Vehicle Condenser Spiral Tank Layout for Oil Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle condensers face challenges in diffusing and heat-exchange efficiency due to vertical layout constraints, flow resistance, and oil contamination, which deteriorate cooling performance and make it difficult to connect coolant pipes and tubes in small engine compartments.
Innovation Solution
A condenser design with first and second headers, a heat-exchanging portion, and a coolant tank with a spiral groove to generate whirlpools, removing oil and improving flow efficiency, along with a receiver-drier for gas-liquid separation, allowing for flexible pipe connections and enhanced heat exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If coolant pipes are connected to headers in vertical manner, then connection structure is simple, but layout flexibility is reduced and engine compartment space utilization is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a rotating connection mechanism that allows the coolant pipe to dynamically adjust its connection angle with the header. This rotating joint enables the system to adapt to different layout requirements in the engine compartment while maintaining a simple connection structure, thus resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and layout flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection parameters (angle, position) of the coolant pipe to the header are made variable through the rotating joint mechanism. This allows the system to change its geometric parameters according to space constraints in the engine compartment, achieving both simple construction and high layout adaptability.
2Volume of moving object
If spaces between coolant pipes and tubes in headers are small, then connection is compact, but flow resistance increases and coolant diffusion is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curved or spiral internal passages within the header instead of straight narrow channels. This curved geometry reduces flow resistance by eliminating sharp turns and dead zones, improving coolant diffusion and heat exchange efficiency while maintaining a compact overall volume of the header component.
3Temperature
If coolant passes through heat-exchanging tubes, then heat exchange occurs, but oil in coolant increases flow resistance and deteriorates heat-exchange efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an oil separation device that extracts oil from the coolant before it enters the heat-exchanging tubes. By removing the harmful oil component in advance, the system maintains high coolant flow rate and heat exchange efficiency without the negative effects of oil contamination, thus resolving the contradiction between heat exchange performance and flow resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The oil separation function is performed preliminarily before the coolant reaches the heat-exchanging portion. This preliminary removal of oil prevents subsequent flow resistance issues and heat exchange deterioration, allowing the coolant to flow smoothly through the tubes with maintained efficiency.
4Temperature
If coolant pipes for discharging liquefied coolant are mounted at lower portion, then subcooling is achieved, but flow rate of separated gas-liquid coolant is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centrifugal force dimension by rotating the coolant flow before discharge. This rotational motion creates a whirlpool effect that separates gas and liquid phases more effectively and maintains higher flow rates even at the lower discharge position, while still achieving subcooling through the extended residence time in the rotating flow path.
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 improves coolant diffusing and heat-exchange efficiency, simplifies layout in small engine compartments, and enhances cooling performance by controlling coolant flow and oil removal without additional separation devices.
Implementation Method 1
a spiral groove for causing the coolant to rotate and generating a whirlpool is formed at the upper portion connected to the coolant inlet
Implementation Method 2
a spiral groove for causing the coolant to rotate and generating a whirlpool is formed at the upper portion connected to the coolant inlet
Implementation Method 3
a heat-exchanging portion provided with a plurality of tubes and radiation fins so as to lead heat-exchange between coolant passing through each tube and air
Implementation Method 4
a heat-exchanging portion provided with a plurality of tubes and radiation fins so as to lead heat-exchange between coolant passing through each tube and air
Implementation Method 5
a heat-exchanging portion provided with a plurality of tubes and radiation fins so as to lead heat-exchange between coolant passing through each tube and air
Implementation Method 6
the condenser cools compressed gas refrigerant of high temperature/pressure by using an outside air flowing into the vehicle when running and condenses it into liquid refrigerant of low temperature
Implementation Method 7
a receiver-drier portion connected to an outer side of the second header so as to perform gas-liquid separation and moisture removal from the coolant having passed through the heat-exchanging portion
Data Source
AI summary
A condenser for a vehicle may include first and second headers, a heat-exchanging portion disposed between the first and second headers, a coolant tank mounted at an outer side of the first header and having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, the coolant tank to supply the coolant to the heat-exchanging portion and to receive through the first header the coolant passing through the heat-exchanging portion and the second header, and a receiver-drier portion connected to the second header to perform gas-liquid separation and moisture removal from the coolant having passed through the heat-exchanging portion, wherein an inner space of the coolant tank is divided into an upper portion and a lower portion by a first partition disposed between the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet, and a spiral groove for causing the coolant to rotate is formed at the upper portion connected to the coolant inlet.