PLATE FOR A PLATE KIND HEAT EXCHANGER WITH ASYMMETRICAL CORRUGATIONS

Abstract

A plate (2) for a plate kind heat exchanger (1) is disclosed. The plate (2) is provided with a plurality of corrugations (8), a cross-section of the plate (2) thereby defining a plurality of hills (9) and valleys (10) which define flow paths along surfaces of the plate (2). The hills (9) and/or the valleys (10) have a shape which is asymmetrical with respect to a center line (11, 12) intersecting a top point of the hill (9) and/or valley (10). A plate kind heat exchanger (1) having a plurality of such plates (2) arranged in a stacked configuration, where the hills (9) and valleys (10) formed in the plates (2) define flow paths between the plates (2) is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A plate for a plate kind heat exchanger, the plate being provided with a plurality of corrugations, a cross section of the plate thereby defining a plurality of hills and valleys which define flow paths along surfaces of the plate, wherein the hills and/or the valleys have a shape which is asymmetrical with respect to a center line intersecting a top point of the hill and/or valley.

2. The plate for a plate kind heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the hills as well as the valleys have an asymmetrical shape.

3. The plate for a plate kind heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the cross section of the hills and/or valleys define different curvatures at opposing sides of the center line.

4. The plate for a plate kind heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein a distance along a surface of the plate between a top point of a hill and a top point of a first neighboring valley differs from a distance along the surface of the plate between the top point of the hill and a top point of a second neighboring valley.

5. The plate for a plate kind heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the hills and valleys form a herring bone pattern on the plate.

6. The plate for a plate kind heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the asymmetry of a given hill and/or valley varies along a direction in which the hill and/or valley extends.

7. The plate for a plate kind heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein the variation in asymmetry is periodic.

8. The plate kind heat exchanger comprising a plurality of plates according to claim 1 arranged in a stacked configuration, wherein the hills and valleys formed in the plates define flow paths between the plates.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

[0035] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plate kind heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0036] FIG. 2 illustrates four plates for a plate kind heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0037] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of part of a plate for a plate kind heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0038] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of part of a plate for a plate kind heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0039] FIG. 5 is a top view of the plate for a plate kind heat exchanger of FIG. 4, and

[0040] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a plate for a plate kind heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] FIG. 1 is a perspective 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 arranged in a stack between two end plates 3. A first fluid inlet 4 is connectable to a fluid source of a first heat exchanging fluid, and a second fluid inlet 5 is connectable to a fluid source of a second heat exchanging fluid. Heat exchanging fluids thereby enter the plate kind heat exchanger 1 via the respective fluid inlets 4, 5, and pass along opposing sides of respective plates 2, while heat exchange takes place through the plates 2. The first heat exchanging fluid exits the plate kind heat exchanger 1 via a first fluid outlet 6, and the second heat exchanging fluid exits the plate kind heat exchanger 1 via a second fluid outlet 7.

[0042] FIG. 2 illustrates four plates 2 for a plate kind heat exchanger, e.g., the plate kind heat exchanger illustrated in FIG. 1. The plates 2 are shown in an exploded manner, i.e., with a distance between the plates 2. However, in order to form a plate kind heat exchanger by means of the plates 2, the plates 2 are stacked, i.e., arranged immediately adjacent to each other, with their surfaces completely overlapping. Thereby the fluid inlets 4, 5 and the fluid outlets 6, 7 are also arranged adjacent to each other, thereby forming inlet manifolds and outlet manifolds which distribute the heat exchanging fluids to flow paths formed between the plates 2.

[0043] Each of the plates 2 is provided with a plurality of corrugations 8 defining hills and valleys which are arranged in a herring bone pattern on the plate 2. The herring bone patterns are arranged in such a manner that their directions alternate from one plate 2 to the plates 2 arranged adjacent thereto. At positions where hills of adjacent plates 2 coincide, the plates 2 abut each other. Thereby flow paths are defined along the surfaces of the plates 2, and these flow paths ensure that turbulence is introduced in the fluid flowing therein, thereby ensuring a good heat exchange between heat exchanging fluids flowing along opposing sides of a given plate 2.

[0044] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a part of a plate 2 for a plate kind heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the invention. The plate 2 is provided with a corrugated pattern 8 defining a plurality of hills 9 and valleys 10. In FIG. 3, two hills 9 and two valleys 10 are shown. A first heat exchanging fluid may pass along a first surface of the plate 2 in the cavities defined by the hills 9, and a second heat exchanging fluid may pass along a second, opposite, surface of the plate 2 in the cavities defined by the valleys 10. Accordingly, the hills 9 and valleys 10 of the corrugated pattern 8 define flow paths along the surfaces of the plate 2, and heat exchange can take place between the first heat exchanging fluid and the second heat exchanging fluid, through the plate 2.

[0045] The hills 9 have a shape which is asymmetric with respect to a center line 11 intersecting a top point of the hill 9, in the sense that a radius of curvature, R1, of the part of the hill 9 arranged to the left of the center line 11, is smaller than a radius of curvature, R2, of the part of the hill 9 arranged to the right of the center line 11. This further has the consequence that the distance along the surface of the plate 2 from the top point of the hill 9 to the top points of respective neighboring valleys 10 differ from each other. Accordingly, the distance from the top point of the hill 9 to the top point of the valley 10 arranged to the left of the hill 9 is shorter than the distance from the top point of hill 9 to the top point of the valley 10 arranged to the right of the hill 9.

[0046] Furthermore, the valleys 10 also have a shape which is asymmetric with respect to a center line 12 intersecting the top point of the valley 10, in the sense that distance to the top points of the neighboring hills 9 differ from each other, similar to the situation described above. Furthermore, the valleys 10 define a radius of curvature, R3, which differs from the radii of curvature, R1 and R2, defined by the hills 9.

[0047] Due to the asymmetric shapes of the hills 9 and valleys 10, the flow paths defined by the hills 9 and the valleys 10 are also asymmetrical, and the flow paths defined along the respective opposing sides of the plate 2 are not identical to each other. Thereby the pressure conditions prevailing in the first and second heat exchanging fluids flowing along the opposing sides of the plate 2 also differ from each other, thereby allowing desired heat transfer between the fluids to be obtained.

[0048] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of part of a plate 2 for a plate kind heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the invention. The plate 2 of FIG. 4 could, e.g., be the plate 2 illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0049] In the plate 2 illustrated in FIG. 4, the asymmetry of the hills 9 and valleys 10 is not constant along a direction, illustrated by arrow 13, along which the hills 9 and valleys 10 extend. Instead, the asymmetry shifts from side to side, thereby defining shoulders 14. The shifts may, e.g., cause the radii of curvature, R1 and R2, to switch place in the sense that the first radius of curvature, R1, moves from the left side of the center line to the right side of the center line and back again, while the second radius of curvature, R2, moves from the right side of the center line to the left side of the center line, and back again. The change in the asymmetry along the direction 13 is substantially periodic.

[0050] These variations in the asymmetry along direction 13 forces the heat exchanging fluids flowing along the respective flow paths along the surface of the plate 2 to change direction, thereby causing the turbulence in the heat exchanging fluids to increase. Thereby the heat transfer between the fluids is improved.

[0051] Furthermore, when the plate 2 is stacked with other plates in order to form the plate kind heat exchanger, the variations in asymmetry of adjacent plates 2 can be arranged relative to each other in a manner which improves the strength of the plate kind heat exchanger. This allows the plates 2 to be manufactured with a lower thickness, without compromising the strength of the plate kind heat exchanger. The lower thickness of the plates 2 even further improves the heat transfer through the plates 2.

[0052] Finally, the variations in asymmetry provides a better locking or fixation of the plate 2 during pressing when manufacturing the plate 2. Thereby the plate 2 can be manufactured in a more accurate manner. This, in turn, results in a more uniform thickness of the plate 2 and improved contact between the plates 2 when they are stacked under tension.

[0053] FIG. 5 is a top view of the plate 2 of FIG. 4. Only part of the plate 2 is shown. It can clearly be seen how the shoulders 14 are shifting from side to side along the direction 13 in which the hills 9 extend. It can further be seen that the shoulders 14 causes the resulting flow paths along the plate 2 to have a curvy shape which forces the heat exchanging fluids flowing therein to change direction, thereby increasing the turbulence in the fluids.

[0054] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a plate 2 for a plate kind heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the invention. The plate 2 is provided with a plurality of corrugations 8 defining a plurality of hills 9 and valleys 10 forming a herring bone pattern.

[0055] It can be seen that the hills 9 form shoulders 14 in the manner described above with reference to FIG. 4. Accordingly, the asymmetry of the hills 9 varies along the direction in which the hills 9 extend.

[0056] 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.