Heat Exchanger Baffle Segmentation for Lower Pressure Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchangers with baffle plates experience increased pressure loss due to sudden flow meandering, and increasing tube intervals to reduce this leads to larger device dimensions.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger design with baffle plates that occupy only partial flow path sections, arranged to avoid overlaps and transition in stages, minimizing deflection and maintaining compact size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If baffle plates are arranged to block parts of the flow path to improve heat exchange efficiency, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but pressure loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The baffle plates are segmented into multiple groups (first baffle plate group, second baffle plate group, etc.) arranged at different positions along the flow path. Each group contains multiple baffle plates that block different portions of the flow path, creating a distributed segmentation that improves heat exchange while reducing sudden flow deflection and pressure loss.
Solution Approach 2:
Different baffle plate groups are positioned at different locations along the flow path, with each group blocking different portions of the flow path cross-section. This local differentiation creates optimized flow patterns in different regions, improving overall heat exchange efficiency while minimizing pressure loss through coordinated positioning.
2Loss of energy
If intervals between heat transfer tubes are increased to reduce pressure loss, then pressure loss is reduced, but dimensions and size of the heat exchanger increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the interval between heat transfer tubes in the radial direction, the invention introduces a longitudinal dimension solution by arranging multiple baffle plate groups at different positions along the flow path. This three-dimensional arrangement achieves pressure loss reduction without increasing the heat exchanger's overall dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The baffle plates are divided into multiple groups positioned at different locations along the flow path, creating a segmented approach that distributes the flow control function. This segmentation allows for reduced tube intervals while maintaining acceptable pressure loss through the coordinated action of multiple baffle groups.
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 reduces pressure loss and maintains compact size, enhancing performance without increasing dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
a flow of air flowing through the flow path meanders along the baffle plates, which is said to improve heat exchange efficiency
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger that heats water by exchanging heat between air discharged from a gas turbine and water
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanger including: a heat exchanger main body forming a flow path through which a fluid circulates; heat transfer tubes arranged side by side so as to extend in an extending direction of the flow path; and a baffle plate group having a plurality of baffle plates provided with gaps therebetween in the extending direction of the flow path while supporting the heat transfer tubes. The baffle plates are provided so as to each occupy only a portion of the flow path cross section when viewed from the extending direction of the flow path, and the baffle plates of the baffle plate group are provided such that at least a portion of mutually occupied areas do not overlap, and that the entire area of the flow path cross section is occupied by combining the mutually occupied areas, as seen from the extending direction of the flow path.