SEALING STRUCTURE FOR HEAT EXCHANGERS AND HEAT EXCHANGERS

Abstract

A sealing structure (30) for a heat exchanger (1), wherein the sealing structure (30) comprises a sealing plate (31) to be attached to a deflecting plate (25), which is arranged in a jacket (10) contained in the heat exchanger (1) and is partially in contact with a wall surface (11) on an inner surface side of the jacket (10), wherein the sealing plate (31) is formed from a plurality of thin plates (32) which are layered or laminated, wherein the thin plates (32) are in contact with the wall surface (11) while being curved by elastic deformation, and a thin contact plate (35) which serves as one of the thin plates (32) which is located at a furthest outer side of the curvature, is in contact with the wall surface (11), and an outer surface (36) of the thin contact plate (35), which serves as a surface on an outside of the curvature of surfaces, which is arranged in a thickness direction of the thin contact plate (35), is in contact with the wall surface (11), characterized by the fact that the wall surface (11) is provided with a convex part (50) that protrudes from the wall surface (11), and the outer surface (36) of the thin contact plate (35) of the sealing plate (31) is in contact with the convex part (50) in a position at a distance from one end (37) of the thin contact plate (35), such that one end of the end (37) of the thin contact plate (35) is separated from the wall surface (11).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a sealing structure for a heat exchanger which is provided with a deflecting plate, and to a heat exchanger. background

[0002] Conventional multi-tube heat exchangers have been designed in various ways to ensure a tight seal between a shell containing heat transfer tubes and a baffle located within the shell. For example, in the space between the shell and the baffle of a multi-tube heat exchanger described in JP S60-105988 U, a sealing plate containing layered thin sheets, for example made of stainless steel, is attached to the baffle by means of bolting or screwing, for example, in such a way as to easily reduce fluid leakage from the space.

[0003] A generic sealing device according to claims 1, 2 and 3 is known from US patent publication 1803035 A.

[0004] Documents US 5042432 A and JP S62-118977 U each reveal a sealing structure with several thin plates between a plate and a wall.

[0005] The printed document JP H07-71893 A shows a sealing structure between a plate and a wall, wherein the wall has a projection that extends towards the plate.

[0006] The publication JP H08-105386 A discloses a sealing structure with thin plates between a deflecting plate and a wall, wherein a length from a fixing position on the deflecting plate to an end of a thin contact plate of the thin plates, which is located on the wall surface side, is longer than a length from the fixing position on the deflecting plate to an end on the wall surface side of each of at least some of the thin plates except the thin contact plate.

[0007] The gasket plate has elasticity. Therefore, if there is a pressure differential between compartments separated by the baffle plate in the jacket, the gasket plate will deform in the direction of pressure from the side with higher pressure to the side with lower pressure. Consequently, if the pressure differential between compartments separated by the baffle plate is large, the gasket plate will deform in the direction of pressure from the side with higher pressure to the side with lower pressure. If the pressure differential causes the gasket plate to deform as described above, and then the heat exchanger ceases operation, the elasticity will cause the gasket plate to return to its original state before the deformation.However, if the sealing plate is severely deformed by the large pressure difference between the spaces separated by the baffle plate while the heat exchanger is in operation, the sealing plate may have difficulty restoring its original shape when the heat exchanger stops operating, in order to return the sealing plate to its initial state before the deformation.

[0008] In other words, to ensure a tight seal with respect to a wall surface on an inner surface side of the casing, the sealing plate is in contact with the wall surface in a state where its elasticity exerts compressive force on the wall surface and therefore deforms during a sliding motion with respect to the wall surface during deformation due to the pressure difference between the spaces separated by the deflector plate. Specifically, the sealing plate deforms as, of the thin plates stacked to form the sealing plate, a thin plate that is closest to and in contact with the wall surface on one side slides or shifts with respect to the wall surface.If the pressure difference between the spaces separated by the baffle plate is relatively small, so that the deformation of the sealing plate is small, the elasticity causes the sealing plate to return to its original shape before the deformation when the heat exchanger has stopped operating after the sealing plate has been deformed, while sliding or shifting relative to the wall surface as described above.

[0009] However, if the pressure differential between the spaces separated by the baffle plate is so large that the gasket plate deforms significantly, a corner at one end of the thin plate, located closest to and in contact with the wall surface, can become stuck to the wall surface. This thin plate alone can then rotate upwards without returning to its original shape. Such upward rotation of the thin plate can be exacerbated by the severe deformation of the gasket plate caused by the large pressure differential during repeated start-up and shutdown of the heat exchanger. In this case, the number of thin layers in the gasket plate decreases, and consequently, the sealing performance can deteriorate, potentially leading to fluid leakage.

[0010] The present invention was made with regard to the above and one object of it is to provide a sealing structure for a heat exchanger and the heat exchanger that can prevent a deterioration of the sealing performance.

[0011] To solve the problems described above and to fulfill the objective, a sealing structure for a heat exchanger according to the present invention has the features of claims 1, 2, or 3, and the heat exchanger has the features of claim 6. The sealing structure comprises a sealing plate to be attached to a deflector plate, which is arranged in a jacket contained within the heat exchanger and is partially in contact with a wall surface on an inner surface side of the jacket. The sealing plate is formed from a plurality of thin plates that are layered. The thin plates are in contact with the wall surface while they are curved or become curved by elastic deformation. A thin contact plate, which serves as one of the thin plates located on one of the outermost sides of the curve, is in contact with the wall surface.Outer surface of the thin contact plate, which serves as a surface on an outside of the curvature of surfaces that is in contact with the wall surface in a thickness direction of the thin contact plate.

[0012] In the sealing structure for a heat exchanger, it is preferred that a length from a mounting position on the deflector plate to an end of the thin contact plate located on the wall surface side is longer than a length from the mounting position on the deflector plate to an end on the wall surface side of each of at least some of the thin plates other than the thin contact plate, and that a compressive force in a direction towards the wall surface is applied by the thin plates other than the thin contact plate in a position other than the end of the thin contact plate.

[0013] The sealing structure according to the invention for a heat exchanger is characterized in that the wall surface is provided with a convex part that protrudes from the wall surface, and the outer surface of the thin contact plate of the sealing plate is in contact with the convex part.

[0014] The sealing structure according to the invention for a heat exchanger can alternatively be characterized in that a concave part, which is excluded from the wall surface, is formed on the wall surface, and the outer surface of the thin contact plate of the sealing plate is in contact with a circumferential end of the concave part.

[0015] The sealing structure according to the invention for a heat exchanger can alternatively be characterized in that an end side of the thin contact plate, which is located on the wall surface side, is folded back to a side that is opposite a side where the outer surface is located, so that the outer surface is brought into contact with the wall surface.

[0016] In the sealing structure for a heat exchanger, it is preferred that a deformation limiting element, designed to restrict deformation of the thin contact plate to the outside direction of the curvature, is layered and attached to the outer surface side of the thin contact plate of the sealing plate.

[0017] Furthermore, a heat exchanger according to the present invention comprises a deflector plate, a jacket in which the deflector plate is arranged, and the sealing structure which is attached to the deflector plate and closes a gap between a wall surface of the jacket and the deflector plate in the jacket. Advantageous effects of the invention

[0018] A sealing structure for a heat exchanger and the heat exchanger according to the present invention provides an effect that can prevent the sealing performance from deteriorating. Brief description of the drawings Fig. Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a heat exchanger according to a first example for a better understanding of features of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view AA from Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view AA from Fig. 1 and is an explanatory view for a position to provide a sealing plate. Fig. 4 is a section view BB from Fig. 3. Fig. Figure 5 is an explanatory view showing an example of a conventional sealing plate. Fig. 6 is a transition diagram representing states of deformation associated with a change in differential pressure applied to the Fig. The sealing plate shown in section 5 is effective. Fig. Figure 7 is a transition diagram that represents the states of deformation associated with the change in the differential pressure acting on the sealing plate according to the first example. Fig. Figure 8 is a main part sectional view of a sealing structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 9 is a main part sectional view of the sealing structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 10 is a main part sectional view of the sealing structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 11 is a main part sectional view of the sealing structure according to a second example for a better understanding of features of the present invention. Fig. Figure 12 is a main part sectional view of the sealing structure according to a third example for a better understanding of features of the present invention. Description of the embodiments and examples

[0019] The following describes in detail embodiments of a sealing structure for a heat exchanger and the heat exchanger itself, as disclosed herein, based on the drawings. These embodiments do not limit the present invention. Components in the embodiments described below include those that are replaceable and easily foreseeable for a person skilled in the art, or those that are essentially identical thereto. First example

[0020] Fig. Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a heat exchanger 1 according to a first example for a better understanding of features of the present invention. The heat exchanger 1 according to the first example comprises a jacket 10, which is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and a heat transfer tube 20, which exchanges heat with a fluid flowing in the jacket 10, and a baffle plate 25, which holds the heat transfer tube 20 and regulates the flow of the fluid flowing in the jacket 10. Of the components described above, the jacket 10 is provided near one end in an axial direction of a cylinder having the shape of the jacket 10 with an inlet port or connection 15, which serves as an inlet for the fluid flow to enter the jacket 10.The jacket 10 is provided near its opposite end with an outlet port or connection 16, which serves as an outlet for the fluids flowing in the jacket 10 to the outside of the jacket 10. In the following description, the axial direction of the cylinder that forms the shape of the jacket 10 is also referred to as a longitudinal direction of the jacket 10.

[0021] The heat transfer tube 20 is formed in a tubular shape through which the fluid flows and has a significantly smaller diameter than that of the jacket 10. A plurality of heat transfer tubes 20 are arranged within the jacket 10. The heat transfer tubes 20 are arranged such that they extend from one end to the other in the longitudinal direction of the jacket 10.

[0022] The deflection plate 25 is formed in a plate shape, and a plurality of deflection plates 25 are arranged in the shell 10 such that the plate thickness direction corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the shell 10. The deflection plates 25 are arranged side by side with gaps between them in the longitudinal direction of the shell 10. The heat transfer pipes 20 penetrate the deflection plates 25 in the thickness direction and are held by the deflection plates 25.

[0023] Fig. 2 is a section view AA from Fig. 1. The deflection plates 25 are each formed in a substantially circular shape with a portion cut off at the outer circumference when the shell 10 is considered in its longitudinal direction, in other words, when the shell 10 is considered in the thickness direction of the deflection plates 25. A cut-out portion 26, which serves as a part partially cut out at the outer circumference of the deflection plate 25, is formed in a so-called chord shape, which is a line segment connecting two points on the circumference of a circle that serves as the shape of the inner plate 25. The deflection plate 25, formed in the substantially circular shape with the cut-out portion 26 formed therein, has a diameter of a circle comparable to the inner diameter of the substantially cylindrical shell 10 and slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the shell 10.

[0024] In other words, a larger part of the outer shape of the deflector plate 25 is formed in a mold along a wall surface 11 on an inner surface side of the shell 10, and the section of the cut-out part 26 of the deflector plate 25 is separated from the wall surface 11 of the shell 10. Within the shell 10, a section of the deflector plate 25, defined by the cut-out part 26 and the wall surface 11 of the shell 10, is formed as a window part 12. The deflector plates 25, arranged in the longitudinal direction of the shell 10, are positioned such that the positions of the cut-out parts 26 of the adjacent deflector plates 25 differ from each other by approximately 180 degrees in the circumferential direction. In other words, the window parts 12 formed by the adjacent deflecting plates 25 are formed in positions that differ from each other by approximately 180 degrees in the circumferential direction of the shell 10 and the deflecting plates 25.

[0025] Fig. 3 is a section view AA from Fig. 1 and is an explanatory view for a position for providing a sealing plate 31. Fig. 4 is a section view BB from Fig. 3. A circumferential part 27, which serves as part of the outer circumference of the deflecting plate 25 apart from the cut-out part 26, has a diameter that is slightly smaller than that of the wall surface 11 inside the shell 10. Consequently, a space 13 is formed between the circumferential part 27 of the deflecting plate 25 and the wall surface 11 of the shell 10. The inner side of the casing 10 is provided with a sealing structure 30, which is attached to the deflecting plate 25, and closes the gap 13 between the wall surface 11 of the casing 10 and the circumferential part 27 of the deflecting plate 25. The sealing structure 30 is formed by the sealing plate 31, which is at least partially in contact with the wall surface 11 on the inner surface side of the casing 10, and bolts or screws 40, which serve as fastening elements for attaching the sealing plate 31 to the deflecting plate 25.

[0026] Of the components described above, the sealing plate 31 is fastened by the bolts or screws 40 near the circumferential part 27 in a region on at least a portion of the circumference of the circumferential part 27 of the deflector plate 25 and is designed to extend from the fastening position on the deflector plate 25 to the side of the wall surface 11 of the shell 10. If an upstream side is a side in the longitudinal direction of the shell 10 where the inlet port 15 is located, and an downstream side is a side where the outlet port 16 is located, the sealing plate 31 is attached to a surface on the downstream side of the deflector plate 25. Therefore, when the deflector plate 25 is viewed from the downstream side, the sealing plate 31 is formed in a circular arc shape in a predetermined region along the circumferential part 27 with a predetermined width in a radial direction of the deflector plate 25.

[0027] As described above, the sealing plate 31 to be attached to the deflecting plate 25 is formed from a plurality of thin plates 32, which are layered or laminated and each of which is formed in a thin plate form, and it is attached to the deflecting plate 25 by the bolts or screws 40 in a state in which the thin plates 32 are as shown in Fig. The thin plates 32 are layered as shown in Figure 4. Through holes (not shown) are formed in the thin plates 32 of the sealing plate 31 to guide the bolts or screws 40 through them, and screw holes (not shown) for screwing them to the bolts or screws 40 are formed in the deflector plate 25. The thin plates 32 are arranged overlapping between the bolts or screws 40 and the deflector plate 25 and are tightened so that the sealing plate 31 is attached to the deflector plate 25. A portion of the sealing plate 31 that is attached to the deflector plate 25 serves as a tightened section 41, which is tightened by the bolts or screws 40. In the tightened section 41, the thin plates 32 are layered in the longitudinal direction of the shell 10.

[0028] The thin plates 32 are made of, for example, a metal material such as stainless steel with a thickness of approximately 0.1 mm, designed to be elastic, and are in contact with the wall surface 11 while being curved by elastic deformation. Specifically, the thin plates 32 are curved from the surface on the downstream side of the deflector plate 25, where the sealing plate 31 is attached, to the upstream side, while they extend from the tightened part 41, which serves as the attachment point on the deflector plate 25, to the wall surface 11 of the casing 10.Since the sealing plate 31 is curved in this way, the thin plates 32, which are layered in the longitudinal direction of the mantle 10 in the position of the tightened part 41, progressively change the direction of layering therein to a radial direction of the mantle 10 as the thin plates 32 come close to the wall surface 11 of the mantle 10.

[0029] Consequently, in the sealing plate 31, a thin contact plate 35, which serves as one of the thin plates 32 located on the outermost side of the curvature, is in contact with the wall surface 11. In other words, in the vicinity of a contact position with the wall surface 11, the thin plates 32 are formed in a state in which they are layered with respect to the wall surface 11, such that the thin contact plate 35, located on the outermost side of the curvature and closest to the wall surface 11, is in contact with the wall surface 11. Since the thin plates 32 are in contact with the wall surface 11 of the casing 10 while curved by elastic deformation, the sealing plate 31 comes into contact with the wall surface 11 while a compressive force is applied at the respective...applied to the wall surface 11, which uses a force to restore a flat plate shape, which is the initial shape, from the elastic deformation state.

[0030] In this case, "outside of the curvature" refers to an outside surface in a radial direction of a radius of curvature of the curvature. Similarly, "inside of the curvature" refers to an inside surface in the radial direction of the radius of curvature of the curvature.

[0031] Some of the thin plates 32 that are closer to the outside of the curvature are long thin plates 34, which are longer than the other thin plates 32 that are located on the inside of the curvature relative to the previous thin plates 32. In the first example, two of the thin plates 32 are provided, one being located on the outermost side of the curvature, and the other adjacent to and stacked on top of the one thin plate 32, as the long thin plates 34.

[0032] Consequently, the thin contact plate 35 is also configured as one of the long thin plates 34, and a length from the position of the tightened part 41 to an end 37 of the thin contact plate 35 is greater than a length from the position of the tightened part 41 to an end 33 on the side of the wall surface 11 of each of at least some of the thin plates 32 except the thin contact plate 35. The thin contact plate 35 is formed from the long thin plate 34 as described above and therefore has a wide area facing the wall surface 11 of the sheath 10. When the thin contact plate 35 is in contact with the wall surface 11, an outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35, which serves as a surface on the outside of the curvature of surfaces arranged in a thickness direction of the thin contact plate 35, is in contact with the wall surface 11.

[0033] The position of end 37 of the thin contact plate 35 is located in the longitudinal direction of the shell 10 on the current-side of the positions of ends 33 of the thin plates 32, excluding the long thin plates 34. The ends 33 of the thin plates 32, excluding the long thin plates 34, are located in a region in the longitudinal direction of the shell 10 where the thin contact plate 35 is arranged. Therefore, the compressive force applied to the wall surface 11 by the elastic deformation of the thin plates 32, excluding the thin contact plate 35, is applied to a position of the thin contact plate 35, excluding end 37 of the thin contact plate 35, which is located on the side of the wall surface 11 of the thin plates 32. In other words, since the sealing plate 31 is curved by the elastic deformation of the thin plates 32, the thin plates 32 generate the compressive force from the sealing plate 31 to the wall surface 11.Therefore, the compressive force is applied by the thin plates 32 (excluding the long thin plates 34) to the wall surface 11 at the position of the thin contact plate 35 (excluding the end 37 of the thin contact plate 35), which is located closer to the outside of the curvature than the thin plates 32 (excluding the long thin plates 34) and is located on the upstream side of the thin plates 32 (excluding the long thin plates 34). In particular, the compressive force is applied by elastic deformation by the thin plates 32 (unlike the long thin plates 34) to a position of the thin contact plate 35 in the longitudinal direction of the shell 10 near the positions where the ends 33 of the thin plates 32 (excluding the long thin plates 34) are located.

[0034] The heat exchanger 1 according to the first example has the configuration described above, and one of its functions is described below. The heat exchanger 1 can transfer heat between the fluid flowing into the jacket 10 from the inlet port 15 and a fluid flowing in the heat transfer tubes 20. When the heat exchanger 1 performs the heat exchange, the fluid exchanging heat with the fluid flowing in the heat transfer tubes 20 is circulated, for example, by a pump (not shown), to flow from the inlet port 15 into the jacket 10. The fluid that has flowed into the jacket 10 exchanges heat with the fluid flowing in the heat transfer tubes 20 and then flows out of the outlet port 16.

[0035] The deflection plates 25 form a plurality of spaces in the shell 10. In a case where the fluid in the shell 10 flows from the side of the inlet port 15 to the side of the outlet port 16, when the fluid flows from a space on the upstream side, separated by the deflection plates 25, to another separated space on the downstream side, the fluid enters the space on the downstream side through the window part 12. Since the window parts 12, formed by the adjacent deflection plates 25, are arranged in positions 180° apart in the circumferential direction of the deflection plates 25, the fluid that has entered a particular space from the window part 12 on the upstream side traverses the space in the radial direction of the shell 10 at that time, and then flows from the window part 12 on the downstream side into the space on the downstream side.Through this operation, the fluid flows successively through the circumferences of the heat transfer pipes 20 in each of the rooms, which are separated by the deflection plates 25, and the heat exchange is carried out efficiently.

[0036] As described above, the fluid flowing in the jacket 10 moves from the inlet port 15 side to the outlet port 16 side, driven, for example, by the pump. Therefore, when comparing the fluid pressure in the spaces separated by the baffle plates 25 between the upstream and downstream sides of one of the baffle plates 25, the pressure on the upstream side is higher than on the downstream side. In addition to the window section 12, the space 13 is formed between the baffle plate 25 and the jacket 10. The fluid that would otherwise flow through the space 13 from the upstream space to the downstream space is blocked by the sealing plate 31, which is attached to the baffle plate 25.

[0037] The sealing plate 31 extends from a position attached to the deflector plate 25 to the wall surface 11 on the inner surface side of the jacket 10 and comes into contact with the wall surface 11 to close the gap 13. This configuration allows the sealing plate 31 to block the fluid flow that would otherwise flow through the gap 13 from the upstream side to the downstream side.

[0038] The sealing plate 31 is formed by layering or laminating thin plates 32. Each of the thin plates 32 possesses elasticity and is in contact with the wall surface 11 of the shell 10, while undergoing elastic deformation. Therefore, when the fluid pressure acts on the sealing plate 31 while the heat exchanger 1 is in operation, the sealing plate 31 is elastically deformed by the differential pressure caused by a pressure difference between the upstream and downstream sides of the baffle plate 25, and the extent of the elastic deformation increases with an increase in the pressure difference. Since the differential pressure acting on the sealing plate 31 disappears after the heat exchanger 1 ceases operation, the sealing plate 31 returns to its original shape.However, in the case of a conventional sealing plate 31, if the differential pressure is so large that the elastic deformation of the sealing plate is also large, each of the thin plates 32 forming the sealing plate 31 may be or become turned upwards without being returned to its original shape when the heat exchanger 1 has stopped operating.

[0039] Fig. Figure 5 is an explanatory view showing an example of the conventional sealing plate 31. Fig. Figure 6 is a transition diagram representing states of deformation associated with a change in the differential pressure D acting on the sealing plate 31, which is located in Fig. 5 is shown. The conventional sealing plate 31 does not include long thin plates 34 (see Fig. 4), and the thin plates 32, which form the sealing plate 31, all have the same length, as in Fig. Figure 5 is shown. Since the sealing plate 31 is attached to the deflecting plate 25 by elastic deformation of the thin plates 32 in a curved shape, the sealing plate 31 applies the compressive force to the wall surface 11 on the inner surface side of the jacket 10 in the state in which the sealing plate 31 is attached to the deflecting plate 25.

[0040] When the heat exchanger 1 is operated with the sealing plate 31 attached to the deflector plate 25, a pressure difference is generated between the upstream and downstream chambers separated by the deflector plate 25. This pressure difference exerts a differential pressure D from the upstream to the downstream chamber on the sealing plate 31. Because the sealing plate 31 is attached to the deflector plate 25 while curved, the differential pressure D acting on the sealing plate 31 acts as the force to deform the sealing plate 31 towards the outside of the curve. Fig. 6(a)).

[0041] One end of the sealing plate 31 is therefore attached to the deflecting plate 25, and this part is not moved by absorbing the differential pressure D. Therefore, the differential pressure D acting on the sealing plate 31 acts as the force to press the sealing plate 31 towards the wall surface 11 of the shell 10, while a portion of the sealing plate 31 closer to the shell 10 is moved from the upstream side to the downstream side. Thus, the differential pressure D acts to generate the compressive force P to press the sealing plate 31 towards the wall surface 11 of the shell 10, while the portion of the sealing plate 31 closer to the shell 10 is deformed in the direction of movement from the upstream side to the downstream side.Of the thin plates 32 that form the sealing plate 31, the thin contact plate 35, located on the outermost side of the curvature and in contact with the wall surface 11 of the mantle 10, is brought into contact with the wall surface 11 at a corner 37a of the end 37 by the pressure force P. Consequently, the thin contact plate 35 is in contact with the wall surface 11 with a high contact surface pressure. The pressure force P brings the sealing plate 31 into close contact with the wall surface 11 at the corner 37a of the end 37 of the thin contact plate 35. Consequently, the fluid in the space on the upstream side of the deflector plate 25 can be prevented or restricted from flowing into the space on the downstream side of the deflector plate 25 through the space 13 between the deflector plate 25 and the wall surface 11.

[0042] Stopping the operation of heat exchanger 1 eliminates the pressure difference between the spaces on both sides, which are separated by the baffle plate 25. Consequently, the differential pressure D also ceases to act on the sealing plate 31 ( Fig. 6(b)). The sealing plate 31, on which the differential pressure D acts, is deformed in the direction from the upstream side to the downstream side by the elastic deformation of the thin plates 32. Therefore, when the differential pressure D has ceased to act on the sealing plate 31, the sealing plate 31 is returned to its original shape due to the elasticity of the thin plates 32. A restoring force R, which serves as the force with which the thin plates 32 are returned to their original shape before they are elastically deformed by the differential pressure D, is generated in a direction in which the thin plates 32 are moved from the downstream side to the upstream side.

[0043] While the heat exchanger 1 is in operation, the thin contact plate 35, which is in contact with the wall surface 11 of the shell 10, is brought into contact with the wall surface 11 at corner 37a of end 37 by the high surface pressure due to the pressure force P based on the differential pressure D. Consequently, corner 37a can remain stuck on the wall surface 11. The restoring force R, caused by the differential pressure D ceasing to act on the sealing plate 31, is also generated in the thin contact plate 35. However, when corner 37a of end 37 remains stuck on the wall surface 11, the thin contact plate 35 is not returned to its original shape before elastic deformation and is held in the state in which it is moved towards the downstream side by the differential pressure D.Consequently, when the differential pressure D has ceased to act on the sealing plate 31, the thin plates 32, except for the thin contact plate 35, are deformed in the direction in which the thin plates 32 are moved from the downstream side to the upstream side by the restoring force R, and they are returned to their original shape.

[0044] When heat exchanger 1, which had stopped operating, restarts, the differential pressure D again acts on the sealing plate 31, and the sealing plate 31 is elastically deformed by the differential pressure D in the direction of movement from the upstream side to the downstream side. This elastic deformation also generates the pressure force P ( Fig. 6(c)). Consequently, the thin contact plate 35 receives the compressive force P from the other thin plates 32 while being displaced relative to the other thin plates 32, and it receives a shear force F, which serves as the force in the direction of movement from the upstream side to the downstream side, from the other thin plates 32. Consequently, the thin contact plate 35 is further elastically deformed in the direction of movement from the upstream side to the downstream side.

[0045] When the heat exchanger 1 ceases operation and the differential pressure D acting on the sealing plate 31 disappears, the thin plates 32, except for the thin contact plate 35, are moved in the direction from the downstream side to the upstream side by the restoring force R, and they are returned to their initial shape before elastic deformation ( Fig. 6(d)). However, the thin contact plate 35 will remain stuck on the wall surface 11 at the corner 37a of the end 37, and therefore it will be held in the state in which it is moved towards the downstream side by the differential pressure D, without being returned to its initial shape before elastic deformation. In this case, the continued operation of the heat exchanger 1 moves the thin contact plate 35 from its initial shape before elastic deformation to the downstream side over a large distance and places the thin contact plate 35 in a state in which it is far separated from the thin plates 32 except for the thin contact plate 35.

[0046] As described above, in the case of the conventional sealing plate 31, the end 37 of the thin contact plate 35 can be progressively moved towards the downstream side while remaining attached to the wall surface 11 of the jacket 10, by repeatedly starting and stopping the heat exchanger 1, which has a large pressure difference between the spaces separated by the deflector plate 25. Consequently, in the case of the conventional sealing plate 31, the thin contact plate 35 can be widely separated from the thin plates 32 except for the thin contact plate 35 and rotated upwards.

[0047] Fig. Figure 7 is a transition diagram representing the states of deformation associated with the change in the differential pressure D acting on the sealing plate 31 according to the first example. In the sealing structure 30 according to the first example, the thin contact plate 35 of the sealing plate 31 is formed from the long thin plates 34. Therefore, the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 establishes surface contact with the wall surface 11 of the mantle 10 ( Fig. 7(a)). While the heat exchanger 1 is in operation, when the differential pressure D acts on the sealing plate 31 and the differential pressure D generates the pressure force P, the pressure force P from the thin plates 32, excluding the long thin plates 34, acts on a position of the thin contact plate 35 at a distance from the end 37. The pressure force P from the thin plates 32, excluding the long thin plates 34, causes the thin contact plate 35 to exert a pressure force from the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 to the wall surface 11 of the shell 10, and the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 is in close contact with the wall surface 11 near a portion of the thin contact plate 35 where the pressure force P from the thin plates 32, excluding the long thin plates 34, acts.

[0048] In detail, the pressure force acting on the wall surface 11 from the position on the outer surface 36 at a distance from the end 37 of the thin contact plate 35 is greater than a pressure force acting on the wall surface 11 near the end 37, and the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 is in closer contact with the wall surface 11 near a portion of the outer surface 36 where the greater pressure force acts on the wall surface 11. This close contact allows the sealing plate 31 to prevent or restrict the fluid in the space on the upstream side of the deflector plate 25 from flowing into the space on the downstream side of the deflector plate 25 through the space 13 between the deflector plate 25 and the wall surface 11.

[0049] Stopping the operation of the heat exchanger 1 eliminates the pressure difference between the spaces on both sides, which are separated by the baffle plate 25. Consequently, the differential pressure D also ceases to act on the sealing plate 31, and the restoring force R is generated in the direction from the downstream side to the upstream side in the thin plates 32 ( Fig. 7(b)). In the first example, the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 is in contact with the wall surface 11 of the sheath 10. Therefore, when the differential pressure D acts, the contact surface pressure is lower than in the case where the corner 37a of the end 37 of the thin contact plate 35 is in contact with the wall surface 11 (see Fig. 6), as occurs in the case of the conventional sealing plate 31. Consequently, in the first example, when the restoring force R is generated after the heat exchanger 1 stops operating, the thin contact plate 35 can simply be deformed as it slides or displaces relative to the wall surface 11.

[0050] In other words, in the first example, since the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 establishes surface contact with the wall surface 11 of the shell 10, the corner 37a of the end 37 of the thin contact plate 35 is prevented from adhering to the wall surface 11. Consequently, when the cessation of operation of the heat exchanger 1 has caused the generation of the restoring force R in the sealing plate 31, the thin contact plate 35 is deformed in the direction in which it is moved from the downstream side to the upstream side by the restoring force R, and it is returned to its initial shape before elastic deformation by the pressure difference D in the same way as the thin plates 32 except for the thin contact plate 35, while the outer surface 36 slides or displaces relative to the wall surface 11 of the shell 10.As described above, the thin contact plate 35 can be deformed while the outer surface 36 slides or shifts relative to the wall surface 11. Even when the heat exchanger 1 repeatedly starts and stops, the thin contact plate 35 continuously applies the pressure force to the wall surface 11 of the shell 10, causing the outer surface 36 to remain in continuous contact with the wall surface 11 as it is repeatedly elastically deformed by the differential pressure D, without being widely separated from the other thin plates 32 to be rotated upwards.

[0051] Since the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 is in contact with the wall surface 11 on the inner surface side of the sheath 10, the sealing structure 30, according to the first example described above, can prevent the corner 37a of the end 37 of the thin contact plate 35 from adhering to the wall surface 11, even if the differential pressure D is large. Consequently, even if the differential pressure D repeatedly acts on the sealing plate 31 to repeatedly deform the thin plates 32 that form the sealing plate 31 elastically, the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 can be repeatedly deformed elastically in the same way as the other thin plates 32 while sliding or displacing on the wall surface 11.Accordingly, the sealing plate 31 can continuously ensure the pressure force acting from the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 on the wall surface 11 of the jacket 10, and the sealing plate 31 can continuously block the fluid flowing through the space 13 between the deflector plate 25 and the wall surface 11 of the jacket 10. Consequently, a deterioration of the sealing performance can be prevented.

[0052] Since the thin contact plate 35 is formed from the long thin plates 34, the compressive force P in the direction towards the wall surface 11 is applied by the thin plates 32, except for the thin contact plate 35, at a position outside the end 37. Therefore, the compressive force acting on the wall surface 11 of the sheath 10 of the thin contact plate 35 can more easily act on the wall surface 11 from the position on the outer surface 36 at a distance from the end 37. Consequently, if the differential pressure D repeatedly acts on the sealing plate 31, the corner 37a of the end 37 of the thin contact plate 35 can be easily prevented from sticking to the wall surface 11, and the thin contact plate 35 can be easily and repeatedly deformed elastically. Consequently, a deterioration of the sealing performance can be easily prevented.

[0053] The thin contact plate 35 can be prevented from rotating upwards. Therefore, vibration resistance can be ensured during the operation of the heat exchanger 1. Vibration resistance is defined as resistance to vibrations that occur when the fluid leaks slightly between the sealing plate 31 and the wall surface 11 of the shell 10. Consequently, damage to the sealing plate 31 from this slight fluid leakage can be prevented. Therefore, the durability of the sealing plate 31 can be improved.

[0054] In the heat exchanger 1 according to the first example, the sealing structure 30, as described in the first example above, seals the space 13 between the wall surface 11 of the shell 10 and the baffle plate 25. Therefore, even if the start-up and stop-down processes are repeated, the fluid flow through the space 13 between the spaces separated by the baffle plate 25 is continuously prevented or restricted. Consequently, a deterioration of the sealing performance can be prevented. First embodiment

[0055] The sealing structure 30 according to a first embodiment of the present invention has essentially the same design as the sealing structure 30 according to the first example, but is characterized in that the wall surface 11 of the mantle 10 is provided with a convex part 50. Since the other components are the same as those of the first example, they are not described and are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0056] Fig. Figure 8 is a main section view of the sealing structure 30 according to the first embodiment. In the sealing structure 30 according to the first embodiment, the sealing plate 31, which is layered with the thin plates 32, is attached to the deflecting plate 25 in the same way as in the sealing structure 30 according to the first example, and unlike the first example, all the thin plates 32 have the same length. In other words, the thin contact plate 35, which serves as one of the thin plates 32 located on the outermost side of the curvature, has the same length as the other thin plates 32.

[0057] In the first embodiment, the wall surface 11 on the inner surface side of the shell 10 is provided with the convex part 50, which projects from the wall surface 11. In the first embodiment, the convex part 50 projects from the wall surface 11 in a uniform, hump-like shape in a sectional view of the shell 10 along the longitudinal direction of the shell 10. The convex part 50 forms a part of the wall surface 11. The position of the convex part 50 is located near a position in the longitudinal direction of the shell 10 where the sealing plate 31 is located, and is located at least in a region of a circumference of the wall surface 11 where the sealing plate 31 is located. In other words, the convex part 50 is formed continuously at least in the region on the circumference of the wall surface 11 where the sealing plate 31 is located.The outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 of the sealing plate 31, which is attached to the deflecting plate 25, is in contact with the convex part 50 at a distance from the end 37 of the thin contact plate 35. Consequently, in the state where the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 is in contact with the convex part 50 of the wall surface 11, one end 37 of the thin contact plate 35 is separated from the wall surface 11.

[0058] In the sealing structure 30 according to the first embodiment, when the differential pressure D generates the pressure force P to push the thin plates 32 towards the wall surface 11 while the heat exchanger 1 is in operation, the pressure force caused by the pressure force P to act on the wall surface 11 of the jacket 10 of the thin contact plate 35 acts on the convex part 50 on the wall surface 11, which is in contact with the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35. Consequently, the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 is in close contact with the convex part 50, so that the sealing plate 31 can block the fluid flowing through the space 13 between the deflector plate 25 and the wall surface 11.

[0059] The end 37 of the thin contact plate 35 is separated from the wall surface 11 of the sheath 10. Therefore, even if the compressive force P generated in the thin plates 32 is large due to the large differential pressure D, the corner 37a of the end 37 of the thin contact plate 35 is prevented from adhering to the wall surface 11. In other words, the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 with the convex part 50 has a lower surface pressure than the pressure generated when the corner 37a of the end 37 is in contact with the wall surface. Therefore, the outer surface 36 is prevented from adhering to the convex part 50. Consequently, when the heat exchanger 1 has stopped operating, the thin contact plate 35 can be deformed in the direction in which the thin contact plate 35 is moved from the downstream side to the upstream side by the restoring force R, while the outer surface 36 slides relative to the convex part 50.shifts, and can be returned to its original shape before elastic deformation by the differential pressure D.

[0060] Consequently, the thin contact plate 35 can continuously apply the compressive force to the convex part 50 while being repeatedly elastically deformed by the differential pressure D, without being separated from the other thin plates 32 to be rotated upwards, even when the heat exchanger 1 is repeatedly started and stopped. Accordingly, the sealing plate 31 can continuously ensure the compressive force acting from the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 on the wall surface 11 of the jacket 10 and can block the fluid flow through the space 13 between the deflector plate 25 and the wall surface 11 of the jacket 10. Consequently, a deterioration of the sealing performance can be prevented. Second embodiment

[0061] The sealing structure 30 according to a second embodiment of the present invention has essentially the same design as the sealing structure 30 according to the first example, but is characterized in that a concave part 60 is formed on the wall surface 11 of the shell 10. Since the other components are the same as those of the first example, they are not described and are identified by the same reference numerals.

[0062] Fig. Figure 9 is a main section view of the sealing structure 30 according to the second embodiment. In the sealing structure 30 according to the second embodiment, the sealing plate 31, which is layered or laminated with the thin plates 32, is attached to the deflecting plate 25 in the same way as in the sealing structure 30 according to the first example, and all thin plates 32 have the same length as in the first embodiment. Accordingly, the thin contact plate 35, which serves as one of the thin plates 32 located on the outermost side of the curvature, has the same length as the other thin plates 32.

[0063] In the second embodiment, the concave part 60, which is excluded from the wall surface 11, is formed on the inner surface side of the shell 10. The concave part 60 is formed near a position in the longitudinal direction of the shell 10 where the sealing plate 31 is located, and extends at least in a region around the perimeter of the wall surface 11 where the sealing plate 31 is located. In other words, the concave part 60 is continuously formed in a groove shape that extends in the circumferential direction of the wall surface 11 at least in the region around the perimeter of the wall surface 11 where the sealing plate 31 is located.

[0064] The end 37 of the thin contact plate 35 of the sealing plate 31, which is attached to the deflecting plate 25, is located in the concave part 60, such that the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 is in contact with the wall surface 11 at a position a distance from the end 37 of the thin contact plate 35. In other words, the end 37 of the thin contact plate 35 is located in the concave part 60, and simultaneously the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 is in contact with a circumferential end 61 of the concave part 60. This configuration separates the corner 37a of the end 37 of the thin contact plate 35 from the wall surface 11.

[0065] In the sealing structure 30 according to the second embodiment, when the differential pressure D generates the pressure force P to push the thin plates 32 towards the wall surface 11 while the heat exchanger 1 is in operation, the pressure force caused by the pressure force P acts on the wall surface 11 of the jacket 10 of the thin contact plate 35 at a position of the circumferential end 61 of the concave part 60 that is in contact with the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35. Consequently, the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 is in close contact with the circumferential end 61 of the concave part 60, so that the sealing plate 31 can block the fluid flowing through the space 13 between the deflector plate 25 and the wall surface 11.

[0066] The corner 37a of the end 37 of the thin contact plate 35 is separated from the wall surface 11 of the sheath 10. Therefore, even if the compressive force P generated in the thin plates 32 is large due to the large differential pressure D, the corner 37a of the end 37 of the thin contact plate 35 is prevented from adhering to the wall surface 11. In other words, the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 is in contact with the circumferential end 61 of the concave part 60 at a surface pressure that is lower than that generated when the corner 37a of the end 37 is in contact with the wall surface 11. Therefore, the outer surface 36 is prevented from adhering to the circumferential end 61 of the concave part 60.Consequently, when the heat exchanger 1 stops operating, the thin contact plate 35 can be deformed in the direction in which it is moved from the downstream side to the upstream side by the restoring force R, while the outer surface 36 slides or displaces relative to the circumferential end 61 of the concave part 60, and can be returned to its original shape before elastic deformation by the differential pressure D. To ensure the sliding capability of the outer surface 36, the circumferential end 61 of the concave part 60 is preferably provided with a chamfer, for example, a round chamfer.

[0067] Consequently, the thin contact plate 35 can continuously apply the compressive force to the circumferential end 61 of the concave part 60 while being repeatedly elastically deformed by the differential pressure D, without being separated from the other thin plates 32 to be rotated upwards, even when the heat exchanger 1 is repeatedly started and stopped. Accordingly, the sealing plate 31 can continuously ensure the compressive force acting from the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 on the wall surface 11 of the shell 10 and can block the fluid flow through the space 13 between the deflector plate 25 and the wall surface 11 of the shell 10. Consequently, a deterioration of the sealing performance can be prevented. Third embodiment

[0068] The sealing structure 30 according to a third embodiment of the present invention has essentially the same design as the sealing structure 30 according to the first example, but is characterized in that the thin contact plate 35 of the sealing plate 31 is folded back. Since the other components are the same as those of the first example, they are not described and are identified by the same reference numerals.

[0069] Fig. Figure 10 is a main section view of the sealing structure 30 according to the third embodiment. In the sealing structure 30 according to the third embodiment, the sealing plate 31, which is layered or laminated with the thin plates 32, is attached to the deflecting plate 25 in the same way as in the sealing structure 30 according to the first example, and the thin contact plate 35, which serves as one of the thin plates 32 located on the outermost side of the curvature, has a greater length than the other thin plates 32. Compared to the first example, the thin contact plate 35, formed by the long thin plate 34, is provided with a folded part 38.

[0070] In detail, a specific area on the side of the end 37 of the thin contact plate 35 is folded back to a side opposite the side where the outer surface 36 is located, thus forming the folded part 38. Consequently, when the thin contact plate 35 is in contact with the wall surface 11, the outer surface 36 is in contact with the wall surface 11 at a distance from the corner 37a of the end 37. The outer surface 36 is in contact with the wall surface 11 over a larger area than when the corner 37a of the end 37 of the thin contact plate 35 is in contact with the wall surface 11. Therefore, the outer surface 36 is in contact with the wall surface 11 at a lower surface pressure than when the corner 37a of the end 37 is in contact with the wall surface 11.

[0071] In the sealing structure 30 according to the third embodiment, when the differential pressure D generates the pressure force P to create the thin plates 32 in the direction towards the wall surface 11 while the heat exchanger 1 is in operation, the pressure force caused by the pressure force P to act on the wall surface 11 of the jacket 10 of the thin contact plate 35 acts on a part of the contact between the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 and the wall surface 11. Consequently, the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 is in close contact with the wall surface 11, so that the sealing plate 31 can block the fluid flowing through the gap 13 between the deflector plate 25 and the wall surface 11.

[0072] The formation of the folded part 38 separates the corner 37a of the end 37 of the thin contact plate 35 from the wall surface 11 of the sheath 10. Therefore, even if the compressive force P generated in the thin plates 32 is large due to the large differential pressure D, the corner 37a of the end 37 of the thin contact plate 35 is prevented from adhering to the wall surface 11. In other words, the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 in contact with the wall surface 11 has a lower surface pressure than that generated when the corner 37a of the end 37 is in contact with the wall surface 11. Therefore, the outer surface 36 is prevented from adhering to the wall surface 11.Consequently, when the heat exchanger 1 has stopped operating, the thin contact plate 35 can be deformed in the direction in which the thin contact plate 35 is moved from the downstream side to the upstream side by the restoring force R, while the outer surface 36 slides or shifts relative to the wall surface 11 of the shell 10, and can be returned to its original shape before elastic deformation by the differential pressure D.

[0073] Consequently, the thin contact plate 35 can continuously apply the compressive force to the wall surface 11 of the jacket 10 while being repeatedly elastically deformed by the differential pressure D, without being separated from the other thin plates 32 to be rotated upwards, even when the heat exchanger 1 is repeatedly started and stopped. Accordingly, the sealing plate 31 can continuously ensure the compressive force acting from the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 on the wall surface 11 and can block the fluid flow through the space 13 between the deflector plate 25 and the wall surface 11 of the jacket 10. Consequently, a deterioration of the sealing performance can be prevented. Second example

[0074] The sealing structure 30 according to a second example, for a better understanding of features of the present invention, has essentially the same design as the sealing structure 30 according to the first example, but is characterized in that a deformation limiting plate 70 is arranged. Since the other components are the same as those of the first example, they are not described and are identified by the same reference numerals.

[0075] Fig. Figure 11 is a main part sectional view of the sealing structure 30 according to the second example. In the sealing structure 30 according to the second example, in the same way as in the sealing plate 30 of the first example, the sealing plate 31, which is layered or laminated with the thin plates 32, is attached to the deflecting plate 25, and the thin contact plate 35, which serves as one of the thin plates 32 located on the outermost side of the curvature, is formed from the long thin plates 34.

[0076] Additionally, in the second example, the deformation limiting plate 70 is attached to the sealing plate 31 in such a way that it is layered on the side of the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35, wherein the deformation limiting plate 70 is a deformation limiting element that limits the deformation of the sealing plate 31 to the outside direction of the curvature. The deformation limiting plate 70 is a plate-shaped element made of a metal material thicker than the thin plate 32 and has a higher stiffness than the thin plate 32. Through holes (not shown) are formed in the deformation limiting plate 70 in the same way as in the thin plates 32 to guide the bolts or screws 40 through them, and the deformation limiting plate 70 is layered or laminated to the thin plates 32 and fastened to the deflection plate 25 by the bolts or screws 40 together with the thin plates 32.The deformation limiting plate 70 is formed by the tightened part 41 to the wall surface 11 of the sheath 10 in the same way as the thin plates 32, but it is not in contact with the wall surface 11.

[0077] As described above, in the second example, the deformation limiting plate 70 is attached to the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 in such a way that it is layered or laminated onto the thin plates 32. Consequently, even when the differential pressure D is generated while the heat exchanger 1 is in operation, the thin plates 32 are prevented from deforming in the outer direction of the curvature, or in other words, prevented from deforming in the direction in which the differential pressure D acts. This limitation also restricts the deformation of the thin contact plate 35 in the direction in which the differential pressure D acts. Therefore, the thin contact plate 35 can be more reliably prevented from becoming widely separated from the other thin plates 32 and thus from being rotated upwards, even if the heat exchanger 1 is repeatedly started and stopped.Accordingly, the sealing plate 31 can reliably maintain the pressure force between the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 and the wall surface 11, and can block the fluid flow that flows through the gap 13 between the deflector plate 25 and the wall surface 11 of the jacket 10. Consequently, a deterioration of the sealing performance can be reliably prevented. Third example

[0078] The sealing structure 30 according to a third example, for a better understanding of features of the present invention, has essentially the same design as the sealing structure 30 according to the first example, but is characterized in that the sealing plate 31 extends such that it is curved on both sides in the direction of the fluid flow. Since the other components are the same as those of the first example, they are not described and are identified by the same reference numerals.

[0079] Fig.Figure 12 is a main part sectional view of the sealing structure 30 according to the third example. In the sealing structure 30 according to the third example, the sealing plate 31, which is layered or laminated with the thin plates 32, is attached to the deflecting plate 25 in the same way as in the sealing structure 30 according to the first example, and the thin contact plate 35, which serves as one of the thin plates 32 located on the outermost side of the curvature, is formed from the long thin plates 34.

[0080] Additionally, in the third example, the sealing plate 31 is curved towards both the upstream and downstream spaces, which are separated by the deflecting plate 25. In the sealing plate 31, the thin contact plates 35 in contact with the wall surface 11 of the sheath 10 are formed from the long thin plates 34 of both the thin plates 32 curved towards the upstream side and the thin plates 32 curved towards the downstream side. Consequently, when the layered thin plates 32 are considered as a whole, the thin contact plate 35 on the upstream side and the thin contact plate 35 on the downstream side of the sealing plate 31 are located close to the center of the layered thin plates 32.In other words, in the sealing structure 30 according to the third example, both the thin plates 32 on the upstream side and the thin plates 32 on the downstream side have the same design as the sealing plate 31 in the first example.

[0081] As described above, in the third example, the sealing plate 31 is curved towards both the upstream and downstream spaces separated by the baffle plate 25. Therefore, the sealing plate 31 can block the fluid flow in both directions between the spaces separated by the baffle plate 25. Consequently, even if the relative pressure between the spaces separated by the baffle plate 25 changes temporarily while the heat exchanger 1 is in operation, the sealing plate 31 can block the fluid flow through the space 13 between the baffle plate 25 and the wall surface 11 of the shell 10, caused by the pressure difference.

[0082] Since both the thin plates 32 on the upstream side and the thin plates 32 on the downstream side have the same design as the sealing plate 31 in the first example, the thin contact plate 35 can be prevented from separating from the other thin plates 32 and rotating upwards, regardless of the relative pressure relationship while the heat exchanger 1 is in operation. Consequently, a deterioration of the sealing performance can be more reliably prevented. Modifications

[0083] In the first to third embodiments and first and second examples described above, the sealing plate 31 is attached to the circumferential portion 27 of the deflector plate 25. However, the sealing plate 31 can be attached to the circumferential portion 27 of the deflector plate 25 over its entire circumference. In other words, the sealing plate 31 can be arranged over the entire area where the gap 13 is formed between the sealing plate 31 and the wall surface 11 of the jacket 10. The area for arranging the sealing plate 31 is preferably selected taking into account, for example, the required performance and the manufacturing costs of the heat exchanger 1.

[0084] In the first embodiment described above, the convex part 50 is arranged in the area around the circumference of the wall surface 11 where the sealing plate 31 is located. However, the convex part 50 can be located in a different area. For example, the convex part 50 can be located over the entire circumference of the wall surface 11. Similarly, in the second embodiment described above, the concave part 60 is formed in the area around the circumference of the wall surface 11 where the sealing plate 31 is located. However, the concave part 60 can be located in a different area. For example, the concave part 60 can be located over the entire circumference of the wall surface 11.

[0085] In the second example described above, the deformation limiting plate 70 is provided on the sealing plate 31, which has the same configuration as that of the first example. However, the sealing plate 31 provided with the deformation limiting plate 70 can be different from the sealing plate 31 that has the same configuration as that of the first example. The sealing plate 31 provided with the deformation limiting element 70 can be the sealing plate 31 that has the same configuration as one of the first to third embodiments.

[0086] The first to third embodiments, the first to third examples, and their modifications can be combined accordingly. For example, the convex part 50 of the first embodiment can be provided on the wall surface 11 that is in contact with the sealing plate 31 of the first example, or the concave part 60 of the second embodiment can be formed on the wall surface 11 that is in contact with the sealing plate 31 of the third embodiment. In the second example, the thin plates 32, which are curved towards both the upstream and downstream spaces separated by the deflecting plate 25, the convex part 50, and the concave part 60 can each have a configuration from one of the first to third embodiments and the first example, and can have configurations that differ between the upstream and downstream sides.Any method of combination can be used as long as the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 is in contact with the wall surface 11 with a compressive force between the outer surface 36 of the thin contact plate 35 and the wall surface 11 of the sheath 10 which is greater than a compressive force between the end 37 of the thin contact plate 35 at the wall surface 11. Reference symbol list 1 heat exchanger 10 coats 11 Wall surface 12 window section 13 spaces 15 Inlet port or connection 16 Outlet port or connection 20 heat transfer pipes 25 Deflection plate 26 cut-off part 27 Scope part 30 sealing structure 31 Sealing plate 32 thin plates 33 End 34 long thin plate 35 thin contact plates 36 Exterior surface 37 End 37a Corner 38 folded part 40 bolts or screws 41 tightened part 50 convex part 60 concave part 61 End of scope 70 Deformation limiting plate (deformation limiting element)

Claims

[1] A sealing structure (30) for a heat exchanger (1), wherein the sealing structure (30) comprises a sealing plate (31) to be attached to a deflecting plate (25), which is arranged in a jacket (10) contained in the heat exchanger (1) and is partially in contact with a wall surface (11) on an inner surface side of the jacket (10), wherein the sealing plate (31) is formed from a plurality of thin plates (32) which are layered or laminated, wherein the thin plates (32) are in contact with the wall surface (11) while being curved by elastic deformation, and a thin contact plate (35) which serves as one of the thin plates (32) which is located at a furthest outer side of the curvature, is in contact with the wall surface (11), and an outer surface (36) of the thin contact plate (35), which serves as a surface on an outside of the curvature of surfaces, which is arranged in a thickness direction of the thin contact plate (35), is in contact with the wall surface (11), characterized by , that the wall surface (11) is provided with a convex part (50) that protrudes from the wall surface (11), and the outer surface (36) of the thin contact plate (35) of the sealing plate (31) is in contact with the convex part (50) in a position at a distance from one end (37) of the thin contact plate (35), such that one end of the end (37) of the thin contact plate (35) is separated from the wall surface (11). [2] A sealing structure (30) for a heat exchanger (1), wherein the sealing structure (30) comprises a sealing plate (31) to be attached to a deflecting plate (25), which is arranged in a jacket (10) contained in the heat exchanger (1) and is partially in contact with a wall surface (11) on an inner surface side of the jacket (10), wherein the sealing plate (31) is formed from a plurality of thin plates (32) which are layered or laminated, wherein the thin plates (32) are in contact with the wall surface (11) while being curved by elastic deformation, and a thin contact plate (35) which serves as one of the thin plates (32) which is located at a furthest outer side of the curvature is in contact with the wall surface (11), and an outer surface (36) of the thin contact plate (35), which serves as a surface on an outside of the curvature of surfaces, which is arranged in a thickness direction of the thin contact plate (35), is in contact with the wall surface (11), characterized by , that a concave part (60) that is excluded from the wall surface (11) is formed on the wall surface (11), and the outer surface (36) of the thin contact plate (35) of the sealing plate (31) is in contact with a circumferential end (61) of the concave part (60), such that a corner (37a) of an end (37) of the thin contact plate (35) is separated from the wall surface (11). [3] A sealing structure (30) for a heat exchanger (1), wherein the sealing structure (30) comprises a sealing plate (31) to be attached to a deflecting plate (25), which is arranged in a jacket (10) contained in the heat exchanger (1) and is partially in contact with a wall surface (11) on an inner surface side of the jacket (10), wherein the sealing plate (31) is formed from a plurality of thin plates (32) which are layered or laminated, wherein the thin plates (32) are in contact with the wall surface (11) while being curved by elastic deformation, and a thin contact plate (35) which serves as one of the thin plates (32) which is located at a furthest outer side of the curvature is in contact with the wall surface (11), and an outer surface (36) of the thin contact plate (35), which serves as a surface on an outside of the curvature of surfaces, which is arranged in a thickness direction of the thin contact plate (35), is in contact with the wall surface (11), characterized by , that one end (37) of the thin contact plate (35), which is located on the wall surface side, is folded back to a side opposite a side where the outer surface (36) is located, so that the outer surface (36) is brought into contact with the wall surface (11). [4] The sealing structure (30) for a heat exchanger (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a length from a mounting position on the deflecting plate (25) to the end (37) of the thin contact plate (35) located on the wall surface side is longer than a length from the mounting position on the deflecting plate (25) to an end on the wall surface side of each of at least some of the thin plates (32) other than the thin contact plate (35), and the sealing structure (30) is configured to apply a compressive force in a direction towards the wall surface (11) from the thin plates (32) other than the thin contact plate (35) in a position other than the end (37) of the thin contact plate (35). [5] The sealing structure (30) for a heat exchanger (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a deformation limiting element (70) configured to limit deformation of the thin contact plate (35) in the outside direction of the curvature is layered and attached to the outer surface side of the thin contact plate (35) of the sealing plate (31). [6] A heat exchanger (1) with: a deflection plate (25), a sheath (10) in which the deflecting plate (25) is arranged, and a sealing structure (30) according to one of claims 1 to 5, which is attached to the deflecting plate (25) and closes a gap between a wall surface (11) of the mantle (10) and the deflecting plate (25) in the mantle (10).

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