CN219415841U

CN219415841U - Plate heat exchanger

Info

Publication number: CN219415841U
Application number: CN202223218050.6U
Authority: CN
Inventors: C·米尔路德; D·桑切斯
Original assignee: Alfa Laval Corporate AB
Current assignee: Alfa Laval Corporate AB
Priority date: 2022-12-02
Filing date: 2022-12-02
Publication date: 2023-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 2032-12-02

Abstract

A plate heat exchanger comprising a first heat exchanger plate and a second heat exchanger plate forming a first plate interspaces for a first fluid and a second plate interspaces for a second fluid, wherein each of the first heat exchanger plate and the second heat exchanger plate extends parallel to an extension plane and comprises a number of port holes extending through the heat exchanger plate, and wherein each of the second heat exchanger plates comprises a peripheral outer edge surrounding the port holes and extending from a top end to a root end substantially transversely to the extension plane, the peripheral outer edge having an edge height perpendicular to the extension plane. Each of the first heat exchanger plates comprises a peripheral inner edge extending from the top end and ending above the root end around the port hole and substantially transverse to the extension plane, such that there is an opening between the lower end point of the inner edge and the root end, wherein the inner edge height is defined as being smaller than the outer edge height.

Description

Plate heat exchanger

Technical Field

The present utility model relates to a plate heat exchanger. More precisely, the utility model relates to a plate heat exchanger comprising a first heat exchanger plate and a second heat exchanger plate forming a first plate interspaces for a first fluid and a second plate interspaces for a second fluid, wherein each of the first heat exchanger plate and the second heat exchanger plate extends parallel to an extension plane and comprises a heat exchanger area extending parallel to the extension plane of the heat exchanger plate.

Background

A problem with the known plate heat exchanger is that it is difficult to make a limiting hole in the edge. In general, when making a limiting hole, especially when the hole has a small diameter, there is a risk of cracks forming in the plate.

Cracking may occur particularly in collars surrounding port holes. If the collar breaks, there is a risk that the medium will enter the channels through the break, which will reduce the function of the heat exchanger.

Another problem of the known plate heat exchanger is that a pressure drop is created over the heat exchanger due to irregularities in the material in the port holes.

Disclosure of Invention

The present utility model aims to overcome the problems discussed above. In particular, it is aimed at a plate heat exchanger that allows for a more efficient and faster manufacturing without cracking in the collar and avoids any pressure drop.

There is provided a plate heat exchanger comprising a first heat exchanger plate and a second heat exchanger plate forming a first plate interspaces for a first fluid and a second plate interspaces for a second fluid, wherein each of the first heat exchanger plate and the second heat exchanger plate extends parallel to the extension plane and comprises a number of port holes extending through the heat exchanger plate, and wherein each of the second heat exchanger plates comprises a peripheral outer edge surrounding the port holes and extending from a top end to a root end substantially transversely to the extension plane, the peripheral outer edge having an edge height perpendicular to the extension plane. Each of the first heat exchanger plates comprises a peripheral inner edge extending from the top end and ending above the root end around the port hole and substantially transverse to the extension plane, such that there is an opening between the lower end point of the inner edge and the root end, wherein the inner edge height is defined as being smaller than the outer edge height.

The first heat exchanger plate and the second heat exchanger plate are joined to each other by brazing. The opening between the lower end point of the inner edge and the root end results in a smooth surface around the port hole and thus no pressure drop.

According to an embodiment of the utility model, the relation between the height of the inner edge and the height of the outer edge is at least 80%.

According to an embodiment of the utility model, the relation between the height of the inner edge and the height of the outer edge is at least 90%.

According to an embodiment of the utility model, the second heat exchanger plate comprises at least one limiting hole extending through the peripheral outer edge.

By having the limiting aperture in the outer edge instead of the inner edge, the material defining the port aperture is not reduced and thus the risk that the material will crack is less.

According to an embodiment of the utility model, the at least one limiting aperture is centrally located between the tip and root ends of the peripheral outer edge.

By having the limiting aperture centrally located between the root end and the tip end, the limiting aperture will be located at the greatest distance from the joint, thus limiting the tension in the material.

According to an embodiment of the utility model, the diameter of the limiting orifice is at most 15mm.

Drawings

The utility model will now be explained more closely by describing various embodiments and with reference to the drawings attached hereto.

Fig. 1 discloses schematically a plan view of a plate heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the utility model.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 discloses a plate heat exchanger comprising a plurality of heat exchanger plates. The heat exchanger plates comprise a first heat exchanger plate 1 and a second heat exchanger plate 2.

The first heat exchanger plates 1 and the second heat exchanger plates 2 are arranged side by side in such a way that a first plate interspaces for a first fluid are formed between each pair of adjacent first heat exchanger plates 1 and second heat exchanger plates 2 and a second plate interspaces for a second fluid are formed between each pair of adjacent second heat exchanger plates 2 and first heat exchanger plates 1.

The plate heat exchanger is configured to operate as an evaporator, wherein the first plate interspaces are configured to receive a first fluid to be evaporated therein. The first fluid may be any suitable refrigerant. The second plate interspaces are configured to receive a second fluid for heating the first fluid to be evaporated in the first plate interspaces.

The plate heat exchanger may also be inverted and then configured to operate as a condenser, wherein a first fluid (i.e. refrigerant) condenses in the first plate interspaces and a second fluid is conveyed through the second plate interspaces for cooling the first fluid conveyed through the first plate interspaces.

Each of the first heat exchanger plate 1 and the second heat exchanger plate 2 extends parallel to the extension plane p.

The plate heat exchanger comprises four port holes 21. Each port hole 21 is surrounded by a peripheral inner edge 15. The peripheral edge 15 is annular and extends substantially transversely to the plane of extension p.

The peripheral inner edge 15 is surrounded by the peripheral outer edge 13 and has a top end 16 and a root end 17. The peripheral outer edge 13 has an edge height H perpendicular to the extension plane p from the root end 17 to the tip end 16. The inner edge 15 is arranged substantially parallel to the outer edge 13. The inner edge 15 has an edge height h perpendicular to the extension plane p. The inner edge height H is smaller than the outer edge height H, which results in an opening being defined between the lower end point of the inner edge 15 and the root end 17. The relationship H/H between the inner edge height H and the outer edge height H may be 75%, 80%, 85%, 90% or 95%.

Each of the second heat exchanger plates 2 further comprises at least one limiting aperture 10 extending through the peripheral outer edge 13. It should be noted that each peripheral outer edge 13 may be provided with one or more limiting apertures 10. The size of the limiting orifice 10 is at most 15 a mm a diameter. The diameter may also be smaller such that the dimensions are 14 mm, 13 mm, 12 mm, 11 mm or 10 mm.

The restriction hole 10 forms a fluid passage for the first fluid from the inlet channel to the first plate interspaces.

The restriction aperture 10 may be circular, oval or may have any other shape as seen from the inlet channel. The limiting aperture 10 may have, inter alia, an oval or other elongated shape, wherein the elongated shape extends parallel to the extension plane p to maximize the distance to the root end 17 and the tip end 16.

The limiting holes 10 are prefabricated before the heat exchanger plates 1, 2 are assembled and joined to each other to form a plate heat exchanger.

More specifically, the limiting aperture 10 may be centrally located between the root end 17 and the tip end 16 of the peripheral edge. The limiting aperture 10 is thus located at the same distance from the root end 17 and the tip end 16.

The first heat exchanger plate 1 and the second heat exchanger plate 2 are joined to each other via joints of brazing material, such as copper or a copper alloy, between the first heat exchanger plate 1 and the second heat exchanger plate 2. The first heat exchanger plate 1 and the second heat exchanger plate 2 are made of a metal or metal alloy, such as stainless steel, extending to the outer surfaces of the heat exchanger plates 1, 2. The outer surface of the metal or metal alloy has properties such that it adheres to the brazing material during brazing of the plate heat exchanger.

The heat exchanger plates 1, 2 are arranged in such a way that the peripheral inner edge 15 defines a port hole 21. The four port holes 21 are divided into inlet and outlet channels for the first fluid, and inlet and outlet channels for the second fluid.

When the plate heat exchanger is to be brazed for joining the heat exchanger plates 1, 2 to each other, a brazing material, for example in the form of a foil, is introduced between adjacent first 1 and second 2 heat exchanger plates. During brazing the brazing material melts and will flow towards the joint that will join the heat exchanger plates 1, 2 to each other.

The plate heat exchanger as defined above may be manufactured by the following manufacturing steps.

The first heat exchanger plate 1 is provided with a peripheral inner edge 15 surrounding the port holes 21, wherein the peripheral inner edge 15 initially extends parallel to the extension plane p.

The peripheral inner edge 15 is then curved to extend transversely to the extension plane p from the tip 16 towards the root end 17, the peripheral inner edge having an inner edge height h perpendicular to the extension plane p.

The limiting aperture 10 may be made by the peripheral outer edge 13 by any suitable aperture making method such as drilling, laser beam cutting, electron beam cutting, and the like. It is noted that the limiting aperture 10 may be made before or after the bending of the peripheral edge 13.

Thereafter the first heat exchanger plates 1 and the second heat exchanger plates 2 are arranged side by side in an alternating sequence, wherein a brazing material, for example in the form of a foil, is located between adjacent first heat exchanger plates 1 and second heat exchanger plates 2.

The first heat exchanger plate 1, the second heat exchanger plate 2 and the brazing material are heated to melt the brazing material. The melted brazing material is attracted by the areas where the first heat exchanger plate 1 and the second heat exchanger plate 2 are close to or adjacent to each other. After active or passive cooling, the heat exchanger plates 1, 2 are joined to each other via joints of brazing material between the first heat exchanger plate 1 and the second heat exchanger plate 2.

The utility model is also applicable to plate heat exchangers having another number of port holes than four, for example six port holes. The plate heat exchanger may then comprise a primary first plate interspaces for a primary first fluid to be evaporated, a secondary first plate interspaces for a secondary first fluid to be evaporated, and a second plate interspaces for a second fluid for heating or possibly cooling the primary first fluid and the secondary first fluid. There are then two inlet channels formed by the respective peripheral edges and leading to the primary and secondary first plate interspaces, respectively. Each second plate gap is adjacent to the primary first gap and the secondary first plate gap.

The utility model is not limited to the embodiments disclosed but may be varied and modified within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A plate heat exchanger comprising a first heat exchanger plate (1) and a second heat exchanger plate (2) forming a first plate interspaces for a first fluid and a second plate interspaces for a second fluid,

wherein each of the first heat exchanger plate (1) and the second heat exchanger plate (2) extends parallel to an extension plane (p) and comprises,

a number of port holes (21) extending through the heat exchanger plates (1, 2), and

wherein each of said second heat exchanger plates (2) comprises a peripheral outer edge (13) surrounding said port hole (21) and extending from a top end (16) to a root end (17) substantially transversely to said extension plane (p), said peripheral outer edge having an edge height (H) perpendicular to said extension plane (p),

characterized in that each of the first heat exchanger plates (1) comprises a peripheral inner edge (15) extending from the top end (16) and ending above the root end (17) around the port hole (21) and substantially transverse to the extension plane (p), such that an opening (14) is present between a lower end point of the inner edge (15) and the root end (17), wherein an inner edge height (H) is defined smaller than an outer edge height (H).

2. Plate heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the relation (H/H) of the inner edge height to the outer edge height is at least 80%.

3. A plate heat exchanger according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the relation (H/H) of the inner edge height to the outer edge height is at least 90%.

4. A plate heat exchanger according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second heat exchanger plate (2) comprises at least one limiting hole (10) extending through the peripheral outer edge (13).

5. A plate heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein the at least one restriction hole (10) is centrally located between the top end (16) and the root end (17) of the peripheral outer edge (13).

6. A plate heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein the limiting holes (10) have a diameter of at most 15mm.