Circumferential flow heat exchanger
AssigneeLong Manufacturing Ltd.
InventorsKris J. Meekins, Jeffrey P. Benson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improvement in circumferential flow heat exchangers of the type having a stack of heat exchange units each formed from first and second thin plates having grooves and ribs, wherein the grooves and ribs on facing surfaces of the first and second plates of a unit cross one another and cooperate to define a first flow path extending once about the interior of such unit through less than about one circumscription and grooves and ribs on facing surfaces of first and second plates of adjacent units cross one another and cooperate to define a second flow path, characterized in that the first and second plates of each unit are configured to provide the second flow path with a cross-sectional area exceeding the cross-sectional area of the first flow path.
Claims17
A heat exchanger comprising:
- a stack of heat exchange units, wherein each of said units is formed from a pair of plates engaging one another and cooperating to define a first flow path therebetween;
- a pair of adjacent units engaging one another and cooperating to define a second flow path therebetween;
- the plates of each said pair of plates having inner facing surfaces and outer oppositely facing surfaces, said outer surfaces of said plates each being shaped to define a planar portion, a peripheral portion spaced from said planar portion, a plurality of outer grooves, and outer ribs disposed one between each of said outer grooves, said outer grooves and ribs of a first of said plates of said pair extending in a direction opposite to said outer grooves and ribs of a second of said plates of said pair, said outer grooves forming inner ribs on adjacent inner facing surfaces disposed in surface-to-surface engagement and in a crossing relationship, said planar and peripheral portions of each plate pair being fluid sealed relative to one another, said planar portions of said plates of said pairs of plates being apertured to afford flow communication into and out of said first flow paths of adjacent units and said planar portions of adjacent plate pairs having facing surfaces thereof fluid sealed relative to one another to cause flow between respective first flow paths;
- said outer ribs having crest portions disposed in a direction normal to said outer surfaces, a plurality of projections formed integrally with said outer ribs and having engagement surfaces, said engagement surfaces of said first plates of said pair being disposed in engagement with said engagement surfaces of said second plates of an adjacent pair of plates of said stack whereby said second flow path is of greater effective cross-sectional area than said first flow path.
A heat exchanger unit for a heat exchanger comprising:
- first and second plates having oppositely facing outer and inner surfaces, said outer surfaces having elongated outer grooves, and elongated outer ribs arranged between said outer grooves and extending co-directionally therewith, said inner surfaces having inner ribs and grooves aligned respectively with said outer grooves and ribs, said inner ribs of said first plate being disposed in an engaged crossing relationship with said inner ribs of said second plate with said inner grooves and ribs cooperating to define a first flow path therebetween, said plates having flow inlet and outlet openings communicating with said first flow path, said outer ribs having crest portions, said crest portions having projections upstanding therefrom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.