Stacked Plate Heat Exchanger End Plate Reinforcement Against Pressure Swelling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing stacked plate heat exchangers face challenges in maintaining pressure resistance with minimal material usage, as end plates tend to swell under pressurized fluid conditions, affecting mechanical stability and longevity.

Innovation Solution

The end plate arrangement incorporates strengthening means mechanically attached to intermediary plates, redirecting pressure forces into diverging components along the perimeter, using deformations and positive substance connections to enhance mechanical stability, even with thin cover plates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of stationary object

If end plates are made thin to reduce material usage, then weight and cost are reduced, but pressure resistance and mechanical stability deteriorate under pressurized fluid conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveend plate weightVSAvoidpressure resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of stationary objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The end plate is segmented into a thin cover plate and a separate strengthening means (ring-shaped reinforcement element). The strengthening means is mechanically attached to the intermediary heat exchanger plate and extends around the perimeter of the fluid throughput port, providing structural support while allowing the cover plate to remain thin for reduced weight and material usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The end plate arrangement uses a composite structure combining the thin cover plate (e.g., stainless steel) with the strengthening means made of a different material or structural configuration. This composite approach allows the thin cover plate to maintain its weight advantage while the integrated strengthening means provides the necessary pressure resistance and mechanical stability under pressurized fluid conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If end plates are made thin to reduce material usage, then cost is reduced, but swelling and material fatigue increase under pressurized conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial quantityVSAvoidmechanical stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The strengthening means acts as a pre-installed structural reinforcement that cushions and distributes the pressure forces before they can cause swelling or fatigue in the thin cover plate. By providing this additional support structure in advance, the design prevents the thin plate from experiencing excessive stress that would lead to deformation or material fatigue over time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Strength

If strengthening means are added to cover plates, then pressure resistance increases, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure resistanceVSAvoidend plate structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The strengthening means is strategically placed only where needed - around the perimeter of the fluid throughput port where pressure forces are most concentrated. This localized reinforcement provides maximum pressure resistance benefit while minimizing the addition of structural complexity compared to reinforcing the entire end plate uniformly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The strengthening means is pre-formed as a ring-shaped or arc-shaped element that is subsequently mechanically attached to the intermediary heat exchanger plate. This preliminary preparation of the strengthening component allows for simplified assembly and integration into the existing end plate structure, reducing the overall complexity of the manufacturing and assembly process compared to creating a completely new complex structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4624855A1End plate with increased strength for a stacked plate heat exchanger and stacked plate heat exchanger with increased strength

Publication Date: 2025.10.01 DANFOSS AS

Figure 1
Figure 2~3

AI summary

The invention relates to a stacked plate heat exchanger (1) with an end plate arrangement (16, 18, 22) that comprises at least one intermediary heat exchanger plate (2) with at least one fluid throughput port (5, 6) and at least one covering plate (10, 17, 23) for fluidly sealing said at least one fluid throughput port (5, 6). The covering plate (10, 17, 23) comprises strengthening means (11, 12, 19, 20, 24, 25) for supporting a pressure force that is introduced by pressurised fluid onto the end plate arrangement (16, 18, 22). The strengthening means (11, 12, 19, 20, 24, 25) is mechanically attached (14) to the intermediary heat exchanger plate (2) in the vicinity of the perimeter (15) of the strengthening means (11, 12, 19, 20, 24, 25). The strengthening means (11, 12, 19, 20, 24, 25) is further designed and arranged to at least partially redirect the pressure force that is introduced by pressurised fluid onto the end plate arrangement (16, 18, 22) into a diverging force component along the perimeter of said strengthening means (11, 12, 19, 20, 24, 25).