Segmented Fin Design for Condensation Water Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat exchanger designs for prolate types, with vertically disposed headers and horizontally disposed tubes, face issues with high manufacturing costs, poor refrigerant distribution, reduced airflow, and inadequate condensation water drainage due to surface tension accumulation.
Innovation Solution
The fin design features substantially-circular arc segments divided into first and second straight portions, with longitudinal and lateral slots, allowing condensation water to flow easily downward and preventing accumulation, while the arc segments are easier to deform and maintain a stable shape for improved heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional fins with continuous curved surfaces are used, then manufacturing is simple, but condensation water accumulates at the leeward side due to surface tension
Solution Approach 1:
The fin surface is segmented into multiple straight portions (first through fourth straight portions) connected by curved portions, creating a stepped profile that disrupts surface tension continuity. This segmentation allows condensation water to drain efficiently at each step rather than accumulating at the leeward side, while still maintaining manufacturability through standard forming processes.
2Ease of operation
If headers are disposed horizontally to improve water drainage, then water drainage performance improves, but header length increases leading to high manufacturing costs and poor refrigerant distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The fin design applies local quality changes at specific locations (end portions extending laterally) to improve water drainage without requiring global changes to the header configuration. The straight portions at the end portions create localized drainage paths that work effectively even with vertical headers, allowing the system to achieve good water drainage with shorter, more cost-effective vertical headers.
3Ease of operation
If tubes are disposed vertically with horizontal headers, then water drainage improves, but tube length decreases and tube number increases leading to low refrigerant flow speed
Solution Approach 1:
The fin structure modifies local water drainage characteristics at the tube ends without requiring changes to the overall tube orientation or configuration. The straight portions creating stepped profiles enable effective water drainage from vertical tubes, allowing the system to maintain vertical tube orientation (which provides better refrigerant flow) while still achieving improved water drainage performance through local fin geometry modifications.
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 enhances water drainage performance, reduces manufacturing costs, and increases the heat-transfer coefficient by ensuring uniform fin arrangement and efficient airflow, addressing the limitations of conventional prolate heat exchanger configurations.
Implementation Method 1
due to the surface tension of the condensation water, most condensation water will be accumulated at the leeward side
Implementation Method 2
the condensation water may easily flow downwardly along the first and second straight portions and the straight segments to drop off the fin
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention discloses a fin (1) comprising straight segments (11), and substantially-circular arc segments (12) connected with the straight segments (11) in turn along a longitudinal direction such that the substantially-circular arc segments (12) form wave crests and wave troughs of the fin respectively, the fin (1) is divided in a lateral direction (C) into a first and second end portions (112,114) and an intermediate portion (113) therebetween, each substantially-circular arc segment (12) at least forming the wave troughs in the first end portion is separated from a substantially-circular arc segment (12) of a corresponding intermediate portion (113) via a longitudinal slot (111), and a top of each of the substantially-circular arc segments (12) at least forming the wave troughs in the first end portion (112) is formed with a lateral slot (110) such that each of the substantially-circular arc segments (12) at least forming the wave troughs in the first end portion (112) is divided into a first and second straight portions (12a,12b).