Heat exchanger and production method for heat exchanger

• US 10,215,497 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2014
• Issued: 02/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Klaus Schmidt
• Original Assignee: Kobe Steel Limited
• Inventors: Noishiki, Koji, Kubo, Yohei, Yamada, Sayaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Schermerhorn, Jr., Jon T.
• Application Number:
  US15/035,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20160290733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/0037 the conduits for the other heat-exchange medium also being formed by paired plates touching each other F28D9/0043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/0062 the conduits for one heat-exchange medium being formed by spaced plates with inserted elements F28D9/0012, F28D9/0025, F28D9/0081, F28D9/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/0068 with means for changing flow direction of one heat exchange medium, e.g. using deflecting zones
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/0075 the plates having openings therein for circulation of the heat-exchange medium from one conduit to another
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 13/06 by affecting the pattern of flow of the heat-exchange media F28F13/003 takes precedence; static flow control means in header boxes F28F9/026
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 13/12 by creating turbulence, e.g. by stirring, by increasing the force of circulation F28F13/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/08 Elements constructed for building-up into stacks, e.g. capable of being taken apart for cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/086 having one or more openings therein forming tubular heat-exchange passages
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0204 for elongated header box, e.g. with transversal and longitudinal partitions
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0214 having only longitudinal partitions

Abstract

A heat exchanger including a stacking block, including: a first plate surface; a second plate surface opposite to the first plate surface; and first and second flow path plates including respective plural first and second through holes that have a standard shape. The first through holes are arranged to line up in a standard array pattern in a first direction in which a first flow path causes a first fluid to flow. The second through holes are arranged in the first direction in the same standard array pattern as the first through holes. Each of the first through holes have an area with a same overlap with the second through holes positioned on both sides of the first through holes, in the first direction. The first flow path is formed by the first and second through holes being mutually joined in the first direction, in the areas of overlap.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger that allows at least a first fluid and a second fluid circulating therein to exchange heat therebetween, the heat exchanger comprising a stacking block having therein a first flow path for the first fluid and a second flow path for the second fluid, wherein the stacking block comprises:

a first plate having a first plate first surface and a first plate second surface, a second plate having a second plate first surface and a second plate second surface, the first plate stacked on the second plate;

the first plate formed with a plurality of first through holes having mutually identical shapes;

the second plate formed with a plurality of second through holes having mutually identical shapes, the mutually identical shapes of the second through holes being identical to the mutually identical shapes of the first through holes;

a first seal plate stacked on the first plate first surface; and

a second seal plate stacked on the second plate second surface, wherein the first plate first surface faces away from the second plate and the second plate second surface faces away from the first plate, wherein in the first plate, the first through holes are mutually aligned and equally spaced in a first direction, wherein in the second plate, the second through holes are mutually aligned and equally spaced in the first direction, wherein each of the first through holes has regions overlapping with the second through holes on both sides of the first through hole in the first direction, and the first flow path is formed by the first through holes and the second through holes being alternately connected in the first direction in the regions where first and second holes overlap;

wherein each of the first through holes consists of a first through hole one end part formed in the first plate second surface, a first through hole other end part formed in the first plate first surface, and a first through hole intermediate part which is a portion between the first through hole one end part and the first through hole other end part of the first through hole, wherein the first through hole other end part has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the first through hole one end part, wherein the first through hole intermediate part is formed so that the diameter thereof is not less than the diameter of the first through hole other end part and not more than the diameter of the first through hole one end part;

wherein each of the second through holes consists of a second through hole one end part formed in the second plate first surface, a second through hole other end part formed in the second plate second surface, and a second through hole intermediate part which is a portion between the second through hole one end part and the second through hole other end part of the second through hole;

wherein the second through hole other end part has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the second through hole one end part, and wherein the second through hole intermediate part is formed so that the diameter thereof is not less than the diameter of the second through hole other end part and not more than the diameter of the second through hole one end part.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the first through holes and the second through holes are circular.

3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein each of the first through holes is defined by an inner peripheral surface of the first plate, the inner peripheral surfaces of the first plate comprising a tapered shape;

and wherein each of the second through holes is defined by an inner peripheral surface of the second plate, the inner peripheral surfaces of the second plate comprising a tapered shape.

4. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the stacking block comprises a third plate having a third plate first surface and a third plate second surface, and a fourth plate having a fourth plate first surface and a fourth plate second surface, the third plate stacked on the fourth plate;

the third plate formed with a plurality of third through holes having mutually identical shapes, the fourth plate formed with a plurality of fourth through holes having mutually identical shapes, the mutually identical shapes of the fourth through holes being identical to the mutually identical shapes of the third through holes;

wherein the second seal plate is stacked on the third plate first surface, the third plate first surface contacting a surface of the second seal plate which is opposite to the surface of the second seal plate contacting the second plate second surface, and a third seal plate stacked on the fourth plate second surface, wherein the third plate first surface faces away from the fourth plate and the fourth plate second surface faces away from the third plate;

wherein in the third plate, the third through holes are mutually aligned and equally spaced in a second direction, wherein in the fourth plate, the fourth through holes are mutually aligned and equally spaced in the second direction, wherein each of the third through holes has regions overlapping with the fourth through holes on both sides of the third through hole in the second direction, and the second flow path is formed by the third through holes and the fourth through holes being alternately connected in the second direction in the regions where the third and fourth holes overlap;

wherein each of the third through holes consists of a third through hole one end part formed in the third plate second surface, a third through hole other end part formed in the third plate first surface, and a third through hole intermediate part which is a portion between the third through hole one end part and the third through hole other end part of the third through hole, wherein the third through hole other end part has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the third through hole one end part, wherein the third through hole intermediate part is formed so that the diameter thereof is not less than the diameter of the third through hole other end part and not more than the diameter of the third through hole one end part;

wherein each of the fourth through holes consists of a fourth through hole one end part formed in the fourth plate first surface, a fourth through hole other end part formed in the fourth plate second surface, and a fourth through hole intermediate part which is a portion between the fourth through hole one end part and the fourth through hole other end part of the fourth through hole, wherein the fourth through hole other end part has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the fourth through hole one end part, and wherein the fourth through hole intermediate part is formed so that the diameter thereof is not less than the diameter of the fourth through hole other end part and not more than the diameter of the fourth through hole one end part.

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein the third through holes and the fourth through holes are circular.

6. The heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein each of the third through holes is defined by an inner peripheral surface of the third plate, the inner peripheral surfaces of the third plate comprising a tapered shape;

and wherein each of the fourth through holes is defined by an inner peripheral surface of the fourth plate, the inner peripheral surfaces of the fourth plate comprising a tapered shape.

7. The heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein within the stacking block, the second flow path is one of a plurality of second flow paths through which the second fluid flows, and wherein on two opposite side surfaces of the stacking block in the second direction, end parts of the second flow paths are formed so as to be open, and circulation headers attached to the opposite side surfaces, the circulation headers communicating outlets of the second flow paths to inlets of the second flow paths.