Cryogenic Internal Baffles for Core-in-Shell Slosh Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sloshing of vaporizing fluid inside core-in-shell type heat exchangers in floating liquefaction vessels leads to instability and reduced thermal efficiency, impacting the performance and production capacity of LNG liquefaction plants.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of slosh suppressing baffles within the heat exchanger shell to separate cores, allowing limited distribution of liquid shell-side fluid, which can withstand cryogenic temperatures and divert fluid flow, combined with packing material in void spaces to dampen motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If slosh suppressing baffles are installed to reduce motion impact, then heat exchanger stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger shell is divided into multiple compartments by slosh suppressing baffles, creating separate zones between adjacent cores. This segmentation restricts fluid movement to localized areas, reducing sloshing forces while maintaining overall system stability. The baffles are strategically positioned at specific locations where sloshing forces are most problematic.
Solution Approach 2:
Slosh suppressing baffles act as intermediary structures between adjacent cores, mediating the interaction of liquid shell-side fluid between cores. The baffles provide a physical barrier that controls and directs fluid flow paths, preventing direct communication between core regions and reducing the transmission of sloshing forces across the heat exchanger.
2Reliability
If slosh suppressing baffles are used to separate cores, then thermal efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Slosh suppressing baffles are positioned at specific locations where sloshing forces are most problematic, rather than uniformly throughout the entire heat exchanger. This localized approach addresses thermal efficiency concerns in critical areas while minimizing the overall number of baffles required, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of installing baffles throughout the entire heat exchanger shell, the design uses a selective approach where baffles are installed only in specific zones where sloshing has the greatest impact on thermal efficiency. This partial action provides sufficient thermal performance improvement without the excessive manufacturing burden of complete coverage.
3Stability of the object's composition
If packing material is added to void spaces, then motion dampening is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Packing material is placed in the void spaces between cores and baffles to provide motion dampening through its porous structure. The packing material creates tortuous flow paths that increase friction and dissipate kinetic energy from sloshing fluid, enhancing stability. The material fills irregular void spaces that would otherwise contribute to fluid motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The packing material serves multiple functions simultaneously: it dampens motion, supports the structural framework, and provides additional surface area for heat transfer. By combining these functions in a single component, the overall device complexity is reduced compared to having separate elements for each function.
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 effectively reduces the impact of motion on heat exchanger stability and efficiency, enhancing the operating envelopes and production capacity by minimizing the adverse effects of sloshing, thus improving overall plant performance.
Implementation Method 1
the slosh suppressing baffles can withstand and divert the flow of the liquid shell-side fluid between each core
Implementation Method 2
the area between the slosh suppressing baffles is filled with packing material
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of spaced apart cores disposed within the internal volume of the shell, wherein each core is partially submerged in a liquid shell-side fluid
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
Apparatuses and methods for suppressing slosh in a core-in-shell type heat exchanger are provided. One embodiments provides a heat exchanger including: (a) an internal volume defined within a shell; (b) a plurality of spaced apart cores disposed within the internal volume of the shell, and (c) slosh suppressing baffles disposed within the internal volume to separate the plurality of spaced apart cores, wherein each core is partially submerged in a liquid shell-side fluid, wherein the slosh suppressing baffles allow limited distribution of the liquid shell-side fluid between each core, wherein the slosh suppressing baffles can withstand cryogenic temperatures, wherein the slosh suppressing baffles can withstand and divert the flow of the liquid shell-side fluid between each core.