Refrigerant manifold and cooling module including the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerant manifolds face issues with leaks due to assembly errors and increased weight when manufactured as a single body, and they struggle to efficiently form complex flow paths without unnecessary connections.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerant manifold is designed as an integrated body with a cut-out portion to prevent leaks and reduce weight, featuring straight flow paths and a valve block part that integrates with external devices, allowing for efficient assembly and spatial utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If refrigerant manifold is manufactured as an integrated body, then leak prevention is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The manifold is divided into multiple separate bodies, each containing specific flow paths. This segmentation allows removal of unnecessary material from each individual body while maintaining the integrated functionality of the complete manifold system, thus reducing weight without compromising leak prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
Unnecessary inner portions that do not contribute to refrigerant flow are extracted or removed from the manifold structure. This creates a more optimized design where only the essential material remains, reducing weight while preserving the sealed flow paths needed for leak prevention.
2Ease of operation
If multiple separate pipes are used to connect heat exchangers, then assembly flexibility is improved, but space occupation increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple separate pipe connections and their associated accessories are merged into a single integrated manifold body. This consolidation reduces the total space occupied in the engine room while maintaining the necessary connection points and flow path configurations for assembling with heat exchangers.
Solution Approach 2:
The manifold body is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as a structural support, contains multiple flow paths for different refrigerant routes, provides connection points for various heat exchangers, and enables assembly flexibility. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, saving space.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex flow paths are formed in traditional manifold structure, then refrigerant route control is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex flow path system is segmented into multiple separate manifold bodies, each handling specific refrigerant routes. This segmentation simplifies the manufacturing of each individual body while maintaining the overall complex route control capability when the bodies are assembled together.
Solution Approach 2:
Each manifold body is designed with local optimizations specific to its function, allowing simpler manufacturing processes for each component. The local quality of each body is tailored to its specific flow path requirements, while the global system achieves complex refrigerant route control through the combination of these optimized local structures.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a refrigerant manifold and a cooling module including the same, and more particularly, to a refrigerant manifold, which is formed as an integrated body to maximize an effect of preventing a leak of a refrigerant, and a cooling module including the same. An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerant manifold, which is formed as an integrated body to maximize an effect of preventing a leak of a refrigerant and includes a cut-out portion to prevent an unnecessary increase in weight, and a cooling module including the same.