Internal heat exchanger with external manifolds

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a plurality of first plate assemblies interleaved with a plurality of second plate assemblies in stacked relation. Each of the plate assemblies includes a flow path for receiving a working fluid therein. Ports formed in each of the plate assemblies are aligned to form an external inlet manifold and an external outlet manifold in fluid communication with the flow paths. Leakage and contamination of the working fluids are minimized by separating the flow paths of the respective working fluids with adjoining double walls and by providing separate external working fluid manifolds.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of first plate assemblies including an upper plate, a lower plate, and a first fluid flow path formed between the first plate and the second plate of the first plate assemblies for receiving a first working fluid therein, wherein each of the first plate and the second plate of the first plate assemblies includes a first surface and a substantially planar second surface, and wherein the first plate and the second plate of each of the first plate assemblies are arranged with the first surfaces facing each other; and   a plurality of second plate assemblies including an upper plate, a lower plate, and a second fluid flow path formed between the first plate and the second plate of the second plate assemblies for receiving a second working fluid therein, wherein each of the first plate and the second plate of the second plate assemblies includes a first surface and a substantially planar second surface, and wherein the first plate and the second plate of each of the second plate assemblies are arranged with the first surfaces facing each other, the first plate assemblies interleaved with the second plate assemblies so the substantially planar surfaces of the first plate and the second plate of the first plate assemblies substantially contact the substantially planar surfaces of the first plate and the second plate of the second plate assemblies.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the first plate and the second plate of each of the first plate assemblies are substantially identical. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the first plate and the second plate of each of the second plate assemblies are substantially identical. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the first plate and the second plate of each of the first plate assemblies and each of the first plate and the second plate of the second plate assemblies are substantially identical. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the flow paths is substantially U-shaped. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein a size of at least one of the flow paths is determined based upon flow characteristics of one of the first working fluid and the second working fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the flow paths includes at least one fluid turbulation feature disposed therein. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the first plate assemblies are brazed together with the second plate assemblies. 
     
     
         9 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of first plate assemblies including an upper plate, a lower plate, and a first fluid flow path formed between the first plate and the second plate of the first plate assemblies for receiving a first working fluid therein, wherein each of the first plate and the second plate includes a first surface, a substantially planar second surface, and at least one first working fluid port formed therein, and wherein the first plate and the second plate of each of the first plate assemblies are arranged with the first surfaces facing each other and the first working fluid ports of the first plate assemblies are substantially aligned to form a first external manifold, wherein the first external manifold is in fluid communication with the first fluid flow path for receiving the first working fluid therein; and   a plurality of second plate assemblies including an upper plate, a lower plate, and a second fluid flow path formed between the first plate and the second plate of the second plate assemblies for receiving a second working fluid therein, wherein each of the first plate and the second plate of the second plate assemblies includes a first surface, a substantially planar second surface, and at least one second working fluid port formed therein, and wherein the first plate and the second plate of each of the second plate assemblies are arranged with the first surfaces facing each other and the second working fluid ports of the second plate assemblies are substantially aligned to form a second external manifold, wherein the second external manifold is in fluid communication with the second fluid flow path for receiving the second working fluid therein, the first plate assemblies interleaved with the second plate assemblies so the substantially planar surfaces of the first plate and the second plate of the first plate assemblies substantially contact the substantially planar surfaces of the first plate and the second plate of the second plate assemblies.   
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , wherein the first plate and the second plate of each of the first plate assemblies are substantially identical. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , wherein the first plate and the second plate of each of the second plate assemblies are substantially identical. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , wherein the first plate and the second plate of each of the first plate assemblies and each of the first plate and the second plate of the second plate assemblies are substantially identical. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the flow paths is substantially U-shaped. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , wherein a size of at least one of the flow paths is determined based upon flow characteristics of one of the first working fluid and the second working fluid. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the flow paths includes at least one fluid turbulation feature disposed therein. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , wherein the first plate assemblies are brazed together with the second plate assemblies. 
     
     
         17 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of first plate assemblies including an upper plate, a lower plate, and a first fluid flow path formed between the first plate and the second plate of the first plate assemblies for receiving a first working fluid therein, the first fluid flow path including at least one fluid turbulation feature disposed therein, wherein each of the first plate and the second plate of the first plate assemblies includes a first surface, a substantially planar second surface, and at least one first working fluid port formed therein, and wherein the first plate and the second plate of each of the first plate assemblies are arranged with the first surfaces facing each other, and the first working fluid ports of the first plate assemblies are substantially aligned to form a first external manifold, wherein the first external manifold is in fluid communication with the first fluid flow path for receiving the first working fluid therein; and   a plurality of second plate assemblies including an upper plate, a lower plate, and a second fluid flow path formed between the first plate and the second plate of the second plate assemblies for receiving a second working fluid therein, the second fluid flow path including at least one fluid turbulation feature disposed therein, wherein each of the first plate and the second plate of the second plate assemblies includes a first surface, a substantially planar second surface, and at least one second working fluid port formed therein, and wherein the first plate and the second plate of each of the second plate assemblies are arranged with the first surfaces facing each other, and the second working fluid ports of the second plate assemblies are substantially aligned to form a second external manifold, wherein the second external manifold is in fluid communication with the second fluid flow path for receiving the second working fluid therein, the first plate assemblies interleaved with the second plate assemblies so the substantially planar surfaces of the first plate and the second plate of the first plate assemblies substantially contact the substantially planar surfaces of the first plate and the second plate of the second plate assemblies.   
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one fluid turbulation feature is a plurality of surface irregularities formed on the first surface of at least one of the plates of at least one of the plate assemblies. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one fluid turbulation feature is a turbulator disposed between the plates of at least one of the plate assemblies. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first external manifold and the second external manifold of at least one of the first plate assemblies and the second plate assemblies includes at least one baffle disposed therein.