Heat exchanger

Abstract

Disclosed is a heat exchanger having a plurality of sheet element arrangements, wherein the arrangements contain a plurality of openings, wherein adjacent openings are separated from one another, wherein in operation the openings are flowed through by a first. The openings extend at least sectionally separately from one another within the sheet element arrangement, wherein adjacent sheet element arrangements are each arranged at a spacing from one another so that a second fluid can flow in the intermediate space between two adjacent sheet element arrangements. At least one of the arrangements is interrupted by a cut-out so that the arrangement has at least one first sheet element and one second sheet element, with the second sheet element being so arranged such that the second sheet element can be flowed through by the first fluid subsequent to the first sheet element, with the cut-out containing a flow-directing element.

1 . A heat exchanger ( 1 ) which has a housing which contains a plurality of sheet element arrangements ( 2 ,  12 ,  22 ), wherein the sheet element arrangements contain a plurality of openings ( 6 ), wherein adjacent openings are separated from one another, wherein the openings are flowed through by a first fluid ( 7 ) in the operating state, wherein the openings extend at least sectionally separately from one another within the sheet element arrangement, wherein adjacent sheet element arrangements are each arranged at a spacing from one another so that a second fluid ( 8 ) can flow in the intermediate space ( 15 ) between two adjacent sheet element arrangements ( 2 ,  12 ,  22 ), wherein at least one of the sheet element arrangements ( 2 ,  12 ,  22 ) is interrupted by a cut-out ( 5 ) so that the sheet element arrangement has at least one first sheet element ( 3 ) and one second sheet element ( 4 ), with the second sheet element ( 4 ) being arranged with respect to the first sheet element ( 3 ) such that the second sheet element ( 4 ) can be flowed through by the first fluid ( 7 ) subsequent to the first sheet element ( 3 ), with the cut-out ( 5 ) containing a flow-directing element ( 20 ). 
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cut-out ( 5 ) is designed so that a plurality of openings ( 6 ) at a second end ( 17 ) of the first sheet element ( 3 ) open into the cut-out ( 5 ) and the first fluid ( 7 ) can in turn be fed from the cut-out ( 5 ) into a plurality of openings ( 6 ) which are arranged at a first end ( 18 ) of the second sheet element ( 4 ). 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cut-out contains a flow disruption element and/or a static mixer. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cut-out is surrounded by a jacket element which is connected in a fluid-tight manner to the first and second sheet elements. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the jacket element contains the flow-directing element ( 20 ) which can be designed as a fin ( 21 ) and/or as a groove ( 23 ) and/or as a projection ( 25 ). 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cut-out ( 5 ) is formed by the second end ( 17 ) of the first sheet element ( 3 ), by the first end ( 18 ) of the second sheet element ( 4 ) and by the jacket element ( 10 ,  11 ), with the first sheet element ( 3 ) and the second sheet element ( 4 ) having a common center plane and the sheet elements being arranged behind one another with respect to the flow direction of the first fluid ( 7 ). 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the openings ( 6 ) are formed as channels ( 9 ) in the sheet elements ( 3 ,  4 ). 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the flow-directing element ( 20 ) is arranged at least sectionally at an angle ( 27 ) to the channels ( 9 ). 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the flow-directing element ( 20 ) includes an angle ( 27 ) with the channels ( 9 ) which is in the range from 10° up to and including 75°, preferably in the range from 10° up to and including 60°, particularly preferably in the range from 10° up to and including 45°. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the jacket element contains projections which project into the cut-out and form flow disruption elements. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cut-out extends over between 5% and 40% of the length ( 26 ) of the heat exchanger, with the length ( 26 ) of the heat exchanger being measured in the main flow direction of the first fluid ( 7 ) flowing within the sheet elements. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cut-out ( 5 ) substantially extends over the total width ( 28 ) of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein an installation element ( 13 ) is provided for maintaining the spacing between two adjacent sheet element arrangements ( 2 ,  12 ,  22 ). 
     
     
         14 . The method of operating a heat exchanger in accordance with  claim 1 , including a step in which the first fluid ( 7 ) is mixed on its flow path within the sheet element arrangement ( 2 ,  12 ,  22 ) between its inlet into the sheet element arrangement and its outlet from the sheet element arrangement. 
     
     
         15 . The method in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the second fluid ( 8 ) flowing between adjacent sheet element arrangements flows in a cross-flow to the first fluid ( 7 ).