Eccentric Plate Pack in Shell Heat Exchanger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Plate and Shell type welded plate heat exchangers face complexity and increased construction costs due to complicated pipe structures, especially when all connections need to be placed at the ends, requiring separate flow guides between the end plate and shell side flow connections.
Innovation Solution
The heat exchanger design allows both pack side and shell side flow connections to be arranged at the end without separate guide components, by eccentrically placing the plate pack within the shell, enabling direct connections between the shell and plate pack, and using a plate-like flow guide and seal to manage flow channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate flow guides are arranged between the end plate and shell side flow connections to enable all connections to be placed at the ends, then connection arrangement flexibility is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the separate flow guide components from the heat exchanger structure. By using the shell itself as the flow guide and placing the plate pack eccentrically, the patent removes the need for additional Z components or flow guide arrangements, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining connection flexibility at the ends.
Solution Approach 2:
The shell serves multiple functions: it acts as both the pressure vessel containing the plate pack and as the flow guide for shell side flows. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate flow guide components, reducing structural complexity while enabling all connections to be arranged at the ends.
2Ease of operation
If separate flow guides are used to guide shell side flows, then flow connection arrangement is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the separate flow guide components that complicate manufacturing. By making the shell itself serve as the flow guide and positioning the plate pack eccentrically, the design simplifies the manufacturing process while maintaining the ability to arrange all flow connections at the ends.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the shell size is increased to accommodate eccentric plate pack arrangement, then connection arrangement flexibility is improved, but heat exchange properties may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs asymmetric (eccentric) arrangement of the plate pack within the shell. This asymmetric positioning allows the shell size to be optimized for connection arrangement flexibility while the plate pack remains positioned to maintain effective heat exchange properties, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and reliability.
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 design simplifies the structure, reduces manufacturing complexity, and allows for increased shell size without compromising heat exchange properties, facilitating easier installation and flexible heat exchange conditions, particularly beneficial in gas-liquid and two-phase applications.
Implementation Method 1
heat exchange plates having openings and arranged on top of each other, in which plate pack the heat exchange plates are attached to each other as plate pairs, the inner parts of which plate pairs are arranged in connection with each other via flow channels formed by the openings of the heat exchange plates
Implementation Method 2
a primary circuit of the heat exchanger is formed between the openings in the plates into the plate pack and a secondary circuit between connections of the shell surrounding the plate pack, so that a primary side flow medium flows in every other plate space and a secondary side flow medium in every other plate space
Data Source
AI summary
A Plate and Shell type plate heat exchanger, which comprises a plate pack, a shell surrounding the plate pack, and end plates mainly in the direction of the ends of the plate pack and inlet and outlet connections for a first heat exchange medium and a second heat exchange medium arranged through the end plate. The plate pack of the heat exchanger is arranged inside the shell in an acentric manner, so that the midpoint of the cross-section of the plate pack deviates substantially from the midpoint of the cross-section of the shell in the vertical direction and/or lateral direction of the cross-section.