Solar water heating system utilizing a flat-shaped heat pipe
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional solar water heating systems using heat pipes face limitations such as unidirectional heat transfer and limited condenser area due to water storage tank design, leading to inefficiencies in thermal performance.
Innovation Solution
A solar water heating system employing a flat-shaped heat pipe with a copper plate and porous wicks, featuring an asymmetrical design with a larger condenser section and vapor regions, allowing for enhanced heat transfer and overcoming the limitations of cylindrical heat transfer devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional cylindrical heat pipes are used in solar water heating systems, then the system structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the heat transfer is unidirectional and the condenser area is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by transitioning from a symmetric cylindrical heat pipe to an asymmetric flat-shaped heat pipe with distinct evaporator and condenser sections of different areas. The larger condenser section provides increased heat transfer area, while the asymmetric geometry enables bidirectional heat transfer capabilities, resolving the limitation of traditional cylindrical designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention moves from a one-dimensional cylindrical heat pipe to a two-dimensional flat-shaped heat pipe structure. This dimensional change increases the surface area for heat transfer, allows for larger condenser section area, and enables more effective thermal coupling with the water storage tank, thereby improving thermal performance while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
2Productivity
If the condenser section area is increased to improve heat transfer, then thermal performance increases, but the system weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flat-shaped heat pipe utilizes thin-walled structures and flat plate geometries instead of bulky cylindrical forms. This approach increases the condenser section area for improved heat transfer while minimizing material usage and system weight, effectively decoupling the relationship between heat transfer area and system mass.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses flat plate geometries that can be manufactured using standard sheet metal forming processes, replacing complex cylindrical heat pipe structures. This copying of simple geometric forms into the heat pipe design reduces manufacturing cost and material usage while achieving the required thermal performance through optimized surface area distribution.
3Productivity
If a flat-shaped heat pipe with larger condenser section is used, then thermal performance and heat transfer efficiency increase, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flat-shaped heat pipe is segmented into distinct functional zones: an evaporator section, a larger condenser section, and intermediate regions. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for its specific thermal function while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that can be manufactured as a single integrated component, balancing complexity with performance.
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 flat-shaped heat pipe design significantly increases thermal performance by achieving higher water temperatures and reducing thermal resistance, while also reducing system weight and cost.
Implementation Method 1
The structure of the heat pipe can include a 12.7 mm outer diameter, 1,550 mm evaporator section length, 300 mm condenser section length, two layers of 100-mesh stainless steel screen forming the wick inside
Implementation Method 2
The basic function of a solar water heating system is the conversion of solar radiation into heat
Implementation Method 3
Two-phase closed thermosyphon evacuated tube solar collector
Implementation Method 4
300 mm condenser section length
Implementation Method 5
an absorber to receive, collect, and transfer heat to the flat-shaped heat pipe
Data Source
AI summary
A solar water heating system can be implemented utilizing an innovative flat-shaped heat pipe as a primary heat transfer device. The system can include two small insulated rectangular ducts at the top and a large insulated rectangular duct at the bottom of the flat-shaped heat pipe. An absorber, positioned to receive, collect, and transfer solar heat, can be integrated into the system, complemented by a glass cover to minimize heat loss. The flat-shaped heat pipe, which can be constructed from a copper plate with porous wicks on its inner surfaces, can be filled with a working fluid. Solar irradiation incident through the glass cover on the absorber triggers the evaporation of the working fluid, absorbing latent heat. Subsequently, the vapor moves and transfers evenly to both sides of the flat-shaped heat pipe, facilitating the transfer of heat to water flowing through the rectangular ducts situated outside the flat-shaped heat pipe. This configuration optimizes energy efficiency, offering a reliable and cost-effective solution for solar water heating applications.