The technology behind RHeX

 
We turned an acclaimed winner into an even better performer
 

Time passes and technology advances, thus, after 25 years of undisputed success, the RCR rotating heat exchanger, which has gained a "de facto” status as best practice to recover heat from very polluted streams, has been completely re-invented  using the latest technologies in design and manufacture.
Computer-simulation engineering has been extensively used tfluid-dynamics and structural rigidity.

Particle-motion and thermal analysis have refined the exchanger physical details to improve heat transfer while minimizing boundary layer conditions and increasing the dynamic shear stresses near the surfaces in order to enhance the self-cleaning action of rotation.
The new patented blade design of the disk dimples allows for a positive "pushing” action on the effluent, making the unit even more suitable for thick and heavy fluids and further reducing the generated pressure loss.
 
 
 
The new, robotized structure of the welding procedure has increased the reliability and quality of the final product.
Lenticular shells are not any more welded one to the other: the new design makes them modular units which can be mounted freely on the supporting shaft. They can be thus removed and interchanged.
 
 

The reticular structure of the dimples and their new welding structure create a much more pressure resistant disk: with a bursting pressure of 36 bars, it safely allows for a high rated inner pressure.
Furthermore, the reduced disk pitch increases the compactness of the exchanging surfaces, making it possible to significantly increase heat transfer in the same footprint of the original RCR design.

  
 The RHeX project has received funding by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program under Grant Agreement n° 723930.