Heat Exchanger Plate Protuberances for Microleak Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat exchangers with plate structures face challenges in locating microleaks during mechanical strength tests, as these leaks are not visible and tomography tests are inconclusive.
Innovation Solution
Designing specific protuberances on the plates to generate a localized fracture, allowing for a designated reference fracture zone during mechanical strength tests, thereby facilitating the identification of microleaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical strength tests are performed on heat exchangers to ensure they can withstand pressure, then the reliability of the heat exchanger is improved, but the ability to locate microleaks deteriorates because leaks are not visible and tomography tests are inconclusive
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies preliminary action by pre-forming protuberances on the plates before the mechanical strength tests. These protuberances are strategically designed to concentrate stress and generate localized fractures at predetermined positions during the pressure tests, thereby creating visible failure points that reveal microleak locations before they occur in actual operation
Solution Approach 2:
The protuberances serve as an intermediary element between the pressure load and the plate structure. They act as stress concentrators that mediate the transfer of mechanical stress to specific zones, causing controlled localized fractures that reveal microleak paths without requiring direct observation of the microleaks themselves
2Power
If protuberances are formed inside the circulation channel to disturb flow, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the structural integrity deteriorates making the plates more prone to fracture
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by creating protuberances with specific geometric characteristics at predetermined locations on the plates. These protuberances have controlled height, shape, and position that balance their flow-disturbing function (improving heat transfer) with their stress-concentrating function (enabling leak detection), rather than uniformly strengthening or weakening the entire plate structure
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the protuberances (height, shape, position, size) to optimize both heat transfer performance and stress distribution. By carefully controlling these parameters, the protuberances achieve the dual function of enhancing heat exchange while creating predictable fracture zones for leak detection
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a channel intended for circulating fluid and formed by at least two plates each having a bottom and a section, the bottom extending in a first plane, the section extending in a plane that is parallel and offset with respect to the first plane, the bottom and the section being connected to one another by an intermediate portion, the bottom of at least one of the plates includes a first protuberance. The first protuberance extends from its base to its top wall. The top wall is in contact with the bottom of the opposite plate and partially faces the intermediate portion of the plate.