Heat Exchanger Plate and a Plate Package

Abstract

The invention refers to a heat exchanger plate ( 1 ) and a plate package for a plate heat exchanger. The heat exchanger plate extends between a primary edge zone ( 11 a ) and a secondary edge zone ( 12 a ). A centre axis (x) divides the heat exchanger plate in a primary part ( 11 ) and a secondary part ( 12 ). The heat exchanger plate includes a first end area ( 16 ), a second end area ( 17 ), and a central heat transfer area ( 18 ) therebetween. A primary porthole ( 21 ) and a secondary porthole ( 23 ) extend through the plate in the first end area and are surrounded by the respective adjoining edge area ( 25 ). The primary porthole is located on the primary part and the secondary porthole on the secondary part. A distribution area ( 26 ) extends on the first end area and has a base surface ( 27 ) extending from the primary porthole to the central heat transfer area. The base surface is inclined and located at an upper level at an upper plane in the proximity of the edge area of the primary porthole and sinks successively to a lower level in the proximity of a lower plate plane at secondary edge zone.

1 .- 26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . A heat exchanger plate for a plate package for a plate heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger plate extends between a primary edge zone and a secondary edge zone in parallel with a central extension plane, an upper plate plane and a lower plate plane, wherein the central extension plane includes a center axis (x) dividing the heat exchanger plate into a primary part and a secondary part, the heat exchanger plate comprising
 a first end area,   a second end area,   a central heat transfer area, which extends between the primary edge zone and the secondary edge zone from the first end area to the second end area,   a primary porthole and a secondary porthole, which extend through the heat exchanger plate in the first end area and each of which is surrounded by a respective adjoining edge area, wherein the primary porthole is located on the primary part and the secondary porthole is located on the secondary part, and   a distribution area which extends on the first end area and has a base surface extending from the primary porthole to the central heat transfer area,   wherein the base surface is located at an upper level in the proximity of the upper plate plane in the proximity of the edge area of the primary porthole and sinks successively to a lower level in the proximity of the lower plate plane in the proximity of the secondary edge zone.   
   
   
       28 . A heat exchanger plate according to  claim 27 , wherein the shape of the distribution area has been produced through compression-molding of the heat exchanger plate. 
   
   
       29 . A heat exchanger plate according to  claim 27 , wherein the base surface sinks successively along a border to the central heat transfer area from the proximity of the primary edge zone to the proximity of the secondary edge zone. 
   
   
       30 . A heat exchanger plate according to  claim 27 , wherein the base surface sinks continuously from the upper level to the lower level. 
   
   
       31 . A heat exchanger plate according to  claim 27 , wherein the distribution area and the base surface extend over substantially the whole first end area. 
   
   
       32 . A heat exchanger plate according to  claim 27 , wherein the distribution area includes a number of projections and depressions, and substantially each projection extends in a respective direction running from the primary porthole towards the central heat transfer area. 
   
   
       33 . A heat exchanger plate according to  claim 32 , wherein substantially each projection reaches the upper plate plane and substantially each depression reaches the lower plate plane. 
   
   
       34 . A heat exchanger plate according to  claim 32 , wherein substantially each projection has a length which is substantially shorter than the distance from the primary porthole to the central heat transfer area along the direction of the projection. 
   
   
       35 . A heat exchanger plate according to  claim 33 , wherein substantially each depression extends substantially perpendicularly to said respective direction of an adjacent projection. 
   
   
       36 . A heat exchanger plate according to  claim 32 , wherein substantially each depression extends in a respective direction running from the secondary porthole towards the central heat transfer area. 
   
   
       37 . A heat exchanger plate according to  claim 35 , wherein substantially each depression has a length which is substantially shorter than the distance from the secondary porthole to the central heat transfer area along the direction of the depression. 
   
   
       38 . A heat exchanger plate according to  claim 32 , wherein each projection and each depression have two ends and two long sides, substantially each projection, which is located on the secondary part, with one of the ends extends to one of the long sides of a depression and substantially each depression, which is located on the primary part, with one of the ends extends to one of the long sides of a projection. 
   
   
       39 . A heat exchanger plate according to  claim 32 , wherein the heat exchanger plate is symmetrical with regard to the center axis (x) so that substantially each depression has a shape and a position corresponding to a shape and a position of a projection on the other side of the center axis (x), and each depression is designed to abut a projection of an adjacent turned heat exchanger plate in the plate package. 
   
   
       40 . A plate package for a plate heat exchanger including at least two heat exchanger plates having a plate interspace therebetween, wherein each heat exchanger plate extends between a primary edge zone and a secondary edge zone in parallel with a central extension plane, an upper plate plane and a lower plate plane, wherein the central extension plane includes a center axis (x) dividing each heat exchanger plate into a primary part and a secondary part, the heat exchanger plate comprising
 a first end area,   a second end area,   a central heat transfer area, which extends between the primary edge zone and the secondary edge zone from the first end area to the second end area,   a primary porthole and a secondary porthole, which extend through the heat exchanger plate in the first end area and each of which is surrounded by a respective adjoining edge area, wherein the primary porthole is located on the primary part and the secondary porthole is located on the secondary part, and   a distribution area which extends on the first end area and has a base surface extending from the primary porthole to the central heat transfer area,   wherein the base surface is located at an upper level in the proximity of the upper plate plane in the proximity of the edge area of the primary porthole and sinks successively to a lower level in the proximity of the lower plate plane in the proximity of the secondary edge zone.   
   
   
       41 . A plate package according to  claim 40 , wherein the heat exchanger plates are arranged in alternating order so that the primary part in the first end area of a first heat exchanger plate adjoins the secondary part of an adjacent second heat exchanger plate, wherein the height of the plate interspaces decreases successively from the proximity of the edge area of the primary porthole with regard to the heat exchanger plate to the proximity of the secondary edge zone with regard to the first heat exchanger plate. 
   
   
       42 . A plate package according to  claim 41 , wherein the height of the plate interspace decreases continuously. 
   
   
       43 . A plate package according to  claim 40 , wherein the distribution area includes a number of projections and depressions, wherein substantially each projection extends in a respective direction running from the primary porthole towards the central heat transfer area. 
   
   
       44 . A plate package according to  claim 43 , wherein substantially each projection reaches the upper plate plane and that substantially each depression reaches the lower plate plane. 
   
   
       45 . A plate package according to  claim 43 , wherein substantially each projection has a length which is substantially shorter than the distance from the primary porthole to the central heat transfer area along the direction of the projection. 
   
   
       46 . A plate package according to  claim 43 , wherein substantially each depression extends substantially perpendicularly to said respective direction of an adjacent projection. 
   
   
       47 . A plate package according to  claim 43 , wherein substantially each depression extends in a respective direction running from the secondary porthole towards the central heat transfer area. 
   
   
       48 . A plate package according to  claim 46 , wherein substantially each depression has a length which is substantially shorter than the distance from the primary porthole to the central heat transfer area along the direction of the depression. 
   
   
       49 . A plate package according to  claim 43 , wherein each projection and each depression have two ends and two long sides, substantially each projection, which is located on the secondary part, with one of the ends extends to one of the long sides of a depression and substantially each depression, which is located on the primary part, with one of the ends extends to one of the long sides of a projection. 
   
   
       50 . A plate package according to  claim 43 , wherein the heat exchanger plates are arranged in an alternating order so that the primary part in the first end area of a first heat exchanger plate adjoins the secondary part of an adjacent second heat exchanger plate, wherein substantially each depression of the first heat exchanger plate abuts a projection of the adjacent second heat exchanger plate. 
   
   
       51 . A plate package according to  claim 40 , wherein substantially all heat exchanger plates are identical. 
   
   
       52 . A plate package according to  claim 40 , wherein the heat exchanger plates are permanently joined to each other.