Plate Heat Exchanger Pipe Joint for Easier Brazed Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plate heat exchangers face difficulties in the process of soldering, brazing, or welding a connection pipe to a cover plate due to manufacturing complexities and potential defects.
Innovation Solution
The connection pipe features a tapered shape with a gradually increasing radial size from the first end to the second end, allowing for easier assembly and reducing gaps between the pipe and the cover plate's flanging, thereby improving the quality of the soldering, brazing, or welding process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a connection pipe is fixed by soldering, brazing or welding to a cover plate at a position corresponding to an opening, then the connection pipe can be securely attached, but the manufacturing process becomes complex and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The connection pipe is divided into multiple sections with different diameters, creating a stepped structure. This segmentation allows the pipe to be inserted into the cover plate opening with a tapered portion that facilitates easier alignment and insertion, while the stepped structure provides multiple contact surfaces for secure attachment, reducing manufacturing difficulty while maintaining connection strength
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the opening in the cover plate match the full diameter of the connection pipe, the opening is designed to be smaller, requiring the pipe to be inserted at an angle or with a tapered portion. This inversion of the expected geometry (smaller opening than pipe diameter) creates a self-aligning insertion mechanism that simplifies the manufacturing process while ensuring secure attachment
2Ease of manufacture
If the connection pipe has a uniform diameter, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the assembly quality and seam quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The connection pipe features local quality variations through its stepped structure, where different sections have different diameters. The tapered portion provides a specific local geometry that ensures proper alignment and insertion into the cover plate opening, while the stepped sections provide localized contact surfaces that improve seam quality and assembly precision without complicating the overall manufacturing process
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a plate heat exchanger. The plate heat exchanger includes: a cover plate including: a body; an opening formed in the body; and a flanging surrounding the opening and protruding in a direction from the body of the cover plate towards an outside of the heat exchanger; and a connection pipe including: a first end and a second end opposite to each other, and a body between the first end and the second end. One of the first end of the connection pipe and the flanging of the cover plate is inserted in the other of the first end of the connection pipe and the flanging of the cover plate. According to the embodiments of the present invention, for example, the difficulty of the process of soldering, brazing or welding the connection pipe to the cover plate can be reduced.