Rotary heat exchanger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rotary heat exchangers often require separate fan and heat exchanger structures, which can inhibit airflow and reduce efficiency, and lack a sealed fluid circuit that can withstand rotation, leading to potential wear and failure points.
Innovation Solution
A rotary heat exchanger design that integrates centrifugal fan blades as both heat exchange surfaces and components, with a sealed fluid circuit that rotates with the compressor, eliminating the need for separate fan and heat exchanger structures and allowing for turbulent heat exchange, improving efficiency and reducing wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If separate fan and heat exchanger structures are used, then the device can perform basic airflow and heat exchange functions, but the structures inhibit airflow and reduce heat exchange efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fan and heat exchanger into a single integrated structure where the fan blades themselves serve as heat exchange surfaces. The fan blades include internal fluid circuits with thermal transfer components, eliminating the need for separate fan and heat exchanger structures. This integration removes airflow-inhibiting structures and allows turbulent heat exchange, directly resolving the contradiction between heat exchange efficiency and device complexity.
2Reliability
If a sealed fluid circuit is implemented that rotates with the compressor, then wear and failure points are reduced, but the circuit must withstand rotational forces and maintain sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested fluid circuit design where the fluid circuit is integrated within the rotating components (fan blades and compressor). The circuit includes a rotating portion that moves with the fan and compressor, and a stationary portion that remains fixed. Fluid communication between rotating and stationary portions is achieved through sealed interfaces, allowing the circuit to withstand rotational forces while maintaining sealing and reducing wear points.
3Productivity
If centrifugal fan blades are integrated as heat exchange surfaces, then airflow inhibition is eliminated and turbulent heat exchange is improved, but the blade design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fan blade structure with heat exchange functionality by integrating thermal transfer components and fluid circuits directly into the blade design. The blades include internal passages for working fluid flow and thermal transfer surfaces that contact the air stream, allowing turbulent heat exchange without requiring separate heat exchanger structures. This merging approach improves heat exchange efficiency while managing design complexity through integration.
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 integrated design enhances heat exchange efficiency by eliminating airflow-inhibiting structures and provides a sealed fluid circuit that maintains efficiency during rotation, reducing wear and improving capacity.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the plurality of fan blades can be configured to induce a state change in a working fluid during operation of the heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
The first heat exchanger can include a first plurality of thermal transfer components in thermal communication with the fluid circuit and the second heat exchanger can include a plurality of thermal transfer components in thermal communication with the fluid circuit
Implementation Method 3
The heat exchanger can include a compressor disposed along the fluid circuit and configured to rotate along with the first centrifugal fan and the second centrifugal fan
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
Rotary heat exchangers can include a ride-along compressor, at least a portion of which can be rotated along with the heat exchanger. By rotating at least a portion of the compressor along with the heat exchanger, a sealed fluid circuit containing a two-phase working fluid can be provided. A rotary heat pump or heat engine can include an evaporator and a condenser in the form of back-to-back centrifugal fans. The centrifugal fan blades or other portions of the evaporator and condenser may include internal cavities where the working fluid undergoes a phase change.