KR20100075828A - Flow moderator - Google Patents

Abstract

A fluid flow moderator for a plate heat exchange device comprises an open-sided fluid conduit adapted for positioning adjacent to a fluid port of a plate heat exchange device wherein said fluid conduit has a fluid deflection surface for moderating fluid flow. A method of moderating fluid flow in a plate heat exchange device comprises positioning an open-sided fluid conduit adjacent to a fluid port of a plate heat exchange device wherein said fluid conduit has a surface for deflecting a fluid and moderating fluid flow in said heat exchange device.

Description

Flow regulator {FLOW MODERATOR}

The present invention generally relates to heat exchange devices for fluids. In particular, the present invention relates to a fluid flow regulator for use in a plate heat exchanger, a plate heat exchanger including a fluid flow regulator and a fluid flow control method.

Generally, a plate heat exchanger for fluids is assembled from a series of metal plates stacked vertically in series to form a series of fluid chambers.

The fluid chamber in the plate heat exchanger may alternately include two kinds of fluids in which heat exchange is performed.

In general, a fluid port can be disposed adjacent the edge of the plate to form a manifold through the heat exchanger, the manifold through which the fluid is alternately placed through the fluid chamber (eg by mechanical pumping). Allow it to flow. In this way, each plate provides a heat exchange interface between the two fluids. This facilitates heat exchange between the fluids as they flow through the heat exchange device, thereby cooling the hot fluid and simultaneously heating the cold fluid.

In some cases, when the fluid flows through the chamber, irregular fluids (eg, channels, recesses) that exist around the fluid port and inside surfaces of the chamber due to frictional effects may create localized fluid turbulent regions. have. Energy is released from the fluid turbulence (also called vortex) region, causing fluid pressure loss in the heat exchange device and hindering fluid flow. This may have a detrimental effect on the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger device.

In addition, in the conventional plate heat exchanger, the fluid distribution on the surface of the heat conduction plate may be nonuniform, which results in that the fluid is not always optimally exposed to the surface of the plate to facilitate efficient heat transfer. This in turn can have a detrimental effect on the overall heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger.

Therefore, a means for solving these problems has been taken.

An object of the present invention is to solve the problem of the conventional plate heat exchanger.

According to the present invention, there is provided a fluid conduit having an open side portion configured to be disposed adjacent to a fluid port of a plate heat exchanger, wherein the fluid conduit is provided with a fluid flow regulator for the plate heat exchanger having a fluid deflection surface for regulating fluid flow. do.

Surprisingly, it has been found that the fluid flow regulator of the present invention not only reduces the localized turbulent flow region in the plate heat exchanger but also provides a means to make the fluid distribution on the top of the plate more uniform than the conventional plate heat exchanger.

This surprising effect is achieved by placing the fluid flow regulator of the present invention adjacent to the fluid port of the fluid chamber of the plate heat exchanger, whereby the fluid flows through the fluid conduit and is deflected by the inner surface of the fluid conduit as the fluid enters the chamber. Is achieved. In this way, the localized fluid turbulence region caused by the friction effect is minimized to reduce the fluid pressure loss. This also provides the effect of more evenly distributing the fluid across the surface of the heat conduction plate when the fluid is deflected because the fluid is forced to flow radially from the open side of the fluid conduit. In addition, improved heat exchange is observed due to the uniform fluid flow distribution on the surface of the heat conducting plate.

Also in accordance with the present invention, a fluid conduit includes a fluid conduit, the fluid conduit including a fluid conduit having an open side portion disposed adjacent to a fluid port of the plate heat exchanger, wherein the fluid conduit is adapted to regulate fluid flow. There is provided a plate heat exchanger having a fluid deflection surface.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a method of controlling a fluid flow in a plate heat exchanger, the method comprising: arranging a fluid conduit having an open side portion adjacent to a fluid port of the plate heat exchanger, wherein the fluid conduit is a fluid within the heat exchanger. A fluid flow control method is provided having a surface for deflecting and regulating fluid flow.

According to some aspects of the invention, the fluid conduit may be a partial cylinder. In particular, the fluid conduit may be an end opening hollow partial cylindrical body. This provides a fluid conduit having an inner deflection surface, which is arcuate and helps the fluid deflect in a controlled radial direction through the open end of the cylinder through the fluid port and into the fluid chamber. Clearly, the arc shape means a shape that can correspond to a partial circle or a partial oval. The inner surface of the U or V shape for fluid conduits may also be considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

In some aspects of the invention, the open side portion of the fluid conduit may be an opening (eg, a longitudinal opening) with parallel edges, which compensates for the radial deflection of the fluid from the arc-shaped deflection surface, thereby allowing the fluid in the fluid chamber. Help to distribute evenly.

In some aspects of the invention, a fluid conduit having open side portions may comprise a conduit having sidewalls that are only partially open. For example, it may be a fluid conduit that is an end opening hollow cylinder having one or more holes and / or slits in the sidewalls. These holes and / or slits may be provided at various locations in the wall that direct the fluid flow in the desired direction. Fluid conduits with open sides are intended to cover both the configurations described above and any equivalent embodiment that provides the same functionality.

The fluid conduit may be formed of a metal material. However, in some cases the fluid conduits may be formed of plastic or other synthetic materials, for example for use in conditions where the corrosive fluid is cooled or heated. In either case, one skilled in the art will be able to determine the material and size of the fluid conduit depending on the environment to be used.

According to some aspects of the invention, the fluid conduit may have a sealing ring that provides a seal between the fluid conduit and the fluid port. This may help to ensure that almost all fluid flowing through the fluid port flows through the fluid conduit such that the fluid flow is controlled, uniform and free from fluid disturbances. This is because fluid flowing between the outer surface of the fluid conduit and the rim of the fluid port can create a state of fluid disturbance.

The sealing ring may be welded to the fluid conduit or connected to the fluid conduit by any other suitable means known to those skilled in the art. The sealing ring may be formed of an elastic rubber material or a metal material having heat resistance and / or corrosion resistance.

In some aspects of the invention, the fluid conduit may be provided with a handle that provides a convenient means for separating the fluid flow regulator from the heat exchange device. The handle may be integrally formed with the sealing ring or separately attached to the fluid conduit.

According to some aspects of the invention, the fluid deflecting surface has recesses, corrugations and / or holes. These features can be arranged in a manner that helps to optimize the fluid distribution on the heat exchanger plate.

According to some aspects of the invention, the arc-like fluid deflection surface may be provided with an arc angle of less than 360 degrees, 270 degrees or less, 180 degrees or less, or 90 degrees or less. Depending on the angle of the arc of the arc deflecting surface, the fluid flow distribution on the heat exchanger plate can be modified to meet the requirements of the heat exchanger device.

According to some aspects of the invention, a plate heat exchanger is provided with a fluid flow regulator disposed adjacent to the fluid port to regulate fluid flow as fluid enters and / or exits the fluid port of the heat exchanger plate in the heat exchanger. Can be.

According to some aspects of the invention, the plate heat exchanger may be provided with a series of heat exchanger plates, the heat exchanger plate being assembled to form a manifold that forms a fluid flow path for fluid flow through the heat exchanger.

The fluid used according to the invention may be a liquid or a gas. In addition, the fluid flow regulator, the heat exchanger and the fluid flow control method according to the present invention is equally applicable to both the cooling process of the hot fluid and the heating process of the cold fluid.

The fluid flow regulator for the plate heat exchanger device according to the present invention makes it possible to achieve efficient heat exchange by allowing the fluid to be uniformly distributed as it flows on the heat exchange plate.

1 is a plan view of a conventional plate heat exchanger.
FIG. 2 is a partial schematic view of a heat exchanger plate stacked inside the plate heat exchanger of FIG. 1 to form a fluid chamber and a reverse flow arrangement of fluid through these chambers. FIG.
3 is a partial schematic view of a conventional plate heat exchanger (FIG. 3A) without a fluid flow regulator according to the present invention and a plate heat exchanger (FIG. 3B) with a fluid flow regulator according to the present invention.
Figure 4 is a plan view of the fluid flow regulator of the first embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a cross-sectional view of the fluid flow regulator of the second embodiment (FIG. 5A), the third embodiment (FIG. 5B) and the fourth embodiment (FIG. 5C) according to the present invention.
Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the fluid distribution (Figs. 6A, 6B, 6C) on the surface of the heat exchanger plate in the heat exchanger device according to the present invention equipped with the fluid flow regulators of Figs. 5A, 5B and 5C, respectively.
7 is a cross-sectional view of a fluid flow regulator in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a plate heat exchanger 1 in which a hot fluid is cooled and a cold fluid is heated by heat exchange between two fluids flowing through the heat exchanger. The heat exchange device 1 has a head support 5, an end support 10, an upper transfer bar 15 and a bottom transfer bar 20.

The heat exchange plate (not shown) is vertically stacked between the head support 5 and the end support 10 and is fixed by connecting bars 21 on both sides of the plate heat exchanger 1 so that both fluids can flow. A series of narrow fluid chambers (not shown) are formed.

In the present embodiment, the fluid inlet ports 25, 26 and the fluid outlet ports 30, 31 located on the head support 5 have one fluid between the fluid inlet port 25 and the fluid outlet port 30. And a backflow arrangement in which other fluid flows between the fluid inlet port 26 and the fluid outlet port 31. Alternatively, these fluids may not be present in the backflow arrangement and may flow in the same direction through the fluid chamber 40.

Referring to FIG. 2, a heat exchange plate 35 is provided that is continuously arranged in the plate heat exchanger (not shown) of FIG. 1 to form a series of fluid chambers 40. FIG. The heat exchange plate 35 provides a heat exchange interface between the fluid chambers 40 and has a fluid port 45 for fluid flow between the fluid chambers 40.

The fluid chamber 40 alternately provides a fluid flow path (fluid chamber 40a) for the first fluid 50 and a fluid flow path (fluid chamber 40b) for the second fluid 55. The flow direction of the fluids 50, 55 through the fluid chamber 40 is indicated by arrows 60, 65, respectively.

Fluid 50 enters heat exchanger 1 at fluid inlet port 25 near the top of heat exchanger 1 and exits fluid outlet port 30 near the bottom of heat exchanger 1. Fluid 55 enters heat exchanger 1 at fluid inlet port 26 near the bottom of heat exchanger 1 and exits fluid outlet port 31 near the top of heat exchanger 1. This provides a fluid backflow arrangement of the two fluids 50, 55 in the heat exchange device 1.

In use, when fluids 50, 55 contact opposite sides 70 of the heat exchanger plate, heat exchange between the fluids 50, 55 takes place through plate 35 such that the hot fluid is cooled and the cold fluid is heated.

FIG. 3A shows the fluid 55 flowing in the direction of the arrow 65 through the heat exchange plate 35 and the port 45 of the heat exchanger device 1 separated by the gasket 75. The presence of channel 76 adjacent to gasket 75 results in local turbulence of fluid 55 as shown by curved arrow 80. Arrow 85 represents the flow direction of fluid 55 through fluid chamber 40b. For clarity, an independent fluid flow system of the fluid chamber 40a including the cooling fluid 50 is also shown.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a fluid flow regulator 90 having a partially cylindrical fluid conduit 95 having an arcuate inner deflection surface 100 and a longitudinal hole 110 formed by an edge 115. have. The deflection surface 100 has a recess 105.

3B shows a fluid flow regulator 90 disposed adjacent to port 45. In use, fluid 55 is blocked from moving into channel 76 by deflection surface 100 to reduce fluid disturbances and improve the flow efficiency of fluid through plate heat exchanger 1. Fluid pressure loss is reduced and heat exchange from fluid 55 in fluid chamber 40a to fluid 50 in fluid chamber 40b is improved.

5A-5C, another embodiment of a fluid flow regulator 90 is shown. The fluid flow regulator 90 of FIG. 5A has a fluid conduit 96 having an arc-shaped deflection surface 101 with an arc angle of less than 180 degrees. The fluid flow regulator 90 of FIG. 5B has a fluid conduit 97 having an arc deflecting surface 102 with an arc angle between 180 degrees and 270 degrees. The fluid flow regulator 90 of FIG. 5C has a fluid conduit 98 having an arc deflecting surface 103 having an angle of 180 degrees to 270 degrees and having a perforation hole 120. Different angles and surface features of the arc-shaped deflection surfaces 101, 102, 103 provide different deflection characteristics to the fluid flow regulator 90 to suit individual fluid flow distribution requirements. This makes the invention versatile and adaptable.

6A-6C, respectively, a heat exchange plate 35 having a fluid port 45 and a fluid flow regulator 90 is shown.

Referring first to Figure 6A, the fluid flow must be distributed in the directions A and B indicated by arrows 125 and 130, respectively, on the heat exchange plate 35 to optimize heat exchange in the heat exchange plate 35. Without the fluid flow regulator 90, the flow will occur primarily in the A direction (ie arrow 125) because the total resistance between the fluid ports 45 with the flow direction vertically oriented is minimal. This makes the distribution of the fluid on the heat exchange plate 40 uneven, making the heat exchange efficiency inefficient. By using the fluid flow regulator 90, fluid (not shown) entering the fluid chamber (not shown) through the port 45 is uniformly deflected in the A and B directions by the arc-shaped deflection surface 101.

Likewise, as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C, by using the fluid flow regulator 90, fluid (not shown) entering the fluid chamber (not shown) through the port 45 is arc-shaped deflection surfaces 102, 103. ) Is deflected in a radial pattern over a large area of the heat exchanger plate 40 in the direction of the arrow 105. The fluid is thus uniformly distributed as it flows over the heat exchanger plate 35 to achieve an optimal level of contact with the heat exchanger plate 35 and to achieve efficient heat exchange.

Referring to FIG. 7, there is a fluid conduit 95 having a fluid deflection surface 100 disposed adjacent the fluid port 45 and a sealing ring 140 is attached to the end 101 of the fluid conduit 95. A fluid flow regulator 90 is shown. Sealing ring 140 provides a seal between fluid conduit 95 and fluid port 45 such that virtually all fluid (not shown) proceeds through fluid flow regulator 90. The sealing ring 110 is made of heat resistant and corrosion resistant rubber and provides a strong seal between the port (not shown) and the fluid conduit 95. Alternatively, the sealing ring 140 is made of metal and welded to the fluid conduit 95.

While the invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1: plate heat exchanger
5: head support
10: end support
15: Upper transfer bar
20: bottom transfer bar
21: connecting bar
25, 26: fluid inlet port
30, 31: fluid outlet port
35: heat exchanger plate
40: fluid chamber
45: fluid port
50, 55: fluid
90: fluid flow regulator
100: internal deflection plane of arc
101, 102, 103: arc deflection plane

Claims (20)

And a fluid conduit having an open side portion adapted to be disposed adjacent to a fluid port of the plate heat exchanger, wherein the fluid conduit has a fluid deflecting surface for regulating fluid flow. The fluid flow regulator of claim 1, wherein the fluid conduit is a partial cylinder. 2. The fluid flow regulator of claim 1, wherein the fluid conduit has an arced fluid deflection surface. 3. The fluid flow regulator of claim 2, wherein the open side portion of the fluid conduit is a longitudinal opening. The fluid flow regulator of claim 1, further comprising a sealing ring for the fluid conduit. 6. The fluid flow regulator of claim 5, wherein the fluid conduit further comprises a handle for removing the regulator from the heat exchange apparatus. The fluid flow regulator of claim 1, wherein the fluid deflection surface has recesses, corrugations, and / or holes. 4. The fluid flow regulator of claim 3, wherein the arc-shaped fluid deflection surface has an arc angle of 270 degrees or less. 2. The fluid flow regulator of claim 1, wherein said fluid flow regulation is by reduction of pressure loss in and / or adjacent said fluid port. A fluid flow regulator comprising a fluid conduit having an open side portion disposed adjacent the fluid port of the plate heat exchanger, the fluid conduit having a fluid deflection surface for regulating fluid flow. Plate-type heat exchanger characterized in that. 11. The plate heat exchanger of claim 10, comprising a series of heat exchanger plates, wherein the heat exchanger plate is assembled with a fluid port to form a manifold that forms a fluid flow path for fluid flow through the heat exchanger. . 12. The plate heat exchanger of claim 10, wherein the fluid conduit is a partial cylinder. 12. The plate heat exchange apparatus of claim 10, wherein the fluid conduit has an arc-shaped fluid deflection surface. 11. The plate heat exchanger according to claim 10, wherein the fluid deflection surface has recesses, corrugations and / or holes. The plate-shaped heat exchanger of claim 13, wherein the arc-shaped fluid deflection surface has an arc angle of 270 degrees or less. 11. The fluid flow regulator of claim 10, wherein said fluid flow regulation is by reducing pressure loss in and / or adjacent said fluid port. A method of controlling fluid flow in a plate heat exchanger, the method comprising: arranging a fluid conduit having an open side portion adjacent to a fluid port of the plate heat exchanger, wherein the fluid conduit deflects fluid and fluid within the heat exchanger. And a surface for regulating the flow. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the fluid conduit is a partial cylinder. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the fluid conduit has an arced fluid deflection surface. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the arc-shaped fluid deflection surface has an arc angle of less than 270 degrees.

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