Heat Transfer Plate With Variable Ridge Height For Uniform Fluid Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat transfer plates in plate heat exchangers experience fluid leakage and uneven fluid distribution due to differences in flow channel lengths, leading to inefficiencies in heat transfer capacity.
Innovation Solution
The heat transfer plate design features adjustable distribution patterns with elongate ridges and valleys that extend in specific planes, allowing for local 'closing' of flow channels where leakage is most likely to occur, ensuring even fluid distribution across the plate, enabling both 'rotated' and 'flipped' configurations with adjacent plates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional distribution patterns with uniform flow channels are used, then manufacturing is simple, but fluid leakage occurs and fluid distribution becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The distribution pattern features varying ridge heights at different locations within the distribution area. Specifically, ridges have different heights to create varying flow resistances in different regions, which compensates for the uneven flow distribution caused by different flow channel lengths. This local variation in ridge height creates zones with different flow characteristics to achieve overall uniform fluid distribution across the plate.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the distribution pattern by varying the height of ridges throughout the distribution area. Rather than using uniform ridge heights, the pattern incorporates ridges with different heights to modify flow resistance locally. This parameter variation allows the system to compensate for positional differences in flow channels and achieve uniform fluid distribution despite the inherent asymmetry in flow path lengths.
2Ease of operation
If flow channels are made shorter to reduce pressure drop, then ease of operation improves, but heat transfer capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The distribution area is segmented into multiple zones with different ridge height configurations. This segmentation allows different regions to serve different functions: some areas have lower ridges to reduce flow resistance and pressure drop, while other areas have higher ridges to increase flow velocity and enhance heat transfer. The segmentation of the distribution pattern enables simultaneous optimization of both pressure drop and heat transfer capacity.
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 minimizes fluid leakage and ensures even fluid distribution, optimizing heat transfer efficiency and allowing for effective packing of plates in both parallel and diagonal flow configurations.
Implementation Method 1
The distribution areas of the heat transfer plates is to spread a fluid entering the passage across the width of the heat transfer plates before the fluid reaches the heat transfer areas
Implementation Method 2
Two fluids of initially different temperatures, which are fed to/from the PHE through inlets/outlets, can flow alternately through every second passage for transferring heat from one fluid to the other
Data Source
AI summary
A heat transfer plate comprises an upper end portion adjoining a center portion along an upper border line and comprising first and second port holes and an upper distribution pattern comprising upper distribution ridges and valleys. The upper distribution ridges extend along imaginary upper ridge lines from the upper border line towards the first port hole. The upper distribution valleys extend along imaginary upper valley lines from the upper border line towards the second port hole. The imaginary upper ridge lines and valley lines cross in plural upper cross points. In plural upper cross points, the plate extends in an imaginary first intermediate plane. The plate is configured so that a number of first upper cross points on one side of the center axis extends above the first intermediate plane, and a number of second upper cross points on another side of such axis extends below the first intermediate plane.