Brazed Plate Heat Exchanger Piping for Settling Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brazed plate heat exchangers face challenges in cost-effective production, particularly in configuring and connecting piping to the plate stack and functional components, such as the collecting tank, which requires additional processes and equipment adjustments.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves designing the piping with structures that compensate for settling movements during the brazing process, such as pipe bends, bushings, and corrugated sections, allowing for a single brazing process in a vacuum furnace without compromising braze joint quality, and enabling pre-fastening of pipe ends before brazing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If piping is connected to the plate stack and functional components using conventional methods, then the product can be assembled, but additional brazing processes and equipment adjustments are required, increasing production complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the piping and functional components into a single brazing process with the plate stack. The piping is designed with integrated connection features that allow simultaneous brazing of the plate stack and piping to functional components like the collecting tank, eliminating separate assembly steps and reducing production complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The piping is pre-configured with connection structures (such as pre-positioned pipe ends, pre-formed bends, or pre-attached connection pieces) before the brazing process. This preliminary configuration allows the piping to be integrated into the heat exchanger assembly during the same brazing cycle used for the plate stack, avoiding additional processing steps
2Manufacturing precision
If the piping is rigidly connected to the plate stack, then the structure is stable, but settling movements during brazing compromise the quality of braze joints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates flexible elements into the piping structure, such as corrugated sections, bellows, or flexible connectors, that can accommodate settling movements during brazing. These flexible portions allow relative movement between the piping and plate stack without compromising the integrity of the braze joints, while maintaining structural stability in the final assembled state
Solution Approach 2:
The piping design includes movable or adjustable connection features that can adapt to position changes during the brazing process. For example, the piping may include sliding connections, telescopic sections, or spring-loaded elements that dynamically adjust to settling movements, ensuring consistent braze joint quality despite thermal expansion and contraction
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 approach enables cost-effective production of brazed plate heat exchangers by allowing for a single brazing process, improving manufacturing efficiency and flexibility, and accommodating settling movements without compromising braze joint quality.
Implementation Method 1
The product according to the invention, especially its piping, is designed so that settling movements of plate heat exchangers that occur during performance of brazing from melting off of the braze materials are permitted.
Implementation Method 2
The mentioned brazing process is preferably conducted in the vacuum brazing furnace in which the products are brazed free of flux.
Data Source
AI summary
A brazed plate heat exchanger with at least one stack of heat exchanger plates and at least one functional component connected by piping physically and in terms of flow to the stack, for example, a collecting tank, in which case the stack executes a settling movement during brazing. Production is achieved in that the plate heat exchanger with the functional component is produced in a vacuum brazing furnace in a single brazing process, in which at least one structure is contained in the piping that compensates for the settling movement of the plate stack. A corresponding production method is also proposed.