Avco Corporation

Robert M Laughlin

Paul L Hoffman

John J Martin

A heat exchange apparatus having a plurality of plates through which heat is exchanged from a first gas to a second gas is provided with a plurality of plates having first and second opposing patterns. Each of the opposing patterns is provided with 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 along a first side of the first and second patterns between the first and second plates and the first gas flows in a generally sinusoidal path in a direction opposite the first direction along the other side of the first and second plates. The plurality of spacing ridges on the second pattern are disposed relative to the spacing ridges on the first pattern such that the spacing ridges on the second pattern lie along a line substantially in the middle of the surface strips of the first pattern, and vice versa. The first and second patterns are provided with sealing ridges in abutting relationship, the sealing ridges so disposed to provide an inlet and outlet for the second gas when the plates are mounted in the heat exchange apparatus.

Primary surface for compact heat exchangers

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.

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Kenmore, WA, United States of America

Robert M Laughlin