Patent Publication Number: US-2023147560-A1

Title: Heat exchange plate for plate heat exchanger, and plate heat exchanger

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     [0000.1] This application is a National Stage application of International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2020/124321, filed on Oct. 28, 2020, which claims priority to Chinese Application No. 201911063164.8, filed on Oct. 31, 2019, and Chinese Application No. 201911189175.0, filed on Nov. 27, 2019, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments of the present invention relate to a heat exchange plate for plate heat exchanger, and a plate heat exchanger. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A plate heat exchanger comprises cover plates, heat exchange plates, connecting pipes, etc. 
     SUMMARY 
     An objective of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a heat exchange plate for a plate heat exchanger, and a plate heat exchanger having same, so that the quality of a port portion of the heat exchange plate of the heat exchanger can be improved, for example. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a heat exchange plate for a plate heat exchanger is provided, the heat exchange plate comprising: a heat exchange portion and a port portion, wherein fluids having different temperatures exchange heat with each other through the heat exchange portion, and an opening used as a port of the heat exchanger is formed in the port portion, wherein the heat exchange plate comprises a first side and a second side in a direction perpendicular to the heat exchange plate; and the port portion is provided with a contact portion that is in contact with the port portion of another heat exchange plate on the first side, and a protrusion protruding toward the second side relative to the contact portion. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the port portion comprises a plurality of protrusions distributed in a circumferential direction around the opening. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, when viewed in the direction perpendicular to the heat exchange plate, the plurality of protrusions are each in a circular, rectangular or trapezoidal shape. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the port portion comprises an annular contact portion and an annular protrusion surrounding the opening, and the annular contact portion and the annular protrusion adjoin each other. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the port portion comprises at least two annular protrusions surrounding the opening, and two of the at least two annular protrusions adjoin each other and have different protrusion amounts relative to the contact portion; or two of the at least two annular protrusions are separated by the annular contact portion. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the port portion comprises: a first annular portion surrounding the opening, wherein an inner edge of the first annular portion constitutes an edge of the opening; and a second annular portion surrounding the first annular portion and adjoining the first annular portion, wherein at least a part of one of the first annular portion and the second annular portion constitutes the protrusion. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of circumferentially-spaced parts of at least one of the first annular portion and the second annular portion constitute a plurality of protrusions; or one of the first annular portion and the second annular portion constitutes an annular protrusion; or one of the first annular portion and the second annular portion constitutes an annular protrusion, and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced parts of the other of the first annular portion and the second annular portion constitute a plurality of protrusions. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the port portion comprises: a first annular portion surrounding the opening, wherein an inner edge of the first annular portion constitutes an edge of the opening; a second annular portion surrounding the first annular portion and adjoining the first annular portion; and a third annular portion surrounding the second annular portion and adjoining the second annular portion, wherein at least a part of at least one of the first annular portion, the second annular portion and the third annular portion constitutes a protrusion. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the second annular portion and the third annular portion protrude toward the second side relative to a part of a surface of the port portion to constitute protrusions, at least a part of the first annular portion constitutes a contact portion, and a protrusion amount of the second annular portion relative to the contact portion is less than a protrusion amount of the third annular portion. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, one of the first annular portion, the second annular portion and the third annular portion constitutes an annular protrusion, and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced parts of a further one of the first annular portion, the second annular portion and the third annular portion constitute a plurality of protrusions. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the port portion comprises: a plurality of annular portions surrounding the opening, wherein an inner edge of the innermost annular portion constitutes an edge of the opening, two adjacent annular portions of the plurality of annular portions adjoin each other, and at least a part of at least one of the plurality of annular portions constitutes the protrusion. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the plurality of annular portions protrudes toward the second side relative to a part of a surface of the port portion to constitute an annular protrusion; or a plurality of circumferentially-spaced parts of at least one of the plurality of annular portions protrude toward the second side relative to the part of the surface of the port portion to constitute a plurality of protrusions. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a plate heat exchanger is further provided, comprising: a plurality of heat exchange plates, each being the heat exchange plate described above. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, protrusions of two adjacent heat exchange plates hermetically connected to each other at the port portions thereof protrude in directions away from each other, and a gap between two protrusions is in the range of 0.2-0.3 mm. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, protrusions of two adjacent heat exchange plates hermetically connected to each other at the port portions thereof protrude in directions away from each other, a gap between two protrusions is in the range of 0.2-0.3 mm, and the gap between the two protrusions is filled with a brazing alloy for brazing the plate heat exchanger, so as to braze the two protrusions together. 
     The heat exchange plate and the plate heat exchanger according to the embodiments of the present invention can improve the quality of the port portion of the heat exchange plate of the heat exchanger, for example. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic perspective view of a plate heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic partial top view of the plate heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the plate heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention along line AA in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a heat exchange plate of a plate heat exchanger according to a first embodiment of the present invention along line AA in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a heat exchange plate of a plate heat exchanger according to a second embodiment of the present invention along line AA in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  6    is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a heat exchange plate of a plate heat exchanger according to a third embodiment of the present invention along line AA in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  7    is a schematic partial top view of a heat exchange plate of a plate heat exchanger according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  8 A  is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a heat exchange plate of a plate heat exchanger according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention along a plane passing through an axis of a port shown in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  8 B  is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the heat exchange plate of the plate heat exchanger according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention along another plane passing through the axis of the port shown in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  9 A  is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a heat exchange plate of a plate heat exchanger according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention along a plane passing through the axis of the port shown in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  9 B  is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the heat exchange plate of the plate heat exchanger according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention along another plane passing through the axis of the port shown in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  10 A  is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a heat exchange plate of a plate heat exchanger according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention along a plane passing through the axis of the port shown in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  10 B  is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the heat exchange plate of the plate heat exchanger according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention along another plane passing through the axis of the port shown in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  11 A  is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a heat exchange plate of a plate heat exchanger according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention along a plane passing through the axis of the port shown in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  11 B  is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the heat exchange plate of the plate heat exchanger according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention along another plane passing through the axis of the port shown in  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  12 A  is a schematic partial top view of a plate heat exchanger according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG.  12 B  is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the heat exchange plate of the plate heat exchanger according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention along line BB shown in  FIG.  12 A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific implementations. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1  to  3   , a plate heat exchanger  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a plurality of heat exchange plates  10 ; heat exchange spaces  20  formed between adjacent heat exchange plates  10  of the plurality of heat exchange plates  10 ; and ports  30  formed in the heat exchange plates  10 . Each of the ports  30  is configured to distribute a refrigerant to some heat exchange spaces  20  of the heat exchange spaces  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  1    to 12B, the heat exchange plate  10  for the plate heat exchanger  100  according to embodiments of the present invention comprises: a heat exchange portion  11 H and a port portion  11 P; and an opening  12  formed in the port portion  11 P and configured to form a port  30  of the heat exchanger  100 . The heat exchange portion  11 H is provided with a corrugated structure, so that fluids having different temperatures exchange heat with each other on two sides of the heat exchange portion  11 H. The port portions  11 P are substantially fitted together. The heat exchange plate  10  comprises a first side and a second side (e.g., an upper side and a lower side of each of the heat exchange plates  10  in  FIGS.  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  8 A,  8 B,  9 A,  9 B,  10 A,  10 B,  11 A,  11 B, and  12 B ) in a direction perpendicular to the heat exchange plate  10 ; and the port portion  11 P is provided with a contact portion  16  that is in contact with the port portion  11 P of another heat exchange plate  10  on the first side, and a protrusion  15  protruding toward the second side relative to the contact portion  16 . For example, the port portion  11 P has a surface PS on the first side, and a part of the surface PS of the port portion  11 P is in contact with the port portion  11 P of another heat exchange plate  10 . 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, referring to  FIGS.  7 ,  8 A,  8 B,  9 A,  9 B,  10 A,  10 B,  12 A, and  12 B , the port portion  11 P comprises a plurality of protrusions  15  distributed in a circumferential direction around the opening  12 . For example, referring to  FIGS.  7  and  12 A , when viewed in the direction perpendicular to the heat exchange plate  10 , the plurality of protrusions  15  are each in a circular, rectangular or trapezoidal shape. 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, referring to  FIGS.  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  8 A,  8 B,  10 A,  10 B,  11 A, and  11 B , the port portion  11 P comprises an annular contact portion  16  and an annular protrusion  15  surrounding the opening  12 , and the annular contact portion  16  and the annular protrusion  15  adjoin each other. For example, referring to  FIG.  5   , the port portion  11 P comprises at least two annular protrusions  15  surrounding the opening  12 , and two annular protrusions  15  of the at least two annular protrusions  15  adjoin each other and have different protrusion amounts relative to the contact portion  16 ; or two annular protrusions  15  of the at least two annular protrusions  15  are separated by the annular contact portion  16 . 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, referring to  FIG.  3    to 12B, the port portion  11 P comprises: a first annular portion P 1  surrounding the opening  12 , wherein an inner edge P 10  of the first annular portion P 1  constitutes an edge  120  of the opening  12 ; and a second annular portion P 2  surrounding the first annular portion P 1  and adjoining the first annular portion P 1 , wherein at least a part of at least one of the first annular portion P 1  and the second annular portion P 2  (e.g., one of the first annular portion P 1  and the second annular portion P 2 ) protrudes toward the second side to constitute a protrusion  15 . For example, one of the first annular portion P 1  and the second annular portion P 2  protrudes toward the second side to constitute a protrusion  15 . 
     Each of the first annular portion P 1  and the second annular portion P 2  has a predetermined width, and may be in a circular ring shape or other suitable shapes according to the shape of the opening  12 . 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, referring to  FIGS.  7 ,  8 A,  8 B,  9 A,  9 B,  10 A,  10 B,  12 A, and  12 B , a plurality of circumferentially-spaced parts of at least one of the first annular portion P 1  and the second annular portion P 2  (e.g., one of the first annular portion P 1  and the second annular portion P 2 ) protrude toward the second side to constitute a plurality of protrusions  15 . A plurality of stepped reinforcing structures are uniformly arranged in a circumferential direction of the annular portion around the opening  12  of the heat exchange plate  10 . For example, referring to  FIG.  7   , no protrusion  15  is provided in a region A and a protrusion  15  is provided in a region B. This structure can be modified according to the size of the opening and the size of the heat exchange portion. 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, referring to  FIGS.  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  8 A,  8 B,  10 A,  10 B,  11 A, and  11 B , the first annular portion P 1  protrudes toward the second side to constitute an annular protrusion  15 ; or the second annular portion P 2  protrudes toward the second side to constitute an annular protrusion  15 . 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, referring to  FIGS.  7 ,  8 A, and  8 B , one of the first annular portion P 1  and the second annular portion P 2  protrudes toward the second side to constitute an annular protrusion  15 , and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced parts of the other of the first annular portion P 1  and the second annular portion P 2  protrude toward the second side to constitute a plurality of protrusions  15 . 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, referring to  FIGS.  5 ,  10 A,  10 B,  11 A,  11 B,  12 A, and  12 B , the port portion  11 P comprises: a first annular portion P 1  surrounding the opening  12 , wherein an inner edge P 10  of the first annular portion P 1  constitutes an edge  120  of the opening  12 ; a second annular portion P 2  surrounding the first annular portion P 1  and adjoining the first annular portion P 1 ; and a third annular portion P 3  surrounding the second annular portion P 2  and adjoining the second annular portion P 2 , wherein at least a part of at least one of the first annular portion P 1 , the second annular portion P 2  and the third annular portion P 3  protrudes toward the second side to constitute a protrusion  15 . 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, referring to  FIG.  5   , the second annular portion P 2  and the third annular portion P 3  protrude toward the second side to constitute protrusions  15 , at least a part of the first annular portion P 1  constitutes a contact portion  16 , and a protrusion amount of the second annular portion P 2  relative to the contact portion  16  is less than a protrusion amount of the third annular portion P 3 . 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, referring to  FIGS.  10 A,  10 B,  11 A, and  11 B , one of the first annular portion P 1 , the second annular portion P 2  and the third annular portion P 3  protrudes toward the second side to constitute an annular protrusion  15 , and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced parts of a further one of the first annular portion P 1 , the second annular portion P 2  and the third annular portion P 3  protrude toward the second side to constitute a plurality of protrusions  15 . 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, referring to  FIGS.  10 A,  10 B,  11 A, and  11 B , one of the first annular portion P 1  and the second annular portion P 2  protrudes toward the second side to constitute an annular protrusion  15 , and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced parts of the third annular portion P 3  protrude toward the second side to constitute a plurality of protrusions  15 . 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, referring to  FIGS.  7 ,  8 A,  8 B,  9 A,  9 B,  10 A,  10 B,  12 A, and  12 B , the plurality of protrusions  15  are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, referring to  FIGS.  7  and  12 A , when viewed in the direction perpendicular to the heat exchange plate  10 , the plurality of protrusions  15  are each in a circular, rectangular or trapezoidal shape. 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, referring to  FIG.  3    to 12B, the port portion  11 P comprises: a plurality of annular portions surrounding the opening  12 , wherein an inner edge P 10  of the innermost annular portion constitutes an edge  120  of the opening  12 , two adjacent annular portions of the plurality of annular portions adjoin each other, and at least a part of at least one of the plurality of annular portions protrudes toward the second side to constitute the protrusion  15 . 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, referring to  FIG.  3    to 12B, at least one of the plurality of annular portions protrudes toward the second side to constitute an annular protrusion  15 ; or a plurality of circumferentially-spaced parts of at least one of the plurality of annular portions protrude toward the second side to constitute a plurality of protrusions  15 . 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, referring to  FIGS.  5 ,  10 A,  10 B,  11 A,  11 B,  12 A, and  12 B , the port portion  11 P comprises: at least three annular portions surrounding the opening  12 , wherein an inner edge P 10  of the innermost annular portion constitutes an edge  120  of the opening  12 , two adjacent annular portions of the at least three annular portions adjoin each other, and at least a part of each of at least two of the at least three annular portions protrudes toward the second side to constitute the protrusion  15 . 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, referring to  FIGS.  5 ,  10 A,  10 B,  11 A,  11 B,  12 A, and  12 B , a protrusion amount of at least a part of one of the at least two annular portions is different from a protrusion amount of at least a part of the other of the at least two annular portions; or a protrusion amount of at least a part of one of the at least two annular portions is the same as a protrusion amount of at least a part of the other of the at least two annular portions. 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, referring to  FIGS.  5 ,  10 A,  10 B,  11 A,  11 B,  12 A, and  12 B , each of at least two of the at least three annular portions protrudes toward the second side to constitute an annular protrusion  15 ; a plurality of circumferentially-spaced parts of each of at least two of the at least three annular portions protrude toward the second side to constitute a plurality of protrusions  15 ; or a plurality of circumferentially-spaced parts of one of at least two of the at least three annular portions protrude toward the second side to constitute a plurality of protrusions  15 , and the other of the at least two of the at least three annular portions protrudes toward the second side to constitute an annular protrusion  15 . 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, referring to  FIGS.  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  8 A,  8 B,  9 A,  9 B,  10 A,  10 B,  11 A,  11 B, and  12 B , protrusions  15  of two adjacent heat exchange plates  10  hermetically connected to each other at the port portions  11 P thereof protrude in directions away from each other, and a gap between two protrusions  15  is in the range of 0.2-0.3 mm. 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, referring to  FIGS.  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  8 A,  8 B,  9 A,  9 B,  10 A,  10 B,  11 A,  11 B, and  12 B , protrusions  15  of two adjacent heat exchange plates  10  hermetically connected to each other at the port portions  11 P thereof protrude in directions away from each other, a gap between two protrusions  15  is in the range of 0.2-0.3 mm, and the gap between the two protrusions  15  is filled with a brazing alloy for brazing the plate heat exchanger, so as to braze the two protrusions  15  together. In this way, the protrusions  15  can further reinforce the port portion  11 P, for example. 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, the heat exchange plate  10  is formed from a plate, such as by stamping. After the heat exchange plate  10  is formed, the plate has an undeformed portion that is not deformed toward the first side or the second side. The undeformed portion is in an initial plane, i.e., an undeformed plane in which the plate lies before being machined (e.g., stamped). Protrusions  15  protrude from the initial plane toward the second side, and at least one of a plurality of annular portions is not provided with a protrusion, i.e., is located in the initial plane. 
     According to embodiments of the present invention, referring to  FIG.  3    to 12B, the height, shape and size, etc. of each protrusion  15  can be adjusted according to the size of a corrugated structure in a heat exchange region, and the number of protrusions  15  around each opening can also be adjusted accordingly. The height of each protrusion is less than that of each peak of the corrugated structure. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the size of a port of each heat exchange plate is larger and a larger number of heat exchange plates are stacked, a risk of warpage of the heat exchange plates can be significantly reduced, a product pass rate can be improved, and the flatness of the formed heat exchange plate in the vicinity of the opening for forming the port can be improved. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a stepped structure is provided in the vicinity of the opening of the heat exchange plate, i.e., the original entire plane is reconfigured as two or more planes with different heights, so that the structure can improve the flatness of the heat exchange plate. In addition, this structure can significantly enhance the strength of the formed heat exchange plate in the vicinity of the opening and prevent the occurrence of warpage. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, warpage deformation that may occur if a large number of heat exchange plates are stacked or an opening of each heat exchange plate is larger is eliminated, the flatness of the heat exchange plate in the vicinity of the opening is improved, the brazing quality of the heat exchange plates is improved, and the strength of the entire structure of the heat exchanger is finally increased. In addition, the product pass rate is improved. 
     It should be noted that the features in one or more of the above embodiments can be combined into new embodiments. The features in an embodiment can be used in a further embodiment unless the features in the embodiment conflict with the technical solution of the further embodiment. 
     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 modi-fications to this disclosure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.