Double Dimple Heat Exchanger Plates with Wall Sections
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat exchangers face challenges in achieving efficient heat transfer while maintaining stability and durability, particularly with dimple patterns that lead to uneven fluid flow and potential deformations under pressure, limiting the design of heat exchanger dimensions and gasket usage.
Innovation Solution
The use of wall sections connecting dimples with the same height as the dimples themselves, forming closed pairs that block fluid flow and creating patterns of rows to direct fluid flow effectively, while being elastically deformable to prevent permanent deformations, allows for improved heat transfer efficiency and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the contact surface area of neighboring heat exchanger plates is reduced to improve heat exchange efficiency, then the heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the durability and stability of the plates deteriorate due to insufficient resistance against high fluid pressures and external pre-tension
Solution Approach 1:
The contact surface between neighboring plates is segmented into multiple discrete contact points formed by dimples rather than a continuous contact area. This segmentation allows the plates to maintain structural integrity while providing sufficient heat transfer pathways, as the dimples create localized contact zones that distribute mechanical stresses across multiple points rather than concentrating them on a single large area.
Solution Approach 2:
The dimple pattern creates localized contact zones with specific geometric properties (depth, diameter, spacing) that optimize both mechanical support and heat transfer. The local geometry of each dimple is designed to provide adequate contact pressure for heat exchange while the overall distribution of dimples ensures sufficient structural support across the plate surface to resist high fluid pressures and external pre-tension.
2Productivity
If the thickness of heat exchanger plates is reduced to improve heat exchange efficiency, then the heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the stability and resistance to deformation under pressure deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The dimples introduce curved, spherical-like features on the plate surfaces that create favorable stress distribution patterns. The curved geometry of the dimples helps to distribute mechanical loads more evenly across the plate thickness, reducing stress concentrations that would otherwise lead to deformation. This allows thinner plates to maintain adequate structural strength while improving heat transfer efficiency through reduced thermal mass and increased surface area-to-volume ratio.
3Productivity
If conventional dimple patterns are used to create fluid flow paths, then heat exchange occurs, but the fluid flow becomes uneven leading to reduced heat transfer effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The dimple pattern employs asymmetric arrangements where dimples are positioned and sized to create controlled variations in fluid flow paths. This asymmetric pattern prevents uniform, laminar flow that would reduce heat transfer effectiveness by creating dead zones and uneven velocity distributions. The asymmetric dimple placement forces the fluid to follow more turbulent, mixed flow paths that enhance heat exchange effectiveness while maintaining stable pressure distributions.
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
This solution enhances the stability and efficiency of heat exchangers by effectively directing fluid flow and preventing deformations, enabling the design of more robust and efficient heat exchangers with desired pressure and flow characteristics across various dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
at least some of the wall sections have the same height as the dimples forming closed dimple pairs and the wall sections of neighboring plates are in contact with each other completely blocking the fluid path where the closed dimple pairs and meet
Implementation Method 2
Plate heat exchangers are well known devices for the transport for heat between two different media, in particular fluids
Implementation Method 3
The two media will then be allowed to circulate between alternating pairs of plates to allow a transfer of heat through the heat exchanger plates
Implementation Method 4
The wall sections connecting dimples with the same height as the dimples themselves, forming closed pairs that block fluid flow and creating patterns of rows to direct fluid flow effectively, while being elastically deformable to prevent permanent deformations
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a heat exchanger (1) comprising a plurality of heat exchanger plates (2), wherein each of the heat exchanger plates (2) comprises a plurality of dimples (8). The dimples (8) comprise tops (7) and bottoms (9). Furthermore, the tops of at least one heat exchanger plate (2) are connected to the bottoms of a neighboring heat exchanger plate (2). In order to improve the efficiency and stability of the heat exchanger at least part of the dimples (8) are connected to at least one adjacent dimple (8) by a wall section (10).