Multi-Sectional Heat Exchanger With Coordinated Section Valves
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchangers face inefficiencies due to varying heating or cooling requirements and changes in efficiency due to fouling or scaling, leading to unnecessary energy loss.
Innovation Solution
A separating element with coordinated control valves for heat exchanger units, allowing independent activation or deactivation of sections to match varying requirements and maintain energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the heat exchanger is over-dimensioned to meet peak heating or cooling requirements, then the heat transfer capacity is sufficient during peak demand, but the heat exchanger operates inefficiently with unnecessary energy loss during periods of lower demand
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is divided into multiple independent sections that can be individually activated or deactivated. Each section has its own inlet and outlet openings controlled by valves, allowing the system to operate with only the necessary number of sections active based on current heating or cooling demand, thereby avoiding energy loss from over-capacity operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates dynamic control through valves and actuators that adjust the number of active heat exchanger sections in real-time based on varying thermal demands. This dynamic configuration allows the heat transfer capacity to be scaled up or down, matching actual requirements and preventing energy waste from operating at partial load.
2Reliability
If the heat exchanger operates at full capacity to handle fouling or scaling effects, then the heat transfer requirements are met, but energy efficiency decreases due to increased flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the heat exchanger into independent sections, the system can deactivate fouled or scaled sections and redirect flow through clean sections. This maintains reliable heat transfer performance without needing to increase overall flow rates, thereby avoiding the energy loss that would result from operating at full capacity to compensate for fouling.
3Ease of operation
If multiple valves are used to control each opening independently, then precise control of fluid flow is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple valves that control different openings are connected to common valve stems, allowing them to be operated simultaneously by a single actuator. This merging of control mechanisms reduces the number of independent actuators needed, simplifying the control system while maintaining precise control over fluid flow to multiple openings.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve stems serve multiple functions by simultaneously controlling multiple valves. A single actuator can control the state of multiple openings, making the control system more universal and reducing overall complexity while maintaining the ability to precisely control fluid distribution across different heat exchanger sections.
Data Source
AI summary
A separating element (10a, 10b) adapted to be positioned in connection to a heat exchanger unit (1, 1a, 1b, 1c) of a sectioned heat exchanger (100) is disclosed. The separating element (10a, 10b) has first openings (11a, 11b) adapted to align with first heat exchanger openings (3a, 3b) forming inlets of a first flow path (A) and a second flow path (B), respectively, through the heat exchanger unit (1, 1a, 1b, 1c). The separating element (10a, 10b) further includes second openings (11c, 11d) adapted to align with second heat exchanger openings (3c, 3d) forming outlets of the first flow path (A) and the second flow path (B), respectively. The first openings (11a, 11b) are formed with first valves (12a, 12b) adapted to close for fluid flow to the first (A) and/or the second (B) flow path through the heat exchanger unit (1, 1a, 1b, 1c), and the second openings (11c, 11d) are formed with second valves (17a, 17b) adapted to close for fluid flow from the first (A) and/or second (B) flow path. The first valves (12a, 12b) are formed with valve stems (13a, 13b), each operated by an actuator (14a, 14b), and the second valves (17a, 17b) are connected to the same valve stems (13a, 13b) as the first valves (12a, 12b), thereby providing coordinated control of the first valves (12a, 12b) and the second valves (17a, 17b).