Plate heat exchanger and method for manufacturing of a plate heat exchanger

Abstract

The invention relates to a plate heat exchanger ( 1 ) and a method for manufacturing a plate heat exchanger. In a plate heat exchanger according to the invention, baffle plates ( 7, 7′ ) have been arranged between the outer surface of the plate pack ( 6 ) and the outer casing surrounding the plate pack, which baffle plates form a flow channel ( 9 ) between the outer surface of the plate pack and the outer casing for at least one heat-yielding and/or at least one heat-receiving heat exchange medium from the inlet connection ( 4, 5 ) to the plate pack and a flow channel ( 9′ ) from the plate pack to the outlet connection ( 4′, 5′ ).

1 . A plate heat exchanger ( 1 ), which comprises
 a plate pack ( 6 ) formed by heat exchange plates arranged on top of each other, which plate pack comprises ends in the direction of the heat exchange plates and an outer surface defined by the outer edges of the heat exchange plates;   an outer casing surrounding the plate pack ( 6 ), which casing comprises end plates ( 3   a,    3   b ) mainly in the direction of the ends of the plate pack and a shell ( 2 ) connecting the end plates, which shell is arranged at least mainly at a distance from the outer surface of the plate pack; and   inlet and outlet connections ( 4 ,  4 ′,  5 ,  5 ′) arranged through the outer casing for at least one heat-yielding and at least one heat-receiving heat exchange medium;   
       characterised in that baffle plates ( 7 ,  7 ′) in the longitudinal direction of the plate pack have been arranged between the outer surface of the plate pack and the outer casing, which baffle plates extend from the first end plate ( 3   a ) of the outer casing to the second end plate ( 3   b ), forming a flow channel ( 9 ) from the inlet connection ( 4 ,  5 ) to the plate pack ( 6 ) and a flow channel ( 9 ′) from the plate pack ( 6 ) to the outlet connection ( 4 ′,  5 ′) for at least one heat-yielding and at least one heat-receiving heat exchange medium between the outer surface of the plate pack and the shell ( 2 ) of the outer casing. 
     
     
         2 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the heat exchange mediums are fed from the flow channel ( 9 ) into the plate pack ( 6 ) and removed from the plate pack ( 6 ) into the flow channel ( 9 ′) through the outer surface of the plate pack. 
     
     
         3 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the baffle plates ( 7 ,  7 ′) are attached tightly, for example welded, by their ends to the end plates ( 3   a,    3   b ) of the heat exchanger, by their inner edge to the plate pack ( 6 ) and by their outer edge to the inner surface of the shell ( 2 ). 
     
     
         4 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the shell ( 2 ) is arranged to completely surround the plate pack ( 6 ). 
     
     
         5 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterised in that each baffle plate ( 7 ,  7 ′) is arranged tightly to the outer casing between two inlet or outlet connections. 
     
     
         6 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 5 , characterised in that the position of the baffle plate ( 7 ,  7 ′) between the inlet or outlet connections can be freely selected. 
     
     
         7 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterised in that there are four flow channels ( 9 ,  9 ′), which are formed by arranging four baffle plates ( 7 ,  7 ′) between the outer casing and the plate pack. 
     
     
         8 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterised in that one or more inlet or outlet connections ( 4 ,  4 ′,  5 ,  5 ′) are arranged through the end plate ( 3   a,    3   b ) of the outer casing. 
     
     
         9 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the plate pack ( 6 ) is formed by attaching profiled heat exchange plates ( 10 ,  10 ′) together on top of each other, so that a heat-yielding medium flows in every other plate space and a heat-receiving heat exchange medium in every other plate space. 
     
     
         10 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the plate pack ( 6 ) is formed by superposed profiled heat exchange plates ( 10 ,  10 ′), which are attached together by their outer edges with the aid of separate strips ( 11 ,  11 ′) arranged between the heat exchange plates, whereby the strips define the distance between the plates. 
     
     
         11 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the plate pack ( 6 ) is formed by superposed profiled heat exchange plates ( 10 ,  10 ′) attached together, the outer edge of which is bent, advantageously substantially perpendicularly, in relation to the rest of the plate, forming a cup-like structure, whereby the bent outer edge defines the distance between the heat exchange plates. 
     
     
         12 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the outer perimeters of the heat exchange plates ( 10 ,  10 ′) are welded together with an abutment joint. 
     
     
         13 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterised in that on the first side of one baffle plate there is the flow channel for the heat-yielding heat exchange medium and on the second side there is the flow channel for the heat-receiving heat exchange medium. 
     
     
         14 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the structure of the heat exchanger ( 1 ) is completely welded. 
     
     
         15 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the shell ( 2 ) of the outer casing comprises parts, which are attached to the heat exchanger in a detachable manner with bolts or the like. 
     
     
         16 . A method for manufacturing a plate heat exchanger ( 1 ), the method comprising
 forming a plate pack ( 6 ), where heat exchange plates ( 10 ,  10 ′) have been attached together on top of each other, whereby the plate pack has ends in the direction of the heat exchange plates and an outer surface defined by the outer edges of the heat exchange plates;   arranging an outer casing around the plate pack ( 6 ), which casing comprises end plates ( 3   a,    3   b ) mainly in the direction of the ends of the plate pack and a shell ( 2 ) connecting the end plates, which shell is arranged at least mainly at a distance from the outer surface of the plate pack;   arranging inlet and outlet connections ( 4 ,  4 ′,  5 ,  5 ′) through the outer casing for at least one heat-yielding and at least one heat-receiving heat exchange medium; characterised in   forming flow channels ( 9 ,  9 ′) leading from the inlet connection ( 4 ,  5 ) to the plate pack and from the plate pack to the outlet connection ( 4 ′,  5 ′) for at least one heat-yielding and at least one heat-receiving heat exchange medium between the outer surface of the plate pack ( 6 ) and the shell ( 2 ) of the outer casing, by arranging baffle plates ( 7 ,  7 ′) in the longitudinal direction of the plate pack between the outer surface of the plate pack and the outer casing, which baffle plates extend from the first end plate ( 3   a ) of the outer casing to the second end plate ( 3   b ).   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , characterised in
 attaching the baffle plates ( 7 ,  7 ′) tightly, for example by welding, by their ends to the end plates ( 3   a,    3   b ) of the heat exchanger, by their inner edge to the plate pack ( 6 ) and by their outer edge to the inner surface of the shell ( 2 ).   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , characterised in
 arranging the shell ( 2 ) of the outer casing to completely surround the plate pack.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , characterised in
 arranging four baffle plates ( 7 ,  7 ′) between the outer casing and the plate pack, and thus forming four flow channels ( 9 ,  9 ′) between the outer casing and the plate pack.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16 , characterised in
 arranging one or more inlet or outlet connections ( 4 ,  4 ′,  5 ,  5 ′) through the end plate ( 3   a,    3   b ) of the outer casing.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 16 , characterised in
 arranging separate strips ( 11 ,  11 ′) between the outer perimeters of the heat exchange plates ( 10 ,  10 ′) of the plate pack ( 6 ), whereby the thickness of the strips defines the distance between the heat exchange plates.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 16 , characterised in
 bending the outer edges of the heat exchange plates ( 10 ,  10 ′) of the plate pack ( 6 ), advantageously substantially perpendicularly in relation to the rest of the plate, forming a cup-like structure, whereby the bent outer edge defines the distance between the heat exchange plates.   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 16 , characterised in
 arranging the structure of the heat exchanger ( 1 ) to be completely welded.