Asymmetric Diffuser Plate Layout for Uniform Heat Exchanger Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional diffuser plates in heat exchangers often fail to optimize fluid flow uniformity and thermal efficiency, leading to suboptimal heat transfer and mechanical stability, particularly in boilers and condensing systems.
Innovation Solution
The design of diffuser plates with asymmetrically arranged apertures of varying sizes and shapes, allowing for improved alignment and configuration in assemblies, enhances fluid flow and thermal efficiency by ensuring proper alignment and configuration of tubes within the system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional diffuser plates with symmetric aperture arrangements are used, then manufacturing is simple, but fluid flow uniformity and thermal efficiency are suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by arranging apertures in a non-symmetric pattern on the diffuser plate. Specifically, the aperture configuration includes apertures positioned at different distances from the center and arranged in an asymmetric geometric pattern, which creates optimized fluid flow distribution and enhances thermal efficiency while maintaining manufacturability through standardized aperture shapes and sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by varying the aperture positions and spacing in different regions of the diffuser plate. The aperture arrangement is optimized locally to achieve uniform fluid flow distribution across the plate surface, with denser aperture spacing in regions requiring higher flow distribution and wider spacing in other regions, thereby maximizing thermal efficiency.
2Stability of the object's composition
If diffuser plates are used to hold tubes in place, then mechanical stability improves, but fluid flow uniformity deteriorates due to improper alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the aperture positions and orientations on the diffuser plate before tube installation. The asymmetric aperture arrangement is designed in advance to guide tube placement and ensure proper alignment, which optimizes fluid flow uniformity while maintaining mechanical stability during operation.
3Ease of operation
If larger apertures are used to accommodate tubes, then ease of tube installation improves, but flow distribution uniformity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the aperture size parameters within a specific range. The apertures are designed with dimensions that balance ease of tube installation with flow distribution requirements. The aperture size is sufficient to accommodate standard heat exchanger tubes while maintaining the asymmetric arrangement that ensures uniform flow distribution across the diffuser plate surface.
Data Source
AI summary
A diffuser plate for a thermal transfer device can include a body having a number of first apertures and a second aperture that traverse therethrough, where the first apertures are asymmetrically arranged with respect to the second aperture. The first apertures can have a first shape and a first size, and where the first apertures are configured to receive a plurality of tubes. The second aperture has a second size, where the second size is larger than the first size.