Heat exchanger

Abstract

A modular system for heat exchange between fluids includes a plurality of open elements that, by means of two end plates, are connected together. An open element is constituted of a folded and sealed sheet material that is arranged in a frame.

Claims

1. An open element for heat exchange between fluids, comprising: a sheet material folded to form a plurality of slits, which constitute the fluids' flow paths, wherein the sheet material over at least a part of its width and length is by means of stiffening devices stiffened, wherein the ends of the folded sheet material are sealed by means of an end seal, wherein the open element further comprises an open frame, the folded sheet material being arranged in the open frame, wherein the open frame is constituted of a top frame and a bottom frame, each of which includes two through holes at each end forming an inlet and an outlet for each of the fluids' flow paths, and each of which includes a centrally open portion, between the inlets and the outlets, wherein the open frame thereby covering all edges of the folded sheet material, permanent gaskets further being arranged in each of the top and bottom frames, each of the permanent gaskets being configured to cover half of the end edges of the folded sheet material.

2. The element according to claim 1, wherein the sheet material is made of titanium.

3. The element according to claim 1, wherein the element further comprises at least one service gasket.

4. The element according to claim 1, wherein the slit width to slit depth ratio is less than 0.15.

5. The element according to claim 1, wherein walls of the slits are configured as planar faces, semi-circles, or arcs.

6. The element according to claim 1, wherein the top and bottom frames are connected to each other by fastening devices.

7. The element according to claim 6, wherein the frame in at least one side is configured with at least one through hole, extending into at least one of the permanent gaskets.

8. A modular system for heat exchange between fluids, comprising: two end plates, wherein at least one end plate is configured with inlets and outlets for fluids, wherein the modular system comprises a plurality of open elements according to claim 1, which open elements are so arranged that two adjacent open elements on sides facing each other carry the same fluid.

9. The modular system according to claim 8, wherein at least one elongate element is arranged in an area out towards the edge of each of the ends of one of the end plates, and where the other end plate is configured with at least one through hole in an area out towards the edge of each of the ends of the end plate, so as to be able to assemble the end plates.

10. The modular system according to claim 8, wherein the modular system comprises at least one filter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to the following figures, wherein

(2) FIGS. 1A-B show a modular system for heat exchange between fluids according to the present disclosure, which is in the process of being assembled and is fully assembled;

(3) FIGS. 2A-B show an open element for heat exchange between fluids in the modular system shown in FIG. 1;

(4) FIGS. 3A-B show a sheet material in the open element for heat exchange between fluids, where the sheet material is shown prior to the folding and as fully folded;

(5) FIG. 4 shows the fully folded sheet material with sealed end faces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

(6) FIG. 1 shows a system 1 for heat exchange between fluids according to the present disclosure, where the system 1 is in the process of being assembled (or taken apart) in FIG. 1A and where the system 1 is shown fully assembled in FIG. 1B.

(7) The system 1 for heat exchange between fluids according to the present disclosure is constituted of two end plates 2, between which end plates 2 are arranged four open elements 3 for heat exchange between fluids according to the illustrated embodiment. It should however be understood that a greater or smaller number of open elements 3 can be arranged between the end plates 2, this number depending on the space available, desired capacity, back-up capacity and development potential. At least two elongate elements 4 are suitably 6 connected to one of the end plates 2, where at least one of the elongate elements 4 is connected in an area close to each of the end plate's 2 edges. The other end plate 2 is configured with at least one through hole, slot, cut-out 5 or the like in an area close to each of the end plate's edges 2, such that the at least one through hole, slot, cut-out 5 or the like in each edge of the one end plate 2 is used for passage of at least one of the elongate elements 4 in the other end plate 2, so as to assemble and connect the two end plates 2. The elongate element 4 will then be configured with a threaded portion (not shown) over a part of its length. The two end plates 2 will then be connected in that the at least one elongate element 4 in each of the edges of the one end plate 2 is passed through the at least one through hole, slot, cut-out 5 in the other end plate 2. A nut 6 will then be screwed onto each of the elongate elements 4, so as to assemble the end plates 2 and the open elements 3 arranged between the end plates 2.

(8) An inlet filter 7 is in a suitable way, for example, with the aid of bolts or the like, connected to one of the end plates 2, which inlet filter 7 will reduce the danger of physical blockages in the system 1 for heat exchange between fluids, as a result of contaminants in one or both of the fluids to be heat exchanged.

(9) One of the end plates 2 is further configured with an inlet and outlet 8, 9; 10, 11 for each of the fluids to be heat exchanged, where the inlet and outlet 8, 9 for a first fluid and the inlet and outlet 10, 11 for a second fluid are arranged on opposite edges of the end plate 2.

(10) The inlet 8 for the first fluid will then be arranged diagonally opposite to the inlet 10 for the second fluid, and similarly the outlet 9 for the first fluid will be arranged diagonally opposite the outlet 11 for the second fluid. Thus, the fluids that are to be heat exchanged will flow in the opposite direction to each other when the system 1 for heat exchange between fluids is used, so as to achieve optimal heat transfer between the fluids.

(11) How the pipes (not shown) for supply of the fluids to be heat exchanged are to be connected to the modular system 1 for heat exchange between fluids is not described in any detail here, as a person of skill in the art will know how this is to be done.

(12) As disclosed above, the modular system 1 for heat exchange between fluids comprises a plurality of open elements 3, which open elements 3 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The open elements 3 are so arranged between the end plates 2 that two sides facing each other in two adjacent open elements 3 will carry the same fluid, which will mean, with reference to FIG. 1, that a first and a second open element 3 in the sides facing each other will carry the first fluid, whilst sides in the second and a third open element 3 will then carry the second fluid.

(13) FIGS. 2A-B show an open element 3 according to the present disclosure, where FIG. 2A shows the different components of the open element 3, whilst FIG. 2B shows the fully assembled open element 3. The main component of the open element 3 is constituted of a sheet material 13 which is folded to form a plurality of slits 14 (see also FIGS. 3 and 4). The sheet material 13, at each of its short ends, across the whole length of the short end, is sealed by means of an end seal 15. In addition, two permanent gaskets 16 are provided around the folded sheet material 13, each of the permanent gaskets 16 being configured so as to cover half of the end edges of the folded sheet material 13. When the folded sheet material 13 with the end seal 15 and the two permanent gaskets 16 are arranged in a frame 17, which is constituted of a bottom frame 17a and a top frame 17b, a tight connection will be formed between the edges of the folded sheet material 13 and the frame 17. However, as an extra safety measure, the frame 17 will be configured with a plurality of through holes (not shown) which extend into the outer side of the permanent gaskets and end seal 15, such that if the end seal 15 or the permanent gaskets 16 for some reason begin to leak, the though holes (not shown) in the frame 17 will act as outlets for one or both fluids that are passed through the open element 3. This means that any leakage from the open element 3 will not result in a mixing of the fluids that are to be heat exchanged.

(14) The frame 17 will further comprise one or more service gaskets 18, these being arranged in the outer sides of the top and bottom frames 17a, 17b. In this way, when a plurality of open elements 3 are arranged in the system 1 for heat exchange between fluids, a sealed connection will be formed between the open elements 3.

(15) The frame 17 will also comprise a carrying handle 19, such that the open element 3 can easily be handled during the assembly or dismantling of the system 1 for heat exchange between fluids.

(16) In the frame 17, out towards each of the two ends of the frame 17, through holes 20, 21 are formed, where the through holes 20 constitute inlets for each of the fluids, whilst the through holes 21 constitute the outlets for each fluid. Each end of the frame 17 will thus be configured with one inlet and one outlet. The inlet and outlet for one of the fluids will then be on one side of the open element 3, whilst the inlet and outlet for the other fluid will be arranged on the opposite side of the open element 3. The first fluid will then be passed into the open element 3 on one side, flow through the slits 14 in the folded sheet material 13 and then be passed out of the open element 3 on the same side. The other fluid will be passed into the open element 3 on an opposite side and end to the first fluid, flow over the folded sheet material 13 on the opposite side of the folded sheet material 13 and opposite the first fluid, whereafter the second fluid is passed out of the open element 3 at an opposite end to the inlet thereof. This arrangement will give optimum heat exchange between the two fluids.

(17) In addition, one or more gaskets 181 will be arranged between the through holes 20, 21 when the frame 17 has been assembled.

(18) The top and bottom frame 17a, 17b are configured with an open portion 22, such that when the folded sheet material 13 is arranged in the frame 17, most of the surface of the folded sheet material 13 will be exposed to a fluid that is to flow through the open element 3. Through this arrangement, where the frame 17 will only cover the edges of the folded sheet material 13 and the height of the sheet material 13, a large area of the folded sheet material 13 will be capable of being used efficiently for heat transfer between fluids.

(19) In FIG. 2B two transverse elements 182 are connected to the bottom frame 17b, which transverse elements 182 will extend over the whole width of the bottom frame 17b. These transverse elements 182 will stiffen the folded sheet material 13.

(20) To obtain a proper flow of the fluid across the open element 3, a plate 183 may be arranged adjacent to the transverse elements 182. Such a plate 183 may then be arranged on one or both sides of the open element 3, see also FIG. 2A. The plate 183 will then “force” the fluid to flow through the slits in the open element 3.

(21) An open element 3 is thus provided where the effective heat transfer area exceeds the external area of the open element. Furthermore, an open element 3 will be provided where the slits 14 in the folded sheet material 13 are visible and accessible for cleaning, for example, by high pressure washing.

(22) FIGS. 3A-B show the sheet material 13 that is used in the open element 3, and it is seen that the sheet material 13 is configured with a plurality of stamped portions 23 and non-stamped portions 24 arranged between them. The stamped portions 23 will, when the sheet material 13 is folded, constitute slits 14 in the open element 3, through which slits 14 a fluid is to flow. The non-stamped portions 24 will then form the “folding points” for the sheet material 13. See also FIG. 4, where a fully folded sheet material 13 is shown. The stamping of the stamped portions 23 will provide necessary strength in the open element 3 to prevent the open element 3 from collapsing if the differential pressure across the open element 3 becomes too great, and will provide a turbulent flow in the fluids that are run through the open element 3.

(23) The stamping here is shown as a “V-shape”, but a person of skill in the art will understand that the stamping may also have other “patterns”.

(24) The stamping may, for example, be done in a press (not shown) or the like, where the sheet material 13 is fed through the press, a portion 23 is stamped, the press is lifted and a new length of the sheet material 13 is advanced in the press, whereafter the press stamps a new portion 23. This process is repeated until the desired number of stamped portions 23 has been obtained.

(25) The sheet material 13 will then through a “folding process” be folded about the stamped portions 24, such that the sheet material 13 will have a form as shown in FIG. 4. This will provide a folded sheet material 13, where two stamped portions 23 will form a slit 14 in the open element 3, where the first fluid that flows through a slit 14 on one side of the folded sheet material 13 will be “surrounded” by two slits 14 on the other side of the folded sheet material 13, through which two slits 14 the second fluid flows.

(26) Although the slits 14 in FIGS. 3A-B and 4 are shown as planar faces, it should be understood that they may be configured as part circles, arcs or the like.

(27) The first and the last portion of the sheet material 13 will be configured with an extra “folding point”, where the fold is made in half the width of this portion. The fold is made so that a part of this first and last portion will be arranged perpendicular to the subsequent stamped portion 23; see also FIG. 4. This folded portion, i.e., the portion that projects perpendicularly out from the folded sheet material 13, will then constitute attachment points for the end seals 15 of the folded sheet material 13 and be a contact face for the permanent gaskets 16.

(28) When the sheet material 13 is folded as shown in FIG. 3B, the folded sheet material 13 will be arranged in a mould 25 and a mass that is to constitute the end seal 15 of the folded sheet material 13 is then added to the mould 25. This is shown in FIG. 4, where it can be seen that one end of the folded sheet material 13 already has an end seal 15 applied thereto, whilst the other end of the folded sheet material 13 has been put into the mould 25 for sealing of the end.

(29) When the other end of the folded sheet material 13 also has an end seal 15 applied thereto and this has hardened, the folded sheet material 13, with end seals 15, will be equipped with the permanent gaskets 16, whereafter these are arranged in the bottom frame 17b. The top frame 17a will subsequently be arranged over the bottom frame 17b, containing the folded sheet material 13 and the permanent gaskets 16, whereafter the top and bottom frames 17a, 17b are by means of suitable devices (not shown), for example, screws, bolts or the like, connected to each other so as to form an open element 3.

(30) A plurality of open elements 3 will then be placed between end plates 2, whereafter the end plates 2 are by means of the elongate elements 4 and nuts 6 connected so as to form a system 1 for heat exchange between fluids.

(31) The present disclosure has now been explained with reference to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment. A person of skill in the art will understand however that a number of variations and modifications can be made to the system for heat exchange between fluids and the open element as described within the scope of the present disclosure, as defined in the appended claims.