Plate Fin Heat Exchanger Layout for Ice Bin Beverage Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cold plates in beverage dispensers have limited heat transfer efficiency and lack flexibility in configuration, which affects the cooling of various beverage ingredients, and are costly due to excessive material usage.
Innovation Solution
A plate fin heat exchanger is introduced, featuring a top plate, bottom plate, and outer boundary wall with fluid flow paths between them, each containing a fin for enhanced heat transfer, and an internal wall separating adjacent inlet flow paths to optimize heat exchange with ice in the dispenser.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional tube or sleeve cold plates are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the heat transfer efficiency is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cold plate is segmented into multiple channels with internal walls dividing the fluid flow paths. This segmentation increases the surface area for heat transfer between the cold plate and beverage ingredients, thereby improving heat transfer efficiency while maintaining the casting manufacturing process
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from simple tubular cooling to a planar plate structure with multiple flow paths arranged in parallel. This dimensional change allows for greater heat transfer surface area within the same volume, improving cooling efficiency without complicating the manufacturing process
2Ease of manufacture
If the cold plate configuration is fixed, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the flexibility to accommodate various ingredients is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cold plate is designed with multiple independent flow paths that can accommodate different beverage ingredients simultaneously or alternatively. The standardized plate structure with configurable channels provides universal applicability for various ingredient types and flow rates, enhancing flexibility without requiring multiple specialized components
3Reliability
If more materials are used in the cold plate, then the heat transfer efficiency increases, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cold plate employs localized thermal contact areas between the plate body and ice bin, concentrating the cooling function where most needed. The internal walls and channel design optimize heat transfer in specific regions, achieving high efficiency with minimized material usage throughout the structure
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
The plate fin heat exchanger significantly increases heat transfer efficiency between ice and fluids, accommodating a range of ingredients while reducing material costs by optimizing heat exchange and fluid flow paths.
Implementation Method 1
heat may be exchanged between the ingredients, the cold plate, and the ice contained within the ice bin
Implementation Method 2
The plate heat exchanger is disposed in thermal contact with a cooling media within the beverage dispenser
Implementation Method 3
A fin is disposed within each of the plurality of fluid flow paths between the inlet and the outlet and is in thermal contact with the top plate and the bottom plate
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A plate heat exchanger is disclosed herein. In some instances, the plate heat exchanger may be disposed in an ice bin of a beverage dispenser for cooling one or more fluids. The plate heat exchanger may include a top plate, a bottom plate, an outer boundary wall, and a fluid flow path disposed between the top plate and the bottom plate. The fluid flow path may include an inlet and an outlet. A fin may be disposed within the fluid flow path from the top plate to the bottom plate between the inlet and the outlet.