Supercharge air cooling unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional supercharge air cooling units face issues with the working medium evaporating insufficiently due to air stagnation in the heater, leading to reduced heat exchange and motive power recovery, especially when the heat transfer coefficient of the working medium is lower than that of the cooling medium.
Innovation Solution
The supercharge air cooling unit incorporates an evaporator portion with a wider flow path than the gas cooler portion, creating a stepped portion that reduces the working medium flow rate in a specific region, allowing for effective evaporation of the working medium even when supercharged air flows insufficiently, and includes a motive power recovery device and a gas cooler for further cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the heat transfer area of the heater is increased to improve heat exchange, then the heat transfer coefficient is improved, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a stepped portion in the heater with a wider flow path width compared to the gas cooler. This local structural modification concentrates the heat exchange function in the stepped region, improving heat transfer efficiency without requiring a proportional increase in overall heater size. The stepped portion with width W1 is locally enlarged to enhance heat exchange where needed, while other regions maintain their original dimensions.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the heater is made larger to increase heat transfer area, then heat exchange is improved, but air stagnation occurs and working medium evaporation is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the flow path width parameter in the heater. The stepped portion has a flow path width W1 that is larger than the flow path width in the gas cooler, creating a specific geometric parameter change. This parameter modification optimizes the balance between heat transfer area and fluid flow characteristics, preventing air stagnation while ensuring sufficient working medium evaporation.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the heat transfer coefficient of working medium is lower than cooling medium, then heater size must be increased, but this causes air stagnation and reduces heat exchange effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by introducing a stepped portion that creates a multi-level flow path structure. The heater includes a first region with a wider flow path width and a second region with a narrower width, creating a stepped configuration. This dimensional variation in the flow path geometry enhances heat exchange effectiveness by optimizing fluid distribution and contact time without simply increasing the overall heater size proportionally.
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 ensures the working medium evaporates reliably, enhancing heat exchange and motive power recovery, even when air stagnation occurs, thereby improving the overall cooling efficiency of the supercharged air.
Implementation Method 1
heat exchange is conducted between supercharging air to be supplied from a supercharger to an engine and working medium to evaporate the working medium
Implementation Method 2
working medium to evaporate the working medium
Implementation Method 3
heat exchange is conducted between the supercharged air cooled by the evaporator portion and cooling medium to further cool the supercharged air
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A supercharge air cooling unit (X1) includes an evaporator portion (5a) in which heat exchange is conducted between supercharging air to be supplied from a supercharger (1) to an engine (2) and a working medium to evaporate the working medium; an expander (63) into which the working medium evaporated in the evaporator portion (5a) flows; a motive power recovery device (64) which recovers motive power of the expander; and a gas cooler portion (5b) in which heat exchange is conducted between the supercharging air cooled by the evaporator portion (5a) and a cooling medium to further cool the supercharging air, in which forming a flow path of the supercharging air in the evaporator portion (5a) to have a width larger than a width of a flow path of the supercharging air in the gas cooler portion (5b) results in forming a stepped portion (322b) in a flow path (S2) of the supercharging air in the evaporator portion (5a), and the evaporator portion (5a) is configured such that a flow rate of the working medium passing through in a first region (322c) expanded by the stepped portion (322b) is smaller than a flow rate of the working medium passing through in a second region (322d) in the evaporator portion (5a).