Heat exchange – Expansion and contraction relieving or absorbing means
Patent
1999-06-22
2000-09-12
Flanigan, Allen
Heat exchange
Expansion and contraction relieving or absorbing means
165167, 165DIG364, F28D 900
Patent
active
061163325
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
A plate heat exchanger and a support arrangement for a plate heat exchanger The present invention concerns a plate heat exchanger which comprises a plate package of heat transfer plates, between which passages for two heat exchange fluids are formed. The heat transfer plates are provided with ports forming channels through the plate package for at least one of the heat exchange fluids. Said plate package is arranged between two frame plates, at least one of which is provided with a through hole communicating with one of said channels. At least one connection pipe is firmly connected with said one frame plate around its through hole and at least one tubular lining is arranged inside said connection pipe and within the through hole of said one frame plate in such a way that it is radially movable relative to the frame plate. The lining is permanently connected with an outer heat transfer plate of said plate package, situated closest to the frame plate, around one of the ports of the outer heat transfer plate. The invention also concerns a support arrangement for a plate heat exchanger of the kind mentioned above.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In plate heat exchangers of the kind described above the heat transfer plates and the linings are thin and get into direct contact with the heat exchange fluids, the result of which is that these parts of the plate heat exchanger will rapidly adopt the temperature of the heat exchange fluids and, thereby, will undergo quick changes in length. The frame plates, on the other hand, are considerably thicker than the heat transfer plates and the linings, and the frame plates do not get into direct contact with the heat exchange fluids. Thus, the frame plates with their one, inner sides are in contact with respective outer heat transfer plates of said plate package and with their other, outer sides are in contact with ambient air. Thereby, the frame plates undergo a smaller and, above all, slower change in length than the heat transfer plates.
The different changes in length of the heat transfer plates and the frame plates can lead to strength problems in the lining, in the connection between the lining and the outer heat transfer plate and in the portions around the ports of the outer heat transfer plate. In order to reduce these strength problems the lining, as initially mentioned, is arranged radially movable relative to the frame plate. An arrangement of this kind is described in WO 95/31687 A.
The radial movability of the lining relative to the frame plate necessitates a gap between the lining and the frame plate. The result of this gap is that the outer heat transfer plate, in an area around its port, has no support surface to abut against. As the fluid pressure in the plate package is high the outer heat transfer plate is subjected to bending in said area, the risk of material failure, primarily due to fatigue, being great. When the lining is displaced from a centered position in the through hole of the frame plate, as a result of the different changes in length of the frame plate and the plate package, the portion of the outer heat transfer plate, that is subjected to bending, becomes particularly large. For example, if the width of the gap is doubled the bending is almost quadrupled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above said risk of material failure in the outer heat transfer plate of a plate heat exchanger of the initially described kind while maintaining the radial movability of the lining relative to the frame plate. According to the invention this object can be achieved by means of a support arrangement, which is adapted to counteract bending of said outer heat transfer plate in a portion thereof around its said port and which comprises a ring extending around the lining. The ring shall be arranged to abut by its one side axially against said portion of the outer heat transfer plate and by its other side against a support surface provided therefor, which is fixed in relation to the fram
REFERENCES:
patent: 5722486 (1998-03-01), Blomgren et al.
patent: 5797446 (1998-08-01), Blomgren
patent: 5964280 (1999-10-01), Wehrmann et al.
Andersson Goran
Jonsson Richard
Nilsson Bo
Vannman Erik
Alfa Laval AB
Flanigan Allen
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