This invention generally relates to heat exchange devices for fluids. In particular, the invention relates to a fluid flow moderator for a plate heat exchange device, a plate heat exchange device containing the fluid flow moderator and to a method of moderating fluid flow.
Generally, plate heat exchange devices for fluids are assembled from a series of metallic plates packed vertically in sequence to form a series of fluid chambers.
The fluid chambers in a plate heat exchange device may alternately contain two fluids between which heat is to be exchanged.
Normally, fluid ports may be positioned adjacent the corners of the plates to form a manifold through the device which allows the flow (eg, by mechanical pumping) of fluid through and between the alternating fluid chambers. In this manner, each plate provides a heat exchange interface between the two fluids. This facilitates heat transfer between the fluids as they flow through the device cooling the higher temperature fluid while simultaneously heating the lower temperature fluid.
In certain circumstances, when fluid flows through the chambers, because of frictional effects localised areas of fluid turbulence can form due to irregularly-shaped features (eg, channels, indentations) present on the internal surface of the chambers and around the fluid ports. Energy is dissipated from the areas of fluid turbulence (also referred to as an eddy), which causes fluid pressure loss in the heat exchange device and hinders fluid flow. This can have a detrimental effect on heat transfer efficiency in the device.
Furthermore, in conventional plate heat exchange devices, the distribution of fluid over the surfaces of the heat-conducting plates can be uneven resulting in the fluid not always obtaining optimum exposure to the surface of the plate in order to facilitate efficient heat transfer. Again, this can have a detrimental effect on the overall heat transfer efficiency of the device.
Accordingly, a means for ameliorating these problems has been sought.
According to the invention there is provided a fluid flow moderator for a plate heat exchange device comprising 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.
It has surprisingly been found that the fluid flow moderator of the invention reduces localised areas of fluid turbulence in a plate heat exchange device and also provides a means for obtaining improved evenness of fluid distribution over the plates compared to conventional plate heat exchange devices.
This surprising effect is achieved by positioning the fluid flow moderator of the invention adjacent a fluid port of a fluid chamber in a plate heat exchange device so that fluid flows through the fluid conduit and is deflected by the inner surface of the conduit as it enters the chamber. In this manner, localised areas of fluid turbulence caused by frictional effects are minimised resulting in a reduced loss in fluid pressure. This also has the effect of more evenly distributing the fluid across the surface of a heat-conducting plate when the fluid is deflected because it is forced to flow in a radial direction from the open-sided portion of the conduit. Also, due to the even fluid flow distribution across the surface of the heat-conducting plate, improved heat exchange is observed.
Further according to the invention there is provided a plate heat exchange device comprising a fluid flow moderator, wherein said fluid flow moderator comprises an open-sided fluid conduit positioned adjacent to a fluid port of the plate heat exchange device wherein said fluid conduit has a fluid deflection surface for moderating fluid flow.
Even further according to the invention there is provided a method of moderating fluid flow in a plate heat exchange device, the method comprising 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.
According to some aspects of the invention, the fluid conduit may be a partial cylinder. In particular, the fluid conduit may be an open-ended and hollow partial cylinder. This provides a fluid conduit with an internal deflection surface which is arcuate, which assists deflection of the fluid in a controlled radial direction through a fluid port and into the fluid chamber through the open-ended portion of the cylinder. For clarification, it should be understood that arcuate means shapes which may correspond to partial circles or partial ellipses. U- or V-shaped internal surfaces for the fluid conduit may also be considered to be within the scope of the invention.
In some aspects of the invention, the open-sided portion of the fluid conduit can be an opening with parallel edges (eg, a longitudinal opening), which assists in the even distribution of the fluid in a fluid chamber by complementing the radial deflection of fluid from an arcuate deflection surface.
In some aspects of the invention, the open-sided fluid conduit may include a conduit which has a side wall which is only partially open. To exemplify, this may be a fluid conduit which is an open-ended hollow cylinder with one or more holes and/or slits present in its side wall. These holes and/or slits may be provided at locations in the wall which direct fluid flow in a desired direction. The term open-sided fluid conduit is intended to include all of the above-described constructions and any equivalents providing the same function.
The fluid conduit may be formed of a metallic material. However, in certain circumstances the fluid conduit may be formed of a plastics or other synthetic material for use in conditions where for example corrosive fluids are being cooled or heated. In any case, the skilled person will be able to select the material and dimensions for the fluid conduit dependent upon the environment in which it will be used.
According to some aspects of the invention, the fluid conduit may have a sealing ring to provide a seal between the fluid conduit and the fluid port. This can help to ensure that substantially all of the fluid flowing through a fluid port flows through the fluid conduit so that fluid flow remains controlled, homogeneous and without fluid turbulence. This is because fluid flowing between an external surface of a fluid conduit and a rim of a fluid port may create conditions of fluid turbulence.
The sealing ring may be welded on to the fluid conduit or otherwise connected to the fluid conduit by any other suitable means known to the person skilled in the art. The sealing ring may be constructed from a resilient temperature- and/or corrosion-resistant rubber material or a metallic material.
In some aspects of the invention, the fluid conduit may also be provided with a handle which provides a convenient means for removing the fluid flow moderator from a heat exchange device. The handle may be integral with the sealing ring or be attached to the fluid conduit separately.
According to some aspects of the invention, the fluid deflection surface is provided with indentations, corrugations and/or holes. These features can be arranged in a manner which assists in optimising flow distribution over the heat-exchange plates.
According to some aspects of the invention, an arcuate fluid deflection surface may be provided which subtends an angle of less than 360°, less than or equal to 270°, less than or equal to 180°, or less than or equal to 90°. Depending on the angle subtended by the arcuate deflection surface, fluid flow distribution over a heat-exchange plate can be modified to suit the requirements of the heat exchange device.
According to some aspects of the invention, a plate heat exchange device may be provided with a fluid flow moderator positioned adjacent a fluid port to moderate fluid flow as a fluid enters and/or exits a fluid port of a heat exchange plate in the heat exchange device.
According to some aspects of the invention, the plate heat exchange device may be provided with a series of heat exchange plates with fluid ports assembled to form a manifold defining flow passages for fluid flow through the heat exchange device.
The fluid used in accordance with the present invention may be a liquid or a gas. Furthermore, the fluid flow moderator, heat exchange device and method of moderating fluid flow in accordance with the invention are equally applicable both to processes in which a high-temperature fluid is cooled and to processes in which a low temperature fluid is heated.
In
Heat exchange plates (not shown) are vertically packed between head support 5 and end support 10 and secured by tie bars 21 on opposing sides of plate heat exchange device 1 to define a series of narrow fluid chambers (not shown) through which the two fluids can flow.
In this embodiment, fluid inlet ports 25,26 and fluid outlet ports 30,31 located on head support 5 provide a counterflow arrangement where one fluid flows between fluid inlet port 25 and fluid outlet port 30, and the other fluid flows between fluid inlet port 26 and fluid outlet port 31. As an alternative, the fluids may not be in a counterflow arrangement and can flow in the same direction through the fluid chambers 40.
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The fluid chambers 40 alternately provide a fluid flow passage for a first fluid 50 (fluid chambers 40a) and a second fluid 55 (fluid chambers 40b). The fluid flow direction of fluids 50 and 55 through fluid chambers 40 is shown by arrows 60 and 65, respectively.
Fluid 50 enters heat exchange device 1 at fluid inlet port 25 near the top of heat exchange device 1 and exits at fluid outlet port 30 near the bottom of heat exchange device 1. Fluid 55 enters heat exchange device 1 at fluid inlet port 26 near the bottom of heat exchange device 1 and exits at fluid outlet port 31 near the top of heat exchange device 1. This provides a fluid counterflow arrangement of the two fluids 50,55 in heat exchange device 1.
In use, when fluid 50,55 contact opposing surfaces 70 of heat exchange plates 35, heat is exchanged across the plates 35 between the fluids 50,55 such that the higher temperature fluid is cooled and the lower temperature fluid is heated.
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Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers 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.