Low pressure drop integrated plate heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger comprising a plurality of first plates and a plurality of second plates disposed between two end plates. The first plates and the second plates are alternatingly arranged in a stacked relationship. When in the stacked relationship, the arrangement of the first and second plates defines a first flow path for a first fluid and at least one of a second flow path for a second fluid and a third flow path for a third fluid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 at least one first plate; and   at least one second plate disposed adjacent the at least one first plate, wherein an arrangement of the at least one first plate and the at least one second plate forms a first flow path for a first fluid and at least one of a second flow path for a second fluid and a third flow path for a third fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first plate is configured to define the first flow path for the first fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first plate includes a first shaped section formed in a surface along a longitudinal axis of the at least one first plate. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the first shaped section of the at least one first plate abuts a surface of the at least one second plate. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein inlet and outlet openings for first flow path for the first fluid are located on opposite sides of the first shaped section of the at least one first plate. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the first shaped section of the at least one first plate divides the first flow path into a plurality of secondary flow paths for the first fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one first plate includes at least one second shaped section that surrounds at least one of an inlet opening and an outlet opening for at least one of the second flow path for the second fluid and the third flow path for the third fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one second shaped section of the at least one first plate abuts a surface of the at least one second plate to militate against leakage of the second fluid and/or third fluid into the first flow path. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second plate is configured to define the second flow path and/or the third flow path. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second plate includes a first shaped section formed in a surface substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the at least one second plate. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein the first shaped section of the at least one second plate abuts a surface of the at least one first plate to define the second flow path and/or the third flow path. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein the first shaped section of the at least one second plate surrounds at least one of an inlet opening and an outlet opening for the first flow path for the first fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein the first shaped section of the at least one second plate abuts a surface of the at least one first plate to militate against leakage of the first fluid into the second flow path and/or the third flow path. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one second plate includes at least one second shaped section formed in the surface along the longitudinal axis of the at least one second plate. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one second shaped section of the at least one second plate abuts a surface of the at least one first plate to form a generally circular second flow path and/or a generally circular third flow path. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 14 , wherein inlet and outlet openings for the second flow path for the second fluid are located on opposite sides of the at least one second shaped section of the at least one second plate. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one second shaped section of the at least one second plate divides the second flow path into a plurality of secondary flow paths for the second fluid and/or the third flow path into a plurality of secondary flow paths for the third fluid. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one first plate and the at least one second plate includes inlet opening and outlet openings for at least one of the first flow path for the first fluid, the second flow path for the second fluid, and the third flow path for the third fluid, wherein the inlet openings for the first flow path for the first fluid are fluidly connected to form an inlet manifold for the first fluid, the inlet openings for the second flow path for the second fluid are fluidly connected to form an inlet manifold for the second fluid, and/or the inlet openings for the third flow path for the third fluid are fluidly connected to form an inlet manifold for the third fluid, and wherein the outlet openings for the first flow path for the first fluid are fluidly connected to form an outlet manifold for the first fluid, the outlet openings for the second flow path for the second fluid are fluidly connected to form an outlet manifold for the second fluid, and/or the outlet openings for the third flow path for the third fluid are fluidly connected to form an outlet manifold for the third fluid. 
     
     
         19 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a plurality of plates arranged to define a first flow path for a first fluid, a second flow path for a second fluid, and a third flow path for a third fluid, wherein an inlet opening for the first flow path is disposed in a first region of the first flow path between an inlet opening for the second flow path and an inlet opening for the third flow path, and wherein an outlet opening for the first flow path is disposed in a second region of the first flow path between an outlet opening for the second flow path and an outlet opening for the third flow path.   
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger of  claim 19 , wherein an elongate obround shaped section divides the first flow path into a pair of secondary flow paths, and wherein the inlet and outlet openings for the first flow path are located on opposite sides of the shaped section. 
     
     
         21 . A fluid-conditioning system, comprising:
 a heat exchanger fluidly connected to a first circuit having a first fluid flowing therethrough, a second circuit having a second fluid flowing therethrough, and a third circuit having a third fluid flowing therethrough, wherein the heat exchanger includes a plurality of plates arranged to define a first flow path for the first fluid, a second flow path for the second fluid, and a third flow path for the third fluid, and wherein the first circuit is in thermal exchange relationship with at least one of the second circuit and the third circuit within the heat exchanger.