Plate Heat Exchanger Cylindrical Envelope Maintenance Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plate heat exchanger designs face difficulties in achieving efficient counter-flow of media due to restricted access to plate interspaces, especially when plates are welded or brazed, making inspection and cleaning challenging.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates separate inlet and outlet openings for the first medium, allowing it to flow through the entire length of the plate package, with a circular-cylindrical outer envelope that supports high pressures and allows for parallel or counter-flow configurations, and includes a separation device to divide the space into sections for easy maintenance and cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If all heat exchanger plates are welded or brazed to each other, then structural strength and pressure resistance are improved, but access to plate interspaces for inspection and cleaning becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The plate heat exchanger is divided into multiple individual plates that are stacked together. Each plate can be independently manufactured and assembled, allowing the plate package to be disassembled for inspection and cleaning of plate interspaces while maintaining structural integrity through the stacking arrangement and sealing elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing elements and gaskets are extracted as separate components from the plates themselves. This allows the plate package to be disassembled by removing the sealing elements, providing access to plate interspaces for cleaning and inspection without damaging the plates, while the plates themselves remain structurally strong.
2Productivity
If a partition sheet is used to divide the space into part spaces, then flow control and heat exchange efficiency are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The partition sheet serves multiple functions: it divides the common space into separate part spaces for different media flows, provides structural support between plates, and works in conjunction with sealing elements to create the plate interspaces. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition sheet is integrated with the plate structure and sealing elements to form a unified assembly. The partition sheet is positioned and secured within the plate package structure, combining flow division functionality with the structural framework rather than being a separate, additional component.
3Ease of manufacture
If the outer envelope has a non-circular cross section, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but pressure resistance and structural strength are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The outer envelope is designed with a circular cross-section, which provides superior pressure resistance and structural strength compared to non-circular shapes. The circular geometry distributes stress uniformly around the perimeter, making the envelope more resistant to high pressures while still being manufacturable using standard cylindrical forming processes.
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 enhances the flow path for the first medium, enables the creation of a strong and efficient heat exchanger that can handle high pressures, and facilitates easy inspection and cleaning, while maintaining structural integrity and flow efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of heat exchanger plates, which are stacked onto each other and which, in the plate package, form first plate interspaces for a first medium and second plate interspaces for a second medium
Implementation Method 2
a first inlet and a first outlet are adapted to convey the first medium into and out from the plate heat exchanger and extend through a respective one of the two end members. A second inlet and a second outlet are adapted to convey the second medium into and out from the plate heat exchanger
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
The invention refers to a plate heat exchanger with a plate package (1 ) comprising a plurality of heat exchanger plates, which are stacked onto each other. The heat exchanger plates form first plate interspaces for a first medium and second plate interspaces for a second medium. A casing encloses the plate package and comprises a circular cylindrical outer envelope (6) and two end plate members (7, 8). The outer envelope defines the centre axis (x) through the two end plate members. A first inlet (11 ) and a first outlet (12) convey the first medium into and out from the plate heat exchanger through a respective end plate member. A second .inlet (21 ) and a second outlet (22) convey the second medium into and out from the plate heat ex- changer. The plate package has a space which is disposed inside the first inlet and the first outlet. Means are arranged for creating, for each of the first plate interspaces, an inlet opening for the first medium from the space into the first plate interspaces and an outlet opening for the first medium from the first plate interspaces to the space.