PLATE KIND HEAT EXCHANGER WITH SEALED INLET CHANNEL

Abstract

A plate kind heat exchanger (1) has a plurality of stacked plates (2) forming flow paths for heat exchanging fluids there between, a first inlet channel being fluidly connected to inlets of a first set of flow paths, a second inlet channel being fluidly connected to inlets of a second set of flow paths, a first outlet channel being fluidly connected to outlets of the first set of flow paths, and a second outlet channel being fluidly connected to outlets of the second set of flow paths. The first inlet channel is provided with a stack (15) of rings (5) forming fluid passages towards the inlets of the first set of flow paths. Each ring (5) has a first rigid shell member (6) and a second rigid shell member (7), the first rigid shell member (6) and/or the second rigid shell member (7) defining a groove (9) providing fluid passage from the first inlet channel to one of the flow paths of the first set of flow paths, and a sealing member (8) formed from a compressible material, the sealing member (8) being positioned between the first rigid shell member (6) and the second rigid shell member (7). The stack of rings (15) is subjected to a force which presses the rings (5) towards each other and compresses the sealing members (8) of the rings (5), thereby providing sealing towards the flow paths of the second set of flow paths.

Claims

1. A plate kind heat exchanger comprising a plurality of stacked plates forming flow paths for heat exchanging fluids there between, the plate kind heat exchanger comprising a first inlet channel being fluidly connected to inlets of a first set of flow paths, a second inlet channel being fluidly connected to inlets of a second set of flow paths, a first outlet channel being fluidly connected to outlets of the first set of flow paths, and a second outlet channel being fluidly connected to outlets of the second set of flow paths, wherein the first inlet channel is provided with a stack of rings forming fluid passages towards the inlets of the first set of flow paths, wherein each ring comprises: a first rigid shell member and a second rigid shell member, the first rigid shell member and/or the second rigid shell member defining a groove providing fluid passage from the first inlet channel to one of the flow paths of the first set of flow paths, sealing member formed from a compressible material, the sealing member being positioned between the first rigid shell member and the second rigid shell member (7), wherein the stack of rings is subjected to a force which presses the rings towards each other and compresses the sealing members of the rings, thereby providing sealing towards the flow paths of the second set of flow paths.

2. The plate kind heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the first rigid shell members and/or the second rigid shell members of the rings are provided with one or more cut-outs allowing a portion of the respective sealing member to protrude through the rigid shell member, thereby positioning the sealing member in sealing abutment with a rigid shell member of an adjacent ring.

3. The plate kind heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the first rigid shell members and/or the second rigid shell members are provided with one or more protruding parts arranged to push the portion of the respective sealing member through a cut-out formed in a corresponding second/first rigid shell member.

4. The plate kind heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the first rigid shell member is identical to the second rigid shell member.

5. The plate kind heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the sealing members are provided with protruding parts arranged in engagement with corresponding recesses formed in the stacked plates, thereby fixating each ring relative to a plate.

6. The plate kind heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the first rigid shell members and the second rigid shell members are made from the same material as the stacked plates.

7. The plate kind heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the first inlet channel is connectable to a fluid supply of a fluid forming the cold side of the plate kind heat exchanger.

8. The plate kind heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the plate kind heat exchanger is or forms part of an evaporator.

9. A ring for the plate kind heat exchanger according to claim 1, the ring comprising: a first rigid shell member and a second rigid shell member, the first rigid shell member and/or the second rigid shell member defining a groove providing a fluid passage, a sealing member formed from a compressible material, the sealing member being positioned between the first rigid shell member and the second rigid shell member, thereby providing sealing.

10. The ring according to claim 9, wherein the first rigid shell member and/or the second rigid shell member is/are provided with one or more cut-outs allowing a portion of the sealing member to protrude through the rigid shell member, thereby allowing the sealing member to be arranged in sealing abutment with a rigid shell member of an adjacent ring.

11. The ring according to claim 10, wherein the first rigid shell member and/or the second rigid shell member is/are provided with one or more protruding parts arranged to push the portion of the sealing member through a cut-out formed in the second/first rigid shell member.

12. The ring according to claim 9, wherein the first rigid shell member is identical to the second rigid shell member.

13. The ring according to claim 9, wherein the sealing member is provided with protruding parts configured to be arranged in engagement with corresponding recesses formed in a plate of a plate kind heat exchanger.

14. A method for manufacturing the plate kind heat exchanger according to claim 1, the method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of plates, forming a plurality of rings by, for each ring: providing a first rigid shell member, a second rigid shell member, and a sealing member made from a compressible material, the first rigid shell member and/or the second rigid shell member defining a groove, and arranging the sealing member between the first rigid shell member and the second rigid shell member, forming a stack of the plurality of plates, thereby forming flow paths between the plates, and forming a stack of the plurality of rings, the stack of rings being arranged in an inlet channel formed in the stack of plates, and pressing the rings towards each other, thereby compressing the sealing members and providing sealing towards a second set of flow paths formed between the plates.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of providing a plurality of plates comprises, for each plate, punching one or more through-going holes in the plate, wherein the through-going holes in the plates form inlet channels and/or outlet channels of the plate kind heat exchanger when the plates are stacked, and wherein the step of providing a first rigid shell member and/or the step of providing a second rigid shell member is/are performed as part of punching the one or more through-going holes in the plates.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of restraining the stack of rings after compressing the sealing members, thereby maintaining the sealing members in a compressed state and maintaining the sealing towards the second set of flow paths.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059] The invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

[0060] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a plate kind heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0061] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a ring according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0062] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the ring of FIG. 2,

[0063] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a stack of rings according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0064] FIG. 5 is a perspective cross sectional view of the stack of rings of FIG. 4, and

[0065] FIG. 6 illustrates assembly of a stack of rings according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0066] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a plate kind heat exchanger 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The plate kind heat exchanger 1 comprises a plurality of plates 2, including two cover plates 2a and six intermediate plates 2b, each being provided with a plurality of corrugations 3 arranged in a herring bone pattern. When the plates 2 are stacked in order to form the plate kind heat exchanger, flow paths are formed between the plates 2 by means of the corrugations 3.

[0067] The plates 2 are each provided with four through-going holes 4. When the plates 2 are stacked, the through-going holes 4 are of the respective plates 2 are arranged adjacent to each other, thereby forming two inlet channels and two outlet channels. A first inlet channel and a first outlet channel are fluidly connected to a first set of flow paths formed by the corrugations 3, in such a manner that a first heat exchanging fluid can enter the flow paths of the first set of flow paths from the first inlet channel, and leave the flow paths of the first set of flow paths via the first outlet channel.

[0068] Similarly, a second inlet channel and a second outlet channel are fluidly connected to a second set of flow paths formed by the corrugations 3, in such a manner that a second heat exchanging fluid can enter the flow paths of the second set of flow paths from the second inlet channel, and leave the flow paths of the second set of flow paths via the second outlet channel.

[0069] The first set of flow paths and the second set of flow paths are arranged alternatingly, in the sense that, for a given plate 2, a flow path of the first set of flow paths is defined along one surface of the plate 2, and a flow path of the second set of flow paths is defined along another, opposite, surface of the plate 2. Thereby heat exchange takes place between the first heat exchanging fluid and the second heat exchanging fluid through the plate 2.

[0070] At least the first inlet channel is provided with a stack of rings (not shown). The stack of rings form fluid passages towards the flow paths of the first set of flow paths, and provides sealing towards the flow paths of the second set of flow paths. This will be described in further detail below with reference to FIGS. 2-6.

[0071] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a ring 5 according to an embodiment of the invention. The ring 5 is configured to form part of a stack of rings to be mounted in an inlet channel of a plate kind heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0072] The ring 5 comprises a first rigid shell member 6, a second rigid shell member 7 and a sealing member 8 positioned between the first rigid shell member 6 and the second rigid shell member 7. The sealing member 8 is formed from a compressible material, whereas the rigid shell members 6, 7 are formed from an essentially non-compressible material. Thereby, when the first rigid shell member 6 and the second rigid shell member 7 are pushed towards each other, the rigid shell members 6, 7 maintain their shape, while the sealing member 8 is compressed, and thereby deformed, and thereby provides sealing between the first rigid shell member 6 and the second rigid shell member 7.

[0073] The first rigid shell member 6 and the second rigid shell member 7 are each provided with a groove 9 which provides fluid passage between an inner circumference of the ring 5 and an outer circumference of the ring 5. Accordingly, fluid passage is provided from the interior of the ring 5, forming an inner lining of the inlet channel, towards selected flow paths, via the grooves 9. Since the grooves 9 are formed in the rigid shell parts 6, 7, their size and shape are maintained when the rigid shell parts 6, 7 are pushed towards each other and the sealing member 8 is compressed. This ensures a well defined fluid flow from the inlet channel towards the flow paths.

[0074] The first rigid shell member 6 is provided with two cut-outs 10, each allowing a portion 8a of the sealing member 8 to protrude through the first rigid shell member 6. Thereby, when the ring 5 is positioned in abutment with another ring, in order to form a stack of rings, the protruding portion 8a of the sealing member 8 abuts a rigid shell member of the adjacent ring, thereby providing sealing between the rings of the stack.

[0075] The first rigid shell member 6 is further provided with two recesses 11, each forming a protruding part towards the sealing member 8. These protruding parts push portions of the sealing member 8 through cut-outs formed in the second rigid shell part 7, similar to the portions 8a protruding through the cut-outs 10 formed in the first rigid shell member 6. Furthermore, the recesses 11 are arranged to receive protruding parts of a sealing member of an adjacent ring.

[0076] The sealing member 8 is provided with three protruding parts 12, each protruding from the sealing member 8 in a radial direction. The protruding parts 12 are configured to be arranged in engagement with corresponding recesses formed in a plate forming part of a stack of plates of a plate kind heat exchanger. Thereby the ring 5 is prevented from performing rotating movements relative to the plate. Accordingly, the grooves 9 remain in a fixed position relative to inlets of the relevant flow paths, and an accurate fluid flow towards the flow paths is ensured.

[0077] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the ring 5 of FIG. 2. Thus, details of the first rigid shell member 6, the second rigid shell member 7 and the sealing member 8 are clearly visible.

[0078] It can be seen that the first rigid shell member 6 and the second rigid shell member 7 are identical, the second rigid shell member 7 being rotated 180° relative to the first rigid shell member 7, thereby positioning the cut-outs 10 of the second rigid shell member 7 overlappingly with the recesses 11 of the first rigid shell member 6, and vice versa. It can further be seen that the recesses 11 result in protruding parts 13 of the second rigid shell member, and that these will push the portions 8a of the sealing member 8 through the cut-outs 10 of the first rigid shell member 6 when the ring 5 is assembled.

[0079] It can further be seen that the protruding portions 8a are formed on the sealing member 8, and that corresponding recesses 14 arranged to receive protruding parts 13 of the rigid shell members 6, 7 are formed on sealing member 8, at positions corresponding to the protruding portions 8a, but on an opposite side of the sealing member 8.

[0080] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a stack of rings 15 comprising five rings 5 of the kind illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Thus, each ring 5 comprises a first rigid shell member 6, a second rigid shell member 7 and a sealing member 8 arranged there between.

[0081] The rings 5 are positioned adjacent to each other, thereby forming the stack of rings 15, in such a manner that a first rigid shell member 6 of one ring 5 is arranged in abutment with a second rigid shell member 7 of an adjacent ring 5. The grooves 9 formed in the rigid shell members 6, 7 provide fluid passages towards flow paths of a first set of flow paths.

[0082] A compressing force is applied to the stack of rings 15 along an axial direction, thereby pushing the rigid shell members 6, 7 towards each other and compressing the sealing members 8, in the manner described above. Thereby sealing is provided between the first rigid shell member 6 and the second rigid shell member 7 of each ring 5, but also between the rings 5, due to the protruding portions 8a of the sealing members 8 abutting against rigid shell members 6, 7 of adjacent rings 5. Thereby sealing towards flow paths of a second set of flow paths is obtained. The stack of rings 15 is maintained in this compressed state, thereby maintaining the sealing towards the flow paths of the second set of flow paths.

[0083] Part of a plate 2 of a plate kind heat exchanger having the stack of rings 15 mounted therein is shown, and it can be seen that the protruding parts 12 formed on the sealing member 8 of one of the rings 5 is arranged in engagement with corresponding recesses 16 formed in the plate 2. Thereby the stack of rings 15 is prevented from rotating relative to the plates 2 of the plate kind heat exchanger, and the grooves 9 remain firmly in fluid contact with inlets of the flow paths of the first set of flow paths.

[0084] FIG. 5 is a perspective cross sectional view of the stack of rings 15 of FIG. 4. It can clearly be seen that the protruding parts 13 of the rigid shell members 6, 7 push the protruding portions 8a of the sealing members 8 through cut-outs 10 formed in other rigid shell members 6, 7.

[0085] FIG. 6 illustrates assembly of a stack of rings 15 according to an embodiment of the invention. The rings 5 are of the kind illustrated in FIGS. 2-5, i.e. each ring 5 comprises a first rigid shell member 6, a second rigid shell member 7 and a sealing member 8 arranged there between.

[0086] The rings 5 are arranged adjacent to each other, in such a manner that protruding portions 8a of the sealing members 8 are received in recesses 11 formed in the second rigid shell members 7 of adjacent rings 5. Furthermore, protruding parts 13 of the second rigid shell members 7 are received in recesses 14 formed in the sealing members 8, and push the protruding portions 8a through cut-outs 10 in the first rigid shell members 6 and into abutment with the recesses 11 of the second rigid shell members 7 of the adjacent rings 5. Pushing the rings 5 towards each other causes the sealing members 8 to compress, thereby providing sealing in the manner described above with reference to FIGS. 2-5.

[0087] For each of the rings 5, the first rigid shell member 6 and the second rigid shell member 7 are arranged with a small gap there between. This allows the rigid shell members 6, 7 to be moved towards each other, while compressing the sealing member 8 arranged there between, when the stack of rings is subjected to a compressing force during assembly, as described above.

[0088] 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 modifications to this disclosure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.