Plate Stack Partition Weirs for Condensate Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
In plate heat exchangers, flow restraining members can impair the flow of liquefied condensate liquids during latent heat exchange, leading to accumulation and decreased heat exchange performance, especially when using gaseous refrigerants like CO2.
Innovation Solution
A plate stack configuration with corrugated plates and through holes, featuring symmetrically arranged oblique partition weirs that direct the first heat exchange fluid to flow peripherally, preventing condensate accumulation and enhancing heat transfer area, including arc-shaped, convex, concave, or linear weirs, and paired plates with corrugations that match the container shape to reduce size and improve strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a flow restraining member is provided on a plate surface to forcedly flow the heat exchange fluid laterally, then the heat transfer area increases and heat exchange performance is enhanced, but the flow of liquefied condensate liquid is impaired and condensate liquid accumulation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The plate surface is segmented into multiple functional regions: a lateral flow promotion region with flow restraining members to enhance heat transfer area, and a condensate discharge region with a slope toward the discharge port to prevent accumulation. This segmentation allows simultaneous achievement of both heat exchange performance enhancement and condensate flow maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the plate surface are given different local qualities: the heat exchange region has flow restraining members to force lateral flow and increase heat transfer area, while the discharge region has a specific slope angle (5-45 degrees) to facilitate condensate flow. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing each region for its specific function.
2Volume of stationary object
If each plate is formed into a non-circular shape such as an oval shape, then the size of the hollow container is reduced, but the lateral dimension increases making it difficult for heat exchange fluid to spread and heat transfer area decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The plate shape transitions from a conventional circular form to an oval form with strategically positioned flow restraining members that extend in the lateral direction. This dimensional change in shape, combined with the addition of flow restraining structures, allows the plate to fit more efficiently in the container while maintaining adequate heat transfer area through forced lateral flow distribution.
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 heat exchange performance for both sensible and latent heat exchanges without impairing the liquefaction of gaseous refrigerants, maintaining high efficiency and reducing the size of the hollow container while preventing fluid leakage.
Implementation Method 1
exchange heat between two heat exchange fluids respectively flowing through the two heat exchange flow passages via the plates
Implementation Method 2
a gaseous refrigerant such as CO2 is condensed by latent heat exchange
Implementation Method 3
latent heat exchange with phase change in heat-exchanged fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A plate stack includes a plurality of plates, each including corrugated portions formed on front and back surfaces thereof. First and second heat exchange flow passages are formed between plates, arranged alternately along stacking direction of the plates. Each plate has two through holes penetrating the front and back surfaces, through which the first heat exchange fluid is introduced and derived. The plate stack includes first partition weirs formed on at least one of two plate surfaces, the two plate surfaces forming a corresponding one of the first heat exchange flow passages therebetween. First partition weirs are symmetrically and obliquely arranged with respect to a center line connecting centers of two through holes as viewed from the stacking direction. A flow passage is formed along the center line on a side of at least one of the two through holes, from which first heat exchange fluid is introduced.