Integral Channel-Plate Heat Exchanger With Dead-Space Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shell-tube and printed circuit-type heat exchangers face issues such as large size, high manufacturing costs, complex welding processes, dead spaces leading to reduced heat exchange efficiency, and inefficiencies in high-pressure systems, which are not easily maintained or repaired.
Innovation Solution
A simplified printed circuit-type heat exchanger design with integrated headers and fluid paths on channel plates, eliminating dead spaces and simplifying the manufacturing process by integrating inflow and outflow parts, and using a stack of channel plates with alternating fluid paths for enhanced heat exchange efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional shell-tube type heat exchanger is used, then heat exchange capacity can be achieved, but the device occupies large volume and requires heavy installation
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is segmented into multiple channel plates with numerous channels, allowing heat exchange surfaces to be densely packed in a compact volume. The stack of channel plates creates multiple parallel flow paths that achieve high heat exchange capacity without requiring large overall dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from the conventional shell-tube three-dimensional arrangement to a planar channel plate stack configuration. By arranging heat exchange channels in two-dimensional planes and stacking multiple plates, the design achieves high heat exchange area density in a compact volume, effectively utilizing spatial arrangement to reduce overall device size.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional PCHE with separately fabricated headers is used, then structural integrity is maintained, but manufacturing time and cost increase due to complex welding
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet and outlet headers are merged with the channel plates to form an integrated header-channel plate assembly. This eliminates the need for separate welding of headers to channel plates, significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and welding time while maintaining structural integrity through integral construction.
3Reliability
If channel paths are arranged to satisfy stress and pressure conditions, then structural reliability is ensured, but dead spaces are created reducing heat exchange efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The channel plates are designed with varying local qualities: channels are strategically positioned and sized to satisfy stress and pressure requirements in critical areas, while minimizing dead spaces in heat exchange zones. The header integration allows optimized flow distribution that maintains structural integrity while maximizing heat exchange efficiency in different regions of the device.
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 new design reduces manufacturing time and costs, improves heat exchange efficiency, and enhances fluid flow management, addressing the inefficiencies of conventional designs.
Implementation Method 1
two or more first channel plates each having a fluid path for fluid A and two or more second channel plates each having a fluid path for fluid B are alternately stacked on one another, such that fluids A and B are heat-exchanged between the first and second fluid paths
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanger includes a stack of channel plates including first and second channel plates alternately stacked on one another such that fluids A and B are heat-exchanged each other. The first channel plate has a fluid path for fluid A on one surface thereof, wherein inflow and outflow parts for fluid A are formed on the fluid path for fluid A, and the second channel plate has a fluid path for fluid B intersecting with the fluid path for fluid A on one surface thereof. The first channel plate has communicating structures corresponding to the inflow and outflow parts for fluid B. The heat exchanger also includes an upper plate section attached to an upper surface of the stack, and a lower plate section attached to an undersurface of the stack.