Heat exchange – Flow passages for two confined fluids – Interdigitated plural first and plural second fluid passages
Patent
1988-12-12
1990-04-10
Schwadron, Martin P.
Heat exchange
Flow passages for two confined fluids
Interdigitated plural first and plural second fluid passages
165167, F28F 308
Patent
active
049151657
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a plate heat exchanger comprising a package of thin heat exchange plates, which by pressing have been provided with ridges on both sides, through which ridges the plates abut against each other, while forming plate interspaces, and further comprising means for conducting a heat exchange medium through every second plate interspace and another heat exchange medium through the other plate interspaces in a way such that the heat exchange media flow in parallel in a predetermined main direction--countercurrently or concurrently--through their respective plate interspaces, the heat exchange plates being formed such that in the plate interspaces they provide for a larger flow resistance for one of the heat exchange media than for the other.
Plate heat exchangers of this kind are known e.g. by the following patent specifications: GB 1.486.919 (1974), GB 2.025.026 (1979), GB 2.067.277 (1980), U.S. Pat. No. 4.423.772 (1984), U.S. Pat. No. 4.605.060 (1986).
In all of these known plate heat exchangers the heat exchange plates have pressed protuberances in the form of parallel ridges, which are oriented such in the plate interspaces that ridges of one plate cross and abut against ridges of adjacent plates. This arrangement of ridges in the plates has proved advantageously in many respects. Thus, an arrangement of this kind means that a very large number of contact points are created between adjacent plates, whereby the plates without being deformed may be subjected to large clamping forces, even if they are produced by an extremely thin plate material. A thin plate material is desirable for the obtainment of the best possible heat transfer between the heat exchange media and for the obtainment of the cheapest possible plate heat exchanger. Further, an arrangement of ridges of this kind means that the heat exchange media are subjected to heavy turbulence upon through-flow of the plate interspaces. Finally, the provision of ridges in the plates offers a possibility of extensive surface enlargement of the used plate material, so that the heat exchange plates will get as large effective heat exchange surfaces as possible.
As shown in the said patent specifications, the pressed ridges in the plates have been given a certain orientation or have been provided with different kinds of deformations in order to provide larger flow resistance for one of the heat exchange media than for the other. A common drawback of the known technique according to all of said patent specifications is, however, that the difference in flow resistance, which by means of this technique can be accomplished, is relatively small, if it is presumed that a substantially unchanged strength of the plates and an unchanged distance between the plates is desired. This means that many heat exchange duties, where the flow of one heat exchange medium is substantially larger than the flow of the other heat exchange medium, cannot be fulfilled in an effective manner by means of plate heat exchangers of the kind in question. Instead, these heat exchange duties often have to be fulfilled by means of tube heat exchangers, which in several respects are less advantageous than plate heat exchangers.
The object of the present invention is to provide a new design for plate heat exchangers of the initially defined kind, which avoids the above-mentioned limitations of previously known technque as to different flow resistance for the heat exchange media, but which still makes it possible to use a very thin plate material in the heat exchange plates and an effective utilization of this plate material.
This object is obtained according to the invention in a way such that each of at least two adjacent plate interspaces in the heat exchanger is formed by heat exchange plates, each of which on each side has parallel ridges, which across a substantial part of the heat exchange portion of the heat exchange plate extend in said main direction for the flow of the heat exchange media and which between themselves form parallel valleys for the flow of t
REFERENCES:
patent: 3783090 (1974-01-01), Andersson et al.
patent: 3792730 (1974-02-01), Andersson
patent: 4605060 (1986-08-01), Andersson et al.
Blomgren Ralf
Dahlgren Arthur
Alfa-Laval Thermal AB
Flanigan Allen J.
Schwadron Martin P.
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