PRINTED CIRCUIT-TYPE HEAT EXCHANGER HAVING INTEGRAL STRUCTURE

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a stack of channel plates including first and second channel plates alternately stacked on one another such that fluids A and B are heat-exchanged each other. The first channel plate has a fluid path for fluid A on one surface thereof, wherein inflow and outflow parts for fluid A are formed on the fluid path for fluid A, and the second channel plate has a fluid path for fluid B intersecting with the fluid path for fluid A on one surface thereof. The first channel plate has communicating structures corresponding to the inflow and outflow parts for fluid B. The heat exchanger also includes an upper plate section attached to an upper surface of the stack, and a lower plate section attached to an undersurface of the stack.

Claims

1. A printed circuit-type heat exchanger comprising: a stack of channel plates including a plurality of first channel plates and a plurality of second channel plates, wherein the first channel plates and the second channel plates are alternately stacked on one another, such that fluids A and B are heat-exchanged between the first and second channel plates, the first channel plate having a fluid path for fluid A extending in two branches on one surface thereof, wherein inflow and outflow parts for fluid A are formed on opposite end sides of the fluid path for fluid A, the second channel plate having a fluid path for fluid B extending in two branches and intersecting with the fluid path for fluid A on one surface thereof, wherein inflow and outflow parts for fluid B are integrally formed on opposite end sides of the fluid path for fluid B, wherein the first channel plate has communicating structures corresponding to the inflow and outflow parts for fluid B on opposite sides thereof; an upper plate section attached to an upper surface of the stack to close the upper surface of the stack; and a lower plate section attached to an undersurface of the stack to close the undersurface of the stack.

2. The printed circuit-type heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the fluid path for fluid A has a planar structure in which a plurality of bent passages adjoins each other.

3. The printed circuit-type heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the first and second channel plates have a rectangular planar structure, and wherein the inflow and outflow parts for fluid B formed on the second channel plate have a semicircular or polygonal shape attached to opposite sides of the rectangular planar structure, with an internal space thereof communicating with the fluid path for fluid B.

4. The printed circuit-type heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein the inflow and outflow parts for fluid B are integrated with the second channel plate.

5. The printed circuit-type heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein the first channel plate is provided, on opposite sides thereof, with communicating structures corresponding to the inflow and outflow parts for fluid B.

6. The printed circuit-type heat exchanger according to claim 5, wherein the inflow and outflow parts for fluid B and the communicating structures of the first channel plate are stacked on one another to form a single communicating space.

7. The printed circuit-type heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein the single communicating space has a semi-cylindrical or polyprism structure.

8. The printed circuit-type heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein the stack is provided, on one side thereof, with additional fluid holes communicating with the inflow and outflow parts for fluid B.

9. The printed circuit-type heat exchanger according to claim 8, wherein inflow and outflow pipes for fluid B are connected to the additional fluid holes.

10. The printed circuit-type heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the first and second channel plates have a rectangular planar structure, and wherein the inflow and outflow parts for fluid A formed on the first channel plate have a semicircular or polygonal shape attached to inner surfaces of the rectangular planar structure, with an internal space thereof communicating with the fluid path for fluid A.

11. The printed circuit-type heat exchanger according to claim 10, wherein the second channel plate is provided with communicating structures corresponding to the inflow and outflow parts for fluid A.

12. The printed circuit-type heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein the inflow and outflow parts for fluid A and the communicating structures of the second channel plate are stacked on one another to form a single communicating space.

13. The printed circuit-type heat exchanger according to claim 12, wherein the single communicating space has a semi-cylindrical or polyprism structure.

14. A printed circuit-type heat exchanger comprising: a stack of channel plates including a plurality of first channel plates and a plurality of second channel plates, wherein the first channel plates and the second channel plates are alternately stacked on one another, such that fluids A and B are heat-exchanged between the first and second channel plates, the first channel plate having a fluid path for fluid A extending in two branches on one surface thereof, wherein inflow and outflow parts for fluid A are formed on opposite end sides of the fluid path for fluid A, the second channel plate having a fluid path for fluid B extending in two branches and intersecting with the fluid path for fluid A on one surface thereof, wherein inflow and outflow parts for fluid B are integrally formed on opposite end sides of the fluid path for fluid B, wherein the first channel plate has communicating structures corresponding to the inflow and outflow parts for fluid B on opposite sides thereof; an upper plate section attached to an upper surface of the stack to close the upper surface of the stack; a lower plate section attached to an undersurface of the stack to close the undersurface of the stack; and a planar sealing structure integrally formed on the upper and lower plate sect ions corresponding to the inflow and outflow parts for fluid B.

15. The printed circuit-type heat exchanger according to claim 14, wherein the planar sealing structure has fluid holes through which the fluid B flows, and wherein inflow and outflow pipes for fluid B are connected to the fluid holes.

16. The printed circuit-type heat exchanger according to claim 14, wherein the fluid path for fluid A of the first channel plate has a planar structure in which a plurality of bent passages is arranged in a -type, and wherein the bent passages adjoin each other to form a horizontally symmetrical structure.

17. The printed circuit-type heat exchanger according to claim 14, wherein the fluid path for fluid A has inflow and outflow parts for fluid A on opposite end sides thereof, the fluid path for fluid A having a planar structure in which the fluid path divides into two fluid path branches in a symmetrical form from the inflow part for fluid A.

18. The printed circuit-type heat exchanger according to claim 14, wherein the first channel plate includes three adjoining fluid paths for fluid A, having a median fluid path and opposite lateral fluid paths in a planar structure in which the opposite lateral fluid paths are symmetric with each other about the median fluid path for fluid A.

19. The printed circuit-type heat exchanger according to claim 18, wherein the fluid paths for fluid A respectively have inflow and outflow parts for fluid A, and wherein the median fluid path for fluid A has a planar structure in which the fluid path divides into two fluid path branches in a symmetrical manner from the inflow part for fluid A, and the opposite lateral fluid paths for fluid A are symmetric with each other about a median line (C) of the first channel plate.

20. The printed circuit-type heat exchanger according to claim 19, wherein the lateral fluid paths for fluid A extend in one direction from the inflow part for fluid A without divided branches.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] FIG. 1 is a partially-cut perspective view of a conventional printed circuit-type heat exchanger (PCHE);

[0044] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the PCHE shown in FIG. 1;

[0045] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the PCHE shown in FIG. 2;

[0046] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the PCHE shown in FIG. 3, wherein a header, upper and lower header plates, an inflow tube, an outflow tube, and upper and lower plates of the heat exchanger are separately illustrated;

[0047] FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a channel structure of a channel plate in the printed circuit-type heat exchanger shown in FIG. 3;

[0048] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a printed circuit-type heat exchanger (PCHE) according to an embodiment of the system;

[0049] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the PCHE shown in FIG. 6 only illustrating an upper plate section, a stack of channel plates, and a lower plate section;

[0050] FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating the upper and lower plate sections of the PCHE shown in FIG. 7;

[0051] FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a first channel plate of the PCHE shown in FIG. 7;

[0052] FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a second channel plate of the PCHE shown in FIG. 7;

[0053] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a printed circuit-type heat exchanger according to another embodiment of the system;

[0054] FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of section A shown in FIG. 9;

[0055] FIG. 13 is a plan view illustrating a first channel plate of the PCHE according to a different embodiment of the system;

[0056] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating an arrangement of a fluid path for fluid A in the first channel plate according to a different embodiment of the system; and

[0057] FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating a first channel plate of the PCHE according to a different embodiment of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0058] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the system will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that terms used in this specification and claims should not be limited to a common meaning or a dictionary definition, but should be construed as the meanings and concepts according to technical spirits of the system.

[0059] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being on another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may be present therebetween. Further, it will be understood that the term, comprising or including specifies the presence of stated elements, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other elements, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0060] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a printed circuit-type heat exchanger (PCHE) according to an embodiment of the system, and FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the PCHE shown in FIG. 6, only illustrating an upper plate section, a stack of channel plates, and a lower plate section.

[0061] Referring to these drawings, the printed circuit-type heat exchanger (PCHE) has a simplified structure including a first channel plate 110, a second channel plate 120, an upper plate section 130, and a lower plate section 140, wherein the first and second channel plates have a fluid path for fluid A and a fluid path for fluid B, through which fluid A and fluid B are heat-exchanged, thereby simplifying a manufacturing process thereof.

[0062] Inflow and outflow tubes 153 and 154 for fluid A may be connected to the upper plate section 130 so as to communicate with inflow and outflow parts 112 and 113 for fluid A, respectively.

[0063] Hereinbelow, respective components of the PCHE 100 will be described in more detail.

[0064] In the PCHE 100 of the present embodiment, an inflow header, which needs to be separately fabricated, is omitted, and the inflow tube is attached to the upper or lower plate section, thereby facilitating the fabrication.

[0065] According to the related art, a side surface of a curved header needs to be machined to have a structure corresponding to one end side of inflow or outflow tube. Further, since the inflow or outflow tube has to be welded onto the machined part, a skilled person is required to perform high quality welding.

[0066] However, according to the present embodiment, since a target object is welded onto the upper or lower plate section 130 or 140 after being machined, a skilled person is not required, thereby having effects of a reduction in manufacturing time and cost.

[0067] Specifically, a conventional inflow header structure is integrated into the first and second channel plates 110 and 120.

[0068] More specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 9, the first channel plate 110 has a planar structure in which a fluid path 111 for fluid A extends in two branches on one surface thereof, and inflow and outflow parts 112 and 113 for fluid A are provided on opposite end sides thereof, and communicating structures are provided corresponding to inflow and outflow parts 122 and 123 for fluid B. Here, as illustrated FIG. 9, the fluid path 111 for fluid A may have a planar structure in which a plurality of bent passages adjoins each other.

[0069] Further, the second channel plate 120 may have a planar structure in which a fluid path 121 for fluid B extends in two branches, intersecting with the fluid path 111 for fluid A, on one surface thereof, and inflow and outflow parts 122 and 123 for fluid B are integrally formed on opposite end sides of the fluid path 121 for fluid B.

[0070] More specifically, the first and second channel plates 110 and 120 may have a rectangular planar structure. Here, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the inflow and outflow parts 122 and 123 for fluid B formed on the second channel plate 120 may have a semicircular or polygonal shape attached to opposite sides of the rectangular planar structure, with an internal space 124 thereof communicating with the fluid path 121 for fluid B.

[0071] The inflow and outflow parts 122 and 123 for fluid B may be integrated with the second channel plate 120, and as illustrated in FIG. 8, the first channel plate 110 may be provided, on opposite sides thereof, with communicating structures 114 corresponding to the inflow and outflow parts 122 and 123 for fluid B. In this case, the inflow and outflow parts 122 and 123 for fluid B and the communicating structures 114 of the first channel plate 110 may be stacked on one another to form a single communicating space. The single communicating space may have a semi-cylindrical or polyprism structure.

[0072] As illustrated in FIG. 9, an inflow and outflow parts 112 and 113 for fluid A formed on the first channel plate 110 may have a semicircular or polygonal shape attached to inner surfaces of the rectangular planar structure, with an internal space thereof communicating with the fluid path 111 for fluid A. Here, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 10, the second channel plate 120 may be provided with communicating structures 125 corresponding to the inflow and outflow parts 112 and 113 for fluid A. In this case, the inflow and outflow parts 112 and 113 for fluid A and the communicating structures 125 of the second channel plate 120 may be stacked on one another to form a single communicating space. Here, the single communicating space may have a semi-cylindrical or polyprism structure.

[0073] In the meantime, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the upper plate section 130 may be attached to an upper surface of a stack 101 of two or more first and second channel plates 110 and 120 being alternately stacked so as to seal the upper surface of the stack 101 of channel plates.

[0074] Further, the lower plate section 140 may be attached to an undersurface of a stack 101 of two or more first and second channel plates 110 and 120 being alternately stacked so as to seal the undersurface of the stack 101 of channel plates.

[0075] Specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the upper and lower plate sections 130 and 140 may be integrally provided with planar sealing structures 131, 132, 141, and 142 corresponding to the inflow and outflow parts 122 and 123 for fluid B.

[0076] Here, the planar sealing structures 131 and 132 may have fluid holes 133 through which the fluid B flows, and inflow and outflow pipes 151 and 152 for fluid B may be connected to the fluid holes 133.

[0077] If needed, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the stack 101 of two or more first and second alternated channel plates 110 and 120 may be provided, on one side thereof, with additional fluid holes 102 communicating with the inflow and outflow parts 122 and 123 for fluid B. Here, inflow and outflow pipes 103 and 104 for fluid B may be connected to the additional fluid holes 102.

[0078] In this case, a flow rate of fluid B may be properly regulated by changing positions, extension length, inner diameters, etc. of the additional inflow and outflow pipes 103 and 104.

[0079] According to the configuration of the system, the provision of a heat exchanger housing, the stack of channel plates, and upper and lower plate sections, which have specified structures, is provided, thereby simplifying the arrangement and manufacturing process of the heat exchanger.

[0080] In the meantime, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the fluid path ill for fluid A of the first channel plate 110 may have a planar structure in which a plurality of bent passages is arranged. In one embodiment the fluid path 111 for fluid A has a horizontally symmetrical structure, wherein the bent passages contact and adjoin each other.

[0081] The structure of the fluid path 111 for fluid A is arranged such that the whole planar area of the first channel plate 110 can be efficiently used. To this end, the planar structure may have a continuous -type arrangement.

[0082] More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the fluid path 111 for fluid A may have inflow and outflow parts 112 and 113 for fluid A on opposite end sides thereof, and may have a planar structure in which the fluid path divides into two fluid path branches in a symmetrical form from the inflow part 112 for fluid A.

[0083] If needed, as illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, a fluid path structure for fluid A may be arranged so that asymmetrical fluid paths 111-1 are disposed on lateral sides of a symmetrical fluid path 111 for fluid A.

[0084] Specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, the first channel plate 110 may include three adjoining fluid paths 111 and 111-1 for fluid A, having a median fluid path 111 and opposite lateral fluid paths 111-1 in a planar structure in which the opposite lateral fluid paths 111-1 are symmetric with each other about the median fluid path 111 for fluid A.

[0085] Here, the median fluid path 111 for fluid A has a planar structure in which the fluid path divides into two fluid path branches in a symmetrical manner from the inflow part 112 for fluid A, and the opposite lateral fluid paths 111-1 for fluid A are symmetric with each other about a median line C of the first channel plate 110.

[0086] More specifically, the lateral fluid paths 111-1 for fluid A may extend in one direction from the inflow part 112 for fluid A without divided branches.

[0087] In this case, the fluid paths for fluid A having a variety of structures may be properly combined according to installation environments of a heat exchanger, thereby considerably improving the heat exchange efficiency.

[0088] While the exemplary embodiments of the system have been described in the detailed description, the system is not limited thereto, but should be construed as including all of modifications, equivalents, and substitutions falling within the spirit and scope of the system defined by the appended claims.

[0089] That is, the system is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and the description thereof, and it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and equivalent embodiments are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the system defined by the appended claims and that the system covers all the modifications and equivalents falling within the spirit and the scope of the system as defined by the appended claims.