Patent Description:
A plate heat exchanger comprises cover plates, heat exchange plates and connecting tubes, etc..

<CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> relate to heat exchanger and heat exchanger plates. <CIT> discloses plates with the features of the preamble of claim <NUM>.

An object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a heat exchange plate for a plate heat exchanger, and a plate heat exchanger having the heat exchange plate, whereby, for example, the quality of the heat exchange plate of the heat exchanger can be improved.

This object is solved by a heat exchange plate, for a heat exchanger, with the features according to claim <NUM>.

The heat exchange plate comprises: a heat exchange plate body; and a ring-shaped flange projecting obliquely from an edge of the heat exchange plate body, wherein the flange has a protrusion having a reinforcing action.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the flange has an inner side facing the center of the heat exchange plate and an outer side remote from the center of the heat exchange plate, and the protrusion protrudes toward the inner side or outer side of the ring-shaped flange.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least a part of the second ring-like belt protruding relative to the first ring-like belt to form the protrusion.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the entire second ring-like belt forms a ring-shaped protrusion; or the protrusion is multiple protrusions arranged at intervals along the second ring-like belt.

According to the present invention, the flange comprises: a first ring-like belt adjoining the heat exchange plate body; a second ring-like belt which adjoins the first ring-like belt at a side of the first ring-like belt that is remote from the heat exchange plate body; and a third ring-like belt which adjoins the second ring-like belt at a side of the second ring-like belt that is remote from the first ring-like belt, at least a part of at least one of the second ring-like belt and the third ring-like belt protruding relative to the first ring-like belt to form the protrusion.

According to the present invention, the second ring-like belt protrudes relative to the first ring-like belt to form a ring-shaped protrusion, and the third ring-like belt is flush with the first ring-like belt.

According to an embodiment not forming part of the invention as literally defined in the claims, the flange has an inner side facing the center of the heat exchange plate and an outer side remote from the center of the heat exchange plate, the second ring-like belt protrudes toward the outer side of the ring-shaped flange relative to the first ring-like belt, the third ring-like belt protrudes toward the outer side of the ring-shaped flange relative to the first ring-like belt, to form a ring-shaped protrusion, and the amount by which the second ring-like belt protrudes relative to the first ring-like belt is less than the amount by which the third ring-like belt protrudes relative to the first ring-like belt.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the flange comprises a ring-like flange body, the flange body having a belt shape; the protrusion protrudes from the flange body, and the protrusion is a ring-shaped protrusion extending along the entire ring-like flange body.

According to the present invention, the protrusion is substantially parallel to the flange body.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the flange comprises a ring-like flange body, the flange body having a belt shape; the protrusion protrudes from the flange body, and the protrusion is multiple protrusions arranged at intervals along the ring-like flange body.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the multiple protrusions has a linear shape or a strip-like shape.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the flange has at least one second protrusion that crosses the ring-like flange body.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one second protrusion is substantially perpendicular to the ring-like flange body.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one of second protrusion extends over the entire width of the belt-shaped flange body.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the multiple protrusions have a linear shape or a strip-like shape, a first protrusion of the multiple protrusions is substantially parallel to a part of the ring-like flange body on which the first protrusion is arranged, and the at least one second protrusion is substantially perpendicular to a part of the ring-like flange body on which the at least one second protrusion is arranged.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the heat exchange plate body, the first protrusion and the at least one second protrusion extend in substantially the same direction.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the height of the protrusion is in the range of <NUM> - <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a plate heat exchanger is further provided, comprising: multiple heat exchange plates, at least one of the multiple heat exchange plates being the heat exchange plate described above.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the multiple heat exchange plates comprise a first heat exchange plate and a second heat exchange plate which are adjacent to each other, wherein at least the second heat exchange plate is according to the present invention; a protrusion of a flange of the first heat exchange plate protrudes toward a side remote from the flange of the second heat exchange plate, and a gap is formed between the protrusion of the flange of the first heat exchange plate and the flange of the second heat exchange plate, the gap being filled with solder for soldering the plate heat exchanger, in order to solder together the protrusion of the flange of the first heat exchange plate and the flange of the second heat exchange plate.

The heat exchange plate and plate heat exchanger according to embodiments of the present invention can, for example, improve the quality of the heat exchange plate of the heat exchanger.

The present invention is explained further below in conjunction with the drawings and particular embodiments.

Referring to <FIG>, a plate heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: multiple heat exchange plates <NUM>; and a heat exchange space formed between adjacent heat exchange plates <NUM> of the multiple heat exchange plates <NUM>. The plate heat exchanger further comprises a cover plate, etc..

Referring to <FIG>, a heat exchange plate <NUM> for a plate heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a heat exchange plate body <NUM>; and a ring-shaped flange <NUM> projecting obliquely from an edge of the heat exchange plate body <NUM>, the flange <NUM> having a protrusion <NUM> which has a reinforcing action. The flange <NUM> of this heat exchange plate <NUM> is in a lap joint with a flange <NUM> of an adjacent heat exchange plate <NUM>. Through the reinforcing action of the protrusion <NUM>, the strength and rigidity of the flange <NUM> can be increased.

The terms "ring-shaped" and "ring-like" mentioned herein refer to a shape in which a head end and a tail end are connected to form a closed contour, and do not refer exclusively to a circular shape. For example, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the heat exchange plate, the overall shape of the flange <NUM> depends on the shape of the heat exchange plate <NUM>, and for example is a rectangular ring. The same principle applies to the term "ring-like belt" below.

Referring to <FIG>, in some embodiments of the present invention, the flange <NUM> has an inner side facing the center of the heat exchange plate <NUM> and an outer side remote from the center of the heat exchange plate <NUM>, and the protrusion <NUM> protrudes toward the inner side or outer side of the ring-shaped flange <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in some embodiments, the flange <NUM> comprises: a first ring-like belt <NUM> adjoining the heat exchange plate body <NUM>; and a second ring-like belt <NUM> which adjoins the first ring-like belt <NUM> at a side of the first ring-like belt <NUM> that is remote from the heat exchange plate body <NUM>, at least a part of the second ring-like belt <NUM> protruding relative to the first ring-like belt <NUM> to form the protrusion <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, in some embodiments of the present invention, the second ring-like belt <NUM> comprises the protrusion <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, according to some examples of the present invention, the protrusion <NUM> is a ring-shaped protrusion <NUM> along the entire second ring-like belt <NUM>, and thereby forms a step structure. In this case, when multiple heat exchange plates <NUM> are welded together, the first ring-like belts <NUM> of adjacent heat exchange plates <NUM> are in contact with each other, and the second ring-like belts <NUM> of adjacent heat exchange plates <NUM> are in contact with each other. Alternatively, referring to <FIG>, according to some other examples of the present invention, the protrusion <NUM> is multiple protrusions <NUM> arranged at intervals along the second ring-like belt <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in some embodiments, the flange <NUM> comprises: a first ring-like belt <NUM> adjoining the heat exchange plate body <NUM>; a second ring-like belt <NUM> which adjoins the first ring-like belt <NUM> at a side of the first ring-like belt <NUM> that is remote from the heat exchange plate body <NUM>; and a third ring-like belt <NUM> which adjoins the second ring-like belt <NUM> at a side of the second ring-like belt <NUM> that is remote from the first ring-like belt <NUM>, at least a part of at least one of the second ring-like belt <NUM> and the third ring-like belt <NUM> protruding relative to the first ring-like belt <NUM> to form the protrusion <NUM>. According to some examples of the present invention, the second ring-like belt <NUM> protrudes relative to the first ring-like belt <NUM> to form a ring-shaped protrusion <NUM>. In the example shown in <FIG> (not forming part of the invention), the flange <NUM> has an inner side facing the center of the heat exchange plate <NUM> and an outer side remote from the center of the heat exchange plate <NUM>, the second ring-like belt <NUM> protrudes toward the outer side of the ring-shaped flange <NUM> relative to the first ring-like belt <NUM>, the third ring-like belt <NUM> protrudes toward the outer side of the ring-shaped flange <NUM> relative to the first ring-like belt <NUM>, to form a ring-shaped protrusion <NUM>, and the amount by which the second ring-like belt <NUM> protrudes relative to the first ring-like belt <NUM> is less than the amount by which the third ring-like belt <NUM> protrudes relative to the first ring-like belt <NUM>; multiple steps are thereby formed, for example multiple ring-shaped steps. In the example shown in <FIG>, the second ring-like belt <NUM> of the lower heat exchange plate <NUM> protrudes toward the outer side of the flange <NUM> relative to the first ring-like belt, and the third ring-like belt <NUM> is substantially flush with the first ring-like belt <NUM>. In the example shown in <FIG>, the second ring-like belts <NUM> of the two heat exchange plates <NUM> protrude toward the outer side and the inner side of the flange <NUM>, respectively, relative to the first ring-like belts, and the third ring-like belts <NUM> of the two heat exchange plates <NUM> are both substantially flush with the first ring-like belts <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in some embodiments, the flange <NUM> comprises a ring-like flange body <NUM>, the flange body <NUM> having a belt shape; the protrusion <NUM> protrudes from the flange body <NUM>, and as shown in <FIG>, the protrusion <NUM> is a ring-shaped protrusion <NUM> extending along the entire ring-like flange body <NUM>. According to some examples of the present invention, the protrusion <NUM> is substantially parallel to the flange body <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in some embodiments, the flange <NUM> comprises a ring-like flange body <NUM>, the flange body <NUM> having a belt shape; the protrusion <NUM> protrudes from the flange body <NUM>, and as shown in <FIG>, the protrusion <NUM> is multiple protrusions <NUM> arranged at intervals along the ring-like flange body <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in some embodiments, at least one of multiple protrusions <NUM> has a linear shape or a strip-like shape. In the examples shown in <FIG>, at least one of multiple protrusions <NUM> crosses the ring-like flange body <NUM>. For example, at least one of multiple protrusions <NUM> is substantially perpendicular to the ring-like flange body <NUM>. According to some examples of the present invention, at least one of multiple protrusions <NUM> extends over the entire width of the belt-shaped flange body <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in some embodiments of the present invention, the multiple protrusions <NUM> have a linear shape or a strip-like shape, a first protrusion 5A of the multiple protrusions <NUM> is substantially parallel to a part of the ring-like flange body <NUM> on which the first protrusion 5A is arranged, and a second protrusion 5B of the multiple protrusions <NUM> is substantially perpendicular to a part of the ring-like flange body <NUM> on which the second protrusion 5B is arranged. For example, referring to <FIG>, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the heat exchange plate body <NUM>, the first protrusion 5A and the second protrusion 5B extend in substantially the same direction.

Referring to <FIG>, in some embodiments, the height of the protrusion <NUM> is in the range of <NUM> - <NUM>; for example, the height of the protrusion <NUM> is in the range of <NUM> - <NUM>. It must be noted that the protrusion <NUM> has been drawn in an exaggerated manner in <FIG>, but as stated above, the protrusion <NUM> is actually very small, and takes the form of an indentation, so that the thickness thereof is very difficult to see at a larger scale, for example in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, a plate heat exchanger according to an embodiment comprises: multiple heat exchange plates <NUM>, at least one of the multiple heat exchange plates <NUM> being the heat exchange plate <NUM> described above.

Referring to <FIG>, according to an embodiment, the multiple heat exchange plates <NUM> comprise a first heat exchange plate <NUM> (e.g. the upper heat exchange plate <NUM> of the two heat exchange plates <NUM> in <FIG>, <FIG>) and a second heat exchange plate <NUM> (e.g. the lower heat exchange plate <NUM> of the two heat exchange plates <NUM> in <FIG>, <FIG>) which are adjacent to each other. A protrusion <NUM> of a flange <NUM> of the first heat exchange plate <NUM> protrudes toward a side remote from a flange <NUM> of the second heat exchange plate <NUM>, and a gap <NUM> is formed between the protrusion <NUM> of the flange <NUM> of the first heat exchange plate <NUM> and the flange <NUM> of the second heat exchange plate <NUM>, the gap <NUM> being filled with solder for soldering the plate heat exchanger, in order to solder together the protrusion <NUM> of the flange <NUM> of the first heat exchange plate <NUM> and the flange <NUM> of the second heat exchange plate <NUM>. The reinforcing effect of the protrusion <NUM> on the flange <NUM> can thereby be further improved for example.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, by providing the protrusion <NUM> in the flange <NUM>, it is possible to prevent warping of the heat exchange plate, improve the quality of heat exchanger brazing, and facilitate heat exchanger assembly.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, by providing the protrusion <NUM> in the flange <NUM>, it is possible to prevent a heat exchange region of the heat exchange plate <NUM> from being affected, thus preventing the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger from being affected.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, by providing the protrusion <NUM> in the flange <NUM>, it is possible to prevent elastic rebound after forming of the heat exchange plate <NUM>, thus making the structure of the heat exchange plate more stable.

Claim 1:
A heat exchange plate (<NUM>) for a plate heat exchanger, comprising:
a heat exchange plate body (<NUM>); and
a ring-shaped flange (<NUM>) projecting obliquely from an edge of the heat exchange plate body (<NUM>) and having a flange body (<NUM>), wherein the flange (<NUM>) has a protrusion (<NUM>) having a reinforcing action, wherein the protrusion (<NUM>) is substantially parallel to the flange body (<NUM>), wherein the flange (<NUM>) comprises: a first ring-like belt (<NUM>) adjoining the heat exchange plate body (<NUM>); a second ring-like belt (<NUM>) which adjoins the first ring-like belt (<NUM>) at a side of the first ring-like belt (<NUM>) that is remote from the heat exchange plate body (<NUM>); and a third ring-like belt (<NUM>) which adjoins the second ring-like belt (<NUM>) at a side of the second ring-like belt (<NUM>) that is remote from the first ring-like belt (<NUM>), at least a part of at least one of the second ring-like belt (<NUM>) and the third ring-like belt (<NUM>) protruding relative to the first ring-like belt (<NUM>) to form the protrusion (<NUM>),
wherein the second ring-like belt (<NUM>) protrudes relative to the first ring-like belt (<NUM>) to form a ring-shaped protrusion (<NUM>),
characterized in that the third ring-like belt (<NUM>) is flush with the first ring-like belt (<NUM>).