Plate Heat Exchanger Cleaning via Longitudinal Plate Pack Stretching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Plate heat exchangers of the Plate and Shell type face difficulties in cleaning due to small plate spaces and the need for separate flow guides, which complicate the process and make it difficult or unfeasible to clean effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method and construction that allows the plate pack to be removed, stretched in its longitudinal direction to increase the spaces between plates, and cleaned, featuring a flexible plate pack with corrugated heat exchange plates and a stretching mechanism, such as screwing taps, to facilitate easy disassembly and rebuilding, and removable flow guides for improved access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the plate pack is designed with small plate spaces for efficient heat exchange, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but cleaning difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plate pack is designed with flexible corrugated plates that can dynamically change the plate space dimensions. During operation, the plates maintain small spaces for efficient heat exchange. During cleaning, the plates can be stretched apart to increase accessibility while maintaining the structural integrity of the plate pack.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and dimensions of the plate pack by stretching it in the longitudinal direction. This parameter change increases the plate space from its compact operational state to a more accessible cleaning state, allowing effective cleaning without permanently altering the heat exchange efficiency.
2Manufacturing precision
If separate flow guides are added to the shell side for proper fluid distribution, then fluid flow control is improved, but device complexity and cleaning difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible plate pack structure serves multiple functions: it acts as both the heat exchange surface and the flow distribution structure. The corrugated plates themselves guide the fluid flow through their geometric configuration, eliminating the need for separate flow guides and reducing overall device complexity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the plate pack is made rigid for structural stability, then structural integrity is improved, but ease of cleaning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The plate pack employs flexible corrugated plates that provide structural stability during normal operation while allowing dynamic adjustment during cleaning. The plates can be stretched apart longitudinally to increase accessibility for cleaning operations, then return to their original stable configuration, combining both rigidity and flexibility.
4Volume of moving object
If the plate spaces are kept small for compact design, then compactness is improved, but cleaning feasibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a dynamic cleaning system where the compact plate pack can be temporarily stretched in the longitudinal direction during cleaning operations. This allows cleaning tools to access the small plate spaces effectively, after which the plates return to their compact configuration, maintaining both compactness and cleaning feasibility.
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
Enables easy and effective cleaning of the plate pack by increasing the space between plates, allowing for efficient removal of dirt and debris, and maintaining structural integrity during stretching and cleaning processes.
Implementation Method 1
stretching the plate pack in its longitudinal direction so that the spaces between the plates of the plate pack increase
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for cleaning a plate heat exchanger, in which method the plate pack (2) of the plate heat exchanger is removed from the outer casing, the plate pack (2) is stretched in its longitudinal direction so that the spaces between the plates of the plate pack increase, and then the plate spaces of the plate pack are cleaned.