Heat exchange element for ventilating apparatus

Abstract

A heat exchange element of a heat exchanger prevents losses due to internal pressure non-uniformity. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat exchange sheets which are stacked together. A plurality of airflow guide ribs located between the sheets have connection passages that allow gases to flow between adjacent ducts. The flow of gasses through the connection passages offsets pressure non-uniformity between adjacent ducts. Also, the ribs can be continuously arranged over the length of the heat exchange ducts to increase an area supporting the heat exchange sheets, and thus the sag phenomenon of the heat exchange sheet can be prevented.

1 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a plurality of heat exchange sheets which are stacked on top of one another; and   a plurality of guide ribs positioned between the heat exchange sheets to form fluid flow ducts between adjacent heat exchange sheets, wherein an aperture is formed in at least one of the guide ribs to allow fluid flow exchange between adjacent fluid flow ducts.   
   
   
       2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein an aperture is formed in at least one guide rib between each adjacent pair of heat exchange sheets. 
   
   
       3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the guide ribs are attached to the heat exchange sheets. 
   
   
       4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein guide ribs are attached to two opposite sides of each of the heat exchange sheets. 
   
   
       5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the aperture is formed by removing a portion of a surface of the at least one guide rib adjacent to the heat exchange sheet to which it is attached such that the surface of the guide rib abutting the heat exchange sheet is discontinuous. 
   
   
       6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the aperture is formed by removing a portion of a surface of the at least one guide rib opposite the heat exchange sheet to which it is attached such that the surface of the guide rib opposite to the heat exchange sheet is discontinuous. 
   
   
       7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the aperture is formed in a central portion of the at least one guide rib such that the upper and lower surfaces of the guide ribs are continuous. 
   
   
       8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of apertures are formed in the at least one guide rib. 
   
   
       9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 8 , wherein at least two of the plurality of apertures formed in the at least one guide rib have different lengths. 
   
   
       10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein an aperture is formed in a plurality of the guide ribs located between each adjacent pair of heat exchange sheets. 
   
   
       11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein a height of the aperture varies along a length of the aperture. 
   
   
       12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein at least one side edge of the aperture is angled. 
   
   
       13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein at least one side edge of the aperture is rounded. 
   
   
       14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture is formed by removing an upper surface portion of the at least one guide rib such that the upper surface of the guide rib is discontinuous. 
   
   
       15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture is formed by removing a lower surface portion of the at least one guide rib such that the lower surface of the guide rib is discontinuous. 
   
   
       16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture is formed in a central portion of the at least one guide rib such that the upper and lower surfaces of the guide ribs are continuous. 
   
   
       17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the aperture is greater than a height of the aperture. 
   
   
       18 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture is formed on the at least one guide rib at a portion of the guide rib which is curved or angled. 
   
   
       19 . A heat exchange plate for a heat exchanger, comprising:
 a heat exchange sheet; and   a plurality of guide ribs attached to at least one side of the heat exchange sheet, wherein an aperture is formed in at least one of the guide ribs to allow fluid flow exchange through the aperture.   
   
   
       20 . The heat exchange plate of  claim 19 , wherein a plurality of guide ribs are formed on two opposite sides of the heat exchange sheet. 
   
   
       21 . The heat exchange plate of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of guide ribs are formed on the two opposite sides of the heat exchange sheet such that when two heat exchange plates are stacked on top of one another, the guide ribs on the bottom of the upper heat exchange plate are interposed between corresponding pairs of the guide ribs on the top of the lower heat exchange plate. 
   
   
       22 . A heat exchanger comprising the heat exchange plate of  claim 21 .