Pair of heat-exchanger plates with grooves and recesses

Abstract

The present invention concerns a pair of heat exchanger plates, Each plate (A, B) comprises a central panel provided with at least one groove ( 101, 102 ) protruding into a channel defined by an inner volume (V) between the plates. Within the pair of plates (A, B), each groove ( 101 ) of first plate (A) is parallel to each groove ( 102 ) of second plate (B).

1 . A pair of heat exchanger plates comprising:
 a first (A) and a second heat exchanger plate (B), arranged face to face and spaced apart so as to define an inner volume (V) capable of forming a channel for flow of a first fluid (F), each plate (A, B) comprising a central panel, said central panels of said first and second plates being preferably substantially quadrilateral, optionally with truncated, cut or rounded edges, and said central panels of said first and second plates (A, B) being plane and parallel to one another,   wherein said central panel of each plate (A, B) comprises at least one groove ( 101 ,  102 ), preferably a substantially rectilinear groove, protruding into said inner volume (V), and each groove ( 101 ) of said first plate (A) is parallel to each groove ( 102 ) of said second plate (B).   
     
     
         2 . A pair of heat exchanger plates as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each groove ( 101 ,  102 ) is inclined at a non-zero and non-right angle α to one side of said central panel, angle α being greater than or equal to 10°, preferably ranging between 10° and 80°, inclusive, more preferably ranging between 30° and 70°, inclusive, and most preferably ranging between 40° and 50°, inclusive. 
     
     
         3 . A pair of heat exchanger plates as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each groove ( 102 ) of said second plate (B) is offset with respect to each groove ( 101 ) of said first plate (A) in a direction (DD) perpendicular to said grooves ( 101 ,  102 ) of said first and second plates (A, B). 
     
     
         4 . A pair of heat exchanger plates as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each central panel of each plate (A, B) comprises a plurality of grooves ( 101 ,  102 ) parallel to one another, and preferably evenly spaced apart. 
     
     
         5 . A pair of heat exchanger plates as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the pitch (p) between said grooves ( 101 ) of said first plate (A) is identical to pitch (p) between said grooves ( 102 ) of said second plate (B). 
     
     
         6 . A pair of heat exchanger plates as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the offset(s) in direction (DD) perpendicular to said grooves ( 101 ,  102 ) has a distance between one third and two thirds of said pitch (p), and it is preferably half of said pitch (p). 
     
     
         7 . A pair of heat exchanger plates as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein pitch (p) between two successive grooves ranges between 10 mm and 80 mm, inclusive, preferably between 20 mm and 60 mm, inclusive. 
     
     
         8 . A pair of heat exchanger plates as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each groove ( 101 ,  102 ) has a cross section whose shape is selected from among an arc of a circle, a semicircle, a U, a V, an ellipse, an airplane wing, a spearhead, and the shape is preferably selected from among an arc of a circle and an airplane wing. 
     
     
         9 . A pair of heat exchanger plates as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the width (w) of each groove ( 101 ,  102 ) ranges between 4 mm and 30 mm, inclusive, preferably between 6 mm and 25 mm, inclusive. 
     
     
         10 . A pair of heat exchanger plates as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion height (e) of each groove ranges between 1.5 mm and 6 mm, inclusive, preferably between 2 mm and 5 mm, inclusive. 
     
     
         11 . A pair of heat exchanger plates as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein all the grooves ( 101 ,  102 ) of the first and second plates (A, B) have the same cross section, the same width (w) and the same protrusion height (e). 
     
     
         12 . A pair of heat exchanger plates as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first plate (A) and said second plate (B) are connected by means of one or two junction panel(s) arranged on one or two side(s) of a central panel. 
     
     
         13 . A stack of pairs of heat exchanger plates comprising at least two pairs of plates (A, B) as claimed in  claim 1 , said pairs of plates (A, B) being stacked in such a way that said successive pairs of plates (A, B) are spaced apart, wherein, for two successive pairs of plates respectively referred to as first pair of plates and second pair of plates:
 a. said first pair of plates and said second pair of plates are arranged parallel to one another and face to face, space (V) between the plates of each pair of plates forming a channel for flow of a first fluid (F 1 ),   b. the space (Z) between said first pair of plates and said second pair of plates forms a channel for flow of a second fluid (F 2 ), said second pair of plates being preferably identical to said first pair of plates, or being a mirror image of said first pair of plates.   
     
     
         14 . A stack of pairs of plates as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said channel for the flow of second fluid (F 2 ) is perpendicular to said channel for the flow of first fluid (F 1 ). 
     
     
         15 . A plate heat exchanger comprising at least two pairs of heat exchanger plates as claimed in  claim 1 , said pairs of plates being arranged in a frame. 
     
     
         16 . A method of manufacturing a stack of pairs of plates as claimed in  claim 13 , said method comprising:
 a. preparing at least four plates (A, B) comprising each a central panel,   b. for a first half of said plates (A), forming said at least one groove ( 101 ) in the central panel of each plate, notably by drawing,   c. for a second half of said plates (B), forming said at least one groove ( 102 ) in the central panel of each plate, notably by drawing,   d. assembling at least two pairs of plates, for each pair of plates, arranging a first plate (A) of said first half of said plates parallel to a second plate (B) of said second half of said plates, so that grooves ( 101 ,  102 ) are parallel and protrude into inner volume (V) between said plates (A, B), possibly with an offset of each groove ( 101 ) of first plate (A) with respect to each groove ( 102 ) of second plate (B) in a direction (DD) perpendicular to said grooves ( 101 ,  102 ), and   e. stacking said at least two pairs of plates parallel to one another and spaced apart.   
     
     
         17 . A pair of heat exchanger plates as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the offset(s) in direction (DD) perpendicular to said grooves ( 101 ,  102 ) has a distance between one third and two thirds of said pitch (p), and it is preferably half of said pitch (p). 
     
     
         18 . A stack of pairs of plates as claimed in  claim 13 , said stack of pairs of plates being arranged in a frame.