Filter assembly for plate heat exchangers and method of cleaning a working medium in a plate heat exchanger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filter assemblies for plate heat exchangers are time-consuming to connect and disconnect, require additional space, and do not effectively accumulate all unwanted particles, leading to potential damage from contamination in the working medium.
Innovation Solution
A filter assembly with inlet and outlet ports, featuring a proximal and distal flange with filter tubes that receive elongated filter elements, allowing for direct insertion into the heat exchanger ports without additional connections, and includes inlet holes and through-going outlet apertures to retain particles and contaminants, minimizing space usage and flow rate impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter assembly with multiple filter cartridges is installed downstream of the condensation chamber, then the working medium can be cleaned, but the filter assembly is time-consuming to connect and disconnect and requires additional space
Solution Approach 1:
The filter assembly is divided into multiple filter cartridges that can be independently installed and removed. Each cartridge contains a filter element that can be separately replaced, allowing for quick maintenance without dismantling the entire filter assembly. This segmentation enables rapid cleaning operations while maintaining effective particle removal capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter cartridges are arranged in a compact configuration that utilizes vertical space efficiently. By stacking filter cartridges vertically within a confined housing, the design minimizes the horizontal footprint while accommodating multiple filtering stages, thereby reducing the additional space requirement in the power conversion module setting.
2Reliability
If a filter assembly with multiple filter cartridges is installed downstream of the condensation chamber, then the working medium can be cleaned, but the filter assembly requires additional space in the setting of the module
Solution Approach 1:
The filter cartridges are nested within a compact housing structure, with each cartridge fitting into a designated slot. The housing itself is designed to fit within the existing module footprint, nesting the entire filter assembly into the available space without requiring additional external mounting areas. This nested arrangement maximizes space utilization efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter cartridges are arranged in a compact configuration that utilizes vertical space efficiently. By stacking filter cartridges vertically within a confined housing, the design minimizes the horizontal footprint while accommodating multiple filtering stages, thereby reducing the additional space requirement in the power conversion module setting.
3Productivity
If filters with big openings are arranged in the inlet pipe to enable large throughput flow, then the flow rate is maintained, but the filters do not accumulate all unwanted particles
Solution Approach 1:
Different filter cartridges within the assembly have different filter element specifications, including varying pore sizes and filtration ratings. The first filter cartridge may use a coarser filter element for preliminary filtration, while subsequent cartridges employ progressively finer filter elements to capture smaller particles. This local differentiation of filter qualities enables both high throughput and effective particle accumulation across multiple filtration stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The filtration process is segmented into multiple stages, with each filter cartridge handling a specific portion of the particle size spectrum. This multi-stage segmentation allows the system to maintain high flow rates through progressive filtration, where each stage removes progressively smaller particles without creating excessive flow resistance that would reduce overall throughput.
4Ease of operation
If filters with big openings are arranged in the inlet pipe to enable large throughput flow, then the flow rate is maintained, but the filters negatively affect the flow rate through the plate heat exchanger
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration process is segmented into multiple stages, with each filter cartridge handling a specific portion of the particle size spectrum. This multi-stage segmentation allows the system to maintain high flow rates through progressive filtration, where each stage removes progressively smaller particles without creating excessive flow resistance that would reduce overall throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter assembly includes multiple filter elements with progressively different filtration parameters (pore size, surface area, depth). By changing these parameters across multiple stages rather than using a single high-resistance filter, the system achieves effective particle removal while minimizing the overall pressure drop and maintaining flow rate through the plate heat exchanger.
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 solution enables quick and efficient cleaning of the working medium with reduced downtime and space requirements, effectively preventing particle return to the heat exchanger by using elongated filter elements and strategically positioned inlet holes.
Implementation Method 1
the filter element is arranged in the filter tube to prevent that particles and contaminations are returned to the plate heat exchanger when circulation of the working medium is stopped
Data Source
AI summary
A filter assembly for a plate heat exchanger comprising inlet and outlet ports for passage of a working medium and a cooling or heating fluid, respectively, wherein the filter assembly is dimensioned to fit into the inlet or outlet ports, wherein the filter assembly comprises a proximal flange and a distal flange and at least one filter tube attached at respective ends to the proximal flange and the distal flange, respectively, wherein the at least one filter tube is adapted to receive an elongated filter element and further comprises a plurality of inlet holes arranged on a circumferential surface thereof, and wherein the distal flange comprises at least one through-going outlet aperture in fluid communication with the interior of the at least one filter tube.