U.S. patent application number 15/988713 was filed with the patent office on 2018-11-29 for heat exchanger element and method for the production.
The applicant listed for this patent is WESTWIND LIMITED. Invention is credited to Marcel Riendeau.
Application Number | 20180340741 15/988713 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47351601 |
Filed Date | 2018-11-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180340741 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Riendeau; Marcel |
November 29, 2018 |
HEAT EXCHANGER ELEMENT AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION
Abstract
To provide heat exchanger elements which allow the creation of
Enthalpy exchangers whereby the efficiency of sensible energy
exchange and latent energy exchange can he varied and controlled
and especially improved, a method for the production of heat
exchanger elements is provided including a) producing a plate
element with defined outer dimensions and corrugations in the area
within a border, b) perforating the plate in predefined areas and
in predefined dimensions, c) filling the perforations with a
polymer with latent energy recovery capability and d) curing the
polymer.
Inventors: |
Riendeau; Marcel; (Lich,
DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
WESTWIND LIMITED |
London |
|
GB |
|
|
Family ID: |
47351601 |
Appl. No.: |
15/988713 |
Filed: |
May 24, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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13744917 |
Jan 18, 2013 |
10012450 |
|
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15988713 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 20/025 20130101;
F28D 21/0015 20130101; F28F 21/065 20130101; Y02E 60/145 20130101;
F28D 9/00 20130101; F28F 21/08 20130101; F28D 21/0014 20130101;
Y02E 60/14 20130101; Y10T 29/4935 20150115; F28D 20/02 20130101;
B23P 15/26 20130101; F28F 3/042 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F28D 20/02 20060101
F28D020/02; F28D 21/00 20060101 F28D021/00; B23P 15/26 20060101
B23P015/26; F28F 3/04 20060101 F28F003/04; F28F 21/06 20060101
F28F021/06; F28D 9/00 20060101 F28D009/00; F28F 21/08 20060101
F28F021/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 20, 2012 |
EP |
12000365.2 |
Claims
1. A method for the production of heat exchanger elements
comprising: a) producing a plate element with defined outer
dimensions and corrugations in the area within a border; b)
perforating the plate in predefined areas and in predefined
dimensions; c) filling the perforations with a polymer with latent
energy recovery capability; and d) curing the polymer.
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate
is aluminum.
3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate
is plastic.
4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate
is stamped.
5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate
is corrugated.
6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate
is molded.
7. The method according to claim 1 characterized in that the plate
is perforated by stamping.
8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the
perforation is formed during molding.
9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the
polymer is a sulfonated copolymer.
10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the
polymer is applied as dispersion.
11. A heat exchanger element including a plate element with defined
outer dimensions and corrugations in the area within a border, said
plate element has perforations in predefined areas and in
predefined dimensions, said perforations are filled with a polymer
with latent energy recovery capability.
12. The heat exchanger element according to claim 11, characterized
in that the perforations are small holes.
13. The heat exchanger element according to claim 12, characterized
in that the perforated areas sum up to 70% of the total surface of
the plate element.
14. The heat exchanger element according to claim 11, characterized
in that the polymer is a sulfonated copolymer.
15. The heat exchanger element according to claim 11, characterized
in that the plate dement has a border which allows gaslight
connection to another similar plate element.
16. The heat exchanger element according to claim 11, characterized
in that the plate element has corrugations increasing the exchange
surface up to 100%.
17. The heat exchanger element according to claim 11, characterized
in that the corrugations are oriented to guide a fluid flow.
18. The heat exchanger with at least three plates like heat
exchanger elements fixed to each other in parallel orientation to
form two fluid paths allowing fluids to flow there through,
characterized in that the plate like hear exchanger elements are
elements according to claim 11.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 13/744,917, filed Jan. 18, 2013, and claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn. 119 to European Patent Application No. 12000365.2,
filed Jan. 20, 2012, each of which is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
[0002] The present invention refers to heat exchanger elements.
Furthermore, the invention discloses a method for the production of
heat exchanger elements. Finally, the invention refers to a heat
exchanger including inventive heat exchanger elements.
[0003] It is state of the art to use different kinds of heat
exchangers for different purposes. Usually, heat exchangers are
used to recover heat energy from one fluid or medium into another
one. This kind of heat energy is celled sensible energy. The heat
energy or sensible energy of one fluid, normally air, is recovered
into another one which is running adjacent, e.g. parallel, counter
or cross flow, to the first where the fluid is at lower
temperature. By reversing fluid flows, the exchange between the two
will generate a cooler fluid. Heat exchangers used for sensible
energy recovery are usually made of metal or plastic plates. There
are different types as there can be cross flow, parallel flow or
counter flow configurations. The plates are defining flow channels
between themselves so that the fluids can flow between the plates.
Such devices are e.g. used in residential and commercial
ventilation (HRV).
[0004] Another type of energy exchangers refers to the so called
latent energy which is the moisture. To exchange the latent energy
it is known to use desiccant coated metal or plastic substrates or
membranes made from desiccant impregnated cellulose or polymer.
Between plates made from cellulose Of polymer, air passages are
defined or created to allow the fluids to pass along the surface of
the plates, thereby transferring moisture from one fluid to the
other one. As the membranes usually nave no structural strength, it
is known to combine the membranes with frames or grids which
thereby define spacings between the membranes.
[0005] In case of a combination of the above, the energy exchangers
are called. Enthalpy exchanger. Those Enthalpy exchangers allow for
the exchange of sensible and latent energy, resulting in Total
Energy recovery.
[0006] Membrane materials as currently available are delivered by
the roll. The membrane material is the most critical part of an
Enthalpy exchanger. The membrane must be fixed and sealed to a kind
of grin or frame and arranged in a way to allow for a fluid to flow
between each membrane layer. So, it is obvious that Enthalpy
exchangers of the known art are a compromise. They will usually
lose in sensible energy to gain in latent energy as a result of the
selective scope and characteristics of currently used
membranes.
[0007] Such a heat exchanger built from respective elements is e.g.
WO 02/072242 A1. On grids respective membranes made of fibres are
positioned. The grids are stapled thereby altering the direction of
the plates in order to create different air flow directions.
[0008] In view of the mentioned state of the art it is an object of
the invention to provide heat exchanger elements and heat
exchangers as well as a method for the production of neat exchanger
elements. The inventive heat exchanger elements allows for the
creation of Enthalpy exchangers whereby the efficiency of sensible
energy exchange and latent energy exchange can be varied and
controlled and especially improved.
[0009] With the invention, the solution of the above mentioned
object is presented by a method for the production of heat
exchanger elements as disclosed herein. With regard to the heat
exchanger element, the object is solved by an element with the
features as disclosed herein. Improvements and further features are
disclosed herein.
[0010] According to the invention, a new hybrid exchanger element
is provided which on one hand has enough structural strength and
density to create air flow channels for any type of cross flow
and/or counter flow energy exchanger, thereby allowing for the use
of a structurally strong materiel which is good for sensible energy
exchange, on the other hand by size and number of perforations or
openings or holes it is possible to define an area which is filled
with a polymer solution with latent energy exchange
characteristics. It is obvious that the efficiency of sensible
energy exchange on one hand and latent energy exchange on the other
hand can be defined, controlled and adapted to the respective needs
of the environment (dry air, humidity, outside temperature and the
like).
[0011] According to the invention, a plats element can be made of
aluminum or plastic or combinations thereof. The element can be
provided with corrugations. Corrugations can be designed to
optimize the efficiency to pressure drop ratio. The corrugations
can be chosen to allow for creating flow channels between similar
plates when those are stacked together. By the definition of ids
corrugation, one advantage will he the enhancement of the surface
which is available for energy transfer. This can be built up as
large as possible and can even reach an increase of 100% and more.
Furthermore, the corrugations can be designed in a way to allow for
the easy arrangement of counter flow or cross flow configurations,
e.g. by choosing oriented corrugations and alternating the position
of the plate.
[0012] The border of the plate defines an area where similar plates
can be fixed together in an appropriate way. This can be welding,
e.g. laser welding, ultra sound welding and/or folding, crimping
and the like. This stabilises the rigidity of the package as well
as allows to build up the desired flow channels. The herder area
can be flattened, tongue/groove system, profiled or rimmed to allow
for a tight sealable connection between plates.
[0013] The perforations can be performed at the time of the plate
production e.g. integrally when the plate is molded or stamped or
embossed or vacuum formed.
[0014] The polymer can be one according to the state of the art,
e.g. like the product "Aquivion", a trademark of Solvay or "Nexar",
a trademark of Kraton.
[0015] The material can be e.g. a ionomer in form of a copolymer
produced from tetrafluoroethylene, C.sub.2F.sub.4, and
Ethanesulfonyl fluoride,
1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-2-[(trifluoroethenyl)-oxy],
C.sub.2F.sub.3O--(CF.sub.2).sub.2--SO.sub.3F, sulfonated block
copolymer.
[0016] However, the polymers can be adapted to the desired
characteristic and features.
[0017] According to the inventions, the polymer is supplied as a
dispersion. The dispersion can be brought to the plate by thereby
filling or covering the holes or perforations with the polymer
solution by way of spray, dipping, serigraphy or any other
lamination method it is obvious that the amount or efficiency of
latent energy recovery depends on the surface provided by the holes
or perforations, their shapes and their locations. So it is
possible to adapt the heat exchanger plates to the environmental
and functional conditions.
[0018] By using the highly heat conductive materials as the
structural elements for the Enthalpy membrane, high sensible
efficiency is ensured. By defining the perforations and choosing
the polymer, high latent recovery is ensured.
[0019] The corrugation/embossing of the plats increases the
exchange surface significantly
[0020] The perforated or opened portions of each plate can reach
70% or more, of the total surface area e.g. mosquito screen
pattern. In such a case, the surface exceeds that of a flat
membrane according to the state of the art), with minimal loss of
the high sensible energy recovery characteristic of the exchanger
plates A Total Energy recovery efficiency of up to 85% can be
reached in heating mode and 72% in cooling mode. A number of
finalized plates can be stacked together to build a package which,
within a frame or housing, creates a heat exchanger according to
the invention.
[0021] Combined sensible and latent energy to such a high Total
Energy recovery level could, in some climatic zones, eliminate the
need for a sensible only heat exchanger.
[0022] The polymer can be combined with additives to manifold and
magnify its attributes. It can be, for instance, efficiently
anti-bacterial and can meet fire resistance requirements (UL). Its
viscosity can be adjusted to achieve the optimal tunable exchange
features of the plate allowing as high a moisture exchange as
possible.
[0023] It is obvious that the sensible energy transfer and the
latent energy transfer capabilities of the heat exchanger are
tunable and adjustable. The plates are adaptable to environmental
conditions by the variable mosaic geometry of the perforations. E.
g. an exchanger can be designed to operate at temperature under the
freezing point (-10.degree. C.) without ice built up only by
choosing the right position of the perforations and polymeric
treatment of the constitutive plates.
[0024] The rigidity of the structural elements could make the plate
and thereby the membrane capable of handling pressure differential
up to 1 Kpa. within the exchanger. This advantage opens the door to
larger exchanger constructions for commercial applications.
[0025] The invention provides a simple method for the production of
energy exchanger plates allowing sensible as well as latent energy
exchange. The design and the adaptability of the plates allows for
the construction and design of neat exchangers which are optimized
with regard to the technical requirements and/or the environmental
conditions.
[0026] Stamped, corrugated, embossed or vacuum formed aluminum,
stainless steel, resin based plates and/or plastic plates can be
made using proven automation technologies including the assembly,
e.g. by vacuum grip, and seal, e.g. by laser welding, ultra sound
welding, folding, crimping, to obtain packages of superposed rigid
plates. The plates are washable, fire resistant, antibacterial,
sealed e.g. leakage proof. They have all valuable advantages that
are necessary to create highly efficient heat exchangers.
[0027] The selective perforation of the plates and the air-tight
casting of the mosaic polymer micro membranes allows for the
construction of structural hybrid mosaic membranes. The plate
perforation, too, can be performed by pre-programmed continuous
laser processes, by mechanical systems like needle-roller and the
like, or chemical etching processes.
[0028] Further features and aspects of the invention become obvious
from the following description of the drawings. The drawings
show:
[0029] FIG. 1 a top view of one example for an embodiment of an
exchanger plate according to the invention and
[0030] FIG. 2 a side view of the plate according to FIG. 1.
[0031] In the drawings, the same elements are designated by the
same reference numbers.
[0032] An exchanger plate 1 consists of a structural rigid plate 2
made from aluminum, plastic or the like. Plate 2 has a rim 4 which
is a flat sealable rim and can be deformed for sealing. Areas of
the rim 4 are opened or deviated as shown by reference no. 5 to
define e.g. a inlet and outlet of a flow channel.
[0033] Within the rim area, corrugations 3 are stamped or embossed
into the plate 2. When plates are sealed together, flow channels
are defined. In the example, reference no. 5 designates areas with
perforations.
[0034] For the purpose of clarity, only some of the perforation
areas 6 and some of the corrugated areas 3 are designated.
[0035] The heat exchanger element 1 shows a great surface tor heat
exchange which is increased by the corrugations 3 which are
corrugated in one direction only and open on the other surface.
Furthermore, the perforated areas 6 define a latent energy exchange
area for the transfer of moisture.
[0036] These plates will be stacked to build a heat exchanger e.g.
for ventilation systems to exchange heat from outgoing to incoming
air (or vice versa for free cooling in summer) as well as humidity
from outgoing to incoming air in winter (or vice versa for moisture
reduction in summer or all year round in hot and humid climatic
tones).
[0037] The drawings and the description do in no way restrict the
invention and are meant for describing an example, only.
REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0038] 1 neat exchanger element [0039] 2 plate [0040] 3 corrugation
[0041] 4 border [0042] 5 opened border [0043] 6 perforations
* * * * *