EP2452149A2 - Plate heat exchanger - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a plate heat exchanger having a plurality of plates having flow ducts, wherein a first plate has a front side with at least one flow duct for a first fluid and a second plate has a front side with at least one flow duct for a second fluid, and wherein the plates have passage openings via which the flow ducts for the same fluid are respectively connected to one another, wherein a front plate, which is placed in front of the front side of the first plate, has connections for the first fluid and for the second fluid, wherein an end plate forms the end of the plates lined up in a row, wherein the plates and connections are formed from plastic, and wherein the plates are tightly bonded or welded to one another.

Description

Plate heat exchanger

description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a plate heat exchanger having a plurality of flow channels having plates, wherein a first plate has a front side with at least one

Flow channel for a first fluid and a second plate having a front side with at least one flow channel for a second fluid, and wherein the plates

Having Durchgangsoffnungen over which the flow channels for the same fluid are connected to each other.

State of the art

In pharmacy, biotechnology and in the

Food industry often gaseous or liquid media must be heated or cooled. To perform such thermal processes, heat exchangers are commonly used. Warmth is transported from the warmer medium to the colder medium. The media are separated from each other. There is a need for

Heat exchangers that are very inexpensive in terms of material and manufacturing. From DE 10 2006 013 503 Al a plate heat exchanger with a plurality of flow channels having plates is known. A first plate has at least one flow channel for a first fluid and a second plate has at least one flow channel for a second fluid. The plates have Durchgangsoffnungen via which the flow channels for the same fluid are each connected together.

The disadvantage here is that the plates are relatively expensive sealed against each other via seals or, as far as they are made of a ceramic material, it is known to cohesively join them in a complex process to form a monolithic block. Both after this

Method produced devices are correspondingly expensive and expensive to manufacture.

EP 0 038 454 A2 discloses a plate heat exchanger consisting of a multiplicity of extruded individual plates

Polycarbonate known.

The disadvantage here is that the plates have no internal

Have flow distributor or rectifier. Thus, more expensive components for fluid distribution must be provided. When composing arise

Difficulties, one necessary for sterile applications

To ensure tightness. task

Object of the present invention is therefore, a

 To provide plate heat exchanger in the

With regard to material and manufacturing simple and

 is formed inexpensively.

Presentation of the invention

The task is combined with the preamble of

Claim 1, characterized in that a front plate, which is upstream of the front of the first plate having connections for the first fluid and for the second fluid, that a closure plate forms the conclusion of the juxtaposed plates, that the plates and terminals are made of plastic, and that the plates are tightly glued or welded together.

The plate heat exchanger according to the invention is simple

built and can be produced inexpensively by simple production of its plates made of plastic, for example by injection molding of the plates. By gluing or by connecting the plates in one

 Plastic welding process can be dispensed with seals. The plate heat exchangers can be so cheap

be prepared as a disposable heat exchanger

can be used. This can be dispensed with a costly cleaning or disassembly. Due to their structure, the inventive plate heat exchanger for applications in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and

Food sector suitable. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plates are flat on their sides facing away from the front sides. This has the advantage that the plates can be strung together in any order.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the plates have, on their back sides facing away from the front sides, mirror-symmetrical flow channels corresponding to the flow channels of the adjacent front sides.

This makes it possible in particular to form the first plates and the second plates of identical construction, wherein the second plates are mounted relative to the first plates turned by 180 °. As a result, only one form is needed for the first and second plate, which considerably simplifies the production.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the flow channels of the plates each have flow direction. The flow straightener are designed as arranged in the flow ducts barriers or partitions. The

Partitions of flow channels for the first fluid and flow channels for the second fluid are preferably arranged perpendicular to each other. This contributes to a better heat exchange.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the plates have a collecting space. The plenum is located in the vertical direction below. As far as a gas is passed through the first flow channel, which condenses due to cooling, collects in the plenum Condensate, which has a condensate connection in the

 Front panel is derived.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the

Invention are the plates and connections from a

 sterilizable plastic formed. This makes it possible to deliver the plate heat exchanger sterile packed.

Insofar as the plates and terminals are made of polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyphenylene ether (PPE) or polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), the plate heat exchangers are

sterilizable by being irradiated with gamma or beta rays. Also, it is possible the

Sterilize plate heat exchanger by autoclaving with superheated steam.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the plate heat exchanger is connected to a bioreactor, which is preferably also sterilizable.

So is one of the bioreactor for exhaust gas cooling

discharged gas to the connection for the input of the first fluid with an exhaust pipe of the bioreactor and the

Connection for the output of the first fluid connectable to an input of a sterile filter, while the connections for the second fluid can be connected to a Kuhlkreislauf. Liquid vapors taken up during the gassing of the bioreactor are condensed and the condensate is returned to the bioreactor. The dried waste gas can now be discharged via a sterile filter without blocking it with condensed liquid.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, for preheating a medium to be fed to the bioreactor, the inlet for the first fluid is connected to a medium supply line for supplying the medium and the exit point for the first fluid is connected to an inflow port of the bioreactor the second fluid is connected to a temperature control circuit.

As a result, in particular long heating times of the filled bioreactor can be avoided.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the

following detailed description and the accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of

Invention are exemplified.

Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawings:

Figure 1: a spatial representation of a

 Plate heat exchanger as exploded view,

Figure 2: a front view of a plate of a

 Plate heat exchanger in another

 preferred embodiment with a flow channel for a first fluid,

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the plate of FIG. 2;

Figure 4: a front view of a front panel of a

 Plate heat exchanger with connections for a first fluid, for a second fluid and a condensate connection,

5 shows a rear view of the front plate of FIG. 4 with a flow channel for a first fluid, which is designed mirror-symmetrically to the flow channel of FIG. 2, FIG.

FIG. 6: a front view of a closure plate of a

 Plate heat exchanger with a flow channel for a first fluid,

Figure 7: a schematic representation of a

Process Schemes of a bioreactor in connection with a heat plate exchanger, as

 Exhaust gas cooler is formed, and

FIG. 8: a process diagram of a bioreactor in conjunction with a plate heat exchanger as

Media heating for preheating when filling the bioreactor.

Description of the exemplary embodiments

A plate heat exchanger 1 consists essentially of a plurality of first plates 40 and second plates 50 with flow channels 4, 5, a front plate 6 and a

End plate 7.

The first plate 40 has a front side 2 and a

Back 41. In the vertical direction, the first plate 40 has in its lower left and upper left corners

Through openings 8, 9 for a first fluid. On the front side 2 of the plate 40, a flat depression is arranged, which forms the flow channel 4 and extends into the Durchgangsoffnungen 8, 9. The flow channel 4 points in the horizontal direction from the side walls

Stromungsbarrieren 10, 11 of a Stromungsrichters 12, which overlap in the horizontal direction and so on

maanderformigen flow channel 4 form. The rear side 41 is flat, that is without a flow channel, formed.

Outside the flow channel 4, the first plate 40 in the vertical direction at the top right and bottom right through Durchgangsoffnungen 13, 14 on.

The second plate 50 has on its front side 3 a flat depression, which forms the flow channel 5 and extends into the right Durchgangsoffnungen 17, 18. The flow channel 5 has vertically extending Stromungsbarrieren 15, which form a Stromungsrichter 16. In the left corners, the plate 50 outside the flow channel 5 Durchgangsoffnungen 19, 20, which with the Through openings 8, 9 of the plate 40 correspond.

Corresponding Durchgangsoffnungen 17, 18 of the plate 50 with the Durchgangsoffnungen 13, 14 of the plate 40. The plate 50 has a rear side facing away from its front side 3 51, which is flat and thus has no flow channel.

The plate heat exchanger 1 has on its front side the front plate 6 with its connections 21, 22 for the first fluid and connections 23, 24 for the second fluid. In this case, the connection 21 is in communication with the passage openings 8, 19 and serves to supply the first fluid, which is discharged again via the connection 22, which communicates with the passage openings 9, 20.

The front panel may optionally have a flow channel 4 'on its rear side, which is not shown in FIG.

The port 23 communicates with the passage openings 14 and 18 and serves to supply the second fluid, while the port 24 communicates with the Durchgangsoffnungen 13 and 17 in communication and is used for the discharge of the second fluid.

The plate heat exchanger 1 is closed at its end facing away from the front panel 6 by the end plate 7. The end plate 7 may have a flow channel 4 in this embodiment and has no Durchgangsoffnungen in this embodiment. In an embodiment of the end plate 7, not shown, this is identical to the front panel 6 and is arranged in the plate heat exchanger 1 mirror-symmetrical to the front panel 6.

The front side of the end plate may have a flow channel 4 as shown in FIG. 1, but may also be planar and thus formed without a flow channel 4 and may furthermore not be represented through openings

have, corresponding to the Durchgangsoffnungen of the plates 40 and 50.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the front plate 6 and the end plate 7 are each with

Durchgangsoffnungen provided to the cross section of

To increase fluid supply, without having to change the sizing of the terminals 21, 22, 23 and 24. In this way, the pressure loss during inflow and outflow of the fluids into and out of the heat exchanger 1 can be minimized particularly advantageous.

The plates 40 and 50 are at their backs, as explained above, each flat, while the back of the front panel 6 and / or the front of the

End plate 7 may be formed plan or alternatively a flow channel 4, 4 'may have. The plates 40, 50, 6 and 7 are each glued to their adjacent plate. The embodiment of Figure 2 shows a plate 40 'and 50' with a flow channel 4 'on its front side 2' for a first fluid, which is formed for example as a cooling medium.

In the vertical direction, the first plate 40 'and 50' in their lower left and upper left corners through openings 8 ', 9' for the first fluid. On the front side 2 'of the plate 40', the flow channel 4 'is arranged, which is in communication with the passage openings 8', 9 '. Outside the flow channel 4 ', the side 2' in the vertical direction at the top and bottom right each of the through holes 13 ', 14'.

The rear side 41 'of the first plate 40' (see FIG. 3) has a flow channel 5 'for a second fluid.

The plate 40 'and the plate 50' are exactly identical.

Analogous to the plate sequence shown in FIG. 1, the plates 40 'and 50' can be turned into a plate heat exchanger

are assembled, wherein the plates 50 'relative to the identical plates 40' corresponding turned by 180 °

to be assembled. In contrast to the embodiment of Figure 1, in which the back sides of the plates 40 and 50 are each planar, resulting from this assembly

Plate heat exchanger 1, in which the front and the

Rear side of the composite plates 40 'and 50' each have a flow channel 4 'and 5'. In the lower vertical area, the

Stromungskanal 5 'a collecting space 25 which serves to receive condensate, which is discharged via a condensate connection 26 which is arranged on the front panel 6' (see Figure 4). The passage openings 13 'and 14' for the second fluid of the plate 50 'are elongated and correspond with Durchgangsoffnungen 13', 14 'of the plate 40' (see Figure 2).

The rear side 51 'of the plate 50' (see FIG. 3) has a flow channel 4 'of a further identical plate 40' or the flow channel 4 'of an end plate 7'.

corresponding flow channel for a first fluid.

The plate heat exchanger 1, 1 'according to the exemplary embodiments of Figures 1 to 6 sxnd formed from polycarbonate (PC). They are readily gamma-irradiated and are for

Any sterile application in the temperature range up to 110 ⁰ C, for a short time even up to 125 C suitable. So that can

Hot plate exchangers 1, 1 'are sterilized with superheated steam.

According to the exemplary embodiment of Figure 7 is the

Plate heat exchanger 1 'connected to a bioreactor 27' and is used as Abgaskuhler. The exhaust gas is discharged from the head space 28 of the bioreactor 27 'via an exhaust pipe 29, which is connected to the port 23' of the plate heat exchanger 1 ', into the top of the plate heat exchanger 1'.

initiated. In the plate heat exchanger 1 ', the gas stream is split via the flow channel 5' over the individual front sides 3 'of the plates 50'. At the front of the plates 3 'of the plates 50 ", the gas stream is cooled when flowing down to the plate wall and discharged via the port 24' and further via a sterile filter 30 to the

Environment submitted. Due to the exhaust gas cooling in the

Plate heat exchanger 1 ', the humidity of the exhaust gas is lowered, wherein captured in the bioreactor liquid medium condensed, discharged via the condensate port 26 and the bioreactor 27' is fed back via a peristaltic pump.

In countercurrent thereto, cooling medium is introduced from the primary cooler 33 from below via the connection 21 'into the plate heat exchanger 1'. From the Durchgangsoffnungen 8 'is the

Kuhlmedium introduced into the individual flow channels 4 'and takes the heat from the plates 40' and 50 'on. The cooling medium heats up. The cooling medium is collected in the passage opening 9 'and is required via the connection 22' back into the primary cooler 33. The cooling medium is circulated.

After the exemplary embodiment of Figure 8 is the

Plate heat exchanger 1 with the bioreactor 27 via a

Lead 31 connected. In this case, the plate heat exchanger 1 is used to the bioreactor 27 zuzuführendes medium

preheat.

The medium to be heated is introduced from a Vorratsbehalter not shown in the plate heat exchanger 1 from above via the terminal 23. In the plate heat exchanger 1, the material flow over the resulting from the Durchgangsoffnungen 14 and 18 flow distributor in the individual channels 5 distributed. In the flow straighteners 12, the media stream is warmed up when flowing down the plate wall. The media streams are merged and sent to the output or

Port 24 headed. From port 24, the preheated medium is fed into the bioreactor 27.

In countercurrent thereto, heating medium is introduced from below by a thermostat 32 via the connection 21 into the plate heat exchanger 1. In the resulting from the through holes 8 and 9 flow distributor, the heating medium is introduced into the individual channels 4 and gives the heat to the plates 40 and 50 from. The heating medium is conveyed from the outlet or from the connection 22 back into the thermostat 32. The heating medium is circulated.

Claims

claims Plate heat exchanger (1, 1 ') with a plurality of flow channels (4, 4', 5, 5 ') having plates (40, 40', 50, 50 ') wherein a first plate (40, 40') has a front side (2 , 2 ') having at least one flow channel (4, 4') for a first fluid and a second plate (50, 50 ') a front side (3, 3') with at least one  Flow channel (5, 5 ') for a second fluid, and wherein the plates (40, 40', 50, 50 ')  Durchgangsoffnungen (8, 8 ', 9, 9', 13, 13 ', 14, 14', 19, 20), via which the flow channels (4, 4 ', 5, 5') connected to each other for the same fluid are,  characterized,  a front plate (6, 6 '), which is located in front of the front side (2, 2') of the first plate (40, 40 '),  Having connections (21, 21 ', 22, 22', 23, 23 ', 24, 24') for the first fluid and for the second fluid,  an end plate (7, 7 ') forms the end of the aligned plates (40, 40', 50, 50 ', 6, 6'),  in that the plates (40, 40 ', 50, 50', 6, 6 ', 7, 7') and connections (21, 21 ', 22, 22', 23, 23 ', 24, 24') are made of plastic are and the plates (40, 40 ', 50, 50', 6, 6 ', 7, 7') are glued or welded together tightly. 2. Plate heat exchanger according to claim 1,  characterized,  in that the end plate (7, 7 ') has through openings which are connected to the passage openings (8, 8', 9, 9 ', 13, 13', 14, 14 ', 19, 20) of the plates (40, 40', 50 , 50 ')  correspond. 3. Plate heat exchanger according to claim 1 or 2,  characterized,  that the back of the front panel (6, 6 ') a  Flow channel (4, 4 '). 4. Plate heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized  the front side of the end plate (7, 7 ') has a flow channel (4, 4'). 5. Plate heat exchanger according to one of claims 1, 2 or 4,  characterized,  the rear side (61, 61 ') of the front panel (6, 6') is flat. 6. Plate heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 3  or claim 5,  characterized, that the front of the end plate (7, 7 ') is flat. 7. plate heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized  in that the plates (40, 50) at their front sides (2, 3) facing away from the back sides (41, 51) are flat. 8. Plate heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized  that the plates (40 ', 50', 6 ', 7') at their the  Front sides (2 ', 3') facing away from the back sides (41 ', 51', 61 ') the flow channels (4', 5 ') of the adjacent  Front sides (2 ', 3') corresponding mirror-symmetrical flow channels (4 ', 5') have. 9. plate heat exchanger according to claim 8,  characterized,  that the first plates (40 ') and the second plates (50') are of identical design and  that the second plates (50 ') opposite the first  Plates (40 ') are turned accordingly turned by 180 °. 10. plate heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized  that the flow channels (4, 4 ', 5, 5') a  Stromungsrichter (12, 16) have. 11. Plate heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that  the front sides (3 ') of the plates (50') have a Have collecting space (25). 12. plate heat exchanger according to claim 11,  characterized,  the front panel (6 ') has a condensate connection (26) which forms the outlet of the collecting space (25). 13. plate heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the plates (40, 40 ', 50, 50', 6, 6 ', 7, 7') and terminals (21, 21 ', 22, 22', 23, 23 ', 24 _r 24', 26) are made of a sterilizable plastic are formed. 14. plate heat exchanger according to claim 13,  characterized,  in that the plates (40, 40 ', 50, 50', 6, 6 ', 7, 7') and connections (21, 21 ', 22, 22', 23, 23 ', 24, 24', 26) are made of PC, PET, ABS, PPE or PPS are made. 15. plate heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized  that the plates (40, 40 ', 50, 50', 6, 6 ', 7, 7') and terminals (21, 21 ', 22, 22', 23, 23 ', 24, 24', 26) with Gamma and / or beta rays can be irradiated and / or autoclaved with superheated steam. 16. plate heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized  that the plate heat exchanger (1, 1 ') with a Bioreactor (27, 27 ') is connected. 17. Plate heat exchanger according to claim 16,  characterized,  for the exhaust gas cooling of a gas to be discharged from the bioreactor {21 '), the connection (23') for the inlet of the second fluid with an exhaust pipe (29) of the  Bioreactor (27 ') and the outlet (24') for the output of the second fluid to an input of a sterile filter (30) is connected, and  in that the connections (21 ', 22') for the first fluid are connected to a cooling circuit. 18. Plate heat exchanger according to claim 17,  characterized,  that the condensate connection (26) with a  Inflow port of the bioreactor (27 ') is connected. 19. Plate heat exchanger according to claim 16,  characterized,  that for preheating a bioreactor (27)  supplied medium, the inlet (23) for the input of the second fluid with a media supply line (31) for supplying the medium and the connection (24) for the output of the second fluid to an inflow port of the bioreactor (27) is connected, and  in that the connections (21, 22) for the first fluid are connected to a temperature control circuit. 20. Plate heat exchanger according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized  the plate heat exchanger (1, 1 ') is a disposable article.