A sheet for exchange of heat or mass transfer between fluid flows, a device comprising such a sheet, and a method of manufacturing the sheet

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a sheet ( 1 ) for exchange of heat and/or mass transfer between fluid flows, which sheet ( 1 ) is provided with corrugations defining open channels ( 3, 5 ),wherein every other open channel ( 3 ) is a corrugated open channel ( 3 ), wherein a cross-section of every corrugated open channel ( 3 ) has two channel end points( 3 a, 3 b ), and two peaks ( 3 c, 3 d ) and a valley floor ( 3 e ) between the two channel end points( 3 a, 3 b ), wherein the two channel end points ( 3 a, 3 b ) of a corrugated open channel ( 3 ) define the mouth of that corrugated open channel ( 3 ), wherein the remaining open channels that are intermediate each pair of corrugated open channel ( 3 ) are intermediate open channels ( 5 ), wherein corrugated open channels ( 3 ) and intermediate open channels ( 5 ) have mouths in opposite directions. A device comprising such a sheet and a method of manufacturing the sheet is also disclosed herein.

1 . A device for exchange of heat and/or mass transfer between fluid flows comprising a plurality of sheets, wherein each sheet is provided with corrugations defining open channels, wherein every other open channel is a corrugated open channel, wherein a cross-section of every corrugated open channel has two channel end points, and two peaks and a valley floor between the two channel end points,
 wherein the two channel end points of a corrugated open channel define the mouth of that corrugated open channel, wherein the remaining open channels that are intermediate each pair of corrugated open channel are intermediate open channels, wherein corrugated open channels and intermediate open channels have mouths in opposite directions,   wherein the sheets are stacked such that open channels of each pair of adjacent sheets define fluid flow channels, and wherein the device comprises fluid inlets and fluid outlets, wherein each fluid inlet is arranged to direct fluid into the fluid flow channels of two adjacent sheets and each fluid outlet is arranged to direct fluid out from the fluid flow channels of two adjacent sheets, each fluid inlet and each fluid outlet serving only one layer of fluid flow channels.   
     
     
         2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the two peaks are located at a first distance from a straight line extending between the channel end points and the valley floor is located at a second distance from the straight line (L). 
     
     
         3 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the valley floor is arranged between the two peaks. 
     
     
         4 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional shape of that section which connects the two peaks is congruent with the cross-sectional shape of any of the open channels which are arranged between said every other open channel. 
     
     
         5 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the entire section connecting a first of the channel end points with a first of the peaks is parallel with the entire section connecting the valley floor with a second of the peaks. 
     
     
         6 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the entire section connecting a second of the channel end points and the second of the peaks is parallel with the entire section connecting the valley floor with the first of the peaks. 
     
     
         7 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said every other channel has an essentially M-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         8 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sheet is a heat exchanger sheet. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the channel end points of a sheet engage a respective valley floor of an adjacent sheet. 
     
     
         11 . The device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each fluid inlet and fluid outlet has a tapering shape. 
     
     
         12 . The device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein each fluid inlet has an inlet mouth parallel to the longitudinal extension of the fluid flow channels, wherein each inlet mouth is arranged in level with a lateral end of a sheet, wherein each fluid inlet extends from said lateral end towards the other lateral end of the sheet, and wherein each fluid inlet is tapering from the said lateral end to the other lateral end towards channel inlet mouths of fluid flow channels. 
     
     
         13 . The device as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein each fluid outlet has an outlet mouth parallel to the longitudinal extension of the fluid flow channels, wherein each outlet mouth is arranged in level with a lateral end of a sheet, wherein each fluid outlet extends from said lateral end towards the other lateral end of the sheet, and wherein each fluid outlet is tapering from said lateral end to the other lateral end towards channel outlet mouths of the fluid flow channels. 
     
     
         14 . A method of manufacturing a sheet for exchange of heat and/or mass transfer between fluid flows, wherein the method comprises:
 a) providing a sheet blank,   b) corrugating the sheet blank to form open channels such that every other channel has a cross-section with two channel end points, and two peaks and a valley floor between the two channel end points,   wherein the two channel end points of a corrugated open channel define the mouth of that corrugated open channel, wherein the remaining open channels that are intermediate each pair of corrugated open channel are intermediate open channels, wherein corrugated open channels and intermediate open channels have mouths in opposite directions.   
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein step a) of corrugating is performed by 1) thermoforming or 2) by folding along fold lines.