Plate Heat Exchanger Layout for Compact Condensing Heat Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional condensing type heat exchangers have a volume increase due to the blower placement and structural limitations that reduce heat exchange efficiency between the heating medium and combustion gas, with a short flow path limiting the heat transfer area.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger design featuring a heat exchange unit with alternating heating medium and combustion gas flow channels, guided by guide units to direct the heating medium toward the center of the combustion chamber, integrating sensible and latent heat units formed by stacking plates to maximize heat exchange efficiency in a limited space.
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 individually 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 blower is positioned to blow combustion gas directly into this combined unit, eliminating the need for separate housings and reducing overall volume while maintaining both heat exchange functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent nests the latent heat exchanger within the housing structure, with the sensible heat exchanger positioned in the combustion chamber region. The combustion gas flow path is designed to pass through both exchangers in sequence, with the latent heat exchanger utilizing the space efficiently within the overall housing volume.
2Volume of moving object
If the heating medium flows away from the burners due to centrifugal force in coil-shaped heat exchange pipes, then the structure is compact, but heat exchange efficiency between combustion gas and heating medium is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the heat exchange system into distinct sensible and latent heat exchange regions with separate flow channels. The heating medium flows through defined paths in each region rather than following a continuous coil, allowing optimization of flow direction in each segment to maintain efficiency while achieving compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimension coil structure to a multi-dimensional plate-based heat exchange unit with alternating flow channels. This allows the heating medium to flow through multiple layers and directions, increasing heat transfer area and efficiency while maintaining a compact footprint through vertical stacking of plate structures.
3Device complexity
If the flow path of the heating medium is short in the conventional heat exchanger, then the structure is simple, but the heat transfer area between heating medium and combustion gas cannot be widely secured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a plate-based heat exchange unit with alternating flow channels arranged in multiple layers. This three-dimensional configuration allows the heating medium to traverse a long path through multiple plate gaps, significantly increasing the heat transfer area without requiring a complex multi-component structure. The stacked plate design achieves extended flow path length within a compact volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the flow channels to create turbulent flow conditions that enhance heat transfer efficiency. The alternating sensible and latent heat exchange regions, combined with guide units that direct flow, create dynamic flow patterns that maximize heat transfer area utilization while maintaining structural simplicity through the unified plate construction.
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
Enhances heat exchange efficiency by guiding the heating medium to the center of the combustion chamber, increasing the heat transfer area and flow path length, thereby improving the transfer of combustion heat to the heating medium.
Implementation Method 1
a sensible heat unit (200A) configured to surround an outer side of a combustion chamber (C), configured with a region 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
heat exchange unit (200) in which heating medium flow channels through which a heating medium flows in a space between a plurality of plates and combustion gas flow channels through which a combustion gas combusted in a burner (100) flows are alternately formed to be adjacent to each other
Implementation Method 3
a latent heat unit (200B) configured with a region 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 4
latent heat unit (200B) configured with a region 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
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a heat exchanger enhancing heat exchange efficiency between a heating medium and combustion heat of a burner, 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 the heating medium flow channels of the sensible heat unit have guide units formed thereon for inducing the heating medium to flow towards the center of the combustion chamber.