Heat exchange element

Abstract

A heat exchange element includes a first flow passage and a second flow passage extending orthogonal thereto. The first flow passage is an undulating flow passage that has a rectangular cross section and is formed by positioning, a first wave-form plate member and a second wave-form plate member on top of each other and with a predetermined interval therebetween, and further causing spacers to hermetically close two lateral portions with respect to the traveling direction of the fluid. The second flow passage is a straight flow passage that has a substantially triangular cross section and is formed between a flat-plate-like member and one of the first and the second wave-form plate members, when the flat-plate-like member is positioned on the wave-like form of the one of the first and the second wave-form plate members so as to be in close contact therewith.

1 . A heat exchange element in which a first fluid and a second fluid are respectively caused to flow through a first flow passage and a second flow passage that are formed between plate members stacked in a manner of layers so as to extend in directions intersecting each other, so that a heat exchange process is performed between the first fluid and the second fluid, wherein
 the first flow passage is an undulating flow passage that has a rectangular cross section and is formed by positioning, a first wave-form plate member that is shaped in a form of a wave undulating in a layer stacking direction toward a traveling direction of the fluid and a second wave-form plate member that is shaped in a form of a wave undulating substantially in a same cycle as the first wave-form plate member on top of each other and with a predetermined interval therebetween, and further causing spacers to hermetically close two lateral portions with respect to the traveling direction of the fluid, and   the second flow passage is a straight flow passage that has a substantially triangular cross section and is formed between a flat-plate-like member and one of the first and the second wave-form plate members, when the flat-plate-like member is positioned on a wave-like form of the one of the first and the second wave-form plate members so as to be in close contact therewith, and wherein   the heat exchange element comprises a plurality of unit structuring members stacked in a manner of layers while being turned by 90 degrees for each of the layers, each of the unit structuring members being configured with a set made up of the first wave-form plate member, the second wave-form plate member, and the flat-plate-like member.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchange element according to  claim 1 , wherein a difference between a height of a wave-like form of the first wave-form plate member and a height of a wave-like form of the second wave-form plate member is larger than a layer-stacking-direction distance between the first wave-form plate member and the second wave-form plate member. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchange element according to  claim 1 , wherein each of bending parts at apexes of wave-like forms of the first wave-form plate member and the second wave-form plate member is shaped so as to be in an arched form having a curvature so that no dead water region occurs while the first fluid and the second fluid are flowing. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchange element according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one partition wall that divides the undulating flow passage having the rectangular cross section into a plurality of sections with respect to a width direction thereof and that enables the first and the second wave-form plate members to support each other is provided between the first wave-form plate member and the second wave-form plate member. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchange element according to  claim 5 , wherein
 a plurality of partition walls are provided, and   at least one of the partition walls provided in a predetermined position is configured so as to have a larger thickness with respect to the width direction of the flow passage than thicknesses of other partition walls provided in other positions.