Avco Corporation

John J Martin

Paul L Hoffman

Robert M Laughlin

A heat exchange apparatus is provided with a plurality of plates formed and stacked so at to provide heat transfer through the plates from a first gas to a second gas. The plates are of substantially identical configuration and size, each of the plates formed with a central opening and an alternating arrangement of first and second surface patterns, ports being provided between the first and second surface patterns. The plates are stacked such that adjacent plates are rotated 180.degree. about a diametrical axis relative to each other and so as to place the ports and patterns in alignment, surface patterns of the first type from any of the plates being adjacent to surface patterns of the second type on a plate adjacent thereto to form a plurality of opposing pattern pairs. Each of the first and second patterns in each pattern pair have a plurality of sinusoidally varying surface strips and a plurality of spacing ridges between the surface strips whereby the second gas flows in a generally sinusoidal path in a first direction between the first and second plates and the first gas flows in a generally sinusoidal path in a direction opposite the second gas along the other sides of the first and second plates.

Primary surface for compact heat exchangers

Plates of identical configuration are formed of relatively thin material and are assembled in stacked construction pairs, with alternating patterns of different corrugations being provided between spaced openings in each plate. Alternate plates in each stack provide corrugation patterns with transverse relationship assuring turbulence-inciting structure in both primary and secondary flow passages. Pairs of plates are formed by assembling the identical plates in back-to-back relationship to form a construction pair, with the pairs of plates being secured together by sealing only two surfaces of substantially uniform thickness of plate. The construction of the stack of plates is accomplished without necessity for provision of tubular inlet and outlet channels extending through the stack structure. The plates, being of identical configuration and construction, reduce the number of hydroform punch and dies required, facilitate continuous flow production, minimize tooling die upkeep, and minimize production halts due to die temperature-dimension changes.

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Milford, CT, United States of America

John J Martin