Plate Heat Exchanger Asymmetric Flow Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plate heat exchangers face efficiency decreases when dealing with media of different heat capacities or thermal conductivities, as heat exchange efficiency relies heavily on one medium's properties.
Innovation Solution
The design alternates the flow paths for different media through interlayer spaces in a plate heat exchanger, with heat transfer plates rotated 180 degrees to create S-shaped passages for high thermal conductivity media and Z-shaped passages for low thermal conductivity media, ensuring optimal flow rates and heat exchange efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the same passage length is provided for both media in conventional plate heat exchangers, then uniform heat exchange can be performed, but the heat exchange efficiency decreases when media have different heat capacities or thermal conductivities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by providing different passage lengths for the first and second media. Specifically, when the first medium has higher thermal conductivity or lower heat capacity, its passage length is made longer than that of the second medium. This asymmetric design compensates for the differences in thermal properties, allowing both media to contribute more equally to the heat exchange process, thereby improving overall heat exchange efficiency without requiring complex additional components.
2Productivity
If the passage length for high thermal conductivity medium is increased, then heat exchange efficiency improves, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple heat transfer plates into a single integrated plate design. By forming both the first passage (for the first medium) and the second passage (for the second medium) within the same heat transfer plate structure, the patent achieves different passage lengths for different media without requiring separate plates or complex stacking arrangements. This integration improves heat exchange efficiency while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
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 configuration reduces the efficiency decrease caused by media property differences, enhancing heat exchange efficiency and flow rates while maintaining cost-effectiveness and manufacturing simplicity.
Implementation Method 1
a first medium or a second medium is made to flow through passages, whereby heat exchange is performed between the first medium and the second medium
Data Source
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AI summary
A plate heat exchanger causes heat exchange to be performed using a plurality of heat transfer plates stacked. Each of the heat transfer plates includes a plate body, a first-medium inlet, a first-medium outlet, a second-medium inlet, a second-medium outlet, and a projection that provides a passage. At least one of the first-medium inlet and the first-medium outlet is located at one of two corners at one end of the plate body which the projection contacts. At least one of the second-medium inlet and the second-medium outlet is located at one of two corners at the other end of the plate body from which the projection is separated.