Brazed Plate Heat Exchanger Grooves for Local Temperature Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Brazed plate heat exchangers pose challenges in performing local temperature measurements due to their compact and monolithic construction, limiting process control and the ability to detect issues like fluid distribution problems or phase changes, as existing measurement methods are intrusive, complex, and lack accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger design with a stack of parallel plates featuring wave-shaped structures and grooves to accommodate temperature probes, allowing for direct and precise local temperature measurements with minimal disturbance to fluid flow, using resistance, thermocouple, or thermistor probes inserted into the grooves formed by machining or cutting techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If brazed plate heat exchangers use compact monolithic construction, then exchange surface area and pressure loss performance are improved, but local temperature measurement capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is segmented into modular plate assemblies, each containing integrated temperature probe grooves. This segmentation allows local temperature measurement at specific locations within the compact structure without compromising the overall monolithic construction and exchange surface area.
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature probe grooves are strategically positioned at specific locations where local temperature measurement is most valuable (e.g., near phase change regions or heat transfer critical zones). This local quality approach enables targeted temperature monitoring without adding complex support structures throughout the entire exchanger.
2Measurement precision
If temperature probes are added to brazed plate heat exchangers, then local temperature measurement capability is improved, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature probe grooves are merged directly into the heat exchanger plate structure during manufacturing. This integration eliminates the need for separate support structures, brackets, or mounting mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining local temperature measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The grooves serve dual functions: they provide structural support as part of the plate assembly and simultaneously serve as mounting channels for temperature probes. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall device structure.
3Ease of operation
If temperature measurement methods are implemented in existing brazed heat exchangers, then process control capability is improved, but implementation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature probe grooves are incorporated into the plate design during the initial manufacturing stage, before the heat exchanger is assembled and put into service. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex retrofitting operations, reducing implementation complexity and cost while enabling immediate process control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Standardized groove designs are copied across multiple plates in the heat exchanger stack, allowing for modular assembly and simplifying manufacturing. The repeated use of identical or similar groove patterns enables efficient production through standardized tooling and processes.
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
Enables direct and precise local temperature measurements within the heat exchanger, enhancing process control and monitoring of performance changes, while minimizing the size and complexity of the measurement setup.
Implementation Method 1
at least one temperature probe enabling temperature measurements of at least one fluid circulating in the exchanger
Implementation Method 2
exchanging heat with a gaseous flow, for example, air or nitrogen
Implementation Method 3
a series of parallel plates between which intercalated elements, such as corrugated structures or waves, are typically inserted, forming finned heat exchange structures
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a brazed plate and fin heat exchanger comprising a stack of plates (2) arranged parallel to each other and in a longitudinal direction (z) so as to define between said plates (2) a plurality of passages (3) adapted for the flow of at least a first fluid along the longitudinal direction (z), at least one corrugated heat exchange structure (8) being arranged between two successive plates (2) and comprising wave crests (121) and wave bases (122) connected alternately by a succession of fins (123), said fins (123) succeeding one another along a lateral direction (x) which is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (z) and which defines a corrugation direction of the heat exchange structure (8), and the wave crests and wave bases (121,122) being arranged against the plates (2) and having a thickness (e) measured parallel to a stacking direction (y) which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (z) and the lateral direction (x), the exchange structure (8) having a total height (H) measured parallel to a stacking direction (y). According to the invention, at least one groove (12) is formed through the exchange structure (8) in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (z), a temperature probe (14) being arranged in the groove (12), said groove (12) being formed from wave crests (121) to a predetermined height (h) measured along the stacking direction (y) which is greater than the thickness (e) of the wave crests (121).