PLATE HEAT EXCHANGER, AND A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A PLATE HEAT EXCHANGER

Abstract

A plate heat exchanger and a method of manufacturing a plate heat exchanger are disclosed. The plate heat exchanger comprises plurality of plates, each comprising a central area with a corrugation of ridges and valleys extending between an upper level and a lower level. Each of four porthole areas comprises an annular flat area located at the upper or lower level. The plates comprise heat exchanger plates and an end plate. Each heat exchanger plate comprises four portholes through the respective porthole area. Each porthole area of the end plate is closed by a plate portion. A number of protrusions project from the annular flat area of the end plate to one of the lower level and the upper level. The protrusions, that project to the upper level, abut the annular flat area of the adjoining heat exchanger plate.

Claims

1. A plate heat exchanger comprising a plurality of plates arranged beside each other to form a plate package, each plate comprising a central area extending in parallel with an extension plane of the plate and comprising a corrugation of ridges and valleys, wherein the corrugation extends between an upper level at a distance from the main extension plane and a lower level at a distance from and on an opposite side of the main extension plane so that the ridges extend to the upper level and the valleys to the lower level, an edge area extending around the central area, and four porthole areas, each comprising an annular flat area, wherein the annular flat area is located at one of the upper and the lower level, wherein the plates comprise heat exchanger plates and at least a first end plate provided outside and adjoining an outermost one of the heat exchanger plates in the plate package, wherein each of the heat exchanger plates comprises four portholes extending through a respective one of the porthole areas, and wherein each of the porthole areas of the first end plate is closed by means of a plate portion surrounded by the annular flat area, wherein each porthole of the heat exchanger plates is defined by a porthole edge formed by the annular flat area, each of the porthole areas of the first end plate comprises a number of protrusions arranged on and projecting from the annular flat area to one of the lower level and the upper level, and each of the protrusions of the first end plate, that project to the upper level, abuts the annular flat area of the adjoining outermost heat exchanger plate.

2. The plate heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions project to the lower level when the annular flat area is located at the upper level, and to upper level when the annular flat area is located at the lower level.

3. The plate heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the plates also comprise a second end plate provided outside and adjoining the first end plate in the plate package, wherein each of the porthole areas of the second end plate is closed by means of a plate portion surrounded by the annular flat area, each of the porthole areas of the second end plate comprises a number of protrusions arranged on and projecting from the annular flat area to one of the lower level and the upper level, and each of the protrusions of the second end plate, that project to the upper level, abuts a respective one of the protrusions of the annular flat area of the adjoining first end plate.

4. The plate heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the plate portion, that is surrounded by the annular flat area, is circular and located at the lower level when the annular flat area is located at the upper level and at upper level when the annular flat area is located at the lower level.

5. The plate heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein the protrusions extend to the plate portion.

6. The plate heat exchanger according to claim 5, wherein the protrusions extend across the annular flat area.

7. The plate heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein the protrusions are located on the annular flat area at a distance from the plate portion.

8. The plate heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein the annular flat area adjoins the plate portion.

9. The plate heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein the plate portion comprises a strengthening area that has a flat extension at the upper level and the lower level, respectively.

10. The plate heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein the strengthening area is annular.

11. The plate heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions have a flat extension at the upper level and the lower level, respectively.

12. A method of manufacturing a plate heat exchanger, the method comprising: providing a plurality of plates, and pressing the plurality of plates in a first pressing operation to produce a plurality of plates so that each plate comprises a central area extending in parallel with an extension plane of the plate and comprising a corrugation of ridges and valleys, wherein the corrugation extends between an upper level at a distance from the main extension plane and a lower level at a distance from and on an opposite side of the main extension plane so that the ridges extend to the upper level and the valleys to the lower level, an edge area extending around the central area, and four porthole areas, each comprising an annular flat area, wherein the annular flat area, is located at one of the upper level and the lower level, selecting at least a first end plate and heat exchanger plates from said plurality of plates, cutting four portholes in a cutting operation through a respective one of the porthole areas of each of the heat exchanger plates, wherein each porthole is defined by a porthole edge formed by the annular flat area, and pressing a number of protrusions in a second pressing operation to project from the annular flat areal to one of the lower level and the upper level on each of the porthole areas of the first end plate.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of: assembling and joining the heat exchanger plates and the first end plate to obtain a plate package having four porthole channels extending through the respective portholes of the heat exchanger plates and being closed by the first end plate.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: selecting a second end plate in addition to the selecting of the at least a first end plate and the heat exchanger plates from said plurality of plates, and pressing a number of protrusions to project from the annular flat area to one of the lower lever and the upper level on each of the porthole areas of the second end plate.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising assembling and joining the heat exchanger plates, the first end plate and the second end plate to obtain a plate package having four porthole channels extending through the respective portholes of the heat exchanger plates and being closed by the first end plate and the second end plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] The present invention is now to be explained more closely through a description of various embodiments and with reference to the drawings attached hereto.

[0045] FIG. 1 discloses schematically a plan view of a plate heat exchanger according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0046] FIG. 2 discloses schematically a longitudinal sectional view along the line II-II in FIG. 1.

[0047] FIG. 3 discloses schematically a plan view of a plate of the plate heat exchanger in FIG. 1.

[0048] FIG. 4 discloses schematically a plan view of a part of a heat exchanger plate of the plate hear exchanger in FIG. 1.

[0049] FIG. 5 discloses schematically a plan view of a part of a first or second end plate of the plate hear exchanger in FIG. 1.

[0050] FIG. 6 discloses schematically a plan view of a part of a first or second end plate according to a second embodiment of the plate hear exchanger in FIG. 1.

[0051] FIG. 7 discloses schematically a sectional view through two of the porthole areas of a first and second end plate in the plate package according to the first embodiment.

[0052] FIG. 8 discloses schematically a sectional view through two of the porthole areas of a first and second end plate in the plate package according to the first embodiment.

[0053] FIG. 9 discloses schematically a plan view of a part of an intermediate plate to be further processed to a heat exchanger plate or a first or second end plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

[0054] FIGS. 1 and 2 disclose a plate heat exchanger 1. The plate heat exchanger 1 comprises a plurality of plates 2, 3, 4 arranged beside each other to form a plate package 5 of the plate heat exchanger 1.

[0055] The plates 2, 3, 3 of the plate package 5 may be permanently joined to each other, for instance by means of a brazing material and through a brazing process.

[0056] Each of the plates 2, 3, 4 extends in parallel with a respective extension plane p.

[0057] Each of the plates 2, 3, 4, see FIG. 3, comprises a central area 6 extending in parallel with the extension plane p of the plate 2, 3, 4. The central area 6 comprises or consists of a corrugation 7 of ridges and valleys. The corrugation 7 extends between an upper level p′ at a distance from the main extension plane p and a lower level p″ at a distance from and on an opposite side of the main extension plane p so that the ridges extend to the upper level p′ and the valleys to the lower level p″.

[0058] The plates 2, 3 are stacked onto each other in the plate packages to form first plate interspaces 8 for a first medium and second plate interspaces 9 for a second medium. The first and second plate interspaces 8 and 9 are arranged in an alternating order in the plate package 5, as is illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0059] Each of the plates 2, 3, 4 comprises an edge area 10 which extend around and encloses the central area 6. The edge area 10 may adjoin the central area 6. The edge area 10 may consist of or may comprise a flange sloping in relation to the extension plane p, see FIG. 2.

[0060] Each of the plates 2, 3, 4 comprises four porthole areas 11 are provided inside the edge area 10, and preferably in a respective corner area of the plate 2, 3, 4, see FIG. 3. The porthole areas 11 may be located on the central area 6.

[0061] Each of the porthole areas 11 comprises an annular flat area 12. The annular flat area 12 is located at one of the upper level p′ and the lower level p″. In the embodiments disclosed, two of the annular flat areas 12 are located at the upper level p′ and the two other annular flat areas 12 are located at the lower level p″.

[0062] In the first embodiment, the plates 2, 3, 4 comprise heat exchanger plates 2, a first end plate 3 provided outside and adjoining an outermost one of the heat exchanger plates 2 in the plate package 5, and a second end plate 4 provided outside and adjoining the first end plate 3 in the plate package 5, as can be seen in FIG. 2.

[0063] The Heat Exchanger Plates 2

[0064] As can be seen in FIG. 3, each of the heat exchanger plates 2 comprises four portholes 13 extending through a respective one of the porthole areas 11. Each of the portholes 13 of the heat exchanger plates 2 is defined by a porthole edge 14 formed by the annular flat area 12.

[0065] The portholes 13 of the heat exchanger plates 2 form four porthole channels 14-17, which may form a first inlet porthole 14 for the first medium to the first plate interspaces 8, a first outlet porthole 15 for the first medium from the first plate interspaces 8, a second inlet porthole 16 for the second medium to the second plate interspaces 8, and a second outlet porthole 17 for the second medium from the second plate interspaces 8.

[0066] The outermost heat exchanger plate 2 located on the side of the plate package 5 being opposite to the first and second end plates 3, 4 may form an outermost frame plate for attachment of conduits enabling communication with the porthole channels 14-17 for the first and second media.

[0067] Each of the heat exchanger plates 2 are identical. When arranging the heat exchanger plates 2 on each other in the plate package 5, every second heat exchanger plate 2 may be rotated 180° in the extension plane p. Consequently, every second heat exchanger plate 2 may have two annular flat areas 12 located at the lower level p″ and adjoining a respective annular flat area 12 located at the upper level p′ on the adjacent heat exchanger plate 2, provided that there is an adjacent heat exchanger plate 2. Said every second heat exchanger plate 2 also has two annular flat areas 12 located at the upper level p′ and adjoining a respective annular flat area 12 on the adjacent heat exchanger plate 2, provided that there is an adjacent heat exchanger plate 2.

[0068] The First and Second End Plates 3, 4

[0069] The four porthole areas 11 of the first end plate 3 form two annular flat areas 12 located at the upper level p′ and adjoining a respective annular flat area 12 located at the lower level p″ on the adjacent heat exchanger plate 2, and two annular flat areas 12 located at the lower level p″ and adjoining a respective annular flat area 12 located at the upper level p′ on the second end plate 4, see FIGS. 5 and 7.

[0070] In FIG. 5, one annular flat area 12 at the upper level p′ is disclosed to the right and one annular flat area 12 at the lower level p″ to the left.

[0071] Each of the porthole areas 11 of the first end plate 3 and of the second end plate 4 is closed by means of a plate portion 20 surrounded by the annular flat area 12. The plate portion 20 may be circular, or may at least have a circular outer contour adjoining the annular flat area 12. The plate portion 20 may be a portion of the plate, for instance metal plate, forming the starting plate that is formed to the plates 2, 3, 4 by a pressing operation method. In the heat exchanger plates 2, the plate portions 20 have been removed by means of a cutting operation.

[0072] The plate portion 20 may have a strengthening area 21 located at the lower level p″ when the annular flat area 12 is located at the upper level p′, and at upper level p′ when the annular flat area is located at the lower level p″. The strengthening area 21 may have a flat extension at the upper level p′ and the lower level p″, respectively. The strengthening area 21 may be annular.

[0073] As may be seen in FIGS. 5 and 7, each of the porthole areas 11 of the first end plate 3 comprises a number of protrusions 22 arranged on and projecting from the annular flat area 12 to one of the lower level p″ and the upper level p′. The protrusions 22 may project to the lower level p″ when the annular flat area 12 is located at the upper level p′, and to upper level p′ when the annular flat area 12 is located at the lower level p″. Each of the protrusions 22 of the first end plate 3, that project to the upper level p′, to the left in FIG. 5, abuts the annular flat area 12 of the adjoining outermost heat exchanger plate 2.

[0074] Also, with reference to FIGS. 5 and 7, it may be seen that each of the porthole areas 11 of the second end plate 4 also may comprise a number of protrusions 22 arranged on and projecting from the annular flat area 12 to one of the lower level p″ and the upper level p′. Also, with respect to the second end plate 4, the protrusions 22 may project to the lower level p″ when the annular flat area 12 is located at the upper level p′, and to upper level p′ when the annular flat area 12 is located at the lower level p″. Each of the protrusions 22 of the second end plate 4, that project to the upper level p′, to the left in FIG. 5, may abut a respective one of the protrusions 22 of the annular flat area 12 of the adjoining first end plate 3.

[0075] FIGS. 5 and 7 may thus illustrate both first end plate 3 and the second end plate 4. It should be noted that the first end plate 3 and the second end plate 4 are rotated 180° in relation to each other in the extension plane p in the plate package 5.

[0076] In the first embodiment, disclosed in FIG. 5, the protrusions 22 extend to the plate portion 20. In particular, the protrusions 22 may extend across the annular flat area 12, and may form beams across the annular flat area 12, for instance along a radial direction with respect to a central point of the porthole area 11. Between the protrusions 22, the annular flat area 12 may adjoin the plate portion 20.

[0077] FIG. 6 refers to a second embodiment of the first end plate 3 and the second end plate 4, which differs from the first embodiment in that the protrusions 22 are located on the annular flat area 12 at a distance from the plate portion 20. In the second embodiment, the protrusions 22 may form isolated protrusions or islands on the annular flat are 12. The annular flat area 12 may thus adjoin the plate portion 20 along the whole circumferential length of the annular flat area, as is illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0078] I should be noted that no media may flow through the plate interspace between the first and second end plates 3 and 4, and no media may flow through the plate interspace between the outermost heat exchanger plate 2 and the first end plate 3.

Third Embodiment

[0079] A third embodiment of the invention differs from the first and second embodiment in that the second end plate 4 is dispensed with. The plate heat exchanger 1 thus comprises a plate package 5 with the heat exchanger plates 2 and the first end plate 3 forming the outer end plate of the plate package 5. The porthole channels 14-17 are thus closed by a respective plate portion 20 of the first end plate 3. No media may flow through the plate interspace between the first end plate 3 and the outermost heat exchanger plate 2.

[0080] Method of Manufacturing

[0081] The plate heat exchanger according to the first and second embodiments may be manufactured as explained below.

[0082] A plurality of plates 2, 3, 4, such as plane metal plates, are provided. The plurality of plates 2, 3, 4 may be pressed in a first pressing operation to produce a plurality of plates 2, 3, 4, wherein each of the plates 2, 3, 4 comprises a central area 6, an edge area 10 and four porthole areas 11. Through the first pressing operation, the central area 6 may extend in parallel with an extension plane p of the plate 2, 3, 4 and may comprise a corrugation 7 of ridges and valleys. As explained above, the corrugation 7 may extend between an upper level p′ at a distance from the main extension plane p and a lower level p″ at a distance from and on an opposite side of the main extension plane p so that the ridges extend to the upper level p′ and the valleys to the lower level p″. Furthermore, the first pressing operation may result in the edge area 10 extending around the central area 6, and each of the four porthole areas 11 comprising an annular flat area 12, which is located at one of the upper level p′ and the lower level p″. A part of the plate 2, 3, 4 forming an intermediate plate is disclosed in FIG. 9.

[0083] The method then comprises following step of selecting a first end plate 3, a second end plate 4 and a number of heat exchanger plates 2 from said plurality of plates 2, 3, 4.

[0084] Then four portholes 13 are cut in a following cutting operation through a respective one of the porthole areas 11 of each of the heat exchanger plates 2 obtained through the first pressing operation described above and shown in FIG. 9. The cutting operation may be performed so that each porthole 13 is defined by a porthole edge 14 formed by the annular flat area 12.

[0085] In a second pressing operation, the intermediate plate shown in FIG. 9 is pressed to create a number of protrusions 22 to project from the annular flat area 12 to one of the lower level p″ and the upper level p′ on each of the porthole areas 11 of the first end plate 3.

[0086] The method then comprises the step of assembling and joining the heat exchanger plates 2, the first end plate 3 and the second end plate 4 to each other to obtain a plate package 5 having four porthole channels 14-17 extending through the respective portholes 13 of the heat exchanger plates 2 and being closed by the first end plate 3 and the second end plate 4.

[0087] In order to manufacture the plate heat exchanger according to the third embodiment, it may be dispensed with the second pressing operation of the second end plate 4, since only the first end plate 3 is included in the plate package 5 of the plate heat exchanger.

[0088] The invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed and described above but may be modified and varied within the scope of the following claims.