Cooling and heating plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling and heating plates face issues with coolant channels that can only withstand low pressures and become uneven due to high pressure rolling, making them unsuitable for high-pressure refrigerants like carbon dioxide.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating seamless steel tubes with a pressure resistance of at least 50 bar into the aluminum plate as coolant channels, which are cast during production, ensuring optimal heat transfer and structural integrity, and using a silicone surface heater for efficient heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If coolant channels are milled into the aluminum plate, then heat transfer is improved, but the channels can only withstand low pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines aluminum plate with steel tubes to create a composite structure. The aluminum plate provides excellent heat transfer properties, while the steel tubes embedded within provide high pressure resistance. This composite approach allows the coolant channels to withstand high pressures (up to 50 bar) while maintaining efficient heat transfer from the refrigerant to the plate.
2Strength
If high pressure rolling is used to connect plates, then structural integrity is improved, but the top plate becomes uneven and flatness is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The steel tubes are embedded into the aluminum plate before the rolling process. This preliminary action ensures that the tubes are securely positioned and protected during subsequent rolling operations, preventing deformation that would cause unevenness in the top plate while still achieving the necessary structural integrity through rolling.
3Ease of manufacture
If aluminum plate thickness is reduced, then manufacturing effort and weight are decreased, but the steel tube coverage becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies that the aluminum plate thickness should be approximately twice the outside diameter of the steel tube. This parameter relationship ensures that even with thin plates for reduced weight and manufacturing complexity, the steel tubes are sufficiently covered and protected, maintaining structural reliability and preventing tube exposure or deformation.
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 allows for high-pressure resistance and a flat top plate, enabling efficient temperature control from -30°C to 140°C while using environmentally friendly refrigerants, maintaining even heat distribution and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Implementation Method 1
the heat transfer between the steel tube and the aluminum is optimal
Implementation Method 2
the refrigerant (e.g. carbon dioxide)... the heat transfer from the refrigerant to the aluminum plate
Implementation Method 3
The electrical heating device is preferably a silicone surface heater which is applied to the underside of the aluminum plate
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A cooling and heating plate, in particular for serving food and beverages, is connected to a cooling unit and an electrical heating device, preferably a silicone panel heater (16), is also provided on the under side of the plate. The plate is a multilayered plate (11) comprising an upper plate (12), preferably consisting of chrome nickel steel, and an aluminium plate (13) situated thereunder. According to the invention, at least one steel pipe (14), which is preferably seamless with serpentine curves, having a compressive strength of at least 50 bar is integrally cast in the aluminium plate (13). As a result, carbon dioxide can also be used as a coolant. Fastening elements (15) can also be integrally cast in the aluminium plate (13).