Heat exchanger plates and plate heat exchangers

Abstract

A heat exchange plate (1) for a plate heat exchanger for heat exchange between at least a first fluid and a second fluid, the heat exchange plate (1) having a quadrilateral shape with two opposing parallel primary sides (5) and two opposing parallel secondary sides (6), and a longitudinal central axis (x) that is parallel to the primary sides (5). The heat exchange plate (1) comprises a heat exchange area having a corrugation of peaks and valleys, the peaks and valleys having longitudinal extensions defining an inclination relative to a central longitudinal axis (x); four portholes (11, 12, 13, 14), at least two of which are located at each corner of the heat exchange plate (1) and extend through the heat exchange plate (1); a first set of peaks (8a) and valleys (9a) and a second set of peaks (8b) and a second set of peaks (8a) and valleys (9b), wherein the longitudinal extensions of the first set of peaks (8a) and valleys (9a) define a first angle (α) with respect to the first primary side (5a), and the longitudinal extensions of the second set of peaks (8b) and valleys (9b) define a second angle (β) with respect to the second primary side (5b), and an intersection between the first set of peaks (8a) and valleys (9a) and the second set of peaks (8b) and valleys (9b) is defined as a transition region (10) including curvatures of the peaks and valleys that is concentric with the porthole.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat exchanger plate according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a plate heat exchanger according to the preamble of claim 10. [Background technology]

[0002] A plate heat exchanger (PHE) typically consists of two end plates with a number of stacked or grouped plates positioned between them. The plates in a PHE may be of the same or different types, and they may be stacked in various ways. In some PHEs, the plates are stacked with the front and back of one plate facing the front and back, respectively, of the other plate, and every other plate is flipped over with respect to the rest of the plates. This is commonly referred to as "plates 'flipped' relative to each other." In other PHEs, the plates are stacked with the front and back of one plate facing the back and front, respectively. This is commonly referred to as "plates 'rotated' relative to each other."

[0003] In some types of plate heat exchangers, the heat-carrying medium flowing around the closed porthole area may encounter high flow resistance as it enters the heat exchanger area. This may be due to the heat exchanger area's relatively high theta pattern, i.e., a corrugated pattern that may have a larger inclination (chevron angle) relative to the central longitudinal axis of the heat exchange plate. The relatively high theta pattern creates more turbulence and therefore more heat transfer, greater pressure loss, and higher flow resistance.

[0004] Other plate heat exchanger applications, such as for cooling electrical components, require that the cooling be highly efficient. The electrical components may be mounted in racks within data center servers, where the components are placed in close proximity to one another. When cooling electrical components, the fluid in contact with the components must be carefully selected so that the performance of the components is not compromised. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The object of the present invention is to overcome the problems discussed in the previous paragraph. More precisely, the object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger plate and a plate heat exchanger that achieve low flow disturbances. A further object is to achieve low pressure loss across the heat exchanger. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The objective is achieved by providing a heat exchange plate with seamless integration of heat transfer and distribution areas without abrupt changes in corrugation direction.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heat exchange plate for a plate heat exchanger for heat exchange between at least a first fluid and a second fluid, the heat exchange plate having a quadrilateral shape with two opposing parallel primary sides and two opposing parallel secondary sides, and a central longitudinal axis parallel to the primary sides, the heat exchange plate having a heat exchange area with a corrugation of peaks and valleys, the peaks and valleys having longitudinal extensions defining an inclination relative to the central longitudinal axis, and four portholes, at least two of the four portholes being located at respective corners of the heat exchange plate. and a first set of peaks and valleys and a second set of peaks and valleys, the first set of peaks and valleys having longitudinal extensions that define a first angle with respect to the first primary side and the second set of peaks and valleys having longitudinal extensions that define a second angle with respect to the second primary side, and an intersection between the first set of peaks and valleys and the second set of peaks and valleys being defined as a transition region that includes curvatures of the peaks and valleys and that is concentric with the portholes.

[0008] Thus, the concentric transition region between the corrugations having the first angle and the corrugations having the second angle achieves low flow disturbance.

[0009] The peaks and valleys preferably extend continuously from the first primary side to the second primary side, so there is a smooth transition of the waveform from the first primary side to the second primary side or from the second primary side to the first primary side.

[0010] Preferably, the first angle is greater than the second angle.

[0011] Preferably, the first angle is within the range of 50° to 70°. More specifically, the first angle could be 55°, 60°, or 65°.

[0012] Preferably, the second angle is within the range of 30° to 60°. More specifically, it is contemplated that the second angle may be 35°, 40°, 45°, 50°, or 55°.

[0013] The portholes preferably include a first porthole, a second porthole, a third porthole, and a fourth porthole, with the transition region being concentric with the first porthole. This results in a radius without abrupt changes in corrugation direction across the plate, which leads to good fluid distribution with low flow turbulence.

[0014] Preferably, the first porthole and the third porthole have the same diameter, the second porthole and the fourth porthole have the same diameter, and the first porthole and the third porthole have larger diameters than the second porthole and the fourth porthole.

[0015] Preferably, the distance between the two primary sides is a maximum of 90 mm.

[0016] Preferably, the distance between the two primary sides is a maximum of 45 mm.

[0017] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plate heat exchanger comprising first and second heat exchange plates arranged side by side, first plate spacings for a first fluid, each first plate spacing being formed by one of the first heat exchange plates and an adjacent one of the second heat exchange plates, and second plate spacings for a second fluid, each second plate spacing being formed by one of the second heat exchange plates and an adjacent one of the first heat exchange plates, wherein at least one of the first heat exchange plates is a heat exchange plate according to the first aspect.

[0018] Preferably, the first heat exchange plate and the second heat exchange plate are permanently bonded to each other.

[0019] The second heat exchange plate is preferably a mirror image version of the first heat exchange plate.

[0020] Preferably, the first porthole and the third porthole communicate with the first plate spacing, and the second porthole and the fourth porthole communicate with the second plate spacing.

[0021] The present invention will now be described in more detail through a description of various embodiments and with reference to the drawings attached hereto. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic top view of a heat exchange plate according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2A] FIG. 2 is a schematic enlarged view of FIG. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA' in FIG. 2A. [Figure 2C] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB' in FIG. 2A. [Figure 3] 2 is a schematic side view of a plate heat exchanger with at least one plate of the embodiment of FIG. 1; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Plate heat exchangers can be configured to operate as evaporators or condensers. However, plate heat exchangers can also be used for other heat exchange applications. Figure 3 discloses an embodiment of a plate heat exchanger in which a first heat exchange plate A and a second heat exchange plate B are arranged side by side to form a first plate spacing 3 for a first fluid and a second plate spacing 4 for a second fluid. At least one of the first heat exchange plates A can be the heat exchange plate 1 described in connection with Figure 1.

[0024] In applications of the disclosed embodiments, the first fluid may be a heat-carrying fluid, such as a dielectric fluid, and the second fluid may be water.

[0025] 1 discloses a heat exchanger plate 1 having a quadrilateral shape with peak and valley corrugations and with two opposing parallel primary sides 5 and two opposing parallel secondary sides 6. In the disclosed embodiment, the quadrilateral shape is a rectangle with rounded corners, with the primary sides 5 forming the long sides and the secondary sides 6 forming the short sides. The plate includes a first primary side 5a and a second primary side 5b. The heat exchanger plate includes a heat exchanger area extending parallel to an extension plane.

[0026] A central longitudinal axis x extends through the secondary side 6 and is parallel to the primary side 5. The central longitudinal axis x is parallel to the extension plane of each of the first heat exchange plate A and the second heat exchange plate B (FIG. 3).

[0027] The heat exchanger plate 1 has a first porthole 11, a second porthole 12, a third porthole 13, and a fourth porthole 14. Two of the four portholes are located near the secondary side, and the other two portholes are located near the opposite secondary side. The second porthole 12 is located closer to the corner of the plate than the first porthole 11. The fourth porthole 14 is located closer to the corner of the plate than the third porthole 13.

[0028] In the heat exchange plate package, the portholes can be grouped so that portholes 11 and 12 are used as inlet portholes for the first and second fluids, respectively. Portholes 13 and 14 are used as outlet portholes for the first and second fluids, respectively. For the first fluid, the first porthole 11 is the inlet and the third porthole 13 is the outlet, and these two portholes have the same diameter. For the second fluid, the second porthole 12 is the inlet and the fourth porthole 14 is the outlet, and these two portholes have the same diameter, which is smaller than the porthole for the first fluid. The first porthole 11 and the third porthole 13 are located within the recessed hot plate area. The first and second fluids may also be directed in opposite directions through the heat exchange plate package, so that the first porthole 11 is an outlet and the third porthole 13 is an inlet for the first fluid, and the second porthole 12 is an outlet and the fourth porthole 14 is an inlet for the second fluid.

[0029] The heat exchange plate 1 has a fairly elongated structure, with the primary side 5 being more than four times as long as the secondary side 6 .

[0030] 2A shows a heat exchange plate 1 having corrugations of peaks 8a, 8b and valleys 9a, 9b near a first inlet porthole 11 and a second inlet porthole 12. The peaks and valleys have a constant width along their extension from one first primary side 5a to the second primary side 5b. A first set of peaks 8a and a first set of valleys 9a are located adjacent to the first primary side 5a, and a second set of peaks 8b and a second set of valleys 9b are located adjacent to the second primary side 5b. The first inlet porthole 11 is closer to the first primary side 5a, and the second inlet porthole 12 is closer to the second primary side 5b.

[0031] The peaks 8a, 8b and valleys 9a, 9b have an inclination relative to the respective primary sides 5a, 5b (the primary sides being parallel to the longitudinal central axis x). A first set of peaks 8a and valleys 9a are inclined at a first angle α relative to the first primary side 5a. A second set of peaks 8b and valleys 9b are inclined at a second angle β relative to the second primary side 5b. The first angle α is greater than the second angle β. The first angle α is in the range of 50° to 70°, or any value therebetween, such as 55°, 60°, or 65°. The second angle β is in the range of 30° to 60°, or any value therebetween, such as 35°, 40°, 45°, 50°, or 55°.

[0032] A transition region 10 is defined where a first set of peaks 8 a and valleys 9 a meet a second set of peaks 8 b and valleys 9 b. The curvature of the peaks and valleys in the transition region 10 is concentric with the first porthole 11.

[0033] The corrugations of the peaks 8a, 8b and valleys 9a, 9b extend between the top and bottom surfaces. The top and bottom surfaces are parallel to each other in the extension plane. The peaks extend along the top surface, and the valleys extend along the bottom surface.

[0034] Figure 2B discloses a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' in Figure 2A, depicting the top surfaces of a first set of peaks 8a and the bottom surfaces of a first set of valleys 9a. A second set of peaks 8b and valleys 9b have corresponding cross-sectional shapes.

[0035] FIG. 2C discloses a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B' of FIG. 2A, in which the first porthole 11 and the second porthole 12 are shown as being disposed in different planes.

[0036] 3 discloses a plate heat exchanger including a plurality of first heat exchange plates A and a plurality of second heat exchange plates B arranged alternately next to each other within the plate heat exchanger. The side view is taken as a cross section through the centers of the second porthole 12 and the fourth porthole 14, with the cut parallel to the central longitudinal axis x.

[0037] 3, each of the first plate gaps 3 is formed by one of the first heat exchanger plates A and an adjacent one of the second heat exchanger plates B. Each of the second plate gaps 4 is formed by one of the second heat exchanger plates B and an adjacent one of the first heat exchanger plates A.

[0038] The first plate spacing 3 and the second plate spacing 4 are alternately arranged beside each other. A first inlet channel connected to the first inlet porthole and a first outlet channel connected to the first outlet porthole communicate with the first plate spacing 3 to supply a first fluid to the first plate spacing 3 and discharge the first fluid from the first plate spacing 3. A second inlet channel connected to the first inlet porthole and a second outlet channel connected to the second outlet porthole communicate with the second plate spacing 4 to supply a second fluid to the second plate spacing 4 and discharge the second fluid from the second plate spacing 4.

[0039] In the disclosed embodiment, the first heat exchange plate A and the second heat exchange plate B are permanently bonded to each other, preferably brazed to each other, but the first heat exchange plate A and the second heat exchange plate B may also be attached together in other ways, for example by means of fastening bolts.

[0040] A flange in one edge region of a first heat exchanger plate A can be joined to a corresponding flange in an adjacent edge region of a second heat exchanger plate B.

[0041] As mentioned above, the disclosed embodiments refer to evaporators. According to another embodiment, the heat exchanger plates and plate heat exchangers can be used as condensers.

[0042] The embodiments disclosed and discussed above are configured for counterflow of the first and second fluids. However, embodiments may alternatively be configured for co-flow of the first and second fluids, e.g., the first outlet channel forms an inlet for the first fluid and the first inlet channel forms an outlet for the first fluid.

[0043] The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but can be modified and varied within the scope of the following claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1 Heat exchange plate 3 First plate spacing 4 Second Plate Spacing 5 Opposite parallel primary side 5a First primary side 5b Second primary side 6 Opposed parallel secondary side 8a, 8b Mountain section 9a, 9b Tanibe 10 Transition Zone 11 First Porthole 12 Second Porthole 13 Third Porthole 14 Fourth Porthole A. First heat exchange plate B Second heat exchange plate x longitudinal center axis α First angle β Second angle

Claims

1. A heat exchanger plate (1) for a plate heat exchanger for heat exchange between at least a first fluid and a second fluid, said heat exchanger plate (1) having a quadrilateral shape with two opposing parallel primary sides (5) and two opposing parallel secondary sides (6) and a longitudinal central axis (x) parallel to said primary sides (5), said heat exchanger plate (1) comprising: a heat exchange area having a corrugation of peaks and valleys, the peaks and valleys having longitudinal extensions that define an inclination relative to the central longitudinal axis (x); four portholes (11, 12, 13, 14), at least two of which are located at each corner of the heat exchange plate (1) and extend through the heat exchange plate (1); a first set of peaks (8a) and valleys (9a) and a second set of peaks (8b) and valleys (9b); Including, 1. A heat exchange plate comprising: a first set of peaks (8 a) and valleys (9 a) each defining a first angle (α) relative to a first primary side (5 a); a second set of peaks (8 b) and valleys (9 b) each defining a second angle (β) relative to a second primary side (5 b); and an intersection between the first set of peaks (8 a) and valleys (9 a) and the second set of peaks (8 b) and valleys (9 b) defined as a transition region (10) including curvatures of the peaks and valleys, the transition region being concentric with a porthole.

2. 2. The heat exchange plate according to claim 1, wherein the peaks (8a, 8b) and valleys (9a, 9b) extend continuously from the first primary side (5a) to the second primary side (5b).

3. 3. The heat exchanger plate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first angle (α) is greater than the second angle (β).

4. 4. A heat exchanger plate according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first angle (α) is in the range of 50° to 70°.

5. 5. A heat exchanger plate according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second angle (β) is in the range of 30° to 60°.

6. 6. The heat exchange plate according to claim 1, wherein the portholes include a first porthole (11), a second porthole (12), a third porthole (13), and a fourth porthole (14), and the transition region (10) is concentric with the first porthole (11).

7. 7. The heat exchange plate according to claim 6, wherein the first porthole (11) and the third porthole (13) have the same diameter, the second porthole (12) and the fourth porthole (14) have the same diameter, and the first porthole (11) and the third porthole (13) have larger diameters than the second porthole (12) and the fourth porthole (14).

8. 8. A heat exchanger plate according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the distance between the two primary sides (6) is at most 90 mm.

9. 9. A heat exchanger plate according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the distance between the two primary sides (6) is at most 45 mm.

10. a first heat exchange plate (A) and a second heat exchange plate (B) arranged side by side; first plate spacings (3) for a first fluid, each first plate spacing (3) being formed by one of the first heat exchange plates (A) and an adjacent one of the second heat exchange plates (B); second plate spacings (4) for a second fluid, each second plate spacing (4) being formed by one of the second heat exchange plates (B) and an adjacent one of the first heat exchange plates (A); In a plate heat exchanger comprising: A plate heat exchanger, characterized in that at least one of the first heat exchanger plates (A) is a heat exchanger plate (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. 11. The plate heat exchanger according to claim 10, wherein the first heat exchange plate (A) and the second heat exchange plate (B) are permanently bonded to each other.

12. 12. A plate heat exchanger according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the second heat exchange plate (B) is a mirror image version of the first heat exchange plate (A).

13. 12. The plate heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein the first porthole (11) and the third porthole (13) communicate with the first plate spacing (3), and the second porthole (12) and the fourth porthole (14) communicate with the second plate spacing (4).

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