Plate-type heat exchanger and heat source apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11365940-B2
Application number	US-201916674020-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2019
Priority date	Nov 27, 2018
Publication date	Jun 21, 2022
Grant date	Jun 21, 2022

Abstract

The plate-type heat exchanger includes blocks stacked on each other, each of the blocks including a heat exchanger body configured to exchange heat between a first fluid and a second fluid. A connection passage for the first fluid is formed between blocks adjacent to each other of the plurality of blocks, the connection passage allowing the outlet of one of the blocks adjacent to each other and the inlet of the other of the blocks adjacent to each other to communicate with each other, the first fluid in the blocks adjacent to each other having different flow directions between the blocks adjacent to each other, and a second connection passage is provided between at least one pair of blocks adjacent to each other among the plurality of blocks, the second connection passage being configured to cause the first fluid to flow to a position different from the connection passage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heat source apparatus, comprising:
a plate-type heat exchanger, the plate-type heat exchanger comprising:
a plurality of blocks stacked on each other, each of the plurality of blocks including a heat exchanger body configured to exchange heat between a first fluid flowing inside the heat exchanger body and a second fluid flowing outside the heat exchanger body, wherein

the heat exchanger body comprises:
an internal space that allows the first fluid to flow in one direction in an extending direction by superimposing two heat exchange plates and joining outer peripheral edges, and
a plurality of through holes that penetrate the internal space in a noncommunication state and communicate with the external space to allow the second fluid to flow,

each block of the plurality blocks comprises:
exhaust holes formed by the plurality of through holes through which the second fluid flows,
an inlet configured to cause the first fluid to flow into the block, and
an outlet configured to cause the first fluid to flow out of the block,

a first connection passage for the first fluid is formed between blocks adjacent to each other of the plurality of blocks, wherein the first connection passage allowing the outlet of one block of the blocks adjacent to each other and the inlet of another block of the blocks adjacent to each other to communicate with each other, the first connection passage being configured such that first fluid flows from the outlet of the one block toward the inlet of the another block in a first flow direction, the one block being configured such that the first fluid flows from the inlet of the one block toward the outlet of the one block in a second flow direction, the another block being configured such that the first fluid flows from the inlet of the another block toward the outlet of the another block in a third flow direction, the second flow direction and the third flow direction are directions opposite to each other and are substantially orthogonal to the first flow direction, and
a second connection passage for the first fluid is provided between at least one pair of blocks adjacent to each other among the plurality of blocks, the second connection passage being configured to cause the first fluid to flow to a position different from the first connection passage,
the second fluid is configured to flow in a direction of the arrangement of the plurality of blocks,
the second connection passage being configured such that the first fluid flows in a direction in which the plurality of blocks are arranged, and flows in the direction parallel to the flow direction of the second fluid, and
the first fluid is water,
wherein a small hole is formed on the one block, a small hole is formed on the another block, and the second connection passage is formed by brazing the small hole of the one block to the small hole of the another block.

2. The heat source apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the first connection passage for the first fluid is formed between a first block of the plurality of blocks and a second block of the plurality of blocks, wherein the first block is adjacent to the second block, the first fluid flows from an outlet of the first block toward an inlet of the second block in a first direction, and the first block and the second block comprise a first pair of blocks, and
the second connection passage for the first fluid is provided between the first pair of blocks, the second connection passage being configured to cause the first fluid to flow in the first direction to a position different from the first connection passage,
a third connection passage is formed between a second pair of blocks comprising the second block and a third block of the plurality of blocks, wherein the first fluid flows from an outlet of the second block toward an inlet of the third block in the first direction, and wherein the second block is adjacent to the third block, and
a fourth connection passage for the first fluid is provided between the second pair of blocks, the fourth connection passage being configured to cause the first fluid to flow in the first direction to a position different from the third connection passage, wherein
the first fluid flows through the first block and the third block in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, and the first fluid flows through the second block in a third direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction and opposite to the second direction.

3. The heat source apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the second connection passage comprises a bypass hole provided at a position where the first fluid is stagnant.

4. The heat source apparatus of claim 2 , wherein
the fourth connection passage comprises a bypass hole provided at a position where the first fluid is stagnant.

5. The heat source apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the second connection passage comprises a drain hole that drains the first fluid from the second block into a first block of the plurality of blocks during a draining operation of the plate-type heat exchanger.

6. The heat source apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the one block is a lower block, the another block is an upper block, the small hole is formed on an upper surface of the one block, the small hole is formed on a lower surface of the another block, and the small hole of the one block is larger than the small hole of the another block.

7. The heat source apparatus of claim 6 , wherein
the small hole of the one block is approximately six millimeters, and the small hole of the another block is approximately four millimeters.

Assignees

• Rinnai Kk

Inventors

• Ojiro Takashi
• Ono Takahiro

Classifications

• F28D9/0037 Primary

  the conduits for the other heat-exchange medium also being formed by paired plates touching each other (F28D9/0043 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F28D9/0043

  the plates having openings therein for circulation of at least one heat-exchange medium from one conduit to another · CPC title

• F28D9/02

  the heat-exchange media travelling at an angle to one another (F28D9/04 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F28F3/086

  having one or more openings therein forming tubular heat-exchange passages · CPC title

• F28D9/005 Primary

  the plates having openings therein for both heat-exchange media · CPC title