Reinforcing Element for Dish Plate Heat Exchanger Mounting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Nested dish plate heat exchangers face mechanical strength issues due to vibration, mounting plate deformation, and thermal stresses, leading to potential fatigue fracture and poor braze joints, especially with the base plate, which increases the risk of failure.
Innovation Solution
A reinforcing element with a base flange attached to the mounting plate and a peripheral flange in parallel contact with the inclined peripheral wall of the dish plates provides additional structural support, enhancing the mechanical strength and preventing deformation by creating a double thickness sidewall throughout the heat exchanger's height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If an extra thick reinforcing dish plate is added below the lowermost regular dish plate, then the mechanical strength and resistance to fatigue fracture are improved, but the height and weight of the heat exchanger increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcing element is divided into two functional segments: a base flange portion that attaches to the mounting plate and a peripheral flange portion that contacts the dish plate. This segmentation allows the reinforcement function to be achieved without adding a complete extra plate, thereby reducing weight while maintaining strength.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adding a complete extra plate throughout, the reinforcement is applied locally only where needed - at the peripheral wall areas subject to stress. The base flange provides localized support at the mounting interface, and the peripheral flange reinforces only the critical peripheral regions, avoiding unnecessary weight addition.
2Strength
If an extra thick reinforcing dish plate is added below the lowermost regular dish plate, then the mechanical strength and resistance to fatigue fracture are improved, but the manufacturing cost and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcing element is segmented into functional portions (base flange and peripheral flange) that can be integrated with existing components. This segmentation allows the reinforcement to be achieved through modified existing parts rather than adding a completely new complex component, simplifying manufacturing and assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcing element merges the functions of mounting plate reinforcement and dish plate support into a single integrated component. The base flange combines with the mounting plate attachment function, while the peripheral flange combines with the dish plate support function, eliminating the need for separate reinforcing components and reducing assembly complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the mounting plate is made to extend beyond the outer periphery of the nested dish plates, then the braze joint quality is improved, but the mounting plate becomes more prone to deformation under stress
Solution Approach 1:
The base flange of the reinforcing element acts as an intermediary between the mounting plate and the dish plates. It provides additional support and stress distribution at the critical interface, allowing the mounting plate to maintain its extended configuration for good braze joints while preventing deformation through the reinforcing support.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcing element changes the structural parameters at the mounting interface by adding localized stiffness and support. This allows the mounting plate to maintain its extended configuration for good braze joints while preventing deformation through the reinforcing support, effectively modifying the stress distribution parameters without changing the mounting plate geometry.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~8
AI summary
A reinforcing element (30, 40, 50, 58, 60) for a heat exchanger (10) of the type having nested dish plates (12) with inclined, peripheral, overlapping walls, where at least one of the nested dish plates (12) is attached to a mounting plate (13), the mounting plate (13) extending beyond the outer periphery of the walls of the nested dish plates (12). The reinforcing element (30, 40, 50, 58, 60) has a base flange (32, 42, 52) attached to the mounting plate (13) extending beyond the outer periphery of the walls of the nested dish plates (12). The reinforcing element (30, 40, 50, 58, 60) also has a peripheral flange (34, 44, 54, 62, 63) located in parallel, overlapping engagement with the inclined peripheral wall (28) of the at least one dish plate attached to the mounting plate.