Heat Exchanger

Abstract

This relates to a heat transfer plate ( 2 ) with locating means ( 8 ) and adapted to being stacked in a plate stack, and a heat exchanger including such plates ( 2 ). The plate ( 2 ) has a patterned heat transfer surface, an edge portion, ports, locating means ( 8 ) and accommodating means ( 14 ). Locating means ( 8 ) in the form of nibs ( 8 ) is situated on the heat transfer surface of the plate. The nibs ( 8 ) are between two planes ( 10 and 12 ) situated above the heat transfer surface pattern. In the plate stack, between two mutually adjacent plates ( 2 ), the nibs ( 8 ) fit into accommodating means ( 14 ) on an adjacent plate ( 2 ), which accommodating means ( 14 ) are disposed in the latter's heat transfer surface. Two mutually adjacent plates ( 2 ) in the plate stack together have two nibs ( 8 ) and two accommodating means ( 14 ) which fit into one another and thereby fix the plates ( 2 ) relative to one another so that the plates cannot shear or rotate relative to one another. This means that plates ( 2 ) need not have any so-called locating flanges for positioning them in a plate stack.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . A heat transfer plate having locating means and adapted to being stacked in a permanently connected plate stack, which heat transfer plate comprises an edge portion extending around the periphery of the plate, and a heat transfer surface situated within the periphery of the plate, which heat transfer surface exhibits a pattern of crests and valleys, and the heat transfer surface is within a first (upper) plane and a second (lower) plane which are laterally parallel with a normal plane of the heat transfer plate, wherein the locating means is disposed between the first plane of the heat transfer surface and a third plane which is situated laterally parallel above the first plane. 
   
   
       13 . A heat transfer plate according to  claim 12 , wherein a second locating means is disposed between the second plane of the heat transfer surface and a fourth plane which is situated laterally parallel below the second plane. 
   
   
       14 . A heat transfer plate according to  claim 12 , wherein the locating means is disposed on the heat transfer surface. 
   
   
       15 . A heat transfer plate according to  claim 13 , wherein the locating means on a first plate is adapted to fit into a first accommodating device intended for the locating means and disposed on an adjacent second plate. 
   
   
       16 . A heat transfer plate according to  claim 13 , wherein the second locating means on a second plate is adapted to fit into a second accommodating device intended for the locating means and disposed on an adjacent first plate in the plate stack, with the result that the plates are fixed relative to one another in lateral directions. 
   
   
       17 . A heat transfer plate according to  claim 12 , wherein the heat transfer plate is adjacent to a second heat transfer plate, with the result that they together comprise at least two locating means. 
   
   
       18 . A heat transfer plate according to  claim 12 , wherein the locating means takes the form of nibs. 
   
   
       19 . A heat transfer plate according to  claim 12 , wherein the locating means takes the form of grooves. 
   
   
       20 . A heat transfer plate according to  claim 12 , wherein the locating means is situated in the immediate vicinity of the edge portion. 
   
   
       21 . A heat transfer plate according to  claim 12 , wherein the locating means is situated on the edge portion. 
   
   
       22 . A heat exchanger comprising a plate stack composed of heat transfer plates according to  claim 12 , wherein the heat transfer plates are permanently connected to one another.