Separating Plate Positioning Geometry Heat Exchanger Assembly

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heat exchanger designs face challenges in easy assembly and alignment of separating plates between different stacks, leading to complex and error-prone mounting processes.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of positioning geometries such as protrusions and indentations on the separating plate, which match the geometry of adjacent heat exchanger plates, allowing for easy interlocking and alignment, facilitating straightforward assembly and visual inspection for correct positioning and leakage detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If traditional separating plates without positioning geometries are used, then the structure is simple, but the assembly process becomes complex and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Positioning geometries (protrusions and indentations) are pre-formed on the separating plate during manufacturing, enabling automatic alignment and correct positioning during assembly without requiring additional alignment tools or complex procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning geometries act as intermediary elements between the separating plate and heat exchanger plates, facilitating easy connection and ensuring proper relative positioning through complementary protrusion-indention interfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If positioning geometries are added to the separating plate, then assembly becomes easier, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of positioningVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The separating plate is segmented into functional zones: fluidic channels for heat exchange, positioning geometries for alignment, and sealing surfaces for connection, allowing each feature to be optimized independently while maintaining overall simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If no positioning features are provided, then the structure remains simple, but alignment precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidfeature complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning geometries enable self-alignment and self-positioning during assembly, where the protrusions automatically guide the separating plate into the correct position relative to the heat exchanger plates without requiring external alignment tools or skilled operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20240384942A1Separating plate

Publication Date: 2024.11.21 DANFOSS AS

AI summary

A separating plate (4) configured to separate a first stack of heat exchanger plates (5) from a second stack of heat exchanger plates (7), wherein the separating plate (4) includes a planar direction and a thickness direction, wherein the separating plate (4) includes a fluidic recess (15). The underlying problem is to provide a separating plate (4) which is easy to assemble. This problem is solved by a separating plate (4) which includes at least one positioning geometry 16 which is configured to position the separating plate (4) relative to a heat exchanger plate (6, 8).