Plate-type heat exchanger, method of manufacturing the same, and heat pump device
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Solution Overview
Problem
In plate-type heat exchangers, lubricating oil tends to be trapped, leading to compressor failure due to insufficient recovery, and excessive oil deposition on condenser and evaporator walls, which deteriorates heat exchange performance.
Innovation Solution
The plate-type heat exchanger is designed with oil recovery holes at the lower part of the plate assembly and L-shaped embossed portions to guide lubricating oil to the oil-recovery port, minimizing oil trapped in dead spaces and ensuring efficient recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the amount of lubricating oil is increased to account for trapping in the plate-type heat exchanger, then compressor reliability is improved, but heat exchange performance deteriorates due to oil deposition on condenser and evaporator walls
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the lubricating oil from the heat exchanger system by providing a dedicated oil recovery port and recovery chamber. The oil separation mechanism removes oil from the refrigerant-oil mixture and channels it to the recovery port, effectively taking oil out of the heat exchange process to prevent deposition on heat transfer surfaces while maintaining adequate oil levels in the compressor.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary oil separation mechanism and recovery chamber between the heat exchanger and the compressor. This intermediary system acts as a mediator that captures and redirects lubricating oil, preventing it from depositing on heat exchange surfaces while ensuring its return to the compressor, thus resolving the contradiction between protecting the compressor and maintaining heat exchange efficiency.
2Reliability
If a lubricating oil recovery port is added to the plate-type heat exchanger, then oil recovery is improved, but dead space increases where oil can be trapped
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the oil recovery system dynamic by providing multiple oil recovery ports at different locations and orientations within the plate-type heat exchanger. These ports can adaptively capture oil from various flow paths and positions, preventing oil trapping in dead spaces while maximizing recovery efficiency without requiring large static storage volumes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the oil recovery function by providing multiple distributed oil recovery ports throughout the plate-type heat exchanger structure rather than a single centralized port. This segmentation allows oil to be captured from multiple locations simultaneously, reducing dead space volume while improving overall oil recovery efficiency.
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 effectively reduces the amount of lubricating oil trapped in the heat exchanger, preventing compressor failure and maintaining optimal heat exchange performance by ensuring efficient oil recovery.
Implementation Method 1
the embossed portion is formed on each heat-transfer plate so that the oil smoothly flows toward the oil recovery hole
Implementation Method 2
plate-type heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between refrigerant and fluid to be heated
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
To guide lubricating oil flowing into a plate-type heat exchanger to an oil-recovery port, while minimizing the amount of lubricating oil trapped therein. A plate-type heat exchanger includes: a plate assembly 120 that is a plate stacked body including a stack of a plurality of heat-transfer plates 100; an inlet port and an outlet port for refrigerant 7 provided in the plate assembly 120; an inlet port and an outlet port for water 10 provided in the plate assembly 120; and an oil-recovery port 103e from which lubricating oil 8 contained in the refrigerant 7 is extracted, the oil-recovery port 103e being provided below the outlet port for the refrigerant 7 provided in the lower part of the plate assembly 120. Oil recovery holes 200 communicating with the oil-recovery port 103e are provided at the lower part inside the plate assembly 120, and a flow-smoothing embossed portion 201 is provided on each heat-transfer plate 100 so that the lubricating oil 8 smoothly flows toward the oil recovery hole 200.