GB1271330A - Improvements in or relating to plate heat exchangers - Google Patents

Abstract

1,271,330. Plate heat exchangers. A.P.V. CO. Ltd. 19 April, 1971 [22 May, 1970], No. 24954/70. Heading F4S. In a plate heat exchanger comprising a stack 1 of separable and gasketed plates compressed by a sliding follower 2 against a fixed head 3 by means of tie-bars (not shown), fluid carrying pipework extending between the follower and the head 3 includes an expansion joint 10 and releasable connections 11 to facilitate removal or addition of plates to the stack. The releasable connections, which, as shown, are between expansion joint 10 and pipe 9, and pipe 9 and return bend 8, are preferably of a quick-release type. The expansion joint may be of the bellows type or of the type using telescopic tubes (see Fig. 4) wherein an inner tube (13) is slidable in an outer tube (12) and sealed by double 0-ring seals (14); the space between the seals is pressurized using fluid passing through the joint and supplied through conduit 16. In an alternative embodiment (Fig. 5, not shown) the fluid carrying pipework extends between the follower (2) and a fixed end support (21).