Heat-exchangers with plate-like heat exchange elements

In a heat exchanger comprising an array of at least two plate-like heat exchange elements positioned adjacent one another, each of said plate-like heat exchange elements including at least one passageway defined by a bulge in a portion of the wall of said plate-like heat exchange element, coupling means extending between and integrally attached to adjacently disposed plate-like heat exchange elements for providing a transverse flow conduit connecting a first passageway in a first of said plate-like heat exchange elements with a second passageway in a second of said plate-like heat exchange elements, and flow means for providing a flow passage through said array of plate-like heat exchange elements, the improvement which comprises:

• said array of plate-like heat exchange elements each including a plurality of apertures extending transversely through wall portions thereof, with said apertures in said first plate-like heat exchange element axially offset from a further plurality of apertures formed in said adjacently disposed second plate-like heat exchange element,
• said array of plate-like heat exchange elements each further including a separate pair of parallel flap means extending outwardly in opposite directions from opposite sides of each aperture, with each of said flap means on said first plate-like heat exchange element forming a substantially perpendicular angle with each of said flap means on said second plate-like heat exchange element;
• and means for substantially reversing the direction of fluid while flowing through said array, thereby creating turbulence and significantly improving the heat transfer within said heat exchanger between said fluid and a further fluid flowing through said passageways in said elements.