Flat plate energy storage welding

What is a flat plate heat exchanger?

Flat plate heat exchangers used as SWHE (Fig. 8.6) are commonly constructed from spot-welding two metal (stainless steel for freshwater; titanium for saltwater) panels together, welding the edges and expanding the gap between the plates. The resulting gap between the panels forms one or more flow paths or noncircular and irregular cross-section.

What is the difference between a flat plate heat exchanger and a heat wheel?

Flat plate heat exchangers, heat wheels and heat pipes belongs to adjacent-duct heat exchange technologies, while run-around glycol loops and thermosiphon are nonadjacent-duct ones. Flat plate heat exchangers and heat wheels are both commercially available.

What factors affect the performance of flat plate heat exchangers?

There are many factors that affect the performance of flat plate heat exchangers, such as plate type and configuration [21,22], flow pattern , or heat and mass exchange materials [24,25]. The effectiveness of counter-flow is about 50–80% , and the effectiveness of cross-flow exchangers is in a range from 10% less .

How are air streams arranged in a flat plate heat exchanger?

The flow arrangement of the air streams in flat plate heat exchangers can be arranged in three basic configurations: counter-flow, cross-flow and parallel-flow. Fig. 1. Flat plate heat recovery exchanger .

Why does a compact flat plate HX have high power?

High power because the distance between the plates in a traditional compact flat plate HX is typically very small, and numerous plates are present (large heat transfer surface area) which would lead to high heat transfer in and out of the PCM. Figure 11.3.

Do flat plate heat exchangers work better under counterflow conditions?

Flat plate heat exchangers work better under counter-flow conditions, but the systems demand more space for ducts installation among the three configurations . Cross-flow exchanges have the advantage of simple construction and the air flow is easily arranged.