Patent ID: 8215378
Filing Date: 2012-07-10
Classification: F28D,F28F

Abstract:
1. A heat exchange device for effecting a transfer of heat between a first fluid and a second fluid, said heat exchange device comprising a plurality of heat exchange cells in a stacked arrangement, said heat exchange device defining a first manifold, a second manifold, and a third manifold disposed intermediate the first and second manifolds, each of said heat exchange cells comprising: an upper cell plate having an exterior facing surface and an interior facing surface opposite the exterior facing surface, said upper cell plate having a first upper manifold aperture, a second upper manifold aperture, a third upper manifold aperture, and an upper peripheral edge bounding said upper cell plate; a lower cell plate having an exterior facing surface and an interior facing surface opposite the exterior facing surface, said lower cell plate having a first lower manifold aperture, a second lower manifold aperture, a third lower manifold aperture, and a lower peripheral edge bounding said lower cell plate; said lower cell plate juxtaposed with said upper cell plate so that the first lower manifold aperture is aligned with the first upper manifold aperture, the second lower manifold aperture is aligned with the second upper manifold aperture, and the third lower manifold aperture is aligned with the third upper manifold aperture; the upper peripheral edge joined to the lower peripheral edge to define a cell peripheral edge; the interior facing surface of the upper cell plate facing and spaced apart from the interior facing surface of the lower cell plate to define a first interior volume extending between the first manifold the third manifold and a second interior volume extending between the second manifold and the third manifold; said first interior volume having a first cell inlet and a first cell outlet and defining a first fluid passageway for the first fluid between the first cell inlet and the first cell outlet; said second interior volume having a second cell inlet and a second cell outlet and defining a second fluid passageway for the first fluid between the second cell inlet and the second cell outlet; a first heat transfer matrix positioned within said first interior volume, a second heat transfer matrix positioned within said second interior volume, a third heat transfer matrix attached to the exterior surface of said upper cell plate between said first upper manifold aperture and said third upper manifold aperture, a fourth heat transfer matrix attached to the exterior surface of said upper cell plate between said second upper manifold aperture and said third upper manifold aperture, a fifth heat transfer matrix attached to the exterior surface of the lower cell plate between said first lower manifold aperture and said third lower manifold aperture, and a sixth heat transfer matrix attached to the exterior surface of the lower cell plate between said second lower manifold aperture and said third lower manifold aperture; a first upper manifold ring on the exterior surface of the upper cell plate and circumscribing the first upper manifold aperture; a second upper manifold ring on the exterior surface of the upper cell plate and circumscribing the second upper manifold aperture; a third upper manifold ring attached to the exterior surface of the upper plate and circumscribing the third upper manifold aperture; a first lower manifold ring attached to the exterior surface of the lower plate and circumscribing the first lower manifold aperture; a second lower manifold ring attached to the exterior surface of the lower plate and circumscribing the second lower manifold aperture; a third lower manifold ring attached to the exterior surface of the lower plate and circumscribing the third lower manifold aperture; during operation, the first fluid, contained within said first, second, and third manifolds, having a higher pressure than the second fluid, and each of said first, second, and third manifolds having a closure member closing a first end thereof, said first, second, and third manifolds being open at a second end thereof; a first tension member for preventing gross distortion of the first manifold when the first manifold is subjected to a pressure load; a second tension member for preventing gross distortion of the second manifold when the second manifold is subjected to a pressure load; a lateral beam having a first end coupled to the closure of said first manifold and a second end coupled to the closure of said second manifold; and said closure of said third manifold bearing against said lateral beam at a position intermediate the first and second ends of the lateral beam.