Removable Heat Exchanger Core for Modular Thermal Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchanger designs are inflexible and costly, limiting their application to specific thermal requirements, making them unsuitable for use outside their designated range.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger with a removable core assembly that includes a top flange, bottom side, and corner seals, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly, and featuring a two-pass fluid passage design for enhanced thermal efficiency, along with seals and tapered pins for secure and efficient fluid connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a heat exchanger is designed for specific thermal requirements with fixed dimensions, then it meets the operating requirements for that application, but it restricts use to only that specific application and cannot be adapted for other applications
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is divided into two separable components: a housing and a core assembly. The core assembly can be removed and replaced with different core assemblies designed for different thermal requirements, allowing the same housing to serve multiple applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is designed as a universal component that can accommodate multiple different core assemblies. This allows a single housing to serve multiple functions across different applications by simply changing the core assembly.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a custom core is designed for each specific application, then the thermal requirements are met, but the cost increases and flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the heat exchanger into a standardized housing and application-specific core assemblies, the manufacturing cost is reduced through economies of scale in producing the housing, while still allowing customization of cores for different applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design allows for easy replacement of core assemblies when thermal requirements change, enabling recovery and reuse of the expensive housing component while only replacing the less expensive core assembly.
3Ease of repair
If the core assembly is permanently fixed in the housing, then the structure is stable, but maintenance and adaptation become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the core assembly and housing transitions from a permanent fixed state to a dynamic removable state. Fasteners allow the core assembly to be securely fixed during operation for stability, yet easily removed for maintenance or adaptation by simply loosening the fasteners.
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 solution provides a cost-effective and flexible heat exchanger design that can be easily adapted for various applications, ensuring efficient thermal performance and ease of maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a first seal interposed between the bottom side of the core assembly and the bottom portion of the housing, the first seal being configured to seal the fluid connection
Implementation Method 2
A heat exchanger is utilized to cool or heat a fluid medium by flowing two fluid mediums adjacent to each other through a core assembly
Data Source
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AI summary
A heat exchanger (100) is having: a housing (120) having a first housing inlet (122), a second housing inlet (124), a first housing outlet (128), and a second housing outlet (126); and a core assembly (153) disposed within the housing (120) and removably connected to the housing (120), the core assembly (150) comprises: a first fluid passage (153) fluidly connecting the first housing inlet (122) to the first housing outlet (128) and a second fluid passage (163) fluidly connecting the second housing inlet (124) to the second housing outlet (126). The first fluid passage (153) is thermally connected to the second fluid passage (163).