Heat Exchanger Plate Blocking Elements Prevent Fluid Bypassing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat exchangers experience reduced efficiency and performance due to heat exchange fluids bypassing the fluid flow passages and escaping through gaps between corrugations and peripheral ribs, rather than undergoing heat exchange, leading to inefficient fluid distribution and contact.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating blocking elements that extend from the peripheral ribs or corrugations to partially block the gaps between them, directing fluids into the fluid flow passages and enhancing contact area and time between heat exchange fluids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If corrugations are formed on plates by stamping operation, then heat exchange passages are defined and heat exchange is improved, but gaps are inherently formed between corrugation ends and peripheral ribs creating escape routes that reduce heat exchanger efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of gaps (which cause fluid bypassing) into a beneficial feature by adding blocking elements that utilize the gap space to redirect fluid flow. The blocking elements transform the escape route problem into a flow distribution opportunity, ensuring fluid enters the heat exchange passages through the gaps rather than bypassing them.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking elements act as intermediary structures between the corrugations and peripheral ribs. These intermediaries prevent direct fluid bypassing through the gaps while maintaining the structural integrity of the plate assembly, serving as a mediating component that resolves the conflict between stamping limitations and heat exchange efficiency.
2Reliability
If blocking elements are added to prevent fluid bypassing, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking elements are merged with the existing plate structure by being formed as integral parts of the plates during the stamping operation. This combining approach adds the necessary flow control function without requiring separate components or assembly steps, thus improving heat exchange efficiency while minimizing increases in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking elements serve multiple functions: they prevent fluid bypassing through gaps, redirect fluid flow into heat exchange passages, and maintain structural integrity of the plate assembly. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, achieving improved heat exchange efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If corrugations terminate at a distance from peripheral ribs due to manufacturing limitations, then stamping operation is simplified, but escape routes are created that reduce fluid distribution uniformity
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking elements are pre-formed as integral parts of the plates during the stamping operation, before assembly. This preliminary action ensures that the flow control function is built-in from the manufacturing stage, maintaining stamping simplicity while pre-preventing the fluid distribution uniformity problem that would otherwise occur due to gaps between corrugations and peripheral ribs.
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 configuration prevents fluid bypassing, ensures uniform distribution, and increases the efficiency and performance of the heat exchanger by enhancing heat exchange between fluids, resulting in improved cooling power and mass flow rates.
Implementation Method 1
At least one of the plates includes at least one blocking element formed thereon to at least partially block gap between at least one corrugation and the corresponding peripheral rib
Implementation Method 2
The first and second heat exchange fluid, flows through the first and second fluid flow passages 'a' and 'b' respectively to cause heat exchange there-between
Implementation Method 3
the heat exchange passages form torturous fluid flow path between the respective adjacent plates 2 and 3 to improve heat exchange between the first and the second heat exchange fluid flowing along different sides of the plate
Data Source
AI summary
A plate for a heat exchanger is disclosed. The plate includes a peripheral rib defining a boundary of the plate and a plurality of corrugations formed within the peripheral rib of the corresponding plate. The corrugations formed on the plate in conjunction with corrugations formed on adjacent overlapping plates define first fluid flow passages “A” and second fluid flow passages “B” on opposite sides of the plate. The second fluid flow passages “B” are adjacent to the first fluid flow passages “A”. A first set of inlet and outlet holes define a first inlet and outlet that are in fluid communication with the first fluid passages “A”. A second set of inlet and outlet holes define a second inlet and outlet that are in fluid communication with the second fluid passages “B”.