Layer-built heat exchanger

• US 5,392,849 A
• Filed: 02/23/1994
• Issued: 02/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Refrigeration Company (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Refrigeration Company (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Fujino, Kenji, Matsunaga, Tsuyoshi, Sugahara, Takashi, Kan, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwadron, Martin P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEO, LEONARD R
• Application Number:
  US08/200,365
• Time in Patent Office: 370 Days
• Field of Search: 165/167, 165/78, 165/166
• US Class Current: 165/167
• 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 2250/102 with change of flow direction
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2280/04 Means for preventing wrong assembling of parts

Abstract

A layer-built heat exchanger has channels formed by dividers in a first-side plate 32 and a second-side plate 33. A seal plate 3 is interposed between the first- and second-side plates. The first-side plate 32 and second-side plate 33 are positioned relative to each other such that dividers 35 of the second-side plate 33 are in line with channels 36 of the first-side plate 32, and dividers 34 of the first-side plate 32 are in line with the channels 37 of the second-side plate 33, thus preventing deformation of the seal plate 3 due to a high differential pressure between the coolants flowing through the channels of the first- and second-side plates. The corners of the first-side plate 32, second-side plate 33, and seal plate 3 are also shaped differently so that omission of one of the component plates can be easily confirmed.

Claims

1. An arrangement in a layer-built heat exchanger, comprising:

a first plurality of plates each comprising a first flat rectangular panel having a plurality of first channels therein defined and separated by a plurality of first dividers for the flow of a first heat exchange fluid through said first channels, a pair of first holes through said first flat rectangular panel for the flow of the first heat exchange fluid located at opposite ends of said first channels, and a pair of second holes through said first flat rectangular panel for the flow a second heat exchange fluid;

a plurality of second plates each comprising a second flat rectangular panel having a plurality of second channels therein defined and separated by a plurality of second dividers for the flow of a second heat exchange fluid through said second channels, a pair of first holes through said second flat rectangular panel aligned with said first holes of said first plates for the flow of the first heat exchange fluid therethrough, and a pair of second holes through said second flat rectangular panel aligned with said second holes of said first plates for the flow of the second heat exchange fluid therethrough, said second holes of said second plates being located at opposite ends of said second channels, said second holes of said first plates being larger than said second holes of said second plates, and said first holes of said second plates being larger than said first holes of said first plates; and

a plurality of seal plates disposed between said first plates and said second plates, said seal plates having a pair of first holes therethrough aligned with said first holes of said first and second plates for the flow of the first heat exchange fluid, and a pair of second holes therethrough aligned with said second holes of said first and second plates, said first holes and said second holes of said seal plates having substantially the same configuration as said first holes of said second plates and said second holes of said first plates, respectively, wherein said first plates and said second plates alternate with said seal plates disposed between said first and second plates so as to isolate said first and second plates from each other, wherein said first holes of said seal plates and said first holes of said second plates are located over said first holes of said first plates so as to define first buffer chambers over said first holes of said first plates, and said second holes of said first plates and said second holes of said seal plates are located over said second holes of said second plates to define second buffer chambers over said second holes of said second plates;

wherein said ends of said first channels and said ends of said second channels of said first and second plates substantially define a V-shape about said first and second holes, respectively intruding into said first and second buffer chambers, and are located such that the length of said first and second channels in said first and second buffer chambers increases with an increase in the distance of said channels from the center of their respective said hole.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein at each said end of said first and second channels, said channels overlap, in a direction perpendicular to said flat rectangular panels, the respective said first and second holes of each said seal plate aligned with the respective said hole of each said end of said channels, said channels increasing in the amount of overlap with the respective said hole of said seal plate with the increase in the distance of said channels from the center of their respective said hole.

3. The arrangement of claim 2, wherein said first holes of said first plates and said second holes of said second plates are each circular, and said first and second holes of said seal plates each comprise a rectangular portion overlapped by a said end of said channels and a semi-circular portion aligned with one of said first and second holes of said first and second plates.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein, in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said first and second flat rectangular panels, at least a portion of said second dividers are positioned opposite to said first channels and at least a portion of said first dividers are positioned opposite said second channels.

5. The arrangement of claim 4, wherein said first and second channels and said first and second dividers extend parallel to each other at said portions of said second and first dividers extending opposite to said first and second channels.

6. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein said first plates, said second plates and seal plates are each provided with a different identifying shape at outside edges thereof.

7. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein said identifying shape of end said first plate is a convex member on one side thereof, said identifying member of each said second plate is a convex member on a side thereof and said identifying member of each seal plate comprises concave portions for receiving said convex portions of said first and second plates.

8. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein said identifying shape of each said first plate comprises rounded corners on said first flat rectangular panel, said identifying shape on each second plate comprises beveled corners on said second flat rectangular panel and said identifying shape on each said seal plate comprises corners shaped differently than said corners of said first and second flat rectangular panels.

9. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein opposite end plates are provided having said first and second plates and said seal plates therebetween, one of said end plates being provided with inlet and outlet pipes for the first and second heat exchange fluids communicating with said pairs of first and second holes.

10. The arrangement of claim 9, wherein said holes of said pairs of first and second holes of each said first plate have a smaller diameter than the outer diameter of the respective said inlet and outlet pipes.

11. The arrangement of claim 10, wherein said inlet and outlet pipes extend through the one said end plate and abut against one said first plate.

12. An arrangement in a layer-built heat exchanger, comprising:

a first plate comprising a first flat rectangular panel having a plurality of first channels therein defined and separated by a plurality of first dividers for the flow of a first heat exchange fluid through said first channels, a pair of first holes through said first flat rectangular panel for the flow of the first heat exchange fluid, said first holes being located at opposite ends of said first channels, and a pair of second holes through said first flat rectangular panel for the flow a second heat exchange fluid;

a second plate comprising a second flat rectangular panel having a plurality of second channels therein defined and separated by a plurality of second dividers for the flow of a second heat exchange fluid through said second channels, a pair of first holes through said second flat rectangular panel aligned with said first holes of said first plate for the flow of the first heat exchange fluid therethrough, and a pair of second holes through said second flat rectangular panel aligned with said second holes of said first plate for the flow of the second heat exchange fluid therethrough, said second holes being located at opposite ends of said second channels;

a seal plate disposed between said first plate and said second plate, said seal plate having a pair of first holes therethrough aligned with said first holes of said first and second plates for the flow of the first heat exchange fluid, and a pair of second holes therethrough aligned with said second holes of said first and second plates; and

opposite end plates having said first and second plates and said seal plate therebetween, one of said end plates having inlet and outlet pipes for the first and second heat exchange fluids communicating with said pairs of first and second holes, said inlet and outlet pipes extending through the respective said holes of said first and second plates and said seal plate to the other said end plate, and said inlet and outlet pipes each having an elongated hole therein extending between said end plates in said holes of said first and second plates and said seal plate.

13. An arrangement in a layer-built heat exchanger, comprising:

a first plurality of plates each comprising a first flat rectangular panel having a plurality of first channels therein defined and separated by a plurality of first dividers for the flow of a first heat exchange fluid through said first channels, a pair of first holes through said first flat rectangular panel for the flow of the first heat exchange fluid located at opposite ends of said first channels, and a pair of second holes through said first flat rectangular panel for the flow a second heat exchange fluid;

a plurality of second plates each comprising a second flat rectangular panel having a plurality of second channels therein defined and separated by a plurality of second dividers for the flow of a second heat exchange fluid through said second channels, a pair of first holes through said second flat rectangular panel aligned with said first holes of said first plates for the flow of the first heat exchange fluid therethrough, and a pair of second holes through said second flat rectangular panel aligned with said second holes of said first pleates for the flow of the second heat exchange fluid therethrough, said second holes of said second plates being located at opposite ends of said second channels, said second holes ofd said first plates being larger than said second holes of said second plates, and said first holes of said second plates being larger than said first holes of said first plates; and

a plurality of seal plates disposed between said first plates and said second plates, said seal plates having a pair of first holes therethrough aligned with said first holes of said first and second plates for the flow of the first heat exchange fluid, and a pair of second holes therethrough aligned with said second holes of said first and second plates, said first holes and said second holes of said seal plates having substantially the same configuration as said first holes of said second plates and said second holes of said first plates, respectively, wherein said first plates and said second plates alternate with said seal plates disposed between said first and second plates so as to isolate said first and second plates from each other, wherein said first holes of said seal plates and said first holes of said second plates are located over said first holes of said first plates so as to define first buffer chambers over said first holes of the first plates, and said second holes of said first plates and said second holes of said seal plates are located over said second holes of said second plates to define second buffer chambers over said second holes of said second plates;

wherein said ends of said first channels and said ends of said second channels of said first and second plates intrude into said first and second buffer chambers, and are located such that the length of said channels increases in said first and second buffer chambers with an increase in the distance of said channels from the center of their respective said hole.

14. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein at each said end of said first and second channels, said channels overlap, in a direction perpendicular to said flat rectangular panels, the respective said first and second holes of each said seal plate aligned with the respective said hole of each said end of said channels, said channels increasing in the amount of overlap with the respective said hole of said seal plate with the increase in the distance of said channels from the center of their respective said hole.

15. The arrangement of claim 14, wherein said first holes of said first plate and said second holes of each said second plate are each circular, and said first and second holes of each said seal plate each comprise a rectangular portion overlapped by a said end of said channels and a semi-circular portion aligned with one of said first and second holes of said first and second plates.

16. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein said ends of said first channels and said ends of said second channels partially surround their respective said holes.