Plate heat exchanger

Abstract

The invention relates to a plate heat exchanger with a plate pack consisting of several adjacent heat exchanger plates (4) and a frame, wherein the plate pack is clamped between frame end plates (3) of the frame, wherein the heat exchanger plates (4) each have non-planar, structured areas with alternating protrusions (6a) and depressions (6b) for forming at least two fluid channels (7) for the passage of at least two heat exchanger fluids, wherein the respective heat exchanger fluid can be introduced into and discharged from the respective fluid channel (7) via inlet and outlet openings in the plate pack, wherein seals run between the individual heat exchanger plates (4) to seal the respective fluid channels (7) and the openings at their edges and against each other, according to the invention,that a support mask (16) is held between at least one of the outer heat exchanger plates (15) of the plate pack and the respective frame end plate (3) in a partial area (17) which at least partially covers the non-planar, structured area of ​​the respective outer heat exchanger plate.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a plate heat exchanger according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Plate heat exchangers typically consist of a plate pack or stack of several stacked heat exchanger plates. Each heat exchanger plate has a non-planar, structured contour, e.g., corrugated, with raised areas and depressions. The raised areas and depressions of adjacent heat exchanger plates are aligned to form fluid channels between them, allowing the heat exchanger fluid to flow. The heat exchanger fluid is introduced into and removed from these fluid channels via passages formed by aligned openings in the heat exchanger plates.

[0003] To ensure the heat exchanger plates remain securely together even at high fluid pressures, and thus guarantee a fluid-tight flow of the heat exchanger fluid through the fluid channels during operation, the plate pack is clamped or clamped between two frame end plates. This clamping action holds the raised and recessed areas of the non-planar, structured heat exchanger plates together, even at high fluid pressures within the fluid channels. Gaskets located in molded elongated sealing channels or grooves in the heat exchanger plates are also securely compressed by clamping between the plates, ensuring a reliable seal, particularly in the edge regions of the heat exchanger plates and / or adjacent to leakage chambers located near the openings in the heat exchanger plates.

[0004] This is exemplified in EP 1 001 240 A1, which discloses a plate heat exchanger according to the preamble of claim 1, wherein it is further provided that cuboid spacers are arranged in the area of ​​the openings in the heat exchanger plates, which form the inlet and outlet passages for the heat exchanger fluid. The spacers are located in a gap between the frame end plate and the respective outer heat exchanger plate. This gap is formed by the outer heat exchanger plate being flat in the edge region below or adjacent to the openings. The corrugated contour is therefore not continued to the edge next to or below the openings in the respective outer heat exchanger plate.

[0005] This results in the outer heat exchanger plates not being in direct contact with the frame end plates in this edge area. Without a spacer, a compressive force can therefore only be exerted on the plate pack in the corrugated area of ​​the heat exchanger plates to hold the raised and recessed sections together and keep the fluid channels sealed even at high pressures. To ensure that the seals in the flat, unstructured, or uncorrugated edge areas of the heat exchanger plates in the inlet and outlet passages are compressed by up to 25%, for example, as shown in EP 1 001 240 A1, spacers are provided. These spacers allow the compressive force from the frame end plate to be transferred to the flat edge areas as well.

[0006] DE 699 19 540 T2 further provides that the heat exchanger plates are brazed to a base plate in their corrugated area and that an additional reinforcing plate is brazed to the base plate below the inlet and outlet passages, bridging a gap. This reinforcing plate is intended to prevent the fluid from deforming the freestanding sheet metal below the respective passage at high fluid pressures, thereby damaging or breaking adjacent brazed joints.

[0007] A disadvantage of known plate heat exchangers is that the outer heat exchanger plates, in their non-planar, structured areas, bear against a frame end plate with high rigidity. The flexibility of the frame end plate therefore differs from that of the heat exchanger plates adjacent to the outer plate. Consequently, at high pressures, the outer plate experiences different support outwards (towards the frame end plate) than inwards (towards the adjacent plate). This results in asymmetrical support, which in turn means that the raised and recessed areas are not reliably held together at high pressures. Furthermore, the gaskets adjacent to the non-planar, structured areas may not provide a reliable seal in the gasket channels or grooves leading to leakage chambers.Therefore, there is a risk of unwanted leaks and / or impaired operation of the plate heat exchanger at very high fluid pressures.

[0008] Further plate heat exchangers are described in DD 1 43 654 A5, DE 195 40 271 C1, DE 10 2012 105 115 A1 and DE 20 2008 004 655 U1.

[0009] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a plate heat exchanger that is easy to manufacture and can be operated safely even at high pressures.

[0010] This problem is solved by a plate heat exchanger according to the independent claim. The dependent claims specify preferred embodiments.

[0011] According to the invention, a plate heat exchanger is provided with a plate pack consisting of several adjacent heat exchanger plates and a frame, in which a support mask is held between at least one of the outer heat exchanger plates of the plate pack and the respective frame end plate in a partial area that at least partially covers a non-planar, structured area of ​​the respective outer heat exchanger plate, preferably by positive locking and / or force locking. The partial area with the support mask covers, as a non-planar, structured area of ​​the respective outer heat exchanger plate, for example, a corrugated heat transfer area and / or a ribbed distribution area and / or a ribbed leakage area within a leakage chamber located adjacent to the openings.

[0012] The additional support mask, which covers at least the non-planar or structured area of ​​the outer heat exchanger plate, provides additional support against the frame end plate, offering the following advantage: Normally, the outer heat exchanger plate in the structured area is only supported at the vertices where it abuts the frame end plate, i.e., depending on the viewing angle, in the raised or recessed areas. Support is also provided to the adjacent heat exchanger plate via these raised or recessed areas. The flexibility of the frame end plate differs from that of the adjacent heat exchanger plate, so that at high fluid pressures in fluid channels formed by the raised and recessed areas between the heat exchanger plates, asymmetrical deformation or stress can occur within the outer heat exchanger plate.

[0013] This can be prevented by the additional support mask, as this preferably also supports the part of the outer heat exchanger plate that is not in contact with the frame end plate. This ensures that the raised and recessed areas of the respective outer heat exchanger plate are optimally pressed against the recessed and raised areas of the adjacent heat exchanger plate, even at high fluid pressures, to form sealed fluid channels. The dimensions of the support mask can be specifically adapted to the respective requirements; that is, the support mask can cover only a portion of the non-planar, structured area of ​​the respective outer heat exchanger plate, e.g., the part that is subject to particularly high pressure loads, or even the entire non-planar, structured area.

[0014] Preferably, the support mask is held in a form-fitting and / or force-fit manner by being immovably received (in the plane of the respective outer heat exchanger plate) within the non-planar, structured area of ​​that plate. The support mask is thus aligned with the contour of the non-planar, structured area and is inserted into it from above with such precision that it fits snugly into the area, resulting in a planar surface or a surface adapted to the frame end plate in the selected sub-area. This surface is formed by the vertices of the non-planar, structured area and an outer surface of the support mask facing the respective frame end plate.

[0015] Preferably, the outer surface of the support mask extends within a manufacturing tolerance in a plane defined by the vertices facing the respective frame end plate within the sub-area. This means, in particular, that the outer surface of the support mask does not project beyond the vertices of the non-planar, structured area facing the respective frame end plate and located within the sub-area, or that the outer surface of the support mask is not closer to the frame end plate than the vertices of the non-planar, structured area facing the respective frame end plate and located within the sub-area, or that the vertices of the non-planar, structured area facing the respective frame end plate and located within the sub-area can touch the frame end plate.

[0016] This ensures that both the support structure and the external heat exchanger plate can make equal contact with the frame end plate to achieve optimal support. Depending on the design, an intermediate layer or adhesive may also be present between the frame end plate and the outer surface of the support mask. Therefore, it may also be possible, for example, to ensure that the support mask is bonded to the respective frame end plate within the relevant section using a material-bonded or adhesive bond to guarantee a secure connection.

[0017] The same applies to the inside of the support mask, which can be in direct contact with the outer heat exchanger plate or connected via an additional intermediate layer or adhesive. The support mask can therefore also be bonded to the outer heat exchanger plate by a material-bonded connection.

[0018] To ensure a precise fit of the support mask, its inner surface is preferably adapted to a contour of the respective outer heat exchanger plate within the relevant section. For this purpose, the inner surface can, for example, have a contour complementary to that of the outer heat exchanger plate, i.e., a complementary structure, such as ribbed or corrugated. Alternatively, this contour can also be approximated by the inner surface having a rectangular or polygonal cross-section that fits within the contour. Therefore, the contour does not necessarily have to be reproduced identically to achieve an additional, satisfactory support effect.

[0019] For example, it may be provided that the support mask extends between the vertices of the non-planar, structured area facing the respective frame end plate within the sub-area and has several interconnected webs that lie between the vertices or fit (precisely) into the non-planar, structured areas.

[0020] The manufacturing of the support mask is simplified because its contour can be based on the structure of the embossing tool used to produce the outer heat exchanger plate. Preferably, the support mask can be manufactured using a subtractive or additive manufacturing process, particularly 3D printing and / or milling, preferably from a dimensionally stable material that can be metallic and / or non-metallic and is resistant to pressure and temperature.

[0021] Preferably, the support structure may additionally provide that the section containing or formed by the support mask also covers, in addition to the non-planar, structured area, a sealing area above the seals, particularly those adjacent to a leakage chamber of the outer heat exchanger plates, and / or a termination area above the inlet or outlet passages. The support structure can thus fulfill additional support functions beyond the non-planar, structured area, for example, under high pressure loads, ensuring that seals sealing the fluid channels or openings, or the leakage chambers adjacent to the non-planar, structured area, either at their edges or against each other, are held in their sealing grooves.

[0022] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments. The figures shown are: Fig. 1A, 1B Views of a plate heat exchanger with several heat exchanger plates or a plate pack within a frame; Fig. 1C Top view of a heat exchanger plate of the plate heat exchanger according to the Fig. 1A, 1B Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of an outer heat exchanger plate of a plate pack in the area of ​​a frame end plate of the frame in Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3A, 3B, 3C Top view of the external heat exchanger plates in different designs; and Fig. 4A, 4B, 4C Detailed sectional views of the support mask in a non-planar, structured area of ​​the external heat exchanger plate in different designs.

[0023] In Figur 1A und 1B A plate heat exchanger 1 is shown, which has several heat exchanger plates 4 within a frame 2 between two frame end plates 3, which in the finished plate heat exchanger 1 according to Fig. 1B Form a plate package 5. In In the plate pack 5, the individual heat exchanger plates 4 are stacked on top of each other and touch each other. The heat exchanger plates 4 each have non-planar, structured areas 4a and openings 4b, with the structured areas 4a being as shown in Fig. 1C shown in part, in particular formed by a corrugated heat transfer area 4a1, a ribbed distributor area 4a2 and a ribbed leakage area 4a3 adjacent to the openings 4b and to the ribbed distributor area 4a2.

[0024] Furthermore, seals 4d are provided, which run along the edges of the respective heat exchanger plates 4, around the leakage areas 4a2 to form leakage chambers 4c, and also around the openings 4b as sealing eyes. To hold the seals 4d in their desired position, sealing grooves 4e are formed in the respective heat exchanger plates 4, in which the seals 4d are located.

[0025] As from Figur 2 As can be seen for the heat transfer area 4a1 and the corrugated distributor area 4a2, the non-planar, structured areas 4a (4a1, 4a2, and analogously 4a3) of the heat exchanger plates 4 are each formed by protrusions 6a and depressions 6b, for example by embossing, whereby, in the stacked state, a protrusion 6a of one heat exchanger plate 4 rests against a depression 6b of the immediately adjacent heat exchanger plate 4 in the usual manner. This creates fluid channels 7 between adjacent heat exchanger plates 4 through which a heat exchanger fluid can flow.

[0026] The heat exchanger fluid is introduced via inlet nozzle 10 (see below). Fig. 1A The fluid is introduced into inlet passages 11 in the plate stack 5 at one of the frame end plates 3, the inlet passages 11 being formed by the superimposed openings 4b in the heat exchanger plates 4 that are located directly below the inlet nozzles 10. The inlet passages 11 are flow-connected to the fluid channels 7 by means of a corresponding design of the non-planar, structured areas 4a, in particular the distributor areas 4a2, and the openings 4b, in order to allow the introduction of the heat exchanger fluid. The distributor areas 4a2 serve to distribute the introduced heat exchanger fluid onto the corrugated heat transfer area 4a1.

[0027] In Similarly, superimposed openings 4b in the heat exchanger plates 4, located below outlet nozzles 12 in the respective frame end plate 3, form outlet passages 13 that are fluidically connected to the outlet nozzles 12. The outlet passages 13 are fluidically connected to the fluid channels 7 by a corresponding design of the non-planar, structured areas 4a, in particular the distributor areas 4a2 (also called collection areas at this position), and the openings 4b. The distributor areas 4a2 or collection areas serve to collect the heat exchanger fluid coming from the corrugated heat transfer area 4a1. The heat exchanger fluid can then be drained, thus enabling a continuous flow of the heat exchanger fluid during operation.

[0028] As in Figur 2 As shown, a support mask 16 is arranged between the outer heat exchanger plates 15 in a plate pack 5 and the adjacent frame end plates 3, which is in Fig. 2 The hatched areas represent the support mask 16. This mask is located in a specific sub-area 17 of the outer heat exchanger plate 15, which is available in different versions in the Figuren 3A, 3B und 3C is shown in a top view. In the execution according to Fig. 3A The sub-area 17 with the support mask 16 lies exclusively within the non-planar, structured area 4a of the outer heat exchanger plate 15, specifically within the distributor area 4a2, without also covering the corrugated heat transfer area 4a1 (solid line). As indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 3A indicated and also in Fig. 2 As shown, the support mask 16 can also at least partially cover the corrugated heat exchanger area 4a1.

[0029] According to the explanation in Fig. 3B The sub-area 17 covers both the distributor area 4a2 and the leakage area 4a3 of the outer heat exchanger plate 15, at least partially. The support mask 16 therefore also extends over a sealing area 4g with the seals 4d and the sealing grooves 4e, which run within the leakage area 4a3 and between the leakage area 4a3 and the distributor area 4a2 of the outer heat exchanger plate 15. The designs of Figuren 3A und 3B can also be combined with each other, i.e. one or more support mask(s) 16 can cover a large part of the distribution area 4a2 and also the leakage area 4a3.

[0030] In Fig. 3C Two sub-areas 17 are shown, each for a support mask 16. The respective sub-area 17 with its respective support mask 16 lies not only in the distributor area 4a2 and the leakage area 4a3 of the outer heat exchanger plate 15, but also additionally in a termination area 4h, which is provided in place of the opening 4b on this outer heat exchanger plate 15. The termination area 4h is formed, for example, by subsequently sealing the respective opening 4b fluid-tight with a cover. This outer heat exchanger plate 15 therefore does not form the respective passage 11, 13, but rather closes it off, for example, at the top or bottom. The support mask 16 then also extends over the sealing area 4g with the seals 4d and 4h, respectively.the sealing grooves 4e, which run in the leakage area 4a3, between the leakage area 4a3 and the distributor area 4a2, and between the leakage area 4a3 and the termination area 4h of the outer heat exchanger plate 15.

[0031] In the illustrated embodiments, the support mask 16 is designed to be planar on its outer surface 16a, which faces the respective frame end plate 3, and adapted to the surface of the frame end plate 3 on its other inner surface 16b, which faces the outer heat exchanger plate 15, and adapted to the contour of the respective structured area 4a (4a1, 4a2, 4a3) of this outer heat exchanger plate 15. The area of ​​the support mask 16 that covers the respective structured area 4a (4a1, 4a2, 4a3) is formed by individual webs 16c that lie in the formed recesses 6b between the adjacent projections 6a and also extend in the direction of expansion of the respective recess 6b. Thus, in the assembled state, the support mask 16 is positively engaged or force-fitted in the outer heat exchanger plate 15.

[0032] Depending on the viewing angle, a protrusion 6a can also be seen as a depression 6b, and vice versa, whereby in both cases the protrusions 6a and depressions 6b of adjacent heat exchanger plates 4 touch. From this perspective, the support mask 16 for one outer heat exchanger plate 15 of the plate pack 5 lies in a depression 6b between two protrusions 6a, and – with the same viewing angle – for the other outer heat exchanger plate 15 of the plate pack 5 lies in a protrusion 6a between two depressions 6b.

[0033] Additionally, the support mask 16 can be materially bonded to the outer heat exchanger plate 15. A material-bonded connection to the frame end plate 3 can also be provided.

[0034] As in Fig. 2 As indicated, the webs 16c of the support mask 16 are formed by recessing the support mask 16 in the area of ​​a protrusion 6a within the respective non-planar, structured area 4a, particularly in the area of ​​a vertex SP of the protrusion 6a. This ensures that the outer heat exchanger plate 15 can continue to rest directly against the respective frame end plate 3 at the vertex SP of its protrusions 6a. The entire outer heat exchanger plate 15, therefore, rests with all its protrusions 6a against the frame end plate 3 almost seamlessly, both in the sub-area 17 with the support mask 16 and alongside the support mask 16. The individual webs 16c are then connected to each other via cross-connections 16d, forming a single body. The cross-connections 16d run, for example, in a groove in the outer heat exchanger plate 15, such as an unused sealing groove 4e.

[0035] Between the protrusions 6a or the vertices SP, the support mask 16 or the webs 16c rest against the frame end plate 3, with the outer surface 16a of the support mask 16 lying approximately at the level of the vertices SP of the protrusions 6a. This means that the outer surface 16a and the vertices SP lie within a manufacturing tolerance on a line or in a plane spanned by the vertices SP of the protrusions 6a. Between the protrusions 6a or vertices SP, the support mask 16 is adapted to the respective non-planar, structured shape of the recesses 6b. This ensures that the outer heat exchanger plate 15 is also supported between the protrusions 6a by the support mask 16 on the frame end plate 3 and is not exposed.In the event of increased fluid pressures within the fluid channels 7, this allows for the absorption or compensation of asymmetrical support towards the frame end plate 3 and towards the adjacent heat exchanger plate(s) 4. The raised areas 6a and recesses 6b of adjacent heat exchanger plates 15, 4 thus remain in contact, and the seals 4d supported in this way continue to be securely held in the sealing grooves 4e.

[0036] During the manufacturing of the support mask 16, the non-planar, structured contour of the outer heat exchanger plate 15 in the selected sub-area 17 is to be represented in a complementary form on the inner surface 16b of the support mask 16 in such a way that the areas in the selected sub-area 17 of the outer heat exchanger plate 15 that are not normally in contact with the frame end plate 3 are "filled", as shown in Fig. 4A shown in part. Consequently, the inner surface 16b of the support mask 16 is adapted to the embossing and geometry of the outer heat exchanger plate 15, e.g. to the ribbed shape of the distributor area 4a2 or the leakage area 4a3 and / or to the corrugated shape of the heat transfer area 4a1 and / or to the shape of the termination area 4h in the area of ​​the concealed opening(s) 4b.

[0037] The inner surface 16b of the support mask 16 does not necessarily have to depict the exact contour of the selected sub-area 17, as shown in the comparison sections in the Fig. 4B, 4C As illustrated by example. For instance, it may also be provided that the non-planar structure of the outer heat exchanger plate 15 is approximated by an angular or polygonal inner surface 16b of the support mask 16, as shown by example in Fig. 4B shown. In the simplest case, the webs 16c can also have a rectangular cross-sectional shape, as exemplified in Fig. 4C depicted, provided for, which can also provide some support.

[0038] The support mask 16 is preferably manufactured by a subtractive or additive manufacturing process, in particular by 3D printing and / or milling. The support mask 16 is made of a pressure-resistant and temperature-resistant metallic or non-metallic material. The material of the support mask 16 does not have to be the same as the material of the outer heat exchanger plate 15.

[0039] Such manufacturing processes allow the desired contour to be reproduced very precisely on or through the inner surface 16b of the support mask 16. Since the shape of the contour of the outer heat exchanger plate 15, for example, follows from the shape of the corresponding tool for manufacturing the outer heat exchanger plate 15, e.g., an embossing tool, this shape can also be easily used for manufacturing the support mask 16 in the respective manufacturing process, so that the surface of the outer heat exchanger plate 15 does not have to be laboriously measured and reproduced beforehand. This avoids errors in the reproduction process. Reference symbol list

[0040] 1 Plate heat exchanger 2 Frame 3 Frame end plate 4 Heat exchanger plate 4a Structured area of ​​the heat exchanger plate 4 4a1 Corrugated heat transfer area 4a2 Ribbed distributor area 4a3 Ribbed leakage area 4b Openings in the heat exchanger plate 4 4c Leakage space in the heat exchanger plate 4 4d Gaskets between the heat exchanger plates 4 4e Sealing grooves in the heat exchanger plate 4 4g Sealing area of ​​the heat exchanger plate 4 4h End plate area 5 Plate pack 6a Raised area in the respective structured area 4a 6b Recess in the respective structured area 4a 7 Fluid channels 10 Inlet nozzle 11 Inlet passage 12 Outlet nozzle 13 Outlet passage 15 External heat exchanger plate 16 Support mask 16a Outer side 16b Inner side 16c Bridge 16d Cross connections 17 Sub-area SP Vertex

Claims

1. Plate heat exchanger (1) including a pack of plates (5) made of multiple adjacent heat exchanger plates (4) and a frame (2), the pack of plates (5) being chucked in between frame end plates (3) of the frame (2), where the heat exchanger plates (4) each comprise non-planar, structured areas (4a) with alternating elevations (6a) and depressions (6b), where elevations (6a) and depressions (6b) of adjacent heat exchanger plates (4) of the pack of plates (5) are pressed against one another and / or lie in contact with one another such that at least two fluid channels (7) for the passage of at least two heat exchanger fluids are formed in-between the heat exchanger plates (4), where the respective heat exchanger fluid can be introduced into the respective fluid channel (7) and discharged from this via inlet passages (11) and discharge passages (13) in the pack of plates (5) which are formed by aligned apertures (4b) in the heat exchanger plates (4) lying on top of one another, where seals (4d) extend in-between the individual heat exchanger plates (4) to seal the respective fluid channels (7) and the apertures (4b) at the edges and against one another, characterised in that a support mask (16) is held between at least one of the exterior heat exchanger plates (15) of the pack of plates (5) and the respective frame end plate (3) in a partial area (17) which covers, at least in part, the non-planar, structured area (4a) of the respective exterior heat exchanger plate.

2. Plate heat exchanger (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the support mask (16) is held by positive locking and / or frictional connection, preferably in that the support mask (16) is received non-relocatable in the non-planar, structured area (4a) of the respective exterior heat exchanger plate (15) and / or placed in a custom-fit manner inside the non-planar, structured are (4a) of the respective exterior heat exchanger plate (15) and encaptured by the frame end plate (3).

3. Plate heat exchanger (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that an exterior face (16a) of the support mask (16) faces the respective frame end plate (3) and, preferably, lies in contact therewith, and an interior face (16b) of the support mask (16) also faces, at least in part, the non-planar, structured area (4a) of the respective exterior heat exchanger plate (15) and, preferably, lies in contact therewith.

4. Plate heat exchanger (1) according to claim 3 characterised in that - the exterior face (16a) of the support mask (16) does not protrude beyond vertices (SP) of the non-planar, structured area (4a) that face the respective frame end plate (3) and lies in the partial area (17), and / or - the exterior face (16a) of the support mask (16) lies not closer to the frame end plate (3) than the vertices (SP) of the non-planar, structured area (4a) facing the respective frame end plate (3) and lying in the partial area (17), and / or - the vertices (SP) of the non-planar, structured area (4a), that face the respective frame end plate (3) and lie in the partial area (17), touch the frame end plate (3).

5. Plate heat exchanger (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that the support mask (16) extends between the vertices (SP) of the non-planar, structured area (4a) facing the respective frame end plate (3) within the partial area (17), the support mask (16) comprising multiple bars (16c) interconnected via cross-connections (16d) lying in-between the vertices (SP).

6. Plate heat exchanger (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the vertices (SP) facing the respective frame end plate (3) within the partial area (17), - are assigned to the elevations (6a) of one of the exterior heat exchanger plates (15) of the pack of plates (5), and - are assigned to the depressions (6b) of the respective other exterior heat exchanger plate (15) of the pack of plates (5).

7. Plate heat exchanger (1) according to one of the claims 4 to 6, characterised in that the exterior face (16a) of the support mask (16) extends within production-related tolerances in a plane determined by the vertices (SP) facing the respective frame end plate (3) within the partial area (17).

8. Plate heat exchanger (1) according to one of the claims 3 to 7, characterised in that the interior face (16b) of the support mask (16) matches a contour of the respective exterior heat exchanger plate present within the partial area (17), preferably, to that end, having a contour complementary there to and / or a rectangular or polygon cross-section fitting into the contours.

9. Plate heat exchanger (1) according to one of the above claims, characterised in that the partial area (17) with the support mask (16) covers, at least in part, at least one non-planar, structured area (4a) of the exterior heat exchanger plate (15) which is selected from the group consisting of: - a corrugated heat transfer area (4a1) of the exterior heat exchanger plate (15) and / or - a grooved distributor area (4a2) of the exterior heat exchanger plate (15) and / or - a grooved leakage area (4a3) within a leakage cavity (4c) lying adjacent the apertures (4b).

10. Plate heat exchanger (1) according to one of the above claims, characterised in that the support mask (16) is manufactured in a subtractive or an additive production process, in particular, in a 3D printing process and / or by milling.

11. Plate heat exchanger (1) according to one of the above claims, characterised in that the support mask (16) within the partial area (17) is connected to the exterior heat exchanger plate (15) and / or to the respective frame end plate (3) by positive locking.

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