Plate Heat Exchanger Joint Geometry for Stronger Plate Bonding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plate heat exchangers face challenges in achieving strong and secure joints between heat transfer plates, particularly in areas with sloped support surfaces that create small contact points, leading to potential weakness in the bond.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates elongated joints along ridge and groove lines with a quotient of O/A≥2.6 mm−1, ensuring that the length of the joints is greater than their width, providing a stronger bond between adjacent plates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If sloped support surfaces are used for ridges and valleys, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but joint strength between plates deteriorates due to small contact points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different geometric configurations to different regions of the plate. The support surfaces maintain slopes for heat transfer efficiency, while the ridge and groove portions are designed with specific dimensions and orientations to create elongated joints. This local differentiation allows each region to optimize its function - heat transfer in the valleys and structural strength at the joints.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from point contacts to line contacts by designing elongated joints along ridge and groove lines. The joint geometry extends in one dimension (along the ridge/groove direction) while maintaining limited width, creating a line-like contact area that significantly increases the effective contact perimeter and joint strength compared to point contacts.
2Area of stationary object
If numerous individual contact points are created by crossing ridges and valleys, then joint coverage area increases, but joint reliability deteriorates due to small contact area at each point
Solution Approach 1:
The joint system is segmented into multiple discrete joints arranged along ridge and groove lines. Each joint is an elongated contact region rather than a point, and multiple such joints are distributed across the plate surface. This segmentation provides both extensive coverage and high reliability through redundancy - failure of one joint does not compromise the entire connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint geometry is asymmetric in its dimensions - significantly elongated in one direction (along the ridge/groove line) while narrow in the perpendicular direction. This asymmetric shape maximizes the contact perimeter relative to the contact area, providing high joint strength and reliability while maintaining efficient heat transfer characteristics.
3Strength
If joints are made larger to increase strength, then joint strength improves, but heat transfer area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The joint geometry exploits dimensional optimization by extending the joint contact area primarily in one dimension (along the ridge and groove lines) while keeping the width minimal. This creates an elongated, line-like joint that maximizes the contact perimeter for strength without significantly encroaching on the overall heat transfer area, effectively decoupling joint strength requirements from heat transfer area requirements.
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 strength and durability of the plate heat exchanger by distributing load more evenly across the periphery of the joints, resulting in a more robust and efficient heat transfer system.
Implementation Method 1
permanently joined with each other by brazing with a copper or nickel based brazing material
Implementation Method 2
permanently joined with each other by brazing with a copper or nickel based brazing material or by welding
Implementation Method 3
The heat transfer area comprises a corrugation of ridges and valleys... The support surface of the valleys of the primary plates slopes in relation to the extension plane and the support surface of the ridges of the secondary plates slopes in relation to the extension plane
Data Source
AI summary
A plate heat exchanger comprises permanently joined plates including a first and a second heat transfer plate. A heat transfer pattern comprises ridges and groove portions. The ridges extend along ridge lines and the groove portions extend along groove lines. In a heat transfer area, the first heat transfer plate is permanently joined to the second heat transfer plate in a number of joints along the ridge lines of the first heat transfer plate and the groove lines of the second heat transfer plate. For each joint of the number of joints a quotient between a circumference, O, of the joint and an area, A, of the joint is O/A≥2.6 mm−1.