Plate heat exchanger and reversible refrigerating machine including such an exchanger

Abstract

This exchanger ( 1100 ), including superposed plates ( 2 A- 2 L) which are inserted between two end plates ( 11, 12 ) and which define channels for circulation of heat-exchanging fluid. These channels delimit a first circuit (C 1 ) for circulation of a first heat-exchanging fluid, comprising a single pass, and a second circuit (C 2 ) for circulation of a second heat-exchanging fluid, comprising two passes opposite one another, so that, for each direction of circulation of the second heat-exchanging fluid in the second circuit, one of the two passes of the second circuit is co-current with respect to the pass of the first circuit, while the other of the two passes of the second circuit is counter-current with respect to the pass of the first circuit.

1 . Plate heat exchanger ( 1100 ;  2100 ;  3100 ;  4100 ) including superposed plates ( 2 A- 2 L), which are inserted between two end plates ( 11 ,  12 ) and which channels for circulation of heat-exchanging fluid, characterized in that the channels delimit
 a first circuit (C 1 ) for circulation of a first heat-exchanging fluid, comprising a single pass, and   a second circuit (C 2 , C′ 2 , C 3 ) for circulation of a second heat-exchanging fluid, comprising two passes opposite from one another,   so that, for each direction of circulation of the second heat-exchanging fluid in the second circuit, one of the two passes of the second circuit is co-current with respect to the pass of the first circuit (C 1 ), while the other of the two passes of the second circuit is counter-current with respect to the pass of the first circuit (C 1 ).   
     
     
         2 . Plate heat exchanger ( 1100 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the first circuit (C 1 ) comprises several intermediate branches (C 13 -C 18 ) each delimited between two adjacent plates ( 2 A- 2 L) and connecting to one another in parallel a forward branch (C 11 ) and a return branch (C 12 ) of the first circuit (C 1 ). 
     
     
         3 . Plate heat exchanger ( 1100 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the second circuit (C 2 ) comprises two adjacent zones (Z 1 , Z 2 ), in which intermediate branches (C 23 -C 26 ) of the second circuit (C 2 ) belong, for one of these zones, to one of the two passes of the second circuit, and for the other zone, to the other of the two passes of the second circuit. 
     
     
         4 . Plate heat exchanger ( 2100 ;  3100 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the second circuit comprises a first portion (C 2 ) and a second portion (C′ 2 ), which are separated by an intermediate plate ( 13 ) of the exchanger and which are connected to one another by a conduit (C 3 ) outside of the exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . Plate heat exchanger ( 3100 ;  4100 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the exchanger includes a tube ( 500 ) which is provided with a slot ( 501 ) distributing the second heat-exchanging fluid in several channels of the second circuit (C′ 2 ). 
     
     
         6 . Reversible refrigerating machine including a common circuit (C) of refrigerant fluid on which are arranged a compressor ( 400 ), a pressure reducing valve ( 200 ), and two exchangers ( 1100 ;  2100 ;  3100 ;  4100 ) which are each in accordance with  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . Refrigerating machine according to  claim 6 , characterized in that it comprises a four-way valve (V 1 ) capable of changing the direction of circulation of the refrigerant fluid in the common circuit (C). 
     
     
         8 . Refrigerating machine according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the common circuit (C) is formed by the second circuit (C 2 , C′ 2 , C 3 ) of the exchangers ( 1100 ;  2100 ;  3100 ;  4100 ). 
     
     
         9 . Refrigerating machine according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the second circuit (C 2 , C′ 2 , C 3 ) comprises an inlet (E 2 ) and an outlet (S 2 ) arranged at the top the exchangers. 
     
     
         10 . Refrigerating machine according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the second circuit (C 2 , C′ 2 , C 3 ) comprises an inlet (E 2 ) and an outlet (S 2 ) arranged at the bottom of the exchangers.