HEAT EXCHANGER

摘要

A heat exchanger comprising a stack of thin metal discs (10 to 17) which are diffusion-bonded together. The discs (10 to 17) have patterns of orifices which cooperate with orifices in adjoining discs (10 to 17) to provide (a) passageways (30) for a first fluid to pass through the heat exchanger in a substantially longitudinal direction (33) and (b) passageways for a second fluid, such as a coolant, to pass through the heat exchanger along substantially transverse paths (23). An optional feature is the provision of a sequence of discs which enable further process fluids to be introduced transversely into the heat exchanger through slots (110) and through orifices (111, 112) in the walls of the passageways (30). The invention also has optional provision for the admission from a transverse direction into the longitudinally extending passageways of further or different first fluids.