Brazed Plate Heat Exchanger Temperature Sensor Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
In brazed plate heat exchangers, accurately measuring the temperature of refrigerant in inner flow channels is challenging due to the arrangement of heat exchanging plates, where outer channels are used for water or brine solutions, making it impossible to measure temperatures in refrigerant channels effectively.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves incorporating plan portions or recessed portions with pressed patterns on heat exchanger plates that allow for heat transfer from the second flow channel to a temperature sensor, enabling temperature measurement without compromising the heat exchanger's performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If outer flow channels are used for water or brine solution, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but temperature measurement in refrigerant channels becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
A temperature sensor is introduced as an intermediary element that can measure temperature in the second flow channel. The sensor is positioned to contact the heat exchanger plate, allowing it to detect temperature of the refrigerant in the second channel without disrupting the established flow channel arrangement where outer channels handle water/brine and inner channels handle refrigerant.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature measurement is achieved by extending into a different spatial dimension - the sensor contacts the heat exchanger plate from the outer side (where water/brine flows) to measure the temperature of the refrigerant in the adjacent second channel. This allows measurement without directly accessing the refrigerant channel.
2Measurement precision
If means for temperature measurement are added, then temperature measurement capability is improved, but heat transfer performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger plate is designed with localized plan portions or recessed portions at specific positions where temperature measurement is needed. These local modifications create contact areas for the temperature sensor without affecting the overall heat exchange surfaces. The pressed pattern with ridges and grooves is maintained in these local areas to ensure proper heat transfer pathways are preserved.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger plate is designed to serve multiple functions: it maintains heat exchange between fluids, provides structural support, and now also serves as a mounting surface for temperature sensors through the plan portions or recessed portions. This multi-functionality allows temperature measurement capability to be integrated without requiring separate components that would compromise heat transfer performance.
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 allows for accurate temperature measurement of fluids in the second flow channel from the end of the stack, using identical heat exchanger plates and maintaining the heat transfer performance equivalent to non-measuring configurations.
Implementation Method 1
plan portions arranged to abut one another and hence allow for heat transfer from the second flow channel to a temperature sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A brazed plate heat exchanger comprises a number of heat exchanger plates (100) provided with a pressed pattern comprising ridges (R) and grooves (G). The ridges and grooves of neighboring plates contact one another in order to keep the plates on a distance from one another under formation of interplate flow channels for media to exchange heat when the heat exchanger plates are placed in a stack to form the heat exchanger. Means (120a, 120b) are provided for allowing temperature measurement of a fluid present in a second flow channel counted from an end of the stack of heat exchanger plates (100).