Lock bar for heat exchanger and method thereof
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SPX FLOW INC
- Filing Date
- 2022-02-01
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-14
Smart Images
Figure CN117355720B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This disclosure generally relates to a locking strip for plate heat exchangers. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a locking strip for enhancing leak protection of heat exchanger plates. Background Technology
[0002] Plate heat exchangers are known to provide efficient heat transfer between heat transfer media. A set of heat exchanger plates may have port portions, wherein the heat exchanger plates are sealed to adjacent heat exchanger plates via resilient gaskets, thereby forming interconnected fluid transfer ports between adjacent heat exchanger plates. The port portions will allow a first heat transfer medium to flow into and communicate with every other flow channel between the heat exchanger plates, and allow a second heat transfer medium to flow into and communicate with the remaining flow channels between the heat exchanger plates.
[0003] One disadvantage of heat exchangers with resilient gasket seals is that the gasket must be compressed in order for the resilient seal to function.
[0004] To compress the gasket seal and maintain contact between adjacent plates, two external frames can be provided to hold the heat exchange plates together; these external frames are sometimes referred to as the head and the follower. Gaskets can be arranged between the heat exchanger plates to define a flow path for the heat transfer medium. The heat exchanger plates may even have grooves on their surfaces, allowing the gaskets to be positioned therein to prevent movement. The heat exchanger plates can be compressed together by pressing the head and the follower with a force sufficient to form a gasket seal, and the heat transfer medium can be operated at higher pressures.
[0005] With this configuration, the heat exchanger can be versatile and flexible to effectively meet various heat exchange needs, such as improving temperature control, changing the number of plates to increase, re-split, or rearrange the flow path to better control pressure drop or reduce it to decrease maintenance costs.
[0006] However, plate heat exchangers with gaskets also have disadvantages. One of the disadvantages of using gaskets in heat exchangers is the potential for leakage. The heat transfer medium can be supplied at high temperature from the head or driven member to the inlet port to transfer heat to another heat transfer medium. During startup, this hot medium enters the heat exchanger and rapidly heats the plates as it passes through the plate channels. Not all plates are heated simultaneously, and there is a period of time when the temperature is highly uneven. This is especially true for the end plates that are in direct mechanical and thermal contact with the enclosed frame members, the head plate, and the driven plate. The first and last fluid channels adjacent to the frame members receive heat from only one side, while all other channels receive or lose heat through the two channel sides. This means that even under steady-state operation, these end plates will operate with a different temperature distribution than the other plates in the plate group. Unsteady-state or cyclic operation, changes in inlet temperature or flow rate will produce constantly varying amounts of thermal expansion between the plates within the plate group, so this temperature unevenness is not limited to startup or shutdown conditions.
[0007] It is well known that materials expand as their temperature increases. When a heat transfer medium is supplied into the inlet port and its temperature rises, the heat exchanger plates and the gaskets between them will expand, with the amount of expansion being directly proportional to the temperature change. Since the temperature change is not always constant, plates within the same plate group may expand by different amounts. Because some heat exchanger plates and gaskets change size due to expansion, the relative displacement between the plates can impair the seal between them. If the relative movement of adjacent plates causes the gasket sealing surface to no longer align with the sealing surface of the mating plate, this will result in leakage.
[0008] There are two types of leaks in heat exchangers. One is an external leak, where the heat transfer medium leaks into the atmosphere. This can be easily detected and corrected, but requires stopping the heat exchanger and opening it for maintenance. The other type is an internal leak or mixing of the heat transfer medium. An internal leak, which does not occur simultaneously with an external leak, is not caused by the loss of a gasket seal or movement between plates.
[0009] Therefore, it is desirable for plate heat exchangers to have improved leak prevention between heat exchanger plates by reducing and limiting relative plate movement between adjacent plates. Summary of the Invention
[0010] One aspect of this disclosure relates to a leak-proof improved heat exchanger, comprising: a first heat exchanger plate having a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage; a second heat exchanger plate having the first fluid passage and a second fluid passage; a gasket disposed between the first heat exchanger plate and the second heat exchanger plate and configured to separate the first fluid passage from the second fluid passage; and a locking strip disposed between the first heat exchanger plate and the second heat exchanger plate and configured to maintain alignment of the plates during multiple thermal expansion and contraction cycles of the first heat exchanger plate and the second heat exchanger plate.
[0011] Another aspect of this disclosure includes a locking strip for maintaining alignment of heat exchanger plates, comprising: a first protrusion configured to engage with a first recess on a first heat exchanger plate; a second protrusion configured to engage with a first recess on a second heat exchanger plate; and a hook-shaped region configured to surround the protrusion on the first heat exchanger plate.
[0012] Another aspect of this disclosure includes a method for manufacturing a leak-proof improved heat exchanger, the method comprising the steps of: preparing a first heat exchanger plate; perforating at least one heat transfer medium inlet and at least one heat transfer medium outlet; pressing the edges of the first heat exchanger plate to form protrusions and recesses; placing gaskets to separate a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage; and installing a locking strip on at least one edge of the first heat exchanger plate such that the protrusion of the locking strip engages with the recess of the first heat exchanger plate, and such that a hook-shaped region surrounds the protrusion of the first heat exchanger plate.
[0013] Therefore, certain aspects of this disclosure have been outlined rather extensively in order to better understand the detailed description herein and to better appreciate the contribution of the invention to the art. Of course, there are other aspects of this disclosure, which will be described below and form the subject matter of the appended claims.
[0014] In this regard, before explaining at least one aspect of this disclosure in detail, it should be understood that the application of this disclosure is not limited to the details of the construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or shown in the accompanying drawings. This disclosure can have aspects other than those described and can be practiced and implemented in various ways. Furthermore, it should be understood that the wording and terminology used herein, as well as the abstract, are for descriptive purposes and should not be considered limiting.
[0015] Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that the concepts upon which this disclosure is based can be readily used as the basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the various purposes of this disclosure. Therefore, it is important that the claims be considered to include such equivalent constructions, provided they do not depart from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Attached Figure Description
[0016] The foregoing overview and the following detailed description of the invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention for the purpose of illustrating the invention. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements, examples, and means shown.
[0017] Figure 1 This is a side view of a heat exchanger using gaskets according to one aspect of this disclosure.
[0018] Figure 2 This is a plan view of a heat exchanger plate with an exemplary gasket pattern according to one aspect of this disclosure. It also shows raised protrusions and recesses along the two outer edges of the plate, referred to as crenellated portions.
[0019] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of a heat exchanger plate assembly consisting of only five plates, according to one aspect of this disclosure.
[0020] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of a plate, gasket, and locking strip assembly on two adjacent plates in a heat exchanger assembly, according to one aspect of this disclosure.
[0021] Figure 5 This is a perspective view of an exemplary locking bar on the surface of the back panel according to one aspect of this disclosure.
[0022] Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the front and rear surfaces of the lock bar according to one aspect of this disclosure.
[0023] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of a locking bar arranged between two properly aligned adjacent plates according to one aspect of this disclosure.
[0024] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view of a locking bar arranged between two misaligned plates along a long axis, according to one aspect of this disclosure.
[0025] Figure 9 A method for manufacturing a leak-proof improved heat exchanger plate according to one aspect of this disclosure is shown.
[0026] Figure 10 A method for manufacturing a leak-proof heat exchanger plate according to another aspect of this disclosure is shown. Detailed Implementation
[0027] The above and other objects, features and advantages of this disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
[0028] In the following, a leak-proof improved heat exchanger according to the present disclosure, locking strips for maintaining the alignment of heat exchanger plates, and a method of manufacturing the leak-proof improved heat exchanger will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The described aspects are provided to enable those skilled in the art to readily understand the technical spirit of the present disclosure, and therefore the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Furthermore, the accompanying drawings are schematic diagrams for the purpose of facilitating understanding of various aspects of the present disclosure, and therefore the content shown in the drawings may differ from the actual implementation.
[0029] Furthermore, the components shown below are merely examples for implementing this disclosure. Therefore, other components may be used in other embodiments of this disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.
[0030] In addition, it should be understood that the statement "includes" certain elements is an "open" statement indicating certain components and does not exclude additional components.
[0031] References to "one aspect," "one aspect," "other aspects," "one or more aspects," etc., in this specification mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that aspect is included in at least one aspect of this disclosure. For example, the phrase "in one aspect" appearing in different places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same aspect, and a single or alternative aspect is not necessarily mutually exclusive with other aspects. Furthermore, various features that may be exhibited by some aspects but not by others are described. Similarly, various requirements are described, which may be requirements for some aspects but not for others.
[0032] Figure 1 This is a side view of a heat exchanger using gaskets according to one aspect of this disclosure.
[0033] exist Figure 1 The image shows a leak-proof improved heat exchanger 100. The heat exchanger 100 may include a first heat exchanger plate 10 and a second heat exchanger plate 102. The first heat exchanger plate 10 and the second heat exchanger plate 102 are arranged in a spaced-apart, back-to-back relationship. A gasket 20 may be disposed between the first heat exchanger plate 10 and the second heat exchanger plate 102. The first heat exchanger plate 10 and the second heat exchanger plate 102 may be repeatedly arranged in pairs to form a plate assembly 30. The length of the heat exchanger plate assembly can range from less than an inch to several meters.
[0034] A heat exchanger plate assembly 30 may be disposed between a first end plate 42 (also referred to as the "head") and a second movable end plate 40 (also referred to as the "follower"). The first end plate 42 may be provided with a first inlet 50 at the top left-hand side and a second inlet 54 (concealed behind a first outlet 56) at the bottom right-hand side. The first end plate 42 may also be provided with a first outlet 56 at the bottom left-hand side and a second outlet 52 at the top right-hand side (concealed behind the first inlet 50). The first inlet 50, second inlet 54, first outlet 56, and second outlet 52 may be configured to allow a heat transfer medium to flow through the first end plate 42 into the plate assembly. In the heat exchanger plate assembly 30, the front side of the second heat exchanger plate 102 faces the first end plate 42, and the back side of the first heat exchanger plate 10 faces the second end plate 40.
[0035] To prevent leakage of the heat transfer medium, the second end plate 40 and the first end plate 42 are pressed together with a force sufficient to form a gasket seal therebetween and maintain constant plate-to-plate contact. The first end plate 40 and the second end plate 42 can be connected to a fastening member 60. The fastening member 60 can include any fastening mechanism known to those skilled in the art. For example, the fastening member 60 can include bolts and nuts or "pull rods" such that the first end plate 42 and the second end plate 40 can be compressed by rotating the bolts of the fastening member 60. The first end plate 42 and the second end plate 40 can be connected to more than one fastening member 60. By means of the fastening member, the second end plate 40 is moved toward the first end plate 42, thereby compressing all components in the plate assembly 30.
[0036] Figure 2 This is a plan view of a heat exchanger plate with an exemplary gasket pattern according to one aspect of this disclosure. The plate exhibits "crenellated portions" along its two outer edges, i.e., raised protrusions and recesses.
[0037] exist Figure 2 The image shows a heat exchanger plate with an exemplary gasket pattern. As an example, a first heat exchanger plate 10 is shown here. The first heat exchanger plate 10 may be configured with a first heat transfer medium inlet 12 and a first heat transfer medium outlet 16. The first heat transfer medium flows across the front side of the first heat exchanger plate 10. The first heat exchanger plate 10 may also be configured with a second heat transfer medium inlet 18 and a second heat transfer medium outlet 14, and these allow the second heat transfer medium to flow along the back side of the first heat exchanger plate 10.
[0038] The purpose of heat exchanger 100 is to transfer heat from a first heat transfer medium to a second heat transfer medium, or vice versa, via conduction through a metal plate. The plate maintains a physical barrier separating the two media. Both the first and second heat transfer media can be liquids, or a liquid stream and a vapor stream, or two vapor streams. In some cases, one or both streams may have a mixed liquid and vapor phase.
[0039] Within the heat transfer surface of the plate, a groove pattern 26 is pressed in, which increases the turbulence of the heat transfer medium passing through the channel, thereby increasing the heat transfer rate. Surrounding the outer region enclosed by the gasket grooves, the heat transfer plate has a pressed structure consisting of alternating protrusions 71 and recesses 70, collectively referred to as "crested sections" 25. In this figure, these are shown only along the long side of the plate 10, but in reality, they can extend completely around the periphery of the plate 10. In this aspect of the disclosure, all heat transfer plates in the group are identical components, but are alternated within the group by rotating adjacent plates 180 degrees.
[0040] All adjacent plates have intersecting and adjacent grooves, forming a rigid structure that maintains the flow of fluid generated between the plates through the channel gaps. In the same way, the outer crenellated section forms a honeycomb structure, which helps to keep the gasket compressed and prevents fluid pressure from forcing the plates apart.
[0041] In this aspect of the disclosure, a first heat transfer medium may flow from a first heat transfer medium inlet 12 along the front side of the heat transfer plate 10 and exit through a first heat transfer medium outlet 16. A second heat transfer medium may flow through a second heat transfer medium inlet 18 until it enters along the rear side of the plate 10 and exits through a second heat transfer medium outlet 14. For example, the region between the first heat transfer medium inlet 12 and the first heat transfer medium outlet 16 may include a first fluid channel, and the region between the second heat transfer medium inlet 18 and the second heat transfer medium outlet 14 may include a second fluid channel on the rear side of the plate.
[0042] It is important to keep the two heat transfer media from contacting each other; in other words, to prevent internal leakage, especially for food. This is achieved by the metal of the plate and the gasket, the metal of the plate providing a mechanical barrier, and the gasket directing the flow to the front and rear sides of the heat transfer plate, keeping the media separated. Therefore, a gasket 20 is provided, configured to separate the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel. The gasket 20 is positioned on the front side of the plate 10. To better prevent internal leakage, it is important that the gasket 20 does not overlap with ports 12, 14, 16, and 18. It is also important to secure the position of the gasket 20 so that it does not move and overlap with ports 12, 14, 16, and 18 or move outward away from the plate.
[0043] To prevent the gasket 20 from moving under pressure, the first heat exchanger plate 10 may have a groove 11 that is pressed down into the front surface where the gasket is placed and therein to fix the position of the gasket 20. Figure 2 The pattern of the groove 11 in the diagram illustrates an exemplary aspect; and the groove 11 may employ different patterns. The second heat exchanger plate 102 may have the same groove pattern as the first heat exchanger plate 10, such that when they are placed abutting against each other, the gasket 20 will be held in position between the first heat exchanger plate 10 and the second heat exchanger plate 102.
[0044] Gasket 20 can be formed from various types of materials commonly used for this purpose, and must be able to withstand the temperatures and pressures encountered when the heat transfer medium flows within the fluid channel. Furthermore, the material of gasket 20 must be inert to such a heat transfer medium. Gasket 20 can be manufactured in a mold, but depending on the size of the heat exchanger plate or the manufacturing technique used, the gasket can be assembled from two or more smaller components. Gasket 20 can be made from an elastic material.
[0045] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of a heat exchanger plate assembly consisting of only five plates, according to one aspect of this disclosure. Figure 3 The illustrated embodiment of the heat exchanger plate assembly has five heat exchanger plates. The number of heat exchanger plates in the assembly can range from three to several hundred.
[0046] exist Figure 3 The diagram illustrates how a first heat transfer medium and a second heat transfer medium flow through a heat exchanger plate assembly 30. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger plate assembly 30 may include a non-heat exchange plate 108, a first heat exchanger plate 10, a second heat exchanger plate 102, a third heat exchanger plate 104, and a sealing plate 106. The non-heat exchange plate 108 may be configured to mate with an end plate gasket 21 adjacent to the first end plate 42, and the sealing plate 106 may not have a port cutout adjacent to the second end plate 40. The heat exchanger plate assembly 30 may include gaskets or may not include gaskets. Plates 108 and 106 are considered "non-heat transfer" plates because no heat exchange occurs from the first heat transfer medium to the second heat transfer medium through the plates. The non-heat exchange plate 108 has gaskets, and all four flow ports are sealed by the gaskets, so no fluid travels across the front side of the plate. The end plate gasket 21 has rubber rings surrounding all four flow ports and creates an assembly seal against the first end plate 42. In this aspect of the disclosure, five heat exchanger plates are shown in the heat exchanger plate assembly 30 to illustrate the flow of the heat transfer medium. However, it should be noted that only two heat exchanger plates are required to form the heat exchanger plate assembly 30. The heat exchanger plate assembly 30 may also include more than five heat exchanger plates.
[0047] As shown in the figure, the heat exchanger plates within the heat exchanger plate assembly 30 are arranged with alternating gasket groove patterns and a central groove shape 26 by rotating 180 degrees. For example, the first heat exchanger plate 10 has a mirrored gasket pattern of the second heat exchanger plate 102. Thus, as an example, the fluid passage of the first heat exchanger plate 10 may contain a first heat transfer medium, and the fluid passage of the second heat exchanger plate 102 may contain a second heat transfer medium. Therefore, the first fluid passage 310 may be configured to allow the flow of the first heat transfer medium, the second fluid passage 320 may be configured to allow the flow of the second heat transfer medium, and the third fluid passage 330 may be configured to allow the first heat transfer medium to flow again.
[0048] Now, it will be explained how each heat transfer medium flows through the heat exchanger plates (10, 102, 104, 106, and 108) within the heat exchanger plate assembly 30. A first flow channel 310 is formed within a boundary marked on the flow gasket 20 on the first heat exchanger plate 10, which consists of two open ports 12 and 16, a bridge gasket, and two long sides. This flow channel, thus enclosed, allows the first heat transfer medium to travel on the front or gasket side of the plate 10, while the second heat transfer medium passes through two rubber rings at ports 14 and 18 and enters the second flow channel 320 formed by the second heat transfer plate 102 and its flow gasket 20. The second heat transfer fluid passes through open ports 114 and 118, proceeding in parallel across the rear surface of the second heat exchanger plate 102 and the front surface of the third heat transfer plate 104.
[0049] The flow arrangement generated by heat transfer plates 10 and 102 can be reproduced multiple times by adding two heat transfer plates in any multiple. This allows the formation of a heat exchanger plate assembly 30 containing hundreds of identical flow channels. The heat exchanger plate assembly 30 is terminated by adding a "sealing plate" 106 that blocks all fluid transfer ports. In this way, the two heat transfer fluids are effectively "locked in" and contained within the heat exchanger plate assembly 30.
[0050] A first heat transfer medium enters the heat exchanger plate assembly 30 through a first inlet 50 of the first end plate 42, which communicates with all other open port holes in the heat exchanger plate assembly 30. The first heat transfer medium enters every other fluid channel, such as a first fluid channel 310 and a third fluid channel 330.
[0051] The first heat transfer medium exits the heat exchanger plate assembly 30 through a first outlet 56 of the first end plate 42, which communicates with all other open port holes in the heat exchanger plate assembly 30. The pressure of the first heat transfer medium in the inlet port 50 is greater than the fluid pressure in the outlet port 56, and it is this pressure difference, or driving force, that generates the fluid flow through the first heat transfer medium flow channels. All plates in the heat exchanger plate assembly 30 have inlet and outlet ports that communicate with all other first heat transfer medium flow channels, meaning that all first flow channels have the same driving force. If all plates have the same geometry, the flow rate of the first heat transfer medium through each first heat transfer medium flow channel will be approximately the same.
[0052] In a similar manner, the second heat transfer medium enters the heat exchanger plate assembly 30 through the second inlet 54 of the second end plate 42, which communicates with all other open port holes. The second heat transfer medium enters every other flow channel, such as the second flow channel 320 and the fourth flow channel 340.
[0053] The second heat transfer medium exits the heat exchanger plate assembly 30 through a second inlet 54 of the second end plate 42, which communicates with all other open port holes in the plate. The pressure of the second heat transfer medium fluid in the second inlet port 54 is greater than that in the second outlet port 52, and it is this pressure difference, or driving force, that generates the fluid flow through the second heat transfer medium flow channels. All plates in the heat exchanger plate assembly 30 have inlet and outlet ports that communicate with all other second heat transfer medium flow channels, meaning that all second heat transfer medium flow channels have the same driving force. If all plates have the same geometry, the flow rate of the second heat transfer medium through each second heat transfer medium flow channel will be approximately the same.
[0054] With this configuration, each fluid channel can have an alternating heat transfer medium. For example, a first fluid channel 310 accommodates a first heat transfer medium flow, and a second fluid channel 320 accommodates a second heat transfer medium flow. If the temperature at the inlet of the first flow channel differs from the temperature entering the second flow channel, heat transfer will occur through the plate separating the flow channels. Consider the case where the first heat transfer medium enters at a higher temperature than the second heat transfer medium.
[0055] According to Newton's law of heat transfer, the amount of heat exchanged is proportional to the product of the overall heat transfer coefficient, the heat transfer area, and the average temperature difference between the heat transfer medium.
[0056] Due to the special plate structure constituting the first flow channel, the first heat exchanger plate 10 will be at a higher average temperature than all other plates within the heat exchanger plate assembly 30. This is because the first flow channel 310 transfers heat only through one heat transfer plate 10. No heat transfer medium flows along the front surface of the non-heat transfer plate 108. All other first flow channels transfer heat through two heat transfer plates.
[0057] As the temperature of the heat exchanger plates rises, the plates expand due to thermal expansion. The length and width of the entire plate increase by an amount directly proportional to the temperature change of the plate metal. The first heat transfer plate 10 is hotter than all the other plates and expands more significantly. Therefore, the center lines of the gaskets, ports, and rubber rings of the first heat transfer plate no longer align with the center lines of all the other heat transfer plates.
[0058] The first heat transfer medium in the first flow channel 310 is hotter than all other channels, which means that plates 10 and 108 are hotter than all other plates in the heat exchanger plate assembly 30. Plates 10 and 108 have a greater degree of thermal expansion than all other plates.
[0059] When expansion occurs, the metal surfaces of plates 10 and 108 exert frictional forces on any directly contacting heat exchanger plate assembly components, such as the first end plate 42. The applied frictional force depends on many factors, such as the contact area, the properties of the contact materials (coefficient of friction), and the contact pressure. The situation of non-heat transfer plates 108 and 106 is unique in the plate assembly because they are in direct contact with pressure-holding end plates 42 and 40. Due to their large contact area, these two non-heat transfer plates 42, 40 experience significantly higher frictional forces.
[0060] When the heat exchanger is shut down, the temperature decreases until it eventually reaches ambient conditions. All plates in heat exchanger plate assembly 30 cool and thermally shrink back to their original overall dimensions. Friction is generated again during plate shrinkage, and the first heat transfer medium flow channel, which is hotter between plates 10 and 108, shrinks to a greater extent than the other plates in heat exchanger plate assembly 30. Friction is generated, which is opposite to the shrinkage of these plates, but cannot prevent shrinkage from occurring. There is no guarantee that the overall relative positions of plates 10 and 108 will realign back to their original positions.
[0061] The frictional forces generated during expansion or contraction cause the entire plate to move up or down. This movement stops when the temperature no longer changes further. If the relative position of the gasket sealing surfaces deviates from the mating metal sealing surfaces of the adjacent plates, the seal fails and leakage begins. Rarely does the plate movement caused by a single start-up and shutdown event be sufficient to cause gasket seal failure. However, over several start-up and shutdown cycles, or when the task is in an unstable state, the plate movement can become more extreme, with the plates slowly migrating towards misalignment with each successive temperature change event. When the heat exchanger plates move relative to each other, gasket 20 may detach from groove 11. To prevent this, a locking strip 400 can be provided to generate a restoring force that realigns the adjacent plates.
[0062] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of a plate, gasket, and locking strip assembly on two adjacent plates in a heat exchanger assembly, according to one aspect of this disclosure.
[0063] like Figure 4 As shown, locking strips 400 are arranged on two adjacent heat exchanger plates. The purpose of locking strips 400 is to allow a certain degree of relative displacement between adjacent plates, but to prevent any large degree of misalignment between adjacent plates. Figure 4 The diagram shows the locking bar positioned on the rear side of the heat transfer plate, but the invention is not limited to this location.
[0064] Figure 4 The plate edge is shown, consisting of alternating upward protrusions 71 and downward recesses 70. This plate feature is referred to as a crenellated edge. In the compressed heat exchanger plate assembly 30, the recesses 70 of the top plate, which have protrusions contacting the lower plate, allow the heat exchanger plate assembly 30 to appear as a honeycomb structure when viewed from the side. The locking bars 400 are confined within the space formed by the protrusions 71 on the top plate and the recesses 70 on the bottom plate. Viewed from the side, the locking bars appear to "fill" the honeycomb space.
[0065] The locking bar 400 has a first protrusion 41 that fits into a protrusion 71 in the top plate, and the first protrusion 41 is also positioned downward into a recess 70 in the lower plate.
[0066] Any relative displacement between adjacent plates with locking bars 400 sandwiched between them will cause the plates to exert shear forces on the locking bar protrusions. These locking bar protrusions, in turn, exert equal and opposite reaction forces on the plate indentations or protrusions, which act to restore the alignment of the plates. The greater the relative displacement (degree of misalignment) between adjacent plates, the greater the restoring force generated by the misalignment. When operating conditions permit, the energy stored in the deformed locking bars 400, such as springs, can be used to realign the plates. In this way, the locking bars 400 are configured to maintain the alignment of the first heat exchanger plate 10 and the second heat exchanger plate 102 during multiple thermal expansion and contraction cycles. The locking bars 400 can be mounted on the edges of the heat exchanger plates and do not overlap with the gaskets 20.
[0067] To allow for a certain degree of thermal expansion of the heat exchanger plates, the locking strip 400 can be made of an elastic material. The locking strip 400 can be made of rubber. The locking strip 400 can be made of EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber or any other elastic material with suitable mechanical properties. For example, the material of the locking strip 400 can have an IRHD value of 75-83.
[0068] Figure 5 This is a perspective view of an exemplary locking bar on the surface of the back panel according to one aspect of this disclosure.
[0069] Figure 5 A rear view of a heat transfer plate 10 with a locking bar 400 attached is shown, which can be used to better illustrate how the locking bar is held. In this aspect of the disclosure, the locking bar 400 consists of four protrusions 41, 42, 43, and 44, all of which engage via a common “head portion” 401 (also referred to as a hook-shaped area). The locking bar 400 is not limited to four protrusions and may contain any number equal to or greater than one. A first protrusion 41 is configured to engage with a first recess 71 on the first heat exchanger plate 10 (also in…) Figure 4 (As shown in the figure) the engagement, and the protrusions 42, 43 and 44 are all located in similar recesses on the heat exchanger plate 10. All the locking protrusions 41, 42, 43 and 44 and the head portion 401 surround the protrusion 70 of the heat exchanger plate 10.
[0070] Return to Figure 4The locking strip protrusions 41, 42, 43, and 44 on the heat exchanger plate 10 are positioned downwards into the recesses 70 of the second heat exchanger plate 102. When the second heat exchanger plate 102 is pressed against the first heat exchanger plate 10, its protrusions 41, 42, 43, and 44 contact the protrusions of the first heat exchanger plate 10. The common head portion 401 is now confined behind the recess of the first heat exchanger plate 10. The locking strip 400 is now secured when the heat exchanger plates are pressed together in the heat exchanger plate assembly 30. The locking strip can be held in place by using an adhesive before the heat exchanger plate assembly 30 is compressed.
[0071] Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the front and rear surfaces of the locking strip according to one aspect of this disclosure. To attach the locking strip 400 to the appropriate position on the rear of the plate, an adhesive may be applied to the top surface of the strip before pressing the locking strip 400 into place. It should be understood that the edge of the heat exchanger plate consists of recesses 70 and protrusions 71 forming a repeating pattern, such that the locking strip, as shown, can be positioned in multiple locations, and more than one locking strip can be applied along each of the two long outer edges of the heat exchanger plate.
[0072] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of a locking strip arranged between two precisely aligned heat exchanger plates according to one aspect of this disclosure.
[0073] exist Figure 7 In this configuration, a locking bar 400 is secured between precisely aligned first and second heat exchanger plates 10 and 102. The upper half of the locking bar 400 is positioned within a protrusion of the first heat exchanger plate 10, while the lower half is positioned within a recess of the second heat exchanger plate 102. If plates 10 and 102 are aligned, no shear force is applied to the locking bar protrusion.
[0074] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view of a locking bar arranged between two misaligned plates along a long axis, according to one aspect of this disclosure.
[0075] exist Figure 8 In this configuration, the top plate 10 is displaced to the left relative to the bottom plate 102. Consider the effect of this displacement on the locking bar protrusion 42. The first sidewall or "wing" 74 of the top plate 10 exerts a force on the locking bar protrusion 42, causing the locking bar material on the upper half of the bar to shift to the left. Simultaneously, the recessed second sidewall or "wing" 75 of the bottom plate 102 acts on the locking bar protrusion 42, causing the lower half of the protrusion to shift to the right. Thus, the locking bar protrusion 42 experiences a net shear force. All protrusions 41, 42, 43, and 44 in the locking bar 400 experience the same amount of displacement and are sheared to the same degree.
[0076] Due to the elastic properties of the locking bar, the protrusion 43 acts similarly to a spring when deformed. The elastic molecular structure of the protrusion 43 applies a force equal to and opposite to the shear force applied to the locking bar 400, as well as acting on the misaligned plate surface "flanks" 76 and 77. These restoring forces are used to realign the two displaced protrusions in plate 10 and the recess in plate 102. All locking bar protrusions 41, 42, 43, and 44 apply the same restoring force on their contacting "flanks".
[0077] The locking strip 400 is modular, and any number of locking strips 400 can be added along the entire long axis of plate 10 on either side, allowing numerous protrusions to apply sufficiently large restoring forces to limit the amount of relative misalignment between plates that may occur due to temperature cycling. By limiting plate misalignment, loss of gasket seal can be prevented.
[0078] Figure 9 A method for manufacturing a leak-proof improved heat exchanger plate according to one aspect of this disclosure is shown.
[0079] exist Figure 9 The present invention discloses a method for manufacturing a leak-proof improved heat exchanger. In one aspect of this disclosure, a method for manufacturing a leak-proof improved heat exchanger may include: preparing a heat exchanger plate; perforating at least one heat transfer medium inlet and at least one heat transfer medium outlet; pressing the edges of the heat exchanger plate to form protrusions and recesses; placing gaskets to separate a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage; and installing a locking strip on at least one edge of the first heat exchanger plate such that the protrusion of the locking strip engages a recess of the heat exchanger plate and a hook-shaped area surrounding the protrusion of the heat exchanger plate.
[0080] The method for manufacturing a leak-proof, improved heat exchanger will now be discussed in more detail. First, a first heat exchanger plate 10 (802) can be prepared. The first heat exchanger plate 10 can be perforated to form at least one heat transfer medium inlet and at least one heat transfer medium outlet (804). The first heat exchanger plate 10 can also be perforated to form a first heat transfer medium inlet 12, a first heat transfer medium outlet 16, a second heat transfer medium inlet 14, and a second heat transfer medium outlet 18.
[0081] The first heat exchanger plate 10 can then be pressed along its edge to form at least one protrusion 71 (806). The first heat exchanger plate can also be pressed along its edge to form at least one recess 70 (806). At least some portions of the edge of the first heat exchanger plate can be pressed to form alternating protrusions and recesses. Alternating protrusions and recesses can be formed on two long edges of the first heat exchanger plate 10. All four edges of the first heat exchanger plate 10 can be pressed to form alternating protrusions and recesses.
[0082] Gasket 20 may be placed to separate the first fluid passage and the second fluid passage (808). One gasket 20 may be configured to separate the first fluid passage and the second fluid passage. Alternatively, the first gasket may be configured to seal the first fluid passage and the second gasket may be configured to seal the second fluid passage, or vice versa.
[0083] A locking strip 400 may be mounted on the edge (810) of the first heat exchanger plate 10. The locking strip 400 may include a first protrusion 41 configured to engage a recess 71 on the first heat exchanger plate 10. The locking strip may include more than two protrusions, and may be configured to engage alternating protrusions and recesses on the first heat exchanger plate 10. More than one locking strip may be mounted on the edge of the first heat exchanger plate 10. When more than one locking strip is mounted on the edge of the first heat exchanger plate 10, at least one locking strip may be mounted on each long edge of the first heat exchanger plate 10.
[0084] Figure 10 A method for manufacturing a leak-proof heat exchanger plate according to another aspect of this disclosure is shown.
[0085] In another aspect of this disclosure, a method for preparing a leak-proof improved heat exchanger may include: preparing a second heat exchanger plate, perforating at least one heat transfer medium inlet and at least one heat transfer medium outlet, pressing the edge of the second heat exchanger plate to form protrusions and recesses, placing the second heat exchanger plate on a first heat exchanger plate such that the protrusion of a locking bar engages with the recess of the second heat exchanger plate, and such that a hook-shaped region surrounds the protrusion of the second heat exchanger plate.
[0086] Now, another aspect of the method for manufacturing a leak-proof, improved heat exchanger will be discussed in more detail. A second heat exchanger plate 102 (902) can be prepared. Similar to the first heat exchanger plate 10, the second heat exchanger plate 102 can be perforated to form at least one heat transfer medium inlet and at least one heat transfer medium outlet (904). The second heat exchanger plate 102 can also be perforated to form a first heat transfer medium inlet 112, a first heat transfer medium outlet 116, a second heat transfer medium inlet 114, and a second heat transfer medium outlet 118.
[0087] The second heat exchanger plate 102 can then be pressed along its edge to form at least one protrusion 78 (906). The first heat exchanger plate can also be pressed along its edge to form at least one recess 72 (906). At least some portions of the edge of the second heat exchanger plate can be pressed to form alternating protrusions and recesses. Alternating protrusions and recesses can be formed on the two long edges of the second heat exchanger plate 102. All four edges of the second heat exchanger plate 102 can be pressed to form alternating protrusions and recesses.
[0088] The second heat exchanger plate 102 can be placed on the first heat exchanger plate 10 such that the gasket 20 can separate the first fluid passage and the second fluid passage between the first heat exchanger plate 10 and the second heat exchanger plate 102 (908). The first heat exchanger plate 10 and the second heat exchanger plate 102 may include a heat exchanger plate assembly 30. Additionally, a groove 11 can be formed such that the gasket 20 can be secured to the surfaces of the first heat exchanger plate 10 and the second heat exchanger plate 102. When the second heat exchanger plate 102 is placed on the first heat exchanger plate 10, the second heat exchanger plate is positioned such that the second protrusion 42 of the lock 400 can engage with the recess of the second heat exchanger plate 102. If the lock bar 400 is configured with third and fourth protrusions, they can be configured to engage with the second recess of the first heat exchanger plate 10 and the second recess of the second heat exchanger plate 102. If more than one locking bar is installed on the first heat exchanger plate 10, each protrusion of the locking bar can engage with a recess in the second heat exchanger plate 102.
[0089] Additionally, a first end plate 40 and a second end plate 42 can be fabricated. A heat exchange plate assembly 30 can be placed between the first end plate 40 and the second end plate 42. The first end plate 40 and the second end plate 42 can be compressed such that the heat exchange plate assembly 30 can be compressed under appropriate pressure. The pressure can be calculated to secure the gasket 20 between the first heat exchange plate 10 and the second heat exchange plate 102. A fastening member 60 can be connected between the first end plate 40 and the second end plate 42. The pressure can be adjusted by rotating the fastening member 60. A locking strip 400 installed between the first heat exchange plate 10 and the second heat exchange plate 102 can also be compressed by the pressure of the fastening member 60. When the first heat transfer medium flows through the first fluid channel, the first heat exchange plate 10 and the gasket 20 will expand. The locking strip 400 will allow the heat exchange plate and the gasket to fully expand, but will be used to limit any relative displacement between the two plates in the same plane as the two plates.
[0090] See Figure 3When one or more flow plates 10, each equipped with a locking strip, are placed together, the heat exchanger plate assembly 30 is configured such that each adjacent plate alternately rotates 180 degrees. Note that when a plate 10 rotates, it becomes plate 102. The first non-flow plate 108 is equipped with a locking strip and end gasket 21, while the last flow plate 106 has no pierced flow port, no locking strip, but is equipped with a flow gasket 20.
[0091] Many features and advantages of this disclosure are apparent from the detailed description, and therefore the appended claims are intended to cover all such features and advantages of this disclosure that fall within the true spirit and scope of this disclosure. Furthermore, since various modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not intended to limit this disclosure to the precise construction and operation shown and described, and therefore all suitable modifications and equivalents falling within the scope of this disclosure may be adopted.
Claims
1. A leak-proof improved heat exchanger, comprising: A first heat exchanger plate having a first fluid channel and a second fluid channel; The second heat exchanger plate has a first fluid channel and a second fluid channel; A gasket is disposed between the first heat exchanger plate and the second heat exchanger plate and configured to separate the first fluid passage from the second fluid passage. as well as A locking strip is disposed between the first heat exchanger plate and the second heat exchanger plate and configured to maintain the alignment of the first heat exchanger plate and the second heat exchanger plate during multiple thermal expansion and contraction cycles of the plates.
2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein, The locking bar has a first protrusion and a second protrusion, the first protrusion being configured to engage with a first protrusion of the first heat exchanger plate, and the second protrusion being configured to engage with a first recess on the second heat exchanger plate.
3. The heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein, The locking bar has a third protrusion and a fourth protrusion, the third protrusion being configured to engage with a second protrusion of the first heat exchanger plate, and the fourth protrusion being configured to engage with a second recess of the second heat exchanger plate.
4. The heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein, The locking bar is configured as a protrusion surrounding the first heat exchanger plate.
5. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein, Multiple locking bars are arranged between the first heat exchanger plate and the second heat exchanger plate.
6. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein, The first heat exchanger plate and the second heat exchanger plate include a heat exchanger plate assembly, and a locking bar inserted into the heat exchanger plate in the heat exchanger plate assembly.
7. The heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein, Multiple locking strips are installed between the first two plates and the last two plates in the heat exchanger plate assembly.
8. The heat exchanger according to claim 7, wherein, Multiple locking strips are installed between the first three plates and the last three plates of the heat exchanger plate assembly.
9. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein, The locking bar is made of elastic material.
10. The heat exchanger according to claim 9, wherein, The locking bar is made of EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber.
11. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, further comprising: First end plate; Second end plate; as well as At least one fastening member is connected to the first end plate and the second end plate and configured to compress the first heat exchanger plate and the second heat exchanger plate.
12. A locking bar for maintaining the alignment of heat exchanger plates, comprising: A first protrusion, configured to engage with a first protrusion of a first heat exchanger plate; The second protrusion is configured to engage with the first recess of the second heat exchanger plate; as well as The hook-shaped region is configured as a recess surrounding the first heat exchanger plate.
13. The locking bar according to claim 12, further comprising: The third protrusion is configured to engage with the second protrusion of the first heat exchanger plate; as well as The fourth protrusion is configured to engage with the second recess of the second heat exchanger plate. The hook-shaped region is configured as a recess surrounding the second heat exchanger plate.
14. A method for manufacturing a leak-proof improved heat exchanger, comprising the following steps: Fabrication of the first heat exchanger plate; Drill holes in at least one heat transfer medium inlet and at least one heat transfer medium outlet; Press the edge of the first heat exchanger plate to form protrusions and recesses; Place a gasket to separate the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel; as well as A locking strip is installed on at least one edge of the first heat exchanger plate, such that the protrusion of the locking strip engages with the recess of the first heat exchanger plate, and a hook-shaped area surrounds the protrusion of the first heat exchanger plate.
15. The method of manufacturing a leak-proof improved heat exchanger according to claim 14, further comprising the step of: Fabrication of the second heat exchanger plate; Drill holes in at least one heat transfer medium inlet and at least one heat transfer medium outlet; Press the edge of the second heat exchanger plate to form protrusions and recesses; and The second heat exchanger plate is placed on the first heat exchanger plate such that the protrusion of the locking bar engages with the recess of the second heat exchanger plate, and the hook-shaped region surrounds the protrusion of the second heat exchanger plate.
16. The method of manufacturing a heat exchanger for improved leak-proof performance according to claim 15, further comprising the step of: Fabrication of the first end plate and the second end plate; and The two heat exchanger plates are placed between the first end plate and the second end plate.
17. The method of manufacturing a leak-proof improved heat exchanger according to claim 16, further comprising the step of: Connect the fastening components to the first end plate and the second end plate; as well as A force perpendicular to the heat exchanger plate is applied by tightening the fastening members.