Plate Fin Heat Exchanger Leak Detection Under Thermal Stress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plate fin heat exchangers face issues with fluid leakage due to thermal stress-induced deformation, which can lead to damage and reduced performance, and existing solutions either compromise heat transfer efficiency or increase device size and weight.
Innovation Solution
A plate fin heat exchanger design incorporating sensing parts with sealed spaces and a sensor wall to detect thermal stress-induced fatigue before it causes actual damage, allowing for proactive repair and preventing external fluid leaks, while maintaining heat exchange efficiency without increasing size or weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the fin plate is made with higher heat transfer performance, then the heat exchange efficiency is improved, but the thermal stress-induced deformation increases causing fluid leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing protection parts before thermal stress damage occurs. The protection parts are pre-installed on both sides of the fin plate to prevent deformation-induced fluid leakage before it happens, allowing the fin plate to maintain high heat transfer performance without suffering from thermal stress damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection parts serve as a cushioning mechanism that absorbs and distributes thermal stress before it can cause harmful deformation of the fin plate. By positioning these protection parts on both sides of the fin plate, the system creates a buffer zone that mitigates the impact of thermal expansion and contraction, preventing fluid leakage while maintaining heat exchange efficiency.
2Reliability
If protection parts are added to prevent deformation, then fluid leakage is prevented, but device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The protection parts are designed as thin-walled structures that provide sufficient mechanical protection against thermal stress-induced deformation while minimizing additional weight. These thin film-like protection parts cover both sides of the fin plate, creating a lightweight barrier that prevents fluid leakage without significantly increasing the overall device weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection system is segmented into multiple discrete protection parts positioned at specific locations on the fin plate rather than using a single large protective structure. This segmentation allows for optimized material usage and reduced overall weight while maintaining effective protection against deformation and fluid leakage.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the sealing member has higher rigidity, then structural stability is improved, but the difference in thermal expansion with the fin plate increases causing stress concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The protection parts are installed beforehand to compensate for the rigidity difference between the sealing member and fin plate. By providing this preliminary protective structure, the system can accommodate thermal expansion differences without concentrating stress at the sealing member-fin plate interface, preventing both structural instability and fluid leakage.
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
Effectively detects and mitigates thermal stress-induced fatigue without external fluid leakage, ensuring the heat exchanger's performance and integrity by identifying potential damage before it occurs, thus preventing fluid leaks and maintaining efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the fin plate 104 deforms more largely than the sealing member 106 in each flow passage r based on this temperature change. Such a difference in the temperature change-based deformation amount between the sealing member 106 and the fin plate 104 causes a stress (thermal stress) based on this difference in deformation amount
Implementation Method 2
the deformation is repeated at each time of sudden change in temperature of the fluid performing the heat exchange or start-stop during the entire period of use, and as a result, the fatigue based on the thermal stress is accumulated
Data Source
AI summary
A plate fin heat exchanger of the present invention includes a heat exchange part including a heat exchange part main body including layers of plural flow passages, and heat transfer members each of which is disposed within each flow passage of the heat exchange part main body to transfer the heat of fluid flowing in each of the flow passages to each partition walls opposed across the flow passage; and sensing parts connected to both the outsides of the heat exchange part respectively. Each of the sensing parts includes plural sealed spaces, and a sensor wall disposed to separate the outermost sealed space from the sealed space on the inner side thereof. The plate fin heat exchanger further includes a detection means for detecting damage of the sensor wall of the sensing part. According to such a structure, external leak of the fluid performing the heat exchange can be prevented while suppressing deterioration of performance or increase in size or weight.