Heat Exchanger Plate Port Positioning for Flow Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current three-circuit plate heat exchangers face limitations in flow distribution and heat transfer efficiency, particularly in refrigerant and liquid circuits, leading to suboptimal performance under various operational conditions.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates heat exchanger plates with specific port hole configurations, corrugated patterns, and bypass sections to enhance flow distribution, allowing for improved fluid flow and heat transfer across the plates, with chevron layouts and distribution grooves optimizing the flow paths and heat exchange areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the central port hole is positioned at a vertical distance from the short end of the plate, then flow distribution in the distribution passage is improved and effective heat transfer surface area is increased, but the plate geometry becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The port hole positioning utilizes the vertical dimension of the plate to create fluid passages that extend from the port holes to the short end. This dimensional arrangement allows the fluid flow path to be optimized without complicating the horizontal distribution pattern, thereby improving flow distribution and heat transfer efficiency while maintaining geometric manageability.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate is divided into distinct functional zones: distribution areas with port holes, heat exchange areas with corrugated patterns, and fluid passages connecting these zones. The central port hole is specifically positioned to create a dedicated fluid passage to the short end, segmenting the flow paths to ensure uniform distribution across all channels while maximizing heat transfer surface utilization.
2Productivity
If corrugated patterns with ridges and valleys are incorporated, then heat transfer surface area is increased and flow distribution is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The corrugated pattern incorporates curved ridges and valleys that create smooth flow paths while maximizing surface area for heat transfer. The curved geometry of the corrugations allows for better fluid distribution across the heat exchange area compared to sharp angular patterns, improving heat transfer efficiency while remaining compatible with standard manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The corrugated pattern modifies the geometric parameters of the plate surface, creating ridges and valleys that increase the effective heat transfer surface area. These parameter changes in the plate geometry enable improved flow distribution and heat transfer coefficient without requiring complex manufacturing techniques, as the corrugated pattern can be formed through standard plate forming processes.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple distribution passages and fluid channels are created, then flow distribution uniformity is improved, but the number of port holes and sealing requirements increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger plate is designed with multiple fluid passages that serve different functions within a unified structure. The distribution passages with port holes, the heat exchange passages with corrugated patterns, and the connecting fluid passages work together as an integrated system. This multi-functionality allows uniform flow distribution across all channels while using a standardized plate design that reduces the number of unique sealing interfaces required.
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 improves the thermal performance of the heat exchanger by ensuring more uniform flow distribution and increased effective heat transfer surfaces, leading to enhanced efficiency across refrigerant and liquid circuits.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchange area and a corrugated pattern having ridges and valleys... allows for an improved flow distribution in the first distribution passage for the refrigerant circuits... can also be used as an effective heat transfer surface
Data Source
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AI summary
A heat exchanger plate for the use in a three circuit heat exchanger assembly, where the plate comprises a first distribution area, a heat exchange area and a second distribution area, where the plate comprises a corrugated pattern having ridges and valleys, and where the central port hole in the first distribution area is positioned at a vertical distance from the short end of the plate such that a fluid passage is obtainable between the central port hole and the short end of the plate when two plates are stacked to form a fluid channel between the plates. The invention further relates to an assembly made from such heat exchanger plates and a heat exchanger comprising a plurality of such assemblies. The advantage of the invention is that an improved heat exchanger is provided, having an increased thermal performance and an improved flow distribution in the heat exchanger.