HEAT EXCHANGER PLATE, AND HEAT EXCHANGER COMPRISING SUCH A PLATE

Abstract

The invention relates to a plate for a heat exchanger, said plate comprising an edge (11) for coupling to another plate.

According to the invention, said edge has at least one fusible component (20) for joining this coupling edge (11) to at least one casing wall, said at least one fusible component (20) being configured to be separated from the rest of said coupling edge by differential expansion/contraction between said plate and said at least one casing wall to which it is intended to be joined.

Claims

1. A plate for a heat exchanger, said plate comprising: an edge for coupling to another plate, wherein said edge has at least one fusible component for joining this coupling edge to at least one casing wall, said at least one fusible component being configured to be separated from the rest of said coupling edge by differential expansion/contraction between said plate and said at least one casing wall to which the at least one fusible component is configured to be joined.

2. The plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one fusible component is carried by a corner of said plate or by a portion of said coupling edge that is close to this corner, said portion having a width that is strictly greater than the width of said coupling edge in a median part of said plate.

3. The plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein two opposite corners of said plate each have a fusible component for joining said coupling edge to a single casing wall or opposite casing walls.

4. The plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein, since said coupling edge has a width in a median part of said plate that is greater than or equal to a predetermined safety width for which a break in the at least one fusible component does not propagate beyond said coupling edge, said edge has a fusible component in said median part of said plate.

5. The plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein each fusible component has a predetermined weakening region so as to bring about separation thereof from the coupling edge.

6. The plate as claimed in claim 5, wherein said at least one fusible component has a line of lower mechanical strength.

7. The plate as claimed in claim 5, wherein said at least one fusible component has at least one notch.

8. The plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plate comprises a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, each of the fluid inlet and fluid outlet having a collar.

9. The plate as claimed in claim 8, wherein fusible components are placed on two of the opposite sides of said plate.

10. The plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first side of said plate comprises a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet that are placed at the head of the plate.

11. The plate as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first side has a continuous lip and the opposite side of said plate from said first side has at least one fusible component.

12. The plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein each fusible component has a joining surface that is configured to be joined to the at least one casing wall, the longitudinal dimension of which is between 3 and 20 mm.

13. The plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plate is in one piece and is made from a metallic material, such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

14. A pair of plates for a heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, the coupling edges of these plates being configured to be joined so as to delimit a duct for circulation of a heat transfer fluid between these plates, each coupling edge comprising at least one fusible component, said fusible components being arranged at the edges of said plates such that, after the latter have been joined, two fusible components belonging to separate plates are placed next to one another or are offset relative to one another.

15. A plate-type heat exchanger having at least two plates as claimed in claim 1, said two plates being joined together so as to delimit a duct for circulation of a heat transfer fluid between these plates, at least one edge of the assembly thus formed, which is connected to a casing wall, having, for each of these plates, at least one fusible component, said fusible components that are placed at this edge being positioned next to one another or being offset relative to one another.

Description

[0064] Further advantages, aims and particular features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, which is given for nonlimiting and explanatory purposes with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0065] FIG. 1 is a partial and enlarged view of a prior art heat exchanger, showing in particular a brazed joining line between a plate of the exchanger and the corresponding wall of the casing;

[0066] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a plate for a heat exchanger, according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0067] FIG. 3 is a partial and enlarged view of the plate in FIG. 2 showing a corner thereof, equipped with a fusible component;

[0068] FIG. 4 is a schematic depiction viewed from above of the corner of the plate in FIG. 3; a region of the plate capable of carrying a fusible component, including a corner, is shown in dashed lines;

[0069] FIG. 5 shows the corner of the plate in FIG. 3 when it is subjected to thermal cycles;

[0070] FIG. 6 shows a partial view of two plates for a heat exchanger that are superimposed with a view to being joined together so as to form a pair of plates;

[0071] FIG. 7 is a partial view of a pair of plates, the corners of the lower transverse edges of these plates thus superimposed each having a fusible component; the fusible components on each corner being offset between the two plates by being placed in the continuation of one another;

[0072] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a plate for a heat exchanger, according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0073] FIG. 9 schematically shows a plate for a heat exchanger, according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[0074] First of all, it is noted that the figures are not to scale.

[0075] FIGS. 2 to 5 schematically show a plate 10 for a heat exchanger, according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0076] This plate 10, which is in one piece, is made for example from aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

[0077] This plate 10 has a rectangular overall shape.

[0078] It has a coupling edge 11 and a concave area 12 delimited by this edge.

[0079] This plate 10 has on a first transverse edge 13, or side extending in a transverse direction, a fluid inlet 14 for introducing a fluid and a fluid outlet 15 for discharging the fluid, which are placed at the head of the plate.

[0080] This plate 10 also has a central rib 16 on the surface of its inner wall, which defines a projection for creating a separation on the surface of the inner wall of the plate 10 in order to define a U-shaped circuit between the fluid inlet 14 and fluid outlet 15.

[0081] In addition, this plate 10 has a plurality of protrusions 17 placed in the passage for circulation of the fluid on its inner wall, which are intended to disturb the circulation of the fluid.

[0082] This plate 10 has longitudinal edges 18 with dimensions slightly smaller than those of the upper and lower faces of the casing, and transverse edges 13 with dimensions equal or substantially equal to those of the lateral walls of the casing of the heat exchanger (not shown).

[0083] This plate 10 also has four corners 19, only one being shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. Each corner 19 defines an edge surrounding a part of said ribs 14.

[0084] The first transverse edge 13 of the plate 10, receiving the fluid inlet and fluid outlet, has a continuous lip for joining it to a casing wall, while the two corners 19 of the opposite transverse edge from this first edge 13 each comprise a fusible component 20.

[0085] The first transverse edge 13 of the plate 10 makes it possible to ensure sealing at the fluid inlet and fluid outlet.

[0086] Each fusible component 20 in this case has a curved tab 21 having a joining surface 22, and a predetermined weakening region 23 connecting this curved tab 21 to the corresponding corner 19 of the plate 10 so as to allow the separation of this curved tab 21 from the corresponding corner 19.

[0087] Since the joining surfaces 22 of the fusible components 20 are flat, the opposite lateral walls of the casing are also flat in the regions for joining these joining surfaces 22 to the casing walls.

[0088] This predetermined weakening region 23 is in this case obtained by cutting a part of the lateral edges of the body of the fusible component 20, these notches making it possible to generate breaking initiation.

[0089] These notches are in this case rectangular or substantially rectangular.

[0090] The depth of the notches is determined such that the separation is realized after a few thermal cycles of expansion/contraction of this plate 10.

[0091] In the present case, and purely by way of illustration, the longest side of this notch has a dimension less than or equal to 1 mm and its short side has a dimension less than or equal to 0.5 mm.

[0092] FIG. 5 shows, by way of a digital simulation, the good results obtained with this plate 10 for a heat exchanger when it is subjected to thermal cycles.

[0093] As can be seen, the stresses are concentrated in the predetermined weakening region 23.

[0094] After breaking of the fusible components 20, the plate 10 for a heat exchanger is detached at its sides comprising fusible components.

[0095] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the joining of a plate 10 as described above to another plate 24 so as to define a pair of plates that delimit between one another a passage for the flow of a fluid. The elements of FIGS. 6 and 7 that have the same references as those described in FIGS. 2 to 5 represent the same objects, and these will not be described again below.

[0096] The side of this pair of plates 10, 24 thus shown has, at each of its opposite corners 19, two fusible components 20, 25.

[0097] The two fusible components 20, 25 of each corner 19 of the pair each belong to a different plate 10, 24 and are offset relative to one another while being in the continuation of one another.

[0098] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a plate 30 for a heat exchanger, according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0099] This plate 30 comprises a fluid inlet 31 and a fluid outlet 32, each of the fluid inlet and fluid outlet having a collar and an elongate shape.

[0100] Since the plate 30 has a length (L) and a width (h), said fluid inlet and fluid outlet 31, 32 are placed along the length (L) at a distance from the lateral edges of the plate corresponding to L/2, or substantially L/2.

[0101] Protrusions 33 make it possible to disturb the circulation of the fluid while ribs 34 give fluid flow passages a meandering path having half-turns between the fluid inlet and fluid outlet 31, 32.

[0102] This plate 30 has fusible components 35-38 on both sides thereof extending in a transverse direction.

[0103] FIG. 9 schematically shows a plate for a heat exchanger, according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[0104] This plate 40 has a fluid inlet 41 and a fluid outlet 42 that are placed on the same side of the plate, this side 43 extending in a transverse direction. Each of said fluid inlet 41 and fluid outlet 42 have a collar and an elongate shape.

[0105] This plate 40 has a fusible component 44 in each corner 45 of its opposite side from the side 43 extending in a transverse direction on which the fluid inlet and outlet are situated.

[0106] This side 43 extending in a transverse direction has a continuous lip intended to be brazed to a casing wall.

[0107] Since the sealing of the fluid inlet and fluid outlet is ensured by a collar, the side 43 may alternatively receive fusible components 44.