Modular Plate Heat Exchanger Bonding for Better Thermal Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Brazed plate heat exchangers with multiple modules suffer from poor thermal contact between adjacent modules due to air-filled blind passages, leading to thermal stresses and reduced mechanical strength, which limits their effectiveness in applications requiring large heat exchange surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The use of a suitable adhesive to join the cover sheets of adjacent modules directly, with or without sheet-metal strips, to create a strong, rigid, and thermally conductive connection, eliminating blind passages and enhancing contact surface uniformity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple modules are connected to increase heat exchange surface area, then the heat exchange capacity is improved, but thermal contact between modules deteriorates due to air-filled blind passages
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the air-filled blind passages that form between adjacent modules by using adhesive to directly join the cover sheets. This extraction of the harmful air gap eliminates the thermal insulation barrier and restores direct thermal contact between modules, resolving the contradiction between increased surface area and maintained thermal contact quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive serves as an intermediary substance that facilitates direct thermal contact between the cover sheets of adjacent modules. By replacing the air-filled gap with an adhesive medium that provides both mechanical bonding and thermal conduction, the invention maintains reliable thermal contact while allowing multiple modules to be connected for increased heat exchange capacity.
2Ease of manufacture
If modules are connected using traditional methods with sidebars, then assembly is simplified, but mechanical strength and thermal contact deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the functions of mechanical connection and thermal contact into a single adhesive bonding process. Instead of using separate sidebars for mechanical support and relying on gravity for thermal contact, the adhesive simultaneously provides both structural strength and thermal conduction pathway, simplifying assembly while improving overall connection quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the connection interface by introducing adhesive material with specific properties (viscosity, curing characteristics, thermal conductivity). This parameter change enables the cover sheets to be directly bonded in a flat configuration, achieving both mechanical strength and thermal contact without requiring complex mechanical fastening systems.
3Reliability
If adhesive is used to join cover sheets directly, then thermal contact and mechanical strength are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical sidebar assembly system with a chemical bonding system using adhesive. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical fastening components and their associated assembly steps (positioning, fastening, alignment), reducing manufacturing complexity while improving thermal contact and mechanical stability through direct adhesive bonding of cover sheets.
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 improves thermal contact and mechanical stability between modules, minimizing thermal stresses and increasing the durability and efficiency of the heat exchanger, especially under varying temperature gradients and non-uniform media distributions.
Implementation Method 1
the cover sheets that form directly adjacent sides of two adjacent modules, called contact surfaces, are joined to one another via a suitable adhesive
Implementation Method 2
the narrow sheet-metal strips used are employed not only for equalizing the height differences. In addition, they improve the heat conduction contact between two directly adjacent modules
Implementation Method 3
The heat exchange fins are connected to the partitions 4, as a result of which intensive thermal conduction contact is produced. In this way, heat exchange can take place between two different media that flow into adjacent passages 3
Data Source
AI summary
The invention describes a plate heat exchanger 1 comprising two modules 1a and 1b. The two modules 1a and 1b are cuboidal and in each case are closed off to the outside by cover sheets 5. The two modules 1a and 1b are arranged such that cover sheets 9a and 9b of the same size are directly adjacent. The two cover sheets 9a and 9b form the contact surface between the two modules 1a and 1b of the plate heat exchanger 1. The two contact surfaces 9a and 9b are joined to one another via a suitable adhesive.