U.S. patent application number 11/327421 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-25 for plate-tube type heat exchanger.
Invention is credited to Julian Romero-Beltran.
Application Number | 20060108109 11/327421 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36459892 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060108109 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Romero-Beltran; Julian |
May 25, 2006 |
Plate-tube type heat exchanger
Abstract
A plate-tube type heat exchanger not requiring maintenance is
described, comprising: a plate with a plurality of channels running
parallel along thereof; and, a plurality of tubes housed and
secured to said channels, thus forming a circuit for the
circulation of a heating fluid, a cooling fluid or a means of
heating; the plate includes integrally attachment means associated
to each channel, which in their closed position, cover along with
its corresponding channel, almost the entire tube external
perimeter housing in said channel, thereby securing each of the
tubes to the whole plate, without the use of welding and a large
contact surface is achieved for the heat conduction between the
plate and each one of the tubes.
Inventors: |
Romero-Beltran; Julian;
(Totoltepec, MX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROWDY AND NEIMARK, P.L.L.C.;624 NINTH STREET, NW
SUITE 300
WASHINGTON
DC
20001-5303
US
|
Family ID: |
36459892 |
Appl. No.: |
11/327421 |
Filed: |
January 9, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10482032 |
Jun 7, 2004 |
|
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PCT/MX02/00057 |
Jun 26, 2002 |
|
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11327421 |
Jan 9, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
165/171 ;
165/183 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 1/0477 20130101;
F28F 1/20 20130101; F25B 2339/045 20130101; F28F 1/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/171 ;
165/183 |
International
Class: |
F28F 1/32 20060101
F28F001/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 26, 2001 |
MX |
006606 |
Oct 5, 2001 |
MX |
010047 |
Jan 25, 2002 |
MX |
000919 |
Claims
1. A plate-tube type heat exchanger comprising: a plurality of
extruded profile flat or wavy plates, each one including integrally
a plurality of tubes or ducts, running parallel along the plate,
which are interconnected in their ends by connection fixtures,
forming a circuit for the circulation of a heating fluid, a
refrigeration fluid or heating means, wherein the extruded profile
plates include integrally at their ends parallel to the channels,
coupling means to firmly join two plates to each other, without
using welding, in order to form a heat exchanger not requiring
maintenance.
2. A plate-tube type heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein
at the internal face of each one of the tubes integrated to the
plates, a plurality of nervures or fines is included.
3. A plate-tube type heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein
said connection fixtures are straight tubes, or U-shaped tubes.
4. A plate-tube type heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein
the coupling means are of the male-female type.
5. A plate-tube type heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein
when it is desired to join two extruded profile plates to each
other, the male end of one of them is introduced into the female
end of the other, which closes thereafter by means of pressure,
thus achieving to firmly join two or more extruded profile plates
without using welding, thus generating a surface for the heat
conduction between plates.
6. A plate-tube type heat exchanger according to claim 5, wherein
the plates joined to each other include a folding at a determined
length, through its cross-section at an angle of about 180.degree.,
forming a coil shape structure, wherein the minimum spacing
distance between segments of the plates located at each side of
said folding is at least 20 mm, employing optionally between 20 mm
to 30 mm.
7. A plate-tube type heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein
the structure of said heat exchanger allows the same to be used as
a forced air condenser in commercial and/or domestic refrigeration
equipments, in which dust or grime is not accumulated allowing a
free passage of air.
8. A plate-tube type heat exchanger according to claim 5, wherein
the plates joined to each other, include at every determined
length, a folding through its cross-section at an angle of
approximately 90.degree., thus forming a coil or snail shape
structure, whose walls are spaced each other a minimum distance of
at least 20 mm, optionally such a spacing distance is from 20 mm to
30 mm.
9. A plate-tube type heat exchanger according to claim 8, wherein
the structure of said heat exchanger allows the same to be used as
a forced air condenser in commercial and/or domestic refrigeration
equipments, in which dust or grime is not accumulated allowing a
free passage of air.
10. A plate-tube type heat exchanger according to claim 9, wherein
the extruded plate including tubes is manufactured from aluminum.
Description
[0001] The present application is a division of co-pending parent
application Ser. No. 10/482,032, filed Jun. 7, 2004, itself a
national phase of a PCT application PCT/MX02/00057, filed Jun. 26,
2002.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to techniques employed in
designing and manufacturing heat exchange equipment, and more
particularly, it is related to a plate-tube type heat exchanger not
requiring maintenance.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Generally, plate-tube type heat exchangers are comprised by
a plurality of tubes and plates, which are bonded to each other by
mechanical fastening or tack welded in order to shape the exchanger
structure.
[0004] Particularly, such heat exchangers are used as condenser and
evaporator in domestic and commercial refrigeration systems, they
can also be found on water heaters by means of solar energy, air
heaters including inside the tubes, an electric resistance, natural
convection static condensers, forced air condensers, natural
convection static evaporators and forced air evaporators.
[0005] In spite of the widely spread use of these equipments, they
have been observed as presenting some drawbacks. In first instance,
it may be said that manufacturing process of these equipments is
quite complex, since upon being comprised of multiple components,
steps to assemble them are burdensome, such as the bonding step
between tubes and plates via tack welding, in which it is necessary
to bond the tubes one by one to the plates.
[0006] Likewise, such a traditional method of binding tubes and
plates is not that suitable for the equipments previously mentioned
to achieve a efficient heat transfer between the environment and
the heating or refrigeration fluid which is inside the tubes,
particularly, because the contact surface between tubes and plates
is significantly reduced, as may be seen in FIG. 1, showing a cross
sectional cut of a "half coverage" type assembly used in plate-tube
type heat exchangers of the prior art. In such an assembly, a tube
is housed in a plate channel, remaining fixed and contacting
directly therewith only through a welding point.
[0007] A variant of this traditional method of assembly by welding
can be appreciated in FIG. 2, (total coverage), wherein a pair of
plates similar to those in FIG. 1 are welded to each other by
welding tacks, enclosing the tube between the channel thereof. This
variant is neither efficient, since most of times the tube does not
fit correctly the space formed by the plate channels, thus having a
little direct contact between plates and tube for heat
conduction.
[0008] On the other hand, there is an additional problem related to
maintenance and cleaning of these equipments, specially forced air
condensers which include fins, such as those used in domestic or
commercial refrigeration systems. In said condensers, spacing
between fins is significantly reduced, generally between 2 to 3 mm,
which favors adhesion and accumulation of dust, grime and crap
therebetween. Said accumulation becomes so important that in many
cases, the air passage through fins may be obstructed, thereby
causing reduction in condenser's heat exchange ability with the
environment and consequently, the refrigeration system stops
functioning and cooling properly, affecting other elements of the
refrigeration system. Additionally, cleaning said dust or grime
adhered to the fins is made difficult due to the space quite
reduced existing between fins.
[0009] Thus, in the state of the art, it may be found systems which
intent to reduce on one hand, the assembly steps of these heat
exchangers, such is the case of evaporator described in U.S. Pat.
No. 2,212,912, which is formed from an extruded sheet integrally
including tubes and fins. However, in order to give the evaporator
a final shape, the tubes included in said plates need to be welded
to a header or headers using several accessories. Similarly, when
it is desired to form condensers with a higher capacity, it is
necessary to weld bonding two extruded sheets or to change the size
of extrusion die used to manufacture said sheets, thus increasing
manufacturing costs.
[0010] On the other hand, the European Patent No. 0157370, is
directed to a panel for an evaporator or condenser heat exchange,
said panel is also formed from an extruded sheet which includes a
plurality of oval-shape grooves in cross section; inserting a tube
in each of said grooves, said tube undergoes a plastic deformation
at its circular wall to refill and to fit the oval contour of the
groove walls, thus remaining fixed inside, reason why it is not
necessary to use welding in order to bind tubes to the extruded
sheet. However, when it is desired to bind two panels to form a
larger condenser, this document only provides the use of a piping
to connect both panels, without mentioning the existence of a
direct and firm bonding therebetween; this lack does not allow to
manipulate such panels together so as to form different condenser
or evaporator configurations and arrangements.
[0011] Finally, both documents from the prior art, do not consider
among its objects to form a heat exchanger, on which said problems
regarding adhesion, accumulation, and dust and grime cleaning
between its components are minimized, which as mentioned above,
decrease the capacity of equipment performance.
[0012] An additional prior art document is U.S. Pat. No. 2,732,615,
related to a method for securing a tube to a metal plate, whereby
the plate is deformed to form a channel, and further to the
placement of a tube in said channel, pressing the plate against the
tube in order to deform it and secure it. This document does not
show how to join two or more plates in order to form a
tridimensional heat exchanger, neither it indicates the employment
of alternative extruded plates.
[0013] Accordingly, it has been sought to suppress the drawbacks of
the tube-plate-type heat exchangers from the current art, and to
provide a tube-plate-type heat exchanger not requiring maintenance,
of a very simple and convenient construction, which allows to
reduce the number of components and work used during its
manufactures, thus eliminating the use of welding to join the tubes
and plates, or to join two or more plates to each other, in which
cleaning of dust and grime that may be adhered and accumulated
between its components is easy.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Having in mind the prior art drawbacks, it is an object of
the present invention to provide a tube-plate-type heat exchanger
not requiring maintenance, involving a single assembly process
during its manufacturing.
[0015] An additional object of the present invention, is to provide
a tube-plate-type heat exchanger not requiring maintenance, wherein
there is a large contact surface between tubes and plates.
[0016] A further object of the present invention, is to provide a
tube-plate-type heat exchanger not requiring maintenance, wherein
welding to firmly join tubes to plates is not used.
[0017] Yet another object of the present invention, is to provide a
tube-plate-type heat exchanger not requiring maintenance, wherein
two or more plates can be firmly joined to each other, without the
use of welding.
[0018] It is even a further object of the present invention, to
provide a tube-plate-type heat exchanger not requiring maintenance,
wherein cleaning of dust and grime that may be adhered between its
components is easy.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The novel features of the present invention are set forth
with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself,
however, both for its organization and for its operating method,
together with further objects and advantages of the invention, will
be best understood by reference to the following description of
specific embodiments, when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a "half coverage"
assembly, used in the tube-plate-type heat exchangers of the prior
art.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a "total coverage"
assembly, used in the tube-plate-type heat exchangers of the prior
art.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a tube-plate-type heat
exchanger not requiring maintenance, constructed in accordance with
the principles of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a partial cross sectional view of the plate of the
tube-plate-type heat exchanger in FIG. 3, which includes a tube
housed and secured in one of the channels thereof.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the plate with the tube
housed and secured, shown in FIG. 4.
[0025] FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a second configuration
that may adopt the tube-plate-type heat exchanger of the present
invention.
[0026] FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a tube-plate-type heat
exchanger not requiring maintenance, constructed in accordance with
a first alternative embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of an extruded profile
plate of the heat exchanger shown in FIG. 7.
[0028] FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the extruded profile
plate shown in FIG. 8, including tubes housed and secured in the
plate channels.
[0029] FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the extruded profile
plate in FIG. 9.
[0030] FIGS. 11 and 11A, are cross sectional views for showing the
assembly between two extruded profile plates with tubes housed and
secured.
[0031] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a second configuration that
may adopt the embodiment shown in FIG. 7.
[0032] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a tube-plate-type heat
exchanger not requiring maintenance, constructed in accordance with
a second alternative embodiment of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view of one of the extruded
profile plate of the heat exchanger shown in FIG. 13.
[0034] FIG. 15 shows a top perspective view of the plate
illustrated in FIG. 14.
[0035] FIGS. 16 and 16A, are cross sectional views for showing the
assembly between two extruded profile plates, as shown in FIG.
14.
[0036] FIGS. 17 and 17A, are exploded views showing the connection
of piping and/or accessories to the extruded profile plate shown in
FIG. 15.
[0037] FIG. 18 shows a top perspective view of a second
configuration that may adopt the alternative embodiment shown in
FIG. 13.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0038] Referring in detail to the accompanying drawings, in FIG. 1
is shown a "half coverage"-type assembly 10 used in plate-tube type
heat exchangers of the prior art. In said assembly, a tube 11 is
housed in the channel 14 of a plate 12, remaining fixed and making
a direct contact to it only through a welding point 13.
[0039] In this sense, in FIG. 2 a "total coverage" type assembly
used in the prior art is shown. In such assembly, a pair of plates
12' are welded each other via welding points 13', enclosing tube
11' between channels 14' thereof. However, in many cases, the tube
11' does not fit suitably the space formed by plate channels 14',
thus having a little direct contact between plates and tube for
heat conduction.
[0040] On the other hand, specific reference is now made to FIG. 3,
in which a plate-tube type heat exchanger 100 not requiring
maintenance is shown, as constructed according to a particularly
specific embodiment of the present invention, which must be
considered as illustrative rather than limitative.
[0041] In general terms, the plate-tube type heat exchanger 100
comprises: a plate 110 with a plurality of channels 111 running
parallel along thereof; and, a plurality of tubes 120 housed and
secured to said channels 111, thus forming a circuit for the
circulation of a heating fluid, a cooling fluid or a means of
heating. Plate 110 includes integrally attachment means 112
associated to each channel, as shown in FIG. 4; which in their
closed position, cover along with its corresponding channel, almost
the entire tube external perimeter housing in said channel, thereby
securing each of the tubes 120 to the whole plate, without the use
of welding and at the same time, a large contact surface 113 is
achieved for the heat conduction between plate 110 and each one of
the tubes 120, as can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0042] On this respect, the plurality of attachment means 112, are
preferably longitudinal plates from the same plate formed by
mechanical means, and extending from both sides of each one of the
channels 111. In this embodiment, channels 111 are preferably
semicircular or "C"-shaped in its cross section; such that when
said attachment means 112 are in their closed position, they
function as a mechanical clamp which in conjunction with its
corresponding channel cover at least 270.degree. approximately of
the tube external perimeter 120 housed in said channel, thereby
impeding in the entire plate the free movement of each one of the
tubes 120 and a large contact surface 113 is generated for heat
conduction between the plate and each one of the tubes 120,
provided that such components make full contact without using
welding.
[0043] This particular form of attachment between tubes and the
plate eliminating the use of welding, allows the construction of
heat exchangers of different configurations, such as the "coil"
shape structure shown in FIG. 3 or the "snail" shape structure of
FIG. 6.
[0044] Particularly, plate 110 With the tubes secured is observed
in FIG. 3, including a folding 140 at a determined distance,
through its cross section at an angle of about 180.degree., forming
a "coil" shape structure, wherein the minimum spacing distance
between segments of the plate located at each side of said folding
is at least of 20 mm. More specifically, it is preferred that said
spacing distance be between 20 mm to 30 mm, thereby obtaining a
compact exchanger, with a large area of heat exchange, allowing a
free passage of air therethrough, and preventing mostly the
adhesion and accumulation of dust, rubbish, or grime on its
surface. Therefore, the exchanger is suitable to be used as a
forced air condenser in commercial and/or domestic refrigeration
equipments, such as food and beverage refrigerators and
freezers.
[0045] In FIG. 6, a heat exchanger 100' is shown with an
arrangement in "snail" shape, in which the plate 110' with secured
tubes, includes every determined distance, a folding 140' through
its cross section at an angle of approximately 90.degree., thus
forming a "coil" or "snail" shape structure, whose walls are spaced
each other a minimum distance of at least 20 mm, preferably such a
spacing distance is from 20 mm to 30 mm, achieving a compact
structure, of a large area of heat exchange, in which dust, grime
and rubbish that might be adhered, does not obstruct air
circulation between exchanger walls, being suitable to be used as a
forced air condenser in commercial and/or domestic refrigeration
systems.
[0046] Finally, it is important to establish that in heat
exchangers 100 and 100', tube ends 121 and 121' protrude from the
plate to make the necessary input and output connections with the
rest of the system. Regarding the manufacturing materials of these
exchangers components, both the plate 110 and 110' and tubes 120
and 120' are made of iron, galvanized iron, aluminum, copper or the
like.
[0047] Referring now particularly FIG. 7, a heat exchanger 200 of
the plate-tube type not requiring maintenance is shown, constructed
in accordance to a first particularly preferred embodiment of the
present invention, which comprises in general: a plurality of
extruded profile plates 210 joined to each other, each one
including a plurality of channels 211 running parallel along the
plate; and, a plurality of tubes 220 housed and secured in said
channels 211, thus forming a circuit for the circulation of a
heating fluid, a refrigeration fluid or a means of heating. The
extruded profile plates 210 include integrally attachment means 212
associated to each channel, such as shown in FIG. 8, which in their
closed position, cover together with its corresponding channel
almost fully the external surface of tube housed in said channel;
thereby securing each one of the tubes 120 to each one of said
plates 210, without the use of welding and at the same time, a
large contact surface 213 is generated for the heat conduction
between plates 210 and each one of the tubes 220. Likewise, said
extruded profile plates 210 include integrally in their ends
parallel to the channels, coupling means 214, to be firmly joined
to each other, without using welding. All of the above mentioned,
may be observed in FIGS. 8 and 9.
[0048] Additionally, it may be said that in the open position of
such attachment means 212, these are extended from both sides of
its corresponding channel, forming therewith a "U" shape housing in
cross section, and where such attachment means 212 are in its
closed position, they work as a mechanical clamp which along with
said channel, cover at least 270.degree. of the external perimeter
of tube 220 housed in the channel, thereby impeding in each one of
the plates free movement of tubes and a large contact surface 213
is generated for heat conduction between tubes and plates, provided
that such components make full contact without using welding, as
may be seen in FIGS. 9 and 10.
[0049] Referring to the plate, its surface may be flat or wavy,
being preferred to use a wavy surface plate, which allows
increasing the effective area of heat transfer, compared to a flat
plate.
[0050] With respect to the coupling means 214, it may be mentioned
that they are located at the plate ends parallel to channels 111,
and are preferably of the "male-female" type. Specifically, when it
is desired to join two extruded profile plates 210 to each other,
the male end of one of them is introduced into the female end of
the other, which closes thereafter by means of pressure, thus
achieving to firmly join two or more extruded profile plates 210
without using welding, which also allows a contact surface to exist
for the heat conduction between plates, such as may be observed
clearly in FIGS. 11 and 11A.
[0051] This particular way of attachment between tubes and plates
by attachment means 212, as well as the easiness to join two or
more extruded profile plates by such coupling means 214, which
eliminate the use of welding, allow to build heat exchangers of
very different configurations and sizes, such as those shown in
FIGS. 7 and 12, both configurations presenting most of the
characteristics mentioned for the exchangers of FIGS. 3 and 7
previously described. Specially, exchangers 200 and 200' of this
first embodiment, maintain such minimal spacing distance between
walls formed by the plate, which is alt least 20 mm, more
preferably between 20 mm to 30 mm. Likewise, its principal
application is as forced air condensers used in domestic and
commercial refrigeration equipments.
[0052] Concerning the manufacturing materials, it may be mentioned
that the plate is made preferably of aluminum, provided that such
material is easy to handle under the extrusion processes known in
the prior art. On the other hand, the tubes may be manufactured in
iron, copper or aluminum.
[0053] Additionally, referring particularly to FIG. 13, a
plate-tube type heat exchanger 300 not requiring maintenance,
constructed in accordance to a second preferred embodiment of the
present invention is shown, generally comprising: a plurality of
extruded profile plates 310 joined to each other, each one
including integrally a plurality of tubes or ducts 311, running
parallel along the plate, which are interconnected in their ends by
connection fixtures 320, forming a circuit for the circulation of a
heating fluid, a refrigeration fluid or a means of heating 314 as
to firmly join two plates to each other, without using welding, as
shown in FIG. 14.
[0054] In such a figure, as well as in FIG. 15, it may be seen that
extruded profile plate used in this second embodiment is somewhat
similar to plate 210 above described, whose surface may be flat or
wavy, being preferred to use a wavy surface plate, taking advantage
at the heat transfer area compared to a flat plate. In this sense,
at the internal face of each one of the tubes 311, a plurality of
nervures or fines 315 is preferably included as to increase the
primary contact surface between the heat exchange means and tubes
311 integrally joined to the plate.
[0055] On the other hand, it is shown that coupling means are
similar to those previously described for plates 210 of the first
embodiment, that is, are of male-female type and are located in the
plate ends which are parallel to channels. Said coupling means
allow to firmly join two or more plates to each other, without
using welding, such as shown in FIGS. 16 and 16 A.
[0056] Referring now to FIGS. 17 and 17 A, it may be appreciated
that in the plate ends 310, tubes integrally included therein, may
be interconnected to each other by connection fixtures 320 of
different configurations, such as straight tubes, or U-shaped
tubes, which are introduced in tubes 311 integrated to the plate
and secured thereto in order to form serial and parallel circuits
for the heating or refrigeration fluid or heating means.
[0057] Once said tubes 311 have been interconnected, plates may be
folded in order to obtain configurations shown in FIGS. 13 and 18,
"coil" shape configurations and "snail " shape configurations,
respectively, whose characteristics have been previously widely
mentioned, including their manufacturing materials.
[0058] Finally, it should be noted that time and efforts required
to manufacture the heat exchangers of the present invention, is
much lesser compared to those known from the prior art, since they
essentially include only plate and tubes of easy assembly.
[0059] Even though in the foregoing description certain embodiments
of the present invention are illustrated and described, emphasis
should be made in that numerous modifications are possible to such
embodiments without departing from the true scope thereof, such as
varying the number of extruded profile plates, number of channels
or tubes included therein, or how to fold the plate in order to
obtain configurations other than those previously mentioned,
keeping the minimum spacing distance, thus preventing fouling
problems. The present invention, therefore, should not be
restricted except for that required by the prior art and by the
appended claims.
* * * * *