Heat exchanger with baffle support and baffle

Abstract

A baffle support and a baffle for a block-type heat exchanger. The baffle support comprises a base plate extending in a first direction and a transverse second direction. The baffle support comprises a first pair and a second pair of projections extending from the front surface of the base plate to engage the baffle. The first pair of projections is located further in the first direction than the second pair of projections. The baffle comprises a mounting member at each transverse edge of a baffle plate. Each mounting member comprises at least one stop surface) facing a first longitudinal edge of the baffle plate. A baffle assembly comprising two baffle supports and a baffle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger for transferring heat between first and second fluids, the heat exchanger comprising:
 a top head, a bottom head, and plural side panels connected together to form an enclosure;   a stack of heat transfer plates positioned in the enclosure, the stack of heat transfer plates including plural pairs of heat transfer plates arranged such that a first flow path for the first fluid is between adjacent pairs of the heat transfer plates in the stack while a second flow path for the second fluid is between the heat transfer plates of each of the pairs of heat transfer plates in the stack;   a baffle that directs flow of the first fluid in plural passes within the stack of the heat transfer plates;   a baffle support that holds the baffle, the baffle support being attached to an inner side wall of the heat exchanger; and   the baffle support comprising a base plate defining a base plane extending in a first direction and a second direction transverse to the first direction, the base plate having a front surface and a back surface, the baffle support comprising a first pair of projections and a second pair of projections, the first pair of projections extending from the front surface of the base plate and engaging the baffle, the second pair of projections extending from the front surface of the base plate and engaging the baffle, the first pair of projections being located further in the first direction than the second pair of projections.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the projections comprises a first abutment surface facing in a direction opposite the first direction, the first abutment surface abutting the baffle and preventing movement of the baffle in the first direction. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein at least two of the projections comprise a first abutment surface facing in a direction opposite the first direction, the first abutment surface of the at least two of the projections abutting the baffle and preventing movement of the baffle in the first direction. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the projections of the first pair of projections and at least one of the projections of the second pair of projections comprise a first abutment surface facing in a direction opposite the first direction, each of the first abutment surfaces abutting the baffle and preventing movement of the baffle in the first direction. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein both projections of at least one of the first and second pairs of projections comprise a second abutment surface, the second abutment surfaces facing each other and blocking movement of the baffle in the second direction and in a direction opposite the second direction. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein the projection(s) of the pair(s) of projections having the first abutment surface comprises a first projecting plate constituted by bending a first portion of the base plate such that the first projecting plate extends along the first direction. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 5 , wherein each of the projections of at least one pair of the projections having the second abutment surface comprises a second projecting plate constituted by bending a second portion of the base plate such that the second projecting plate extends along the second direction. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the baffle support comprises a locking member comprising a locking plate having a head surface and a rear surface, the locking plate comprising a protrusion extending from the rear surface, the locking plate being pivotably attached to the base plate with a pivot axis along the second direction. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first pair of projections and each of the second pair of projections is a plate constituted by a portion of the base plate being cut-out and bent so that a respective through hole exists in the base plate immediately adjacent each of the first pair of projections and each of the second pair of projections. 
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger for transferring heat between first and second fluids, the heat exchanger comprising:
 a top head, a bottom head, and plural side panels connected together to form an enclosure;   a stack of heat transfer plates positioned in the enclosure, the stack of heat transfer plates including plural pairs of heat transfer plates arranged such that a first flow path for the first fluid is between adjacent pairs of the heat transfer plates in the stack while a second flow path for the second fluid is between the heat transfer plates of each of the pairs of heat transfer plates in the stack;   a baffle support attached to an inner side wall of the heat exchanger;   a baffle that directs flow of the first fluid in plural passes within the stack of the heat transfer plates; and   the baffle being comprised of a baffle plate, the baffle plate comprising a first baffle surface and a second baffle surface, the baffle plate comprising a first longitudinal edge, a second longitudinal edge, a first transverse edge and a second transverse edge, the baffle comprising a baffle mount at each of the first and second transverse edges, the baffle being mounted on the baffle support by way of the baffle mount at each of the first and second transverse edges, each baffle mount comprising at least one stop surface facing the first longitudinal edge.   
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , wherein each baffle mount comprises at least two stop surfaces facing the first longitudinal edge. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , wherein each baffle mount comprises a first wing extending from the first baffle surface and a second wing extending from the second baffle surface, each of the first wing and the second wing comprising the at least one stop surface. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 12 , wherein each of the first wing and the second wing comprises a first stop surface and a second stop surface. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , wherein each baffle mount comprises at least one primary blocking surface facing away from the first baffle surface and at least one secondary blocking surface facing away from the second baffle surface. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 14 , wherein each baffle mount comprises a first wing extending from the first baffle surface and a second wing extending from the second baffle surface, the at least one primary blocking surface being provided on the first wing, the at least one secondary blocking surface being provided on the second wing. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , wherein each baffle mount comprises at least first and second stop surfaces facing the first longitudinal edge, each baffle mount also comprising a first wing extending from the first baffle surface and a second wing extending from the second baffle surface, the first wing including the first stop surface and the second wing including the second stop surface. 
     
     
         17 . A heat exchanger for transferring heat between first and second fluids, the heat exchanger comprising:
 a top head, a bottom head, and plural side panels connected together to form an enclosure;   a stack of heat transfer plates positioned in the enclosure, the stack of heat transfer plates including plural pairs of heat transfer plates arranged such that a first flow path for the first fluid is between adjacent pairs of the heat transfer plates in the stack while a second flow path for the second fluid is between the heat transfer plates of each of the pairs of heat transfer plates in the stack;   a baffle that directs flow of the first fluid in plural passes within the stack of the heat transfer plates;   first and second baffle supports fixed in the enclosure at locations spaced apart from one another; and   the baffle being comprised of a baffle plate comprising a first baffle surface and a second baffle surface, the baffle plate comprising a first longitudinal edge, a second longitudinal edge, a first transverse edge and a second transverse edge, a first baffle mount located at the first transverse edge of the baffle plate and a second baffle mount located at the second transverse edge of the baffle plate, the first baffle mount being mounted on the first baffle support and the second baffle mount being mounted on the second baffle support so that the baffle is supported on the first and second baffle supports in the enclosure, the first baffle mount and the second baffle mount each comprising at least one stop surface facing the first longitudinal edge.   
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 17 , wherein the first and second baffle supports each comprise a base plate defining a base plane extending in a first direction and a second direction transverse to the first direction, the base plate having a front surface and a back surface, the baffle support comprising a first pair of projections extending from the front surface of the base plate and engaging the baffle. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 18 , wherein the first and second baffle supports each comprise a base plate defining a base plane extending in a first direction and a second direction transverse to the first direction, the base plate having a front surface and a back surface, the baffle support comprising a first pair of projections and a second pair of projections, the first pair of projections extending from the front surface of the base plate and engaging the baffle, the second pair of projections extending from the front surface of the base plate and engaging the baffle, the first pair of projections being located further in the first direction than the second pair of projections.