Stacked Heat Exchanger Layout for Low Air Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat exchangers face increased air resistance and decreased heat exchange efficiency as the number of tubes and fins increases, making it difficult to achieve effective heat exchange in a compact space.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger design featuring a main heat exchanger with a larger first heat exchange surface and an auxiliary heat exchanger with a smaller second heat exchange surface, where the auxiliary heat exchanger is positioned closer to the air introduction point and has a different height configuration, allowing for improved air flow and heat exchange efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the number of rows of tubes and fins is increased to improve heat exchange efficiency, then heat exchange efficiency improves, but air resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third dimension by stacking heat exchanger banks vertically at different heights. Instead of simply adding more rows in the horizontal plane (which increases air resistance), the solution distributes heat exchange surfaces across multiple vertical levels, allowing air to flow horizontally through each bank while maintaining high total heat exchange area.
2Productivity
If the number of rows of tubes and fins is increased to improve heat exchange efficiency, then heat exchange efficiency improves, but the device occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes vertical stacking to arrange heat exchanger banks at different heights (first level and second level), effectively using the vertical dimension to increase heat exchange capacity without proportionally increasing the horizontal footprint. This allows the device to maintain compactness while achieving high heat exchange efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent arranges heat exchanger banks in a nested configuration where multiple banks are stacked vertically and positioned to overlap in the horizontal projection. This nested arrangement allows efficient use of space by utilizing vertical clearance while maintaining compact horizontal dimensions.
3Quantity of substance
If heat exchangers are arranged in multiple rows to increase heat exchange capacity, then heat exchange capacity increases, but air flow resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent distributes heat exchanger banks across vertical levels (first level and second level) rather than arranging them in single horizontal rows. This vertical distribution allows air to flow through multiple banks in parallel with reduced resistance, as each bank processes a portion of the air flow independently.
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 design reduces air resistance while maintaining high heat exchange efficiency, allowing for effective heat transfer and improved performance in narrow spaces by optimizing the heat exchange surfaces and refrigerant flow paths.
Implementation Method 1
a main heat exchanger configured to perform heat exchange between refrigerant and air and to define a first heat exchange surface and an auxiliary heat exchanger configured to perform heat exchange between refrigerant discharged from the main heat exchanger and air
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanger includes a main heat exchanger configured to perform heat exchange between refrigerant and air and to define a first heat exchange surface and an auxiliary heat exchanger configured to perform heat exchange between refrigerant discharged from the main heat exchanger and air and to define a second heat exchange surface. The first heat exchange surface has an area larger than the area of the second heat exchange surface.