Heat Exchanger

The present application claims the priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202210511442.7, titled “HEAT EXCHANGER”, filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration on May 11, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The present application relates to the technical field of heat exchanging, and in particular to a heat exchanger.

A heat exchanger typically includes multiple heat-exchanging plates stacked in layers. Each of the heat-exchanging plates is provided with a flange on the periphery thereof, and the flanges of the adjacent heat-exchanging plates are sealedly arranged. The multiple heat-exchanging plates, which are arranged separately, need to be stacked one by one during assembly. Due to a large number of heat-exchanging plates, an assembly mistake may occur.

An object of the present application is to provide a heat exchanger that is easy for assembling.

A heat exchanger is provided according to an embodiment of the present application, including a heat-exchanging plate, and the heat-exchanging plate includes: a first plate, a second plate, and a third plate, and the second plate is located between the first plate and the third plate, a first direction is defined, the heat exchanger includes a first side portion and a second side portion in the first direction, the heat exchanger further includes a first connecting portion and a second connection portion, and the first connecting portion is located on the first side portion and the second connection portion is located on the second side portion, and the first connecting portion, the first plate, and the second plate are formed into an integrated structure, and the second connection portion, the second plate and the third plate are formed into an integrated structure.

A first flow passage is formed between the first plate and the second plate, the first plate and the second plate are arranged in a sealed manner, and an area sealed by the first plate and the second plate at least encloses the first flow passage, and a second flow passage is formed between the second plate and the third plate, the second plate and the third plate are arranged in a sealed manner, and an area sealed by the second plate and the third plate at least encloses the second flow passage.

In the embodiments above, the first connecting portion, the first plate, the second plate, the second connecting portion and the third plate are formed into an integrated structure. The first connecting portion is located on the first side portion of the heat exchanger, and the second connecting portion is located on the second side portion of the heat exchanger, and at least a part of the heat exchanger can be formed by folding one single plate, which is beneficial for assembling.

The embodiments will be described with reference to the accompany drawings. In order to fully understand the present application, specific details are mentioned in the following description. However, those skilled in the art should understand that the specific components, devices, and features illustrated in the drawings and described herein are merely exemplary, which should not be regarded as a limit.

As shown into, a heat exchangerincludes a heat-exchanging plate, which includes a first plate, a second plate, and a third plate. The second plateis located between the first plateand the third plate. A first direction is defined, and the heat exchangerhas a first side portionand a second side portionin the first direction. As shown into, a direction F is indicated as the first direction, and the first plateand the second plateare connected by a first connecting portionon the first side portionof the heat exchanger. The first connecting portion, the first plate, and the second plateare formed into an integrated structure. The second plateand the third plateare connected by a second connecting portionon the second side portionof the heat exchanger. The second connecting part, the second plate, and the third plateare formed into an integrated structure. As shown into, the first plate, the second plate, and the third plateare formed by folding one single plate, a first flow passageis formed between the first plateand the second plate, and the first plateand the second plateare arranged in a sealed manner. An area sealed by the first plateand the second plateat least encloses the first flow passageto seal the periphery of the first flow passage. A second flow passageis formed between the second plateand the third plate, and the second plateand the third plateare arranged in a sealed manner. An area sealed by the second plateand the third plateat least encloses the second flow passageto seal the periphery of the second flow passage. The heat exchangercan be formed by folding one single plate without stacking multiple plates one by one, which not only avoids a mis-assembly but also facilitates the assembly. By connecting the first plateand the second plateon the first side portionof the heat exchangerthrough the first connection portionand connecting the second plateand the third plateon the second side portionof the heat exchangerthrough the second connection portion, the heat-exchanging platecan be formed by continuously stamping or rolling one single plate rather than stamping multiple heat-exchanging platesseparately, which improves the processing efficiency and reducing the processing cost.

As shown into, one single plate is folded to form the heat-exchanging plate. The heat-exchanging platesin odd-numbered layers have the same structure, and the heat-exchanging platesin even-numbered layers have the same structure, that is, the first plateand the third platehave the same structure. Alternatively, the heat exchangermay also have only three heat-exchanging plates, that is, the first plate, the second plate, and the third plate, and the first plateand the third platemay also have different structures.

As shown into, the second plateincludes a first base portionand a first convex portionprotruding relative to the first base portion. The first convex portionis annular and is arranged around the second flow passage. The first convex portionand the third plateare arranged in a sealed manner, and the first convex portionensures that the second flow passagehas a certain height. The height of the second flow passagecan be adjusted by adjusting the height of the first convex portion. The first plateand the first base portionlocated on the periphery of the first convex portionare arranged in a sealed manner. A length of the first connecting portionis less than that of the second connecting portion. By shortening the length of the first connecting portion, it can not only reduce the cost but also reduce the weight of the heat exchanger. Certainly, an annular convex portion, which protrudes towards the first plate, may also be provided on the first base portionlocated inside the first convex portionfor cooperating with the first platein a sealed manner, so as to seal the periphery of the first flow passage; or an annular convex portion, which protrudes towards the second platelocated inside the first convex portion, is provided on the first platefor cooperating with the first base portionin a sealed manner, so as to seal the periphery of the first flow passage; or an annular convex portion protruding towards the first plateis provided on the first base portionlocated inside the first convex portionwhile an annular convex portion protruding towards the second plateis provided on the first plate, and these two annular convex portions are sealedly arranged so as to seal the periphery of the first flow passage. The expressions “being sealedly arranged” and “in a sealed manner” herein may refer to being fixed by brazing or fixed by sealant, etc..

In some embodiments, the first flow passageand the second flow passageare provided with convex portions for turbulence. As shown into, the heat exchangerfurther includes a fourth plate, and the third plateis located between the second plateand the fourth plate. A third connecting portionis located on the first side portionof the heat exchanger. The third plateand the fourth plateare connected by the third connecting portion, and the third connecting portion, the third plate, and the fourth plateare formed into an integrated structure. A third flow passageis provided between the third plateand the fourth plate, and the third plateand the fourth plateare arranged in a sealed manner. An area sealed by the third plateand the fourth plateat least encloses the third flow passageto seal the periphery of the third flow passage. The first plateincludes a second base portionand a second convex portionprotruding relative to the second base portion. The second base portionis arranged around the second convex portion. The second plateincludes a first base portionand a first convex portionprotruding relative to the first base portion. A protruding direction of the second convex portionis opposite to that of the first convex portion. The first convex portionis annular. The first base portionincludes a first inner base portionand a first outer base portion. The first convex portionis arranged around the first inner base portion, and the first outer base portionis arranged around the first convex portion. The third plateincludes a third base portionand a third convex portionprotruding relative to the third base portion. A protruding direction of the third convex portionis opposite to that of the first convex portion, and the third base portionis arranged around the third convex portion. The fourth plateincludes a fourth base portionand a fourth convex portionprotruding relative to the fourth base portion. A protruding direction of the fourth convex portionis opposite to that of the third convex portion. The fourth convex portionis annular, and the fourth base portionincludes a fourth inner base portionand a fourth outer base portion. The fourth convex portionis arranged around the fourth inner base portion, and the fourth outer base portionis arranged around the fourth convex portion. The second base portionand the first outer base portionare arranged in a sealed manner, the first convex portionand the third convex portionare arranged in a sealed manner, and the third base portionand the fourth outer base portionare arranged in a sealed manner. The second convex portionis provided with a first convex portionprotruding towards the second plate, and at least a part of the first convex portionabuts against the first inner base portion. The first inner base portionis provided with a second convex portionprotruding towards the third plate, and at least a part of the second convex portionabuts against the third convex portion. The third convex portionis provided a third convex portionprotruding towards the fourth plate, at least a part of the third convex portionabuts against the fourth inner base portion. The fourth base portionis provided with a fourth convex portionprotruding away from the third plate. In this embodiment, the convex portion is of a long-strip shape, and the long-strip convex portion is arranged at an angle relative to the length direction of the heat-exchanging plate. Certainly, the convex portion may also be a shape of herringbone wave or a spot wave, for example, the convex portion is multiple discrete circular convex portions or polygonal convex portions. It should be noted that, in case that the heat exchangeris only provided with the first plate, the second plate, and the third plate, that is, in case that the heat exchangeris only provided with the first flow passageand the second flow passage, only the first convex portionand the second convex portionmay be provided, or only the second convex portionand the third convex portionare provided, or only the second convex portionis provided. Certainly, a convex portion protruding toward the first plateand a convex portion protruding toward the third platemay be provided on the second plate.

As shown in, the first flow passageor the second flow passagemay not be provided with convex portions for turbulence, that is, the second convex portionof the first plateis not provided with the convex portion, the first inner base portionof the second platelocated inside the first convex portionis not provided with the convex portion, and the third convex portionof the third plateis not provided with the convex portion. The first flow passageand the second flow passagemay enhance the turbulence effect to the heat transfer fluid by providing fins, thereby improving the heat exchanging effect. Certainly, the turbulence effect may be achieved by providing plates having convex portions only in one of the first flow passageand the second flow passagewhile providing fins in the other one.

In some embodiments, the heat exchangerfurther includes a first corner duct, a second corner duct, a third corner duct, and a fourth corner duct. The first flow passageis in communication with the first corner ductand the second corner duct, the second flow passageis in communication with the third corner ductand the fourth corner duct, and the third flow passageis in communication with the first corner ductand the second corner duct. In case that the heat exchangerhas multiple flow passages, the flow passages in odd-numbered layers are in communication with the first corner ductand the second corner duct, and the flow passages in even-numbered layers are in communication with the third corner ductand the fourth corner duct. As shown into, each heat-exchanging platehas a first corner hole, a second corner hole, a third corner hole, and a fourth corner hole, and the first corner holesof the multiple heat-exchanging platesare at least partially aligned to form the first corner duct, the second corner holesof the multiple heat-exchanging platesare at least partially aligned to form the second corner duct, the third corner holesof the multiple heat-exchanging platesare at least partially aligned to form the third corner duct, and the fourth corner holesof the multiple heat-exchanging platesare at least partially aligned to form the fourth corner duct. The first corner holeand the second corner holeare circular and located at both ends of the heat-exchanging platein the length direction, and the first corner holeand the second corner holeare arranged close to the second side portionof the heat exchanger. The third corner holeand the fourth corner holeare elliptical and located at both ends of the heat exchangerin the length direction, and the third corner holeand the fourth corner holeare arranged close to the first side portionof the heat exchanger. Specifically, the first plateis provided with two first bossesprotruding towards the second plate, and a top of each first bossis arranged in the same plane as the second base portion. The top of the first bossis provided with either the third corner holeor the fourth corner hole. The first corner holeand the second corner holeof the first plateare located at the second convex portion, and the second plateis provided with two second bossesprotruding towards the third plate. A top of each second bossis located on the same plane as the top of the first convex portion, and the top of the second convex portionis provided with either the first corner holeor the second corner hole. The third corner holeand the fourth corner holeof the second plateare located at the first inner base portion. The third plateis provided with a third boss, and the specific structure of which is the same as the boss of the first plate. The fourth plateis provided with a fourth boss, and the specific structure of which is the same as the boss of the second plate, and so on. A gap is provided between the first corner holeand the second corner holeof the first plateand the first corner holeand the second corner holeof the second plateto communicate the first flow passagewith the first corner ductand the second corner duct. The top of the first bossaround the third corner holeor the fourth corner holeof the first plateand the first inner base portionaround the second corner holeor the fourth corner holeof the second plateare arranged in a sealed manner. The top of the second bossaround the first corner holeor the second corner holeof the second plateand the top of the convex portionaround the first corner holeor the second corner holeof the third plateare arranged in a sealed manner. A gap is provided between the third corner holeand the fourth corner holeof the second plateand the third corner holeand the fourth corner holeof the third plateto communicate the second flow passagewith the third corner ductand the fourth corner duct.

Alternatively, a part of heat-exchanging platesmay also have only two corner holes, three corner holes, or five corner holes, etc.. The different flow path configurations of the flow passages can be achieved according to different number of corner holes. The shapes of the corner holes may also be the same, for example, they are all circular.

It should be noted that the above provides a detailed introduction to the heat exchanger provided by the present application. Specific examples are used in this article to explain the principles and implementation methods of the present application, and the above examples are only used for understanding the core idea of the present application. It should be noted that, for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made to the present application without departing from the principles of the present application, and these improvements and modifications also fall within the scope of the claims of the present application.