Plate Heat Exchanger Outer Plates Thermal Equilibrium
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plate type heat exchangers face challenges in construction and maintenance due to differential thermal expansion between the heat exchanger core and frame, requiring delicate and error-prone sealing processes that increase production and maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates outer heat exchanger plates in thermal equilibrium with end panels, with flexible corner plates allowing perpendicular deformation to accommodate differential thermal expansion, eliminating the need for additional elastic sealing elements by maximizing in-plane distance for deformation and using thermal contact between plates and end panels to minimize expansion differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sealing elements are added between the core and end panels to prevent leakage, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the end panel sealing elements from the system by designing the outer heat exchanger plates to be in thermal equilibrium with the end panels. This eliminates the need for separate sealing elements at the end panel connections, simplifying the construction while maintaining leak prevention through the thermal equilibrium design itself.
2Strength
If rigid connections are used between heat exchanger plates and end panels, then structural strength is improved, but adaptability to thermal expansion decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal parameters of the outer heat exchanger plates by selecting materials or treatments that bring their thermal expansion characteristics into equilibrium with the end panels. This allows the rigid connections to maintain strength while accommodating thermal expansion through matched expansion properties rather than flexible connections.
3Adaptability or versatility
If flexible corner plates are added to accommodate thermal expansion, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for flexible corner plates by achieving thermal equilibrium between the outer heat exchanger plates and the end panels. This removal of intermediate flexible elements simplifies the overall structure while maintaining the ability to accommodate thermal expansion through the matched thermal properties of the rigid components.
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
This solution simplifies the construction of plate type heat exchangers, reduces maintenance costs, and ensures leak-proof attachment without additional sealing elements, while allowing for thermal expansion without damaging the heat exchanger components.
Implementation Method 1
The thermal contact between the outer heat exchanger plate and the end panel, in combination with the negligible differences between the in-plane thermal expansion properties of these elements
Implementation Method 2
the in-plane differential thermal expansion between the outer heat exchanger plate and the contacting end panel region is expected to be negligible
Implementation Method 3
the corners of the heat exchanger plates and assembly are allowed to deform in a direction perpendicular to the end panel
Implementation Method 4
Transverse differential thermal expansion between the heat exchanger assembly and a corner beam occurring during operation of the plate type heat exchanger is thereby allowed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a plate type heat exchanger (102)with a heat exchanger assembly (104), end panels (106) and end panel connection members (107)connecting the end panels (106). The heat exchanger assembly (104) has a stack of heat exchanger plates (112) and a pair of outer heat exchanger plates (114) located on opposing sides of the heat exchanger assembly (104). At least one outer heat exchanger plate (114) is mechanically connected to an adjacent end panel (106) and has an outer main surface portion (122) facing the adjacent end panel (106) that is thermally connected to an end panel contacting region (125) of the adjacent end panel(106). The in-plane thermal expansion properties of the outer main surface portion(122) are identical to in-plane thermal expansion properties of the end panel contacting region(125).