HEAT EXCHANGER

摘要

PCT No. PCT/GB92/00332 Sec. 371 Date Aug. 4, 1993 Sec. 102(e) Date Aug. 4, 1993 PCT Filed Feb. 24, 1992 PCT Pub. No. WO92/15830 PCT Pub. Date Sep. 17, 1992.A plate-fin type of heat exchanger (100) facilitates exchange of heat between two or more process streams (101, 102). It comprises a matrix (M) of two different types of heat exchange plate elements (P1, P2) inter-digitated with each other. Adjacent plate elements are metallurgically bonded together for good thermal contact by an activated diffusion bonding process. The plate elements (P1, P2) are high-integrity diffusion bonded sandwich constructions comprising two outer sheets (201, 203 - FIG. 4 and a superplastically expanded core sheet structure (202) between the two outer sheets. The sandwich construction provides flow passages (P) for the process streams. Adjacent plate elements (P1, P2) carry different process streams (101, 102).