Plate Heat Exchanger Inlet Flow Control for Low-Flow Maldistribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plate heat exchangers suffer from single and multiple-phase flow maldistribution, leading to degraded heat transfer and reduced system efficiency due to non-uniform fluid distribution, particularly under low flow rates.
Innovation Solution
A flow control device with a movable member and housing is integrated into the inlet manifold of a heat exchanger, allowing variable positioning to regulate fluid flow based on inflow momentum, optimizing the distribution of fluids through active and inactive channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional plate heat exchangers are used with fixed flow channels, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but flow maldistribution occurs under low flow rate conditions leading to degraded heat transfer performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a movable member that can dynamically adjust its position within the flow channel based on flow rate conditions. At low flow rates, the movable member blocks certain flow channels to prevent maldistribution, while at high flow rates it allows all channels to remain open. This dynamic adjustment mechanism resolves the contradiction by adapting the flow distribution to operating conditions without requiring a completely complex redesign of the heat exchanger structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable member is designed to automatically respond to flow rate changes without external control systems. The component self-adjusts its position based on the fluid dynamics within the heat exchanger, eliminating the need for sensors, actuators, or control algorithms. This self-service approach improves heat transfer performance while avoiding the added complexity of active control systems.
2Productivity
If the number of active flow channels is increased to improve heat transfer, then heat exchange capacity increases, but flow maldistribution worsens under low flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The movable member enables the number of active flow channels to dynamically adjust based on operating conditions. Under low flow rates, it reduces the number of active channels to maintain uniform flow distribution. Under high flow rates, it increases the number of active channels to maximize heat exchange capacity. This dynamic channel activation resolves the contradiction between productivity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter of flow channel activation status based on flow rate conditions. By transitioning channels between active and inactive states, the system optimizes both flow distribution uniformity and heat exchange capacity across different operating regimes, resolving the contradiction between these two performance aspects.
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanger for a thermal management system is disclosed. The heat exchanger comprises a plurality of plates in a stacked relationship that form flow channels for a first fluid and a second fluid. The heat exchanger further includes at least one flow control device disposed in at least one inlet manifold of the heat exchanger to regulate a flow of the first fluid and/or the second fluid through the flow channels of the heat exchanger based on an inflow momentum of the respective first fluid and/or the second fluid entering into the heat exchanger.