Ribbed Heat Exchange Unit for High-Pressure Compact Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchanger technologies for automotive vehicles are inflexible, costly, and inefficient in assembling and optimizing heat exchange between rows of passages, leading to complex and expensive assembly processes.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchange unit comprising an interior duct with multiple longitudinal channels and ribbed walls on either side, housed within a hollow exterior envelope, allowing for easy assembly and enhanced heat transfer by sandwiching the first fluid between two layers of the second fluid, with the exterior envelope being compressible to optimize contact surfaces and reduce volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tubes are brazed on heat exchanging elements with rippled surfaces, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but assembly complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated heat exchange unit: the interior duct with longitudinal channels, the ribbed walls forming second channels, and the exterior envelope all work together as one assembly. This eliminates the need for separate brazing operations between tubes and heat exchanging elements, simplifying assembly while maintaining heat exchange efficiency through the integrated channel structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchange unit is segmented into distinct functional components: interior duct for first fluid circulation, ribbed walls for structural support and second fluid channels, and exterior envelope for containment. This segmentation allows for simpler manufacturing of individual parts and easier assembly compared to complex brazed tube structures.
2Productivity
If two rows of passages are manufactured simultaneously by extrusion, then production efficiency is improved, but flexibility and heat exchange optimization between rows are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the passage structure into two independent sets: first longitudinal internal channels within the interior duct and second longitudinal channels formed by the ribbed walls. This segmentation allows each set of channels to be independently optimized for their respective fluid flows while maintaining manufacturing efficiency through the integrated extrusion process.
Solution Approach 2:
The interior duct and ribbed walls are designed with specific local characteristics optimized for their functions: the interior duct has longitudinal channels optimized for first fluid flow, while the ribbed walls create second channels optimized for second fluid flow. This local optimization allows each region to be tailored for its specific heat exchange function while maintaining overall production efficiency.
3Volume of moving object
If exterior envelope is compressed to reduce volume, then space efficiency is improved, but contact surface area for heat transfer may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The ribbed walls feature curved or ribbed surfaces that maintain structural integrity and heat transfer surface area even when the exterior envelope is compressed. The curved geometry of the ribs allows the structure to deform while preserving contact surfaces, enabling volume reduction without proportionally reducing heat transfer area.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchange unit employs composite construction with the interior duct, ribbed walls, and exterior envelope working together as integrated layers. This composite structure allows the envelope to be compressed while the internal channel structures maintain their heat transfer surfaces, achieving volume reduction without sacrificing contact area for heat transfer.
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 configuration simplifies the assembly of heat exchangers, reduces component count, minimizes leaks, and improves heat exchange efficiency between fluids, while providing high resistance to pressure for super-critical refrigerants like carbon dioxide.
Implementation Method 1
at least two ribbed walls arranged on either side of said interior duct, in contact with said interior duct as well as with said exterior envelope, in such a way as to delimit a plurality of second longitudinal channels for the circulation of the second fluid
Implementation Method 2
heat exchange unit between a first and a second fluid characterized in that it comprises: at least one interior duct having a plurality of first longitudinal internal channels for the circulation of the first fluid
Implementation Method 3
the exterior envelope delimits a duct also carried out by extrusion. This provides a high resistance to the pressure required for the use of such a unit with a super-critical refrigerating fluid of the carbon dioxide type wherein the bursting pressures can reach 200 to 300 bars
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a heat exchange unit between a first and a second fluid with the heat exchange unit comprising:at least one interior duct (17) having a plurality of first longitudinal internal channels (21) for the circulation of the first fluid,a hollow exterior envelope (19) wherein is housed the interior duct (17), andat least two ribbed walls (19a) arranged on either side of the interior duct (17), in contact with the interior duct (17) and as well with the exterior envelope (19), in such a way as to delimit a plurality of second longitudinal channels (29) for the circulation of the second fluid, the second channels (29) extending substantially in parallel to the first channels (21). The invention also relates to a heat exchanger incorporating a heat exchange unit as well as a method of manufacturing such a unit.