Flow moderator

Abstract

A fluid flow moderator for a plate heat exchange device comprises an open-sided fluid conduit adapted for positioning adjacent to a fluid port of a plate heat exchange device wherein said fluid conduit has a fluid deflection surface for moderating fluid flow. A method of moderating fluid flow in a plate heat exchange device comprises positioning an open-sided fluid conduit adjacent to a fluid port of a plate heat exchange device wherein said fluid conduit has a surface for deflecting a fluid and moderating fluid flow in said heat exchange device.

1 . A fluid flow moderator for a plate heat exchange device comprising an open-sided fluid conduit adapted for positioning adjacent to a fluid port of a plate heat exchange device wherein said fluid conduit has a fluid deflection surface for moderating fluid flow 
   
   
       2 . The fluid flow moderator according to  claim 1 , wherein said fluid conduit is a partial cylinder. 
   
   
       3 . The fluid flow moderator according to  claim 1 , wherein said fluid conduit has an arcuate fluid deflection surface. 
   
   
       4 . The fluid flow moderator according to  claim 2 , wherein said open-sided portion of said fluid conduit is a longitudinal opening. 
   
   
       5 . The fluid flow moderator according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sealing ring for said fluid conduit. 
   
   
       6 . The fluid flow moderator according to  claim 5 , wherein said fluid conduit further comprises a handle for removing said moderator from said heat exchange device. 
   
   
       7 . The fluid flow moderator according to  claim 1 , wherein said fluid deflection surface has indentations, corrugations and/or holes. 
   
   
       8 . The fluid flow moderator according to  claim 3 , wherein said arcuate fluid deflection surface subtends an angle of less than or equal to 270°. 
   
   
       9 . The fluid flow moderator according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid flow moderation is a reduction of pressure loss in and/or adjacent to the fluid port. 
   
   
       10 . A plate heat exchange device comprising a fluid flow moderator, wherein said fluid flow moderator comprises an open-sided fluid conduit positioned adjacent to a fluid port of the plate heat exchange device wherein said fluid conduit has a fluid deflection surface for moderating fluid flow. 
   
   
       11 . A plate heat exchange device according to  claim 10 , comprising a series of heat exchange plates with fluid ports assembled to form a manifold defining flow passages for fluid flow through said heat exchange device. 
   
   
       12 . The plate heat exchange device according to  claim 10 , wherein said fluid conduit is a partial cylinder. 
   
   
       13 . The plate heat exchange device according to  claim 10 , wherein said fluid conduit has an arcuate fluid deflection surface. 
   
   
       14 . The plate heat exchange device according to  claim 10 , wherein said fluid deflection surface has indentations, corrugations and/or holes. 
   
   
       15 . The plate heat exchange device according to  claim 13 , wherein said arcuate fluid deflection surface subtends an angle of less than or equal to 270°. 
   
   
       16 . The fluid flow moderator according to  claim 10 , wherein the fluid flow moderation is a reduction of pressure loss in and/or adjacent to the fluid port. 
   
   
       17 . A method of moderating fluid flow in a plate heat exchange device, the method comprising positioning an open-sided fluid conduit adjacent to a fluid port of a plate heat exchange device wherein said fluid conduit has a surface for deflecting a fluid and moderating fluid flow in said heat exchange device. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said fluid conduit is a partial cylinder. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said fluid conduit has an arcuate fluid deflection surface. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein said arcuate fluid deflection surface subtends an angle of less than 270°.