Heat exchanger and body therefore, and a method for forming a heat exchanger body

Abstract

Heat exchanger, comprising a heat exchanger body made of light metal or light metal alloy, wherein the body comprises at least a flue duct and a flame receiving space, wherein the body comprises two parts at opposite sides of the flue duct and flame receiving space, said two parts substantially defining said flue duct and flame receiving space, wherein the flue duct and flame receiving space define a main flow direction for flue gas between an entry side of the flame receiving space and an outlet of the flue duct, wherein each of said parts comprises a first series of ribs extending into the space between said two parts and having a length direction substantially perpendicular to the main flow direction for flue gas, thus defining a meandering flow path of flue gasses between said flame receiving space and said outlet and a second series of ribs extending in said flame receiving space, wherein between the ribs of said second series of opposite parts an open space is provided.

1 . Heat exchanger, comprising a heat exchanger body made of light metal or light metal alloy, wherein the body comprises at least a flue duct and a flame receiving space, wherein the body comprises two parts at opposite sides of the flue duct and flame receiving space, said two parts substantially defining said flue duct and flame receiving space, wherein the flue duct and flame receiving space define a main flow direction for flue gas between an entry side of the flame receiving space and an outlet of the flue duct, wherein each of said parts comprises a first series of ribs extending into the space between said two parts and having a length direction substantially perpendicular to the main flow direction for flue gas, thus defining a meandering flow path of flue gasses between said flame receiving space and said outlet and a second series of ribs extending in said flame receiving space, wherein between the ribs of said second series of opposite parts an open space is provided. 
     
     
         2 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the ribs of the first and second series have a base near a wall of the respective parts of the body which extends in said length direction substantially perpendicular to the main flow direction of the flue gas and preferably all extend parallel to each other. 
     
     
         3 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the two parts are made by extrusion, preferably having an extrusion direction parallel to the length direction of the ribs. 
     
     
         4 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the two parts is made as a mono-block. 
     
     
         5 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein in side view perpendicular to the said length direction of the ribs the body has an average width in a first portion comprising the first series of ribs which is smaller than the average width of a second portion of the body comprising the flame receiving space, wherein preferably in said side view the second portion widens in a direction away from said first portion, wherein more preferably the first portion in said side view has a substantially rectangular shape. 
     
     
         6 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the two parts each comprise an inner surface from which said ribs extend, wherein the second series of ribs have a height seen in a direction perpendicular to said inner surface which increases in a direction towards the flue duct, such that the ribs closest to the flue duct are higher than the ribs further away from said flue duct. 
     
     
         7 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the ribs of the first series of a first of the two parts extend between the ribs of the first series of the second of the two parts. 
     
     
         8 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 7 , wherein the ribs of the two parts extend further between each other near the outlet of the flue duct than near the flame receiving space, preferably such that the flue duct between the ribs near the flame receiving space is wider than near the outlet. 
     
     
         9 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the ribs of the first series of opposite parts of the body have facing top surfaces, positioned such that the ribs of the first series of the two parts form pairs with a passage between facing top surfaces, wherein adjacent passages are displaced relative to each other, such that said passages form part of the meandering flue path. 
     
     
         10 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein at least an number of the ribs of the first series of the two parts seen in the main flow direction overlap each other at least 50% of their surface area, preferably at least 60%, such as for example at least 75%. 
     
     
         11 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the two parts comprises a series of water duct sections, preferably having a length direction extending in a direction parallel to the length direction of the ribs, wherein water duct sections are interconnected by removing parts of a separating wall between adjacent sections and/or by water duct connecting sections provided external from said two parts, for example in end parts connecting the two parts and closing off the flue duct and flame receiving space. 
     
     
         12 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the two parts are connected to each other by end parts mounted over opposite sides of the parts, closing off opposite sides of the flue duct and flame receiving space, wherein the end parts are preferably glued or bonded to said parts. 
     
     
         13 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 12 , wherein at least one end part comprises an inlet and/or outlet for a water duct of the heat exchanger extending along at least part of the two parts. 
     
     
         14 . Heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein at the inlet side of the flame receiving space a burner is mounted on and/or in the body, wherein preferably a closing element is mounted over the outlet of the flue duct, for connecting an exhaust and for forming a condensate receiving container. 
     
     
         15 . Method for forming a heat exchanger body, wherein two parts are formed by extrusion, each having an inner wall from which parallel ribs extend, which parts are positioned with the inner surfaces facing each other and are connected by end parts, such that said two parts substantially define a flue duct and a flame receiving space opening into said flue duct, wherein the flue duct and flame receiving space define a main flow direction for flue gas between an entry side of the flame receiving space and an outlet of the flue duct substantially perpendicular to an extrusion direction of the parts, preferably such that the ribs define a meandering flow path of flue gasses between said flame receiving space and said outlet, and wherein between the ribs of said opposite parts in the flame receiving space an open space is provided.