Heat exchanger package
The novel geometry and diffusion-bonded structure in high-pressure heat exchangers concentrate fluid flow channels and optimize pressure distribution, addressing inefficiencies in existing designs by using thinner plates and smaller pipe cross-sections.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- AIC SPOLKA AKCYJNA
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-17
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-01
AI Technical Summary
Existing high-pressure heat exchangers face challenges in efficiently concentrating working fluid flow channels and optimizing pressure distribution due to limitations in inlet and outlet opening geometry and plate configurations.
A novel geometry for inlet and outlet openings, combined with a diffusion-bonded structure, where intermediate openings are grouped in bundles and connected by channels, allowing for concentrated fluid flow and thinner plates, reducing the size of main openings and optimizing pressure distribution.
This design enhances the concentration of fluid flow channels, enables the use of thinner plates, and optimizes pressure distribution, facilitating smaller cross-sections for inlet and outlet pipes, thus improving the performance of high-pressure heat exchangers.
Smart Images
Figure IMGAF001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] The invention concerns a heat exchanger package to be used in highpressure heat exchangers for heating and cooling devices, as well as in power systems.
[0002] Known from patent document EP 3 109 582 B1 is a plate heat exchanger which can be manufactured by the diffusion bonding method to join the side surfaces of the end plate elements forming the plate heating element of the heat exchanger and the connection of the channel of the upper and lower plate elements. The rectangular plate element forming the heat exchanger housing is a box element fitted with a vertical wall section along its peripheral edge, box elements of the same shape configured in such a way that the orientation of the horizontal surface of one of the box elements is reversed. The box elements are arranged in the appropriate order and the upper section is coupled with the lower section and connected to it with a diffusion bond at the point of contact between the vertical wall section of the upper part and the vertical wall section of the lower part, where the angle of the standing wall sections is ≤ 30°.
[0003] Known from patent document US 8,096,348 B2 is a method of manufacturing a heat exchanger featuring a plurality of fine flow channels comprising a plurality of first thin plate elements with flow channels formed into a specific shape, a plurality of second thin plate elements forming partition walls between the flow channels, where the plurality of the first thin plate elements and the plurality of the second thin plate elements are diffusion-bonded in an alternate arrangement, and may include a third thin plate element with a through-opening that connects to the flow channels at one or both ends of the first thin plate elements and the second thin plate elements.
[0004] Known from patent document US 5,383,518 is plate-fin heat exchanger comprising a matrix of two different types of heat exchange plate elements interconnected to one another. The neighbouring plate elements are joined together in the diffusion bonding process. The plate elements are high-integrity, diffusion-bonded laminar structures comprising two outer sheets and a superplastically expanded core sheet structure between the two outer sheets. The laminar structure provides flow channels for the streams of the working fluid. The heat exchanger includes inlet and outlet manifold elements connected to the corresponding areas of the distributor and collector of the expanded core structures, where the areas of the distributor and collector incorporate means for appropriate distribution and collection of the heat exchange fluid to and from the internal range of the expanded core structure transversely to the general direction of flow therethrough. The neighbouring plate elements carry different working fluid streams.
[0005] Known from patent document US 11,768,037 B2 is a heat exchanger which incorporates the first heat transfer plate and the second heat transfer plate which are diffusion-bonded together. The high-temperature flow path of the first heat exchanger plate incorporates a part of the connecting channel configured so that high-temperature fluid can flow through a plurality of channels at least within the range which overlaps the predetermined range in the stacking direction, wherein the predetermined range is the range from the inlet of the flow path of the second heat exchanger plate to a position beyond the inlet of the flow path.
[0006] The purpose of the invention is to develop a plate heat exchanger package which is entirely diffusion-bonded, designed to operate in high pressures, the geometry of the inlet and outlet openings for the working fluids of which enables concentration of the working fluid flow channels.
[0007] The purpose has been achieved by developing a new geometry of the inlet and outlet openings for the working fluids, the structure of the package plates and their configuration, adjusted to the manufacture of this package by the diffusion bonding method.
[0008] According to the invention, a heat exchanger package comprising flow plates which incorporate a working fluid flow area and inlet and outlet openings for the working fluids, where the working fluid flow area is connected to the inlet and outlet openings for a given working fluid, and the flow plates are arranged alternately with respect to each other because of the working fluid flowing through them, is characterised in that the inlet openings comprise the main inlet opening connected to intermediate inlet openings and, respectively, the outlet openings comprise the main outlet opening connected to intermediate outlet openings, where the area of the working fluid flow incorporates channels connecting the intermediate inlet openings to the intermediate outlet openings. Preferably, the channels connecting the intermediate inlet openings to the intermediate outlet openings are grouped in bundles, the number of which on the working fluid inlet side is equal to the number of the intermediate inlet openings and, correspondingly, on the side of the working fluid outlet is equal to the number of the intermediate outlet openings.
[0009] Preferably, the number of the intermediate inlet openings is equal to the number of the intermediate outlet openings.
[0010] Preferably, the channels connecting the intermediate inlet openings to the intermediate outlet openings are formed between partition walls positioned in the working fluid flow area and the intermediate plates positioned between the neighbouring flow plates, where the intermediate plates contain inlet openings comprising the main inlet opening connected to the intermediate inlet openings, and outlet openings comprising the main outlet opening connected to the intermediate outlet openings of the working fluids, arranged in line with the inlet openings and outlet openings of the flow plates, respectively, where the intermediate plates are connected to the neighbouring flow plates and longitudinal edges of the partition walls.
[0011] Preferably, the partition walls are corrugated at least in their central part.
[0012] Preferably, the flow plates and longitudinal edges of the partition walls are connected to the intermediate plates employing the diffusion bonding technology.
[0013] The openings designed in accordance with the invention enable concentration of all channels through which the working fluid flows in one place. The solution of grading the number and sizes of the intermediate openings increases the area of channel concentration, enables the use of a smaller main inlet and outlet openings for the working fluid, which results in optimal distribution of the pressure of the flowing working fluid, the possibility of using thinner plates in the package and a smaller cross-section of the inlet and outlet stub pipes for the working fluids, as well as concentration of all working fluid flow channels in a single main inlet and outlet openings.
[0014] An invention embodiment is shown in a drawing, where: Fig. 1 shows the package in a 3D view; Fig. 2 presents the package in a 3D view, partially in cross-section; Fig. 3 shows an enlarged view of the partial cross-section, as in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 depicts the flow plate for the first working fluid, with one intermediate plate attached and the second intermediate plate spaced apart, in a 3D view; Fig. 5 shows the flow plate for the second working fluid with one intermediate plate attached and the second intermediate plate spaced apart, in a 3D view; Fig. 6 shows a part of the flow plate for the second working fluid with one intermediate plate attached, in a 3D view; Fig. 7 depicts a part of the flow plate for the first working fluid with one intermediate plate attached, in a 3D view.
[0015] An exemplary heat exchanger package incorporates flow plates 1 for the first working fluid (of high temperature) and flow plates 1' for the second working fluid (of low temperature). The flow plates 1 feature a flow area for the first working fluid, linked to the inlet opening A and outlet opening A' for the first working fluid, and the inlet opening B and outlet opening B' for the second working fluid, the said inlet opening B and outlet opening B' for the second working fluid are isolated from the flow area for the first working fluid, as shown in Fig. 4. The flow plates 1', on the other hand, feature a flow area for the second working fluid, connected to the inlet opening B and outlet opening B' for the second working fluid, and the inlet opening A and outlet opening A' for the first working fluid, where the said inlet opening A and outlet opening A' for the first working fluid are isolated from the flow area for the second working fluid, as shown in Fig. 5. The inlet opening A for the first working fluid incorporates the main inlet opening 1A connected to the intermediate inlet openings 2A, and, correspondingly, the outlet opening A' for the first working fluid incorporates the main outlet opening 1A' connected to the intermediate outlet openings 2A', as shown in Fig. 4. Correspondingly, the inlet opening B for the second working fluid incorporates the main inlet opening 1B, connected to the intermediate inlet openings 2B, and, correspondingly, the outlet opening B' for the second working fluid incorporates the main outlet opening 1B', connected to the intermediate outlet openings 2B', as shown in Fig. 5.
[0016] The flow area for the first working fluid in the flow plates 1 incorporates channels 2 which connect the intermediate inlet openings 2A to the intermediate outlet openings 2A', and, correspondingly, in the flow plates 1', the flow area for the second working fluid incorporates channels 2' which connect the intermediate inlet openings 2B to the intermediate outlet openings 2B'. In the flow plates 1, the channels 2 which connect the intermediate inlet openings 2A to the intermediate outlet openings 2A' are grouped in bundles, as shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 7, the number of which on the inlet side of the first working fluid is equal to the number of the intermediate inlet openings 2A and, correspondingly, on the outlet side of the first working fluid is equal to the number of the intermediate outlet openings 2A', and in the flow plates 1', the channels 2' which connect the intermediate inlet openings 2B to the intermediate outlet openings 2B' are grouped in bundles, the number of which on the inlet side of the second working fluid is equal to the number of the intermediate inlet openings 2B and, correspondingly, on the outlet side of the second working fluid is equal to the number of the intermediate outlet openings 2B', as shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. Furthermore, the number of the intermediate inlet openings 2A may be equal to the number of the intermediate outlet openings 2A', and the number of the intermediate inlet openings 2B may be equal to the number of the intermediate outlet openings 2B'. The flow plates 1, 1' are arranged alternately to each other and in counter-current configuration with respect to the working fluid flowing through them, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, Fig. 3.
[0017] In the exemplary embodiment, the channels 4, 4' which connect the intermediate inlet openings 2A, 2B to the intermediate outlet openings 2A', 2B', respectively, are formed between the partition walls 2, 2' (Fig. 6, Fig. 7) located in the working fluid flow area of plates 1, 1', respectively, and the intermediate plates 3 which are positioned between the neighbouring flow plates 1, 1'. The intermediate plates 3 feature inlet openings C, D which incorporate the main inlet openings 1C, 1D connected to the intermediate inlet openings 2C, 2D, respectively, and the outlet openings C', D' featuring the main outlet openings 1C', 1D', connected to the intermediate outlet openings 2C', 2D', respectively, for the working fluids, where the latter openings are arranged in line with, respectively, the inlet openings A, B and outlet openings A', B' of the flow plates 1, 1', where the intermediate plates 3 are connected to the neighbouring flow plates 1, 1' and to the longitudinal edges 2a, 2a' of the partition walls 2, 2', as shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 6, Fig. 7. The first and the last plate of the package is the intermediate plate 3, which is a plate closing the package, as shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3.
[0018] The partition walls 2, 2' may be corrugated at least in their central part. The height of the flow plates 1, 1' may vary, and the shape of the partition walls 2, 2' may vary, too, depending on the parameters of the working fluids.
[0019] The flow plates 1, 1' are arranged alternately to each other and in counter-current configuration with respect to the working fluid flowing through them, so that the inlet openings A for the first working fluid in the flow plates 1 and the inlet openings C in the intermediate plates 3 form the inlet channel for the first working fluid and, respectively, the outlet openings A' for the first working fluid and the outlet openings C' in the intermediate plates 3 form the outlet channel for the first working fluid, and, respectively, the inlet openings B for the second working fluid in the flow plates 1' and the inlet openings D in the intermediate plates 3 form the inlet channel for the second working fluid and, respectively, the outlet openings B' for the second working fluid and the outlet openings D' in the intermediate plates 3 form the outlet channel for the second working fluid. The flow plates 1, 1' and the longitudinal edges 2a, 2a' of the partition walls 2, 2' are connected to the intermediate plates 3 employing the diffusion bonding technology.List of numerical references
[0020] 1 - flow plate for the first working fluid 1' - flow plate for the second working fluid 2 - partition wall in the area of the flow of the first working fluid 2' - partition wall in the area of the flow of the second working fluid 2a - longitudinal edge of the partition wall in the area of the flow of the first working fluid 2a' - longitudinal edge of the partition wall in the area of the flow of the second working fluid 3 - intermediate plate 4 - channels connecting the intermediate inlet openings with the intermediate outlet openings in the flow plates for the first working fluid 4' - channels connecting the intermediate inlet openings with the intermediate outlet openings in the flow plates for the second working fluid A - inlet opening for the first working fluid in the flow plates 1A - main inlet opening for the first working fluid in the flow plates 2A - intermediate inlet openings for the first working fluid in the flow plates A' - outlet opening for the first working fluid in the flow plates 1A' - main outlet opening for the first working fluid in the flow plates 2A' - intermediate outlet openings for the first working fluid in the flow plates B - inlet opening for the second working fluid in the flow plates 1B - main inlet opening for the second working fluid in the flow plates 2B - intermediate inlet openings for the second working fluid in the flow plates B' - outlet opening for the second working fluid in the flow plates 1B' - main outlet opening for the second working fluid in the flow plates 2B' - intermediate outlet openings for the second working fluid in the flow plates C - inlet opening for the first working fluid in the intermediate plates 1C - main inlet opening for the first working fluid in the intermediate plates 2C - intermediate inlet openings for the first working fluid in the intermediate plates C' - outlet opening for the first working fluid in the intermediate plates 1C' - main outlet opening for the first working fluid in the intermediate plates 2C' - intermediate outlet openings for the first working fluid in the intermediate plates D - inlet opening for the second working fluid in the intermediate plates 1D - main inlet opening for the second working fluid in the intermediate plates 2D - intermediate inlet openings for the second working fluid in the intermediate plates D' - outlet opening for the second working fluid in the intermediate plates 1D' - main outlet for the second working fluid in the intermediate plates 2D' - intermediate outlet openings for the second working fluid in the intermediate plates
Claims
1. A heat exchanger package comprising flow plates which incorporate a working fluid flow area and inlet and outlet openings for the working fluids, where the working fluid flow area is connected to the inlet and outlet openings for a given working fluid, and the flow plates are arranged alternately with respect to each other because of the working fluid flowing through them, characterised in that the inlet openings (A, B) comprise a main inlet opening (1A, 1B) connected to intermediate inlet openings (2A, 2B) and, respectively, the outlet openings (A', B') comprise a main outlet opening (1A', 1B') connected to intermediate outlet openings (2A', 2B'), where the area of the working fluid flow incorporates channels (4, 4') connecting the intermediate inlet openings (2A, 2B) to the intermediate outlet openings (2A', 2B').
2. The package according to claim 1, characterised in that the channels (4, 4') connecting the intermediate inlet openings (2A, 2B) to the intermediate outlet openings (2A', 2B') are grouped in bundles, the number of which on the working fluid inlet side is equal to the number of the intermediate inlet openings (2A, 2B) and, correspondingly, on the side of the working fluid outlet is equal to the number of the intermediate outlet openings (2A', 2B').
3. The package according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the number of the intermediate inlet openings (2A, 2B) is equal to the number of the intermediate outlet openings (2A', 2B').
4. The package according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the channels (4, 4') connecting the intermediate inlet openings (2A, 2B) to the intermediate outlet openings (2A', 2B') are formed between partition walls (2, 2') positioned in the working fluid flow area and intermediate plates (3) positioned between a neighbouring flow plates (1, 1'), where the intermediate plates (3) contain inlet openings (C, D) comprising a main inlet opening (1C, 1D) connected to intermediate inlet openings (2C, 2D) and outlet openings (C', D') comprising a main outlet opening (1C', 1D') connected to intermediate outlet openings (2C', 2D') for the working fluids, arranged in line with the inlet openings (A, B) and outlet openings (A', B') of the flow plates (1, 1'), respectively, wherein the intermediate plates (3) are connected to the neighbouring flow plates (1, 1') and longitudinal edges (2a, 2a') of the partition walls (2, 2').
5. The package according to claim 4, characterised in that the partition walls (2, 2') are corrugated at least in their central part.
6. The package according to claim 4, characterised in that the flow plates (1, 1') and longitudinal edges (2a, 2a') of the partition walls (2, 2') are diffusion-bonded to the intermediate plates (3).