Heat Exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger plate for the use in a three circuit heat exchanger assembly, where the plate comprises a first distribution area, a heat exchange area and a second distribution area, where the plate comprises a corrugated pattern having ridges and valleys, and where the central port hole in the first distribution area is positioned at a vertical distance from the short end of the plate such that a fluid passage is obtainable between the central port hole and the short end of the plate when two plates are stacked to form a fluid channel between the plates. The invention further relates to an assembly made from such heat exchanger plates and a heat exchanger comprising a plurality of such assemblies. The advantage of the invention is that an improved heat exchanger is provided, having an increased thermal performance and an improved flow distribution in the heat exchanger.

1 . A heat exchanger plate for use in a three circuit heat exchanger assembly, where the plate comprises a first distribution area having three port holes, a heat exchange area and a second distribution area having three port holes, where the plate comprises a corrugated pattern having ridges valleys, wherein the central port hole of the first distribution area is positioned at a vertical distance from a first short end of the plate such that a fluid passage is obtainable between the central port hole and the first short end of the plate when two plates are stacked to form a fluid channel there between. 
     
     
         2 . The plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the central port hole of the second distribution area is positioned at a vertical distance from a second short end of the plate such that a fluid passage is obtainable between the central port hole and the second short end of the plate when two plates are stacked to form a fluid channel there between. 
     
     
         3 . The plate according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein a port hole at a first corner of the plate is provided with a flat, ring-shaped bypass section adapted to form a refrigerant bypass passage around a port when two plates are stacked to form a refrigerant fluid channel between the plates. 
     
     
         4 . The plate according to  claim 3 , wherein a water bypass section is provided at a second corner of the plate such that a water passage is obtainable between two adjacent bypass sections when two plates are stacked to form a water channel between the plates. 
     
     
         5 . The plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the first distribution area exhibits a chevron shape having a first layout, the second distribution area exhibits a chevron shape having a second layout and where the heat exchange area exhibits a chevron shape having a third layout, where the chevron shape of the first layout is directed in a first angular direction and the chevron shape of the second layout is directed in the opposite angular direction. 
     
     
         6 . The plate according to  claim 5 , wherein the chevron shape of the third layout is directed in the same angular direction as the chevron shape of the first layout. 
     
     
         7 . The plate according to  claim 5 , wherein the chevron shape of the third layout has more direction changes than the first and the second layout. 
     
     
         8 . The plate according to  claim 5 , wherein the first and the second chevron shape resembles a V and the third chevron shape resembles a W. 
     
     
         9 . The plate according to  claim 1 , wherein a lower distribution groove is provided between the first distribution area and the heat exchange area such that a lower distribution path is obtainable between two adjacent lower distribution grooves when two plates are stacked to form a fluid channel between the plates. 
     
     
         10 . The plate according to claim wherein at least one of the lower distribution grooves comprises at least one restriction area such that a flow restriction is obtained in the lower distribution path. 
     
     
         11 . The plate according to  claim 9 , wherein an upper distribution groove is provided between the heat exchange area and the second distribution area such that an upper distribution path is obtainable between two adjacent upper distribution grooves when two plates are stacked to form a fluid channel between the plates. 
     
     
         12 . A heat exchanger assembly, comprising four plates according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the first plate, the second plate, the third plate and the fourth plate differ from each other. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 12 , where a first refrigerant channel is provided between the first plate and the second plate, a water channel is provided between the second plate and the third plate and a second refrigerant channel is provided between the third plate and the fourth plate, and where each fluid channel comprises a first distribution passage provided between two adjacent first distribution areas, a heat exchange passage provided between two adjacent heat exchange areas and a second distribution passage provided between two adjacent second distribution areas, wherein a horizontal passage is provided in the first distribution passage between the central water port and the neighbouring short end of the assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein a horizontal passage is provided in the second distribution passage between the central water port and the neighbouring short end of the assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein a water bypass passage is provided in a water distribution passage between a refrigerant port and a corner of the assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein a refrigerant bypass passage is provided around a refrigerant port in a refrigerant distribution passage. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein an active inlet port is provided with an inlet nozzle and a second active inlet port is provided with an inlet nozzle, where the angles of the inlet nozzles are between 0 and 180 degrees relative to a vertical axis and where the inlet nozzles point towards the central vertical axis of the assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the angles of the inlet nozzles are between 90 and 150 degrees. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein a lower distribution path is provided between a lower distribution passage and a heat exchange passage. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein an upper distribution path is provided between a heat exchange passage and an upper distribution passage. 
     
     
         21 . The heat exchanger assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the heat exchanger plates are joined by gluing, soldering, brazing, bonding or welding. 
     
     
         22 . A three-circuit heat exchanger, comprising a plurality of heat exchanger assemblies according to  claim 12 , and further comprising a front plate and a back plate.