Plate Heater With Structured Inserts For High-Pressure Heat Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current heat transfer apparatuses for high-pressure and high-temperature applications are inefficient due to thick walls needed for pressure resistance, leading to high material costs, large dimensions, and difficulty in assembly, while also being prone to deformation and corrosion, especially when handling viscous substances.

Innovation Solution

A compact plate apparatus with thin, membrane-like wide walls and structured inserts and attachments that distribute pressure forces, allowing for efficient heat transfer and easy cleaning, using a housing with thick walls to absorb pressure forces and minimize material usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If thick-walled pipes are used to withstand high pressures, then pressure resistance is improved, but heat transfer capacity deteriorates due to low thermal conductivity of metallic materials

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure resistanceVSAvoidheat transfer capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus divides the pressure-bearing function from the heat transfer function by using a modular plate structure with multiple channels, where thin walls perform heat transfer while the overall structure withstands pressure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs thin-walled plate structures instead of thick pipes, utilizing the high surface-area-to-volume ratio of thin walls to maximize heat transfer efficiency while maintaining structural integrity through the overall apparatus design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If corrosion-resistant materials with low strength values at high temperatures are used, then corrosion resistance is improved, but structural strength deteriorates, requiring enveloping jacket pipes that increase material usage and reduce heat transfer performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion resistanceVSAvoidstructural strength
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus uses multiple separate plate channels instead of single thick-walled pipes, allowing corrosion-resistant materials to be used in thin-walled configurations where each plate handles specific fluid streams independently

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite construction with multiple plate layers and sealing elements, combining materials with different properties to achieve both corrosion resistance and structural strength without requiring thick single-layer walls

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Productivity

If parallel arrangements of thick-walled single-layer or multi-layer pipes are used to generate high throughputs, then productivity is improved, but apparatus dimensions and weight increase, making the apparatus large and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovethroughputVSAvoidapparatus weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple heat transfer channels into a compact plate assembly where plates are stacked and sealed together, achieving high throughput through parallel flow paths while maintaining a compact, lightweight structure compared to parallel pipe arrangements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The apparatus transitions from one-dimensional pipe arrangements to a multi-dimensional plate stack configuration, utilizing vertical stacking and lateral sealing to create efficient heat transfer pathways in multiple directions within a compact footprint

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Loss of energy

If extremely thin metal sheets are used in plate heat exchangers, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but deformation risk at high pressures increases and corrosion resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoiddeformation resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The plate structure is divided into multiple rigidly connected plates that collectively withstand pressure, allowing individual thin plates to maintain high heat transfer efficiency while the assembled structure provides deformation resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different local qualities by using thin walls in heat transfer areas while providing structural reinforcement at critical locations through the plate assembly configuration and sealing mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 apparatus achieves efficient heat transfer, reduces material costs, and facilitates easy cleaning, while maintaining structural integrity under high pressures and temperatures, with the ability to handle viscous substances and corrosive fluids.

Implementation Method 1

each structured layer has at least one resilient and deformable spring web (202,302) running parallel to the side wall (4,5) or to the face plate in its longitudinal extent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the spring bar is connected to at least one connecting bar (203,303) to the parallel guide bar (204,304) in the layer plane, and starting from the guide bar and/or spring bar, a large number of shorter intermediate bars (205,305) run to the opposite parallel spring bar

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 3

intermediate bars in a straight extension one have a spring gap (206,306) with a deformation path (207,307) and limit a deformation of the spring bar

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDeformation: Deformation

Implementation Method 4

in the inflow and outflow zone of the fluids a large number of support bars (208,308) of different lengths protrude into the flow area, bars one-sided surface contact width wall or to the width plate and have one-sided surface contact with adjacent webs of adjacent layers in order to conduct existing compressive forces into the surrounding outer housing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 5

connecting, intermediate and supporting webs of layers of the inserts and attachments have an angle of inclination a of 10 to 70 degrees to the respective main flow direction, and one of the two layers of inserts and attachments is rotated 180 degrees around its own longitudinal axis of linear expansion and placed on the other layer, as a result of which the existing angle of inclination α of the webs alternates, as a result of which webs cross and form sections through which a fluid can flow with little back-mixing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow Separation: Flow Separation

Implementation Method 6

Plate apparatus for heat transfer processes... rectangular channel (1) through which a fluid can flow... wide walls and side walls together forming one channel Form a cross section for the inflow of a fluid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat Exchanger: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP1995545B1Plate heater for heat transfer processes
Publication Date: 2016.04.13 EHRFELD MIKROTECHNIK BTS GMBH
  • EP1995545B1 patent drawingFigure 1~1.1
  • EP1995545B1 patent drawingFigure 2~2.2
  • EP1995545B1 patent drawingFigure 3~3.1

AI summary

The apparatus has a rectangular channel (1) provided with non-deformable broad walls (2, 3) and left and right side walls. A single or multipart insert (7) is provided inside the channel. A single or multipart top part (8) is provided on the broad walls. The channel is surrounded by a housing. The insert and top part have structured layers (200) provided with spring and guide bars. One of the layers is turned around longitudinal axis at 180 degrees, and the other layer is firmly placed such that an inclination angle of the bars is varied to form a section in which fluid is flowed. An independent claim is also included for a method for operating a plate apparatus.