Counterflow Plate Heat Exchanger With Segmented Materials and Spacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing counterflow plate heat exchangers are limited by their inability to be customized to individual requirements and often operate at inefficiently high flow rates, leading to suboptimal performance and increased manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A counterflow plate heat exchanger module with individual plates made of different materials, where the downstream section is corrosion-resistant stainless steel, and adjustable spacing using spacers, allowing customization and high efficiency without pressure losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If counterflow plate heat exchangers are designed with standardized versions, then manufacturing costs are reduced and production is simplified, but adaptability to individual requirements is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is divided into multiple individual plates that can be assembled in different configurations. Each plate is a standardized component that can be combined in various numbers and arrangements, allowing customization of performance characteristics while maintaining ease of manufacturing through standardized parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized individual plates are designed to serve multiple functions and can be used in different configurations to meet various requirements. The same basic plate design can be adapted for different volume flows, heat transfer requirements, and installation spaces by varying the number and arrangement of plates.
2Adaptability or versatility
If crossflow plate heat exchangers are used with large plate spacing, then particle-laden gases can flow easily and customization is improved, but efficiency is limited and performance at high flow rates is poor
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the heat exchanger have different plate spacings optimized for their specific functions. The spacing between individual plates can be varied locally to balance particle flow requirements with heat transfer efficiency, allowing large spacing where particles are present and smaller spacing where efficiency is critical.
3Reliability
If the entire plate is made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel, then corrosion resistance is improved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Different sections of the individual plates have different material compositions based on their exposure to corrosive environments. Only the portions of plates that contact condensate or corrosive media are made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel, while other portions can use less expensive materials, reducing overall manufacturing cost while maintaining necessary corrosion resistance.
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 design achieves customizable performance, high efficiency, and reduced manufacturing costs by using adjustable spacing and material selection, optimizing both volume flow rates and installation space utilization.
Implementation Method 1
counterflow plate heat exchanger module with individual plates assembled to form a plate stack, wherein a flow channel for a first gaseous medium or for a second gaseous medium is formed alternatingly between two adjacent individual plates
Implementation Method 2
in the flow direction of a medium which condenses upon cooling
Implementation Method 3
medium which condenses upon cooling
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention proposes a counterflow plate heat exchanger module (1) with individual plates (2) which are assembled to form a plate stack (3), wherein a flow channel for a first gaseous medium or for a second gaseous medium is formed alternately between two adjacent individual plates (2) in the vertical direction of the plate stack (3), wherein at least one spacer (4, 5) is arranged between adjacent individual plates (2) of the plate stack (3), wherein the individual plates (2) each have different materials in the longitudinal direction (18), wherein the individual plates (2) each have a first plate section (16) made of a first material and a second plate section (17) made of a second material, wherein the second plate section (17) is arranged downstream of the first plate section (16) in the flow direction (20) of a medium that condenses upon cooling.and wherein the second plate section (17) is made of a corrosion-resistant stainless steel.