Heat Transfer Plate Transition Area Diverging Pattern
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Plate heat exchangers face challenges in maintaining strong transitions between distribution and heat transfer areas, leading to reduced strength and inefficient use of surface area, with existing solutions occupying valuable space without enhancing fluid distribution or heat transfer capacity.
Innovation Solution
A heat transfer plate design featuring a transition area with a diverging pattern of projections and depressions that increases in angle from one end to the other, enhancing fluid distribution and heat transfer capability, while also improving the bending strength and reducing pressure drop.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a narrow band with densely arranged steep ridges and valleys is provided at the transition between distribution and heat transfer areas, then the strength of the heat transfer plate at the transition is improved, but the heat transfer capacity is reduced due to occupation of valuable surface area
Solution Approach 1:
The heat transfer plate is segmented into distinct functional zones: a distribution area with a first pattern, a transition area with a second pattern featuring densely arranged steep ridges and valleys, and a heat transfer area with a third pattern. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the others, resolving the contradiction between transition strength and heat transfer capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different patterns are applied to different local areas of the heat transfer plate. The transition area specifically receives a pattern with densely arranged steep ridges and valleys to maximize strength at the critical transition zone, while the heat transfer area maintains a different pattern optimized for heat transfer efficiency, ensuring local optimization without global compromise.
2Productivity
If a dense pattern of ridges and valleys is used in the heat transfer area, then heat transfer capacity is improved, but pressure drop increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different patterns to different areas: the distribution area uses a first pattern optimized for fluid distribution with lower density, the heat transfer area uses a third pattern optimized for heat transfer with appropriate density, while the transition area uses a second pattern with densely arranged steep ridges and valleys. This local differentiation allows the heat transfer area to achieve high heat transfer capacity without the entire plate experiencing high pressure drop.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the plate into distribution area, transition area, and heat transfer area with distinct patterns, the patent allows the heat transfer area to independently optimize for heat transfer capacity while the distribution area optimizes for low pressure drop, resolving the contradiction between these two parameters.
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
The design achieves a stronger transition to the distribution area and more effective utilization of the heat transfer plate surface area, improving both fluid distribution and heat transfer capacity without occupying valuable space.
Implementation Method 1
The main task of the distribution area of the heat transfer plates is to spread a fluid entering the channel across the width of the heat transfer plate before the fluid reaches the heat transfer area
Implementation Method 2
Two fluids of initially different temperatures can flow through every second channel for transferring heat from one fluid to the other
Implementation Method 3
The ridges of the distribution and heat transfer patterns of one heat transfer plate is arranged to contact, in contact areas, the valleys of the distribution and heat transfer patterns of another, adjacent, heat transfer plate
Data Source
AI summary
A heat transfer plate comprises a first end area, a heat transfer area and a second end area along a longitudinal center axis of the plate which divides the plate into first and second halves delimited by first and second long sides respectively. The first end area comprises an inlet port hole, a distribution area and a transition area. The transition area adjoins the distribution area and the heat transfer area. The distribution area has a distribution pattern of projections and depressions, the transition area has a transition pattern of projections and depressions, and the heat transfer area has a heat transfer pattern of projections and depressions. An imaginary straight line extends between two end points of each transition projection with an angle relative to the longitudinal center axis. The angle varies between the transition projections and increases from the first long side to the second long side.