Method for producing a series of at least a first and second heat exchangers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020132401-A1
Application number	US-201916601974-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 15, 2019
Priority date	Oct 24, 2018
Publication date	Apr 30, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

In a method for producing a series of at least a first and a second plate-fin heat exchangers, several elongate fluid distribution tanks are installed on the matrix unit, each tank capping just some of the openings assigned to the first fluid and to the second fluid, each tank having its axis in the direction of stacking and each being connected to a pipe so that the number of openings assigned to the first fluid differs from the number of openings assigned to the first fluid, and for preference, the number of openings assigned to the second fluid differs from the number of openings assigned to the second fluid for the at least first and second exchangers of the series.

First claim

1 . A method for producing a series of at least a first and a second heat exchanger, each exchanger comprising:
a. at least one heat exchange matrix unit which comprises a successive stack of separator sheets and of corrugated fins delimiting a plurality of passages suited to allowing at least a first fluid, a second fluid and a third fluid to flow through the matrix unit, so that the third fluid can heat or be heated by the first and second fluids, each plate having a length and a width, the stack having a direction of stacking perpendicular to the length and to the width of the sheets, b. the matrix unit comprising a predetermined number of openings which are each formed in a peripheral face of the matrix unit and which each communicate with one of the said associated passages, c. at least one elongate fluid distribution tank which caps at least some of the openings, and which is connected to a pipe, the axis of the tank being parallel to the direction of stacking and perpendicular to the width and to the length of the sheets, and d. the matrix unit or units of the first exchanger being substantially identical to that/those of the second exchanger, wherein the method comprises the step of adapting the exchangers of the series by installing several elongate fluid distribution tanks on the matrix unit, each tank capping just some of the openings assigned to the first fluid and to the second fluid, each tank having its axis in the direction of stacking and each being connected to a pipe so that the number of openings assigned to the first fluid differs from the number of openings assigned to the first fluid, and for preference, the number of openings assigned to the second fluid differs from the number of openings assigned to the second fluid for the at least first and second exchangers of the series.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one secondary distribution tank, which forms a compartment completely or partially covered by a main distribution tank, caps a number of openings that is delimited according to its size and is connected to a pipe for the passage of the associated fluid.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the openings are aligned and spaced uniformly on the said peripheral face of the exchanger.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein a main distribution tank covers all of the openings.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein one main distribution tank covers just some of the openings, and at least one other distribution tank covers another proportion, or even the rest, of the openings.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pipes which are connected to the said compartments and/or at least one manifold connecting various pipes of the various heat exchange bodies of a separation unit to one another, has/have a position in space that is identical regardless of the configuration of the tanks.

7 . A heat exchanger comprising at least one heat exchange matrix unit which comprises a successive stack of separator sheets and of corrugated fins delimiting a plurality of passages suited to allowing at least a first fluid, a second fluid and a third fluid to flow through the matrix unit, so that the third fluid can heat or be heated by the first and second fluids, each plate having a length and a width, the stack having a direction of stacking perpendicular to the length and to the width of the sheets,
a. the heat exchange matrix unit comprising a predetermined number of openings which are each formed in a peripheral face of the heat exchange matrix unit and which each communicate with one of the said associated passages, b. at least one elongated main fluid distribution tank which caps at least some of the openings and which is connected to a pipe, the axis of the main tank being parallel to the direction of stacking and perpendicular to the width and to the length of the sheets, c. at least one elongated secondary distribution tank, which forms a compartment completely or partially covered by the main distribution tank, which caps a number of openings that is delimited according to its size and is connected to a pipe for the passage of the associated fluid, the axis of the secondary tank being parallel to the direction of stacking and perpendicular to the width and to the length of the sheets.

8 . An air separation unit comprising at least one heat exchanger according to claim 7 .

Assignees

• Air Liquide

Inventors

• Chantant Nicolas
• Haik Natacha
• Machon Diez De Baldeon Daniel

Classifications

• F28F3/025

  the means being corrugated, plate-like elements · CPC title

• F28D9/0093

  Multi-circuit heat-exchangers, e.g. integrating different heat exchange sections in the same unit or heat-exchangers for more than two fluids · CPC title

• F28D9/0062 Primary

  the conduits for one heat-exchange medium being formed by spaced plates with inserted elements (F28D9/0012, F28D9/0025, F28D9/0081, F28D9/04 take precedence) · CPC title

• F28F25/02 Primary

  for distributing, circulating, and accumulating liquid (spraying or atomising in general B05B, B05D) · CPC title

• F28F9/027

  in the form of distribution pipes · CPC title