Plate Heat Exchanger

Abstract

The invention relates to a plate heat exchanger ( 100 ) comprising a package of heat exchanger plates ( 1 ), two end plates ( 2, 3 ) between which the package of heat exchanger plates ( 1 ) is kept together, a plurality of threaded bolts ( 9 ), where the bolts ( 9 ) extends between the end plate ( 2 ) and a drive unit ( 10 ) and through the end plate ( 3 ), the drive unit being arranged for synchronously rotating the bolts ( 9 ) and having bolt heads ( 11 ) arranged to bear directly or indirectly against one ( 2 ) of the end plates, a plurality of nuts ( 12 ), each in threaded engagement with one of the bolts ( 9 ) and arranged to bear directly or indirectly against the other end plate ( 3 ), the bolts ( 9 ) and nuts ( 12 ) being arranged for movement of one of the two end plates ( 3 ) toward or away from the other, the drive unit ( 10 ) further comprising a rotating arrangement each of the bolts ( 9 ), and a motor ( 14 ) in driving engagement with rotating arrangement each of the bolts ( 9 ) for simultaneous rotation of all the bolts ( 9 ), where the bolt heads ( 11 ) and the nuts ( 12 ) being coupled to their respective end plates ( 2, 3 ) in a manner such that they are prevented from moving axially away from their respective end plates ( 2, 3 ) upon operation of the drive unit ( 10 ), where at least one of threaded bolt ( 9 ) is arranged to be partly removable.

1 . A plate heat exchanger ( 100 ) comprising a package of heat exchanger plates ( 1 ), two end plates ( 2 ,  3 ) between which the package of heat exchanger plates ( 1 ) is kept together, a plurality of threaded bolts ( 9 ,  9   a,    9   b,    9   c ), where the bolts ( 9 ,  9   a,    9   b,    9   c ) extends between the end plate ( 2 ) and a drive unit ( 10 ) and through the end plate ( 3 ), the drive unit being arranged for synchronously rotating the bolts ( 9 ,  9   a,    9   b,    9   c ) and having bolt heads ( 11 ) arranged to bear directly or indirectly against one ( 2 ) of the end plates, a plurality of nuts ( 12 ,  12   a,    12   b,    12   c ), each in threaded engagement with one of the bolts ( 9 ,  9   a,    9   b,    9   c ) and arranged to bear directly or indirectly against the other end plate ( 3 ), the bolts ( 9 ,  9   a,    9   b,    9   c ) and nuts ( 12 ,  12   a,    12   b,    12   c ) being arranged for movement of one of the two end plates ( 3 ) toward or away from the other, the drive unit ( 10 ) further comprising a rotating arrangement for each of the bolts ( 9 ,  9   a,    9   b,    9   c ), and a motor ( 14 ) in driving engagement with rotating arrangement each of the bolts ( 9 ,  9   a,    9   b,    9   c ) for simultaneous rotation of all the bolts ( 9 ,  9   a,    9   b,    9   c ), where the bolt heads ( 11 ) and the nuts ( 12 ,  12   a,    12   b,    12   c ) being coupled to their respective end plates ( 2 ,  3 ) in a manner such that they are prevented from moving axially away from their respective end plates ( 2 ,  3 ) upon operation of the drive unit ( 10 ) wherein at least one of threaded bolt ( 9 ,  9   a,    9   b,    9   c ) is arranged to be partly removable. 
   
   
       2 . A plate heat exchanger ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , in which the at least one of threaded bolt ( 9 ,  9   b ), that is arranged to be partly removable, includes two portions, a first removable portion extending from the end plate ( 2 ), through the end plate ( 3 ) to a position close to the drive unit ( 10 ) and a second portion extending from a position close to the drive unit ( 10 ) to a position inside the drive unit ( 10 ). 
   
   
       3 . A plate heat exchanger ( 100 ) according to  claim 2 , in which the two portions of the at least one of threaded bolt ( 9 ,  9   b ) is connected by a shaft connection ( 18 ), where the shaft connection is designed so that the first removable portion of the partly removable threaded bolt ( 9 ,  9   b ) can be separated from the second portion of the partly removable threaded bolt ( 9 ,  9   b ) without moving the partly removable threaded bolt ( 9 ,  9   b ) axially. 
   
   
       4 . A plate heat exchanger ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , in which a friction reducing bearing ( 20 ) is arranged between each bolt head ( 11 ) and the end plate ( 2 ). 
   
   
       5 . A plate heat exchanger ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , in which at least one bolt heads ( 11 ) is removably attached to the end plate ( 2 ). 
   
   
       6 . A plate heat exchanger ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , in which each nut ( 12 ,  12   a,    12   b,    12   c ) is connected to a nut fixation device ( 24 ) that prevents rotation of the nut ( 12 ,  12   a,    12   b,    12   c ) in relation to the end plate ( 3 ) and that prevents axial movement of the nut ( 12 ,  12   a,    12   b,    12   c ) in relation to the end plate ( 3 ). 
   
   
       7 . A plate heat exchanger ( 100 ) according to  claim 6 , in which at least one nut fixation devices ( 24 ) is removably attached to the end plate ( 3 ). 
   
   
       8 . A plate heat exchanger ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , in which each of the end plates ( 2 ,  3 ) is provided with at least one cut-out or recess ( 21 ,  23 ) on each long side of the end plate ( 2 ,  3 ) for receiving the partly removable threaded bolt ( 9 ,  9   b ). 
   
   
       9 . A plate heat exchanger ( 100 ) according to  claim 8 , in which the at least one cut-out or recess ( 21 ,  23 ) on each long side of the end plate ( 2 ,  3 ) for receiving the partly removable threaded bolt ( 9 ,  9   b ) enables the partly removable threaded bolt ( 9 ,  9   b ) to be removed radially. 
   
   
       10 . A plate heat exchanger ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , in which the drive unit ( 10 ) comprises a motor ( 14 ) that is arranged to simultaneously, rotationally drive all the threaded bolts ( 9 ,  9   a,    9   b  ,  9   c ) via a force translating system ( 15 ,  70 ,  71 ,  72 ,  73 ,  74 ), and thereby moving the end plate ( 3 ) between two positions. 
   
   
       11 . A plate heat exchanger ( 100 ) according to  claim 10 , in which the drive unit ( 10 ) is electrically operated, and where each threaded bolt ( 9 ,  9   a,    9   b,    9   c ) is associated to a separate gear box ( 15 ), the gear boxes ( 15 ) being connected to the motor ( 14 ) via a shaft- and belt arrangement ( 70 ,  71 ,  72 ,  73 ,  74 ). 
   
   
       12 . A plate heat exchanger ( 100 ) according to  claim 10 , in which each threaded bolt ( 9 ,  9   a,    9   b,    9   c ) is associated to a separate gear box ( 15 ), the gear boxes ( 15 ) being connected to the motor ( 14 ) via a shaft- and belt arrangement ( 70 ,  71 ,  72 ,  73 ,  74 ). 
   
   
       13 . A plate heat exchanger ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , in which at least one of threaded bolt ( 9 ,  9   a,    9   b,    9   c ) on each side of the plate package is arranged to be partly removable. 
   
   
       14 . A plate heat exchanger ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , in which the plate heat exchanger ( 100 ) is provided with a system ( 50 ) for interrupting the movement of the movable end plate ( 3 ).