The specification relates to a heat exchanger plate having a structural support feature, and heat exchangers formed from such heat exchanger plates.
Down gauging of heat exchanger plates and heat exchanger formed from such plates can be desirable to reduce the overall weight of the heat exchanger and the contribution of the weight of a heat exchanger to a device or vehicle. However, down-gauging can also result in heat exchanger failure. For instance, heat exchanger placed in a vehicle or device can experience vibration that can lead to bending of the heat exchanger or heat exchanger plate, and result in one or more weak points, or leaks; which can eventually lead loss in efficiency and performance of the heat exchanger.
There is a need in the art for a heat exchanger plate having features that can help to strengthen the heat exchanger plate or heat exchanger. Preferably, such features can help with strengthening the heat exchanger plate without significantly impacting the weight of the heat exchanger plate or heat exchanger. In addition, there is a need in the art for a heat exchanger plate having features that can help prevent bending of the heat exchanger plate or heat exchanger. Moreover, there is a need in the art for a heat exchanger plate having features that can mitigate the impact of vibration forces on a heat exchanger plate or heat exchanger.
Reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings which show example embodiments of the present application, and in which:
Similar reference numerals may have been used in different figures to denote similar components.
In one aspect, the specification relates to a heat exchanger plate having:
a planar plate having an inlet and outlet proximate to a first edge of the heat exchanger plate; the planar plate having a plurality of ribs and a plurality of channels, with the base of the plurality of channels being in a plane different from the planar plate, the plurality of channels being in fluid communication from the inlet to the outlet permitting fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet; and
a protrusion coupled to the planar plate proximate to the first edge of the heat exchanger plate and extending away from an axis, with the heat exchanger plate being susceptible to bending about the axis.
In one embodiment, the protrusion coupled to the planar plate proximate to the first edge of the heat exchanger plate extends laterally away from an axis, with the heat exchanger plate being susceptible to bending about the axis.
In one embodiment, the heat exchanger planar plate provides a U-shaped fluid flow path from the inlet to the outlet.
In one embodiment, the heat exchanger planar plate has a central rib extending along the length of the heat exchanger plate, the central rib separating the planar plate into an inlet side and an outlet side; and
wherein the axis extends in line with the central rib.
In one embodiment, the heat exchanger plate protrusion intersects the axis, the protrusion being bar shaped with a centrally positioned pimple-shaped projection that projects from the protrusion along the central rib towards an edge of the heat exchanger plate that is opposed to the first edge.
In one embodiment, the heat exchanger plate protrusion is a longitudinal shaped dimple positioned adjacent to the first edge of the heat exchanger plate, the longitudinal shaped dimple intersecting the axis along which the heat exchanger plate is susceptible to bending.
In one embodiment, the heat exchanger plate protrusion has a triangular shape and extends from the first edge of the heat exchanger plate, the apex of the triangular shaped protrusion being proximate to and in line with the central rib.
In one embodiment, the heat exchanger plate protrusion is a flange extending from the first edge of the heat exchange plate.
In one embodiment, the heat exchanger plate has a protrusion that has a triangular shape and coupled adjacent to the first edge of the heat exchanger plate, the apex of the triangular shaped protrusion being proximate to and in line with the central rib.
In one embodiment, the heat exchanger plate has a first protrusion and a second protrusion, the first protrusion being longitudinal and coupled to the planar plate proximate to the first edge of the heat exchanger plate and laterally extending from the axis, with the heat exchanger plate being susceptible to bending about the axis; and the second protrusion being V-shaped with the apex of the V-shaped protrusion being aligned with the central rib of the heat exchanger plate.
In one embodiment, the heat exchanger plate has a protuberance positioned in the channel proximate to an edge opposed to the first edge, the protuberance intersects the axis about which the heat exchanger is susceptible to bending and extends laterally away towards the longitudinal edges of the heat exchanger plate.
In one embodiment, the heat exchanger plate has a plurality of nipples formed in the channel and extending in the fluid passage.
In one embodiment, the heat exchanger plate has a plurality of nipples are formed proximate to an edge opposed to the first edge.
In one embodiment, the heat exchanger plate has a manifold portion and a heat exchanger portion, the heat exchanger plate provided with a plurality of protrusions between the manifold portion and the heat exchange portion; and
wherein the heat exchanger is susceptible to bending in between the manifold portion and the heat exchanger portion.
In one embodiment, the heat exchanger plate has an axis about which the heat exchanger plate is susceptible to bending perpendicular to the length of the heat exchanger plate.
In one embodiment, the heat exchanger plate has a plurality of protrusions are at an angle from the length of the heat exchanger plate.
Typical plate-type heat exchangers should be known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Some types of heat exchangers are formed by a plurality of plate pairs, while in some others, the heat exchanger is formed using a single plate pair. The plate pair together provide for a fluid channel for flow of a heat exchanger fluid from an inlet of the heat exchanger to the outlet of the heat exchanger, with the peripheral edges of the plate pairs being sealed to each other to prevent leakage of the heat exchanger fluid from the plate pair. Examples of some heat exchangers are shown in, for instance, PCT International Patent Publication Nos. WO 2012/126111, WO 2016/109881A1, WO/2017/070785, and PCT International Patent Application No. PCT/CA2017/051540, incorporated herein by reference.
In the embodiment shown in
The heat exchanger plate 12 can be stamped to provide a passage 32 having a plurality of channels 24 and a plurality of ribs 26 on both the inlet side 18 and the outlet side 20. Stamping results in the base of the channels 24 being in a first plane, which is different from the plane defined by the planar plate 14, to allow heat exchanger fluid to flow-in. In the embodiment shown in
As noted above, the heat exchanger plate 12 is also provided with an inlet 28 and outlet 30, with the inlet 28 being in fluid communication with the plurality of channels 24 on the inlet side 18, and the outlet 30 being in fluid communication with the plurality of channels 24 on the outlet side 20. Hence, fluid entering from the inlet 28 will flow in the channels 24 on the inlet side 18 till it each reaches the end opposed to the inlet 28 and outlet 30. As the passage ends, the fluid turns and enters the channels 24 on the outlet side 20, flowing to and out from the outlet 30 in the heat exchanger plate 12.
The heat exchanger plate 12 is also provided with a protrusion 34, with the protrusion 34 formed from or coupled to the planar plate 14 and extending away from an axis (A, shown in
In the embodiment shown in
In another further embodiment, the heat exchanger plate 12 can be provided with a protuberance 38 that intersects the axis A, with the heat exchanger plate 12 being susceptible to bending about the axis (A). In the embodiment shown in
In still another further embodiment, the heat exchanger plate 12 can be provided with nipples 40. In a particular embodiment, as shown in
In one embodiment, the heat exchanger plate 12 is provided with a protrusion 34, with the protrusion 34 being a longitudinal shaped dimple 42 that is positioned on the planar plate 14 (rather than in the channels 24). The longitudinal shaped dimple 42 intersects the axis (A) about which the heat exchanger plate 12 is susceptible to bending and extends laterally away from the axis. In the embodiment shown in
In a particular embodiment, the protrusion 34 is formed on the planar plate 14. In another embodiment, the protrusion 34 extends from an edge (first end) of the heat exchanger plate 12 that is proximate to the inlet 28 or outlet 30. In a further embodiment, the protrusion 34 extends from an edge of the heat exchanger plate 12 that is proximate to the inlet 28 or outlet 30, and is positioned to be symmetrical about an axis (A) about which the heat exchanger plate 12 is susceptible to bending. In still another embodiment, the protrusion 34 extends in the same direction as the channel 24. In a particular embodiment, the protrusion 34 has a triangular shape (as shown in
The heat exchanger plate 12 shown in
To help prevent bending about the axis (B), the planar plate 14 of the heat exchanger plate 12 is provided with a plurality of protrusions 34, with each protrusion 34 of the plurality of the protrusions 34 extending away from an axis (B) about which the heat exchanger plate is susceptible to bending. In one embodiment, as shown in
Certain adaptations and modifications of the described embodiments can be made. Therefore, the above discussed embodiments are considered to be illustrative and not restrictive.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Patent Provisional Application No. 62/623,260, filed Jan. 29, 2018 under the title STRUCTURALLY SUPPORTED HEAT EXCHANGER. The content of the above patent application is hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the detailed description hereof.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20190234695 A1 | Aug 2019 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62623260 | Jan 2018 | US |