Ribbed Welded Plates Heat Exchanger Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchanger designs face challenges in assembly and maintenance, with significant assembly constraints, weld failures due to mechanical and thermal stresses, and limited exchange surface area, leading to efficiency drops and rigidity issues.
Innovation Solution
The use of ribbed plates with corner edges fitting into slots on vertical angle brackets simplifies assembly, reduces assembly constraints, and shifts stress absorption to the brackets, ensuring better sealing and increased rigidity without exposing welds to fluids, thus enhancing the exchanger's mechanical strength and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If plates are directly welded to gutters, then assembly is simplified, but assembly constraints increase and weld precision requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces angle brackets as intermediary components between the plates and the gutters. The plates are welded to the angle brackets, which are then fixed to the gutters. This intermediary structure absorbs positioning tolerances and reduces the precision requirements for direct plate-to-gutter welding, while simplifying the overall assembly process.
2Reliability
If plates are welded to vertical walls, then sealing is improved, but the size of the enclosure increases unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of vertical walls and support structures by using angle brackets that serve both purposes. The angle brackets provide structural support and sealing surfaces in a compact configuration, eliminating the need for separate vertical walls and reducing the overall enclosure volume while maintaining sealing reliability.
3Strength
If welds are used to fix plates, then mechanical strength is provided, but welds absorb mechanical stresses and thermal expansions causing quick breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs expansion joints and flexible connections in the angle bracket assembly that anticipate and accommodate thermal expansion and mechanical stresses before they can cause weld failure. These cushioning elements are built into the design to absorb stresses progressively, preventing sudden weld breakage and extending the durability of the welded connections.
4Stress or pressure
If plate surfaces are limited to 75 cm×75 cm, then pressure on plates and side walls is reduced, but exchange surface area is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the large plate surface into multiple smaller plate sections that are individually supported by angle brackets. This segmentation reduces the pressure and stress on each individual plate section while collectively providing a large total exchange surface area. The modular segmented design allows for larger overall heat exchanger surfaces without exceeding pressure limits on individual components.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a heat exchanger, comprising a closed chamber in which are arranged ribbed welded plates (40) defining therebetween independent and mutually penetrating circuits in which fluids flow, the side walls defining said chamber being attached onto vertical rails, characterised in that said plates comprise at each angle an edge (41) that fits into apertures formed on vertical angle corners (60), said rails being inserted into said corners. The use of angle corners for receiving the edges of the plates improves the assembly and the retention of the plates therebetween.