Plate-Fin Heat Exchanger Leak Prevention via Sensor Wall Detection

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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

Incorporating a sensing part with a sensor wall and detection means to detect thermal stress-induced fatigue before it causes actual damage, allowing for preventive maintenance and preventing external fluid leaks without compromising heat exchange efficiency or increasing the device's size and weight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the rigidity of the fin plate is enhanced to prevent deformation, then the structural stability is improved, but the heat transfer performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidheat transfer performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a sensor wall that experiences thermal stress before the partition wall, enabling early detection of potential failures. This preliminary action allows the system to monitor and respond to thermal stress accumulation before it causes actual damage to the partition wall, thus maintaining both structural stability and heat transfer performance without requiring enhanced rigidity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Strength

If reinforcing members are inserted to suppress deformation, then the fatigue resistance is improved, but the device size and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefatigue resistanceVSAvoiddevice weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical reinforcement approach with a sensing and detection system. Instead of adding physical reinforcing members to suppress deformation, the system uses a sensor wall and detection means to monitor thermal stress and fatigue accumulation, allowing the partition wall to maintain its original lightweight structure while ensuring fatigue resistance through early warning capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If the fin plate connects partition plates at specific positions, then the heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the thermal stress concentration increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidthermal stress concentration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor wall acts as an intermediary element between the fin plate and the partition wall. It provides a dedicated location for thermal stress concentration that is separate from the heat transfer-critical partition wall, allowing the fin plate to maintain its connecting function for efficient heat transfer while the sensor wall absorbs and indicates thermal stress effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution effectively detects and addresses thermal stress-induced fatigue in the heat exchanger's partition walls, preventing fluid leaks and maintaining performance while avoiding the need for increased rigidity or size, thus ensuring reliable operation.

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)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal stress: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

heat transfer members each of which is disposed within each of said flow passages of said heat exchange part main body respectively, each of said heat transfer member connecting said partition walls opposed across each of said flow passages to transfer the heat of the fluid flowing in each of said flow passages to said opposed partition walls

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2244046B1Plate fin heat exchanger

Publication Date: 2017.03.15 KOBE STEEL LTD

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.