The present invention relates to the fields of refrigeration, air conditioning, industrial refrigeration, heating, etc., and in particular to a multi-loop plate heat exchanger.
For a plate heat exchanger, four ports are generally provided by means of stamping. Two of the ports are used for one working fluid, and the other two ports are used for another working fluid. A plate heat exchanger for use in a multi-loop system has six or more ports. This has the following shortcomings or disadvantages:
The purpose of the present invention is to solve at least one aspect of the above problems and defects that exist in the prior art.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a multi-loop plate heat exchanger is provided. The plate heat exchanger comprises: a plurality of heat exchange plates arranged in a stacked manner; heat exchange channels formed between two adjacent heat exchange plates in the plurality of heat exchange plates; and port channels extending through the heat exchange plates and respectively used for inflow and outflow of a heat exchange medium, at least one of the port channels comprising at least two fluid channels which are separated from each other and used for inflow or outflow of at least two of the multiple loops of refrigerant, wherein the at least two fluid channels share one of the port channels, and the at least two fluid channels are arranged side by side in the radial direction of the port channel.
In some embodiments, the at least two fluid channels are separated from each other by means of a separator.
In some embodiments, at least part of the separator is integrally formed on the corresponding heat exchange plate or independent of the heat exchange plate.
In some embodiments, the separator comprises a flanging bridge, which is formed by deformation in the region of one of the at least two fluid channels of the corresponding heat exchange plate in the port channel.
In some embodiments, the at least two fluid channels include a first fluid channel for one of the at least two loops of refrigerant and a second fluid channel for the other of the at least two loops of refrigerant, the heat exchange channels include a first heat exchange channel for one of the at least two loops of refrigerant and a second heat exchange channel for the other of the at least two loops of refrigerant, and the first fluid channel is in fluid communication with the first heat exchange channel through a first fluid channel hole, and the second fluid channel is in fluid communication with the second heat exchange channel through a second fluid channel hole.
In some embodiments, the first fluid channel holes and the second fluid channel holes are alternately arranged in the extension direction of the port channel.
In some embodiments, the first fluid channel hole and the second fluid channel hole are located in the respective corresponding fluid channels.
In some embodiments, at least one of the first fluid channel hole and the second fluid channel hole is provided in an annular member, and at least part of the annular member is integrally formed on the corresponding heat exchange plate or independent of the heat exchange plate.
In some embodiments, the annular member comprises a flange, which is formed by deformation in the region of one of the at least two fluid channels of the corresponding heat exchange plate in the port channel.
In some embodiments, part of the annular member is arranged in the first fluid channel, and the other part is arranged in the second fluid channel; the part, arranged in the second fluid channel of the annular member provided with the first fluid channel hole blocks the second fluid channel and the first heat exchange channel; and/or the part, arranged in the first fluid channel of the annular member provided with the second fluid channel hole blocks the first fluid channel and the second heat exchange channel.
In some embodiments, the annular member provided with the first fluid channel hole is located between the adjacent heat exchange plates that form the first heat exchange channel; and/or the annular member provided with the second fluid channel hole is located between the adjacent heat exchange plates that form the second heat exchange channel.
In some embodiments, the separator comprises a plurality of baffles which are arranged in the annular member, with ends of the plurality of baffles being connected so as to separate the at least one port channel into the at least two fluid channels.
In some embodiments, the plate heat exchanger further comprises a port connector connected to the at least one port channel, the port connector comprising at least two connection channels separated by a separation plate, the at least two connection channels being respectively corresponding to and in communication with the at least two fluid channels, thereby forming two passages isolated from each other for inflow or outflow of the refrigerant.
These and/or other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and easy to understand from the following description of the preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which
and
The technical solutions of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the embodiments and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the specification, the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar components. The following description of the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings is intended to explain the general inventive concept of the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.
At present, for an existing plate heat exchanger, as shown in
Therefore, the plate heat exchanger in the prior art generally has the shortcomings mentioned in the background art of the present invention.
In view of this technical problem, the present invention provides a new inventive concept in order to at least partially alleviate or eliminate these shortcomings.
Specifically, the present invention provides a special port design, in which ports or port channels for at least two working fluids can be joined together. In addition, the new special port design can also allow simple pipe connection and make the corresponding refrigeration system have a more compact structure. Further, it can also allow reduction in the number of the port connectors connected thereto, thereby reducing the cost.
In an example of the present invention, the present invention provides a port channel, comprising at least two fluid channels, which are separated from each other and used for inflow or outflow of at least two loops of refrigerant.
In the present invention, a port channel originally used for one fluid is separated into at least two port channels independent of each other, replacing the at least two port channels with at least two loops of refrigerant in the prior art. In other words, by means of integrating at least two port channels into one port channel, it is possible to at least partially solve the problem discussed in the prior art due to the need of providing more port channels on the plate heat exchanger.
In addition, the solution of the present invention can increase the effective heat transfer area by means of reducing the number of port channels, and can also simplify the connection complexity of pipes connected to the port channels to a certain extent.
Obviously, compared with the solution in the prior art, the number of distributors and gaskets can be reduced by at least 50%.
It can be seen from the above aspects that the solution of the present invention can reduce the cost, simplify the complexity, and also improve the performance of the plate heat exchanger.
The present invention aims to expand the effective heat exchange area and simplify the connection between the port connector and the plate heat exchanger without the loss in strength and performance. Therefore, the concept of separating one port channel into at least two fluid channels (e.g., the at least two fluid channels being arranged side by side in the radial direction of the port channel) is proposed. In this case, the at least two loops of refrigerant fluid respectively flow through the at least two fluid channels in the port channel and are relatively independent, without causing the refrigerant fluid to mix with each other. It should be noted that the at least two loops of refrigerant fluid referred to in the present invention are not limited to whether the refrigerant fluids are of the same type. For example, the loops of refrigerant fluid may be refrigerant fluids of the same type, or may be refrigerant fluids of different types.
Specifically, the concept of the plate heat exchanger in an embodiment of the present invention is specifically as follows: the plate heat exchanger has a multi-loop system and comprises: a plurality of heat exchange plates arranged in a stacked manner; heat exchange channels formed between two adjacent heat exchange plates in the plurality of heat exchange plates; and port channels extending through the heat exchange plates and respectively used for inflow and outflow of a heat exchange medium, at least one of the port channels comprising at least two fluid channels which are separated from each other and used for inflow or outflow of at least two of multiple loops of refrigerant, wherein the at least two fluid channels share one of the port channels, and the at least two fluid channels are arranged side by side in the radial direction of the port channel.
As shown in
It should be noted that the two fluid channels 131 and 132 arranged on the right side can also be separated into at least two fluid channels by using the design concept of the present invention, and the specific configuration and number can be selected by those skilled in the art according to actual needs.
In addition, at least one of the port channels where the fluid channels 111 and 121 are located and the port channels where the fluid channels 112 and 122 are located can also be separated into at least three fluid channels, one of which is used for inflow or outflow of the secondary refrigerant, such that the illustrated fluid channels 131 and/or 132 may not be separately provided.
It can be understood that, after separately flowing into the fluid channels 111 and 121, the two loops of heat exchange medium need to continue to remain independent of each other to avoid interference with each other, so a separator will be provided between the two fluid channels 111 and 121, or the two fluid channels will be separated from each other by means of a separator. Herein, the design concept of the present invention is mainly described by taking the port channel for inflow of the fluid as an example. However, the design concept of the present invention can also be applied to the port channel for outflow of the fluid, which will not be repeated in detail.
The following will focus on the specific configuration of the components, such as the separator and the fluid channel holes in the port channel.
As shown in the figure, the two fluid channels 111 and 121 include a first fluid channel 111 for one of the two loops of refrigerant and a second fluid channel 121 for the other of the loops of refrigerant. The two heat exchange channels include a first heat exchange channel 151 for one of the two loops of refrigerant and a second heat exchange channel 152 for the other of the loops of refrigerant.
One distribution ring 142 is arranged in the port channel and at a position corresponding to the heat exchange channels 151 and 152 formed by every two heat exchange plates. One baffle 141 is provided in the middle of each distribution ring 142 to separate the distribution ring into two parts which are isolated from each other in a sealed manner. The plurality of baffles 141 are aligned with one another when being mounted in the port channel, with ends thereof being connected to achieve sealed isolation. Of course, the plurality of baffles 141 can also be arranged as a longer single baffle, that is, one end of the baffle is inserted into the plurality of distribution rings 142 to separate the distribution rings into two parts.
In this embodiment, some of the plurality of distribution rings 142 are arranged in the first fluid channel 111, and the other distribution rings are arranged in the second fluid channel 121. Some distribution rings 142 are located between the adjacent heat exchange plates that form the corresponding first heat exchange channel 151, and the other distribution rings 142 are located between the adjacent heat exchange plates that form the corresponding second heat exchange channel 152.
Specifically, the first fluid channel 111 is in fluid communication with the first heat exchange channel 151 through a first fluid channel hole 1111 provided in the distribution ring 142, and the portion of the distribution ring 142 that is located in the second fluid channel 121 can be used to block the second fluid channel 121 and the first heat exchange channel 151. The second fluid channel 121 is in fluid communication with the second heat exchange channel 152 through a second fluid channel hole 1211 provided in the distribution ring 142, and the portion of the distribution ring 142 that is located in the first fluid channel 111 can be used to block the first fluid channel 111 and the second heat exchange channel 152. That is to say, when the distribution ring is in communication with the corresponding fluid channel and the corresponding heat exchange channel, the portion of the distribution ring that is located in other fluid channel can be used to block the other fluid channel and the heat exchange channel. It can be seen that part of the distribution ring 142 serves as a distributor, and the other part thereof serves as a gasket for isolation, such that the present invention can reduce the number of distributors and gaskets by at least 50%.
In general, since the first heat exchange channels 151 and the second heat exchange channels 152 are alternately arranged in the plate heat exchanger, the first fluid channel holes 1111 and the second fluid channel holes 1211 are also alternately arranged in the extension direction of the port channel (i.e., approximately the top-to-bottom direction of the page of the figure). The first fluid channel hole 1111 and the second fluid channel hole 1211 are located in the respective corresponding fluid channels 151 and 152.
Specifically, the first fluid channel 111 is in fluid communication with the first heat exchange channel 151 through the first fluid channel hole 1111, and the second fluid channel 121 is in fluid communication with the second heat exchange channel 152 through the second fluid channel hole 1211.
Although the figure shows only one fluid channel hole in communication with one heat exchange channel, it should be understood that a plurality of fluid channel holes can be provided to be in communication with one heat exchange channel.
In addition, in a port connector 160 connected to the port channel, one separation plate 163 is provided in the middle of the port connector 160 to separate the port connector into two connection channels 161 and 162. The two connection channels 161 and 162 are respectively corresponding to and in communication with the two fluid channels 111 and 121, thereby forming two passages isolated from each other for inflow or outflow of the refrigerant.
As shown in the figure, the two fluid channels 111 and 121 include a first fluid channel 111 for one of the two loops of refrigerant and a second fluid channel 121 for the other of the loops of refrigerant. The two heat exchange channels include a first heat exchange channel 151 for one of the two loops of refrigerant and a second heat exchange channel 152 for the other of the loops of refrigerant.
Specifically, the first fluid channel 111 is in fluid communication with the first heat exchange channel 151 through the first fluid channel hole 1111, and the second fluid channel 121 is in fluid communication with the second heat exchange channel 152 through the second fluid channel hole 1211.
In general, since the first heat exchange channels 151 and the second heat exchange channels 152 are alternately arranged in the plate heat exchanger, the first fluid channel holes 1111 and the second fluid channel holes 1211 are also alternately arranged in the extension direction of the port channel (i.e., approximately the top-to-bottom direction of the page of the figure). The first fluid channel hole 1111 and the second fluid channel hole 1211 are located in the respective corresponding fluid channels 151 and 152.
Although the figure shows only one fluid channel hole in communication with one heat exchange channel, it should be understood that a plurality of fluid channel holes can be provided to be in communication with one heat exchange channel.
As shown in
An annular member 242 is also provided at the position of each heat exchange plate corresponding to the port channel, and at least part of the annular member 242 is integrally formed on the corresponding heat exchange plate. Alternatively, the annular member 242 can also be configured as a separate component independent of the heat exchange plate, and is then welded together with each heat exchange plate. The distribution ring 142 in
The annular member 242 comprises a plurality of flanges, which are formed by deformation in the region of the corresponding heat exchange plate in the port channel (e.g., at one fluid channel). The flanges of the adjacent heat exchange plates cooperate with each other and are connected together by means of, for example, crimping, welding or bonding.
In this embodiment, part of the annular member 242 is arranged in the first fluid channel 111 and is located between the adjacent heat exchange plates that form the corresponding first heat exchange channel 151; and accordingly, the remaining part of the annular member 242 is arranged in the first fluid channel 121 and is located between the adjacent heat exchange plates that form the corresponding second heat exchange channel 152.
In addition, in the port connector 160 of the port channel connected to an inlet connection pipe, one separation plate 163 is provided in the middle of the port connector 160 to separate the port connector into two connection channels 161 and 162. The two connection channels 161 and 162 are respectively corresponding to and in communication with the two fluid channels 111 and 121, thereby forming two passages isolated from each other for inflow or outflow of the refrigerant.
The annular member in
Specifically, the plate heat exchanger comprises a plate assembly 300, which is provided with inlet and outlet channels for three working fluids. The plate assembly comprises a first heat exchange plate 301, a second heat exchange plate 302, a third heat exchange plate 303 and a fourth heat exchange plate 304, which have the periphery of the same shape. The heat exchange plates are arranged in such a manner that the first heat exchange plates 301, the second heat exchange plate 302, the third heat exchange plate 303 and the fourth heat exchange plate 304 are sequentially arranged in cycle. A first heat exchange channel 151 for a first fluid R1 to flow through is provided between the first heat exchange plate 301 and the second heat exchange plate 302, a second heat exchange channel 152 for a second fluid R2 to flow through is provided between the third heat exchange plate 303 and the fourth heat exchange plate 304, and third heat exchange channels 153 for a third fluid W to flow through are provided between the second heat exchange plate 302 and the third heat exchange plate 303 and between the fourth heat exchange plate 304 and the adjacent first heat exchange plates 301.
The plate assembly 300 further comprises at least one separation space 311 in the port channel and corresponding to the two adjacent first heat exchange channels 151 and two adjacent second heat exchange channels 152, and in the respective fluid channel, the separation space 311 is closed for the other one of the first fluid R1 and the second fluid R2. That is, in the first fluid channel 111, the first fluid R1 flows into the first heat exchange channel 151 through the first fluid flow channel hole 1111, while the second fluid R2 flows into the second heat exchange channel 152 through the second fluid flow channel hole 1211.
As shown in
In the port channel, a baffle 141 is provided between the adjacent annular contact portions 314, and the adjacent baffles 141 are connected to each other to separate the port channel into two fluid channels.
In various embodiments of the present invention, the fluid flow channel hole can be a depression region integrally formed in the heat exchange plate or a through hole passing through the port channel. The fluid flow channel hole may be of a circular, semi-circular, elliptical, rectangular, trapezoidal and other arbitrary shapes.
In order to achieve the purpose of the port connector 160 being provided with two connection channels 161 and 162, a separation plate 163 is provided substantially in the middle of the port connector 160. Of course, the port connector 160 is not necessarily separated, by means of the separation plate 163, into two approximately equal parts, and may also be separated into two parts of different sizes.
The above description is merely some embodiments of the present invention, and those of ordinary skill in the art would have understood that changes could be made to these embodiments without departing from the principle and spirit of the general inventive concept, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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201811632290.6 | Dec 2018 | CN | national |
This application is a National Stage application of International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2019/122699, filed on Dec. 3, 2019, which claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 201811632290.6, filed on 28 Dec. 2018 and entitled Multi-loop Plate Heat Exchanger, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/CN2019/122699 | 12/3/2019 | WO | 00 |