EP3043139B1 - Plate for heat exchanger, production process for such a plate and heat exchanger equipped with such a plate - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a plate for a heat exchanger according to the subject of claim 1.

The invention also relates to a heat exchanger comprising such a plate, and a method of manufacturing this plate according to the subject of claims 10 and 9, respectively. In the field of heat exchangers, it is known to equip a heat exchanger with a set of plates. Each plate is provided with two opposite surfaces. The surfaces are corrugated according to a precise pattern, for example a profile with chevrons. In addition, each plate also has a corrugated edge. The plates are arranged one against the other, so that the corrugated surfaces of two adjacent plates together define channels for the turbulent circulation of a heat transfer fluid. In order to prevent leakage of the fluid, it is known to equip the edge of the plates with a seal. When making a plate heat exchanger with a gasket, it is of fundamental importance to align the plates together. To do this, the plate heat exchanger is provided with a lower guide bar and an upper guide bar. However, especially in the case of narrow and very long plates, the two guide bars are not sufficient to ensure perfect alignment between the plates.

In this regard, it is known, for example WO-2010/064975 to make, on the four corners of each plate, several notches, so that, when the plates are arranged against each other, the notches form blocking means in correspondence of the four corners of the plates. A disadvantage of this approach however is that the notches positioned on the corners of the plates do not prevent relative movements between the plates, such as sliding or transverse displacements, at their longitudinal edges. WO-2010/064975 describes an exchanger plate according to the features of the preamble of claim 1. It is to these drawbacks more particularly to remedy the invention by proposing a new plate for a heat exchanger, which is configured to create recesses in a set of plates that permanently prevent sliding movements and movement between the plates, especially at their longitudinal edges.

In this spirit, the invention relates to a plate heat exchanger plate, this plate comprising two main surfaces provided with ribs for defining heat transfer fluid circulation channels and edges surrounding the main surfaces of which at least one has corrugations each defining a bottom. According to the invention, the bottom of at least one first corrugation is provided with a hollow recess, on the side of a first main surface and the bottom of at least one second corrugation is provided with a protruding member. on the side of the second main surface, the projection member being adapted to be blocked, in a direction perpendicular to the edge which has corrugations and perpendicular to a central axis of the plate, itself perpendicular to its main surfaces, in a hollow housing of an identical plate.

Thanks to the invention, the embedding between the plates is located on the long edges of the plates, so as to ensure optimal alignment, regardless of the length of the plates.

• L'organe en saillie est de forme complémentaire du logement en creux.
• Le logement en creux et l'organe en saillie sont respectivement réalisés sous la forme d'une empreinte et d'une nervure parallèles au bord sur lequel elles sont ménagées.
• La première ondulation et la deuxième ondulation sont contigües le long du bord.
• Plusieurs couples de logement en creux et d'organes en saillie sont ménagés sur la longueur d'un bord de la plaque.
• Les logements en creux et les organes en saillie sont ménagés avec symétrie centrale par rapport à l'axe central.
• Les logements en creux et les organes en saillie ont une section en demi-cercle ou en V ou qui résulte d'une combinaison entre un demi-cercle et un V, suivant un plan perpendiculaire aux surfaces principales de la plaque.
• La plaque est globalement rectangulaire et les bords pourvus des logements en creux et des organes en saillie sont longitudinaux.

According to advantageous but non-mandatory aspects of the invention, such a plate includes one or more of the following features, taken in any technically permissible combination:

• The projecting member is of complementary shape of the hollow housing.
• The recessed housing and the protruding member are respectively formed in the form of a recess and a rib parallel to the edge on which they are formed.
• The first undulation and the second undulation are contiguous along the edge.
• Several pairs of hollow housing and protruding members are formed along the length of an edge of the plate.
• The hollow recesses and the protruding members are arranged with central symmetry with respect to the central axis.
• The depressions and projecting members have a semicircle or V section or result of a combination between a semicircle and a V, in a plane perpendicular to the main surfaces of the plate.
• The plate is generally rectangular and the edges provided with hollow recesses and protruding members are longitudinal.

1. a) la réalisation de nervures sur les surfaces principales de la plaque,
2. b) la réalisation des ondulations sur les bords de la plaque, et
3. c) la réalisation des logements en creux et des organes en saillie sur au moins un bord de la plaque,

les étapes a) à c) étant réalisées en même temps.The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a plate as mentioned above, this method comprising at least the following steps:

1. a) the realization of ribs on the main surfaces of the plate,
2. b) making the corrugations on the edges of the plate, and
3. c) the production of hollow recesses and protruding members on at least one edge of the plate,

steps a) to c) being performed at the same time.

The invention also relates to a plate heat exchanger and seal comprising a first and a second plate, the second plate being movable in translation relative to the first plate by means of the threaded rods. The exchanger also comprises a set of plates comprising at least five plates, two guide bars of the plates and pipes of a hot fluid and a cold fluid. According to the invention, the plates are as mentioned above.

According to a particular embodiment, the exchanger is such that the plates are rotated 180 ° with respect to the central axis of the plate and supported on one another, so that the projecting members a plate are received in the hollow recesses of another adjacent plate.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un échangeur de chaleur équipé d'un jeu de plaques ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective et selon un autre angle de l'échangeur à la figure 1 en cours de montage, équipé de deux plaques conformes à l'invention ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en élévation suivant la flèche III à la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective de trois plaques de l'échangeur de chaleur des figures 1 et 2, lorsqu'elles sont l'une en appui sur l'autre ;
• la figure 5 est une vue à plus grande échelle de l'encadré V à la figure 4 ;
• la figure 6 est une vue à plus grande échelle de l'encadré VI à la figure 5 ; et
• la figure 7 est une coupe partielle suivant le plan VII à la figure 6.

The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the light of the following description of a plate and a heat exchanger, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger equipped with a set of plates;
• the figure 2 is a perspective view and at another angle of the exchanger at the figure 1 during assembly, equipped with two plates according to the invention;
• the figure 3 is an elevation view along arrow III to figure 2 ;
• the figure 4 is a perspective view of three plates of the heat exchanger of figures 1 and 2 when they are one in support of the other;
• the figure 5 is a larger-scale view of Box V at figure 4 ;
• the figure 6 is a larger-scale view of Box VI at figure 5 ; and
• the figure 7 is a partial section along the plane VII to the figure 6 .

The heat exchanger 1 shown on the Figures 1 to 3 comprises a first plate 2, a second plate 3, eight threaded rods 10, only one of which is shown in FIG. figure 1 , two guide bars 12, four pipe lines 14, a support column 16 and a set 18 of plates.

The trays 2 and 3 are of generally rectangular shape and parallel to each other. X1 is a central axis of the heat exchanger 1 and perpendicular to the plates 2 and 3.

The first plate 2 has two parallel longitudinal edges 21 and two parallel transverse edges 22. On each long edge 21, the plate 2 comprises four bores 24. The bores 24 are opening on the longitudinal edges 21 and are arranged at a distance D 1 one of the other, in a direction parallel to the edges 21. The distance D varies depending on the model of heat exchanger considered. Each bore 24 is configured to receive a corresponding threaded rod 10. The plate 2 also comprises, on each short edge 22, a bore 26, configured to accommodate the corresponding guide bar 12. The guide bars 12 are configured to hold the plates 2 and 3 and the set of plates 18 aligned during the manufacture of the exchanger 1. The bores 26 are not opening on the short edges 22 and are arranged at an equal distance L between the two long edges 21. The distance L varies according to the model of heat exchanger considered.

The plate 2 further comprises four bores 28 arranged at the corners of the plate, each configured to receive a pipe pipe 14. The pipes 14 are intended for the flow of a coolant, such as water at a high temperature. temperature.

Similarly to the first plate 2, the second plate 3 has two parallel long edges 31 and two parallel short edges 32. On each long edge 31, the plate 3 has four bores 34. The bores 34 open on the long edges 31 and are disposed at the distance D from each other, in a direction parallel to the edges 31. Each bore 34 is intended to receive a corresponding threaded rod 10. The plate 3 also comprises, on each short edge 32, a bore 36 configured to house the corresponding guide bar 12. The bores 36 are not opening on the short edges 32 and are arranged at equal distance L between the two long edges 31. The second plate 3 is movable relative to the first plate 2 in translation along the axis X1, using eight threaded rods 10.

In practice, the trays 2 and 3 are arranged at a predetermined distance H, so as to accommodate the set of plates 18. The distance H is a calculated value, which depends on the heat exchanger model and the number of plates.

The support column 16 is integral with the two guide bars 12 and is configured to stabilize the bars 12 and the set of plates 18.

The set of plates 18 comprises a plurality of identical plates 4. In particular, the plate set 18 comprises a number of plates 4 which varies according to the model of heat exchanger considered.

X4 is a central axis of the game 18 and each plate 4 which is perpendicular to the main surfaces 40 of the plates. In assembled configuration, the axis X4 of the plates 4 is superimposed on the axis X1 of the exchanger 1. The plates 4 are arranged in the game 18 in configuration head to tail, as visible on the Figures 4 to 6 . In other words, each plate 4 is rotated 180 ° about the axis X4 relative to the plate (s) 4 adjacent (s).

Each plate 4 of the plate set 18 is of generally rectangular shape. In other words, each plate 4 has two main surfaces 40A and 40B, two longitudinal edges 41 and two transverse edges 42 surrounding the surfaces 40. The surfaces 40A of the plates 4 are visible at figures 2 and 6 , while the surfaces 40B are masked there. Each plate 4 also has four rounded corners 43. In the vicinity of each rounded corner 43, the plate 4 is provided with a bore 44 configured to receive the pipe pipe 14. The bores 44 have corrugations.

On each short edge 42, the plate 4 has a notch 45 intended to support one of the two guide bars 12.

The main surfaces 40A and 40B of the plate 4 are provided with ribs 46. The ribs 46 are formed according to a particular profile, for example a chevron profile, and are intended to define the heat transfer fluid circulation channels. In a manner known per se, the channels determine a turbulent flow of such fluid.

The longitudinal edges 41 and the transverse edges 42, have, over their entire length and except the housing 45, corrugations 47 each defining a bottom 48 plane.

As visible to Figures 5 to 7 , the bottom 48 of some corrugations 47 is provided with a recess 50 which forms a recessed housing seen from the side of the surface 40A. There is a wave 47A whose bottom 48 is provided with a housing 50.

The bottom 48 of a corrugation 47B contiguous to a corrugation 47A is provided with a rib 52 which forms a protruding member seen from the side of the surface 40B.

D1 denotes a direction perpendicular to the edge 41 which has corrugations 47 and perpendicular to the central axis X4. Each rib or protruding member 52 is adapted to be blocked, in the direction D1, in an indentation or hollow recess 50 of an identical plate 4.

The hollow recess or recess 50 of a corrugation 47A, and the protruding member 52 of an adjacent corrugation 47B, form a pair 54 of complementary reliefs. The plate 4 has along its longitudinal edges 41 eight pairs 54, that is to say four pairs 54 on each edge 41.

In practice, the reliefs 50 and 52, which are complementary because the outer shape of the rib 52 is adjusted to the inner shape of the recess 50, are made by localized stamping of the edges 41, with a longitudinal direction parallel to the edge 41 on which they are spared.

The pairs 54 of reliefs 50 and 52 are formed on the longitudinal edges 41 with central symmetry with respect to the axis X4.

In a plane perpendicular to the main surfaces 40A and 40B of the plate 4, the hollow recesses 50 and the protruding members 52 have a semicircular section, as can be seen in FIG. figure 7 .

Alternatively, in the plane perpendicular to the main surfaces 40A and 40B of the plate 4, the hollow recesses 50 and the projecting members 52 have a V-section.

According to another variant, the cross-section of the hollow recesses 50 and protruding members 52 has another shape which also allows locking in the direction D1. For example, the housings 50 and the members 52 have a section that results from a combination between a semicircle and a V.

When the plates 4 are arranged in head-to-tail configuration to form the clearance 18, the edges 41 and 42 define polygonal, hexagon-shaped figures 56 staggered along the edges 41 and 42. This offset is due to the head-to-tail configuration with which the plates 4 are arranged.

In this configuration, the protruding members 52 of each plate are received in corresponding recessed recesses 50 of the adjacent plate 4. In particular, taking into consideration three adjacent plates 4 of the game 18 as represented in FIGS. Figures 4 to 7 , a so-called central plate and adjacent plates said second plate and third plate respectively shown above and below the central plate in these figures, the recessed housing 50 of the central plate 4 accommodates a protruding member 52 of the second plate 4, when the protruding member 52 of the central plate 4 is arranged in a recessed housing 50 of the third plate 4.

In other words, the pair of reliefs 54 of the central plate defines a recess with corresponding relief pairs 54 of the second and third plates 4. In total, between two adjacent plates 4 are present eight recesses. Recesses allow the plates 4 of the game 18 to remain aligned during assembly. Indeed, insofar as the projecting members 52 are locked in the hollow recesses 50 in a direction perpendicular to the edges 41 and the axis X4, and therefore perpendicular to the edges 42, a relative displacement between two or more plates 4 according to this direction is prevented.

In the assembled configuration of the game 18 of the plates 4, thanks to the positioning head of the plates 4, the ribs 46 of two surfaces 40 of two adjacent plates 4 define the circulation channels of the coolant.

According to a variant not shown in the figures, the transverse edges 42 of the plates 4 are also provided with pairs 54 of reliefs 50 and 52.

A method of manufacturing a plate 4 according to the invention will now be described.

The manufacturing process of the plate 4 comprises a step a) of making the ribs 46 on the main surfaces 40 of the plate 4. The method also comprises a step b) of producing the corrugations 47 on the edges 41 and 42 of the plate 4, and finally a step c) of producing the hollow recesses 50 and projecting members 52 on the edges 41 and 42 of the plate 4, at the corrugations 47A and 47B. Steps a) to c) are performed at the same time.

Once the steps a) to c) performed on all the plates, they are mounted head to tail to form the set of plates 18, by inserting each protruding member 52 in a housing 50. Then, the pipes 14 are put in place. square. Then, the set of plates 18 is compressed between the plates 2 and 3, thanks to the screws 10.

Claims (11)

1. Plate (4) of a plate exchanger (1), this plate comprising:

   - two main surfaces (40A, 40B) provided with ribs (46) which are intended to define channels for circulation of a heat transfer medium, and

   - edges (41, 42) which surround the main surfaces, at least one of which has undulations (47) which each define a bottom (48),

   the plate being characterised in that the bottom (48) of at least one first undulation (47A) is provided with a recessed housing (50) on the side of a first main surface (40A) and the bottom of at least one second undulation (47B) is provided with a member (52) projecting from the side of the second main surface (40B), the projecting member being adapted to be locked, in a direction (D1) which is perpendicular to the edge (41) which has the undulations and perpendicular to a central axis (X4) of the plate, itself perpendicular to the main surfaces (40A, 40B) thereof, in the recessed housing (50) of an identical plate.
2. Plate according to claim 1, characterised in that the projecting member (52) has a shape which is complementary to the recessed housing (50).
3. Plate according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the recessed housing and the projecting member are respectively produced in the shape of an indentation (50) and of a rib (52) which are parallel to the edge (41) on which they are provided.
4. Plate according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first undulation (47A) and the second undulation (47B) are contiguous along the edge (41).
5. Plate according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a plurality of pairs (54) of recessed housings (50) and projecting members (52) are provided along one edge (41) of the plate (4).
6. Plate according to claim 5, characterised in that the recessed housings (50) and the projecting members (52) are provided with central symmetry relative to the central axis (X4).
7. Plate according to claim 6, characterised in that the recessed housings (50) and the projecting members (52) have a semicircular or V section or one which results from a combination between a semi-circle and a V, along a plane which is perpendicular to the main surfaces (40) of the plate (4).
8. Plate according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is overall rectangular, and in that the edges (41) which are provided with the recessed housings (50) and the projecting members (52) are longitudinal.
9. Method for manufacture of a plate according to claims 1 to 8, this method comprising at least the following steps:

   a) production of ribs (46) on the main surfaces (40) of the plate (4),

   b) production of undulations (47) on the edges (41, 42) of the plate, and

   c) production of recessed housings (50) and projecting members (52) on at least one edge (41) of the plate,

   steps a) to c) being produced at the same time.
10. Plate heat exchanger (1) and combined comprising:

    - a first and a second plate (2, 3), the second plate being moveable in translation relative to the first plate by means of threaded rods (10),

    - a set (18) of plates comprising at least five plates (4),

    - two bars (12) for guiding the plates, and

    - channels (14) for a warm fluid and a cold fluid,

    characterised in that the plates are according to one of the claims 1 to 8.
11. Exchanger according to claim 10, characterised in that the plates (4) are rotated by 180° relative to the central axis (X4) of the plate and supported one upon the other, in such a way that the projecting members (52) of one plate are received in the recessed housings (50) of another adjacent plate.

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