JP7658738B2 - Plate Heat Exchanger - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a plate heat exchanger in which a gasket is sandwiched between heat transfer plates.

As shown in FIG. 13, a plate-type heat exchanger 500 has been known that includes a plurality of heat transfer plates 501 stacked in a predetermined direction and a plurality of gaskets 502 that are sandwiched between the heat transfer plates 501 to form flow paths R between the heat transfer plates 501 through which a fluid can flow (see Patent Document 1).

Each of the heat transfer plates 501 is a metal plate and has thermal conductivity. In addition, each of the gaskets 502 sandwiched between the heat transfer plates 501 is made of resin and has elasticity.

In this plate heat exchanger 500, high-temperature fluid and low-temperature fluid flow alternately through each heat transfer plate 501, and heat exchange between the fluids occurs through the heat transfer plate 501.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 4-273994

In the plate-type heat exchanger 500 described above, the gasket 502 for forming the flow path R comes into contact with the fluid flowing through the flow path R or with the air (outside air). For this reason, the gasket 502 is prone to deterioration due to oxidation, etc. If this deterioration progresses, the fluid flowing through the flow path R leaks out from between the heat transfer plate 501 and the gasket 502, i.e., liquid leakage occurs in the plate-type heat exchanger 500.

The present invention aims to provide a plate heat exchanger in which the gaskets that are sandwiched between the heat transfer plates to form the flow paths are less likely to deteriorate.

The plate heat exchanger of the present invention comprises:
a plate stacking section including a plurality of heat transfer plates stacked in a predetermined direction and a plurality of gaskets sandwiched between two adjacent heat transfer plates of the plurality of heat transfer plates in the predetermined direction to form a flow path through which a fluid can flow between the heat transfer plates;
The plate stacking portion is
a flow path forming portion in which the flow paths are formed between the heat transfer plates;
a gasket sandwiching portion in which the gasket is sandwiched between the heat transfer plates and the gaskets sandwiched between the heat transfer plates are arranged in the predetermined direction, the gasket sandwiching portion surrounding the flow path forming portion;
and at least one wall portion formed by contacting opposing portions of two heat transfer plates sandwiching the gasket in the gasket sandwiching portion in the predetermined direction,
The at least one wall portion surrounds the flow passage forming portion on at least one of an inner side on the flow passage forming portion side and an outer side on the opposite side to the flow passage forming portion side with respect to the gasket sandwiching portion.

In this way, the wall portion surrounds the flow path forming portion on at least one of the inside and outside of the gasket clamping portion, thereby suppressing the movement of air from the outside or fluid from the flow path to the gasket side sandwiched between the two heat transfer plates that make up the wall portion of the gasket clamping portion, thereby suppressing deterioration of the gasket due to contact with air or fluid.

In the plate heat exchanger,
In the plate stacking portion, the heat transfer plates are stacked so as to be separable from each other,
The at least one wall portion is formed by abutting tops of protruding stripes that are protruding in a direction approaching each other on two heat transfer plates sandwiching the gasket,
In a cross section of at least one of the convex strips whose tops abut against each other,
The protrusion has a pair of inclined portions each extending from the apex and the distance between the inclined portions increases with increasing distance from the apex,
At least one of the pair of inclined portions may have a wave shape with at least one convex portion on each of one surface side and the other surface side of the heat transfer plate constituting the inclined portion.

In this way, by making the cross-sectional shape of at least one of the pair of inclined portions corrugated and imparting springiness to the inclined portion, the force in a predetermined direction applied to the convex strip (the convex strip having a corrugated inclined portion in cross section) that constitutes the wall portion when a plurality of heat transfer plates are stacked in a predetermined direction to form a plate stacking portion can be absorbed by the elastic deformation of the inclined portion, thereby suppressing deformation such as dents caused by the force in the predetermined direction in the convex strip. Moreover, by imparting springiness to at least one of the inclined portions, when the plate stacking portion is disassembled and each heat transfer plate is separated, deformation is unlikely to remain in the convex strip; in other words, the shape after the elastic deformation returns to its original shape when each heat transfer plate is separated, so that the heat transfer plates can be stacked again to form a plate stacking portion (reused).

In addition, in the plate heat exchanger,
The plate stacking portion has an auxiliary gasket arranged on at least one side of the wall portion in the predetermined direction,
The auxiliary gasket may press the wall portion and the heat transfer plate adjacent to the wall portion in the predetermined direction in directions separating them from each other.

With this configuration, the portion of one of the heat transfer plates that make up the wall is pushed by the auxiliary gasket toward the portion of the other heat transfer plate that makes up the wall, so that the movement of air or fluid between the portions of the two heat transfer plates that make up the wall toward the gasket clamping portion (gasket side) is more reliably suppressed.

Further, in the plate heat exchanger,
the plate stacking portion has a plurality of wall portions on the outer side of the gasket sandwiching portion, the wall portions being arranged at positions corresponding to the respective gaskets sandwiched between the heat transfer plates in the gasket sandwiching portion,
Each heat transfer plate has a first hole portion and a second hole portion penetrating in the predetermined direction between a portion constituting the gasket holding portion and a portion constituting the wall portion,
In the plate stacking portion,
The plurality of heat transfer plates alternately form first flow paths through which a first fluid flows and second flow paths through which a second fluid flows in the predetermined direction via each heat transfer plate,
the first hole portions of the heat transfer plates are connected in the predetermined direction to form first leakage detection flow paths that respectively communicate with first leakage spaces defined between the gaskets of the gasket sandwiching portions of the two heat transfer plates that form the first flow path and the outer wall portions of the gaskets,
The second hole portions of each of the heat transfer plates may be connected in the specified direction to form a second leak detection flow path that communicates with each second leakage space defined between the gasket of the gasket clamping portion of the two heat transfer plates that form the second flow path and the outer wall portion of the gasket.

With this configuration, the plate stacking portion has a first leak detection flow path that communicates with each first leak space and a second leak detection flow path that communicates with each second leak space, so that it is possible to detect whether a liquid leak of the first fluid or the second fluid has occurred in the gasket clamping portion by discharging fluid from either the first leak detection flow path or the second leak detection flow path.

In addition, even if leakage of both the first and second fluids occurs in the gasket clamping portion, the first and second fluids can be discharged to the outside through separate paths (the first leak detection flow path and the second leak detection flow path) without contacting each other.

As described above, the present invention can provide a plate heat exchanger in which the gaskets that are sandwiched between the heat transfer plates to form the flow paths are less likely to deteriorate.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plate heat exchanger according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the plate heat exchanger. FIG. 3A is a front view of a plate stack portion included in the plate heat exchanger. FIG. 3B is a diagram showing the range of the flow passage forming portion, the gasket sandwiching portion, and the outer seal portion in the plate stacking portion. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the plate stacking portion. FIG. 5 is a view of a first heat transfer plate constituting the plate stack portion, as viewed from a first surface side. FIG. 6 is a view of the first heat transfer plate as viewed from the second surface side. FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of the cross section taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 3A. FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged view of the cross section taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 3A. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the range of the first leakage space. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the range of the second leakage space. FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged view of the cross section taken along line XI-XI of FIG. 3A. FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged view of a cross section of a plate stacking portion of another embodiment. FIG. 13 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of a conventional plate heat exchanger.

One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 11.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the plate heat exchanger (hereinafter simply referred to as "heat exchanger") according to this embodiment includes a plate stacking section 2 having a plurality of heat transfer plates 3. The heat exchanger 1 also includes a pair of frames 5a, 5b that sandwich the plate stacking section 2, a guide section 6 that guides the plate stacking section 2 and the pair of frames 5a, 5b to their placement positions, and a plurality of fastening members 7 that can fasten the pair of frames 5a, 5b in a direction that reduces the distance between them.

The plate stacking section 2 has a plurality of heat transfer plates 3 that are stacked in a predetermined direction, and a plurality of gaskets 4 that are sandwiched between two of the heat transfer plates 3 that are adjacent in the predetermined direction (hereinafter also referred to simply as "between the plates").

This plate stacking unit 2 includes a plurality of flow paths Ra, Rb through which fluids A and B flow to exchange heat between the fluids A and B, and a plurality of communication paths Rc, Rd through which the fluids A and B flow from the outside of the plate stacking unit 2 into each of the flow paths Ra, Rb, or through which the fluids A and B flow from each of the flow paths Ra, Rb to the outside of the plate stacking unit 2. In addition, the plate stacking unit 2 of this embodiment includes a plurality of leak detection flow paths Re, Rf through which the fluids A and B leaking from each of the flow paths Ra, Rb are discharged to the outside of the plate stacking unit 2.

Specifically, the plate stacking section 2 has flow paths Ra and Rb between the overlapping heat transfer plates 3. In the plate stacking section 2 of this embodiment, two types of rectangular (rectangular) heat transfer plates (first heat transfer plate 3A, second heat transfer plate 3B) are alternately overlapped, so that a first flow path Ra through which a first fluid A can flow and a second flow path Rb through which a second fluid B can flow are alternately formed at the boundary between the heat transfer plates 3A and 3B. In the plate stacking section 2, the first fluid A flowing through the first flow path Ra and the second fluid B flowing through the second flow path Rb exchange heat through the heat transfer plates 3A and 3B that separate the first flow path Ra and the second flow path Rb. In the following, the configuration of the heat exchanger 1 will be described with the direction in which the heat transfer plates 3 are overlapped (predetermined direction) being the X-axis direction of the Cartesian coordinate system, the short side direction of the heat transfer plate 3 being the Y-axis direction of the Cartesian coordinate system, and the long side direction of the heat transfer plate 3 being the Z-axis direction of the Cartesian coordinate system.

The plate stacking section 2 also has a pair of first communication passages Rc1, Rc2 each extending in the X-axis direction and communicating only with the first flow passage Ra, and a pair of second communication passages Rd1, Rd2 each extending in the X-axis direction and communicating only with the second flow passage Rb. One of the pair of first communication passages Rc1, Rc2, the first communication passage Rc1, guides the first fluid A from the outside of the plate stacking section 2 into each first flow passage Ra, and the other first communication passage Rc2 guides the first fluid A from each first flow passage Ra to the outside of the plate stacking section 2. One of the pair of second communication passages Rd1, Rd2, the second communication passage Rd1, guides the second fluid B into each second flow passage Rb of the plate stacking section 2, and the other second communication passage Rd2 guides the second fluid B from each second flow passage Rb to the outside of the plate stacking section 2.

The plate stacking part 2 also has at least one first leak detection flow path Re extending in the X-axis direction and at least one second leak detection flow path Rf extending in the X-axis direction. The plate stacking part 2 of this embodiment has two first leak detection flow paths Re and two second leak detection flow paths Rf. Each of these two first leak detection flow paths Re communicates only with the first leakage space Rg1 (the range indicated by smoke in FIG. 9) formed between a predetermined plate, and when the first fluid A leaks from the first flow path Ra to the first leakage space Rg1, the leaked first fluid A is discharged (guided) to the outside of the plate stacking part 2. Each of the two second leak detection flow paths Rf also communicates only with the second leakage space Rg2 (the range indicated by smoke in FIG. 10) formed between a predetermined plate, and when the second fluid B leaks from the second flow path Rb to the second leakage space Rg2, the leaked second fluid B is discharged (guided) to the outside of the plate stacking part 2. The first leakage space Rg1 and the second leakage space Rg2 will be described in detail later.

Each of the multiple heat transfer plates 3 extends in a direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, each of the multiple heat transfer plates 3 has multiple protrusions 3C and multiple recesses 3R on a first surface S1, which is one surface in the X-axis direction, and a second surface S2, which is the surface (the other surface) opposite the first surface S1. Note that in Figures 2, 3A, 4 to 6, 9, and 10, the configurations (shape, position, number, etc.) of the protrusions 3C and recesses 3R are shown in a simplified manner.

Each of these multiple heat transfer plates 3 is formed by press molding a metal plate (thin sheet). Therefore, on the second surface S2, the recess 3R is located at a position corresponding to the protrusion 3C on the first surface S1 (i.e., the back surface of the protrusion 3C), and the protrusion 3C is located at a position corresponding to the recess 3R on the first surface S1 (i.e., the back surface of the recess 3R). That is, on each heat transfer plate 3, the protrusion 3C on the first surface S1 and the recess 3R on the second surface S2 corresponding to the protrusion 3C are in a front-back relationship, and the recess 3R on the first surface S1 and the protrusion 3C on the second surface S2 corresponding to the recess 3R are in a front-back relationship.

The heat transfer plates 3 of this embodiment include two types of heat transfer plates (first heat transfer plate 3A, second heat transfer plate 3B), and in these two types of heat transfer plates 3A and 3B, except for a part of the configuration (gasket arrangement portion 34 described later), one heat transfer plate (second heat transfer plate) 3B has the same configuration as the other heat transfer plate (first heat transfer plate) 3A in the inverted state. Specifically, the arrangement pattern (shape when viewed in the X-axis direction, cross-sectional shape, concave and convex direction, etc.) of the convex portions 3C and concave portions 3R of the first heat transfer plate 3A is as shown in Figures 5 and 6, and the arrangement pattern of the convex portions 3C and concave portions 3R of the second heat transfer plate 3B is the same as the convex portions 3C and concave portions 3R of the first heat transfer plate 3A in the inverted state, except for the gasket arrangement portion 34 (see Figure 10).

Specifically, each heat transfer plate 3A, 3B has a main heat transfer section 31 arranged in the center in the Z-axis direction, a communication section 32 arranged at an end in the Z-axis direction, and a dam section 33 arranged between the main heat transfer section 31 and the communication section 32. Each heat transfer plate 3A, 3B of this embodiment has a communication section 32 at both ends in the Z-axis direction, and has a dam section 33 between the main heat transfer section 31 and one of the communication sections 32, and between the main heat transfer section 31 and the other communication section 32. That is, each heat transfer plate 3A, 3B has a pair of communication sections 32 and a pair of dam sections 33.

7 and 8, each heat transfer plate 3A, 3B has a gasket placement portion 34 where a gasket 4 is placed, and a wall forming portion 30 that forms a wall portion 305 by abutting with adjacent heat transfer plates 3B, 3A in the X-axis direction on the outside of the gasket placement portion 34. Each heat transfer plate 3A, 3B in this embodiment also has a pair of guide notches 35 at both ends in the Z-axis direction.

The main heat transfer section 31 is a portion of the heat transfer plates 3A and 3B where most of the heat exchange takes place between the fluids (between the first fluid A and the second fluid B) flowing through the first flow path Ra and the second flow path Rb formed at the boundary between the heat transfer plates 3A and 3B. The main heat transfer section 31 in this embodiment is a rectangular portion when viewed from the X-axis direction.

The main heat transfer section 31 has multiple protrusions 31C and multiple recesses 31R on both sides. The arrangement and shape of the multiple protrusions 31C and multiple recesses 31R are set according to the heat transfer efficiency and the type of fluid (first fluid A and second fluid B) to be heat exchanged. In this embodiment, the multiple protrusions 31C and multiple recesses 31R arranged on each side of the main heat transfer section 31 are wavy, but are not limited to this shape (arrangement). The multiple protrusions 31C are included in the multiple protrusions 3C of the heat transfer plates 3A and 3B, and the multiple recesses 31R are included in the multiple recesses 3R of the heat transfer plates 3A and 3B.

Each of the pair of communication parts 32 has a plurality of first through holes 321 and at least one second through hole 322 penetrating in the X-axis direction. In this embodiment, each communication part 32 has two first through holes 321a, 321b and two second through holes (first hole part, second hole part) 322a, 322b. Each of the pair of communication parts 32 also has a plurality of convex parts 32C and a plurality of concave parts 32R on both sides. The arrangement and shape of the plurality of convex parts 32C and the plurality of concave parts 32R are set according to the strength of the heat transfer plates 3A and 3B to be secured, the size of the flow space of the fluids A and B to be secured, the type of the fluids A and B to be heat exchanged, etc. In addition, the plurality of convex parts 32C are included in the plurality of convex parts 3C of the heat transfer plates 3A and 3B, and the plurality of concave parts 32R are included in the plurality of concave parts 3R of the heat transfer plates 3A and 3B.

Specifically, in each communication portion 32, the two first through holes 321a, 321b are arranged at an interval in the Y-axis direction. As a result, the first through holes 321 are arranged at the four corners of each of the heat transfer plates 3A, 3B.

These first through holes 321 are connected in the X-axis direction when the heat transfer plates 3A, 3B are stacked (i.e., in the plate stacking section 2) to form communication passages Rc, Rd. In each of the heat transfer plates 3A, 3B of this embodiment, each of these four first through holes 321 is a circular hole, and the size (diameter) of each first through hole 321 is the same.

In addition, in each communication section 32, the two second through holes 322a, 322b are positioned closer to the ends of the heat transfer plates 3A, 3B, more specifically, closer to the corners of the heat transfer plates 3A, 3B, than the corresponding first through holes 321a, 321b.

These second through holes 322 are connected in the X-axis direction when the heat transfer plates 3A, 3B are stacked (i.e., in the plate stacking section 2) to form leak detection flow paths Re, Rf. The second through holes 322 are smaller than the first through holes 321. In each of the heat transfer plates 3A, 3B of this embodiment, each of the four second through holes 322 is a circular hole, and the size (diameter) of each second through hole 322 is the same.

The hole periphery (second through hole periphery) 3220 of the second through hole 322a on one side (right side in FIG. 5/left side in FIG. 6) of each communication portion 32 of the first heat transfer plate 3A is a convex portion when viewed from the first surface S1 side and a concave portion when viewed from the second surface S2 side. In contrast, the hole periphery (second through hole periphery) 3220 of the second through hole 322b on the other side (left side in FIG. 5/right side in FIG. 6) of each communication portion 32 is a concave portion when viewed from the first surface S1 side and a convex portion when viewed from the second surface S2 side.

On the other hand, the hole periphery (second through hole periphery) 3220 of the second through hole 322a on one side of each communication portion 32 of the second heat transfer plate 3B is a concave portion when viewed from the first surface S1 side, and a convex portion when viewed from the second surface S2 side. In contrast, the hole periphery (second through hole periphery) 3220 of the second through hole 322b on the other side of each communication portion 32 is a convex portion when viewed from the first surface S1 side, and a concave portion when viewed from the second surface S2 side.

The configuration of each of the communication parts 32u on one side (upper side in FIG. 5) of the pair of communication parts 32 and the configuration of each of the communication parts 32d on the other side (lower side in FIG. 5) of the pair of communication parts 32 are symmetrical with respect to the horizontal center line CL2 as an axis of symmetry when viewed from the X-axis direction. This horizontal center line CL2 is an imaginary line that extends in the Y-axis direction through the center of the heat transfer plates 3A and 3B in the Z-axis direction.

The configurations of each of the communication parts 32u, 32d are arranged and shaped to be substantially symmetrical with respect to the vertical center line CL1 when viewed from the X-axis direction. Here, the vertical center line CL1 is an imaginary line extending in the Z-axis direction through the center of the heat transfer plates 3A, 3B in the Y-axis direction. The configurations in the first region T1 on one side (right side in FIG. 5/left side in FIG. 6) of the vertical center line CL1 in each of the communication parts 32u, 32d and the configurations in the second region T2 on the other side (left side in FIG. 5/right side in FIG. 6) of the vertical center line CL1 in each of the communication parts 32u, 32d are opposite in displacement direction in the X-axis direction.

For example, specifically, the configuration of the first region T1 corresponding to the configuration (e.g., convex portion 32C) that protrudes (displaces) to one side in the X-axis direction in the second region T2 is a configuration (e.g., concave portion 32R) that is recessed (displaced) to the other side in the X-axis direction, and the configuration of the first region T1 corresponding to the configuration (e.g., concave portion 32R) that protrudes (displaces) to one side in the X-axis direction in the second region T2 is a configuration (e.g., convex portion 32C) that protrudes (displaces) to one side in the X-axis direction.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, each of the pair of dam sections 33 is a section that diffuses the flow of fluids A and B from the first through hole 321 toward the main heat transfer section 31 along the first surface S1 or the second surface S2 in the Y-axis direction, or focuses the flow of fluids A and B from the main heat transfer section 31 toward the first through hole 321 along the first surface S1 or the second surface S2 in the Y-axis direction.

Specifically, each dam portion 33 is a triangular portion with the boundary with the main heat transfer portion 31 as the base and the midpoint between the two first through holes 321a, 321b of the communication portion 32 as the apex. This dam portion 33 has multiple protrusions 33C and multiple recesses 33R on both sides. The multiple protrusions 33C and multiple recesses 33R are arranged and shaped according to the dimension of the main heat transfer portion 31 in the Y-axis direction, the distance from the first through hole 321 to the main heat transfer portion 31, the types of fluids A and B to be subjected to heat exchange, etc., and are not limited to the shapes and arrangements shown in Figures 5 and 6.

In each of these weir sections 33, heat exchange occurs between the fluids (between the first fluid A and the second fluid B) flowing through the first flow path Ra and the second flow path Rb formed by the heat transfer plates 3A and 3B. The multiple protrusions 33C are included in the multiple protrusions 3C of the heat transfer plates 3A and 3B, and the multiple recesses 33R are included in the multiple recesses 3R of the heat transfer plates 3A and 3B.

As shown in Figures 5 to 7, the gasket placement portion 34 is provided at a position where sealing is required between the plates, such as around the flow paths Ra and Rb or around the first through hole 321, and has a flat portion 341 that extends along the shape of the gasket 4, and a pair of restriction portions 342 that restrict movement of the gasket 4 from the flat portion 341 in the width direction (along the flat portion 341 and in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the gasket 4).

In this embodiment, the configuration of the gasket placement portion (first gasket placement portion) 34A of the first heat transfer plate 3A and the configuration of the gasket placement portion (second gasket placement portion) 34B of the second heat transfer plate 3B are different from the configuration (concave and recess placement pattern) of the first gasket placement portion 34A of the first heat transfer plate 3A in the inverted state, as in other portions of the heat transfer plate 3 (portions other than the gasket placement portion 34). More specifically, it is as follows.

The flat portion 341 is a flat band-shaped portion that sandwiches the gasket 4 between the gasket placement portion 34 (more specifically, the flat portion 341) of the adjacent heat transfer plate 3, and the flat portion 341 of the first gasket placement portion 34A and the flat portion 341 of the second gasket placement portion 34B have the same configuration.

The pair of restricting portions 342 are provided on both sides of the width of the band-shaped flat portion 341, i.e., on both sides of the width of the gasket 4 located on the flat portion 341. Specifically, each restricting portion 342 is a portion in which convex portions 342C and concave portions 342R are alternately formed in the direction in which the flat portion 341 extends in an area adjacent to the flat portion 341.

In this embodiment, the arrangement of the convex portion 342C and the concave portion 342R is reversed in the extending direction of the flat portion 341 between each of the restricting portions 342 of the first gasket placement portion 34A and the corresponding restricting portion 342 of the second gasket placement portion 34B (adjacent in the X-axis direction). That is, when the heat transfer plates 3A, 3B are stacked and viewed from the first surface S1 side, the portion of the restricting portion 342 of the second gasket placement portion 34B that faces (is adjacent to) the convex portion 342C of the restricting portion 342 of the first gasket placement portion 34A in the X-axis direction is the concave portion 342R, and the portion of the restricting portion 342 of the first gasket placement portion 34A that faces (is adjacent to) the concave portion 342R in the X-axis direction is the convex portion 342C (see FIG. 7).

The plurality of convex portions 342C and the plurality of concave portions 342R constituting the regulating portion 342 may be configured to function only as the regulating portion 342. In addition, for example, the convex portion 31C of the main heat transfer portion 31 and the convex portion 3C and the concave portion 3R of other configurations such as the concave portion 31R may be configured to function as the regulating portion 342, that is, a part or all of the convex portion 3C and the concave portion 3R of other configurations may also serve as the convex portion 342C and the concave portion 342R of the regulating portion 342. In the heat transfer plates 3A and 3B of this embodiment, for example, the regulating portion 342 on the main heat transfer portion 31 side in the gasket arrangement portion 34 formed on both sides of the main heat transfer portion 31 in the Y-axis direction is composed of the end of the convex portion 31C and the end of the concave portion 31R of the main heat transfer portion 31. The multiple protrusions 342C are included in the multiple protrusions 3C of the heat transfer plates 3A and 3B, and the multiple recesses 342R are included in the multiple recesses 3R of the heat transfer plates 3A and 3B.

The wall constituent parts 30 are arranged along the gasket placement part 34 so as to surround the gasket placement part 34. In this embodiment, the wall constituent parts 30 are arranged on the peripheral parts of the heat transfer plates 3A and 3B. By abutting the wall constituent parts 30 of the heat transfer plates 3B and 3A adjacent in the X-axis direction, the wall constituent parts 30 form wall parts 305 that prevent the leaked fluids A and B from leaking out from between the plates to the outside of the plate stack part 2 when the fluids A and B leak out from the area surrounded by the gasket 4 (gasket placement part 34) between the plates.

Specifically, the wall component 30 has an inner annular portion 301 that surrounds the gasket placement portion 34 while being spaced apart from the gasket placement portion 34, and an outer annular portion 302 that is adjacent to the inner annular portion 301 on the outside of the inner annular portion 301 and surrounds the gasket placement portion 34.

In the first heat transfer plate 3A, the inner annular portion 301 is a portion that is concave on the first surface S1 side and convex on the second surface S2 side, and the outer annular portion 302 is a portion that is convex on the first surface S1 side and concave on the second surface S2 side (see FIG. 7). That is, in the first heat transfer plate 3A, the inner annular portion 301 is a convex strip that surrounds a predetermined area when viewed from the second surface S2 side, and the outer annular portion 302 is a convex strip that surrounds a predetermined area when viewed from the first surface S1 side. On the other hand, in the second heat transfer plate 3B, the inner annular portion 301 is a portion that is convex on the first surface S1 side and concave on the second surface S2 side, and the outer annular portion 302 is a portion that is concave on the first surface S1 side and convex on the second surface S2 side. That is, in the second heat transfer plate 3B, the inner annular portion 301 is a convex ridge that surrounds a predetermined area when viewed from the first surface S1 side, and the outer annular portion 302 is a convex ridge that surrounds a predetermined area when viewed from the second surface S2 side. In this embodiment, the inner annular portion 301 and the outer annular portion 302 are formed continuously in the width direction of each portion in both the first heat transfer plate 3A and the second heat transfer plate 3B.

In this wall component 30, when the plate stacking section 2 is formed by stacking a plurality of heat transfer plates 3A and 3B, the tops 301T of the inner annular portions 301 of the wall component 30 of the heat transfer plate (for example, the first heat transfer plate) 3A and the wall component 30 of the heat transfer plate 3B1 adjacent to the other side of the heat transfer plate 3A in the X-axis direction (the lower second heat transfer plate in FIG. 7) are in contact with each other, and the bottoms 302B of the outer annular portions 302 are spaced apart in the X-axis direction. In addition, the bottoms 301B of the inner annular portions 301 of the wall component 30 of the heat transfer plate 3A and the wall component 30 of the heat transfer plate 3B2 adjacent to the other side of the heat transfer plate 3A in the X-axis direction (the upper second heat transfer plate in FIG. 7) are spaced apart in the X-axis direction, and the tops 302T of the outer annular portions 302 are in contact with each other in the X-axis direction.

The cross-sectional shape of each of the apexes 301T, 302T of the inner annular portion 301 and the outer annular portion 302 is an arc or straight line with a small curvature. This allows the apexes 301T, 302T to come into contact with each other when the heat transfer plates 3 are stacked together, even if the positions of the apexes 301T, 302T of the inner annular portion 301 and the outer annular portion 302 are slightly misaligned due to manufacturing errors, etc. (more specifically, even if they are misaligned in the width direction).

In this embodiment, the positions in the X-axis direction of the tops 301T, 302T of the inner annular portion 301 and the outer annular portion 302 in each wall component 30 of the first heat transfer plate 3A and the second heat transfer plate 3B are set to positions such that when the plate stacking portion 2 is not sandwiched between the pair of frames 5a, 5b, a gap is formed between the convex portions 3C that face each other at other positions when the opposing tops 301T, 302T are in contact with each other. As a result, when the plate stacking portion 2 is sandwiched by the pair of frames 5a, 5b in the X-axis direction with sufficient force to ensure sufficient sealing between the heat transfer plates 3A, 3B and the gasket 4, the wall portion 305 is formed in a state in which the tops 301T, 302T of the inner annular portion 301 and the outer annular portion 302 are in contact with each other with sufficient force, and thus the sealing property of the wall portion 305 is sufficiently ensured.

As shown in FIG. 8, the inner annular portion 301 has a pair of inclined portions 3011 that extend from the bottom 301B (the top 301T when viewed from the surface opposite to the surface on which the bottom 301B is formed) in a cross-sectional shape and whose distance from each other increases as they move away from the bottom 301B. At least one of the pair of inclined portions 3011 has a wave shape in a cross-section, with at least one convex on one surface (first surface S1) and at least one convex on the other surface (second surface S2) of the inclined portion 3011. In the inner annular portion 301 of this embodiment, each of the pair of inclined portions 3011 has the wave shape in the cross-section.

The outer annular portion 302 has, in its cross-sectional shape, a pair of inclined portions 3021 each extending from the apex 302T (the bottom portion 302B when viewed from the surface opposite to the surface on which the apex 302T is formed) and with the distance between them increasing with increasing distance from the apex 302T. At least one of the pair of inclined portions 3021 has a wave shape in the cross-section, with at least one convex on one surface (first surface S1) and the other surface (second surface S2) of the inclined portion 3021. In the outer annular portion 302 of this embodiment, each of the pair of inclined portions 3021 has the wave shape in the cross-section.

In FIG. 8, only the left inclined portion 3021 has the wave shape due to the cutting position, but the right inclined portion 3021 has a shape in which unevenness is repeated from the front to the back, so by shifting the cutting position to the front or back side of FIG. 8 (specifically, by shifting it by half the pitch of the unevenness), the right inclined portion 3021 also has the wave shape. In addition, the inner annular portion 301 and the outer annular portion 302 of this embodiment are adjacent (continuous) in the width direction. And, the inclined portion 3011 on the outer annular portion 302 side of the pair of inclined portions 3011 of the inner annular portion 301 and the inclined portion 3021 on the inner annular portion 301 side of the pair of inclined portions 3021 of the outer annular portion 302 are formed by a common part of the heat transfer plate 3.

Returning to Figures 3A, 5, and 6, the pair of guide notches 35 are disposed in the center in the Y-axis direction at each end in the Z-axis direction of the heat transfer plates 3A and 3B. In this embodiment, the pair of guide notches 35 are symmetrical with respect to the horizontal center line CL2.

As shown in Figs. 4, 7, 9, and 10, each of the gaskets 4 has a flow path defining portion 41 that defines the flow paths Ra and Rb between two adjacent heat transfer plates 3A and 3B, an annular portion 42 that connects the first through holes 321 of the adjacent heat transfer plates 3A and 3B, and a connecting portion 43 that connects the flow path defining portion 41 and the annular portion 42. The gasket 4 of this embodiment has one flow path defining portion 41, two annular portions 42, and four connecting portions 43. In this gasket 4, the cross-sectional shape of each portion includes a rectangular main seal portion 45 that is arranged on the flat portion 341 of the gasket arrangement portion 34A and 34B, and a pair of anti-slip portions 46 that extend outward in the width direction from a portion on one side in the X-axis direction (upper side in Fig. 7) at both ends in the width direction of the main seal portion 45 and are convex toward one side in the X-axis direction.

The main seal portion 45 is sandwiched between the two heat transfer plates 3A, 3B to ensure liquid tightness between the gasket 4 and the heat transfer plates 3A, 3B, and the pair of anti-slip portions 46 are sandwiched between the two heat transfer plates 3A, 3B to suppress misalignment (movement) of the main seal portion 45 in the width direction. In addition, by being sandwiched between the two heat transfer plates 3A, 3B, each anti-slip portion 46 prevents air or fluids A, B from coming into contact with the main seal portion 45, thereby preventing deterioration of the main seal portion 45 due to contact with air or fluids A, B.

When viewed from the X-axis direction, the flow path defining portion 41 is a portion that surrounds the main heat transfer portion 31, the pair of dam portions 33, the two corresponding first through holes 321 of each of the communication portions 32u, 32d (located on the same side of the vertical center line CL1 in this embodiment), and a portion of the communication portions 32u, 32d (more specifically, the portion between the two first through holes 321 and each dam portion 33). Also, when viewed from the X-axis direction, each of the two annular portions 42 is a portion that surrounds the first through hole 321 located outside the flow path defining portion 41. In the gasket 4 of this embodiment, one annular portion 42 is connected to the flow path defining portion 41 by two connecting portions 43.

In the plate stacking section 2 having the heat transfer plates 3A, 3B and gaskets 4 configured as described above, as shown in Figs. 3A to 4, 9, and 10, the two types of heat transfer plates 3A, 3B are alternately stacked in the X-axis direction. At this time, the multiple gaskets 4 are arranged (sandwiched) between the two adjacent heat transfer plates 3A, 3B, and these multiple gaskets 4 are arranged between each plate in a state where they are rotated half a turn every other one. In the plate stacking section 2 of this embodiment, the counter-rotation of the gasket 4 is performed by rotating it 180° around the intersection of the vertical center line CL3 (see Figs. 9 and 10) extending in the Z-axis direction at the center in the Y-axis direction and the horizontal center line CL4 (see Figs. 9 and 10) extending in the Y-axis direction at the center in the Z-axis direction. In the plate stacking section 2 of this embodiment, the multiple heat transfer plates 3A, 3B are stacked so that they can be separated from each other.

In this way, the plate stacking section 2 (heat exchanger 1) is formed by stacking multiple heat transfer plates 3A, 3B in the X-axis direction with the gasket 4 sandwiched between each plate. In this plate stacking section 2, a flow path forming section 21 in which flow paths Ra, Rb are formed between each plate, a gasket holding section 22 surrounding the flow path forming section 21, and an outer seal section 23 surrounding the flow path forming section 21 on the outside of the gasket holding section 22 are formed (see Figures 3B and 8). In Figure 3B, the range of the flow path forming section 21, the gasket holding section 22, and the outer seal section 23 is shown by adding smoke to the front view of the plate stacking section 2.

The flow path forming portion 21 is a portion of the plate stacking portion 2 that corresponds to the main heat transfer portion 31, the pair of dam portions 33, and a portion of the pair of communication portions 32 (the portion between the first through holes 321 and the dam portions 33) when viewed from the X-axis direction. In this flow path forming portion 21, a first flow path Ra that circulates the first fluid A in the Z-axis direction and a second flow path Rb that circulates the second fluid B in the Z-axis direction are alternately formed on the boundary between each heat transfer plate 3A, 3B. That is, in a plurality of heat transfer plates 3A, 3B that are stacked in the X-axis direction, a second flow path Rb is formed between the opposing first surface S1 and second surface S2 of adjacent heat transfer plates 3B, 3A, and a first flow path Ra is formed between the opposing first surface S1 and second surface S2 of adjacent heat transfer plates 3A, 3B.

The gasket clamping portion 22 is a portion of the plate stacking portion 2 where the gaskets 4 are sandwiched between the plates and where the gaskets 4 sandwiched between the plates are aligned in the X-axis direction. Specifically, the gasket clamping portion 22 is a portion of the plate stacking portion 2 that corresponds to the outermost frame-shaped portion (closed portion) of the gasket placement portions 34A and 34B when viewed from the X-axis direction (see FIG. 3B).

In this gasket clamping section 22, the main seal portion 45 of the gasket 4 is sandwiched between the flat portions 341 and the anti-slip portions 46 are sandwiched between the regulating portions 342 of the plates, and the gasket 4 sandwiched between the plates is aligned in a straight line in the X-axis direction (see FIG. 8).

The outer seal portion 23 has at least one wall portion 305 formed by abutting opposing portions 301, 302 of the two heat transfer plates 3A, 3B that sandwich the gasket 4 in the gasket clamping portion 22 in the X-axis direction. In the outer seal portion 23 of this embodiment, the wall portions 305 are formed at positions (layers) corresponding to the flow paths Ra, Rb of the flow path forming portion 21 in the X-axis direction. That is, the outer seal portion 23 has multiple wall portions 305.

Specifically, in the outer seal portion 23, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the tops 301T of the opposing inner annular portions (convex stripes) 301 of the adjacent heat transfer plates 3A and 3B come into contact with each other to form the inner wall portion 305A. Also, the tops 302T of the opposing outer annular portions (convex stripes) 302 of the adjacent heat transfer plates 3A and 3B come into contact with each other to form the outer wall portion 305B. The outer seal portion 23 is formed with a plurality of inner wall portions 305A and a plurality of outer wall portions 305B, and the inner wall portions 305A and the outer wall portions 305B are formed in different layers in the X-axis direction. In the outer seal portion 23 of this embodiment, the inner wall portions 305A and the outer wall portions 305B are formed alternately in the X-axis direction.

A leakage space Rg is formed between the gasket sandwiching portion 22 and the outer seal portion 23 in each layer of the plate stacking portion 2. This leakage space Rg is a space formed between the wall portion 305 of the two heat transfer plates 3A, 3B adjacent (facing) in the X-axis direction and the gasket 4 of the gasket sandwiching portion 22 (see the smoked area in Figures 9 and 10).

In detail, in each layer of the plate stacking portion 2, a first leakage space Rg1 is defined between the gasket 4 of the gasket sandwiching portion 22 of the two heat transfer plates 3A, 3B forming the first flow path Ra and the outer wall portion 305B on the outside of the gasket 4, and a second leakage space Rg2 is defined between the gasket 4 of the gasket sandwiching portion 22 of the two heat transfer plates 3B, 3A forming the second flow path Rb and the inner wall portion 305A on the outside of the gasket 4. In the plate stacking portion 2 of this embodiment, the first flow path Ra and the second flow path Rb are alternately formed in the X-axis direction, so that the first leakage space Rg1 and the second leakage space Rg2 are also alternately formed in the X-axis direction in the leakage space Rg. The leakage space Rg of each layer of the plate stacking portion 2 is formed in the entire circumferential area between the gasket sandwiching portion 22 and the wall portion 305.

As described above, the plate stacking portion 2 is formed with a pair of first communication passages Rc1, Rc2, a pair of second communication passages Rd1, Rd2, two first leak detection flow paths Re, and two second leak detection flow paths Rf (see Figures 1 and 4).

Each of the pair of first communication passages Rc1, Rc2 is formed by connecting the corresponding first through holes 321a of the heat transfer plates 3A, 3B in the X-axis direction via the annular portion 42 of the gasket 4, and is connected to each first flow path Ra. As a result, as described above, the first communication passage Rc1 (upper in FIG. 4) of the pair of first communication passages Rc1, Rc2 allows the first fluid A to flow from the outside of the plate stacking unit 2 into each first flow path Ra, and the other first communication passage Rc2 (lower in FIG. 4) allows the first fluid A to flow from each first flow path Ra to the outside of the plate stacking unit 2.

The pair of second communication passages Rd1, Rd2 are formed by connecting the corresponding first through holes 321b of the heat transfer plates 3 in the X-axis direction via the annular portion 42 of the gasket 4, and are connected to each second flow path Rb. As a result, as described above, the second communication passage Rd1 (upper in FIG. 4) of the pair of second communication passages Rd1, Rd2 allows the second fluid B to flow from the outside of the plate stacking unit 2 into each second flow path Rb, and the other second communication passage Rd2 (lower in FIG. 4) allows the second fluid B to flow from each second flow path Rb to the outside of the plate stacking unit 2.

Each of the two first leak detection flow paths Re is formed by connecting the corresponding second through holes 322b of the multiple heat transfer plates 3A, 3B in the X-axis direction. In the layer in which the first flow path Ra and the first leakage space Rg1 are formed in the plate stacking unit 2, the second through hole peripheries 3220 of the second through holes 322b constituting the first leak detection flow path Re are spaced apart from each other in the X-axis direction, so that each of the two first leak detection flow paths Re communicates with the first leakage space Rg1. As a result, when the first fluid A leaks from the first flow path Ra into the first leakage space Rg1, the leaked first fluid A is discharged to the outside through the first leak detection flow path Re, and thus it is possible to detect the occurrence of a liquid leak from any of the first flow paths Ra in the plate stacking unit 2.

In this embodiment, the two first leak detection flow paths Re are formed at both ends (upper and lower ends) in the Z-axis direction at the end on the other side in the Y-axis direction (the left side in FIG. 4), and typically, fluid A that leaks from the first flow path Ra into the first leakage space Rg1 is discharged to the outside from the first leak detection flow path Re at the lower end.

On the other hand, in the layer in the plate stacking portion 2 where the second flow path Rb and the second leakage space Rg2 are formed, the second through hole peripheries 3220 of the second through holes 322b constituting the first leakage detection flow path Re abut each other in the X-axis direction, so that the two first leakage detection flow paths Re do not communicate with the second leakage space Rg2. As a result, even if the second fluid B leaks from the second flow path Rb into the second leakage space Rg2, the leaked second fluid B does not flow into the first leakage detection flow path Re. In other words, the first leakage detection flow path Re communicates only with each first leakage space Rg1, and does not communicate with each second leakage space Rg2.

As shown in FIG. 11, each of the two second leak detection channels Rf is formed by connecting the corresponding second through holes 322a of the heat transfer plates 3A and 3B in the X-axis direction. In the layer in which the second flow channel Rb and the second leakage space Rg2 are formed in the plate stacking unit 2, the second through hole peripheries 3220 of the second through holes 322a constituting the second leak detection channel Rf are spaced apart from each other in the X-axis direction, so that each of the two second leak detection channels Rf communicates with the second leakage space Rg2. As a result, when the second fluid B leaks from the second flow channel Rb to the second leakage space Rg2, the leaked second fluid B is discharged to the outside through the second leak detection channel Rf, and thus it is possible to detect the occurrence of a liquid leak from any of the second flow channels Rb in the plate stacking unit 2.

In this embodiment, the two second leak detection flow paths Rf are formed at both ends (upper and lower ends) in the Z-axis direction at the end on one side in the Y-axis direction (the right side in FIG. 4), and normally, fluid B leaking from the second flow path Rb into the second leakage space Rg2 is discharged to the outside from the second leak detection flow path Rf at the lower end.

On the other hand, in the layer in the plate stacking portion 2 where the first flow path Ra and the first leakage space Rg1 are formed, the second through hole peripheries 3220 of the second through holes 322a constituting the second leakage detection flow path Rf abut against each other in the X-axis direction, so that the two second leakage detection flow paths Rf do not communicate with the first leakage space Rg1. As a result, even if the first fluid A leaks from the first flow path Ra into the first leakage space Rg1, the leaked first fluid A does not flow into the second leakage detection flow path Rf. In other words, the second leakage detection flow path Rf communicates only with each second leakage space Rg2, and does not communicate with each first leakage space Rg1.

Returning to Figures 1, 2, and 4, each of the pair of frames 5a, 5b is a thick plate-like member that corresponds in shape to the heat transfer plates 3A, 3B when viewed from the X-axis direction.

One of the pair of frames 5a, 5b, frame 5a, is a rectangular thick plate that is long in the Z-axis direction, and has multiple (four in this embodiment) large diameter through holes 51 that penetrate in the same direction as the first through holes 321 (respective communication paths Rc1, Rc2, Rd1, Rd2) of the heat transfer plates 3A, 3B at positions that overlap with the X-axis direction, and multiple (four in this embodiment) small diameter through holes 52 that penetrate in the same direction as the second through holes 322 (respective leak detection paths Re, Rf) of the heat transfer plates 3A, 3B at positions that overlap with the X-axis direction. In addition, one of the frames 5a has multiple cutouts 53 spaced apart in the Z-axis direction at both ends in the Y-axis direction.

The other frame 5b of the pair of frames 5a, 5b is a rectangular thick plate that is long in the Z-axis direction, and has multiple notches 54 spaced apart in the Z-axis direction at both ends in the Y-axis direction. Each of these multiple notches 54 is positioned so as to overlap with each notch 53 of the other frame 5a when viewed in the X-axis direction.

The guide section 6 has a pair of guide bars 61 each extending in the X-axis direction. In this embodiment, the guide section 6 also has a support member 62 that maintains the distance between the ends of the pair of guide bars 61.

The pair of guide bars 61 extend parallel to each other from both ends of one frame 5a in the Z-axis direction. The pair of guide bars 61 guide the other frame 5b so that it can be moved toward or away from the one frame 5a in the X-axis direction while in a parallel state (posture) relative to the one frame 5a. In addition, each of the pair of guide bars 61 fits into the guide notches 35 at both ends of the heat transfer plate 3 in the Z-axis direction, thereby guiding each heat transfer plate 3 to its placement position.

The support member 62 extends in the Z-axis direction and connects the ends of a pair of guide bars 61 (the ends opposite the ends connected to one frame 5a) to each other, thereby maintaining the distance between the ends.

Each of the multiple fastening members 7 has a bolt 71 extending in the X-axis direction and a nut 72 that screws onto the bolt 71. Each fastening member 7 fits into the corresponding notches 53, 54 (which overlap when viewed from the X-axis direction) of the pair of frames 5a, 5b and fastens the pair of frames 5a, 5b in a direction that reduces the distance in the X-axis direction. Fastening the pair of frames 5a, 5b with the multiple fastening members 7 clamps the gasket 4 arranged between the plates with sufficient force, thereby making each flow path Ra, Rb formed between the plates liquid-tight.

In the heat exchanger 1 configured as described above, when a first fluid A is supplied to one of the first communication passages Rc1 and a second fluid B is supplied to one of the second communication passages Rd1, the first fluid A flows from one of the first communication passages Rc1 into each of the first flow paths Ra, and the second fluid B flows from one of the second communication passages Rd1 into each of the second flow paths Rb.

As a result, in the heat exchanger 1, the first fluid A flows in the first flow path Ra in the Z-axis direction, and the second fluid B flows in the second flow path Rb in the Z-axis direction. In more detail, the first fluid A passes (circulates) between the plates that define the first flow path Ra from one end to the other end in the Z-axis direction, and the second fluid B passes (circulates) between the plates that define the second flow path Rb from one end to the other end in the Z-axis direction. At this time, the first fluid A and the second fluid B exchange heat via the heat transfer plates 3A and 3B (mainly the main heat transfer section 31) that are located between the first flow path Ra and the second flow path Rb.

Then, the first fluid A that has completed the heat exchange flows out of each first flow path Ra into the other first communication path Rc2 and is discharged to the outside through the first communication path Rc2. Also, the second fluid B that has completed the heat exchange flows out of each second flow path Rb into the other second communication path Rd2 and is discharged to the outside through the second communication path Rd2.

When the first fluid A and the second fluid B are flowing through the heat exchanger 1, if the first fluid A leaks from the first flow path Ra or the first communication paths Rc1, Rc2 into the first leakage space Rg1, the leaked first fluid A is discharged to the outside through the first leak detection flow path Re. On the other hand, if the second fluid B leaks from the second flow path Rb or the second communication paths Rd1, Rd2 into the second leakage space Rg2, the leaked second fluid B is discharged to the outside through the second leak detection flow path Rf.

In the above heat exchanger 1, the wall 305 surrounds the flow path forming section 21 on the outside of the gasket clamping section 22, thereby suppressing the movement of air from the outside between the two heat transfer plates 3A and 3B toward the gasket 4 sandwiched between the two heat transfer plates 3A and 3B that constitute the wall 305 in the gasket clamping section 22. In other words, contact of the gasket 4 with the outside air is suppressed, thereby suppressing deterioration (oxidation, etc.) caused by contact of the gasket 4 with air.

In addition, in the heat exchanger 1 of this embodiment, a plurality of heat transfer plates 3A, 3B are separably stacked in the plate stacking section 2, and each wall section 305 is formed by abutting the tops 301T, 302T of the inner annular section (convex rib) 301 or the outer annular section (convex rib) 302, which are convex in the direction approaching each other, in the two heat transfer plates (heat transfer plate pair) 3A, 3B that sandwich the gasket 4 in the gasket clamping section 22. In the cross section of each inner annular portion 301 or each outer annular portion 302, the annular portions 301, 302 have a pair of inclined portions 3011, 3021 that extend from the apex 301T, 302T, respectively, and the distance between them increases with distance from the apex 301T, 302T, and each inclined portion 3011, 3021 has a wave shape with at least one convex on one surface side (e.g., the first surface S1 side) and the other surface side (e.g., the second surface S2 side) of the inclined portion 3011, 3021.

In this way, by making the cross-sectional shape of each inclined portion 3011, 3021 wavy, the inclined portions 3011, 3021 can be given spring properties, so that the force in the X-axis direction applied to each annular portion (inner annular portion 301, outer annular portion 302) constituting the wall portion 305 when multiple heat transfer plates 3A, 3B are stacked in the X-axis direction to form the plate stack portion 2 can be absorbed by the elastic deformation of the inclined portions 3011, 3021. This makes it possible to suppress deformation such as dents caused by the force in the X-axis direction in each annular portion (inner annular portion 301, outer annular portion 302).

In addition, by giving each inclined portion 3011, 3021 a spring property, when the plate stacking portion 2 is disassembled and the heat transfer plates 3A, 3B are separated, the annular portions (inner annular portion 301, outer annular portion 302) are not deformed or are unlikely to be deformed. In other words, the shape after the elastic deformation returns to the original (almost original) when the heat transfer plates 3A, 3B are separated, so the heat transfer plates 3A, 3B can be stacked again to form the plate stacking portion 2 (reuse).

In the heat exchanger 1 of this embodiment, the plate stacking section 2 has a plurality of wall portions 305 arranged at positions (same layers) corresponding to each gasket 4 sandwiched between the plates in the gasket sandwiching section 22 on the outside of the gasket sandwiching section 22, and each heat transfer plate 3A, 3B has a second through hole (first hole portion and second hole portion) 322 penetrating in the X-axis direction between the portion constituting the gasket sandwiching section 22 and the portion constituting the wall portion 305 (the inner annular portion 301, the outer annular portion 302). In the plate stacking section 2, the plurality of heat transfer plates 3A, 3B alternately form a first flow path Ra through which the first fluid A flows and a second flow path Rb through which the second fluid B flows in the X-axis direction via each heat transfer plate 3A, 3B. In addition, the second through holes (first hole portions) 322b of the heat transfer plates 3A and 3B are connected in the X-axis direction to form a first leakage detection flow path Re that communicates with each of the first leakage spaces Rg1 defined between the gasket 4 of the gasket clamping portion 22 of the two heat transfer plates 3A and 3B that form the first flow path Ra and the outer inner wall portion 305A of the gasket 4. In addition, the second through holes (second hole portions) 322a of the heat transfer plates 3A and 3B are connected in the X-axis direction to form a second leakage detection flow path Rf that communicates with each of the second leakage spaces Rg2 defined between the gasket 4 of the gasket clamping portion 22 of the two heat transfer plates 3A and 3B that form the second flow path Rb and the outer outer wall portion 305B of the gasket 4.

In this way, since the plate stacking portion 2 has a first leak detection flow path Re that communicates with each first leak space Rg1 and a second leak detection flow path Rf that communicates with each second leak space Rg2, it is possible to detect whether a liquid leak of the first fluid A or the second fluid B has occurred in the gasket clamping portion 22 depending on which detection flow path, the first leak detection flow path Re or the second leak detection flow path Rf, from which fluid is discharged. Furthermore, even if a liquid leak of both the first fluid A and the second fluid B occurs in the gasket clamping portion 22, the first fluid A and the second fluid B can be discharged to the outside through separate paths (the first leak detection flow path Re and the second leak detection flow path Rf) without contacting each other.

The plate heat exchanger of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the configuration of one embodiment can be added to the configuration of another embodiment, and part of the configuration of one embodiment can be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment. Furthermore, part of the configuration of one embodiment can be deleted.

In the heat exchanger 1 of the above embodiment, two types of heat transfer plates 3A and 3B are alternately stacked in the plate stacking section 2, but this configuration is not limited to this. For example, the plate stacking section 2 may be configured such that one type of heat transfer plate 3 is alternately stacked in the X-axis direction in a flipped state.

In the heat exchanger 1 of the above embodiment, the first fluid A is supplied from one of the first communication passages Rc1 into the plate stacking section 2, and the second fluid B is supplied from one of the second communication passages Rd1 into the plate stacking section 2, but this configuration is not limited to this. For example, the second fluid B may be supplied from one of the second communication passages Rd1 into the plate stacking section 2 while the first fluid A is supplied from the other first communication passage Rc2 into the plate stacking section 2, or the first fluid A may be supplied from one of the first communication passages Rc1 into the plate stacking section 2 while the second fluid B is supplied from the other second communication passage Rd2 into the plate stacking section 2. Also, the first fluid A may be supplied from the other first communication passage Rc2 into the plate stacking section 2, and the second fluid B may be supplied from the other second communication passage Rd2 into the plate stacking section 2.

In addition, in the plate stacking section 2 of the above embodiment, the wall portion 305 is arranged so as to surround the flow path forming section 21 on the outside of the gasket sandwiching section 22 (the side opposite to the flow path forming section 21 side), but this configuration is not limited to this. The wall portion 305 may be arranged so as to surround the flow path forming section 21 on the inside of the gasket sandwiching section 22 (the side of the flow path forming section 21). According to this configuration, the movement of fluids A and B from the flow paths Ra and Rb between the plates to the gasket sandwiching section 22 (gasket 4) side is suppressed by the wall portion 305. This suppresses damage and deterioration of the gasket 4 caused by contact with the fluids A and B in the gasket sandwiching section 22. In addition, in the plate stacking section 2, the wall portion 305 may be arranged on both sides (inside and outside) of the gasket sandwiching section 22.

In addition, in the plate stacking unit 2 of the above embodiment, the wall portion 305 is formed in each layer in the X-axis direction, but this configuration is not limited. The wall portion 305 may be formed in some layers of the plate stacking unit 2. In other words, it is sufficient that the plate stacking unit 2 has at least one wall portion 305.

In addition, in the plate stacking portion 2 of the above embodiment, in the cross-sectional shape of the annular portion (inner annular portion 301, outer annular portion 302) constituting the wall portion 305, both of the pair of inclined portions 3011, 3021 constituting the annular portions 301, 302 are wavy, but this configuration is not limited to this. In the cross-sectional shape, at least one of the pair of inclined portions 3011, 3021 constituting the annular portions 301, 302 may be wavy. Even with this configuration, when a plurality of heat transfer plates 3 are stacked in the X-axis direction to form the plate stacking portion 2, the force in the X-axis direction applied to each of the annular portions 301, 302 constituting the wall portion 305 is absorbed by the elastic deformation of the inclined portions 3011, 3021, thereby suppressing deformation such as dents caused by the force in the X-axis direction in each of the annular portions 301, 302. In addition, by providing spring properties to at least one of the inclined portions 3011, 3021, when the plate stacking portion 2 is disassembled and each heat transfer plate 3 is separated, the cross-section of each annular portion 301, 302 is not deformed or is unlikely to be deformed in the inclined portion 3011, 3021 having a corrugated cross section in each annular portion 301, 302, that is, the shape after the elastic deformation returns to the original shape when each heat transfer plate 3 is separated, so that the heat transfer plates 3 can be stacked again to form (reuse) the plate stacking portion 2. Note that, in the annular portions (opposing annular portions) 301, 302 that abut the tops 301T, 302T, only one of the annular portions 301, 302 may have an inclined portion (a corrugated cross-section) 3011, 3021.

Here, if the heat transfer plate 3 after being separated from the plate stacking portion 2 is not stacked again (i.e., not reused), the cross-sectional shapes of both of the pair of inclined portions 3011, 3021 constituting the annular portions 301, 302 may be shapes other than a wave shape (a shape that does not produce springiness, such as a straight line).

In addition, in the wall component 30 of the heat transfer plate 3 in the above embodiment, the inner annular portion 301 and the outer annular portion 302 are adjacent (continuous) with a portion (one of the inclined portions 3011, 3021) in common, but this configuration is not limited. The inner annular portion 301 and the outer annular portion 302 may be arranged with a gap between them. In addition, the heat transfer plate may be configured without the inner annular portion 301 or without the outer annular portion 302.

In addition, in the plate stacking section 2 of the above embodiment, one wall section 305 is arranged in one layer, but multiple wall sections 305 may be arranged in one layer.

The specific cross-sectional shape of each part (opposing parts) constituting the wall part 305 of two heat transfer plates 3 adjacent in the X-axis direction is not limited. For example, the cross section of one part may be flat and the cross section of the other part may be convex toward the one part, and the two parts may not have the same cross-sectional shape. In other words, it is sufficient that the opposing parts 301, 302 of two heat transfer plates 3 adjacent in the X-axis direction abut against each other in the X-axis direction to hinder (prevent) the movement of air or fluids A and B to be subjected to heat exchange from the inside (the flow path forming part 21 side) to the outside (the outside of the plate stacking part 2) or from the outside to the inside across the abutting part 305.

In addition, in the heat exchanger 1 of the above embodiment, a space (the distance between the bottoms 301B, 302B of the adjacent annular parts 301, 302) is formed on both sides of each wall part 305 in the X-axis direction (see FIG. 8), but this configuration is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the plate stacking part 2 may have an auxiliary gasket 4A arranged on at least one of the wall parts 305 in the X-axis direction, and the auxiliary gasket 4A may press the wall part 305 and the heat transfer plate 3 adjacent to the wall part 305 in the X-axis direction (for example, the heat transfer plate 3 above the auxiliary gasket 4A arranged above the wall part 305 in FIG. 12) in a direction separating them from each other. With this configuration, the portion of one heat transfer plate 3A that constitutes the wall portion 305 (the inner annular portion (convex stripe) 301 or the outer annular portion (convex stripe) 302) is pushed by the auxiliary gasket 4A toward the portion of the other heat transfer plate 3B that constitutes the wall portion 305 (the inner annular portion (convex stripe) 301 or the outer annular portion (convex stripe) 302), so the movement of air or fluid through the portions of the two heat transfer plates 3A and 3B that constitute the wall portion 305 (the inner annular portion (convex stripe) 301 or the outer annular portion (convex stripe) 302) to the gasket clamping portion 22 side (gasket 4 side) is more reliably suppressed.

In this case, the gasket 4 and the auxiliary gasket 4A arranged between the plates in the plate stacking section 2 on which the gasket 4 is arranged may be separate or integral. Here, the auxiliary gasket 4A may be arranged only between all or some of the plates that define the first flow path Ra in the plate stacking section 2. The auxiliary gasket 4A may also be arranged only between all or some of the plates that define the second flow path Rb in the plate stacking section 2. The auxiliary gasket 4A may also be arranged between all or some of the plates that define the first flow path Ra and between all or some of the plates that define the second flow path Rb in the plate stacking section 2.

The heat exchanger 1 in the above embodiment includes the first leak detection flow path Re and the second leak detection flow path Rf, but is not limited to this configuration. The heat exchanger 1 may be configured to include only one of the first leak detection flow path Re and the second leak detection flow path Rf. With this configuration, it is possible to detect leakage of the fluid (first fluid or second fluid) corresponding to the arranged leak detection flow path (first leak detection flow path Re or second leak detection flow path Rf).

The heat exchanger 1 may also be configured without the leak detection flow path (first leak detection flow path Re and second leak detection flow path Rf).

Furthermore, the leak detection flow path Re or Rf is not limited to a configuration in which it communicates only with each first leakage space Rg1 or only with each second leakage space Rg2. If there is no problem with contact between the first fluid A and the second fluid B in which heat exchange takes place in the heat exchanger 1, the leak detection flow path may be configured to communicate with each first leakage space Rg1 and each second leakage space Rg2.

1...heat exchanger, 2...plate stacking section, 21...flow path forming section, 22...gasket clamping section, 23...outer seal section, 3...heat transfer plate, 3A...first heat transfer plate (heat transfer plate), 3B, 3B1, 3B2...second heat transfer plate (heat transfer plate), 30...wall component, 301...inner annular section, 302...outer annular section, 301B, 302B...bottom section, 301T, 302T...top section, 3011, 3021...inclined section, 305...wall section, 305A...inner wall section, 305B...outer wall section, 31...main transfer Heating portion, 32, 32d, 32u...communicating portion, 321, 321a, 321b...first through hole, 322, 322a, 322b...second through hole, 3220...periphery of second through hole, 33...dam portion, 34...gasket arrangement portion, 34A...first gasket arrangement portion (gasket arrangement portion), 34B...second gasket arrangement portion (gasket arrangement portion), 341...flat portion, 342...regulating portion, 3C, 31C, 32C, 33C, 342C...projection portion, 3R, 31R, 32R, 33R, 342R...recess, 4...gas gasket, 4A... auxiliary gasket, 41... flow path defining portion, 42... annular portion, 43... connection portion, 45... main seal portion, 46... slip prevention portion, 5a, 5b... frame, 51... large diameter through hole, 52... small diameter through hole, 53, 54... notch portion, 6... guide portion, 61... guide bar, 62... support member, 7... fastening member, 71... bolt, 72... nut, 500... plate type heat exchanger, 501... heat transfer plate, 502... gasket, A... first fluid (fluid), B... second fluid (fluid), CL1, C L3... vertical center line, CL2, CL4... horizontal center line, R... flow path, Ra... first flow path (flow path), Rb... second flow path (flow path), Rc, Rc1, Rc2... first communication path (communication path), Rd, Rd1, Rd2... second communication path (communication path), Re... first leak detection flow path (leak detection flow path), Rf... second leak detection flow path (leak detection flow path), Rg... leakage space, Rg1... first leakage space (leak space), Rg2... second leakage space (leak space), S1... first surface, S2... second surface, T1... first region, T2... second region

Claims (4)

a plate stacking section including a plurality of heat transfer plates stacked in a predetermined direction and a plurality of gaskets sandwiched between two adjacent heat transfer plates of the plurality of heat transfer plates in the predetermined direction to form a flow path through which a fluid can flow between the heat transfer plates;
The plate stacking portion is
a flow path forming portion in which the flow paths are formed between the heat transfer plates;
a gasket sandwiching portion in which the gasket is sandwiched between the heat transfer plates and the gaskets sandwiched between the heat transfer plates are arranged in the predetermined direction, the gasket sandwiching portion surrounding the flow path forming portion;
and at least one wall portion formed by contacting opposing portions of two heat transfer plates sandwiching the gasket in the gasket sandwiching portion in the predetermined direction,
the at least one wall portion surrounds the flow path forming portion with a gap between it and the gasket sandwiching portion, at least on one of an inner side that is a flow path forming portion side with respect to the gasket sandwiching portion and an outer side that is an opposite side to the flow path forming portion side,
a gasket disposed adjacent to the at least one wall portion in a stacking direction of the heat transfer plates within the plate stacking portion . In the plate stacking portion, the heat transfer plates are stacked so as to be separable from each other,
The at least one wall portion is formed by abutting tops of protruding stripes that are protruding in a direction approaching each other on two heat transfer plates sandwiching the gasket,
In a cross section of at least one of the convex strips whose tops abut against each other,
The protrusion has a pair of inclined portions each extending from the apex and the distance between the inclined portions increases with increasing distance from the apex,
2. The plate heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the pair of inclined portions has a wave shape having at least one convex portion on one surface side and at least one convex portion on the other surface side of the heat transfer plate constituting the inclined portion. The plate stacking portion has an auxiliary gasket arranged on at least one side of the wall portion in the predetermined direction,
3. The plate heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary gasket presses the wall portion and the heat transfer plate adjacent to the wall portion in the predetermined direction in directions separating them from each other. the plate stacking portion has a plurality of wall portions on the outer side of the gasket sandwiching portion, the wall portions being arranged at positions corresponding to the respective gaskets sandwiched between the heat transfer plates in the gasket sandwiching portion,
Each heat transfer plate has a first hole portion and a second hole portion penetrating in the predetermined direction between a portion constituting the gasket holding portion and a portion constituting the wall portion,
In the plate stacking portion,
The plurality of heat transfer plates alternately form first flow paths through which a first fluid flows and second flow paths through which a second fluid flows in the predetermined direction via each heat transfer plate,
the first hole portions of the heat transfer plates are connected in the predetermined direction to form first leakage detection flow paths that respectively communicate with first leakage spaces defined between the gaskets of the gasket sandwiching portions of the two heat transfer plates that form the first flow path and the outer wall portions of the gaskets,
The plate-type heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second hole portions of the heat transfer plates are connected in the predetermined direction to form second leak detection flow paths that respectively communicate with each second leakage space defined between the gasket of the gasket sandwiching portion of the two heat transfer plates that form the second flow path and the outer wall portion of the gasket.