Plate Heat Exchanger Cooling Tower with Indirect Evaporative Section
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchange systems, particularly closed circuit fluid coolers and condensers, face inefficiencies due to limited surface area and operational limitations in handling varying heat loads, often relying on coil circuits which are less effective than plate type heat exchangers for indirect heat exchange.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a plate type heat exchanger as an indirect heat exchange section combined with a direct heat exchange section, allowing for both sensible and latent heat exchange, with the indirect section providing increased surface area per volume and flexible operation with air or evaporative liquids, and the direct section utilizing a fill arrangement for enhanced performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If coil circuit indirect heat exchangers are used, then the structure is simple, but the heat exchange performance is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The indirect heat exchange section is divided into multiple plate circuits arranged in series, where each plate creates separate flow paths for the fluid and evaporative liquid. This segmentation increases the total heat exchange surface area while maintaining a compact structure, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and heat exchange performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a traditional coil-based three-dimensional winding structure to a plate-based two-dimensional layered structure. The plates are arranged in a stacked configuration, creating multiple parallel flow paths that maximize surface area utilization within a compact volume, thereby improving heat exchange performance without significantly increasing structural complexity.
2Area of stationary object
If plate type heat exchanger is used, then the surface area is increased, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is segmented into multiple identical plate units that can be manufactured independently and then assembled. Each plate is a simple, standardized component with embossed flow channels, making the overall structure more complex in configuration but simpler in individual component design and manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes embossed surfaces on the plates to create turbulence and extend the effective surface area for heat exchange. By changing the surface geometry through embossing rather than adding complex structural elements, the patent increases heat exchange area while keeping the basic plate structure relatively simple.
3Device complexity
If indirect heat exchange section operates alone, then the system is simple, but the heat exchange capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the indirect heat exchange section with a direct heat exchange section in a single integrated apparatus. The indirect section handles heat exchange through plate circuits, while the direct section utilizes evaporative cooling through fill material. This merging of functions increases the overall heat exchange capacity while maintaining a unified system structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchange apparatus is designed to perform multiple functions: the indirect heat exchange section can operate with or without evaporative liquid, and the direct heat exchange section provides additional cooling capacity. The system can be configured to handle varying heat loads by adjusting the operation of different sections, making it universally applicable to different cooling requirements.
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 configuration enhances the overall heat exchange performance by increasing surface area, enabling efficient cooling, heating, or condensation in both sensible and latent modes, and allows for flexible operation with either air or evaporative liquids, improving the efficiency and capacity of heat exchange systems.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid stream passing through the internal openings in the plate type heat exchanger is cooled, heated, condensed, or evaporated in either or both a sensible heat exchange operation and a latent heat exchange operation by passing an evaporative liquid such as water together with air in passages between individual plate pairs or cassettes in the indirect heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
a fluid stream passing through the internal openings in the plate type heat exchanger is cooled, heated, condensed, or evaporated in either or both a sensible heat exchange operation and a latent heat exchange operation by passing an evaporative liquid such as water together with air in passages between individual plate pairs or cassettes in the indirect heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
Heat in the evaporative liquid is passed to air which is drawn generally downwardly, upwardly or across the direct heat exchange section and outwardly from the closed circuit fluid cooler or heat exchanger assembly by an air moving system such as a fan
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchange apparatus is provided with an indirect evaporative heat exchange section and a direct evaporative heat exchange section. The indirect evaporative heat exchange section is usually located above the direct evaporative heat exchange section, and an evaporative liquid is passed downwardly onto the indirect heat exchange section. The evaporative liquid that exits the direct evaporative heat exchange section then passes downwardly across and through the indirect heat exchange section. The evaporative liquid is collected in a sump and then pumped upwardly to be distributed again across the direct heat exchange section. The indirect heat exchange section is comprised of a plate type heat exchanger.