Parabolically deforming sector plate

An apparatus for producing a sector plate for a rotary heat exchanger comprising:

• one or more network interface units configured to enable network connectivity;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• define overall dimensions of a sector plate, the overall dimensions defining a surface area of a top surface and a bottom surface of the sector plate, the bottom surface being configured to be positioned across a radial dimension of a rotor of a rotary heat exchanger so that the bottom surface can form one or more seals with one or more radial plates of the rotor during operation of the rotor;
• determine a number of a plurality of tapered ribs to be included on the top surface, the number being determined based on the surface area and a desired sealing to be provided between the one or more radial plates and the bottom surface;
• and
• determine a root height of the plurality of tapered ribs based on a plate thickness of the sector plate and the number of the plurality of tapered ribs, wherein, with the root height, the plurality of tapered ribs cause a parabolic deformation of the sector plate to an actuated position in response to an actuation load to minimize a running gap between the bottom surface and the one or more radial plates, and wherein the plurality of tapered ribs return the sector plate to a rest position in response to removal of the actuation load, with the sector plate supporting its weight in a cantilevered fashion when in the actuated position and the rest position.

One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media encoded with instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

• define overall dimensions of a sector plate, the overall dimensions defining a surface area of a top surface and a bottom surface of the sector plate, the bottom surface being configured to be positioned across a radial dimension of a rotor of a rotary heat exchanger so that the bottom surface can form one or more seals with one or more radial plates of the rotor during operation of the rotor;
• determine a number of a plurality of tapered ribs to be included on the top surface, the number being determined based on the surface area and a desired sealing to be provided between the one or more radial plates and the bottom surface;
• and
• determine a root height of the plurality of tapered ribs based on a plate thickness of the sector plate and the number of the plurality of tapered ribs, wherein, with the root height, the plurality of tapered ribs cause a parabolic deformation of the sector plate to an actuated position in response to an actuation load to minimize a running gap between the bottom surface and the one or more radial plates, and wherein the plurality of tapered ribs return the sector plate to a rest position in response to removal of the actuation load, with the sector plate supporting its weight in a cantilevered fashion when in the actuated position and the rest position.