Brazed Plate Heat Exchanger Reinforcement for Vibration Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchangers face challenges in efficiently cooling high-stress environments due to vibrations, leading to potential failure and reduced efficiency in temperature regulation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of reinforcement plates and spacer plates within the heat exchanger design, coupled with a copper foil frame for brazing, enhances structural integrity and stability, ensuring effective heat transfer and coolant flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If reinforcement plates are added to enhance structural integrity, then strength and reliability improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is divided into multiple plate elements (first plate, second plate, third plate, fourth plate) with reinforcement plates strategically positioned between them. This segmentation allows the structure to be built from discrete, manageable components while maintaining overall structural integrity through the reinforcement plates that bridge adjacent plates.
Solution Approach 2:
Reinforcement plates serve as intermediary elements positioned between the functional plates (second plate and third plate). These reinforcement plates mediate the structural connection, distributing mechanical stresses and enhancing the overall strength of the heat exchanger assembly without interfering with the primary heat transfer function.
2Productivity
If multiple plates are stacked to define separate fluid channels, then heat exchange efficiency improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger channels are segmented into distinct working fluid channels and coolant channels by stacking multiple plates. Each plate pair defines a specific fluid channel, allowing independent optimization of each channel's flow path and heat transfer characteristics while maintaining precise dimensional control through standardized plate thickness and spacing.
Solution Approach 2:
The manufacturing process utilizes controlled parameter changes, specifically maintaining consistent plate thickness (e.g., 0.5-2mm) and standardized stacking distances. This parameter standardization across all plates enables high heat exchange efficiency through precise channel geometry while reducing the overall manufacturing precision burden by making components interchangeable and assembly-tolerant.
3Reliability
If reinforcement plates are brazed to multiple plates, then reliability under vibration improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement plates are merged with adjacent functional plates through brazing, creating a unified structural assembly. This merging of the reinforcement function with the existing plate structure provides enhanced reliability under vibration and thermal stress while avoiding the need for separate fastening mechanisms or additional complex assembly steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical connection between reinforcement plates and functional plates is achieved through brazing (a thermal joining process) rather than mechanical fasteners such as bolts or rivets. This substitution of the joining mechanism eliminates the need for complex mechanical assembly systems, reduces the number of parts, and creates a more reliable vibration-resistant connection through a continuous metallurgical bond.
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 enhances structural integrity, allowing for efficient heat exchange and improved durability under high-stress conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The first surface is brazed to the second plate
Implementation Method 2
The second surface is brazed to the third plate
Implementation Method 3
The coolant is configured to reduce a temperature of the working fluid as the coolant flows through the coolant channel
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanger includes a working fluid inlet configured to receive a working fluid, a working fluid outlet in fluid communication with the working fluid inlet, a coolant inlet configured to receive a coolant, a coolant outlet in fluid communication with the coolant inlet, a first plate, a second plate stacked on the first plate to define a working fluid channel between the first plate and the second plate, a third plate stacked on the second plate to define a coolant channel between the second plate and the third plate, a fourth plate stacked on the third plate, and a reinforcement plate positioned in the coolant channel. The coolant is configured to reduce a temperature of the working fluid as the coolant flows through the coolant channel. The reinforcement plate includes a first surface brazed to the second plate and a second surface brazed to the third plate.