Integrated Plate Heat Exchanger for Low-Resistance Condensing Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional condensing type heat exchangers have a complex installation structure due to separate components and a limited heat transfer area, leading to increased volume and reduced heat exchange efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger with a simplified assembly structure, where heating medium and combustion gas flow channels are formed between stacked plates, with a sensible heat unit and latent heat unit integrated to maximize heat transfer, and a combustion gas pass-through unit is formed at the edge of the plates to reduce flow resistance and noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the blower is disposed above the housing and the sensible heat exchanger and latent heat exchanger are sequentially installed inside the housing, then the heat exchange function is provided, but the volume of the heat exchanger is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sensible heat exchanger and latent heat exchanger into a single integrated heat exchange unit with a unified housing structure. The combustion gas flow channel continuously passes through both heat exchange sections within the same housing, eliminating the need for separate housings and sequential installation, thereby reducing the overall volume while maintaining the heat exchange function.
2Volume of stationary object
If the heat exchange pipe is wound around the burner in a coil form, then the volume is minimized, but the installation structure becomes complicated due to separate housing requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the heat exchange pipes and combustion gas flow channel directly into a unified housing structure, eliminating the need for separate housing components. This integration simplifies the installation structure while maintaining the compact coil configuration of the heat exchange pipes around the burner.
3Device complexity
If the heating medium flow path is kept short, then the structure is simplified, but the heat transfer area between heating medium and combustion gas cannot be widely secured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the heating medium flow path in the vertical direction by sequentially passing the heating medium through both the sensible heat exchange section and the latent heat exchange section. This multi-level arrangement increases the heat transfer area without significantly increasing the horizontal footprint or complicating the overall 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 solution simplifies the installation structure, reduces flow resistance and noise, and maximizes heat exchange efficiency by extending the heating medium flow path within a limited space, enhancing the heat transfer area between the heating medium and combustion gas.
Implementation Method 1
a sensible heat unit (200A) configured to surround an outer side of a combustion chamber (C), configured with an area at one side of a plate, and configured to heat the heating medium using sensible heat of the combustion gas generated by combustion of the burner (100)
Implementation Method 2
a latent heat unit (200B) configured with an area at the other side of the plate, and configured to heat the heating medium using latent heat of water vapor contained in the combustion gas which undergoes heat exchange in the sensible heat unit (200A)
Implementation Method 3
latent heat of water vapor contained in the combustion gas which undergoes heat exchange in the sensible heat unit (200A)
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a heat exchanger enabling the reduction of the number of components constituting the heat exchanger, the simplification of the coupling structure thereof, and also, the decrease of combustion gas flow resistance and the minimization of noise and vibration generation, the heat exchanger being provided with a heat exchange unit having heating medium flow channels through which a heating medium flows and combustion gas flow channels through which combustion gas combusted in the burner flows to be alternately formed and adjacent to each other in spaces between a plurality of plates, wherein the heat exchange unit comprises: a sensible heat unit which surrounds the outer side of a combustion chamber, is formed of one side area of the plates, and heats the heating medium by using sensible heat of combustion gas generated by the combustion of the burner; and a latent heat unit which is formed of the other side area of the plates, and heats the heating medium by using latent heat of water vapor included in combustion gas that has finished undergoing heat exchange in the sensible heat unit, wherein bent flange units are formed on the edges of the plurality of plates, and in a state where the flange units of neighboring plates overlap, certain areas among the edges of the plurality of plates have formed thereon combustion gas pass-through units having combustion gas flowing through the combustion gas flow channels pass therethrough.