System and method for dynamic control of a heat exchanger

Abstract

The present application relates to a system for dynamic control of the operation of a heat exchanger, the system comprising a heat exchanger, a plurality of injector arrangements, a local sensor arrangement, and a controller, wherein the local sensor arrangement comprises a plurality of local temperature sensors being arranged to measure temperature values; and wherein the controller is arranged to determine a difference between the measured temperature values and is further arranged to communicate with the valves of the plurality of injector arrangements to adjust the local amount of first fluid supplied by at least one of the injector arrangements in order to even out the determined difference. The application also relates to a method for the dynamic control of the operation of a heat exchanger in such a system.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention refers generally to a system for dynamic control of the operation of a heat exchanger. Further, the invention refers to a method for dynamic control of the operation of a heat exchanger.BACKGROUND ART[0002]The present invention refers generally to a system comprising a heat exchanger and in particular to a heat exchanger in the form of a plate heat exchanger. Different types of heat exchangers are based on different techniques. One type of heat exchanger utilizes evaporation of a fluid, such as a cooling agent, for various applications, such as air conditioning, cooling systems, heat pump systems, etc. Thus, the heat exchanger may be used in a two-phase system handling a fluid in a liquid form as well as in an evaporated form.[0003]In case of the evaporator being a plate heat exchanger, this may include a plate package, which comprises a number of first and second heat exchanger plates. The plates are permanently joined to each other and ar...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention aims to improve the efficiency of a heat exchanger system by achieving better control of the supply of the first fluid, such as the cooling agent, between the fluid passages. This is achieved through a system and method that allows for a more efficient use of the first plurality of fluid passages and optimizes the flow in them, resulting in higher pressure in the global flow downstream from the global outlet. The controller is also able to determine the difference by measuring temperature values corresponding to the local temperature of the evaporated fluid, and use it to make quick and smooth local adjustments. The system operates continuously through both local and global adjustments, making it flexible and adaptable to different running conditions. This allows for an optimized heat exchanger operation regardless of the running conditions.

Problems solved by technology

There is always a risk that the energy content of the supplied fluid is too high, whereby a part of the flow supplied to the inlet channel via its inlet port will meet the rear end of the inlet channel and be reflected thereby in the opposite direction.

Thereby the flow in the inlet channel is very chaotic and hard to predict and control.

In fact, it is sufficient that there is one malfunctioning first plate interspace for insufficient evaporation of the evaporator as a whole to occur.

Any droplets remaining in the evaporated fluid when reaching the inlet of the compressor may damage the same.

The problems discussed above get more pronounced when the load of the evaporator is changed.

Generally, the efficiency of heat exchangers, and especially plate heat exchangers, at part load is a raising issue.

Further, a heat exchanger system is typically only operating at full capacity for 3% of the time, while most heat exchangers are designed and tuned for a full capacity operation.

However, the presence of liquid content in the global flow may be caused by a local overflow in a single fluid passage or in a subset of fluid passages.

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