EP4624855A1

EP4624855A1 - End plate with increased strength for a stacked plate heat exchanger and stacked plate heat exchanger with increased strength

Info

Publication number: EP4624855A1
Application number: EP24167884.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Daniel Turchin-Muzykant
Original assignee: Danfoss AS
Current assignee: Danfoss AS
Priority date: 2024-03-29
Filing date: 2024-03-29
Publication date: 2025-10-01

Abstract

The invention relates to a stacked plate heat exchanger (1) with an end plate arrangement (16, 18, 22) that comprises at least one intermediary heat exchanger plate (2) with at least one fluid throughput port (5, 6) and at least one covering plate (10, 17, 23) for fluidly sealing said at least one fluid throughput port (5, 6). The covering plate (10, 17, 23) comprises strengthening means (11, 12, 19, 20, 24, 25) for supporting a pressure force that is introduced by pressurised fluid onto the end plate arrangement (16, 18, 22). The strengthening means (11, 12, 19, 20, 24, 25) is mechanically attached (14) to the intermediary heat exchanger plate (2) in the vicinity of the perimeter (15) of the strengthening means (11, 12, 19, 20, 24, 25). The strengthening means (11, 12, 19, 20, 24, 25) is further designed and arranged to at least partially redirect the pressure force that is introduced by pressurised fluid onto the end plate arrangement (16, 18, 22) into a diverging force component along the perimeter of said strengthening means (11, 12, 19, 20, 24, 25).

Description

The invention relates to an end plate arrangement for a stacked plate heat exchanger with an increased strength. The invention further relates to a plate heat exchanger with an increased strength.
Heat exchangers are nowadays used in a wide variety of technical applications. They are used whenever thermal energy has to be transferred from one fluid to another for whatever reason. Just to name some examples, the reason for such thermal energy transfer may be cooling purposes, heating purposes or safety considerations.
To stick with the example of cooling: in case that a significant amount of heat has to be removed from a system, frequently liquid cooling circuits are used for initial heat removal. To avoid a continuous heating of the liquid used for such an initial cooling - and thus eventually an overheating of the liquid, finally resulting in an overheating of the device to be cooled - the liquid hat to be cooled as well. Here, a heat exchanger comes into use, where the thermal energy that is stored in the cooling liquid is transferred to cooling air that is released to the environment, or to water (for example river water) that is also released to the environment. Of course, different cooling fluids and different "final" cooling agents may be envisaged as well. The heat that has to be removed from the system is generally referred to as waste heat. Such waste heat may be created as a side effect of a certain device, like waste heat of a combustion engine, waste heat of an electric motor, waste heat of a light generation device (visible light, LEDs, lasers and so on), waste heat of radio wave generators, waste heat of electrolysis apparatuses (for generating hydrogen via electrolysis or the like), reaction heat of chemical plants (exothermic reactions), heat in electric power stations (to realise a high temperature gradient for the turbine to be driven) and the like.
Due to the widespread use of heat exchangers, it is not surprising that a variety of different designs for heat exchangers is known in the state of the art. A particular design for heat exchangers are the so called stacked plate heat exchangers. Generally, they show good volume efficiency. Furthermore, they are very well suited for two fluids that are fed to the heat exchanger using tubes or hoses. A particular advantage of stacked plate heat exchangers is that they can sustain high fluid pressures, which is required for certain applications.
International patent application WO 2008/105708 A1 discloses a stacked plate heat exchanger that includes a number of heat exchanger plates, which are arranged beside each other and connected to each other by means of a braze connection to form a stack of plates. The heat exchanger plates are substantially manufactured in stainless steel containing chromium, wherein the plate heat exchanger includes a number of port channels extending through at least some of the heat exchanger plates. The plate heat exchanger further includes end plates that are covering each end of the stack of plates and have port holes associated with the port channels, where at least one end plate has at least one port hole provided with a cover and where said cover includes means for increasing the strength and means for sealing off the at least one end plate against an adjacently arranged heat exchanger plate.
International patent application WO 2005/071342 A1 suggests a stacked plate heat exchanger of a plate-type design. The heat exchanger is designed in a way that two adjacent heat exchanger plates define a space between them through which the heat exchange medium or a second medium that is to be cooled or heated flows. At one end of the heat exchanger, a base plate lies substantially flat against the adjacent outmost heat exchanger plate of the heat exchanger. Said base plate is provided with a recess whose contour follows that of the heat exchanger plate.
While such stacked plate heat exchangers undeniably work well, there is still room for improvement. In particular, the pressure resistance of the heat exchanger is always a matter of concern. This is because one always tries to use as few material as possible, not only for weight reason, but also for cost reason. There is therefore a need for pressure resistant stacked plate heat exchangers that nevertheless show a reduced amount of material.
The object of the present invention is therefore to suggest an end plate arrangement for a stacked plate heat exchanger that is improved over end plate arrangements for stacked plate heat exchangers as they are known in the state-of-the-art.
It is another object of the invention to propose a heat exchanger comprising at least one end plate arrangement that is improved over heat exchangers with at least one end plate arrangement as they are known in the state of the art.
An end plate arrangement according to claim 1 and a heat exchanger according to claim 9 solve the respective object of the invention.
It is suggested to design and end plate arrangement for a stacked plate heat exchanger that comprises at least one intermediary heat exchanger plate with at least one fluid throughput port and at least one covering plate for fluidly sealing said at least one fluid throughput port in a way that the covering plate comprises at least a strengthening means for supporting a pressure force that is introduced by pressurised fluid onto the end plate arrangement when the stacked plate heat exchanger is used in a working state, wherein said strengthening means is mechanically attached to the intermediary heat exchanger plate in the vicinity of the perimeter of the strengthening means.
Further it is suggested that said strengthening means is designed and arranged to at least partially redirect the pressure force that is introduced by pressurised fluid onto the end plate arrangement into a diverging force component along the perimeter of said strengthening means.
The design of stacked plate heat exchangers is, as such, well known in the state of the art. They do comprise a plurality of heat exchanger plates that are stacked on top of each other and are mechanically attached to each other. Between two adjacent plates, a fluid channel is formed through which one of the (at least) two fluids, between which a thermal energy transfer has to be performed, is transferred (fluid channel or fluid transfer channel). The majority of the plates of stacked plate heat exchangers are intermediary plates. Typically, they comprise four fluid throughput ports in the four corners of the respective (intermediary) heat exchanger plate. When the intermediary plates are stacked on top of each other, the fluid throughput ports of the intermediary plates do align with each other, so that fluid channels are formed. These fluid channels are typically arranged to be perpendicular (normal) to the plane of the individual intermediary heat exchanger plates. Every second fluid channel between two adjacent plates is normally used for the first fluid (for example: odd-numbered channels), while the other channels (for example: even-numbered channels) are used for the second fluid. To avoid that the fluids mix with each other, the intermediary heat exchanger plates show upwardly or downwardly deformed collar in the vicinity of the perpendicular fluid conduits (that are formed by the fluid throughput ports), where corresponding sections (deformations) of neighbouring plates do contact each other. The fluid channels that are formed by the fluid throughput ports are used for feeding and removing the first fluid and the second fluid. In particular, one channel is for entering of the first fluid, one channel is for removing the first fluid, one channel is for entering of the second fluid and one channel is for removing the second fluid. Certainly, even more fluid throughput ports/fluid channels may be provided. In special designs, it is even possible to use fewer fluid throughput ports/fluid channels.
It is understandable that fluid would spill out of the stacked plate exchanger, if the complete stacked plate heat exchanger would consist of intermediary heat exchanger plates. Therefore, typically the lowermost and the uppermost plate (in other words: the end plates) show a different design. In particular, one of the end plates does not show fluid throughput bores. Therefore, the fluid channels that are formed by the stacked intermediary heat exchanger plates will be sealed off by the end plate (or cover plate). As a second end plate, the fluid throughput orifices are usually designed to have some kind of attachment means, for example flanges, so that fluid conduits (tubes, hoses) can be easily attached to the stacked plate heat exchanger.
While different types of mechanical attachment means are possible, typically the plates (intermediary heat exchanger plates; end plates) are connected to each other using positive substance attachment means, typically using soldering and/or brazing methods. Only for completeness it should be mentioned that the plates do show an essentially plate-like shape with a small height and a significant width and length (2D design). Even more, typically the length of the plates is significantly larger than their width. As already implicitly mentioned, the individual plates usually do show some deformations along the third direction/dimension (height direction), in particular for fluid guiding purposes. This may include deformations for providing fluid tight connections, but also protrusions that only somehow protrude into a fluid transfer channel to perform some fluid guidance purposes.
Sizes for heat exchanger plates, and for whole stack plate heat exchangers can vary considerably. Just to name some examples, they do start with a width of as low as 2 cm width and 5 cm length, with a height of a 1 mm for an individual plate (and perhaps 2 cm height for the complete stacked plate heat exchanger); but the dimensions can be even smaller. On the other hand, the dimensions can go up to a 1 m in width, 3 m in length and 5 cm in height (3 m for the full stacked plate heat exchanger), or even larger.
As already mentioned, stacked plate heat exchangers are frequently used for pressurised fluids (or at least one pressurised fluid). Therefore, the problem is that the heat exchanger tends to swell/balloon/expand/billow under the pressure of the pressurised fluid. This particularly affects the end plates. Accordingly, in particular the end plates of stacked plate heat exchangers were frequently designed to be comparatively thick to sustain the elevated pressure. Nonetheless, the end plates still tended to swell to the outside. Therefore, the heat exchangers had to be mounted with a sufficient play to the outside, to allow for such expansions.
Presently it is proposed to provide a strengthening means for the cover plate of the end plate arrangement (or more generally: at least one end plate), wherein the strengthening means is mechanically attached to the adjacent intermediary heat exchanger plate in the vicinity of the perimeter of the strengthening means. Further, it is proposed that the strengthening means is designed and arranged to at least partially redirect the pressure force that is introduced by pressurised fluid onto the end plate arrangement into a diverging force component along the perimeter of said strengthening means. This way, a very stiff and resilient end plate arrangement can be realised, even with comparatively thin cover plates. This is because the mechanical loading under the pressurised fluid is not only countered by the cover plate, but also by the (neighbouring) intermediate plate(s) due to the mechanical connection (like soldering) of the various plates of the resulting stacked plate heat exchanger. An additional mechanical reinforcement is not only effectuated by the adjacent intermediary heat exchanger plate, but by essentially all intermediary heat exchanger plates. It is acknowledged that the relevance of the additional heat exchanger plates diminishes with increasing distance from the cover plate (with respect to the mechanical reinforcement). Nevertheless, the mechanical stability is usually significantly increased over previous designs. Furthermore, the strengthening means is preferably designed in a way that the mechanical pressure force that is introduced by pressurised fluid onto the end plate arrangement (in particular onto the strengthening means thereof) is redirected, at least in part, into a diverging force component along the perimeter of said strengthening means. In other words, those redirected forces typically try to expand the diameter/circumference of the strengthening means. Usually, the strengthening means is designed as some kind of deformation (essentially constant material thickness) or bulge (increased material thickness), or a combination of both. To optimally achieve the redirecting effect, the bulge/deformation is typically directed towards the pressurised size, i.e. toward the inside of the stacked plate heat exchanger, towards the stack of intermediary heat exchanger plates and/or towards the respective fluid throughput port, i.e. typically the fluid throughput port/fluid conduit that is sealed off by the respective covering plate.
In this context it is to be noted that due to the platelike design of the plates (intermediary plates; end plates; cover plate) of the stacked plate heat exchanger, the plates are usually comparatively easy to deform along their height/vertical direction/direction normal to the plane of the plate. However, forces that do lie (essentially) within the plane of the plate are absorbed typically way more easily by the plate, even if the plate shows a comparatively thin material thickness. Even further, it should be noted that the truss-like design of the presently suggested end plate arrangement further aids in avoiding a swelling behaviour of the end plate arrangement/of the finished stacked plate heat exchanger under fluid pressure.
Further, it is suggested to design the end plate arrangement in a way that the intermediary heat exchanger plate is attached to the covering plate by positive substance connection techniques, in particular in the vicinity of the perimeter of the strengthening means of the covering plate. This way, a mechanically very stable, yet easy to realise mechanical fixation can be achieved. Typically, soldering and/or brazing techniques may be used for this. In particular, plates that are covered with a coating made out of a soldering agent may be used for this. Then, a simple heating process of the preassembled stacked plate heat exchanger may be sufficient to effectuate the mechanically stable connection of the various parts of the stacked plate heat exchanger.
Furthermore, it is suggested that the covering plate is mechanically attached to the intermediary heat exchanger plate along the majority of the perimeter of the strengthening means. This way, a particularly advantageous mechanical fixation can be realised. In particular, the mechanical fixation should be made for more than 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or 95% of the length of the parameter/circumference.
Even further, it is suggested to design the end plate arrangement in a way that the strengthening means is designed and arranged in a way to comprise a deformation that is protruding from the plane of the covering plate in a direction opposing the direction of the pressure force that is introduced by pressurised fluid. This way, the force redirecting functionality can be achieved particularly easy. Furthermore, using a deformation, a single sheet of material can be used for the manufacture of the covering plate. Only a standard deformation technique has to be employed. It is to be noted that frequently such a deformation technique has to be used anyhow, for example to provide for bent edges around the covering plate, so that the covering plate can be easily mechanically attached to the neighbouring/adjacent intermediate heat exchanger plate. Furthermore, the inward direction helps in avoiding any deformation of the outside contours of the heat exchanger under pressure. This way, a smaller mechanical play (if at all) toward surrounding components has to be provided when employing the heat exchanger.
In particular, it is suggested that the deformation is shaped in a dome-like way, a spherical-cap-like way, a ridge-like way, a paraboloid-of-revolution-like way, a cylinder segment-like way and/or a bell shaped-like way. Such shapes of the deformations have proven to be particularly effective and yet easy to realise in first experiments.
Furthermore, it is suggested to design the end plate arrangement in a way that the covering plate comprises a plateau-shaped protruding section. The plateau-shaped protrusion should be directed towards the intermediary heat exchanger plate(s). The plateau-shaped protruding section is preferably connected to said intermediary heat exchanger plate(s), in particular by positive substance connecting means (for example soldering). This way, the mechanical stability of the arrangement may be increased even further. Additionally or alternatively, a outwardly swelling tendency of the end plate arrangement under fluid pressure can be even further reduced.
Furthermore, it should be noted that in an effort to realise fluid conduits between neighbouring plates in a way that the respective fluids are separated from each other, and good thermal transfer may be realised, those conduits preferably contain the two fluids in an alternating way. Then, the design of the cover plate has to be different for different sections, depending on whether the respective strengthening means/section of the covering plate neighbours a vertical fluid conduit (fluid throughput port) for the first fluid or for the second fluid. Depending on whether the respective section of the covering plate covers the first fluid conduit or the second fluid conduit, such a plateau-shaped protruding section may or may not be provided in this area, respectively.
Even further, it is suggested to design the end plate arrangement in a way that a strengthening means is located in a plateau-shaped protruding section of the covering plate. This way, a strengthening means and a plateau-shaped protruding section may be provided in sections, where it is necessary, even in combination. This way, it is possible to avoid or take into account any residual swelling effect. Additionally or alternatively, it is possible to provide a suitable fluid connection, or - on the contrary - to inhibit a fluid connection between the respective fluid throughput port and the fluid conduit that is created between the covering plate and the intermediary heat exchanger plate.
Even further, it is suggested to design the end plate arrangement in a way that said covering plate and/or said intermediary heat exchanger plate comprises a material that is taken from the group comprising iron, iron alloys, steel, aluminium, aluminium alloys, brass, copper, copper alloys, bronze, nonferrous metal and nonferrous metal alloys. First experiments have shown that such materials are particularly suitable for the presently proposed end plate arrangement, and consequently for the resulting stacked plate heat exchanger.
Further, it should be mentioned that the strengthening means can be designed and arranged to be integral with the cover plate. However, they can also be designed to be separately manufactured parts that are placed onto and attached to the covering plate.
Furthermore, it is suggested to design a heat exchanger in a way that the heat exchanger comprises at least one end plate arrangement according to the present disclosure. This way, the resulting (stacked plate) heat exchanger may show the same features, characteristics and advantages, as previously mentioned, at least in analogy. Furthermore, the resulting heat exchanger may be modified in the presently disclosed sense as well, at least in analogy.
In particular, the heat exchanger may be designed in a way that it comprises a plurality of stacked intermediary heat exchanger plates. This way, the transfer characteristics of the resulting heat exchanger can be improved. Furthermore, by providing a plurality of stacked intermediary heat exchanger plates, the mechanical stability of the arrangement can be even further increased.
Further advantages, features, and objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention in connection with the associated drawings, wherein the drawings show:

Fig. 1:: a schematic cross-section through a stacked plate heat exchanger, comprising strengthening means according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure that are provided on the lower cover plate;
Fig. 2:: a detailed view of a second possible embodiment of a cover plate with integrally designed strengthening means in a schematic cross sectional view;
Fig. 3:: a detailed view of a third possible embodiment of a cover plate with separately designed strengthening means in a schematic cross sectional view.

In Fig. 1 a possible embodiment of stacked plate heat exchanger 1 according to the present disclosure is shown as a schematic cross-sectional view. As it is known as such in the state of the art, a stacked plate heat exchanger 1 comprises a plurality of intermediary heat exchanger plates 2 that are stacked on top of each other, and are mechanically attached to each other, typically using soldering techniques. These intermediary heat exchanger plates 2 are typically of an essentially identical design. However, every second intermediary heat exchanger plate 2 is typically rotated by a 180° angle with respect to the other one.
In the four corners of each intermediary heat exchanger plate 2, a fluid throughput port 3 is provided. In the presently shown embodiment, every second fluid throughput port 3 is provided with a deformed flange part 4 around the respective fluid throughput port 3. Thanks to the deformed flange part 4 and the arrangement of the individual intermediary heat exchanger plates 2 with a 180° rotated placement on top of each other, respective vertically arranged fluid conduits 5, 6 are created, namely a fluid conduit for the first fluid 5 and a fluid conduit for the second fluid 6. This way, the two fluids can be kept separate from each other, while a thermal energy transfer between them is possible.
As it is known to a person skilled in the art, the stacked plate heat exchanger 1 shows a distinct length along the direction that is normal to the plane of the drawing of Fig. 1. Along this direction, the two separate fluids will flow along fluid channels7 that are provided by two adjacent heat exchanger plates 2. The respective fluids enter and leave the stacked plate heat exchanger 1 through flanges 8 that are attached at the uppermost top plate 9. It is to be noted that two additional flanges 9 are located at the other lengthwise end of the stacked plate heat exchanger 1 (not visible in Fig. 1). As can be seen in Fig. 1, the top plate 9 and the bottom plate 10 do show a thickness that is somewhat larger than the thickness of the intermediate heat exchanger plates 2. This is because the top plate 9 and the bottom plate 10 have to sustain the pressure forces that are induced by pressurised fluids. It is to be noted that the stacked plate heat exchanger 1 design is a typical design for heat exchangers, when one or two pressurised fluids (or even more) are involved. The thickness of the top plate 9 and the thickness of the bottom plate 10 is not only provided for sustaining the pressure, but in particular to avoid any swelling-type deformation of the outer contours of the stacked plated heat exchanger 1. Such a loading behaviour/swelling behaviour could have a detrimental effect on components that are surrounding the stacked plate heat exchanger 1, which could have a negative impact on their lifetime. Further, a repetitive pressurisation of the stacked plate heat exchanger 1 would also lead to material fatigue over time, decreasing the lifetime of the stacked plate heat exchanger 1, if the deformations are somewhat relevant.
As a matter of completeness: the top plate 9 shows fluid throughput openings 29, into which flanges 8 are placed and attached, and through which fluid may flow.
Contrary to this, the bottom plate 10, or covering plate 10, does not show such fluid openings. Instead, it is presently designed as an uninterrupted plate-like device.
As can be seen from Fig. 1, the covering plate 10 closes off the fluid conduits 5, 6 that are formed by the fluid throughput ports 3 of the individual intermediary heat exchanger plates 2. This way, no fluid may spill out of the heat exchanger 1 (therefore the name " covering plate", because the covering plate 10 covers the fluid conduits 5, 6).
As can be further seen in Fig. 1, the covering plate 10 is provided with strengthening means 11, 12, where the strengthening means 11, 12 are arranged to be aligned with the lines that are formed by the fluid conduits 5, 6. Namely, strengthening means 11 is aligned to fluid conduit 5, while strengthening means 12 is aligned to fluid conduit 6.
The strengthening means 11, 12 are presently designed as dome-shaped deformations 13 of the main plane that is formed by cover plate 10. The design of the dome-shaped deformations 13 will lead to a redirection of pressure forces that are acting on the dome-shaped deformations 13 under the influence of pressurised fluids within fluid conduit 5 and fluid conduit 6. Namely, a downwardly directed force will at least partially be redirected towards forces that lie within the plane of cover plate 10, namely into forces that are radially diverging from the centre of the dome 13. Such forces however, can easily be absorbed by the plate-shaped material of cover plate 10.
Furthermore, it can be seen from Fig. 1, that close to the outer perimeter 15 of the dome-shaped deformations 13, the cover plate 10 and the adjacent, neighbouring intermediary heat exchanger plate 2 are mechanically attached to each other, presently using a soldering joint 14/soldering fixation. Therefore, any residual forces that are still pointing in a presently downwardly directed direction (causing swelling of the stacked plate heat exchanger 1) will not only be absorbed by the material of the cover plate 10 alone, but additionally by the material of the neighbouring/adjacent intermediary heat exchanger plate 2, thanks to the soldering joint 14 in close proximity to the outer perimeter 15 of the dome-shaped deformation 13. It is to be noted that the adjacent (lowest) intermediary heat exchanger plate 2 is soldered to another intermediary heat exchanger plate 2 (second-lowest intermediary heat exchanger played 2), so that this second intermediary heat exchanger plate 2 will also help in mechanically absorbing forces that could cause a swelling effect of the stacked plate heat exchanger 1.
In Fig. 2, a first variation 18 of the end plate arrangement 16, as shown in Fig. 1, is shown in a schematic, perspective cross-sectional view, highlighting on the modified end plate arrangement 18. Here, the covering plate 17 also shows to dome-like 13 strengthening means 19, 20, covering respective fluid conduits 5, 6. Only for completeness, it is pointed out that for identical, or at least highly similar features identical reference numbers are used throughout all of the Figs. for simplicity.
Similar to the embodiment according to Fig. 1, the covering plate 17 is manufactured from a single sheet of metal that is deformed using appropriate deforming techniques. While the strengthening means 19 on the left side of Fig. 2 is similar to the strengthening means 11 on the left side of Fig. 1, the strengthening means 20 on the right side of Fig. 2 is somewhat different from the strengthening means 12 on the right side of Fig. 1. Namely, in the present embodiment 18, the strengthening means 20 does not only show a dome-shaped structure 13, but also a plateau-shaped protrusion 21 that surrounds the dome-shaped deformation 13 of strengthening means 20. In the present embodiment, the plateau-shaped protrusion 21 shows a circular shape as well, similar to the outer circumference of dome-shaped structure 13. Using this plateau-shaped protrusion 21, it is possible that the soldering joint 14 of strengthening means 20 and the neighbouring intermediary heat exchanger plate 2 is established even closer to the outer perimeter 15 of the dome-shaped 13 part of strengthening means 20 of cover plate 17. This may further reduce any residual swelling effect in the vicinity of strengthening means 20 and increase mechanical stability of stacked plate heat exchanger 1 in this section.
In Fig. 3, yet another modification of the end plate arrangement 22 is shown in a schematic cross-sectional view. Here, the covering plate 23, covering the intermediary heat exchanger plates 2, and in particular the fluid conduits 5, 6, thereof, shows separately designed strengthening means 24, 25. Namely, the strengthening means 24, 25 are provided as separate dome-shaped structures 26, that are placed at an appropriate position that is aligned with the fluid conduits 5, 6. Only later on, the domes 26 will be mechanically attached (typically soldered) to the respective areas of the covering plate 23. To provide a sufficiently large mechanical stability, the domes 26 are showing a flattened flange area 27 around their circumferences. Therefore, a flat contact area of a sufficient size with the covering plate 23 can be provided.
Additionally, the covering plate 23 shows a plateau-shaped protrusion 28 that is aligned with the fluid conduit 6 for the second fluid. This plateau-shaped protrusion 28 is provided for essentially the same reasons as for the plateau-shaped protrusion 21 of the covering plate 17 according to Fig. 2.
It is to be noted that presently in the end plate arrangement 22, a flat part of the adjacent intermediary heat exchanger plate 2 is arranged to lie in between the covering plate 23 and the flange area 27 of the domes 26. However, a different arrangement could be used as well.
It is to be noted that a single one or a plurality of the features of one, several or all of the presently disclosed detailed embodiments may be used in combination with the generic description of the present disclosure.

Claims

End plate arrangement (16, 18, 22) for a stacked plate heat exchanger (1), comprising at least one intermediary heat exchanger plate (2) with at least one fluid throughput port (5, 6) and at least one covering plate (10, 17, 23) for fluidly sealing said at least one fluid throughput port (5, 6), characterised in that the covering plate (10, 17, 23) comprises at least a strengthening means (11, 12, 19, 20, 24, 25) for supporting a pressure force that is introduced by pressurised fluid onto the end plate arrangement (16, 18, 22) when the stacked plate heat exchanger (1) is used in a working state, wherein said strengthening means (11, 12, 19, 20, 24, 25) is mechanically attached (14) to the intermediary heat exchanger plate (2) in the vicinity of the perimeter (15) of the strengthening means (11, 12, 19, 20, 24, 25), wherein that said strengthening means (11, 12, 19, 20, 24, 25) is designed and arranged to at least partially redirect the pressure force that is introduced by pressurised fluid onto the end plate arrangement (16, 18, 22) into a diverging force component along the perimeter of said strengthening means (11, 12, 19, 20, 24, 25).
End plate arrangement (16, 18, 22) according to claim 1, characterised in that the intermediary heat exchanger plate (2) is attached to the covering plate (10, 17, 23) by positive substance connection techniques (14), in particular in the vicinity of the perimeter (15) of the strengthening means of the covering plate (10, 17, 23).
End plate arrangement (16, 18, 22) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the covering plate (10, 17, 23) is mechanically attached (14) to the intermediary heat exchanger plate (2) along the majority of the perimeter (15) of the strengthening means (11, 12, 19, 20, 24, 25).
End plate arrangement (16, 18, 22) according to any of the preceding claims the strengthening means (11, 12, 19, 20, 24, 25) is designed and arranged in a way to comprise a deformation (13) that is protruding from the plane of the covering plate (10, 17, 23) in a direction opposing the direction of the pressure force that is introduced by pressurised fluid.
End plate arrangement (16, 18, 22) according to any of the preceding claims, in particular according to claim 4, characterised in that the deformation (13) is shaped in a dome-like (13), a spherical-cap-like, a ridge-like, a paraboloid-of-revolution-like, a cylinder-segment-like, and/or a bell shaped-like way.
End plate arrangement (16, 18, 22) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the covering plate (10, 17, 23) comprises a plateau-shaped protruding section (21, 28) towards the intermediary heat exchanger plate (2), wherein said plateau-shaped protruding section (21, 28) is preferably connected to said intermediary heat exchanger plate (2), in particular by positive substance connecting means (14).
End plate arrangement (16, 18, 22) according to any of the preceding claims, in particular according to claim 6, characterised in that the strengthening means (11, 12, 19, 20, 24, 25) is located in the plateau-shaped protruding section (21, 28) of the covering plate (5, 6).
End plate arrangement (16, 18, 22) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said covering plate (5, 6) and/or said intermediary heat exchanger plate (2) comprises a material that is taken from the group comprising iron, iron alloys, steel, aluminium, aluminium alloys, brass, copper, copper alloys, bronze, nonferrous metal and nonferrous metal alloys.
Heat exchanger (1), comprising at least one end plate arrangement (16, 18, 22) according to any of the preceding claims.
Heat exchanger (1) according to claim 9, comprising a plurality of stacked intermediary heat exchanger plates (2).