Heat exchange – Flow passages for two confined fluids – Interdigitated plural first and plural second fluid passages
Patent
1989-03-22
1990-12-11
Schwadron, Martin P.
Heat exchange
Flow passages for two confined fluids
Interdigitated plural first and plural second fluid passages
165 70, 165166, F28F 304
Patent
active
049763130
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to plate heat exchangers of the type having a series of heat exchange plates sealed from each other and forming interplate passages for flow of two fluids which exchange heat through the plates. More particularly, the invention relates to a novel arrangement of the plates and the sealing means which allows any leakage of either fluid to escape to atmosphere without contaminating the other fluid.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a heat exchanger, such as for heating and cooling of potable water or cooling of electrical transformers, a double-wall structure is desired between adjoining passages through which separate fluids are circulated, to prevent cross-contamination between a primary flow and a secondary flow of the heat exchanger.
In connection with plate type heat exchangers a double-wall structure has already been proposed in FR-A1 2454075 which discloses a plate heat exchanger wherein two identically corrugated plates are put together. A gap is formed between the two plates of the double-wall, which gap communicates with the atmosphere and through which a leakage of a fluid can escape to the atmosphere. Further, an interjacent wire netting can be used to increase the heat transfer between the plates. US 4 249 597 also discloses a plate heat exchanger having a double-wall structure. The heat exchanger comprises a plurality of identical plates assembled in pairs. Each plate has a series of protuberant channel portions looping back and forth between the short sides and along the long sides of the plate in an even number of parallel rows. Between said parallel rows there is a planar portion. The planar portions of each pair face each other and sealingly abut to provide a brazeable connection and seal therebetween. Two pairs of plates are then arrangeable to closely nest with each other by turning the two pairs 180.degree. with respect to each other. The channel portions at opposed sides of said pairs of plates nest alongside each other providing surface-to-surface contact between the channel portions. However, the planar portions at opposed sides of said pairs of plates are spaced from each other providing channels therebetween, through which any leakage can escape to the atmosphere.
The two above mentioned references only partly show a surface-to-surface contact between the plates of the double-wall structure and therefore the heat transfer between the plates has not proved to be efficient enough.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The principal object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger of the sealed plate type which allows a leakage of either of the two heat exchanging fluids to escape to atmosphere so as to avoid contamination of the other fluid and which has a higher efficiency compared with previously known heat exchangers of the double-wall structure type.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A plate heat exchanger according to the invention comprises a series of heat exchange plates arranged in a pack, including alternate plates and other plates intermediate the alternate plates, each plate being generally rectangular with a pressed corrugation pattern of ridges and valleys and having through flow ports in corner portions thereof, for two heat exchanging fluids, first sealing means between each alternate plate and one of the two adjacent intermediate plates, said first sealing means defining an elongated passage for flow of one of the heat exchanging fluids from a said port at one end to a said port at the opposite end of said passage, alternate ones of said passages accommodating flow of a first said fluid and the other passages accommodating flow of a second said fluid, said first sealing means also defining a channel interconnecting opposing ports to accommodate flow of the other of said heat exchanging fluids bypassing said passage, each alternate plate and the other of said two adjacent intermediate plates forming a double-wall unit so arranged that an area between the two plates forms a path through which leakage of a said fluid can escape to the atmo
REFERENCES:
patent: 4249597 (1981-02-01), Carey
patent: 4402359 (1983-09-01), Carnavos et al.
Dahlgren Arthur
Kallrot Magnus
Stromblad Mats
Alfa-Laval Thermal AB
Flanigan Allen J.
Schwadron Martin P.
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