Heat Exchanger Plate Assemblies with Interconnected Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchangers suffer from reduced heat transfer efficiency due to blockages in flow channels, where a single blockage can completely halt the flow path, leading to significant losses in heat exchange capacity.
Innovation Solution
The heat exchanger design includes interconnected flow channels with multiple paths at intermediate positions, utilizing protrusions and grooves to create turbulence and divert fluid flow around blockages, ensuring that each blockage affects only a small portion of the flow channel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple flow paths are provided at intermediate positions, then reliability is improved by reducing blockage impact, but device complexity increases due to additional protrusions and grooves
Solution Approach 1:
The flow channel is segmented into multiple flow paths by adding protrusions that divide the channel at intermediate positions. This segmentation allows fluid to take alternative routes around blockages, ensuring that a blockage in one path does not completely halt flow. The channel is divided into first and second flow paths that can operate independently or in parallel, improving reliability while maintaining manageable structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds dimensional complexity by creating three-dimensional flow path variations within the plate structure. Protrusions extend into the flow channel from the plate surface, creating vertical and lateral divisions that generate multiple flow paths. This dimensional approach allows the system to handle blockages by redirecting flow in different spatial directions, improving reliability without requiring completely redundant separate channels.
2Productivity
If protrusions and grooves are added to create turbulence and multiple paths, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plate is segmented with protrusions and grooves that create both turbulence and multiple flow paths. These features are integrated into the plate fabrication process, allowing simultaneous achievement of heat transfer enhancement and blockage mitigation. The segmentation approach enables standard manufacturing techniques to produce complex flow patterns without requiring post-processing or assembly of multiple components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention modifies flow parameters by introducing protrusions and grooves that change flow velocity, direction, and turbulence intensity. These geometric parameter changes are achieved through conventional plate fabrication methods such as molding, extrusion, or machining, allowing heat transfer enhancement without requiring advanced or specialized manufacturing processes. The parameter changes are built into the plate geometry itself.
3Device complexity
If flow channels are designed with single path from inlet to outlet, then device complexity is minimized, but reliability deteriorates when blockages occur
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than providing completely separate parallel channels, the invention segments the single channel into multiple flow paths using protrusions at intermediate positions. This segmentation creates redundancy within the existing channel structure, allowing flow to bypass blockages through alternative paths while maintaining overall channel integrity. The approach improves reliability without requiring multiple independent channels from inlet to outlet.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention resolves the contradiction by adding dimensional complexity within the existing channel rather than creating separate channels. Protrusions extend into the channel volume, creating three-dimensional flow path variations that provide alternative routes around blockages. This approach maintains the basic single-channel configuration while introducing internal dimensional features that enable flow redistribution, thus improving reliability without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
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 significantly reduces the impact of blockages, maintaining heat transfer efficiency by allowing fluid to flow through alternate paths, thereby minimizing losses and enhancing overall heat exchange capacity.
Implementation Method 1
The flow plates may be configured to create a turbulent flow path 110 through each of the flow channels, which may assist in heat transfer by slowing the flow of the fluid therethrough.
Implementation Method 2
Heat exchangers may be employed to exchange heat between two or more fluids. One example embodiment of a heat exchanger is a plate heat exchanger. Plate heat exchangers may employ a plurality of plates to transfer heat between first and second fluids.
Data Source
AI summary
Plate assemblies configured for use in heat exchangers are provided. The plate assemblies may include one or more plates defining an inlet end, an outlet end, and flow channels configured to receive a flow of fluid from the inlet end and direct the fluid to the outlet end. The flow channels may be defined by protrusions, grooves, and/or orifices defined in flow plates, and spacer plates may separate the plate assemblies from one another. The flow channels may be interconnected such that for each of a plurality of intermediate positions along the flow channels, a plurality of flow paths are defined. Thus, in an instance in which a blockage occurs in one of the flow channels, flow may be prevented through only a portion of the flow channel.