CN114636332A

CN114636332A - Spacer insert for heat exchanger

Info

Publication number: CN114636332A
Application number: CN202111408599.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 赫尔格·尼尔森
Original assignee: Danfoss AS
Current assignee: Danfoss AS
Priority date: 2020-12-16
Filing date: 2021-11-24
Publication date: 2022-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 2041-11-24
Also published as: CN114636332B; DK4015963T3; EP4015963B1; PL4015963T3; EP4015963A1

Abstract

The invention introduces a spacer adapted to be clamped between peripheral edge zones of two adjacent heat transfer plates of a plate heat exchanger, wherein the spacer is formed with a gasket in a surface, the gasket being adapted to surround an inner hollow of the spacer.

Description

Spacer insert for heat exchanger

Background

A conventional construction of a plate heat exchanger comprises a plurality of heat transfer plates stacked on top of each other. The heat transfer plates are patterned such that flow paths are formed between each group of adjacent heat transfer plates. The inlet and outlet for the flow path of the fluid may be formed as openings in the heat transfer plate. Some heat exchangers braze the plates together, while in others gaskets are positioned between the heat transfer plates and in gasket grooves formed in the heat transfer plates. Then, gaskets are arranged at edge portions of the heat transfer plates to seal the flow paths, and at areas around the openings to seal the pairs of openings, so that only two of the openings have a flow channel leading to the flow path formed at one side of the heat transfer plates, while the other two openings are sealed with respect to the flow path.

The frame plates may be joined and fastened to the stack of heat exchanger plates, for example at the top and bottom, and have a significant thickness compared to the heat transfer plates to withstand larger loads.

A known problem with pad-type heat exchangers is that the pads are prone to deformation and/or are pressed somewhat out of position. Another problem is that heat transfer plates are conventionally patterned at the periphery and in the area of the openings, in addition to being patterned in the heat transfer section. This often complicates the manufacture of the plates and increases the likelihood of misalignment when assembling the plates in the heat exchanger. It also increases the likelihood of introducing weak points or areas in the panel. The present invention aims to overcome these problems.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to solve these problems, the invention introduces a spacer adapted to be clamped between peripheral edge zones of two adjacent heat transfer plates of a plate heat exchanger, wherein the spacer is formed with a gasket in a surface, the gasket being adapted to surround an inner hollow of the spacer.

The inner hollow may be adapted to bring the two heat transfer plates into contact within a heat transfer area defined by the two heat transfer plates being joined.

The spacer may be adapted to prevent contact of the two heat transfer plates in the peripheral area.

The spacer may include a base having a base outer unlined section, wherein the base outer unlined section is formed with spacer rod openings adapted to align with plate rod openings formed in the plate peripheral region.

The spacer rod openings may be adapted to pass rods through the stack of heat transfer plates between the two frame plates.

The spacer may include a spacer opening adapted to align with the plate opening.

The spacer may be formed with a base inner pad section defining an inner side of the spacer opening (114, 115) with respect to the inner hollow (105), and adapted to be positioned in an oblique region of the heat transfer plate (11) and to prevent flow passing between the plate opening (14, 15) and the heat transfer region (13).

The spacer may be formed with a porous diagonal support section defining an inner side of the spacer opening with respect to the inner hollow, and adapted to be positioned in a diagonal region of the heat transfer plate and to allow flow to pass between the plate opening and the heat transfer region.

The porosity of the porous diagonal support portions may be ensured by diagonal spacer flow paths formed between diagonal spacer support portions adapted to contact the two adjacent heat transfer plates.

The perforated diagonal support may be formed by two connected concentric semi-circular portions adapted to be positioned in the diagonal zone when connected to the heat transfer plate.

The spacer may comprise a base having a base outer linerless section, wherein the base outer linerless section is formed with a mistake-proof protruding feature adapted to mate with a mistake-proof receiving feature formed in the heat transfer plate.

The spacer is adapted to form a support for the pad.

The spacer may include a base having a base outer unlined section, wherein the liner is positioned at a location inboard of the outer unlined section.

The spacer may be substantially more rigid and less compressible than the material of the pad.

The invention further introduces a heat exchanger formed by a stack of structured heat transfer plates, each structured heat transfer plate being provided with two pairs of openings, each pair of openings providing an inlet and an outlet to a first flow path at one side of the heat transfer plate and a second flow path at a second side of the heat transfer plate, respectively, and wherein a spacer according to any of the preceding claims is positioned between at least two adjoining adjacent heat transfer plates in a plate peripheral area.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a gasket-type plate heat exchanger and heat transfer plate according to the prior art.

Fig. 2 is an illustration of a component of a spacer and heat transfer plate with gaskets.

Fig. 3 is an illustration of a spacer with an integral liner.

Fig. 4A and 4B are illustrations of top and bottom views of portions of a spacer in a diagonal region with an integrated pad.

Fig. 5 is a heat transfer plate suitable for use as a spacer and gasket.

Fig. 6A and 6B are illustrations of a side of the spacer to which the pad is attached.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows an example of a plate heat exchanger 10 formed by a collection or stack of structured heat transfer plates 11. Each of the heat transfer plates 11 is provided with two pairs of openings, wherein a first pair of openings 14 provides an inlet and an outlet for a first flow path formed at one side of the heat transfer plate 11, and a second pair of openings 15 provides an inlet and an outlet for a second flow path formed at a second side of the heat transfer plate 11, the second side being opposite to the first side. The

openings

14, 15 of the stacked heat transfer plates 11 form channels through the plate stack. In the illustrated example, the heat transfer plates 11 are adapted to receive gaskets 12 at the peripheral portions to respectively seal the flow paths formed between each two adjacent plates 11 from the outside and to seal one pair of

openings

14, 15, wherein on opposite sides of the heat transfer plates 11 the respective other pair of

openings

15, 14 is sealed. Furthermore, the plate stack is arranged between two frame plates 50, held together by rods 52, holding the heat transfer plates 11 tightly together under compression. At least one of the frame plates 50 comprises an opening 51, which opening 51 is aligned with the

openings

14, 15 of the heat transfer plates and connected to an external fluid pipe.

The heat transfer plates 11, which are in direct contact with the fluid, may be substantially thin in order to enable a rapid heat exchange between the respective hot and cold fluids, and the heat transfer plates 11 are made of a medium-resistant material.

The frame plate 50 is relatively thick compared to the heat transfer plates 11 in order to withstand both internal forces from the stack of compressed heat transfer plates 11 and certain external impacts that the frame plate 50 may encounter.

The peripheral portions of the heat transfer plates 11 are conventionally patterned, for example by means of corrugations, so as to contact the pattern of adjoining adjacent heat transfer plates 11 and form a barrier for the gasket 12. The pattern may be connected by forming sections of the wall against which the liner 12 rests.

The gasket 12 is positioned at the periphery of the first and second flow paths including the heat transfer area 13 formed between the joined heat transfer plates 11, thereby sealing the flow paths and the heat transfer area 13 from the outside of the heat exchanger 10.

The gasket 12 is also formed with a gasket diagonal (diagonalal) section 12A, which gasket diagonal section 12A is positioned at a diagonal region of the heat transfer plate 11. The diagonal area is the intersection between the

openings

14, 15 and the heat transfer area 13. The gasket 12 on one side provides a gasket diagonal section 12A for the second pair of

openings

15, 14, sealing the second pair of

openings

15, 14 from the first flow path, and the gasket 12 on the second side provides a second gasket diagonal section 12A for the first pair of

openings

14, 15, sealing the first pair of

openings

14, 15 from the second flow path.

Fig. 2 shows an alternative gasket type heat exchanger 10, wherein the spacers 100 or gasket units 100 are positioned between the heat transfer plates 11 in the plate peripheral area 16. The figure shows the components of the heat exchanger 10, but not when fully assembled into the heat exchanger 10.

Hereinafter, when referring to the spacer 100, it will also refer to the cushion unit 100, and vice versa.

The spacer 100 may be formed with a base 101, the base 101 including an outer, gasketless-free section 101A and an inner, lined section 101B with a liner 102. The outer unlined section 101A may be formed with

auxiliary means

19, 119, 120, 118, such as alignment/guiding means 19, 119, 120 for guiding the spacer 100 into the correct orientation and position, and/or connecting or locking means 118 for connecting or locking the spacer 100 into place. When stacking two heat transfer plates 11 into the heat exchanger 11, both sections 101A, 101B are adapted to contact the two heat transfer plates 11, but wherein only the gasket is adapted to be compressed between the two heat transfer plates 11. This enables the base 101 including the outer linerless section 101A to form a support for the plate peripheral region 16 and the liner 12 in the inner liner section 101B to form a seal to the inner heat transfer area 13 towards the outside and the outer linerless section 101A.

The outer unlined section 101A can constitute a width of at least 2/3, or even 3/4 or 4/5 of the entire width of the spacer 100. Accordingly, the inner pad section 101B may constitute a width of 1/3, or 1/4, or 1/5 that is less than or equal to the entire width of the spacer 100.

The spacers 100 may be positioned between the frame plate 50 and the adjoining heat transfer plate 11, and between the respective heat transfer plates 11. The spacers 100 may be positioned between some of the heat transfer plates 11 or between all of the heat transfer plates.

The spacer 100 replaces a contact pattern of a pattern for contacting adjoining adjacent heat transfer plates 11, which is conventionally formed at the peripheral edge portions of the heat transfer plates 11. Thus, the plate peripheral regions 16 formed outside the heat transfer region 13 need not be patterned, but may be substantially flat or planar, or at least have no sections or regions in contact with adjacent plates.

The secondary means of the spacer 100 may include a spacer rod opening 118, such as a spacer rod opening formed in the outer unlined section 101A, the spacer rod opening 118 adapted to align with the plate rod opening 18 formed in the plate peripheral region 16. These form means for connecting or locking the spacer 100 in place. The heat transfer plates 11 are stacked with the spacers 100 between them and the frame plates 50 at the top and bottom. The rods may then be introduced through the spacer rod openings 118, the plate rod openings 18, and the openings in the frame plates. The components may then be held in tight connection, for example by bolts located at the ends of the rods. This has the additional advantage of keeping the spacer 100 fixed in place.

In one embodiment, the connection or locking means of the auxiliary device may be formed as an upwardly projecting feature of the outer unlined section 101A that is adapted to fit into an opening or projection formed in the peripheral edge margin 16.

An internal hollow portion 103 is formed inside the spacer 100, and the internal hollow portion 103 is surrounded by the base 101 and the spacer 102. The hollow interior 103 is adapted for two heat transfer plates 11 to be in contact in a heat transfer area 36 defined by the two heat transfer plates 11 being joined, with the base 101 being adapted to be sandwiched between peripheral edge areas 16 of two adjacent heat transfer plates 11 of the plate heat exchanger 10.

Fig. 3 shows a spacer 100 including two pairs of

spacer openings

114, 115 adapted to align with the

plate openings

14, 15.

The

pads

102, 102A, 102B are incorporated as part of the spacer 100 such that the spacer 100 becomes a pad unit 100, or the pads are fixed to the spacer 100, or the pads may be inserted into recesses or grooves formed in the surface of the spacer 100. The

pads

102, 102A, 102B may be molded, for example, to the spacer 100, such as by injection molding, to the spacer 100.

To assist assembly and ensure proper orientation of spacer 100, the assist device may include error-proofing (poka-yoke) protruding features 120, which error-proofing protruding features 120 are adapted to mate with error-proofing receiving features 19 formed in heat transfer plates 11, e.g. in plate peripheral regions 16. The shape of the error-proofing protruding feature 120 and the associated error-proofing receiving feature 19 of the plate makes it possible for the spacer 100 to be correctly oriented and positioned only with respect to the heat transfer plate 11. In an alternative embodiment, the heat transfer plates 11 are formed with error-proofing protruding features 120 and the spacers 100 are formed with error-proofing receiving features 19. In either embodiment, the spacer 100 may be provided with error-proofing receiving features 119 adapted to align with the error-proofing receiving features 19 of the plate.

Not all surfaces of the spacer 100 need to be in contact with the heat transfer plates 11, the spacer 100 may for example comprise a contact section 130 along an edge of the spacer 100, around a periphery of the spacer rod opening 118, by a protrusion, or simply as an edge of a protrusion, such as a ridge. In the same way, such spacers may be lattice-structured or formed with a lattice structure, or generally hollow only at a portion opposite the exterior of the

pads

102, 102A, 102B. This reduces the amount of material used for the spacer 100 and reduces weight.

Fig. 4A shows a section of the spacer 100 in the region of two spacer openings 114, 115 (a first spacer opening 114 for the first flow path and a second spacer opening 115 for the second flow path).

The spacer 100 may include a sealing diagonal support (section) 104 that connects the main portions of the spacer 100 at two locations on opposite sides of the

spacer openings

114, 115. The sealing diagonal support 104 is provided with a diagonal section 102A of the gasket, which diagonal section 102A is connected to the main gasket 102 at two locations on opposite sides of the

spacer openings

114, 115 in the same manner. The sealed diagonal support 104 is adapted to be positioned in diagonal sections of the heat transfer plates 11 and thereby form a partition wall between the

spacer openings

114, 115 and the inner hollow 103, and thereby the sealed diagonal support 104 forms a sealing between the

plate openings

14, 15 and the heat transfer area 13 when the sealed diagonal support 104 is sandwiched between two heat transfer plates 11 in the assembled heat exchanger.

In a conventional heat exchanger, the heat transfer plates 11 may be formed with a pattern contacting adjacent heat transfer plates 11 for support, leaving channels or openings for the passage of fluid.

In this embodiment, the diagonal areas of the heat transfer plates 11 need not be formed with any support structure or pattern, but may be substantially flat or planar, or at least not in direct contact with adjacent heat transfer plates 11.

The second pad 102B connected to the support 100 may be formed to the periphery of the

spacer openings

114, 115, and may be separate from the pad 112 and the diagonal pad section 112A, or connected to any one of the pad 112 and the diagonal pad section 112A. As shown, the main portion of the cushion 112 and the diagonal cushion section 112A may extend as one continuous portion without portions located outside of the

spacer openings

114, 114. In an alternative embodiment, the main cushion portion 112 surrounds the spacer 100, and all

spacer openings

114, 115 and diagonal cushion sections 112A extend inside the

openings

114, 115 so as to be sealed with respect to the hollow interior 105, joining the main cushion portion 112 on both sides of the

respective openings

114, 115 like branches.

The spacer 100 may comprise support means 103 for the diagonal zones, which support means 103 are adapted to support the diagonal zones of the heat transfer plate 11 having the

openings

14, 15 of the heat transfer plate 11 free from support by the gasket to allow flow through the heat transfer zone 13. This may be formed as a perforated diagonal support (section) 103. Which is adapted to support the heat transfer plate 11 in other unsupported sections, such as diagonal areas associated with the

plate openings

14, 15, in which diagonal areas flow will pass in and out through the heat transfer area 13. In a conventional heat exchanger, the heat transfer plates 11 in this area may be formed with a pattern contacting the adjacent heat transfer plates 11 for support, leaving channels or openings for the passage of fluid.

In the illustrated embodiment, the porosity of the porous diagonal support 103 is ensured by a diagonal spacer flow path 103A formed between diagonal spacer supports 103B, which diagonal spacer supports 103B are adapted to contact two adjacent heat transfer plates 11. The diagonal spacer flow path 103A may be formed in any manner, such as holes or cavities on other solid porous diagonal supports 103, as free sections between diagonal spacer supports 103B, or in any other form.

Fig. 4B shows the other side of the support 100 with respect to fig. 4A, where it is seen that one side of the perforated diagonal support 103 has a flat surface forming a common diagonal support portion 103B, the common diagonal support portion 103B contacting a surface of one of the heat transfer plates 11, while the perforated diagonal support 103 is formed on the other side with a cylindrical diagonal support portion 103B for contacting an adjoining adjacent heat transfer plate 11.

In the illustrated embodiment, the perforated diagonal support 103 is formed by two connected concentric semi-circular sections located in diagonal zones, and the perforated diagonal support 103 contacts the major portion of the spacer 100 on opposite sides of the

spacer openings

114, 115.

The spacer 100 may be formed with

gaskets

102, 102A, 102B on both surfaces, so as to have portions or gasket surfaces of the

gaskets

102, 102A, 102B that contact both upper and lower portions of two adjoining adjacent heat transfer plates 11. In one embodiment, the

pads

102, 102A, 102B are positioned or formed on two surfaces.

As previously described, the liner 102 may be positioned at an inner peripheral portion of the spacer 100, such as at the inner liner section 101B of the base, such that portions outside of the heat transfer region 13 (e.g., the outer unlined section 101A of the base) may be formed with openings or the like, such as the spacer rod openings 118. This ensures that the openings are sealed from the flow path within the heat exchanger 10.

In one embodiment, the base 101 is formed of two separate parts, with the outer unlined section 101A of the base positioned outboard of the inner lined section 101B of the base. Thus, the outer, outer liner-free section 101A of the outer base forms an outer support for the inner liner section 101B of the base, which outer support serves to hold the inner liner section 101B of the base in place, wherein the outer, liner-free section 101A of the base can be fixed, for example by means of the rod 52.

In another embodiment, the

liner

12, 112 is positioned against an inner edge surface of the outer linerless section 101A of the base, which thereby forms the spacer 100 and the outer support portion of the

liner

12, 112. In this embodiment, the inner edge surface may be shaped to match the shape of the

pad

12, 112.

In one embodiment, a liner unit 100 is introduced, the base 101 comprising an inner liner section 101B of the base, the inner liner section 101B of the

base having liners

102, 102A, 102B. Thus, the stiffness of the base 101 will help to hold the

gaskets

102, 102A, 102B in place, and this concept can be combined with conventional corrugations in the plate peripheral region 16 outside the gasket unit 100, which will prevent the

gaskets

102, 102A, 102B from being pressed out of place under the pressure in the heat exchanger 10.

Fig. 5 shows an embodiment heat transfer plate 11 adapted to be assembled into a heat exchanger 10, with spacers 100 between the heat transfer plates 11, wherein the outer peripheral portion 17 is curved, except for protrusions or corrugations defining flow paths in the heat transfer area 13. The curved outer peripheral edge 17, when stacked, may contact the outer surface of the spacer 100 and thereby help hold the spacer 100 in place. Another advantage is that the curved outer circumferential edge 17 helps to guide the heat transfer plates 11 into position when assembling the heat exchanger 10.

The curved section 17 may be smooth as shown, or may be formed itself, for example with undulations or corrugations to increase strength.

Fig. 6A and 6B illustrate embodiments in which the free liner 102 is adapted to be attached to the spacer 100, e.g., the free liner 102 is adapted to be attached to the inside of the inward facing hollow 105 of the spacer 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the spacer 100 is formed with a connection section 100A adapted to mate with the pad connection section 102C. Either the spacer connection section 100A or the pad connection section 102C may be formed as an extension 100A adapted to fit into the recess 102C of the other. In the illustration, the spacer 100 is provided with an extension and the pad 102 is provided with a recess, but the reverse is also possible.

In one embodiment, portions such as the porous diagonal support 103 and/or the sealed diagonal support 104, including the diagonal spacer support 103B, are made of the same material as the gasket. In embodiments where the cushion 102 is positioned at the inner surface facing the inner hollow 105, the porous diagonal support 103 and/or the sealing diagonal support 104, including the diagonal spacer support 103B, may be formed as part of the cushion 102, rather than part of the spacer 100.

List of reference numerals:

10-plate heat exchanger

11-heat transfer plate

12-pad

12A-liner diagonal segment

13-heat transfer area

14-opening for the first flow path

15-opening for the second flow path

16-plate peripheral zone

17-plate curved outer peripheral edge section

18-plate bar opening

19-mistake-proof receiving feature of plate

50-frame plate

51-frame plate opening

52-rod and bolt

100-spacer insert/liner unit

100A-spacer connection section

101-base

101A-outer linerless section of the base

101B-inner liner section of base

102-pad

102A-liner diagonal section

102B-second liner

102C-liner connection section

103-porous diagonal support (sector)

103A-diagonal spacer flow path

103B-diagonal spacer support

104-sealed oblique support (sector)

105-hollow inside

114-spacer opening for first flow path

115-spacer opening for second flow path

118-spacer rod opening

119-error-proofing receiving feature of insert

120-error proofing protruding feature

130-contact section.

Claims

1. A spacer (100) adapted to be clamped between peripheral edge zones (16) of two adjacent heat transfer plates (11) of a plate heat exchanger (10), wherein the spacer is formed with a gasket (102, 102A, 102B) in a surface, the gasket being adapted to surround an inner hollow (105) of the spacer (100).

2. Spacer (100) according to claim 1, wherein the inner hollow (105) is adapted to bring the two heat transfer plates (11) into contact within a heat transfer area (13) defined by the two heat transfer plates (11) being connected.

3. Spacer (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the spacer (100) is adapted to prevent the two heat transfer plates (11) from contacting in the peripheral area (16).

4. The spacer (100) of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the spacer (100) comprises a base (101) having a base outer unlined section (101A), wherein the base outer unlined section (101A) is formed with a spacer rod opening (118) adapted to align with a plate rod opening (18) formed in a plate peripheral region (16).

5. Spacer (100) according to claim 4, wherein the spacer rod opening (118) is adapted for passing a rod (52) through a stack of heat transfer plates (11) between two frame plates (50).

6. Spacer (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spacer (100) comprises a spacer opening (114, 115) adapted to be aligned with the plate opening (14, 15).

7. Spacer (100) according to claim 6, wherein the spacer (100) is formed with a base inner gasket section (101B) defining an inner side of the spacer opening (114, 115) with respect to the inner hollow (105), and adapted to be positioned in an oblique region of the heat transfer plate (11) and to prevent flow passing between the plate opening (14, 15) and the heat transfer region (13).

8. Spacer (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spacer (100) is formed with a porous diagonal support section (103) defining an inner side of a spacer opening (114, 115) with respect to the inner hollow (105), and adapted to be positioned in a diagonal area of a heat transfer plate (11) and to allow a flow to pass between a plate opening (14, 15) and the heat transfer area (13).

9. The spacer (100) according to claim 8, wherein the porosity of the porous diagonal support (103) is ensured by a diagonal spacer flow path (103A) formed between diagonal spacer supports (103B) adapted to contact the two adjacent heat transfer plates (11).

10. Spacer (100) according to claim 9, wherein the perforated diagonal support (103) is formed by two connected concentric semi-circular portions adapted to be positioned in a diagonal area when connected to a heat transfer plate (11).

11. Spacer (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spacer (100) comprises a base (101) with a base outer gasket-free section (101A), wherein the base outer gasket-free section (101A) is formed with a mistake-proof protruding feature (120) adapted to cooperate with a mistake-proof receiving feature (19) formed in the heat transfer plate (11).

12. Spacer (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the spacer is adapted to form a support for a pad (12, 112).

13. The spacer (100) of claim 12, wherein the spacer (100) comprises a base (101) having a base outer unlined section (101A), wherein the liner is positioned at an inboard location of the outer unlined section (101A).

14. Spacer (100) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the spacer (100) is substantially more rigid and less compressible than the material of the pads (102, 102A, 102B).

15. A heat exchanger (10) formed by a stack of structured heat transfer plates (11), each structured heat transfer plate being provided with two pairs of openings (14, 15), each pair of openings providing an inlet and an outlet to a first flow path at one side of the heat transfer plate (11) and a second flow path at a second side of the heat transfer plate (11), respectively, and wherein a spacer (100) according to any one of the preceding claims is positioned between at least two adjoining adjacent heat transfer plates (11) in a plate peripheral area (16).