Variable Height Turbulising Elements Plate Heat Exchanger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing countercurrent plate heat exchangers face significant hydraulic resistance issues when working agents undergo substantial volume changes or state transitions during the heat exchange process, leading to exponential growth in resistance.
Innovation Solution
The proposed plate heat exchange module features two plates with a rib structure comprising turbulising elements arranged in rows, where the height of successive rows differs uniformly. This design allows for a changing cross-sectional area between the plates, accommodating volume changes of the working agent and reducing hydraulic resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the cross-sectional area between plates remains constant along the entire length, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but hydraulic resistance increases exponentially when the working agent volume increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the cross-sectional area variable rather than constant. The distance between adjacent plates changes along the flow direction, creating a dynamic flow channel geometry that adapts to volume changes of the working agent, thereby preventing exponential growth of hydraulic resistance while maintaining manufacturability through standard plate stacking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by varying the cross-sectional area parameter along the flow path. By changing the plate spacing parameter dynamically rather than keeping it constant, the system adapts to working agent volume changes and reduces hydraulic resistance without complicating the manufacturing process.
2Productivity
If the working agent volume increases substantially during heat exchange, then the heat exchange capacity is improved, but hydraulic resistance increases exponentially
Solution Approach 1:
The variable cross-sectional area design allows the flow channel to dynamically expand where working agent volume increases, maintaining heat exchange capacity while preventing exponential hydraulic resistance growth through adaptive geometry rather than fixed dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the cross-sectional area parameter along the flow direction, the system accommodates working agent volume changes and maintains optimal flow conditions, preventing hydraulic resistance from increasing exponentially while preserving heat exchange productivity.
3Device complexity
If turbulising elements with uniform height are used, then the structure is simple, but heat transfer efficiency is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the height of turbulising elements at different locations along the flow path. This creates locally optimized flow disturbance that enhances heat transfer efficiency in different sections, with higher elements where greater turbulence is needed and lower elements where flow is already well-mixed, without requiring completely complex structures.
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
The module effectively manages hydraulic resistance and maintains desired thermodynamic parameters by adjusting the Reynolds number through varying turbulising element heights, enhancing both heat transfer and flow resistance coefficients.
Implementation Method 1
The rib structure takes the form of turbulising elements arranged in rows on one side of each of the plates
Implementation Method 2
the height of the turbulising elements in any successive row is different with respect to the preceding row by the same value, and where the plates are set together so that positioned on one plate on its side which features the lowest turbulising elements is the side of the other plate with the highest turbulising elements
Implementation Method 3
a plate heat exchange module which comprises two plates featuring a rib structure
Data Source
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AI summary
A plate heat exchange module comprising two plates featuring a rib structure, where each plate is fitted with an inlet connection and outlet connection for the working agent which flows through the plate is characterised in that the rib structure takes the form of turbulising elements (2) arranged in rows on one side of each of the plates (1A, 1B), while the other side of each plate (1A, 1B) is flat, where the height (h) of the turbulising elements (2) in any successive row is different with respect to the preceding row by the same value, and where the plates (1A, 1B) are set together so that positioned on one plate on its side which features the lowest turbulising elements (2) is the side of the other plate with the highest turbulising elements (2).