Plate heat exchanger

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a plate heat exchanger comprising: a plurality of heat transfer plates stacked in a first direction, wherein the heat transfer plate is configured to have a heat transfer plate edge on its side in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; first and second fluid channels formed between adjacent heat transfer plates and fluidly isolated from each other; two first ports formed in the heat transfer plate on the side and an opposite other side of the heat transfer plate in the second direction, respectively, and fluidly communicated to the first fluid channel; and a hole formed in the heat transfer plate between one of the two first ports located on the side and the heat transfer plate edge in a second direction, which is fluidly communicated to the first fluid channel and fluidly isolated from the second fluid channel. By disposing the hole in a bottom area of the plate heat exchanger, excessive water remained in the plate heat exchanger when it is not in use is avoided, so as to prevent freezing in the plate heat exchanger.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plate heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of heat transfer plates stacked in a first direction, wherein the heat transfer plate is configured to have a heat transfer plate edge on its side in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;   first and second fluid channels formed between adjacent heat transfer plates and fluidly isolated from each other;   two first ports formed in the heat transfer plate on the side and an opposite other side of the heat transfer plate in the second direction, respectively, and fluidly communicated to the first fluid channel; and   a hole formed in the heat transfer plate between one of the two first ports located on the side and the heat transfer plate edge in a second direction, which is fluidly communicated to the first fluid channel and fluidly isolated from the second fluid channel.   
     
     
         2 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the second direction is a vertical direction, and the hole is located in a bottom area of the plate heat exchanger in a state where the plate heat exchanger is being used. 
     
     
         3 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein a distance between a wall portion of the hole proximate to the heat transfer plate edge and the heat transfer plate edge of the plate heat exchanger is in a range from 2 to 30 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein a minimum cross-sectional area of the hole is in a range from 2 to 200 mm2. 
     
     
         5 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the hole is configured for having a temperature sensor installed therein. 
     
     
         6 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , further comprising a connecting tube fluidly communicated to the hole. 
     
     
         7 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 6 , further comprising two cover plates between which the plurality of heat transfer plates are disposed, wherein the connecting tube is connected to each of the cover plates. 
     
     
         8 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 6 , wherein the connecting tube is configured for having a detector installed therein, which is used to detect whether a heat exchange medium in the second fluid channel is leaked. 
     
     
         9 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 two second ports formed in the heat transfer plate on the side and the opposite other side of the heat transfer plate in the second direction, respectively, and fluidly communicated to the second fluid channel; and   wherein the hole comprises one hole located between the one of the two first ports and one of the two second ports located on the side in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions.   
     
     
         10 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third fluid channel formed between adjacent heat transfer plates and fluidly isolated from the first and second fluid channels;   two second ports formed in the heat transfer plate on the side and the opposite other side of the heat transfer plate in the second direction, respectively, and fluidly communicated to the second fluid channel; and   two third ports formed in the heat transfer plate on the side and the opposite other side of the heat transfer plate in the second direction, respectively, and fluidly communicated to the third fluid channel.   
     
     
         11 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , wherein the hole is also fluidly isolated from the third fluid channel. 
     
     
         12 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , wherein the hole comprises two holes disposed on opposite sides of the one of the two first ports in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions, respectively, and between one of the two second ports located on the side and one of the two third ports located on the side. 
     
     
         13 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid channel is configured to use a refrigerating medium as the heat exchange medium, and the second fluid channel is configured to use a refrigerant as the heat exchange medium.