Heat Exchanger Plate Draining Channel Flanges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat exchanger devices face efficiency losses due to heat transfer from the shell and plate package into the liquid transporting interspace, causing evaporation and compressor oil deposits on heat exchanger plates, leading to reduced performance and increased material consumption to compensate for these issues.
Innovation Solution
A plate package design featuring alternating heat exchanger plates with draining channel flanges that reduce heat transfer and compressor oil contact, forming insulation and guiding liquid flow through draining channels, thereby preventing evaporation and deposit formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the plate package is made larger to compensate for efficiency losses from compressor oil deposits, then the heat exchanger efficiency is maintained, but the weight and volume of the plate package increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the harmful compressor oil from the system by providing dedicated draining channels that guide the oil away from the heat transfer surfaces and into collection spaces, preventing deposit formation and eliminating the need to oversized the plate package
Solution Approach 2:
The draining channels act as intermediary structures that mediate between the plate package and the shell interior, providing a controlled pathway for compressor oil to be removed without affecting the heat transfer efficiency or requiring additional plate area
2Productivity
If the plate package is made larger to compensate for efficiency losses from compressor oil deposits, then the heat exchanger efficiency is maintained, but the material consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the harmful compressor oil from the system by providing dedicated draining channels that guide the oil away from the heat transfer surfaces and into collection spaces, preventing deposit formation and eliminating the need to oversized the plate package
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the plate package by adding draining channels and modifying plate configurations, which improves oil removal efficiency without requiring an increase in the overall plate area or material consumption
3Reliability
If heat transfer from the shell and plate package into the liquid transporting interspace is restricted, then evaporation of liquid flow is prevented, but the heat exchanger design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the draining function with the existing plate package structure by integrating draining channels into the plate edges and utilizing the spaces between plates, rather than adding separate complex insulation systems
Solution Approach 2:
The plate package structure serves multiple functions: heat transfer, liquid transport, and oil draining, with the draining channels utilizing the existing plate geometry and interspaces to achieve oil removal without requiring additional dedicated structures
4Productivity
If compressor oil contact with heat exchanger plates is reduced, then deposit formation is prevented, but the plate package design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the harmful compressor oil from the system by providing dedicated draining channels that guide the oil away from the heat transfer surfaces and into collection spaces, preventing deposit formation and eliminating the need to oversized the plate package
Solution Approach 2:
The draining channels act as intermediary structures that mediate between the plate package and the shell interior, providing a controlled pathway for compressor oil to be removed without affecting the heat transfer efficiency or requiring additional plate area
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 enhances the stability of the thermo-syphon loop, reduces compressor oil contact, and allows for smaller, lighter, and more cost-effective heat exchanger packages without compromising efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The interspace is part of a thermo-syphon loop which sucks the liquid towards the collection space of the shell
Implementation Method 2
heat is transferred to the interspace both from the inner wall of the shell and from the plate package
Data Source
AI summary
A plate package for a heat exchanger device includes a plurality of heat exchanger plates of a first type and a plurality of heat exchanger plates of a second type. At least the heat exchanger plates of the first type include, along at least a section of the opposing side portions, a draining channel flange. The draining channel flanges are oriented in one and the same direction such that a draining channel flange of a first heat exchanger plate of the first type abuts or overlaps a draining channel flange of a subsequent heat exchanger plate. The draining channel flanges form outer walls to the outer draining portions thereby transforming the outer draining portions into draining channels. A method of using such plate package in a heat exchanger device and also a heat exchanger device as such are also disclosed.