Stacked Heat Exchanger Plates With Fluid-Specific Flow Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
In stacked-type heat exchangers, using metal plates with the same thickness and flow paths of equal depth for different fluids leads to inefficient heat exchange, increased manufacturing costs, and deteriorated heat transfer performance due to mismatched fluid characteristics and additional etching processes for through-holes.
Innovation Solution
The heat exchanger is designed with alternating first and second heat transfer plates, where the second flow path has a smaller cross-sectional area and thickness than the first, and both are formed using a single etching process to minimize manufacturing costs and improve heat transfer characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If metal plates with the same thickness and flow paths with the same depth are used, then the manufacturing process is simple and costs are low, but the heat transfer performance deteriorates due to mismatched fluid characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the flow path depth different for different heat transfer plates corresponding to different fluids. Specifically, the first flow path has a first depth and the second flow path has a second depth, where the depths are selectively determined based on the fluid characteristics (water or refrigerant) to optimize heat transfer performance for each fluid while maintaining overall manufacturing feasibility.
2Reliability
If shallow flow paths are formed to optimize cross-sectional area, then heat transfer performance improves, but through-holes cannot be formed in the same etching process, increasing manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by determining the etching time in advance based on the required flow path depth. The controller is configured to control the etching time so that the etching process can form both the flow paths and through-holes when the flow path depth is 70% or less of the plate thickness. This preliminary determination of etching time parameters ensures that shallow flow paths can be formed while still allowing through-hole formation in the same process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the etching time parameter based on the flow path depth requirement. When the flow path depth is 70% or less of the plate thickness, the controller sets the etching time to a specific value that allows both flow path and through-hole formation. This parameter adjustment enables optimization of heat transfer performance while maintaining manufacturing efficiency.
3Productivity
If the flow path cross-sectional area is changed to match fluid characteristics, then heat transfer efficiency improves, but the manufacturing process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by configuring different flow path depths for different heat transfer plates based on the specific fluid characteristics. The first heat transfer plate has a first flow path depth optimized for water, while the second heat transfer plate has a second flow path depth optimized for refrigerant. This localized optimization of flow path geometry matches the heat transfer characteristics of each fluid, improving overall heat exchange efficiency without requiring complete redesign of the entire heat exchanger.
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 suppresses manufacturing costs and enhances heat transfer performance by optimizing fluid flow velocities and pressures, reducing thermal resistance, and maintaining efficient heat exchange.
Implementation Method 1
flow paths with the same depth are formed in the metal plates... formed using a single etching process
Implementation Method 2
heat transfer plates... heat exchange... heat transfer performance
Implementation Method 3
pressure loss of both can differ depending on physical properties of the fluids for heat exchange
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
[Object] To provide a heat exchanger that suppresses an increase in manufacturing costs and improves heat transfer characteristics. [Solving Means] In order to accomplish the above-mentioned objective, a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention is a heat exchanger formed by stacking a plurality of heat transfer plates. The plurality of heat transfer plates includes a first heat transfer plate and a second heat transfer plate and the first heat transfer plate and the second heat transfer plate are alternately stacked. A first flow path is formed in the first heat transfer plate and a second flow path is formed in the second heat transfer plate. The second flow path has a flow path cross-sectional area smaller than a flow path cross-sectional area of the first flow path.