Full-area connection of heat-transfer blocks by hydraulic widening of pipes between profiles

Abstract

The invention relates to a plate-type heat exchanger having at least a first and second heat-transfer block, wherein each block has multiple separating plates, which are arranged parallel to one another, which form a multiplicity of heat-transfer passages for fluids taking part in the heat transfer. The heat-transfer blocks are outwardly bounded by cover plates. A first cover plate of the first heat-transfer block is secured to an opposite second cover plate of the second heat-transfer block. At least one elongate first profile is secured to the first cover plate. At least one elongate second profile running parallel to the at least one first profile is secured to the second cover plate such that the two profiles are opposite one another in a direction parallel to the cover plates. Between the two profiles there is an interspace in which an elongate element is arranged in an interference fit with the two profiles, such that the two cover plates and thus the two heat-transfer blocks are secured to one another. The elongate element is designed as a hollow profile.

1 . A plate-type heat exchanger ( 100 ) with at least one first and one second heat exchanger block ( 10   a ,  10   b ), wherein each heat exchanger block ( 10   a ,  10   b ) has multiple separating plates ( 4 ) which are arranged parallel to one another and form a multiplicity of heat exchange passages ( 1 ) for fluids involved in the heat exchange, and wherein the heat exchanger blocks ( 10   a ,  10   b ) are outwardly delimited by cover plates ( 5   a ,  5   b ), wherein a first cover plate ( 5   a ) of the first heat exchanger block ( 10   a ) is fixed to an opposite second cover plate ( 5   b ) of the second heat exchanger block ( 10   b ),
 characterized in that   at least one elongate first profile ( 11 ) is fixed to the first cover plate ( 5   a ), and in that at least one elongate second profile ( 12 ), which runs parallel to the at least one first profile ( 11 ), is fixed to the second cover plate ( 5   b ) such that the two profiles ( 11 ,  12 ) are opposite one another in a direction (R) which runs parallel to the cover plates ( 5   a ,  5   b ), wherein, between the two profiles, one intermediate space ( 15 ) is present, in which space an elongate element ( 13 ) is arranged in a frictionally engaging manner with the two profiles ( 11 ,  12 ) such that the two cover plates ( 5   a ,  5   b ) and thus the two heat exchanger blocks ( 10   a ,  10   b ) are fixed to one another, wherein the elongate element ( 13 ) is formed as a hollow profile.   
     
     
         2 . The plate-type heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the elongate element ( 13 ) engages both into a recess ( 110 ) of the first profile ( 11 ) and into a recess ( 120 ) of the second profile ( 12 ), wherein the two recesses ( 110 ,  120 ) each form a region of the intermediate space ( 15 ) and are opposite one another in said direction (R) and face one another. 
     
     
         3 . The plate-type heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the elongate element ( 13 ) is arranged in a frictionally engaging and form-fitting manner in the two recesses. 
     
     
         4 . The plate-type heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the recesses ( 110 ,  120 ) are formed as depressions which are concave in cross section, in particular as depressions which are semicircular in cross section, or in that the recesses ( 110 ,  120 ) are formed as depressions which are triangular in cross section. 
     
     
         5 . The plate-type heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that, for the purpose of producing the frictional engagement or the frictional engagement and form fit, the cross section of the elongate element ( 13 ) arranged in the intermediate space ( 15 ) is widened by deformation of the elongate element ( 13 ). 
     
     
         6 . The plate-type heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one first profile ( 11 ) is brazed fixedly or welded fixedly to the first cover plate ( 5   a ), and/or in that the at least one second profile ( 12 ) is brazed fixedly or welded fixedly to the second cover plate ( 5   b ). 
     
     
         7 . A method for producing a plate-type heat exchanger ( 100 ) from at least one first and one second heat exchanger block ( 10   a ,  10   b ), wherein each heat exchanger block ( 10   a ,  10   b ) has multiple separating plates ( 4 ) which are arranged parallel to one another and form a multiplicity of heat exchange passages ( 1 ) for fluids involved in the heat exchange, and wherein the heat exchanger blocks ( 10   a ,  10   b ) are outwardly delimited by cover plates ( 5   a ,  5   b ), wherein at least one elongate first profile ( 11 ) is fixed to a first cover plate ( 5   a ) of the first heat exchanger block, and wherein at least one second profile ( 12 ) is fixed to a second cover plate ( 5   b ) of the second heat exchanger block ( 10   b ), wherein the two cover plates ( 5   a ,  5   b ) are arranged opposite one another in such a way that the two profiles ( 11 ,  12 ) are opposite one another in a direction which runs parallel to the two cover plates ( 5   a ,  5   b ), wherein, between the two profiles ( 11 ,  12 ), an intermediate space ( 15 ) is present, in which space an elongate element ( 13 ) is arranged in a frictionally engaging manner with the two profiles ( 11 ,  12 ) such that the two cover plates ( 5   a ,  5   b ) and thus the two heat exchanger blocks ( 10   a ,  10   b ) are fixed to one another, wherein the elongate element ( 13 ) is formed as a hollow profile. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that the elongate element is arranged in the intermediate space ( 15 ) such that it engages into a recess ( 110 ) of the first profile ( 11 ) and into a recess ( 120 ) of the second profile ( 12 ), wherein the two recesses are opposite one another along said direction (R) and face one another. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that the elongate element ( 13 ) is arranged in a frictionally engaging and form-fitting manner in the two recesses ( 110 ,  120 ). 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that the recesses ( 110 ,  120 ) are formed as depressions which are concave in cross section, in particular as depressions which are semicircular in cross section, or in that the recesses ( 110 ,  120 ) are formed as depressions which are triangular in cross section. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that the elongate element ( 13 ) is arranged in the intermediate space ( 15 ) and subsequently its cross section (D) is widened by deformation for the purpose of producing the frictional engagement or the frictional engagement and form fit. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , characterized in that the elongate element ( 13 ) is widened in cross section hydraulically. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that the first profile ( 11 ) is brazed fixedly or welded fixedly to the first cover plate ( 5   a ), and/or in that the second profile ( 12 ) is brazed fixedly or welded fixedly to the second cover plate ( 5   b ).