Plate heat exchanger having sealed construction

Abstract

A sealed plate heat exchanger includes a frame body with two frame plates and a plate stack between the frame plates. The plate stack is formed of a plurality of heat-exchange plates. Fluid channels allow feeding and leading away of heat exchange fluids that flow through the intermediate space between the heat-exchange plates. Devices for applying force to the frame plates, apply pressure to the plate stack. Seals are provided for sealing between the heat-exchange plates of the plate stack. A center of area of the area of the force application to the frame plate lies within an area that results from a linear projection of the area of the plate stack onto the frame plate.

1 . A gasketed plate heat exchanger, comprising:
 a frame body having two frame plates;   a plate stack of a plurality of graphite-containing or ceramic heat exchange plates disposed between said two frame plates;   means for feeding and discharging heat exchange fluids that flow through spaces formed between said heat exchange plates;   seals disposed for sealing between said heat exchange plates of said plate stack; and   force application devices configured to apply force to said frame plates of said frame body and for exerting pressure on said plate stack, wherein a centroid of a surface of at least one of said force application devices for applying force to said frame plate lies within an area produced from a linear projection of a surface area of said plate stack onto a corresponding said frame plate.   
     
     
         2 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchange plates are formed with at least one recess or groove for receiving therein a sub-element of said force application devices, said sub-element being arranged between said frame plates. 
     
     
         3 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said force application devices is located outside said plate stack. 
     
     
         4 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchange plates are formed with at least one recess or groove for receiving a sub-element, arranged between said frame plates, of one of said at least one force application devices, and wherein at least one said force application device is arranged outside said plate stack. 
     
     
         5 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein said feeding and discharging means in said heat exchange plates of said plate stack are through-openings. 
     
     
         6 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 5 , wherein said through-openings have a substantially circular shape, elliptical shape, rectangular shape, or a shape of a regular polygon. 
     
     
         7 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 5 , wherein the force application surface of said at least one force application device does not intersect with a surface area of a closest said through-opening. 
     
     
         8 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein a force application surface of said at least one force application device has a substantially circular shape, elliptical shape, rectangular shape, or a shape of a regular polygon. 
     
     
         9 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 7 , wherein the force application surface of said at least one force application device does not intersect with a surface area of a closest said through-opening. 
     
     
         10 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchange plates are produced from a graphite body bound to a polymer or impregnated with a polymer. 
     
     
         11 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchange plates are made of silicon carbide or a composite fiber ceramic. 
     
     
         12 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , wherein said heat exchange plates contain at least 50 wt. % graphite. 
     
     
         13 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein said seals contain a fluoropolymer or a graphite material. 
     
     
         14 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 13 , wherein said fluoropolymer is a polymer based on polytetrafluoroethylene or polyvinylidene fluoride. 
     
     
         15 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said frame plates comprises webs and/or ribs mounted thereon or rigidly connected thereto.