Plate heat exchanger

Abstract

A plate heat exchanger includes a plurality of main plates having ridges and troughs to direct first and second flows of fluids across the main plates to exchange heat between the fluids while maintaining the first and second flows of fluids separate from each other. The heat exchanger also includes a first end plate including first and second inlets and first and second outlets. The first end plate includes a substantially flat inside surface configured to contact the ridges of a first main plate among the plurality of main plates and at least one slot formed in the substantially flat surface to provide a fluid communication of the first fluid flow between the inlet and a cavity formed by the first end plate and the first main plate.

1 . A plate heat exchanger, comprising:
 a plurality of main plates having ridges and troughs to direct first and second flows of fluids across the main plates to exchange heat between the fluids while maintaining the first and second flows of fluids separate from each other; and   a first end plate including first and second inlets to provide the first and second flows to the plurality of main plates and first and second outlets to output the first and second flows from the plurality of main plates, the first end plate including a substantially flat inside surface configured to contact the ridges of a first main plate among the plurality of main plates and at least one slot formed in the substantially flat surface to provide a fluid communication of the first fluid flow between the inlet and a cavity formed by the first end plate and the first main plate.   
     
     
         2 . The plate heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slot includes a first slot extending radially from the first inlet, a second slot having a substantially circumferential shape around a portion of the first inlet and connected to the first slot, and a third slot extending lengthwise along a center of the first end plate. 
     
     
         3 . The plate heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slot includes a first slot extending circumferentially around an entire circumference of the first inlet, and a second slot extending lengthwise along a center of the first end plate. 
     
     
         4 . The plate heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid is pressurized in the cavity formed by the first end plate and the first main plate. 
     
     
         5 . The plate heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first main plate includes a plurality of ridges separated by a plurality of troughs, the plurality of troughs and ridges forming a chevron pattern,
 the at least one slot includes a first slot adjacent to the first inlet and a second slot extending lengthwise along a center of the first end plate at an apex of the chevron pattern, and   the first slot is in fluid communication with at least one trough between adjacent ridges of the first main plate, the at least one trough is in fluid communication with the second slot, and the second slot is in fluid communication with each other trough of the plurality of troughs.   
     
     
         6 . The plate heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising a protrusion surrounding the first inlet on an inside surface of the first end plate, the protrusion configured to contact the first main plate to form a fluid-tight seal with the first main plate. 
     
     
         7 . The plate heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first main plain includes a ridged portion and a flange surrounding the ridged portion and extending outward from the ridged portion to have a draft angle that is an acute angle, and
 the first end plate comprises a body having an inside surface configured to contact the ridges of the ridged portion of the first main plate and a flange surrounding the main body, an inside surface of the flange of the first end plate configured to contact an outer surface of the flange of the first main plate, and a draft angle of the first end plate being less than the draft angle of the first main plate   
     
     
         8 . The plate heat exchanger of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a second main plate among the plurality of plates, the second main plate including a ridged portion and a flange surrounding the ridged portion and extending outward from the ridged portion to have a draft angle that is an acute angle; and   a second end plate having a first outer side configured to contact the ridged portion of the second main plate and a second outer side surrounding the first outer side and having a draft angle that is an acute angle, the second outer side configured to contact an inner side of the flange of the second main plate, the draft angle of the second outer side being greater than the draft angle of the second main plate.   
     
     
         9 . The plate heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first end plate includes at least one thin region and at least one thick region, the at least one thick region located in a region identified as being subject to a greater stress than the at least one thin region when the plate heat exchanger is in operation. 
     
     
         10 . The plate heat exchanger of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one thick region includes regions surrounding the first and second inlets and first and second outlets at ends of the first end plate, and ribs extending width-wise across the first end plate. 
     
     
         11 . The plate heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first end plate includes at least one receptacle on an outward-facing surface opposite the inside surface, the at least one receptacle comprising a base and a protrusion having a shape configured to receive and surround a mounting stud, such that sides of the mounting stud contact sides of the protrusion while an end of the mounting stud contacts the base of the receptacle. 
     
     
         12 . The plate heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid fitting configured to fit into at least one of the first inlet and the first outlet to provide a flow of fluid through the fluid fitting into or out from the plurality of main plates, the fluid fitting including a recess in a surface adjacent to an inner diameter surface of the at least one of the first inlet and the first outlet. 
     
     
         13 . The plate heat exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein the recess surrounds the fitting. 
     
     
         14 . The plate heat exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein the inside diameter surface of the first inlet or the second inlet includes a pilot located linearly between the recess and an end of the inside diameter surface corresponding to the inside surface of the first end plate and a braze region located between the recess and an end of the inside diameter surface corresponding to an outer surface of the first end plate, the braze region having a diameter greater than the pilot. 
     
     
         15 . The plate heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second end plate on an opposite side of the plurality of main plates from the first end plate.   
     
     
         16 . The plate heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein the second end plate includes a substantially flat inside surface configured to contact the ridges of a second main plate among the plurality of main plates and at least one slot formed in the substantially flat surface to fill with fluid from one of the first fluid flow and the second fluid flow a cavity formed by the second end plate and the second main plate. 
     
     
         17 . The plate heat exchanger of  claim 15 , wherein each of the first end plate and the plurality of main plates includes a flange surrounding a ridged portion, the flanges of the first end plate and the plurality of main plates extending toward the second end plate and being in contact with a flange of an adjacent main plate to inhibit movement of the first end plate and the plurality of main plates, and
 the second end plate includes an upper surface and an outer side surface surrounding the upper surface and having a draft angle that is an acute angle, the second side surface configured to contact a flange of a second main plate among the plurality of main plates and the draft angle of the second side surface being greater than a draft angle of the flange of the second main plate.   
     
     
         18 . The plate heat exchanger of  claim 17 , wherein the outer side surface of the second end plate has a draft angle greater than a draft angle of the flange of the first end plate. 
     
     
         19 . A plate heat exchanger, comprising:
 a plurality of main plates having a ridged region including ridges and troughs to direct first and second flows of fluids across the main plates to exchange heat between the fluids while maintaining the first and second flows of fluids separate from each other, each of the plurality of main plates further including a flange extending from the ridged region at an oblique angle; and   a first end plate including first and second inlets to provide the first and second flows to the plurality of main plates and first and second outlets to output the first and second flows from the plurality of main plates, the first end plate including a substantially flat main surface configured to contact the ridged region of a first main plate among the plurality of main plates and a flange surrounding the main surface and extending at an oblique angle with respect to the main surface, the flange of the first end plate having a draft angle less than a draft angle of the flange of the first main plate.