Heat Exchanger Closure Bar With Upstream Shield for Thermal Stress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat exchanger closure bars experience significant thermal stress and potential damage due to thermal growth when exposed to large temperature differentials, which can affect other heat exchanger parts.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a heat shield positioned upstream from the closure bar to absorb thermal energy from the impinging fluid flow, diverting it away from the closure bar, and using supports to connect the shield to the bar, thereby reducing direct thermal contact and slowing down thermal energy transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If closure bars are used in heat exchangers to channel fluid flow, then flow management is improved, but thermal stress and potential damage increase due to thermal growth from high temperature exposure
Solution Approach 1:
A thermal shield is introduced as an intermediary component positioned between the hot fluid flow and the closure bar. The shield absorbs and blocks thermal energy, preventing direct thermal contact with the closure bar while allowing the closure bar to maintain its flow channeling function. This mediator resolves the contradiction by protecting the closure bar from thermal stress without compromising its flow management capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure bar assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: the closure bar body for flow channeling, the thermal shield for thermal protection, and support structures for mechanical stability. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function - the closure bar for flow management and the shield for thermal stress reduction - thereby resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability.
2Use of energy by moving object
If closure bars are exposed to large temperature differentials to maintain heat exchanger operation, then thermal energy management is improved, but thermal growth stress and damage to heat exchanger parts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal shield serves as a mediator that intercepts thermal energy from the hot fluid flow before it reaches the closure bar. By positioning the shield upstream from the closure bar, it creates a thermal barrier that reduces thermal growth stress on the closure bar and surrounding heat exchanger parts, while still allowing the system to manage thermal energy effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal shield converts the harmful thermal energy that would cause stress and damage into a beneficial protective function. The shield absorbs and blocks the thermal growth stress, transforming what would be a harmful factor into a controlled thermal management mechanism that protects the heat exchanger components while maintaining operational efficiency.
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 heat shield mitigates thermal growth differentials and stress on the closure bar and surrounding components by reducing direct thermal exposure, minimizing stress and damage.
Implementation Method 1
Thermal energy is absorbed from the flow of the first fluid by the shield
Implementation Method 2
A portion of the flow of the first fluid is diverted away from the first surface of the closure bar by the shield
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3A
Figure 3B
AI summary
A heat exchanger (10) for managing thermal energy between a flow of a first fluid and a flow of a second fluid includes first and second parting sheets (23A, 23B) and a closure bar (11) extending between the first and second parting sheets. The closure bar includes an elongate body, a shield (22) positioned upstream from the body relative to a direction of the flow of the first fluid, and a support connecting the shield to the closure bar.