Coiled Heat Exchanger Flow Obstacles Bypass Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat exchangers face inefficiencies due to excessive bypass flow, which increases liquid levels and reduces performance, requiring liquid removal or system shutdown, and decreases heat output.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating flow obstacles with a flexible material layer and support structure into the gaps between the shirt and the tube bundle, occupying more than 50% of the cross-sectional area, to prevent bypass flow by filling the gaps and sealing the area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If spacers are arranged between the shirt and the outermost tube layer to reduce thermally induced tensions, then the shirt can be fixed to the tube bundle and thermal stresses are reduced, but gaps are created between adjacent spacers that cause excessive bypass flow
Solution Approach 1:
The gap between spacers is segmented by inserting flow obstacles (baffles) that divide the continuous bypass flow path into multiple segments, forcing the fluid to change direction and flow through the tube bundle rather than bypassing it
Solution Approach 2:
Flow obstacles are introduced as intermediary elements between the spacers to block the bypass flow path while maintaining the spacer function of reducing thermal stress and fixing the shirt to the tube bundle
2Stability of the object's composition
If the shirt surrounds the tube bundle to provide structural support, then the tube bundle is stabilized, but gaps between spacers allow bypass flow that reduces heat output
Solution Approach 1:
Flow obstacles serve as intermediary elements that block the bypass flow path between the shirt and tube bundle, preventing energy loss while maintaining the structural stability provided by the shirt
3Device complexity
If bypass flow is allowed to occur in gaps between spacers, then device complexity is reduced, but liquid level increases and system performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass flow path is segmented by flow obstacles into multiple sections, forcing fluid to navigate through the tube bundle and preventing direct bypass flow that would increase liquid level and reduce performance
Solution Approach 2:
Flow obstacles are positioned to block only the critical bypass flow paths between spacers, providing sufficient flow control without completely sealing the gaps, thus maintaining structural simplicity while improving performance
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
Significantly reduces bypass flow, enhancing the heat exchanger's effectiveness by ensuring more fluid is directed through the tube bundle, thereby maintaining performance and heat transfer efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a flow obstacle being arranged in the respective gap, which is designed to prevent a flow of the first fluid in the respective gap at least over a portion of the respective gap extending along the longitudinal axis
Implementation Method 2
the spacers can be designed to be elastically deformable in the radial direction of the tube bundle. Due to the spacers, however, there is a small gap between two spacers adjacent in the circumferential direction
Implementation Method 3
a heat exchanger for indirect heat transfer between a first fluid and at least one second fluid
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a heat exchanger (1) for the indirect transfer of heat between a first fluid (S) and at least one second fluid (S'), with a jacket (10) which extends along a longitudinal axis (z) and which encloses a jacket space (M) for accommodating the first fluid (S), with a tube bundle (2) arranged in the jacket space (M) and having a plurality of tubes (20) for accommodating the at least one second fluid (S'), wherein the tubes (20) form multiple tube layers, and with a shroud (3) which is arranged in the jacket space (M) and encloses an outermost, as seen in the radial direction (R) of the tube bundle (2), tube layer (200) of the tube bundle (2), wherein spacers (60) extending along the longitudinal axis (z) are arranged between the shroud (3) and the outermost tube layer (200), an interspace (M') being present between any two spacers (60) that are adjacent in the circumferential direction of the shroud (3), and between the shroud (3) and the uppermost tube layer (200), wherein according to the invention a flow obstruction (300) is arranged in the respective interspace (M') and is designed to prevent or suppress a flow of the first fluid (S) in the respective interspace (M'), at least over a part section, extending along the longitudinal axis (z), of the respective interspace (M').