Brazed Plate-and-Column Heat Exchanger for Uniform Low-Temperature Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for manufacturing heat and mass exchange devices are slow, expensive, and inefficient, particularly when used for processes at temperatures below 0°C, and they lack uniform fluid flow and separation capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the assembly of rectangular metal plates separated by aligned hollow columns, filled with packing material, and brazed together to form a block, ensuring uniform fluid flow and improved separation performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a conventional sintering method is used to manufacture a heat exchanger, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the inner surface of the heat exchanger becomes rough and promotes bacterial adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is divided into multiple hollow spherical particles that are sintered together. Each particle maintains a smooth inner surface while the overall structure achieves the desired heat exchange functionality through the assembled spherical units
Solution Approach 2:
The manufacturing process changes from conventional direct sintering of shaped material to sintering of spherical particles. This parameter change in the manufacturing approach preserves surface smoothness while achieving structural integrity through particle bonding
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the heat exchanger inner surface is made smooth to prevent bacterial adhesion, then bacterial adhesion is reduced, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is segmented into multiple hollow spherical particles with smooth inner surfaces. These particles are manufactured separately and then sintered together, maintaining surface smoothness for bacterial resistance while keeping the overall manufacturing process relatively simple
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger utilizes a porous structure formed by sintering spherical particles, which provides both mechanical strength and heat transfer efficiency while maintaining smooth inner surfaces that resist bacterial adhesion
3Ease of manufacture
If a fixed bed structure is used, then the heat exchanger is simple to manufacture, but clogging occurs and requires shutdown for cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger transitions from a fixed bed structure to a fluidized bed structure where particles are suspended and circulated by fluid flow. This dynamic configuration prevents clogging, enables continuous operation, and maintains manufacturing simplicity through the use of standard sintering processes
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 method enables quick and cost-effective manufacturing of a heat and mass exchange device with enhanced performance, allowing efficient fluid separation and mixing at low temperatures, reducing edge effects and simplifying the manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
a layer of powder particles and a layer of binding material are successively deposited and formed into a green part in a binder jetting process
Implementation Method 2
the green part is sintered in a sintering process to form a sintered part
Data Source
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AI summary
Method for manufacturing an apparatus for exchanging material and heat, consisting of a plurality of columns (200) and a series of at least three solid metal plates (300) of rectangular cross section, each plate being separated from the adjacent plate by a group of hollow metal columns that are aligned and have a polygonal cross section, the columns of each group being parallel to one another, the columns of each group each being in contact with the two metal plates on either side of the group, at least some of the columns of a group containing a means (230) for exchanging heat and material, at least the portions of the plates that are in contact with the columns being coated with a brazing material, wherein the plates are secured to the columns by placing the exchange apparatus in a furnace and heating the furnace in order to braze the apparatus to form a parallelepipedal block (100).