Patent Publication Number: US-10323883-B2

Title: Heat exchange plate for plate-type heat exchanger and plate-type heat exchanger provided with said heat exchange plate

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is entitled to the benefit of and incorporates by reference subject matter disclosed in the International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2015/073690 filed on Mar. 5, 2015 and Chinese Patent Application 201410083866.3 filed Mar. 7, 2014. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a heat exchanger, in particular a heat exchange plate for a plate-type heat exchanger and a plate-type heat exchanger provided with said heat exchange plate. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In the prior art, as  FIGS. 1 to 4  show, a raised pattern is provided around ports  11  (fluid inlet and fluid outlet) of a heat exchange plate of a plate-type heat exchanger, to increase the strength of the plate-type heat exchanger and cause a larger pressure drop between the port  11  and a fluid channel, and thereby achieve better fluid distribution between fluid channels. With regard to the structural design of existing products, since the strength is low, it is necessary to make the plates relatively thick to increase strength, so costs are high. 
     As  FIG. 1  shows, existing raised patterns include a spider&#39;s web design, but such a raised pattern has low strength under certain conditions, and the layout is determined by a fish bone pattern of a heat exchange part. 
     As  FIG. 2  shows, the raised pattern shown in  FIG. 2  is not limited by the pattern of the heat exchange part, but the protrusions are independent, so in certain situations, strength is low. 
     The raised pattern shown in  FIG. 3  is formed by cutting away a part of long protrusions; this raised pattern has low strength, and poor manufacturability. 
     In addition, when the raised pattern formed by long protrusions shown in  FIG. 4  is employed, the strength of the plate-type heat exchanger is low, and stresses are not borne uniformly. 
     In the various types of structure above, there must be a section of plane flush with a basic plane between every two adjacent protrusions, i.e. a transitional part between two adjacent protrusion points is a lower plane. As a result, the distance between every two protrusions cannot be too small, so strength is limited and restrictions are increased. 
     SUMMARY 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchange plate for a plate-type heat exchanger and a plate-type heat exchanger having the heat exchange plate, wherein the heat exchange plate and the plate-type heat exchanger have high strength, and the plates can be reduced in thickness to save costs. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchange plate for a plate-type heat exchanger and a plate-type heat exchanger having the heat exchange plate, wherein higher pressure-bearing strength and a better solution are provided in the case where a high-pressure coolant such as carbon dioxide is used. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a heat exchange plate for a plate-type heat exchanger, the heat exchange plate comprising: an opening for forming a port; multiple protrusions arranged around at least a part of the opening along an annular line surrounding the opening, the multiple protrusions projecting to one side of the plate plane; transitional parts disposed between at least two adjacent protrusions, the transitional parts being located on said side of the plate plane at a predetermined distance from the plate plane, and the distance from the top of the protrusion to the plate plane being greater than the distance from the lowest point of the transitional part to the plate plane. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, the top of the protrusion is substantially flat. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, the distance from the top of the protrusion to the lowest point of the transitional part is less than or equal to the distance from the lowest point of the transitional part to the plate plane. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, the protrusions are connected via corresponding transitional parts, and together with the transitional parts form an entire ridge. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, the heat exchange plate for a plate-type heat exchanger also comprises: a coupling part located in the plate plane between at least two adjacent protrusions. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, the dimension of the top of the protrusion in the circumferential direction of the annular line is greater than a radial dimension. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, the top of the protrusion is an elongated part extending in the circumferential direction of the annular line. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, the transitional parts have the shape of a curved surface. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, the transitional parts project to another side, opposite said side, of the plate plane, relative to the tops of adjacent protrusions. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, the protrusions are connected via corresponding transitional parts, and together with the transitional parts form an entire annular ridge. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a protrusion or protrusions in at least a first region differ(s) in size, shape and/or spacing from a protrusion or protrusions in a second region. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, the heat exchange plate for a plate-type heat exchanger also comprises: a channel ridge which extends from at least one protrusion in a direction away from the opening and is used for forming a fluid channel. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, the top of the at least one protrusion and the top of the channel ridge are substantially in the same plane. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a plate-type heat exchanger, comprising the heat exchange plate described above. 
     Compared with plate-type heat exchangers having the raised patterns shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 , the plate-type heat exchanger according to the present invention has higher strength. The plate-type heat exchanger according to the present invention has good resistance to freezing, e.g. if one protrusion leaks, fluid can diffuse to other protrusions, to avoid immediate freezing. 
     In addition, compared with a plate-type heat exchanger provided with an additional apparatus as a substitute for a raised pattern, the plate-type heat exchanger according to the present invention has lower manufacturing costs and material costs. 
     Furthermore, the number of protrusions in the raised pattern surrounding the ports in the plate-type heat exchanger according to the present invention is not limited by the space around the ports; it may be set according to pressure drop requirements and need not be set according to space. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1 to 4  are schematic diagrams of a raised pattern around a port of an existing heat exchange plate. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view of a raised pattern around a port of a heat exchange plate for a plate-type heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic main view of a raised pattern around a port of a heat exchange plate for a plate-type heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic sectional view along line AA in  FIG. 6  of a raised pattern around a port of a heat exchange plate for a plate-type heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic sectional view along line BB in  FIG. 6  of a raised pattern around a port of a heat exchange plate for a plate-type heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a partial enlarged schematic sectional view of a raised pattern around a port of a heat exchange plate for a plate-type heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic main view of a raised pattern around a port of a heat exchange plate for a plate-type heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention wherein the top of the protrusion is elongated; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic main view of a raised pattern around a port of a heat exchange plate for a plate-type heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention wherein the top of the protrusion is shown as a welding part; 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic main view of a raised pattern around a port of a heat exchange plate for a plate-type heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic sectional view along line AA in  FIG. 12  of a raised pattern around a port of a heat exchange plate for a plate-type heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic sectional view along line BB in  FIG. 6  of a raised pattern around a port of a heat exchange plate for a plate-type heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic perspective view of a raised pattern around a port of a heat exchange plate for a plate-type heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein one side of the heat exchange plate is shown; and 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic perspective view of a raised pattern around a port of a heat exchange plate for a plate-type heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein another side of the heat exchange plate is shown. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention is explained further below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and particular embodiments. 
     A plate-type heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: end plates and heat exchange plates which at least form a first heat exchange fluid channel and a second heat exchange fluid channel. The end plates are disposed on outer sides of the heat exchange plates. The plate-type heat exchanger also comprises: a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet as ports. The heat exchange plates are stacked together, thereby forming a first heat exchange fluid channel and a second heat exchange fluid channel alternately in a stacking direction. The plate-type heat exchanger may be any known plate-type heat exchanger. Heat exchange plates according to embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. 
     Embodiment 1 
       FIGS. 5 to 8  show a raised pattern around a port of a heat exchange plate for a plate-type heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention. The raised pattern is connected between the port  11  and a heat exchange fluid channel, and fluid enters the heat exchange fluid channel through the raised pattern. As  FIGS. 5 to 8  show, the heat exchange plate for a plate-type heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises an opening  11  for forming the port and multiple protrusions  12  arranged around at least a part (all or part) of the opening  11  along an annular line (e.g. a circle) surrounding the opening  11 ; the multiple protrusions  12  project to one side of a plate plane  15 . In an annular region which surrounds the opening  11  on that side of the annular line which is close to the opening  11  and in an annular region which surrounds the annular line or protrusions on that side remote from the opening  11 , a plate part of the heat exchange plate may lie in the plate plane  15 , or may partially lie in the plate plane  15 . Since the protrusions  12  are formed by stamping a thin plate, the protrusions  12  have a hollow structure. The multiple protrusions  12  serve as welding parts or connecting parts of the heat exchange plate. The heat exchange plate also comprises transitional parts  16  between adjacent protrusions  12 ; the transitional parts  16  are located on said side of the plate plane  15 , at a predetermined distance (greater than zero) from the plate plane. The plate plane  15  is the plane in which the heat exchange plate lies before being stamped. Due to the presence of transitional parts  16  between the protrusions  12 , the protrusions  12  can be arranged densely, so the strength of the plate-type heat exchanger can be increased. In the figure, all adjacent protrusions  12  have transitional parts  16  therebetween; optionally, a transitional part  16  may be provided between at least two adjacent protrusions  12 ; the transitional part  16  may be a curved surface or a smooth curved surface. The protrusions  12  are connected via corresponding transitional parts  16 , and together with the transitional parts  16  form an entire ridge, e.g. an annular ridge. The transitional parts  16  may have the shape of a curved surface. The transitional parts  16  project to another side (opposite said side) of the plate plane  15 . That is, the transitional parts  16  project to another side (opposite said side) of the plate plane  15 , relative to the tops of adjacent protrusions  12 . Protrusions  12  in at least a first region or at least one protrusion  12  differ(s) in size, shape and/or spacing from protrusions  12  in a second region or at least another protrusion  12 , e.g. protrusions  12  may be arranged at equal or non-equal intervals around the ports  11 . 
     Said side of a first heat exchange plate and said side of a second heat exchange plate are stacked together facing each other, with a first fluid channel being formed between the two heat exchange plates; another side (opposite said side) of the second heat exchange plate and another side (opposite said side) of a third heat exchange plate are stacked together facing each other, to form a second fluid channel. Heat exchange plates are stacked in sequence in this way to form the plate-type heat exchanger. The tops of the protrusions  12  of the two heat exchange plates forming the first fluid channel are welded or connected together; after flowing into the port, a first fluid enters the first fluid channel between the two heat exchange plates through gaps between the protrusions  12 . The plate plane  15  on another side (opposite said side) of one heat exchange plate and the plate plane  15  on another side (opposite said side) of another plate are welded together, to form a sealed surface, so that the first fluid can only enter the first fluid channel, not the second fluid channel. A similar design is applied to the heat exchange plate in the vicinity of a second fluid inlet port, so as to ensure that a second fluid only enters the second fluid channel and cannot enter the first fluid channel. As  FIGS. 5 to 8  show, the tops of the protrusions  12  may be substantially flat, e.g. may lie in a single plane. 
       FIG. 9  is a partial enlarged schematic sectional drawing of a raised pattern around a port of a heat exchange plate for a plate-type heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention. As  FIG. 9  shows, the distance B from the top of the protrusion  12  to the plate plane  15  is greater than the distance A from the lowest point of the transitional part  16  to the plate plane  15 . The distance A may be greater than or equal to zero. The distance from the top of the protrusion  12  to the lowest point of the transitional part  16  may be less than or equal to the distance from the lowest point of the transitional part  16  to the plate plane  15 . 
       FIG. 10  shows an example of a raised pattern around a port of a heat exchange plate for a plate-type heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention. As  FIG. 10  shows, the dimension of the top of the protrusion  12  in the circumferential direction of the annular line may be greater than a radial dimension. For example, the top of the protrusion  12  is an elongated part extending in the circumferential direction of the annular line. For this reason the number of protrusions  12  is smaller, but the strength of the plate-type heat exchanger is higher. 
       FIG. 11  shows a raised pattern around a port  11  of a heat exchange plate for a plate-type heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the shaded lines indicate the tops of the protrusions  12 , i.e. welding parts or connecting parts. The larger the welding parts or connecting parts, the higher the strength of that part of the heat exchange plate of the plate-type heat exchanger which surrounds the end, and the larger the cross section of the raised pattern or pressure drop of fluid passing through the raised pattern. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the number and form of the protrusions  12  may be adjusted as required, to achieve suitable strength and pressure drop, and the protrusions  12  may be disposed very densely, in order to achieve higher strength. 
     Optionally, a coupling part located in the plate plane may be disposed between at least two adjacent protrusions  12 . 
     Embodiment 2 
       FIGS. 12 to 16  show a raised pattern around a port of a heat exchange plate for a plate-type heat exchanger according to another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment differs from the embodiment described above in that channel ridges  17  have been added. That is, the heat exchange plate also comprises a channel ridge  17  which extends from at least one protrusion  12  in a direction away from the opening  11  and is used for forming a fluid channel. The fluid channel formed may serve as part of a heat exchange channel or be connected to a heat exchange channel of a heat exchange region. In the figures, all the protrusions  12  are provided with a channel ridge  17 , but optionally, just one or more protrusions  12  may be provided with a channel ridge  17 ; the width of the protrusion  12  is larger than the width of the ridge  17 , but optionally, the width of the protrusion  12  may be equal to or smaller than the width of the ridge  17 . The top of at least one protrusion  12  may be in substantially the same plane as the top of the channel ridge  17 . Optionally, the top of at least one protrusion  12  may not be in the same plane as the top of the channel ridge  17 . 
     It must be explained that one or more features in the embodiments above may be combined to form new embodiments. 
     While the present disclosure has been illustrated and described with respect to a particular embodiment thereof, it should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications to this disclosure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.