Circumferential Hoop Support for Heat Exchanger Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing isothermal chemical reactors face challenges in adequately supporting heat exchange plates, requiring a support system that must withstand weight, vibrations, and facilitate maintenance while minimizing space and accessibility issues within the reactor.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical support system featuring a circumferential hoop structure, which can be single or double rings, is fixed to the radial sides of the heat exchange plates, providing modular connections to restore the monolithic structure of the exchanger, allowing for easy assembly and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If plate heat exchangers are used in isothermal reactors, then heat exchange surface area is increased and construction is simplified, but adequate support of the plates becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The support system is segmented into multiple functional components: circumferential support at the inlet wall, longitudinal support beams spanning the reactor, and transverse support beams perpendicular to the longitudinal beams. This segmentation distributes the load and provides multi-directional support for the plates, ensuring reliability while maintaining the large heat exchange surface area.
2Reliability
If bulky support structures are added to support the plates, then plate support reliability is improved, but the volume available for reaction and catalyst loading is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure uses local quality by concentrating support functions at specific locations rather than distributing bulk support throughout the reactor. The circumferential support is located at the inlet wall, longitudinal beams are positioned at optimal intervals, and transverse beams are placed where needed. This localized approach provides reliable plate support while minimizing the overall volume occupied by support structures, leaving maximum space for reaction and catalyst loading.
3Reliability
If welding operations are performed to add support structures in existing reactors, then plate support reliability is improved, but maintenance complexity and operational disruption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is designed for preliminary assembly outside the reactor. The longitudinal support beams and transverse support beams are pre-assembled with the plate heat exchanger sections before insertion into the reactor. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex welding operations inside the reactor, reducing maintenance complexity and operational disruption while ensuring reliable support.
4Strength
If the heat exchanger is assembled as a complete unit, then structural integrity is improved, but installation in reactors with partial opening becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is segmented into multiple sections that can be assembled separately and then connected within the reactor. Each section maintains its structural integrity through the support beam system, while the modular design allows installation in reactors with partial opening. The sections are connected using flanged joints or similar mechanisms that preserve structural integrity while enabling staged installation.
5Ease of operation
If modular plate packs are inserted one by one, then installation flexibility is improved, but restoring mechanical unity of the exchanger becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure merges the individual plate packs into a unified mechanical system. The longitudinal support beams connect multiple plate packs along the reactor length, while transverse support beams provide cross-bracing. This merging ensures that the modular assembly maintains mechanical unity and structural stability, allowing installation flexibility while preserving the integrity of the complete heat exchanger system.
Data Source
AI summary
System for supporting a plate heat exchanger (10, 100, 200) inside an isothermal chemical reactor (1), comprising a circumferential ring structure (40) fixed at least to top radial sides (19s) of the plates (11), said structure being formed as a single or double ring.