Wall-Mounted Modular Heat Exchanger for Compact Portable Shelters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable shelters face challenges in integrating air handling units efficiently due to space constraints and energy consumption, as conventional heat exchangers require large ductwork and result in heat transfer between the interior and exterior, affecting temperature control and detectability.
Innovation Solution
A compact air handling unit with a heat exchanger that uses fans to create separate air flows through a heat exchanger with alternatingly stacked dividers, allowing efficient heat transfer between incoming and outgoing air to condition the interior space with reduced power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional heat exchangers with large ductwork are used, then heat transfer capacity is improved, but device size and space consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is divided into multiple individual heat exchange panels that can be stacked together. Each panel contains separate channels for incoming and outgoing air flows, allowing the heat exchanger to be configured in a compact, modular fashion that provides sufficient heat transfer capacity without requiring large ductwork.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchange panels are stacked in alternating orientations to create three-dimensional heat transfer pathways. This vertical stacking arrangement allows multiple heat exchange surfaces to be packed into a small footprint, dramatically increasing heat transfer capacity per unit volume while eliminating the need for extensive ductwork.
2Ease of operation
If interior air is exchanged with outside air, then air quality and ventilation are improved, but heat transfer between interior and exterior increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger acts as an intermediary device between the interior and exterior air streams. It enables heat transfer between the two air flows without allowing them to mix, so that ventilation and air quality improvement can occur while recovering thermal energy to minimize heat loss between interior and exterior environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the outgoing interior air itself as the heat source or sink for conditioning the incoming outside air. The outgoing air stream provides the thermal energy needed to pre-heat or pre-cool the incoming air, eliminating the need for additional heating or cooling capacity and reducing overall energy consumption for ventilation.
3Temperature
If larger capacity heaters or air conditioners are used to compensate for heat transfer, then temperature control is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger performs preliminary conditioning of the incoming outside air by pre-heating it with outgoing interior air during heating mode, or pre-cooling it during cooling mode. This preliminary action reduces the temperature differential that the main heater or air conditioner must overcome, allowing smaller capacity equipment to maintain temperature control with lower energy consumption.
4Temperature
If conventional air handling units are integrated into portable shelters, then environmental control is improved, but space for operational use decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The air handling system is segmented into multiple independent heat exchange panels that can be distributed throughout the portable shelter structure. This segmentation allows the environmental control function to be provided without concentrating large equipment in one location, thereby preserving operational space while maintaining temperature control capability.
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 solution minimizes the operational space impact while maintaining efficient heat transfer, reducing energy demands for temperature control and enhancing the stealthiness of portable shelters by minimizing heat transfer with the exterior.
Implementation Method 1
A heat exchanger may be used to minimize heat transfer between the interior and exterior of the shelter. Heat may be exchanged between the outgoing air flow and the incoming air flow within the heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
A wall mounted heat exchanger including a plurality of panels. Individual panels may include a first end, a second end, a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a first gap disposed along the second end, and a second gap disposed along the second sidewall. A first plurality of panels may be arranged such that first ends of the first plurality of panels are co-planar with second ends of a second plurality of panels and first sidewalls of the first plurality of panels are co-planar with second sidewalls of the second plurality of panels. The first plurality of panels and the second plurality of panels, when arranged, may form a plurality of first inlets from the second gap, a plurality of first outlets from the first gap, a plurality of second inlets from the second gap, and a plurality of second outlets from the first gap.