Device for thermal regulation of a circulating fluid comprising a stacked corrugated plate heat exchanger with heat transfer and cooling paths and electrical heating element therebetween

A device, adapted for use with a source of cooling liquid and a source of electrical energy, for regulating the temperature of a fluid, said device comprising at least one elementary assembly, each elementary assembly, including, in combination:

• a plurality of ribbed plates joined together into a stack;
• a plurality of seals;
• said ribbed plates and seals together defining a first circulation circuit for conducting a flow of said cooling liquid, said first circulation circuit being divided into two parallel sub-circuits each bounded by two ribbed plates;
• said ribbed plates and seals also together defining a second circulation circuit for conducting a flow of said fluid, said second circulation being divided into two parallel sub-circuits each bounded by two ribbed plates;
• an electrical heating element thermally coupled to both of the sub-circuits of said second circulation circuit, said heating element being positioned between two of the ribbed plates which bound the sub-circuits of said second circulation circuit;
• each of the sub-circuits of said first circulation circuit being thermally coupled to a respective one of the sub-circuits of said second circulation circuit through one of the ribbed plates which bound that respective sub-circuit;
• whereby said fluid may absorb heat from said electric heating element and deliver heat to said source of cooling liquid as necessary for the temperature regulation thereof.