US5333683A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Indirect heat exchanger
Assignee: LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
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Filing: 1992-12-11
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Granted: 1994-08-02
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Expires: 2012-12-11
Abstract
Abstract Indirect heat exchanger, of the type comprising a series of parallel plates (7) delimiting between themselves passages (8A, 8B; 28, 42, 60) of generally plate form containing undulant spacers (9; 32, 34, 36, 37, 44, 47, 48, 53 to 56). A first assembly (8A; 28, 60) of these passages constitutes thermal exchange passages having structure (3 to 5; 39 to 41, 51) for inlet and outlet of fluids adapted to exchange heat with each other. Over at least a portion of its length and of its width, the exchanger has added passages (8B; 42), in reduced or no heat exchange relation with the thermal exchange passages (8A; 28, 60) and provided to fulfill at least one function in addition to the exchange of heat, namely a function of storing liquid and/or recirculation of liquid and/or liquid-vapor separation.
Inventors
- 👤 Pascal Arriulou
- 👤 Alain Grelaud
- 👤 Francois Venet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:22
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25J; F25J3/00; F25J3/02; F25J3/04; F25J3/04763; F25J3/04866; F25J3/04872; F25J3/04884; F25J3/04406; F25J3/04412; F25J3/04624; F25J5/00; F25J5/002; F25J5/005; F25J5/007; F28; F28D; F28D9/00; F28D9/0062; F28D9/0068; F28D9/0093; F28F; F28F3/00; F28F3/02; F28F3/025; F28F9/00; F28F9/02; F28F9/026; F28F9/0265; F28F9/0268; F25J2200/00; F25J2200/02; F25J2250/00; F25J2250/02; F25J2250/04; F25J2290/00; F25J2290/32; F28D21/00; F28D2021/0019; F28D2021/0033; F28F2250/00; F28F2250/10; F28F2250/108
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
An indirect heat exchanger comprising a series of parallel plates delimiting between themselves passages of generally flat form containing undulant spacers, a first series of said passages constituting thermal exchange passages, inlet/outlet means for inlet and outlet of fluids adapted to exchange heat with each other; and further comprising over at least a portion of its length and of its width, added passages in reduced or no heat exchange relation with the thermal exchange passages and fulfilling at least one fluid handling function within the heat exchanger.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
An indirect heat exchanger comprising a series of parallel plates delimiting between themselves passages of generally flat form containing undulant spacers, a first series of said passages constituting thermal exchange passages, inlet/outlet means for inlet and outlet of fluids adapted to exchange heat with each other; and further comprising over at least a portion of its length and of its width, added passages in reduced or no heat exchange relation with the thermal exchange passages and fulfilling at least one fluid handling function within the heat exchanger.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
Heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the added passages are thicker than the thermal exchange passages.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
Heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the added passages contain undulant members of greater pitch than those of the thermal exchange passages.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
Heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein all the added passages are adjacent to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
Heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the added passages are distinct from the thermal exchange passages and, like these latter, extend each over all the length and over all the width of the exchanger.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
Heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein at least certain passages of the exchanger constitute over a portion of the width of the latter a thermal exchange passage and over the rest of its width an added passage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
Heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein at least certain passages of the exchanger constitute over a portion of the length of the latter a thermal exchange passage and over the rest of its length an added passage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
112 words
An indirect heat exchanger comprising a series of parallel plates delimiting between themselves passages of generally flat form containing undulant spacers, a first series of said passages constituting thermal exchange passages, inlet/outlet means for inlet and outlet of fluids adapted to exchange heat with each other; wherein, over at least a portion of its length and of its width, said exchanger has added passages, in reduced or no heat exchange relation with the thermal exchange passages and fulfilling at least one function in addition to the exchange of heat, said added passages comprising liquid vapor separation passages which contain a packing for liquid/vapor separation disposed facing an inlet opening of two-phase liquid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
112 words
An indirect heat exchanger comprising a series of parallel plates delimiting between themselves passages of generally flat form containing undulant spacers, a first series of said passages constituting thermal exchange passages, inlet/outlet means for inlet and outlet of fluids adapted to exchange heat with each other; wherein, over at least a portion of its length and of its width, said exchanger has added passages, in reduced or no heat exchange relation with the thermal exchange passages and fulfilling at least one function in addition to the exchange of heat, said added passages comprising liquid vapor separation passages which contain a packing for liquid/vapor separation disposed facing an inlet opening of two-phase liquid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
Heat exchanger according to claim 8, wherein the packing is constituted by a "serrated" undulant member with oblique generatrices.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
Heat exchanger according to claim 8, wherein the liquid-vapor separation passages comprise at the upper end an opening for the outlet of vapor covered by an outlet box, said outlet box communicating with return passages for vapor to a different level of the exchanger.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-08-01 | 1998-01-31 | 1998-08-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-08-01 | 2002-01-31 | 2002-08-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-08-01 | 2006-01-31 | 2006-08-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |