Exchange gas heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat-exchanger ( 1 ) consists of a series of closely-spaced, essentially planar, pressure elements ( 11 ). Each pressure-element comprises a laminated plate-pair having surfaces formed to provide a plurality of ribbon like cavities between the plates, through which a working fluid can flow. Each plate-pair is joined around the common perimeter to produce a pressure-tight envelope having fluid-inlet and outlet ports at suitable locations. Between adjoining pressure-elements, heat-conductor plates ( 20 ) of corrugated profile are located; providing a series of narrow, approximately triangular-sectioned channels, distributed across each pressure-element, through which hot exhaust-gases can form a counter-flow with that of the pressure-element working fluid. The heat-conductor plates are engineered to react pressure-loading from the pressure-elements. The complete assembly of pressure-elements and heat-conducting plates is contained, in the direction of the major axis of the enclosure ( 23 ), between end-plates ( 25 ) retained by the body of the enclosure; by tie-rods, bars, or similar means.

1 ) An exhaust gas heat-exchanger, comprising;
 A series of substantially planar, heat-transfer pressure-elements, each said pressure-element having planar alignment normal to the major axis of an enclosure and consisting of laminated plate-pairs, joined around a common perimeter; at least one said laminated plate having ribbed surface-features to provide a parallel series of narrow cavities, within each pressure-element, in internal communication with inlet and outlet ports, suitably located on the said perimeter, for the passage of a working fluid;   a series of corrugated plates, of deeply-serrate profile, forming compression-reacting elements, located between successive pressure-elements and engaging with the said ribbed surface-features to provide channels for the passage of exhaust-gas between adjacent pressure-element surfaces;   an enclosure having inlet and outlet ports for the passage of exhaust gas and having structural means to contain the, mutually opposed, working forces from the pressure-vessel series, acting outward in parallel alignment with the said major axis of the enclosure;   means to convey working-fluid from a connection external to the said heat-exchanger enclosure, to the said pressure-vessel inlet ports and means, to convey the heated or evaporated fluid from the said pressure-vessel outlet-ports to a connection external to the heat-exchanger enclosure.   
   
   
       2 ) A heat-exchanger as in  claim 1 , in which the working forces from the pressure-vessel series are contained between end-plates mutually restrained by tie-rod or similar means in which the structural system is independent of the heat-exchanger enclosure. 
   
   
       3 ) A heat-exchanger system, consisting of two heat-exchangers, as in  claims 1  or  2 , in which the said heat-exchangers are combined in the form of a conjoined or common, enclosure, arranged for the passage of heated exhaust-gas, in which the said heat-exchangers are serially connected with respect to the passage of the working-fluid and said heat-exchangers being ordered within the exhaust gas stream so that there is a first, high-temperature, heat-exchanger and a second, lower-temperature, heat-exchanger;
 an exhaust-gas catalyst located within the said heat-exchanger system enclosure, between said first heat-exchanger and said second heat-exchanger within the exhaust-gas passage, for the purpose of exhaust-gas purification treatment.