions from the tank, rather than simply lengthening tubes in one dimension. This dimensional arrangement allows the radiator to maintain a compact overall size while providing sufficient surface area for heat exchange, as the tubes utilize space in multiple directions from the central tank.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the radiator are optimized for different functions: the tank chambers provide concentrated heat exchange areas, while the extending tubes provide surface area for air flow cooling. This local optimization allows the radiator to be compact overall while maintaining high heat dissipation efficiency in critical areas.
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 design effectively reduces temperature imbalances in air distribution, minimizing the exposure of components to high-temperature air and enhancing refrigerant dissipation efficiency while reducing the size and load on the cooling system.
Implementation Method 1
heat is exchanged between air around the tube and the refrigerant while the refrigerant passes through the tube
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a radiator which includes a tank including first and second chambers that are separated from each other, the first and second chambers including first and second openings, respectively, a first tube including first and second ends, the first and second ends communicating with the first and second chambers, respectively, and a second tube being next to the first tube, the second tube including first and second ends communicating with the first and second chambers, respectively, wherein the first chamber includes first and second flow channels that communicate with the first opening, the first and second channels being split so as to sandwich at least part of the second chamber, and the first ends of the first and second tubes sandwich the second ends of the first and second tubes.