Heat exchange – With first fluid holder or collector open to second fluid
Patent
1997-05-29
1998-07-07
Ferensic, Denise L.
Heat exchange
With first fluid holder or collector open to second fluid
165166, 2611122, 261159, F28B 100
Patent
active
057754101
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a heat exchanger wherein the heating vapor is fed onto heat exchange surfaces of membrane material from a vapor distributor disposed at the end of the heat exchange surfaces, the distributor having parallel conduits for directing vapor over the entire width of the heat exchange surfaces.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Heat exchangers in which the heat exchange surfaces are of membrane material, such as plastic membrane, are used for the evaporation of liquids by means of vapor serving as a heating medium. For example, FI lay-open print 86961 describes a heat exchanger comprising bags of plastic membrane, the heat exchanger being intended for the distilling of seawater or for the concentrating of various solutions and suspensions. In order for the heat exchange to be effective, the liquid must be distributed evenly over the heat exchange surfaces of plastic membrane, to cover the surfaces throughout, and respectively the heating vapor must be fed evenly onto those plastic membrane surfaces which are opposite with respect to the liquid.
In the heat exchanger according to FI publication 86961, each of the bags of plastic membrane is equipped with a honeycomb structure including liquid and vapor conduits, the honeycomb structure being made up of three honeycombed plates, successively one on top of another, made up of two side walls and of partition walls separating adjacent conduits from each other between the side walls. The conduits in the middle honeycombed plate serve as vapor conduits leading to the inside of the bag, and the conduits in the outer honeycombed plates serve as liquid conduits leading to the outer surfaces of the bag. The bags and honeycomb structures are fastened to each other so that each bag with its honeycomb structure constitutes in the heat exchanger one integral, replaceable heat exchange element.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a heat exchanger in which the vapor distribution conduit system is implemented in a manner simpler than those of the prior art. It is characteristic of the invention that the vapor distributor is made up of two opposite wall elements which are fastened to each other by means of projections in one element and corresponding recesses in the other element, and that the membrane which constitutes the heat exchange surface is locked between the projections and recesses engaging each other.
By the system according to the invention it is accomplished that the fastening projections and recesses fold the membrane which constitutes the heat exchange surface into pleats, thereby narrowing it in the width direction of the heat exchange surface. As the feeding in of heating vapor causes in the heat exchanger an expansion of the vapor space delimited by the membrane, the above-mentioned narrowing of the membrane corresponds to the narrowing which would otherwise follow the expansion of the vapor space. By means of the pleating there is thus produced an expansion leeway in the membrane, thus preventing the membrane from stretching or rupturing in use.
The projections and recesses fastening the wall elements to each other are preferably elongated in such a manner that they channel the passage of vapor between the wall elements. The fastenings may be snap fastenings formed by projections and recesses engaging each other, the fastenings as such sufficing to tie the elements firmly to each other.
The invention can advantageously be applied to evaporators in which the liquid to be evaporated and the heating vapor are fed onto heat exchange surfaces formed by bags of plastic membrane or other similar heat exchange elements, from conduits at their upper end. According to the invention, the wall element delimiting the vapor distributor is in this case arranged to delimit on its other side the liquid conduits required for the liquid to be evaporated, these conduits leading to that side of the heat exchange membrane which is opposite with respect to the liquid. Accordingly, a struc
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Eriksson Hemmo
Koistinen Peter
Ramm-Schmidt Leif
Tiainen Veli
Atkinson Christopher
Ferensic Denise L.
Hadwaco Ltd. Oy
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