Stacked Plate Evaporator With Variable Cross-Section Channel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing evaporators in waste heat utilization devices, such as those based on the Rankine cycle process, face inefficiencies due to excessive pressure increase and reduced dwell time of the liquid in the evaporation process, leading to suboptimal performance and higher production costs.
Innovation Solution
The design of the evaporator features an evaporation path with a cross-sectional increase in the flow direction to accommodate the expanding liquid, reducing pressure buildup and enhancing dwell time, while maintaining constant cross-sections in pre-heating and superheating zones, and incorporating a meander-like channel configuration for increased path length in a compact space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the cross section of the evaporation path is kept constant, then the evaporator structure is simple and production cost is low, but excessive pressure increase occurs and dwell time is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cross section of the evaporation path is designed to increase dynamically in the flow direction of the liquid, allowing the channel to adapt to the expanding volume of liquid during evaporation. This dynamic design prevents excessive pressure increase and extends dwell time, improving evaporator efficiency while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through progressive or stepped expansion configurations.
2Reliability
If the cross section of the evaporation path increases in the flow direction, then pressure increase is reduced and dwell time is increased, but the evaporator structure becomes more complex and production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporation path is divided into multiple channel sections that are arranged next to one another with 180° diversions at transitions, creating a meander-like course. This segmentation allows the cross section to increase in discrete steps rather than continuously, simplifying manufacturing while achieving the desired pressure reduction and dwell time extension effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The evaporation path utilizes a meander-like three-dimensional configuration with repeated diversions, extending the effective path length within a compact footprint. This dimensional approach allows the cross section to increase in the flow direction while maintaining a compact overall structure, balancing efficiency improvement with structural complexity constraints.
3Reliability
If the evaporation path is extended to increase dwell time, then evaporator efficiency improves, but the device occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporation path is configured in a meander-like pattern with repeated 180° diversions between adjacent channel sections, effectively extending the path length in a compact three-dimensional arrangement. This allows the liquid to traverse a longer distance and experience extended dwell time within a reduced overall device volume, improving evaporator efficiency without excessive space occupation.
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 enhances the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the evaporator by preventing excessive pressure increase, increasing dwell time, and improving heat transfer, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective waste heat utilization.
Implementation Method 1
the heat required for that is extracted from the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine
Implementation Method 2
an evaporation path for the working medium to be evaporated
Implementation Method 3
the liquid to be evaporated through the evaporation
Data Source
AI summary
An evaporator (1), for evaporating a liquid (4), particularly for a waste heat utilization device of an internal combustion engine, includes a plurality of channel plate arrangements (2) that are stacked in a stacking direction (3). A gas path (6) is formed between each pair of adjacent channel plate arrangements (2), through which a gas (7) can be conducted. The gas is used to supply the heat that is required to evaporate the liquid (4). Each channel plate arrangement (2) contains a liquid inlet (8), a steam outlet (9), and a channel (11) which connects the liquid inlet (8) and steam outlet (9) together and which forms a repeatedly deflecting evaporation path (12) for the liquid (4) to be evaporated. The channel (11) has, in an evaporation path (12) evaporation zone (14), a flowable cross-section (18) which increases in a direction of liquid (4) flow.