Gasket Assembly for Plate Heat Exchanger

Abstract

A gasket assembly of a plate heat exchanger, comprising at least one gasket ( 3 ) and a package of heat exchanger plates ( 2 ) which are provided with inlet and outlet ports ( 4, 5, 6, 7 ) which constitute channels through the package and between the heat exchanger plates, whereby the heat exchanger plates are permanently joined in pairs to constitute cassettes ( 1 ), the gasket is disposed between the cassettes in a groove ( 12 ) in the heat exchanger plates and delimits in combination with the cassettes in every second space between plates a first flow passage for a first fluid, and the cassettes delimit a second flow passage for a second fluid. The gasket in the area around the ports comprises along its side facing the porthole a circumferential protruding bead ( 14 ). The invention also relates to a plate heat exchanger comprising the gasket unit, a heat exchanger plate and a gasket according to the invention.

1 .- 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A gasket assembly of a plate heat exchanger, comprising at least one gasket and a package of heat exchanger plates, the plates being provided with through inlet and outlet ports which constitute channels through the package and between the heat exchanger plates, the heat exchanger plates being permanently joined in pairs to constitute cassettes, the gasket being disposed between the cassettes in a groove in the heat exchanger plates and delimiting in combination with the cassettes in every second space between plates a first flow passage for a first fluid, and the cassettes delimiting a second flow passage for a second fluid, wherein the gasket in the area around the ports comprises along its side facing the porthole a circumferential protruding bead. 
     
     
         13 . A gasket assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the bead is so configured that the gasket in the area around the ports comprises, along its side facing the porthole, opposite recesses on upper and lower sides of the gasket. 
     
     
         14 . A gasket assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein each heat exchanger plate has around the ports a circumferential ridge provided on the outside of the cassette between the porthole and the gasket groove. 
     
     
         15 . A gasket assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the bead of the gasket abuts against the circumferential ridge around the porthole. 
     
     
         16 . A gasket assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the bead is so configured that the cassettes in combination with the gasket at the ports provide a substantially smooth channel through the plate package. 
     
     
         17 . A gasket assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the heat exchanger plates are permanently joined in pairs by welding. 
     
     
         18 . A gasket assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the heat exchanger plates are permanently joined in pairs by brazing. 
     
     
         19 . A plate heat exchanger comprising at least one gasket and a package of heat exchanger plates, the plates being provided with inlet and outlet ports which constitute channels through the package and between the heat exchanger plates, the heat exchanger plates being permanently joined in pairs to constitute cassettes, the gasket being disposed between the cassettes in a groove in the heat exchanger plates and delimiting in combination with the cassettes in every second space between plates a first flow passage for a first fluid, and the cassettes delimiting a second flow passage for a second fluid, wherein the plate heat exchanger comprises at least one gasket assembly according to  claim 12 . 
     
     
         20 . A heat exchanger plate which forms part of a package of plates for a plate heat exchanger, the plate being provided with inlet and outlet ports which constitute channels through the package and between the heat exchanger plates, the heat exchanger plates being permanently joined in pairs to constitute cassettes, a gasket being disposed between the cassettes in a groove in the heat exchanger plates and delineating in combination with the cassettes in every second space between plates a first flow passage for a first fluid, and the cassettes delimiting a second flow passage for a second fluid, wherein the heat exchanger plate has around the ports a circumferential ridge disposed on the outside of the cassette between the porthole and the gasket groove. 
     
     
         21 . A gasket for a plate heat exchanger comprising a package of heat exchanger plates which are provided with inlet and outlet ports, the ports constituting channels through the package and between the heat exchanger plates, and wherein the heat exchanger plates are permanently joined in pairs to constitute cassettes, the gasket is disposed between the cassettes in a groove in the heat exchanger plates and delimits in combination with the cassettes in every second space between plates a first flow passage for a first fluid, and the cassettes delimit a second flow passage for a second fluid, wherein the gasket in the area around the ports comprises along its side facing the porthole a circumferential protruding bead. 
     
     
         22 . A gasket according to  claim 21 , wherein the bead is so configured that the gasket in the area around the ports comprises, along its side facing the porthole, opposite recesses on upper and lower sides of the gasket.