EP1956330A2 - Heat exchanger - Google Patents
Heat exchanger Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1956330A2 EP1956330A2 EP08151109A EP08151109A EP1956330A2 EP 1956330 A2 EP1956330 A2 EP 1956330A2 EP 08151109 A EP08151109 A EP 08151109A EP 08151109 A EP08151109 A EP 08151109A EP 1956330 A2 EP1956330 A2 EP 1956330A2
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- fluid
- circuit
- disposed
- circuits
- heat exchanger
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- 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.)
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Classifications
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- 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
- F28D9/0068—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 with means for changing flow direction of one heat exchange medium, e.g. using deflecting zones
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- 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
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- 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
- F28D2021/0038—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for drying or dehumidifying gases or vapours
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F2250/00—Arrangements for modifying the flow of the heat exchange media, e.g. flow guiding means; Particular flow patterns
- F28F2250/10—Particular pattern of flow of the heat exchange media
- F28F2250/102—Particular pattern of flow of the heat exchange media with change of flow direction
Definitions
- the present invention concerns a heat exchanger usable in cooling machines and/or plants for refrigeration or drying, such as for example drying plants for compressed air, able to be used in those applications where it is necessary to have available de-humidified and almost totally dry air.
- the invention is advantageously applicable not only in dryers for compressed air, but also for industrial, commercial and residential cooling plants, or any other similar or comparable application.
- heat exchangers formed by a pre-cooling unit, or air-to-air pre-exchanger, a cooling unit, or cooling-air exchanger, consisting of a plurality of circuits disposed in layers, consisting of fins, plates and horizontal walls, made of heat-conducting metal material, packed and alternating with each other, in which a fluid to be cooled and a cooling fluid respectively flow, and of a separation unit to separate the condensation which has accumulated due to the cooling, from the cooled fluid.
- collectors At head and tail of these circuits there are collectors, in turn connected to the entrance and exit of the respective fluids.
- the machines with which the heat exchangers have to be associated normally have a pre-determined and particularly compact bulk.
- said known heat exchangers have the advantage that they can also be applied in plants with particular geometric constraints, but have the disadvantage that they cannot exploit the natural circulation of the fluids due to the force of gravity.
- Purpose of the present invention is to make a heat exchanger which has an optimum and uniform distribution of the streams of the heat exchange fluid over the whole heat exchange surface of the exchanger, to enable a high and homogeneous heat exchange efficiency.
- the Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.
- a heat exchanger has at least a heat exchange unit comprising at least a first circuit having a plurality of first passage ways in which a first fluid is able to flow in a pre-determined direction, at least a second circuit in which a second fluid is able to flow, which is disposed in contact with and separate from the first circuit so as to effect a heat exchange between the two fluids, and which is provided with a plurality of second passage ways in which the second fluid is able to flow.
- the heat exchanger has at least a delivery and a discharge for the first and second fluid, connected to the first circuit and the second circuit.
- each first passage way and/or each second passage way defines a substantially obligatory path for the first and/or second fluid from a relative entrance to a relative exit, in which the combination of the obligatory paths substantially covers the whole heat exchange surface of the first circuit and/or the second circuit.
- the present invention allows to embody a heat exchanger with an optimum and uniform distribution of the streams of heat exchange fluids, over the whole heat exchange surface of the exchanger, even at low flow rates of the fluids, which allows a high and homogeneous efficiency of heat exchange.
- the particular geometry defined for the pipes in which the fluids pass prevents the formation of preferential paths of the fluids through the heat exchanger, both on the air side and also on the cooling side, thus reducing or eliminating the dead zones where no heat exchange is performed.
- the heat exchanger has two heat exchange units, in particular a pre-cooling unit and, in series, a cooling unit, which advantageously have a substantially identical structure.
- feed pipe of the second, cooling fluid is disposed in an elevated position with respect to the discharge pipe of the same second fluid. In this way we obtain an optimum, rapid and uniform filling or flooding of all the pipes where the cooling fluid passes.
- the heat exchanger is also provided with a unit to separate the condensation, downstream of the cooling unit; this advantageously comprises an anti-drawing grid means, which retains the possible humidity present in the cooled air and allows it to be discharged as condensation.
- the present invention is advantageously applied to horizontal heat exchangers, in which it allows the optimum filling of the circuits but in any case the inventive concept on which the present invention is based can also be applied to vertical heat exchangers or heat exchangers of any other type.
- a heat exchanger 10 in this case of the horizontal type, can be used to perform heat exchange between a stream of air to be cooled and a stream of cooling fluid, able to evaporate after the heat exchange, for example Freon.
- the exchanger 10 comprises a frame 11 having an upper wall 11a, disposed at a level conventionally equal to H 1 , and a lower wall 11b, disposed at a lower level conventionally equal to H 0 ( fig. 4 ), two lateral collectors, a distribution collector 11c and an exit collector 11d, a collector 11e, connected to the exit collector 11d, and a substantially rectilinear long lateral wall 11f ( figs. 1 and 3 ).
- the path of the stream of air to be cooled substantially develops along a pre-determined and obligatory direction S, from the entrance 12 at the distribution collector 11c to the exit collector 11d.
- the stream of air passes in succession through a pre-cooling unit, or pre-exchanger 20, in which it exchanges heat with the cooled stream of air exiting, and through a subsequent cooling unit, or evaporator, 22, in which the heat exchange with the cooling fluid occurs.
- the exit collector 11d functions as a lateral delimitation of the exchanger 10, so as to define a compartment 17 ( fig. 5 ) in which the direction of the stream of air makes a diversion and is re-directed towards a unit to separate condensation 28, from which it then passes to the pre-cooling unit 20 and from here it is directed towards the exit 14.
- the cooling unit 22 consists, on the air side, of circuits 23, in this case five, for the passage of the air, disposed vertically one on the other, an upper circuit 23a in contact with the upper wall 11a, three intermediate circuits 23c and a lower circuit 23b in contact with the lower wall 11b and fluidly communicating with each other ( fig. 3 ).
- Each circuit 23 includes fins 25 which, overall, extend substantially in the direction S, with a broken line plane profile, in this case a fretted profile, to promote turbulence and heat exchange.
- the fins 25 are suitably distanced from each other, to define respective channels 24 in which the air is able to flow ( figs. 3 and 4 ). Therefore, each circuit 23 has a plurality of channels 24, substantially aligned with the direction S and parallel to each other, in which the air to be cooled passes.
- the channels 24 are disposed in the circuit 23 in such a manner that the air follows an obligatory path through each of them, and that the relative entrance 24a and exit 24b of each of the channels 24 is adjacent and in close proximity to the relative entry 12 of the air to be cooled and the relative exit 39 of the air which has been cooled but which still has to be de-humidified. In this way, the air is distributed uniformly over the whole heat exchange surface of the circuit 23.
- circuits 23 and 26 are also provided, for the passage of the cooling fluid, communicating fluidly with each other, disposed vertically and alternated with respect to the five circuits 23 and separated from said circuits 23, so that there is no direct contact between the air and the cooling fluid. Therefore, the circuits 23 and 26 are disposed in layers and define a packing or wafer ( figs. 1 , 3 , 4 and 5 ).
- Each circuit 26 is formed by two horizontal walls 15, upper and lower ( fig. 4 ), between which there are three fret-shaped sheets 21a, 21b, 21c, disposed on the same level and adjacent to each other ( figs. 1 and 2 ). Said fins 25 of the circuits 23 of the air side are disposed above the upper wall 15.
- each sheet 21a, 21 b, 21 c defines beveled fins 27a and respective rounded throats 27b.
- a plurality of pipes 29 are defined, in which the cooling fluid is able to flow.
- the beveled fins 27a are provided with eyelets 27c which allow the cooling fluid to pass between the various pipes 29 and promote turbulence, as can also be seen in the detail C in fig. 1 , enlarged in fig. 2 .
- each circuit 26 The pipes 29 of each circuit 26 are disposed adjacent to each other and lie on a common plane.
- the entrance 29a and exit 29b of each pipe 29 is disposed adjacent and in close proximity, respectively, to the entrance 40a of the feed pipe 40 and the exit 42a of the discharge pipe 42, so that the cooling fluid entering from the feed pipe 40 is distributed uniformly in all the pipes 29, just as the exit from the pipes 29 occurs uniformly over the whole discharge pipe 42.
- the pipes 29 have a particular geometry that obliges the stream of cooling fluid to follow a pre-determined path, so that the fluid is distributed over the whole heat exchange surface.
- two sheets 21a, 21c are provided, respectively disposed in correspondence with the pipe 40 and the pipe 42, shaped as a rectangular trapezium, and a sheet 21b, disposed central to the previous two, shaped as an isosceles trapezium and having its oblique sides coinciding with the oblique sides of the sheets 21 a and 21 c.
- the inclination of the oblique sides can be varied, for example they can have an inclination of 30°, 45°, 60° or other.
- the pipes 29 are formed by a first portion 30, relating to the sheet 21a, disposed perpendicular to the direction S and directly connected to the feed pipe 40, a second portion 32, relating to the sheet 21b, disposed parallel to the direction S, and a third portion 34, relating to the sheet 21c, disposed perpendicular to the direction S and directly connected to the discharge pipe 42.
- the sense of the stream of cooling fluid in the portion 34 is the same direction and opposite sense with respect to the stream of cooling fluid in the portion 30, in the first case towards the wall 11f and in the second case in the opposite sense.
- the path of the cooling fluid is in this case indicated by the arrow R in figs. 1 and 2 .
- Double right angle geometry This type of disposition is called, here and hereafter, "double right angle geometry".
- double right angle geometry the cooling fluid that is fed by the pipe 40 immediately meets a plurality of pipes 29, and therefore is distributed uniformly through them, even at low flow rates. Afterwards, the cooling fluid is obliged to flow in each of the obligatory paths defined by the individual pipes 29, as far as the exit into the discharge pipe 42.
- the pre-cooling unit 20 is formed, on the air side, by five circuits 33, disposed between the walls 11a and 11b, structurally identical to the previous circuits 23.
- Each circuit 33 has respective channels 35 identical to the channels 24 and directly connected to them, which define, from the relative entrance 35a to the exit 35b, respective obligatory paths, so as to determine a continuous stream of air, in the direction S, from the entrance 12 to the exit 39 at the compartment 17. From a functional point of view, the circuits 33 allow the air to be cooled to pass from the entrance 12 into the pre-cooling unit 20 and in said direction S, to the subsequent cooling unit 22.
- Each circuit 33 and the respective channels 35 are connected without a break in continuity to the adjacent circuit 23 and the respective channels 24, in correspondence with the connection zone indicated by the reference number 37 in fig. 3 , so that the air flows, uniformly and along the same obligatory paths, from the entrance 12 to the exit 39.
- the circuit 33 therefore also distributes uniformly the stream of air from the entrance 14 through the channels 35, exploiting the whole heat exchange surface available.
- circuits 33 are disposed, vertically alternating, separated from the circuits 33 and fluidly communicating with each other.
- the circuits 33 and 44 are disposed in layers and define a packing or wafer.
- the circuits 44 are structurally identical to the circuits 26, that is, they are formed by fret-shaped sheets as described above which define pipes 46 ( figs. 1 and 5 ), identical to said pipes 29.
- the circuits 44 are able to allow the passage of the cooled air from the condensation separation unit 28 to the exit 14, passing through the pre-cooling unit 20.
- the pipes 46 of each circuit 44 determine obligatory paths for the cooled and de-humidified air, so as to receive, by means of their entrance 46a, the stream of cooled air directly that arrives through the aperture 31 from the condensation separation unit 28, allowing the uniform distribution thereof along obligatory paths, over the whole heat exchange surface, as far as the exit 46b, directly in proximity with the exit 14 of the cooled and de-humidified air.
- the whole heat exchange surface of the circuit 44 available is exploited, without determining preferential paths and dead zones.
- the disposition of the circuits 44 is inverted by 180°, with respect to an ideal median axis parallel to the direction S, to determine the correct path of the cooled and de-humidified air from the condensation separation unit 28 through the pre-cooling unit 20 to the exit 14.
- each pipe 46 comprises a first portion 48, directly connected to the aperture 31 of the condensation separation unit 28 and disposed perpendicular to the direction S, a second portion 50 disposed parallel to the direction S and a third portion 52, directly connected to the exit 14 and disposed perpendicular to the direction S.
- the cooled air arriving directly from the condensation separation unit 28 immediately meets a plurality of pipes 46 and hence is distributed uniformly through them, even at low flow rates. Afterwards, the cooled air is obliged to flow in each of the obligatory paths defined by the individual pipes 46, to the exit 14.
- the feed pipe 40 is disposed at a different height with respect to the discharge pipe 42, that is, with its exit 40a at a height greater than the respective entrance 42a of the discharge pipe 42. This is obtained by extending the discharge pipe 42 by a determinate length inside the heat exchange unit 22; in this way, it functions as a stopper, substantially preventing the discharge of the cooling fluid until the latter has reached a pre-determined height which corresponds to an optimum filling of all the circuits 26.
- the exit 40a of the feed pipe 40 is made in correspondence with a lower circuit 26b, disposed immediately above the lower circuit 23b, that is, about level H 0 ( fig. 4 ).
- the entrance 42a of the discharge pipe 42 is disposed in correspondence with an upper circuit 26a, disposed immediately above the third intermediate circuit 23c from below, at a height L, generally higher than H 0 and lower than level H 1 , in this case a little more than half the distance between H 0 and H 1 ( fig. 4 ).
- the pipes 29 are filled with the cooling fluid in an optimum manner, since the cooling fluid reaches the discharge pipe 42 only after the whole volume corresponding to the height L has been flooded.
- the condensation separation unit 28, downstream of a demister 36 conventionally disposed adjacent to the compartment 17, immediately after the stream of cooled air has been inverted also comprises an anti-drawing grid 38 to retain the humidity or condensation present in the cooled air.
- the grid 38 is formed by a holed plane, with an S-shaped section, that is, it comprises two plane portions disposed at heights staggered and connected to each other by an inclined step. The condensation falls due to gravity into a suitable condensation discharge 41.
- a horizontal separation surface for the condensation is also defined, represented by the grid 38.
- the condensation separation unit 28 is enclosed in a suitable box-shaped portion 28a of the frame of the exchanger 10.
- the stream of air Immediately after the grid 38, the stream of air, at this point cooled and de-humidified, performs a right-angled diversion and continues into the pre-cooling unit 20, distributing itself uniformly along all the pipes 46 described above, and following the relative obligatory path. From here, through an elbow-shaped compartment 19, defined by the collector 11e, the air exits from the exchanger 10 through the exit 14.
Abstract
Description
- The present invention concerns a heat exchanger usable in cooling machines and/or plants for refrigeration or drying, such as for example drying plants for compressed air, able to be used in those applications where it is necessary to have available de-humidified and almost totally dry air.
- The invention is advantageously applicable not only in dryers for compressed air, but also for industrial, commercial and residential cooling plants, or any other similar or comparable application.
- It is known to make heat exchangers formed by a pre-cooling unit, or air-to-air pre-exchanger, a cooling unit, or cooling-air exchanger, consisting of a plurality of circuits disposed in layers, consisting of fins, plates and horizontal walls, made of heat-conducting metal material, packed and alternating with each other, in which a fluid to be cooled and a cooling fluid respectively flow, and of a separation unit to separate the condensation which has accumulated due to the cooling, from the cooled fluid. At head and tail of these circuits there are collectors, in turn connected to the entrance and exit of the respective fluids.
- Known heat exchangers have the disadvantage that, as the flow rate of the cooling fluid and/or the fluid to be cooled varies, the distribution of the stream of fluids by the entrance collectors inside the circuits is not homogeneous and uniform. In fact, with low flow rates, the two fluids prefer the shortest path to reach the exit, that is to say, they prefer to occupy a partial surface of the whole heat exchange surface nearest the collector. Therefore, in a plurality of operating conditions the whole heat exchange surface of the exchanger is not exploited, but only a limited part, sometimes only half, and therefore the exploitation of the whole cooling capacity of the plant is limited. This entails considerable difficulty in obtaining a highly efficient heat exchange, due to the formation of the preferential paths of the two fluids and the consequent formation of dead zones, where no heat exchange occurs.
- The machines with which the heat exchangers have to be associated normally have a pre-determined and particularly compact bulk. In view of this application, said known heat exchangers have the advantage that they can also be applied in plants with particular geometric constraints, but have the disadvantage that they cannot exploit the natural circulation of the fluids due to the force of gravity.
- Purpose of the present invention is to make a heat exchanger which has an optimum and uniform distribution of the streams of the heat exchange fluid over the whole heat exchange surface of the exchanger, to enable a high and homogeneous heat exchange efficiency.
- The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.
- The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.
- In accordance with the above purpose, a heat exchanger has at least a heat exchange unit comprising at least a first circuit having a plurality of first passage ways in which a first fluid is able to flow in a pre-determined direction, at least a second circuit in which a second fluid is able to flow, which is disposed in contact with and separate from the first circuit so as to effect a heat exchange between the two fluids, and which is provided with a plurality of second passage ways in which the second fluid is able to flow.
- The heat exchanger has at least a delivery and a discharge for the first and second fluid, connected to the first circuit and the second circuit.
- According to a characteristic feature of the present invention, each first passage way and/or each second passage way defines a substantially obligatory path for the first and/or second fluid from a relative entrance to a relative exit, in which the combination of the obligatory paths substantially covers the whole heat exchange surface of the first circuit and/or the second circuit.
- The present invention allows to embody a heat exchanger with an optimum and uniform distribution of the streams of heat exchange fluids, over the whole heat exchange surface of the exchanger, even at low flow rates of the fluids, which allows a high and homogeneous efficiency of heat exchange. In fact, the particular geometry defined for the pipes in which the fluids pass prevents the formation of preferential paths of the fluids through the heat exchanger, both on the air side and also on the cooling side, thus reducing or eliminating the dead zones where no heat exchange is performed.
- Advantageously, the heat exchanger has two heat exchange units, in particular a pre-cooling unit and, in series, a cooling unit, which advantageously have a substantially identical structure.
- Another advantageous form of embodiment provides that the feed pipe of the second, cooling fluid is disposed in an elevated position with respect to the discharge pipe of the same second fluid. In this way we obtain an optimum, rapid and uniform filling or flooding of all the pipes where the cooling fluid passes.
- The heat exchanger is also provided with a unit to separate the condensation, downstream of the cooling unit; this advantageously comprises an anti-drawing grid means, which retains the possible humidity present in the cooled air and allows it to be discharged as condensation.
- In particular, the present invention is advantageously applied to horizontal heat exchangers, in which it allows the optimum filling of the circuits but in any case the inventive concept on which the present invention is based can also be applied to vertical heat exchangers or heat exchangers of any other type.
- These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:
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fig. 1 is a partly sectioned perspective view of a heat exchanger according to the present invention; -
fig. 2 is an enlarged detail offig. 1 ; -
fig. 3 is another partly sectioned perspective view of a heat exchanger according to the present invention; -
fig. 4 is a lateral section of a heat exchanger according to the present invention; -
fig. 5 is another partly sectioned perspective view of a heat exchanger according to the present invention. - With reference to
fig. 1 , aheat exchanger 10 according to the present invention, in this case of the horizontal type, can be used to perform heat exchange between a stream of air to be cooled and a stream of cooling fluid, able to evaporate after the heat exchange, for example Freon. - The
exchanger 10 comprises aframe 11 having anupper wall 11a, disposed at a level conventionally equal to H1, and alower wall 11b, disposed at a lower level conventionally equal to H0 (fig. 4 ), two lateral collectors, a distribution collector 11c and anexit collector 11d, acollector 11e, connected to theexit collector 11d, and a substantially rectilinear longlateral wall 11f (figs. 1 and3 ). On the lateral collector 11c there is theentrance 12 and theexit 14 for the air (figs. 1 and3 ), whereas along thewall 11f there is theentrance 16 andexit 18 for the cooling fluid (fig. 4 ), provided with arespective feed pipe 40 anddischarge pipe 42. - The path of the stream of air to be cooled, indicated by the arrow A in
figs. 1 and3 , substantially develops along a pre-determined and obligatory direction S, from theentrance 12 at the distribution collector 11c to theexit collector 11d. The stream of air passes in succession through a pre-cooling unit, or pre-exchanger 20, in which it exchanges heat with the cooled stream of air exiting, and through a subsequent cooling unit, or evaporator, 22, in which the heat exchange with the cooling fluid occurs. - Furthermore, the
exit collector 11d functions as a lateral delimitation of theexchanger 10, so as to define a compartment 17 (fig. 5 ) in which the direction of the stream of air makes a diversion and is re-directed towards a unit to separatecondensation 28, from which it then passes to thepre-cooling unit 20 and from here it is directed towards theexit 14. - The
cooling unit 22 consists, on the air side, ofcircuits 23, in this case five, for the passage of the air, disposed vertically one on the other, anupper circuit 23a in contact with theupper wall 11a, threeintermediate circuits 23c and alower circuit 23b in contact with thelower wall 11b and fluidly communicating with each other (fig. 3 ). Eachcircuit 23 includesfins 25 which, overall, extend substantially in the direction S, with a broken line plane profile, in this case a fretted profile, to promote turbulence and heat exchange. Thefins 25 are suitably distanced from each other, to definerespective channels 24 in which the air is able to flow (figs. 3 and4 ). Therefore, eachcircuit 23 has a plurality ofchannels 24, substantially aligned with the direction S and parallel to each other, in which the air to be cooled passes. - The
channels 24 are disposed in thecircuit 23 in such a manner that the air follows an obligatory path through each of them, and that the relative entrance 24a andexit 24b of each of thechannels 24 is adjacent and in close proximity to therelative entry 12 of the air to be cooled and therelative exit 39 of the air which has been cooled but which still has to be de-humidified. In this way, the air is distributed uniformly over the whole heat exchange surface of thecircuit 23. - Furthermore, in the
cooling unit 22, on the cooling fluid side, fourcircuits 26 are also provided, for the passage of the cooling fluid, communicating fluidly with each other, disposed vertically and alternated with respect to the fivecircuits 23 and separated fromsaid circuits 23, so that there is no direct contact between the air and the cooling fluid. Therefore, thecircuits figs. 1 ,3 ,4 and5 ). - Each
circuit 26 is formed by twohorizontal walls 15, upper and lower (fig. 4 ), between which there are three fret-shaped sheets figs. 1 and2 ). Said fins 25 of thecircuits 23 of the air side are disposed above theupper wall 15. - Due to the way it is shaped, each
sheet beveled fins 27a and respectiverounded throats 27b. In this way, for eachcircuit 26, a plurality ofpipes 29 are defined, in which the cooling fluid is able to flow. Thebeveled fins 27a are provided witheyelets 27c which allow the cooling fluid to pass between thevarious pipes 29 and promote turbulence, as can also be seen in the detail C infig. 1 , enlarged infig. 2 . - The
pipes 29 of eachcircuit 26 are disposed adjacent to each other and lie on a common plane. Theentrance 29a and exit 29b of eachpipe 29 is disposed adjacent and in close proximity, respectively, to the entrance 40a of thefeed pipe 40 and theexit 42a of thedischarge pipe 42, so that the cooling fluid entering from thefeed pipe 40 is distributed uniformly in all thepipes 29, just as the exit from thepipes 29 occurs uniformly over thewhole discharge pipe 42. - The
pipes 29 have a particular geometry that obliges the stream of cooling fluid to follow a pre-determined path, so that the fluid is distributed over the whole heat exchange surface. - In particular, two
sheets pipe 40 and thepipe 42, shaped as a rectangular trapezium, and asheet 21b, disposed central to the previous two, shaped as an isosceles trapezium and having its oblique sides coinciding with the oblique sides of thesheets - Therefore, as can also be seen in the detail in
fig. 2 , thepipes 29 are formed by afirst portion 30, relating to thesheet 21a, disposed perpendicular to the direction S and directly connected to thefeed pipe 40, asecond portion 32, relating to thesheet 21b, disposed parallel to the direction S, and athird portion 34, relating to thesheet 21c, disposed perpendicular to the direction S and directly connected to thedischarge pipe 42. It is clear that the sense of the stream of cooling fluid in theportion 34 is the same direction and opposite sense with respect to the stream of cooling fluid in theportion 30, in the first case towards thewall 11f and in the second case in the opposite sense. The path of the cooling fluid is in this case indicated by the arrow R infigs. 1 and2 . This type of disposition is called, here and hereafter, "double right angle geometry". By means of this "double right angle geometry" the cooling fluid that is fed by thepipe 40 immediately meets a plurality ofpipes 29, and therefore is distributed uniformly through them, even at low flow rates. Afterwards, the cooling fluid is obliged to flow in each of the obligatory paths defined by theindividual pipes 29, as far as the exit into thedischarge pipe 42. - There is also a uniform distribution of the fluid towards the exit at the
discharge pipe 42, determined by the obligatory paths of eachpipe 29. - In this way we have a uniform distribution of the cooling fluid over the whole heat exchange surface of the
circuit 26. - In exactly the same way as the cooling
unit 22 is formed, thepre-cooling unit 20 is formed, on the air side, by fivecircuits 33, disposed between thewalls previous circuits 23. Eachcircuit 33 hasrespective channels 35 identical to thechannels 24 and directly connected to them, which define, from therelative entrance 35a to the exit 35b, respective obligatory paths, so as to determine a continuous stream of air, in the direction S, from theentrance 12 to theexit 39 at thecompartment 17. From a functional point of view, thecircuits 33 allow the air to be cooled to pass from theentrance 12 into thepre-cooling unit 20 and in said direction S, to thesubsequent cooling unit 22. - Each
circuit 33 and therespective channels 35 are connected without a break in continuity to theadjacent circuit 23 and therespective channels 24, in correspondence with the connection zone indicated by thereference number 37 infig. 3 , so that the air flows, uniformly and along the same obligatory paths, from theentrance 12 to theexit 39. - The
circuit 33 therefore also distributes uniformly the stream of air from theentrance 14 through thechannels 35, exploiting the whole heat exchange surface available. - Again in the
pre-cooling unit 20, on the cold air side, between thecircuits 33, fourcircuits 44 are disposed, vertically alternating, separated from thecircuits 33 and fluidly communicating with each other. In this way, thecircuits - The
circuits 44 are structurally identical to thecircuits 26, that is, they are formed by fret-shaped sheets as described above which define pipes 46 (figs. 1 and5 ), identical to saidpipes 29. - The fins and horizontal walls which define the
circuits 33 and thecircuits 44 are visible in the drawings but, for convenience, they are not indicated with a reference number, since they are structurally identical to thefins walls 15. - The
circuits 44, from the functional point of view, are able to allow the passage of the cooled air from thecondensation separation unit 28 to theexit 14, passing through thepre-cooling unit 20. In this case, thepipes 46 of eachcircuit 44 determine obligatory paths for the cooled and de-humidified air, so as to receive, by means of theirentrance 46a, the stream of cooled air directly that arrives through theaperture 31 from thecondensation separation unit 28, allowing the uniform distribution thereof along obligatory paths, over the whole heat exchange surface, as far as theexit 46b, directly in proximity with theexit 14 of the cooled and de-humidified air. In this case too, by doing this, the whole heat exchange surface of thecircuit 44 available is exploited, without determining preferential paths and dead zones. - Compared with the disposition of the
circuits 26, the disposition of thecircuits 44 is inverted by 180°, with respect to an ideal median axis parallel to the direction S, to determine the correct path of the cooled and de-humidified air from thecondensation separation unit 28 through thepre-cooling unit 20 to theexit 14. - Therefore, each
pipe 46 comprises afirst portion 48, directly connected to theaperture 31 of thecondensation separation unit 28 and disposed perpendicular to the direction S, asecond portion 50 disposed parallel to the direction S and athird portion 52, directly connected to theexit 14 and disposed perpendicular to the direction S. It is clear that the sense of the stream of cooled air in theportion 48 is the same direction and opposite sense with respect to the stream of cooled air in theportion 52, in the first case towards thewall 11f and in the second case in the opposite sense. This type of disposition is also called, here and hereafter, "double right angle geometry". - By means of this "double right angle geometry", the cooled air arriving directly from the
condensation separation unit 28 immediately meets a plurality ofpipes 46 and hence is distributed uniformly through them, even at low flow rates. Afterwards, the cooled air is obliged to flow in each of the obligatory paths defined by theindividual pipes 46, to theexit 14. - There is also a uniform distribution of the fluid at the
exit 14, determined by the obligatory paths of eachpipe 46. - Another characteristic of the present invention is that the
feed pipe 40 is disposed at a different height with respect to thedischarge pipe 42, that is, with its exit 40a at a height greater than therespective entrance 42a of thedischarge pipe 42. This is obtained by extending thedischarge pipe 42 by a determinate length inside theheat exchange unit 22; in this way, it functions as a stopper, substantially preventing the discharge of the cooling fluid until the latter has reached a pre-determined height which corresponds to an optimum filling of all thecircuits 26. - In this case, the exit 40a of the
feed pipe 40 is made in correspondence with alower circuit 26b, disposed immediately above thelower circuit 23b, that is, about level H0 (fig. 4 ). - The
entrance 42a of thedischarge pipe 42 on the contrary is disposed in correspondence with anupper circuit 26a, disposed immediately above the thirdintermediate circuit 23c from below, at a height L, generally higher than H0 and lower than level H1, in this case a little more than half the distance between H0 and H1 (fig. 4 ). In this way, thepipes 29 are filled with the cooling fluid in an optimum manner, since the cooling fluid reaches thedischarge pipe 42 only after the whole volume corresponding to the height L has been flooded. - Another characteristic of the present invention is that the
condensation separation unit 28, downstream of ademister 36 conventionally disposed adjacent to thecompartment 17, immediately after the stream of cooled air has been inverted, also comprises ananti-drawing grid 38 to retain the humidity or condensation present in the cooled air. In this case, thegrid 38 is formed by a holed plane, with an S-shaped section, that is, it comprises two plane portions disposed at heights staggered and connected to each other by an inclined step. The condensation falls due to gravity into asuitable condensation discharge 41. Advantageously, therefore, apart from a vertical separation surface represented by thedemister 35, a horizontal separation surface for the condensation is also defined, represented by thegrid 38. - The
condensation separation unit 28 is enclosed in a suitable box-shapedportion 28a of the frame of theexchanger 10. - Immediately after the
grid 38, the stream of air, at this point cooled and de-humidified, performs a right-angled diversion and continues into thepre-cooling unit 20, distributing itself uniformly along all thepipes 46 described above, and following the relative obligatory path. From here, through an elbow-shapedcompartment 19, defined by thecollector 11e, the air exits from theexchanger 10 through theexit 14. - It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the heat exchanger as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.
- It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of heat exchanger, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.
Claims (9)
- Heat exchanger having at least a heat exchange unit (20, 22) comprising:- at least a first circuit (23, 33) having a plurality of first passage ways (24, 35) in which a first fluid is able to flow, along a predetermined direction (S);- at least a second circuit (26, 44) in which a second fluid is able to flow, said second circuit (26, 44) being disposed in contact with and separated from said first circuit (23, 33) so as to effect a heat exchange between said first and said second fluid, and being provided with a plurality of second passage ways (29, 46) in which said second fluid is able to flow; and- at least a delivery (12, 31, 40a) and a discharge (14, 39, 42a) for said first and said second fluid, connected to said first circuit (23, 33) and said second circuit (26, 44);characterized in that each first passage way (24, 35) and/or each second passage way (29, 46) defines a substantially obligatory path for said first and/or second fluid from a relative entrance (24a, 29a, 35a, 46a) to a relative exit (24b, 29b, 35b, 46b), wherein the combination of said obligatory paths substantially covers the whole heat exchange surface of said first circuit (23, 33) and/or said second circuit (26, 44).
- Heat exchanger as in claim 1, characterized in that said first passage ways (24, 35) and/or said second passage ways (29, 46) are disposed adjacent and in close proximity respectively to said delivery (12, 31, 40a) and of said discharge (14, 39, 42a), so that each first (24, 35) and/or second passage way (29, 46) is able in sequence to receive directly, by means of the entrance (29a, 35a, 46a) said second fluid from said delivery (12, 31, 40a), to direct it along said substantially obligatory path and to discharge it, by means of said exit (29b, 35b, 46b) directly into said discharge (14, 39, 42a).
- Heat exchanger as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said first passage ways (24, 35) and/or said second passage ways (29, 46) are made as substantially closed pipes for most of their surface, so that the first and the second fluid flow in them following the relative obligatory path.
- Heat exchanger as in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a cooling unit (22) which comprises a plurality of fins (25, 27a) and walls (15) reciprocally disposed so as to define said first and second circuits (23, 26) vertically superimposed and so as to delimit said first (24) and said second passage ways (29), the second fluid consisting of cooling fluid being able to flow in said second passage ways (29), wherein said first passage ways (24) are vertically alternated and separated from said second passage ways (29), wherein each of said second passage ways is made as a pipe (29) which comprises a first portion (30) able to be connected to said delivery (40a) of said second fluid and disposed transverse to said direction (S), a second portion (32) disposed parallel to said direction (S) and a third portion (34) able to be connected to said discharge (42a) of said second fluid and disposed transverse to said direction (S).
- Heat exchanger as in claim 4, characterized in that said first portion (30) and said third portion (34) are perpendicular to said direction (S).
- Heat exchanger as in claim 1, having a pre-cooling unit (20) between the first fluid at entry and the second fluid, consisting of the first fluid at exit, cooled, characterized in that said pre-cooling unit (20) comprises:- a plurality of fins defining third circuits (33), identical to said first circuits (23) and in direct communication with said first circuits (23), in which said first fluid is able to pass;- a plurality of fins defining fourth circuits (44) disposed vertically alternated and separated from said third circuits (33), each of which is provided with said second passage ways (46) in which the second fluid consisting of the first cooled fluid is able to flow;wherein each of said second passage ways is made as a pipe (46) which comprises a first portion (48) able to be connected to a condensation separation unit (28) and disposed transverse to said direction (S), a second portion (50) disposed parallel to said direction (S) and a third portion (52) able to be connected to the exit (14) and disposed transverse to said direction (S).
- Heat exchanger as in claim 6, characterized in that said first portion (48) and said third portion (52) of said pipes (46) are perpendicular to said direction (S).
- Heat exchanger as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that it comprises a frame (11) having an upper wall (11a) and a lower wall (11b) between which at least said first circuits (23) and said second circuits (26) are disposed, in that said feed pipe (40) of said second fluid extends vertically as far as a lower circuit (26b) of said second circuits (26) to a level (H0) and disposed in correspondence with said lower wall (11b) and in that said discharge pipe (42) of said second fluid extends vertically as far as an upper circuit (26a) of said second circuits (26), disposed at a height (L), higher than said level (H0) of said lower circuit (26b).
- Heat exchanger as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that it also comprises a condensation separation unit (28), disposed downstream of said cooling unit (22), provided with grid means (38) able to retain the humidity present in the stream of said first fluid.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT000025A ITUD20070025A1 (en) | 2007-02-07 | 2007-02-07 | HEAT EXCHANGER |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1956330A2 true EP1956330A2 (en) | 2008-08-13 |
EP1956330A3 EP1956330A3 (en) | 2009-10-14 |
Family
ID=39357226
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP08151109A Withdrawn EP1956330A3 (en) | 2007-02-07 | 2008-02-06 | Heat exchanger |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1956330A3 (en) |
IT (1) | ITUD20070025A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2011047874A1 (en) * | 2009-10-23 | 2011-04-28 | Voith Patent Gmbh | Heat exchanger plate and evaporator comprising the same |
ITPN20110037A1 (en) * | 2011-05-20 | 2012-11-21 | Maurizio Nardini | PROCESS AND PROCESS FOR PERFECT COOLING, DEHUMIDIFICATION AND HEATING OF A GAS FLOW |
ITUD20120060A1 (en) * | 2012-04-13 | 2013-10-14 | Ohg Ind S R L Con Unico | HEAT EXCHANGER |
CN103673665A (en) * | 2013-11-30 | 2014-03-26 | 无锡金玺换热器有限公司 | Modular heat exchanger for screw machine |
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US3313344A (en) * | 1965-05-11 | 1967-04-11 | Gen Motors Corp | Plate fin heat exchanger with curved expansion tubes |
US3860065A (en) * | 1970-04-08 | 1975-01-14 | Trane Co | Distributor for plate type heat exchanger having side headers |
CA929929A (en) * | 1970-04-08 | 1973-07-10 | Trane Company Of Canada Limited | Distributor for plate type heat exchangers having side headers |
JPH0711325Y2 (en) * | 1987-12-24 | 1995-03-15 | 住友精密工業株式会社 | Plate fin type heat exchanger |
JP2814765B2 (en) * | 1991-04-12 | 1998-10-27 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Heat exchanger |
DE4118289A1 (en) * | 1991-06-04 | 1992-12-10 | Autokuehler Gmbh & Co Kg | Compact heat exchange appts. - for refrigeration dryer in compressed air plant |
FR2685071B1 (en) * | 1991-12-11 | 1996-12-13 | Air Liquide | INDIRECT PLATE TYPE HEAT EXCHANGER. |
DE10249834A1 (en) * | 2002-10-21 | 2004-04-29 | Autokühler GmbH & Co. KG | Compact cooling unit for compressed has the compressed moist air passed through a chiller and a separator for water droplets before being warmed by the incoming air in a reverse flow heat exchanger |
ITMI20040926A1 (en) * | 2004-05-07 | 2004-08-07 | Domnick Hunter Hiross S P A | COMPRESSED REFRIGERATION GAS DRIER |
-
2007
- 2007-02-07 IT IT000025A patent/ITUD20070025A1/en unknown
-
2008
- 2008-02-06 EP EP08151109A patent/EP1956330A3/en not_active Withdrawn
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
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None * |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2011047874A1 (en) * | 2009-10-23 | 2011-04-28 | Voith Patent Gmbh | Heat exchanger plate and evaporator comprising the same |
US8793987B2 (en) | 2009-10-23 | 2014-08-05 | Steamdrive Gmbh | Heat exchanger plate and an evaporator with such a plate |
ITPN20110037A1 (en) * | 2011-05-20 | 2012-11-21 | Maurizio Nardini | PROCESS AND PROCESS FOR PERFECT COOLING, DEHUMIDIFICATION AND HEATING OF A GAS FLOW |
ITUD20120060A1 (en) * | 2012-04-13 | 2013-10-14 | Ohg Ind S R L Con Unico | HEAT EXCHANGER |
EP2650634A1 (en) | 2012-04-13 | 2013-10-16 | Officine Meccaniche Industriali SRL Con Unico Socio | Heat exchanger |
CN103673665A (en) * | 2013-11-30 | 2014-03-26 | 无锡金玺换热器有限公司 | Modular heat exchanger for screw machine |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
ITUD20070025A1 (en) | 2008-08-08 |
EP1956330A3 (en) | 2009-10-14 |
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