Method for the production of plate type heat exchangers and related apparatus

Abstract

A method for the production of plate type heat exchangers ( 10 ) comprising the operative steps of: juxtaposing a couple of metal plates ( 12, 14 ), welding each other said juxtaposed plates ( 12, 14 ) at least perimetrically, defining an inner chamber ( 16 ) between said metal plates ( 12, 14 ), intended to be crossed by an operating heat exchange fluid, said operative welding step of the juxtaposed plates ( 12, 14 ) being carried out by supplying heat directly to each of said metal plates ( 12, 14 ).

1 . Method for the production of plate type heat exchangers ( 10 ) comprising the operative steps of: 
 juxtaposing a couple of metal plates ( 12 ,  14 ),    welding each other said juxtaposed plates ( 12 ,  14 ) at least perimetrically,    defining an inner chamber ( 16 ) between said metal plates ( 12 ,  14 ), intended to be crossed by an operating heat exchange fluid,    characterized in that said operative welding step of the juxtaposed plates ( 12 ,  14 ) is carried out by supplying heat directly to each of said metal plates ( 12 ,  14 ).    
   
   
       2 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said welding between said plates ( 12 ,  14 ) is carried out along at least part of the perimeter of said plates ( 12 ,  14 ).  
   
   
       3 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said welding between said plates ( 12 ,  14 ) also takes the form of spot weldings ( 22 ) that join each other the metal plates ( 12 ,  14 ) in areas situated within the perimeter of the plates ( 12 ,  14 ).  
   
   
       4 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said supply of heat in direct manner is carried out through at least one heat source ( 140 ,  150 ) that faces each of said juxtaposed metal plates ( 12 ,  14 ).  
   
   
       5 . Method according to  claim 4 , characterized in that said welding is obtained by arranging said at least one heat sources ( 140 ,  150 ), respectively facing the two metal plates ( 12 ,  14 ), opposite each other, so that the heat is supplied in a substantially equal manner on the two sides of the welding to be carried out.  
   
   
       6 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said supply of heat in direct manner is carried out using a laser beam source.  
   
   
       7 . Apparatus ( 110 ) for the production of plate type heat exchangers ( 10 ), of the type comprising a substantially flat support structure for a couple of metal plates ( 12 ,  14 ), juxtaposed each other, moving means to move said couple of metal plates ( 12 ,  14 ) below at least one head ( 140 ) carrying a heat source, arranged in a predetermined position facing one of said metal plates, characterized in that it comprises at least one further head ( 150 ) carrying a heat source facing the other metal plate, providing in said support structure at least one through opening facing said at least one further head ( 150 ).  
   
   
       8 . Plate type heat exchanger ( 10 ), consisting of a box-shaped, parallelepiped, flattened body ( 11 ) formed from two plates ( 12 ,  14 ) joined each other and that are in an appropriate spaced relationship, so as to define an inner chamber in fluid communication with the outside of the exchanger through an inlet opening ( 18 ) and an outlet opening ( 20 ) of an operating heat exchange fluid, characterized in that it has weldings with balanced shrinkage tensions.