Block heat exchanger, method for implementing same and heat exchange block belonging to such an exchanger

Abstract

An exchanger having an enclosure with a bottom ( 5 ), a cover ( 4 ) and a peripheral casing ( 6 ), at least one block ( 1 - 3 ) disposed between the bottom and the cover, each block comprising a body, longitudinal channels ( 10 ) and transverse channels ( 12 ). At least one of the interfaces ( 112, 114, 123, 135 ) between two opposite front faces belonging to the cover and to the block adjacent thereto, to the bottom and to the block adjacent thereto, or optionally to two contiguous blocks, a so-called radially inner peripheral seal (J 1 , J′ 1 ) is provided, extending radially outside the area ( 14 ) of the openings of the longitudinal channels, and a so-called radially outer peripheral seal (J 2 , J′ 2 ) defining, with the inner peripheral seal and the opposite front faces, an annular space (E, E′) for containing a possible leak of one or the other fluid.

1 . Heat exchanger comprising
 an enclosure having a bottom ( 5 ), a cover ( 4 ) and a peripheral casing ( 6 ),   at least one block ( 1 - 3 ;  201 ) arranged between the bottom and the cover, each block comprising   a body,   first so-called longitudinal channels ( 10 ;  210 ), formed in this body along a longitudinal direction (L 1 ) of the block, which open onto two opposite front faces ( 11 ,  11 ′;  211 ) of the body   second channels ( 12 ;  212 ), formed in this body along a second direction, which is:   either a transverse direction, these second channels then being transverse channels, which open onto two opposite transverse faces ( 13 ,  13 ′) of the body, or   said longitudinal direction, these second channels then being longitudinal channels ( 212 ) also opening onto said opposite front faces ( 211 ) of the body,   the exchanger further comprising   first inlet means ( 41 ) of a first fluid into the first channels   second inlet means ( 63 ) of the second fluid into the second channels   first outlet means ( 51 ) of the first fluid from the first channels   second outlet means ( 64 ) of the second fluid from the second channels   sealing means between the first and second fluids, said exchanger being characterized in that the sealing means comprise, on at least one interface of the interfaces ( 112 ,  114 ,  123 ,  135 ) between two opposite front faces belonging:   to the cover and to the block adjacent thereto   to the bottom and to the block adjacent thereto   optionally to two contiguous blocks   at least one so-called radially inner peripheral seal (J 1 , J′ 1 ; JR 1 , JR′ 1 , JR 2 , JR′ 2 , JR 3 ), each inner seal extending radially outside the area ( 14 ; DR 1 , DR′ 1 , DR 2 , DR′ 2 , DR 3 ) of the openings of at least a portion of the longitudinal channels, and a so-called radially outer peripheral seal (J 2 , J′ 2 ) defining, with the inner peripheral seal(s) and the opposite front faces, a space (E, E′; E 201 ) for containing a possible leak of one or the other fluid.   
     
     
         2 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the second channels ( 12 ) are transverse and a single radially inner seal (J 1 , J′ 1 ) is provided, extending radially outside the area of the openings of the longitudinal channels, the containment space (E, E′) being annular in shape. 
     
     
         3 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the second channels ( 212 ) are also longitudinal and at least one first radially inner seal (JR 1 , JR 2 , JR 3 ) is provided, each first inner seal extending outside the area (DR 1 , DR 2 , DR 3 ) of the openings of at least a portion of the first longitudinal channels, as well at least one second radially inner seal (JR′ 1 , JR′ 2 ), each second inner seal extending outside the area (DR′ 1 , DR′ 2 ) of the openings of at least a portion of the second longitudinal channels. 
     
     
         4 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the first ( 210 ) and second ( 212 ) longitudinal channels are arranged in a succession of alternating rows (R 1 , R′ 1 , R 2 , R′ 2 , R 3 ), the area (DR 1 , DR′ 1 , DR 2 , DR′ 2 , DR 3 ) of the openings of each row being surrounded by a respective radially inner seal (JR 1 , JR′ 1 , JR 2 , JR′ 2 , JR 3 ). 
     
     
         5 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises at least two blocks ( 1 - 3 ) stacked on top of one another along a longitudinal direction (L) of the exchanger, between the bottom ( 4 ) and the cover ( 5 ). 
     
     
         6 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the sealing means comprise said at least one inner peripheral seal (J 1 ) and said outer peripheral seal (J 2 ), at all of the interfaces ( 112 ,  123 ) between two contiguous blocks. 
     
     
         7 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the sealing means comprise said at least one inner peripheral seal (J 1 , J′ 1 ) and said outer peripheral seal (J 2 , J′ 2 ), at all of said interfaces ( 112 ,  114 ,  123 ,  135 ). 
     
     
         8 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it further comprises detection means ( 80 ), suitable for detecting the presence of at least one of the first and the second fluid, inside at least one annular containment space (E, E′). 
     
     
         9 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 8 , characterized in that it further comprises an alarm ( 82 ) suitable for being activated by detection means ( 80 ). 
     
     
         10 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it further comprises discharge means ( 18 ,  28 ,  38 ,  43 ), suitable for discharging outside the enclosure ( 4 ,  5 ,  6 ) said potential leak of one or the other fluid, contained in at least one annular space. 
     
     
         11 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the discharge means ( 18 ,  28 ,  38 ,  43 ) are placed in communication by the fluid with the detection means ( 80 ). 
     
     
         12 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the detection means ( 80 ) are at a distance from the enclosure ( 4 ,  5 ,  6 ) and a connection pipe ( 70 ), suitable for connecting these detection means and the opening ( 44 ) of the discharge means is provided. 
     
     
         13 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the discharge means comprise at least one discharge conduit ( 18 ,  28 ,  38 ), each discharge conduit being provided in a respective block and connecting two adjacent containment spaces (E, E′). 
     
     
         14 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the discharge means comprise a discharge tunnel ( 43 ), arranged in the bottom ( 4 ) and/or the cover, said tunnel connecting a containment space (E) and the outside of the enclosure. 
     
     
         15 . Method for the use of an exchanger according to  claim 8 , wherein the first and second fluids are circulated in the first and second channels, so as to enable the heat exchange thereof, and the circulation of at least one fluid is discontinued if the presence of said fluid is detected in at least one annular containment space. 
     
     
         16 . Method according to  claim 15 , wherein at least one inner seal is replaced if the presence of the first fluid is detected in at least one annular containment space. 
     
     
         17 . Method according to  claim 16 , wherein the outer seal is replaced if the presence of the second fluid is detected in at least one annular containment space. 
     
     
         18 . Heat exchange block ( 1 ;  201 ) comprising a body,
 first so-called longitudinal channels ( 10 ;  210 ), formed in this body along a longitudinal direction (L 1 ) of the block, which open onto two opposite front faces ( 11 ,  11 ′;  211 ) of the body,   second channels ( 12 ;  212 ), formed in this body along a second direction, which is:   either a transverse direction, these second channels then being transverse channels, which open onto two opposite transverse faces ( 13 ,  13 ′) of the body,   or said longitudinal direction, these second channels then being longitudinal channels ( 212 ) also opening onto said opposite front faces ( 211 ) of the body,   said block being characterized in that it further comprises, on each front face,   at least one so-called radially inner peripheral seat ( 15 ,  15 ′), each inner seat extending radially outside the area of the openings of at least one part of the longitudinal channels, the or each inner seat being suitable for receiving a respective inner seal,   a so-called radially outer peripheral seat ( 16 ,  16 ′), suitable for receiving an outer seal, this outer peripheral seat defining with the inner peripheral seat an annular intermediate section ( 17 ,  17 ′;  217 )   and in that at least one discharge conduit ( 18 ) connects the opposite front faces and opens onto the two opposite sections ( 17 ,  17 ′).