EP1406057B1 - Plate heat exchanger having a thick fin - Google Patents

Plate heat exchanger having a thick fin Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1406057B1
EP1406057B1 EP03291998A EP03291998A EP1406057B1 EP 1406057 B1 EP1406057 B1 EP 1406057B1 EP 03291998 A EP03291998 A EP 03291998A EP 03291998 A EP03291998 A EP 03291998A EP 1406057 B1 EP1406057 B1 EP 1406057B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fin
thickness
passage
dividing plates
defining
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP03291998A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1406057A1 (en
Inventor
Jean-Yves Lehman
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
Original Assignee
Air Liquide SA
LAir Liquide SA a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
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Publication of EP1406057A1 publication Critical patent/EP1406057A1/en
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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F28F3/00—Plate-like or laminated elements; Assemblies of plate-like or laminated elements
    • F28F3/02—Elements or assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with recesses, with corrugations
    • F28F3/025—Elements or assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with recesses, with corrugations the means being corrugated, plate-like elements
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04006—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit
    • F25J3/04078—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit providing pressurized products by liquid compression and vaporisation with cold recovery, i.e. so-called internal compression
    • F25J3/0409—Providing pressurised feed air or process streams within or from the air fractionation unit providing pressurized products by liquid compression and vaporisation with cold recovery, i.e. so-called internal compression of oxygen
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04406—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air using a dual pressure main column system
    • F25J3/04412—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air using a dual pressure main column system in a classical double column flowsheet, i.e. with thermal coupling by a main reboiler-condenser in the bottom of low pressure respectively top of high pressure column
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/04—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream for air
    • F25J3/04763—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used
    • F25J3/04769—Operation, control and regulation of the process; Instrumentation within the process
    • F25J3/04854—Safety aspects of operation
    • F25J3/0486—Safety aspects of operation of vaporisers for oxygen enriched liquids, e.g. purging of liquids
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J5/00—Arrangements of cold exchangers or cold accumulators in separation or liquefaction plants
    • F25J5/002—Arrangements of cold exchangers or cold accumulators in separation or liquefaction plants for continuously recuperating cold, i.e. in a so-called recuperative heat exchanger
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J5/00—Arrangements of cold exchangers or cold accumulators in separation or liquefaction plants
    • F25J5/002—Arrangements of cold exchangers or cold accumulators in separation or liquefaction plants for continuously recuperating cold, i.e. in a so-called recuperative heat exchanger
    • F25J5/005—Arrangements of cold exchangers or cold accumulators in separation or liquefaction plants for continuously recuperating cold, i.e. in a so-called recuperative heat exchanger in a reboiler-condenser, e.g. within a column
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D9/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary plate-like or laminated conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
    • F28D9/0062—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary plate-like or laminated conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall the conduits for one heat-exchange medium being formed by spaced plates with inserted elements
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2235/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure or for conveying of liquid process streams
    • F25J2235/50—Processes or apparatus involving steps for increasing the pressure or for conveying of liquid process streams the fluid being oxygen
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2250/00—Details related to the use of reboiler-condensers
    • F25J2250/02—Bath type boiler-condenser using thermo-siphon effect, e.g. with natural or forced circulation or pool boiling, i.e. core-in-kettle heat exchanger
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2250/00—Details related to the use of reboiler-condensers
    • F25J2250/04—Down-flowing type boiler-condenser, i.e. with evaporation of a falling liquid film
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2250/00—Details related to the use of reboiler-condensers
    • F25J2250/30—External or auxiliary boiler-condenser in general, e.g. without a specified fluid or one fluid is not a primary air component or an intermediate fluid
    • F25J2250/50—One fluid being oxygen
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2290/00—Other details not covered by groups F25J2200/00 - F25J2280/00
    • F25J2290/20—Particular dimensions; Small scale or microdevices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2290/00—Other details not covered by groups F25J2200/00 - F25J2280/00
    • F25J2290/90—Details about safety operation of the installation
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
    • F28D2021/0019—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
    • F28D2021/0033—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for cryogenic applications

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an air separation apparatus comprising a plate heat exchanger, in particular to brazed plates and to the use of an exchanger for heating and / or vaporizing a liquid rich in oxygen.
  • Such heat exchangers are for example used to heat or vaporize oxygen or an oxygen-rich fluid, especially in air separation plants.
  • An oxygen-rich fluid is defined by a number of O 2 molecules relative to the total number of molecules greater than 20% when the fluid is under a pressure of at least 20 bar, and greater than 50% at lower fluid pressures. , especially greater than 60%.
  • Such heat exchangers are used for the distillation of gas from the air, and more particularly in a double air distillation column.
  • the body of a vaporizer-condenser consists of a stack of a large number of vertical rectangular plates all identical. Between these plates are interposed on the one hand peripheral closure bars, on the other hand spacer waves or fins, namely heat exchange waves of vertical main orientation and distribution waves of horizontal main orientation.
  • EP-A-1026468 discloses an air separation apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • exchangers covered by the invention are, for example, the main heat exchangers of pump units, or any other plate heat exchanger, which vaporize oxygen under pressure.
  • the spacer waves are obtained from thin sheets, typically of thickness between 0.15 and 0.60 mm, folded, cut or stamped with the press or by means of other suitable tools.
  • Oxygen vaporizers are a privileged place of concentration of heavier fuels than oxygen, such as hydrocarbons, especially C 2 H 2 present in small amounts in atmospheric air. It can happen accidentally, in such vaporizers, combustion in the liquid oxygen. It has been observed that these combustions could have the consequence of producing at least local explosions. In accidents of this type, it has been found that thin fins, in particular aluminum fins, were very vulnerable to combustion while the separating plates were not. It can be seen that the separating plates consequently make it possible to prevent the spread of the inflammation.
  • a main object of the invention is to provide air separation devices having plate heat exchangers resistant to possible ignition phenomena, in particular for use in the treatment of oxygen-rich fluids, exchangers whose manufacturing costs are not increased significantly, and whose performance in terms of pressure drop and heat exchange are not significantly reduced.
  • the fin can be made by extrusion, or by machining from a thick flat sheet.
  • the plate heat exchanger has a substantially increased mechanical strength, which allows to significantly push back its limits of use in fluid pressure.
  • the exchanger may further comprise, in at least a second passage, a vane whose minimum thickness is less than 0.8 times the thickness of each of the separator plates defining said second passage.
  • FIG. 1 shows two parallel separating plates 11 having the same substantially uniform thickness e for the same plate, defining a fluid passage 33 between them.
  • a fin or wave 35 of conventional general shape is disposed in niche.
  • This fin 35 defines a main general direction ripple YY, the waves succeeding in a direction XX perpendicular to the direction YY.
  • the X-X and Y-Y directions define the planes of the separator plates 11, which will be assumed to be horizontal for the convenience of the description, as shown in FIG. 1.
  • the separating plates 11 are spaced along the vertical axis Z-Z.
  • the corrugated fin 35 has a large number of substantially rectangular wave legs 37, each contained in a vertical plane perpendicular to the X-X direction.
  • the wave legs 37 are connected alternately along their upper edge by substantially rectangular, plane and horizontal wave peaks 39 and along their lower edge by wave bases 41 which are also substantially rectangular, flat and horizontal. .
  • the wave peaks 39 and the wave bases 41 define solder connection regions to flat plates or separator plates 11 of the heat exchanger.
  • the plate heat exchanger comprises a plurality of such separator plates 11 stacked and of thickness e generally substantially constant from one plate to another.
  • the plates define between them a series of passages 33, a fin 35 being arranged in each of the passages 33.
  • the fin 35 of the fluid passage 33 shown has a minimum thickness e ', said fin thickness e ' being, in the example shown in FIG. 1, uniform for the whole of the fin 35.
  • the thickness e of the separating plates is between 0.6 mm and 2 mm.
  • the minimum thickness e ' is chosen greater than 0.8 times the thickness e of the separating plates 11, that is to say in the case of a thickness e equal to 1 mm, greater than 0.8 mm.
  • the thickness e ' will be such that the ratio of the minimum thickness e ' of the fin 35 to the thickness e of the plates 11 is greater than 1, more preferably greater than 1, 5, more preferably greater than 2.
  • the fin is made essentially by folding a thick flat sheet metal, a sheet being defined as thick in the technique in question if its thickness is greater than approximately 1 mm, in particular between 1 and 2 mm.
  • the minimum thickness e 'of the fin 45 has a value satisfying the conditions stated above, with reference to FIG. It is not of constant thickness and has horizontally projecting portions 47 on each side of the vertices 39 and 41 wave bases. These protruding portions 47 make it possible to increase the contact surface of the fin 45 with the plates 11, and thus the brazing surface, and to improve the mechanical strength of the fin 45.
  • Such a fin 45 is made essentially by extrusion, or by machining from a thick flat sheet.
  • the exchanger in part, fins whose minimum thickness is in accordance with the conditions set out above, and for part of the fins whose thickness is less than 0.8 times the thickness e of the separator plates 11, the latter fins being made for example of thin sheet and by conventional folding methods. Therefore, such exchangers can operate with fluids with clearly differentiated pressures, thick fins corresponding to fluids under high pressure, and fins in thin sheet corresponding to the fluids under lower pressure.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Emergency Medicine (AREA)
  • Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)
  • Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)

Description

La présente invention se rapporte à un appareil de séparation d'air comportant un échangeur de chaleur à plaques, notamment à plaques brasées et à l'utilisation d'un échangeur pour réchauffer et/ou vaporiser un liquide riche en oxygène.The present invention relates to an air separation apparatus comprising a plate heat exchanger, in particular to brazed plates and to the use of an exchanger for heating and / or vaporizing a liquid rich in oxygen.

De tels échangeurs de chaleur sont par exemple utilisés pour réchauffer ou vaporiser de l'oxygène ou un fluide riche en oxygène, notamment dans les installations de séparation d'air. On définit un fluide riche en oxygène par un nombre de molécules de O2 rapporté au nombre total de molécules supérieur à 20% lorsque le fluide est sous une pression au moins égale à 20 bars, et supérieur à 50% à des pressions de fluide inférieures, notamment supérieur à 60%.Such heat exchangers are for example used to heat or vaporize oxygen or an oxygen-rich fluid, especially in air separation plants. An oxygen-rich fluid is defined by a number of O 2 molecules relative to the total number of molecules greater than 20% when the fluid is under a pressure of at least 20 bar, and greater than 50% at lower fluid pressures. , especially greater than 60%.

De tels échangeurs de chaleur sont utilisés pour la distillation de gaz de l'air, et plus particulièrement encore dans une double colonne de distillation d'air.Such heat exchangers are used for the distillation of gas from the air, and more particularly in a double air distillation column.

Le corps d'un vaporiseur-condenseur est constitué d'un empilement d'un grand nombre de plaques rectangulaires verticales toutes identiques. Entre ces plaques sont interposées d'une part des barres de fermeture périphériques, d'autre part des ondes-entretoises ou ailettes, à savoir des ondes d'échange thermique d'orientation principale verticale et des ondes de distribution d'orientation principale horizontale.The body of a vaporizer-condenser consists of a stack of a large number of vertical rectangular plates all identical. Between these plates are interposed on the one hand peripheral closure bars, on the other hand spacer waves or fins, namely heat exchange waves of vertical main orientation and distribution waves of horizontal main orientation.

EP-A-1026468 décrit un appareil de séparation d'air selon le préambule de la revendication 1.EP-A-1026468 discloses an air separation apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1.

D'autres échangeurs visés par l'invention sont par exemple les échangeurs principaux d'appareils à pompe, ou tout autre échangeur de chaleur à plaque, qui vaporisent de l'oxygène sous pression.Other exchangers covered by the invention are, for example, the main heat exchangers of pump units, or any other plate heat exchanger, which vaporize oxygen under pressure.

Généralement, les ondes-entretoises sont obtenues à partir de tôles minces, typiquement d'épaisseur comprise entre 0,15 et 0,60 mm, pliées, découpées ou embouties à la presse ou au moyen d'autres outils adaptés.Generally, the spacer waves are obtained from thin sheets, typically of thickness between 0.15 and 0.60 mm, folded, cut or stamped with the press or by means of other suitable tools.

Les vaporiseurs d'oxygène sont un lieu privilégié de concentration de combustibles plus lourds que l'oxygène, tels que des hydrocarbures, notamment C2H2 présents en faibles quantités dans l'air atmosphérique. Il peut se produire accidentellement, dans de tels vaporiseurs, des combustions dans l'oxygène liquide. Il a été observé que ces combustions pouvaient avoir pour conséquence de produire des explosions au moins locales. Dans les accidents de ce type, on a constaté que des ailettes minces, notamment les ailettes en aluminium, étaient très vulnérables à la combustion alors que les plaques séparatrices ne l'étaient pas. On constate que les plaques séparatrices permettent par conséquent d'empêcher la propagation de l'inflammation.Oxygen vaporizers are a privileged place of concentration of heavier fuels than oxygen, such as hydrocarbons, especially C 2 H 2 present in small amounts in atmospheric air. It can happen accidentally, in such vaporizers, combustion in the liquid oxygen. It has been observed that these combustions could have the consequence of producing at least local explosions. In accidents of this type, it has been found that thin fins, in particular aluminum fins, were very vulnerable to combustion while the separating plates were not. It can be seen that the separating plates consequently make it possible to prevent the spread of the inflammation.

De tels problèmes peuvent également se manifester dans les circuits de vaporisation d'une ligne d'échange.Such problems can also be manifested in the vaporization circuits of an exchange line.

Un but principal de l'invention est de réaliser des appareils de séparation d'air ayant des échangeurs de chaleur à plaques résistant à d'éventuels phénomènes d'inflammation, notamment destinés à une utilisation de traitement des fluides riches en oxygène, échangeurs dont les coûts de fabrication ne soient pas augmentés de façon sensible, et dont les performances en termes de pertes de charge et d'échange thermique ne soient pas sensiblement réduites.A main object of the invention is to provide air separation devices having plate heat exchangers resistant to possible ignition phenomena, in particular for use in the treatment of oxygen-rich fluids, exchangers whose manufacturing costs are not increased significantly, and whose performance in terms of pressure drop and heat exchange are not significantly reduced.

A cet effet, il est prévu un appareil de séparation d'air selon la revendication 1.For this purpose, there is provided an air separation apparatus according to claim 1.

Suivant d'autres caractéristiques de l'invention, prises seules ou selon toutes les combinaisons techniquement envisageables :

  • le rapport de l'épaisseur minimale de ladite ailette à l'épaisseur de chacune des plaques séparatrices définissant ledit passage est supérieur à 1, de préférence supérieur à 1,5, de préférence encore supérieur à 2 ; et
  • l'épaisseur de chacune desdites plaques séparatrices est comprise entre 0,6 et 2 mm;
  • les plaques sont planes et rectangulaires
According to other features of the invention, taken alone or in any technically feasible combination:
  • the ratio of the minimum thickness of said fin to the thickness of each of the separator plates defining said passage is greater than 1, preferably greater than 1.5, more preferably greater than 2; and
  • the thickness of each of said separator plates is between 0.6 and 2 mm;
  • the plates are flat and rectangular

L'ailette peut être réalisée par extrusion, ou par usinage à partir d'une tôle plane épaisse.The fin can be made by extrusion, or by machining from a thick flat sheet.

Grâce à l'invention, l'échangeur de chaleur à plaques présente une résistance mécanique sensiblement accrue, ce qui permet de repousser de façon importante ses limites d'utilisation en pression de fluide.Thanks to the invention, the plate heat exchanger has a substantially increased mechanical strength, which allows to significantly push back its limits of use in fluid pressure.

L'échangeur peut comporter en outre, dans au moins un deuxième passage, une ailette dont l'épaisseur minimale est inférieure à 0,8 fois l'épaisseur de chacune des plaques séparatrices définissant ledit deuxième passage.The exchanger may further comprise, in at least a second passage, a vane whose minimum thickness is less than 0.8 times the thickness of each of the separator plates defining said second passage.

Des exemples de réalisation de l'invention vont maintenant être décrits en regard des dessins annexés, sur lesquels :

  • la Figure 1 est une vue partielle agrandie d'un échangeur de chaleur à plaques d'un appareil de séparation d'air conforme à l'invention, seulement deux plaques séparatrices et une ailette disposée dans le passage qu'elles définissent étant représentées ; et
  • la Figure 2 est une vue analogue d'un échangeur de chaleur à plaques d'un appareil de séparation d'air conforme à une variante de réalisation de l'invention.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
  • Figure 1 is an enlarged partial view of a plate heat exchanger of an air separation apparatus according to the invention, only two separator plates and a fin disposed in the passage which they define being shown; and
  • Figure 2 is a similar view of a plate heat exchanger of an air separation apparatus according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Sur la Figure 1, on a représenté deux plaques séparatrices parallèles 11, de même épaisseur e sensiblement uniforme pour une même plaque, définissant entre elles un passage de fluide 33. Dans le passage 33, est disposée une ailette ou onde 35 de forme générale classique en créneau. Cette ailette 35 définit une direction générale principale d'ondulation Y-Y, les ondes se succédant suivant une direction X-X perpendiculaire à la direction Y-Y.FIG. 1 shows two parallel separating plates 11 having the same substantially uniform thickness e for the same plate, defining a fluid passage 33 between them. In the passage 33, a fin or wave 35 of conventional general shape is disposed. in niche. This fin 35 defines a main general direction ripple YY, the waves succeeding in a direction XX perpendicular to the direction YY.

Les directions X-X et Y-Y définissent les plans des plaques séparatrices 11, que l'on supposera horizontaux pour la commodité de la description, comme représenté sur la Figure 1. Les plaques séparatrices 11 sont, elles, espacées suivant l'axe vertical Z-Z.The X-X and Y-Y directions define the planes of the separator plates 11, which will be assumed to be horizontal for the convenience of the description, as shown in FIG. 1. The separating plates 11 are spaced along the vertical axis Z-Z.

L'ailette ondulée 35 comporte un grand nombre de jambes d'onde 37 sensiblement rectangulaires, contenues chacune dans un plan vertical perpendiculaire à la direction X-X. Les jambes d'onde 37 sont reliées alternativement le long de leur bord supérieur par des sommets d'onde 39 sensiblement rectangulaires, plans et horizontaux, et le long de leur bord inférieur par des bases d'onde 41 également sensiblement rectangulaires, planes et horizontales.The corrugated fin 35 has a large number of substantially rectangular wave legs 37, each contained in a vertical plane perpendicular to the X-X direction. The wave legs 37 are connected alternately along their upper edge by substantially rectangular, plane and horizontal wave peaks 39 and along their lower edge by wave bases 41 which are also substantially rectangular, flat and horizontal. .

Les sommets d'onde 39 et les bases d'onde 41 définissent des régions de liaison par brasage à des plaques ou tôles séparatrices planes 11 de l'échangeur de chaleur.The wave peaks 39 and the wave bases 41 define solder connection regions to flat plates or separator plates 11 of the heat exchanger.

L'échangeur de chaleur à plaques, on le comprend, comporte une pluralité de telles plaques séparatrices 11 empilées et d'épaisseur e en général sensiblement constante d'une plaque à l'autre. Les plaques définissent entre elles une série de passages 33, une ailette 35 étant disposée dans chacun des passages 33.The plate heat exchanger, it is understood, comprises a plurality of such separator plates 11 stacked and of thickness e generally substantially constant from one plate to another. The plates define between them a series of passages 33, a fin 35 being arranged in each of the passages 33.

L'ailette 35 du passage de fluide 33 représenté présente une épaisseur minimale e', ladite épaisseur d'ailette e' étant, dans l'exemple représenté sur la Figure 1, uniforme pour la totalité de l'ailette 35.The fin 35 of the fluid passage 33 shown has a minimum thickness e ', said fin thickness e ' being, in the example shown in FIG. 1, uniform for the whole of the fin 35.

Typiquement, l'épaisseur e des plaques séparatrices est compris entre 0,6 mm et 2 mm.Typically, the thickness e of the separating plates is between 0.6 mm and 2 mm.

L'épaisseur minimale e' est choisie supérieure à 0,8 fois l'épaisseur e des plaques séparatrices 11, c'est-à-dire dans le cas d'une épaisseur e égale à 1 mm, supérieure à 0,8 mm.The minimum thickness e 'is chosen greater than 0.8 times the thickness e of the separating plates 11, that is to say in the case of a thickness e equal to 1 mm, greater than 0.8 mm.

De préférence, on donnera à l'épaisseur e' une valeur telle que le rapport de l'épaisseur minimale e' de l'ailette 35 sur l'épaisseur e des plaques 11 est supérieur, à 1, de préférence encore supérieur à 1,5, de préférence encore supérieur à 2.Preferably, the thickness e 'will be such that the ratio of the minimum thickness e ' of the fin 35 to the thickness e of the plates 11 is greater than 1, more preferably greater than 1, 5, more preferably greater than 2.

Dans l'exemple représenté sur la Figure 1, l'ailette est réalisée essentiellement par pliage d'une tôle plane épaisse, une tôle étant définie comme épaisse dans la technique considérée si son épaisseur est supérieure à environ 1 mm, notamment comprise entre 1 et 2 mm.In the example shown in FIG. 1, the fin is made essentially by folding a thick flat sheet metal, a sheet being defined as thick in the technique in question if its thickness is greater than approximately 1 mm, in particular between 1 and 2 mm.

Dans l'exemple de réalisation représenté sur la Figure 2, l'épaisseur minimale e' de l'ailette 45 a une valeur répondant aux conditions énoncées ci-dessus, en référence à la Figure 2. En revanche, l'ailette 45 n'est pas d'épaisseur constante et présente des parties en saillie horizontale 47 venues de chaque côté des sommets 39 et bases 41 d'onde. Ces parties en saillie 47 permettent d'augmenter la surface de contact de l'ailette 45 avec les plaques 11, donc la surface de brasage, et d'améliorer la tenue mécanique de l'ailette 45.In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the minimum thickness e 'of the fin 45 has a value satisfying the conditions stated above, with reference to FIG. It is not of constant thickness and has horizontally projecting portions 47 on each side of the vertices 39 and 41 wave bases. These protruding portions 47 make it possible to increase the contact surface of the fin 45 with the plates 11, and thus the brazing surface, and to improve the mechanical strength of the fin 45.

Une telle ailette 45 est réalisée essentiellement par extrusion, ou par usinage à partir d'une tôle plane épaisse.Such a fin 45 is made essentially by extrusion, or by machining from a thick flat sheet.

Dans les deux exemples de réalisation illustrés aux Figures, il est possible de prévoir que l'échangeur contienne pour partie des ailettes dont l'épaisseur minimale est conforme aux conditions énoncées ci-dessus, et pour partie des ailettes dont l'épaisseur est inférieure à 0,8 fois l'épaisseur e des plaques séparatrices 11, ces dernières ailettes étant réalisées par exemple en tôle mince et par des procédés de pliage classiques. De ce fait, de tels échangeurs peuvent fonctionner avec des fluides ayant des pressions nettement différenciées, les ailettes épaisses correspondant aux fluides sous haute pression, et les ailettes en tôle mince correspondant aux fluides sous plus basse pression.In the two exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures, it is possible to provide for the exchanger to contain, in part, fins whose minimum thickness is in accordance with the conditions set out above, and for part of the fins whose thickness is less than 0.8 times the thickness e of the separator plates 11, the latter fins being made for example of thin sheet and by conventional folding methods. Therefore, such exchangers can operate with fluids with clearly differentiated pressures, thick fins corresponding to fluids under high pressure, and fins in thin sheet corresponding to the fluids under lower pressure.

Claims (10)

  1. Air separating apparatus comprising at least one column and at least one vaporizer-condenser which is a plate-type heat exchanger comprising a number of stacked dividing plates (11) of roughly uniform thickness (e), between them defining at least one first passage (33), and at least one fin (35; 45) arranged in this at least one first passage (33), characterized in that the minimum thickness (e') of the said fin is greater than 0.8 times the thickness (e) of each of the dividing plates (1) defining the said passage (33).
  2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the ratio of the minimum thickness (e') of the said fin (35; 45) to the thickness (e) of each of the dividing plates (11) defining the said passage (33) is greater than 1, preferably greater than 1.5, more preferably still, greater than 2.
  3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the thickness (e) of each of the said dividing plates (11) is between 0.6 mm and 2 mm.
  4. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the dividing plates (11) are flat and rectangular.
  5. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the said fin (45) is produced by extrusion.
  6. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the said fin (45) is produced by machining from a thick flat sheet.
  7. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises at least one second passage and at least one fin arranged in this at least one second passage, the minimum thickness of the said fin being less than 0.8 times the thickness of each of the dividing plates.
  8. Air separating apparatus according to Claims 1 to 7, comprising two columns connected thermally to one another through the exchanger.
  9. Use of a plate-type exchanger comprising a number of stacked dividing plates (11) of roughly uniform thickness (e), between them defining at least one first passage (33), and at least one fin (35; 45) arranged in this at least one first passage (33), the minimum thickness (e') of the said fin being greater than 0.8 times the thickness (e) of each of the dividing plates (1) defining the said passage (33), for reheating and/or vaporizing oxygen or an oxygen-rich fluid which in particular has a number of oxygen molecules with respect to the total number of molecules greater than 60%.
  10. Use of a plate-type exchanger according to Claim 9 and in an apparatus according to one of Claims 2 to 8.
EP03291998A 2002-10-01 2003-08-08 Plate heat exchanger having a thick fin Expired - Lifetime EP1406057B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0212139 2002-10-01
FR0212139A FR2845152B1 (en) 2002-10-01 2002-10-01 PLATE HEAT EXCHANGER HAVING A THICK FIN, AND USE OF SUCH A HEAT EXCHANGER.

Publications (2)

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EP1406057A1 EP1406057A1 (en) 2004-04-07
EP1406057B1 true EP1406057B1 (en) 2006-08-16

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EP03291998A Expired - Lifetime EP1406057B1 (en) 2002-10-01 2003-08-08 Plate heat exchanger having a thick fin

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US (1) US6951245B1 (en)
EP (1) EP1406057B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2004125389A (en)
CN (1) CN1488914A (en)
DE (1) DE60307567T2 (en)
FR (1) FR2845152B1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2004125389A (en) 2004-04-22
FR2845152A1 (en) 2004-04-02
FR2845152B1 (en) 2005-06-17
EP1406057A1 (en) 2004-04-07
DE60307567D1 (en) 2006-09-28
DE60307567T2 (en) 2007-09-13
US6951245B1 (en) 2005-10-04
CN1488914A (en) 2004-04-14

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