Heat exchange plate

Abstract

A heat exchange plate includes main protrusions, intermediate protrusions and non-protruded portions. The main protrusions having a truncated cone or pyramid shape are placed in positions based on a pattern on the plate. The intermediate protrusion is placed between two main protrusions that are adjacent to each other at a shortest distance so that the main protrusion is connected to two other main protrusions through two intermediate protrusions. The intermediate protrusion is defined by a flat portion extending to opposing surfaces of the two main protrusions. The intermediate protrusion has a peak portion placed in a lower position than a top of the main protrusion. The non-protruded portion is placed between adjacent intermediate protrusions. The non-protruded portion is placed in a lowest position relative to a protruding direction of the main and intermediate protrusions so as to provide a recess surrounded by the main and intermediate protrusions.

1 . A heat exchange plate, which is formed of a metallic plate and has a predetermined pattern of irregularity, the heat exchange plate being placed on another heat exchange plate having a same structure so as to come into contact with each other on a same side of the heat exchange plate to provide a pair of heat exchange plates, the pair of heat exchange plates being combined to one or more other pair of heat exchange plates integrally with each other to form a heat exchanger in which heat exchange is to be made between first and second heat exchange fluids that come into contact with opposite surfaces of the heat-exchange plate, respectively, the heat exchange plate comprising: 
 a plurality of main protrusions that protrude outward from one surface of the heat exchange plate in a form of a truncated cone or a truncated pyramid, the protrusions being placed in predetermined positions based on a predetermined pattern on the heat exchange plate;    a plurality of intermediate protrusions each of which is placed between two main protrusions that are adjacent to each other at a shortest distance so that each of the main protrusions is connected to two or more other main protrusions through two or more intermediate protrusions, each of the intermediate protrusions being defined by one or more flat or curved portions that extend to opposing surfaces of the two main protrusions, and each of the intermediate protrusions having one or more peak portions that are placed in a lower position than a top of the main protrusion; and    a plurality of non-protruded portions each of which is placed between adjacent intermediate protrusions of the plurality of intermediate protrusions, each of the plurality of non-protruded portions being placed in a lowest position relative to a protruding direction of the main and intermediate protrusions, the plurality of non-protruded portions providing recesses surrounded by the main and intermediate protrusions.    
   
   
       2 . The heat exchange plate as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each of the main protrusions has a shape of the truncated cone; and each of the intermediate protrusions is defined by the one or more curved portions.    
   
   
       3 . The heat exchange plate as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each of the main protrusions has a shape of the truncated pyramid; and each of the intermediate protrusions is defined by the one or more flat portions.    
   
   
       4 . The heat exchange plate as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each of the intermediate protrusions has two or more mound portions that are placed on a straight line, which is perpendicular to a reference line along which the adjacent two main protrusions are aligned so that the intermediate protrusion is placed between the surfaces of the adjacent two main protrusions, each of the mound portions having a height that is smaller than one-half of a height of the main protrusion.    
   
   
       5 . The heat exchange plate as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 each of the intermediate protrusions has two or more mound portions that are placed on a straight line, which is perpendicular to a reference line along which the adjacent two main protrusions are aligned so that the intermediate protrusion is placed between the surfaces of the adjacent two main protrusions, each of the mound portions having a height that is smaller than one-half of a height of the main protrusion.    
   
   
       6 . The heat exchange plate as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein: 
 each of the intermediate protrusions has two or more mound portions that are placed on a straight line, which is perpendicular to a reference line along which the adjacent two main protrusions are aligned so that the intermediate protrusion is placed between the surfaces of the adjacent two main protrusions, each of the mound portions having a height that is smaller than one-half of a height of the main protrusion.    
   
   
       7 . A heat exchange plate, which is formed of a metallic plate and has a predetermined pattern of irregularity, the heat exchange plate being placed on another heat exchange plate having a same structure so as to come into contact with each other on a same side of the heat exchange plate to provide a pair of heat exchange plates, the pair of heat exchange plates being combined to one or more other pair of heat exchange plates integrally with each other to form a heat exchanger in which heat exchange is to be made between first and second heat exchange fluids that come into contact with opposite surfaces of the heat exchange plate, respectively, the heat exchange plate comprising: 
 a plurality of main protrusions that protrude outward from one surface of the heat exchange plate in a form of a truncated cone, the protrusions being placed in predetermined positions based on a predetermined pattern on the heat exchange plate, each of the main protrusions being provided at a foot portion thereof with alternating first and second conical surface edges, two main protrusions that are adjacent to each other at a shortest distance are connected to each other at the first conical surface edge so that each of the main protrusions are connected to two or more other main protrusions through two or more first conical surface edges; and    a plurality of non-protruded portions each of which is placed between the second conical surface edges of other two main protrusions that are adjacent to each other at a longer distance than the shortest distance, each of the plurality of non-protruded portions being placed in a lowest position relative to a protruding direction of the main protrusions, the plurality of non-protruded portions providing recesses surrounded by the main protrusions.