Heat exchange element and heat exchanger produced therewith

Abstract

A heat exchange element is described having adjacent, heat-transferring, smooth walls ( 1 ) which, between each other, delimit flow channels ( 4 ) with preselected channel widths (B) for at least one fluid and are provided with undulations ( 6 ) which protrude on both sides and transversely relative to imaginary central planes ( 7 ), said undulations having preselected wavelengths (λ) as well as apexes ( 9 a, 9 b ) with radii of curvature (R) and apex spacings (W) measured transversely relative to the central planes ( 7 ). According to the invention inequalities 0.1≦B/W≦0.55 and R≧1.2 B apply at least partially to ratios of channel width (B)/apex spacing (W) and channel width (B)/radius of curvature (R) ( FIG. 2 ).

1 . Heat exchange element having adjacent, heat-transferring, smooth walls ( 1 ,  11 ,  12 ,  20 ,  33 ,  46 ,  48 ) which, between each other, delimit flow channels ( 4 ,  41 ,  42 ,  51 ) with preselected channel widths (B) for at least one fluid and are provided with undulations ( 6 ,  14 ) which protrude on both sides and transversely relative to imaginary central planes ( 7 ), said undulations having preselected wavelengths (λ) and apexes ( 9   a,    9   b ) with radii of curvature (R) and apex spacings (W) measured transversely relative to said central planes ( 7 ), wherein an inequality 0.1≦B/W≦0.55 applies at least partially to a ratio of said channel width (B) to said apex spacing (W) and wherein an inequality R≧1.2 B applies at least partially to a ratio of said channel widths (B) to said radius of curvature (R).  
   
   
       2 . Heat exchange element according to  claim 1 , wherein an inequality 0≦B/R≦0.75 applies to said ratio of channel width (B)/radius of curvature (R).  
   
   
       3 . Heat exchange element according to  claim 2 , wherein an inequality 0.2≦B/R≦0.55 applies to said ratio of channel width (B)/radius of curvature (R).  
   
   
       4 . Heat exchange element according to  claim 1 , wherein an inequality 0.35≦B/W≦0.50 applies to said ratio of channel width (B)/apex spacing (W).  
   
   
       5 . Heat exchange element according to  claim 1 , wherein an inequality 16 mm≦λ≦30 mm applies at least partially to said wavelength (λ).  
   
   
       6 . Heat exchange element according to  claim 1 , wherein an inequality 2.4 mm≦R≦∞ applies at least partially to said radii of curvature (R), R=∞ corresponding to a wall portion ( 17 ) being disposed in a straight plane in the relevant apex and preferably parallel to an associated central plane ( 7 ).  
   
   
       7 . Heat exchange element according to  claim 1 , wherein said undulations ( 6 ,  14 ) have first flat portions ( 15 ,  16 ) which rise and fall in straight planes and at the apexes second wall portions which connect the first portions ( 15 ,  16 ) and are continuously curved or are modelled as a polygon.  
   
   
       8 . Heat exchange element according to  claim 1 , wherein said undulations ( 14 ) have first flat portions ( 15 ,  16 ) which rise and fall in straight planes and at the apexes second flat, straight wall portions ( 17 ) which connect said first portions ( 15 ,  16 ).  
   
   
       9 . Heat exchange element according to  claim 8 , wherein said second flat wall portions ( 17 ) which are provided at the apexes are disposed parallel to said central planes ( 7 ).  
   
   
       10 . Heat exchange element according to  claim 1 , wherein said undulations have respectively two half-waves ( 6   a,    6   b;    14   a,    14   b;    21   a,    21   b ) which are disposed on opposite sides of said central planes ( 7 ).  
   
   
       11 . Heat exchange element according to  claim 10 , wherein said half-waves ( 21   a,    21   b ) are connected by flat portions ( 22 ) which are disposed essentially in said central planes ( 7 ).  
   
   
       12 . Heat exchange element according to  claim 1 , wherein said undulations ( 6 ,  14 ) have an identical configuration.  
   
   
       13 . Heat exchange element according to  claim 1 , wherein said flow channels ( 4 ) have inlet and/or outlet ends ( 27 ,  28 ) for said fluid extending essentially parallel to said central planes ( 7 ).  
   
   
       14 . Heat exchange element according to  claim 1 , wherein said undulations are provided with wavelengths (λ 1  to λ 3 ) and/or apex spacings (W 3  to W 5 ) which are of different sizes in a direction of said flow channels.  
   
   
       15 . Heat exchange element according to  claim 1 , wherein said walls ( 1 ,  11 ,  12 ,  20 ,  33 ,  46 ,  48 ) have a thickness (S) of 0.08 m to 5 mm.  
   
   
       16 . Heat exchange element according to  claim 1 , wherein said undulations ( 6 ,  14 ) are provided with wavelengths (λ) which are at least four times as great as said apex spacing (W).  
   
   
       17 . Heat exchange element according to  claim 1 , wherein said undulations ( 6 ,  14 ) of adjacent walls ( 1 ,  11 ,  12 ,  20 ,  33 ,  46 ,  48 ) are disposed without an offset relative to each other in a flow direction.  
   
   
       18 . Heat exchange element according to  claim 1 , and being a part of a ribbed cooling body.  
   
   
       19 . Heat exchange element according to  claim 1 , and being a part of a flat pipe heat exchanger.  
   
   
       20 . Heat exchange element according to  claim 1 , and being configured as a fin.  
   
   
       21 . Heat exchange element according to  claim 1 , and being configured as a lamella (corrugated rib) ( 32 ,  43 ,  44 ).  
   
   
       22 . Heat exchanger having at least one heat exchange element according to  claim 1.