Absorption machine comprising padded plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Absorption machines using chevron plate heat exchangers face challenges with low-pressure steam passage due to significant pressure drops and high manufacturing costs associated with varying geometry, making them expensive and difficult to integrate effectively.
Innovation Solution
The use of padded plate heat exchangers with curved sheets and connection points to form fluid circulation spaces, allowing for adaptable geometry and improved heat exchange efficiency, reduces manufacturing costs and facilitates easier integration by enabling turbulent fluid flow and efficient steam passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If chevron plate heat exchangers are used in absorption machines, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but pressure drop increases significantly preventing low-pressure steam passage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the plate surfaces by incorporating dome-shaped elements that create curved flow paths. This curvature design allows low-pressure steam to follow the curved surfaces and pass through the heat exchanger effectively, resolving the contradiction between maintaining heat exchange efficiency and enabling steam passage that was blocked by straight chevron patterns.
2Adaptability or versatility
If chevron plate heat exchangers with varying geometry are used to adapt to different projects, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the plate heat exchanger into modular components with standardized dome-shaped elements. This segmentation allows different configurations to be assembled from the same basic modules, providing geometry adaptability for different projects while maintaining consistent manufacturing processes and reducing overall production costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables geometric adaptation through parameter changes in the dome-shaped elements, such as varying the number, size, or arrangement of domes on standardized plates. This approach allows customization for different project requirements while keeping the base manufacturing process consistent, thereby reducing costs compared to completely custom designs.
3Productivity
If low-pressure steam passage is enabled through larger duct diameters, then steam circulation is improved, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional flat plate surfaces to three-dimensional curved surfaces with dome-shaped elements. This dimensional change creates volumetric flow paths that accommodate low-pressure steam circulation effectively without requiring larger overall duct diameters, thus improving steam circulation while maintaining compact device geometry.
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 solution results in a cost-effective, easily adaptable absorption machine with enhanced heat exchange coefficients and reduced need for additional stiffeners, addressing the limitations of chevron plate heat exchangers in absorption machines.
Implementation Method 1
enabling turbulent fluid flow and efficient steam passage
Implementation Method 2
each plate heat exchanger comprising a plurality of padded plates arranged successively and parallel to one another... improved heat exchange efficiency
Implementation Method 3
enhanced heat exchange coefficients and reduced need for additional stiffeners
Data Source
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AI summary
One aspect of the invention relates to an absorption chiller comprising four plate heat exchangers: an evaporator, an absorber, a generator, and a condenser. The absorption chiller is characterized in that each plate heat exchanger comprises a plurality of quilted plates arranged successively and parallel to each other. Each quilted plate comprises two sheets and a plurality of connection points between the two sheets arranged in a plane. At least one sheet is curved to form a fluid circulation space between the connection points and between the two sheets. The connection points of two adjacent quilted plates within the same heat exchanger are opposite each other. In a first embodiment, the refrigerant and absorbent fluids circulate outside the quilted plates. In a second embodiment, the refrigerant and absorbent fluids circulate inside the quilted plates.