Plate Heat Exchanger Temperature Sensing With Integrated Measuring Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plate heat exchanger designs face challenges with high economic and mechanical effort, physical inertia, and increased flow resistance due to separate sensors or additional measurement spaces, which hinder efficient temperature control and regulation.
Innovation Solution
A modified plate heat exchanger design incorporates a measuring space between the outer boundary plate and the heat transfer plate stack, featuring a slot-like opening for the measuring medium to interact directly with the heat exchanger fluid, connected via a capillary channel to a sensor device, eliminating the need for additional measurement spaces and reducing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a separate sensor is arranged in a through-hole channel of the plate heat exchanger, then temperature measurement is enabled, but flow resistance increases and manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sensor housing with the boundary plate into a single integrated component. The boundary plate itself forms the housing for the temperature sensor, eliminating the need for separate sensor housings and through-hole channels. This integration reduces manufacturing steps, lowers complexity, and maintains temperature measurement functionality while avoiding the flow resistance issues associated with separate sensor arrangements.
2Measurement precision
If additional chambers are arranged on the heat exchanger for sensor placement, then temperature control is improved, but economic cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the boundary plate and sensor housing into one component, eliminating the need for additional chambers or separate sensor housings. The measuring space is formed directly within the integrated boundary plate structure, reducing the number of parts, lowering manufacturing costs, and simplifying the overall device while maintaining effective temperature control capability.
3Reliability
If a separate sensor housing is provided for the temperature sensor, then sensor protection is achieved, but manufacturing effort and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The boundary plate itself serves as the protective housing for the temperature sensor. The sensor is arranged in a measuring space that is formed as an integral part of the boundary plate structure, providing sensor protection through the plate's own geometry without requiring separate protective housings. This eliminates additional manufacturing steps and reduces overall device complexity while maintaining sensor protection and reliability.
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 design enables direct and efficient temperature detection and control with reduced economic and mechanical effort, minimizing physical inertia and flow resistance, allowing for precise regulation of the heat exchanger fluids.
Implementation Method 1
a measuring medium 10, with which physical changes in the measurement space are detected
Implementation Method 2
connected via a capillary channel to a sensor device
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a plate heat exchanger (9), comprising a sensor device and a plate stack of heat transfer plates of the known type, wherein a sensor device is provided on a measuring chamber and in said measuring chamber a measuring medium (10) is present, which is influenced by the temperature of at least one of the fluids and connected to a controller and/or regulating device, wherein the measuring chamber is in part defined by at least one of the heat exchanger fluids. In this way, optimal control of the plate heat exchanger is achieved.