Background of the invention and prior art

• US 20060191672A1
• Filed: 06/11/2004
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ALFA Laval Corporate AB (ALFA Laval AB)
• Original Assignee: ALFA Laval Corporate AB (ALFA Laval AB)
• Inventors: Larsson, Roland, Stromblad, Mats, Stenhede, Claes
• Granted Patent: US 7,594,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/145
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0064 Vaporizers, e.g. evaporators
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 21/0017 Flooded core heat exchangers in large body of fluid F28D1/0206
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/0006 the plate-like or laminated conduits being enclosed within a pressure vessel
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/0043 the plates having openings therein for circulation of at least one heat-exchange medium from one conduit to another
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2250/102 with change of flow direction
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/04 the means being integral with the element

Abstract

The invention refers to a plate package for a heat exchanger device including a tank with an inner space and an inner wall surface. A sectional plane (p) extends vertically through the inner space. The tank has an inlet for the supply of a liquid medium and an outlet for discharging the medium in a gaseous state. The inner space defines a lower part space and an upper part space. The plate package (10) with heat exchanger plates (11) is provided in the inner space. Each heat exchanger plate has an extension plane perpendicular to the sectional plane. The heat exchanger plates form first plate interspaces, that are open towards the inner space for recirculation of the medium, and second plate interspaces, which are closed towards the inner space for the recirculation of a fluid for evaporating the medium. Each heat exchanger plate includes a first porthole (14) and a second porthole (15). Furthermore, each heat exchanger plate includes an elongated distribution element (25) which extends into the adjacent second plate interspace and substantially transversally to the sectional plane (p).

Claims

1-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A plate package (10) for a heat exchanger device having a tank (1), which forms a substantially closed inner space (2) and which includes an inner wall surface (3) facing the inner space, wherein the tank (1) is arranged to be provided in such a way that a sectional plane (p), which extends through the plate package (10) and the inner space of the tank (1), is substantially vertical,

wherein the plate package (10) is arranged to be provided in the inner space (2) and comprises heat exchanger plates (11) provided adjacent to each other, wherein each heat exchanger plate (11) has a main extension plane (q) and is provided in such a way that the extension plane (q) is substantially perpendicular to said sectional plane (p), wherein the heat exchanger plates (11) form first plate interspaces (12), which are substantially open to the inner space (2) and arranged to permit circulation of said medium from the lower part space (2′

) upwardly to the upper part space (2″

), and second plate interspaces (13), which are closed to the inner space (2) and arranged to permit recirculation of a fluid for evaporating the medium, wherein the first plate interspaces (12) in an upper portion (31) of the plate package (10) form outlet channels (34) for the medium,

wherein each heat exchanger plate (11) includes a first porthole and a second porthole (15) and

wherein the first portholes (14) form an inlet channel for said fluid to the second plate interspaces (12) and the second portholes (15) form an outlet channel for said fluid from the second plate interspaces (13), and

wherein each heat exchanger plate includes an elongated distribution element (25) extending into the adjacent second plate interspace (13) and substantially transversally to said sectional plane (p).

20. A plate package according to claim 19, wherein the distribution element (25) is formed through a shaping of the heat exchanger plate (11), wherein this shaping forms a projection extending into the adjacent second plate interspace (13) and a depression extending from the adjacent first plate interspace (12).

21. A plate heat exchanger according to claim 19, wherein the distribution element (25) is formed by a rod-like insert which is provided in the second plate interspace (13).

22. A plate package according to claim 19, wherein the plate package in addition to said upper portion (31) includes a lower portion (33) and an intermediate portion (32), wherein the first portholes (14) are provided in the proximity of the lower portion (33) and the second portholes (15) in the proximity of the upper portion (31).

23. A plate package according to claim 22, wherein the portions (31-33) include a respective corrugation of the ridges and valleys, and wherein the corrugation of the intermediate portion (32) extends in at least one direction of one of said plates and in at least another direction of an adjacent plate (11) in such a way that the corrugations of adjacent plates (11) cross each other in the intermediate portion (32).

24. A plate package according to claim 19, wherein the sectional plane (p) intersects the first porthole (14) and the second porthole (15).

25. A plate package according to claim 19, wherein the distribution element (25) is provided substantially in the middle between the first porthole (14) and the second porthole (15).

26. A plate package according to claim 19, wherein each heat exchanger plate has an upper edge (41), a lower edge (42) and two side edges (43, 44), wherein the distribution element (25) is located substantially in the middle between the upper edge (41) and the lower edge (42), and in the middle between the two side edges (43, 44).

27. A plate package according to claim 26, wherein the distribution element (25) has such a length that the closest distance (C) to each of the side edges (43, 44) is equal to 0.7 to 1.0 multiplied by the distance (A) to the upper edge (41).

28. A plate package according to claim 25, wherein the distribution element (25) has an intermediate portion (51) and two outer portions (52, 53) which extend from the intermediate portion (51) to a respective side edge (43, 44).

29. A plate package according to claim 28, wherein at least one of the outer portions (52, 53) has an inclination upwardly towards the upper edge (41).

30. A plate package according to claim 28, wherein the intermediate portion (51) from the two outer portions (52, 53) is inclined upwardly towards the upper edge (41).

31. A plate package according to claim 19, wherein the distribution element (25) includes at least one interruption (36) forming a passage for said fluid through the distribution element (25).

32. A plate package according to claim 19, wherein the upper part space (2″

) is designed in such a way that said outlet channels (34) extend in such a direction that the medium is guided outwardly from a central part of the plate package.

33. A plate package according to claim 19, wherein said outlet channel (34) extends obliquely upwardly and outwardly from said sectional plane.

34. A plate package according to claim 33, wherein said outlet channels (34) extend at an angle (a) that is 30 to 60°

in relation to said sectional plane.

35. A plate package according to claim 34, wherein said angle (a) is about 45°

.

36. A plate package according to claim 19, wherein the plate package (10) has an upper side, a lower side and two opposite transverse sides, and is provided in such a way in the inner space (2) that the plate package, substantially, is located in the lower part space (2′

) and that gap-like recirculation channels (19) are formed between the inner wall surface and the respective transverse side.