ITTO951024A1 - HEAT EXCHANGE AND / OR MATERIAL DEVICE. - Google Patents

Abstract

A heat and / or fluid exchanger for fluids is described comprising a plurality of flat plates (13; 13.B), one or more first type spacer means (22, 22.R; 22.B) and one or more means second type spacers (35, 35.R; 35.B) where the flat sheets define, together with the first type spacer means, one or more heat and / or material exchange chambers (48; 48.B) for the transit of one or more primary fluids, and also define, together with the second type spacer means, one or more heat exchange chambers (49) for the transit of one or more secondary heat transfer fluids. The exchange and / or matter chambers (48; 48.B), communicating with each other and with the outside through a plurality of primary passages (IL, UL, IV, UV) are intercalated with the heat exchange chambers (49), communicating with each other and with the outside through a plurality of secondary passages (IE, UE, IR, UR). The invention is characterized in that the second type spacer means (35, 35.R; 35.B) define, in the heat and / or material exchange chambers (49), one or more quarry zones (41, 46 ; 41.B, 46.B), in each of which one of said secondary fluids exchanges heat with the adjacent heat and / or matter exchange chambers (48; 48.B) through a limited portion of the surface of the flat sheets ( 13; 13.B).

Description

limited portion of the surface of the flat plates (13; 13. B).

DESCRIPTION

The present invention refers to a device for the exchange of heat and / or matter between substances in the liquid state, or in the vapor state, or in the gaseous state.

Rectification columns used to separate two or more substances, having different boiling temperatures at the same pressure, are known in chemical plant engineering. These rectification columns can be used for the definitive separation of certain substances, as in the case of oil refining, or for a cyclic separation of substances, as occurs for example in an absorption refrigeration plant, where the rectification column is designed to separate continuously two substances which, in another part of the refrigeration system, have been made to reabsorb each other. In Fig. 1 shows by way of example a rectification column of the so-called "perforated plates" type, used in the case of a cyclic separation of two substances.

In this figure, A indicates a first inlet, from which the substances to be separated from a steam generator enter the column in the form of a mixture of vapors; this mixture of vapors is obviously very rich in the most volatile substance, since the steam generator itself already partially acts as a still; B indicates a second inlet, from which a rich mixture (but less than that which enters A) of the more volatile substance enters the column in the liquid state; the liquid coming from B goes down through the plates, falling from one to the next, through the weirs indicated with T; in this fall, the liquid is crossed by vapor bubbles which pass through holes F made in the aforementioned plates; these holes are small enough to be crossed by the vapor but not by the liquid, so that each plate can be filled with liquid up to the level of the weir T.

The mixture of vapors entering from A, rising and coming into contact with the descending liquid mixture, is purified, in the sense that the less volatile substance condenses partially, while the more volatile substance in the liquid state, coming from B, partially vaporizes .

The result is that from the top of the column, from a first outlet indicated with L, vapor particularly rich in the most volatile substance will come out, while from a second outlet, indicated with P, a liquid particularly poor in the most volatile substance will come out from the bottom of the column. itself.

In the following of the present description, a "rich" mixture will always be understood as a mixture with a particularly high concentration of the most volatile substance and the opposite will be understood as a "lean" mixture.

The rectification process just described is substantially adiabatic; it can be improved if, at the top of the column, the vapor, before leaving L, is sufficiently cooled (for example by means of a coil), to condense and fall down a large part of the residues of the less volatile substance, while maintaining the temperature high enough to prevent most of the more volatile substance from condensing.

The degree of purity of the substance extracted by distillation theoretically depends only on the temperatures and pressures at which the process takes place; in practice, however, the efficiency of the operation also depends on the time and on the contact surface between the liquid phase and the vapor.

Another, less common, method of separation of substances is the one called "gravitational films"; in this case, in place of the perforated plates, walls are provided, on which the mixture to be distilled flows downwards, by gravity, distributed from above. The mixture must wet the wall and distribute itself in a thin film: in this case, the contact area between the liquid and vapor phases (where the exchange of matter takes place) is made up of the surface of the film rather than the surface of the bubbles, as in the case of column with perforated plates.

The gravitational film device is constructively much simpler than the perforated plate column, with respect to which it also requires less volume of the mixture to be purified and the rising steam must not overcome the pressure drop of the holes in the plates and of the layers of liquid to pass through. .

Grinding columns with hollow plates are very efficient, since the dispersion of vapor bubbles in the liquid phase produces a very high contact surface between the two phases but, in particular if intended for low-power absorption refrigeration systems (such as for example domestic chillers or heat pumps), have the following disadvantages:

- the construction is complicated and cannot be automated;

- the steam that, through the perforated plates, gurgles in each layer of liquid, produces a lot of foam, which must dissolve before the steam reaches the next plate (otherwise the rectification column loses its efficiency); this places limits on the proximity between the plates and therefore on the minimum height of the column, while the containment of the overall dimensions in height is very important in all non-industrial applications;

- the diameter of the column remains excessive compared to the acceptable dimensions for a low-power machine for non-industrial use;

- considering the high operating pressures, the volume of the device is excessive compared to the possibility of exemption from the application of particular safety standards, in force for tanks containing overheated liquids under pressure;

- the insertion of heat exchange coils, to produce the partial boiling or condensation of the substances, in order to improve the rectification process, is laborious;

- emptying the column, especially in small plants of non-industrial use to eliminate toxic substances before carrying out repairs, is impossible because the liquid cannot be drained through the holes, made in the dishes, which are intentionally too small. The gravitational film distillation technique, on the other hand, has the following disadvantages:

- large surfaces must be created on which the gravitational film can slide and at the same time heat exchangers must be inserted for heating or cooling the mixture to be distilled: this is excessively laborious, if reasonably compact devices are desired;

- the gravitational film must be prevented from breaking, collecting in streams that would offer an insufficient liquid-vapor contact surface; this requires that the surface be non-repellent, but wettable by the liquid to be distilled and that the falling film does not accelerate too fast (which in fact causes the film to break in streams); in this regard there are no known techniques for guaranteeing the formation of the film which are generally effective for any pressure, temperature and chemical nature of the mixture to be distilled.

Plate heat exchangers are also known; in their most widespread and consolidated version, these exchangers are made up of metal plates, packed together in such a way as to define a certain number of parallel chambers.

Two fluids, which can be called primary and secondary, are made to pass through these chambers, between which a heat exchange takes place; if the primary fluid flows in the chambers of an even number, the secondary fluid flows in those of an odd number, so that in each chamber one of the two fluids can exchange heat with the other through both plates that delimit the chamber itself. Suitably shaped gaskets confine each of the two fluids in their respective chambers and act as a spacer between one flat plate and the next.

Some of the aforementioned plates have holes in suitable positions, generally at the corners, through which the fluids that must be distributed in the chambers pass; the presence or absence of passage holes in at least some of the plates allows, according to known techniques, to arrange all the chambers crossed by the same fluid in parallel with each other, or to create paths consisting of packages of parallel chambers, but arranged in series with each other .

The plates through which the heat exchange takes place generally have a corrugated surface, since a series of parallel channels arranged in a herringbone pattern is formed on it by drawing; the slabs are assembled together, placing a straight one, an inverted one, and so on, so that the aforementioned channels of one slab are crossed with respect to those of the next slab; the presence of these channels improves the heat exchange, both because it increases the effective exchange surface, and above all because it increases the turbulence of the fluids, which are forced to follow a sinuous path between the channels.

A further purpose of the aforementioned channels is to allow contact between two successive plates, in small, closely spaced and regularly distributed areas, so that any pressure differences, even significant ones, between the two fluids can be supported by the plates without deformation; all the efforts are thus discharged onto two end plates, closing the packet of plates, tightened by tie rods.

Plate heat exchangers are also known in which the aforementioned plates constituting the chambers are smooth; in these exchangers metal meshes are provided which substantially fill the chamber, without thereby preventing the fluids from flowing through the intertwining of the meshes of the mesh, so as to allow both the necessary turbulence and the mechanical and thermal contact between a plate flat and the next; for the rest, these exchangers do not differ substantially from the previous ones.

Finally, heat exchangers are known in which, by flaring the edges of each flat sheet by deep drawing, it is not necessary to use gaskets, since the seal can in this case be guaranteed by brazing, after having inserted each flat sheet with flared edges into the next.

Among the main advantages of plate heat exchangers is the possibility of creating very large exchange surfaces, albeit with very small dimensions, and the extreme simplicity with which it is possible to obtain series-parallel paths of various types, even very complex, simply alternating in the composition of the exchanger a few types of plates according to a suitable sequence.

Plate heat exchangers of the type using rubber gaskets have drawbacks, such as the difficulty of assembly in a totally automatic way and insufficient reliability in the case of use with toxic or corrosive liquids, especially if at high pressure. However, the welded versions also have limitations, since the coupling between the flared edges of the sheets is usually not sufficiently precise to allow the use of brazing alloys which guarantee the highest mechanical and chemical resistance; the latter in fact require particularly precise couplings between the pieces to be joined; therefore important uses such as ammonia refrigeration systems (both absorption and mechanical compression), are practically precluded to plate heat exchangers.

In general, the object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of known types of devices and to indicate a device for the exchange of heat and / or matter which is efficient, simple and compact to manufacture, low cost and of use. particularly versatile.

In this context, a first object of the present invention is to indicate a device for the exchange of heat and / or matter which can be made by means of modular, substantially flat elements, obtainable with simple mechanical processes.

A second object of the invention is to indicate a device for the exchange of heat and / or matter that can be obtained with a minimum assortment of said modular elements, used repetitively and in different quantities depending on the case, so that its modularity automatic is extremely simple.

a third object of the invention is to indicate a device for the exchange of heat and / or matter which is compact and of reduced dimensions, with the same capacity, compared to known devices. A fourth object of the invention is to indicate a device for the exchange of material in which it is easy to incorporate, in suitable areas, heat exchangers for the administration or subtraction of heat, or for both said heat exchanges, without for this making the automatic assembly technique more complex and always making use only of a minimum assortment of substantially flat elements, used repetitively and in different quantities depending on the desired heat exchange areas and capacities.

A fifth object of the invention is to indicate a compact device for the heat exchange between a primary fluid and two or more secondary fluids or between two or more primary fluids and a secondary fluid.

A sixth object of the invention is to indicate a compact device for indirect heat exchange between a primary fluid and a secondary fluid through an intermediate fluid.

purpose of the invention is to introduce a new modular element for fluid exchangers, which can be used both for the construction of material exchangers and for the construction of heat exchangers between more than two fluids.

These objects are achieved according to the present invention through a device for the exchange of heat and / or matter incorporating the characteristics of the attached claims, which form an integral part of the present description.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the detailed description that follows and from the attached drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, which illustrate:

- Fig. 1 represents a grinding column with perforated plates according to the known art;

- Figs. 2 to 9 show components and assemblies suitable for constructing a "perforated plate" heat exchanger, useful for an advantageous application of the invention;

- Figs. 10 to 20 represent components and assemblies of a device for the exchange of heat and / or compact matter according to the present invention.

In the aforementioned figures, where the parts which do not concern the description of the invention have been omitted, all the elements are shown in a vertical position.

The elements depicted in Fig. 1 which, as already mentioned illustrates a rectification column according to the known art, have already been defined and illustrated in the presentation of the current state of the art.

Fig. 2 shows a generic flat plate for separating two successive chambers of a plate exchanger; this plate, indicated as a whole with 1, has:

- a first passage, indicated by IP, delimited by a passage hole 2, for the transit of a primary fluid to be distributed in the chambers forming part of a primary circuit of the exchanger,

- a second passage, indicated by US, delimited by a passage hole 3, for the transit of a secondary fluid to be collected from the chambers forming part of a secondary circuit of the exchanger,

- a third passage, indicated by UP, delimited by a passage hole 4, for the transit of the aforementioned primary fluid to be collected from the chambers forming part of the primary circuit of the exchanger,

- a fourth passage, indicated by IS, delimited by a passage hole 5, for the transit of the aforementioned secondary fluid to be distributed in the chambers forming part of the secondary circuit of the exchanger.

In Fig. 3 a generic perforated flat plate is shown, having the function of spacing and supporting the plates of Fig. 2, as well as distributing and providing turbulence of the fluids.

As can be seen, this perforated plate, indicated with 6, has the same passages already defined in Fig. 2, marked with the same references IP, US, UP and IS, delimited respectively by passage holes 7, 8, 9 and 10. The plate 6 also has an array of through holes, indicated with 11, arranged in a regular manner substantially over its entire surface; the array of through holes 11 is suitably interrupted near the through holes 7 and 9, while it intersects the through holes 8 and 10.

In Fig. 4, 6.R indicates a perforated flat plate identical to that of Fig. 3, but rotated in a circular direction by 180 °; the references IP, US, UP and IS identify the same passages as already defined with reference to Fig. 2, which are however now delimited, due to the rotation of the plate, respectively by the passage holes 9, 10, 7 and 8; the aforementioned row of through holes 11 is also visible.

Fig. 5 shows, in axonometry, the packing criterion of the plates of Figs. 2, 3 and 4, in order to realize a generic portion of a plate exchanger. In this Fig. 5, the perforated flat plate 6 of Fig. 3, the perforated flat plate 6.R of Fig. 4 and the separating flat plate 1 of Fig. 2 are shown.

In Fig. 6 a generic portion of a heat exchanger using flat plates of the type illustrated in Figs is shown frontally. 3 and 4; as can be seen, a perforated flat plate 6 is superimposed on a perforated flat plate 6.R so that the arrays of crossing holes 11, relative to both said plates 6 and 6.R, can define crossing paths, some of which they are indicated with 12; in the specific case of Fig. 6, the crossing paths 12 relate to a fluid coming from the passage IS and directed to the passage US.

In Fig. 7 some of the innumerable paths 12 are shown in greater detail, defined by the crossing holes 11 of the perforated flat plates 6 and 6.R, superimposed on each other; in this Fig. 7, 11.A indicates one of the contact areas between the flat perforated plates 6 and 6.R, while 1B indicates one of the crossing openings, which are obtained by virtue of the staggered position of the arrays of through holes 11 made on the flat perforated slabs 6 and 6.R.

In order to obtain a heat and / or material exchanger according to the invention, the plates illustrated above are then packed together so as to define a certain number of parallel chambers.

For this purpose, Fig. 8 shows laterally, in a generic section A - A of Fig. 6, the sequence of chambers obtainable from the alternating composition of a flat separation plate 1 of Fig. 2, of a perforated flat plate 6 of Fig. 3, of a perforated flat plate 6.R of Fig. 4, of a further separation flat plate 1, and so on. The figure also shows the arrays of through holes 11 and the crossing openings 1 l.B.

Fig. 9 is similar to Fig. 8, but in this case the first and third chamber (from the left) are each made by means of two perforated plates 6 and two perforated plates 6.R; Fig. 9 therefore clarifies how each chamber can actually be constituted by an unspecified number of plates, even different from chamber to chamber.

As mentioned, before describing the construction and operation of the compact distillation and rectification device according to the invention, for reasons of simplicity of presentation it is considered useful to examine the operation of a "perforated plate" heat exchanger made according to the illustrated technique in Figs. 2 to 9, the application of which is particularly advantageous for the purposes of the present invention.

As said, the perforated flat plate 6.R of Fig. 4 is, in practice, constituted by the perforated flat plate 6 of Fig. 3 rotated in a circular direction by 180 °; by making the row of through holes 11 in said flat perforated plate 6, in a suitable non-symmetrical position with respect to the center of the plate itself, and then overlapping the perforated plates 6 and 6R so as to make the axes of the holes delimiting the passages coincide IP, US, UP and IS, said arrays of through holes 11 overlap staggered with each other, as evident in Fig. 6, so as to create the crossing openings 11.B shown in Fig. 7. Between the two plates 6 and 6.R, however, large contact areas remain 11. A; by virtue of the presence of said contact areas 11. A, both peripheral and internal to the arrays of crossing holes 11, the plates 6 and 6.R can be solidly joined by gluing, brazing or other known techniques, to obtain a structure mechanically resistant and thermally conductive.

The assembly process can be continued indefinitely, as schematized in Fig. 5, alternating flat perforated plates 6 and 6.R and placing at the beginning and at the end of the package consisting of said perforated flat plates 6 and 6.R two flat plates of separation 1 of Fig. 2; in this way it is possible to obtain chambers in which, as shown in Fig. 6, a fluid (for example the secondary fluid), can freely circulate from the passage IS to the passage US, according to the innumerable crossing paths 12. This fluid does not however, it can in no way escape outside, nor mix with the primary fluid passing through the IP and UP passages.

If the chamber whose composition has just been described is alternated with another in which the perforated flat sheets 6 and 6.R are arranged overturned by 180 °, indifferently with respect to the horizontal or vertical axis (thus obtaining a specular figure with respect to that of Fig. 6), then in this further chamber it will be the primary fluid that can freely circulate from the IP passage to the UP passage, without being able in any way to escape outside or mix with the secondary fluid passing through the IS and US passages.

The generic flat separation plate 1 shown in Fig. 2 can also be considered as the outermost plate of a heat exchanger; in this case, nozzles can be fixed in correspondence with the passage holes 2, 3, 4 and 5 (for example identical to the nozzles indicated with 51 in Fig. 19); through these nozzles, a primary fluid can be introduced into the exchanger through the IP passage and extracted through the UP passage; similarly, a secondary fluid can be introduced through the passage IS and withdrawn through the passage US.

It can be seen from Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 6 that said passages IP, UP, IS and US continue through all plates 1, 6 and 6.R without for this reason that the aforementioned primary and secondary fluids, as already demonstrated, can come into material contact between They; on the contrary, through the flat separation plates 1, a thermal contact is obtained between the fluids flowing in parallel and in countercurrent; moreover, as can be understood, more complex circuits consisting of groups of chambers arranged in parallel with each other and in series with respect to other groups of chambers can be obtained easily, with known expedients.

The perforated flat plates 6 and 6.R can be of any thickness, even very thin, since there are only practical limits to the external dimensions of the device and to the thickness of the perforated flat plates themselves, as well as to the quantity of said plates in a single cavity.

The flat separation plates 1 must have an adequate thickness to withstand the pressure differences that may exist between the two fluids between which the heat exchange takes place, and between these and the external environment.

As highlighted in Figs. 8 and 9, it is possible to obtain chambers composed of a variable number of perforated flat plates 6 and 6.R, since the transmission of heat between the two fluids is ensured by the fact that all the flat perforated plates 6 and 6.R arranged in the same chamber they have thermal bridges formed by the contact areas 11. A.

Finally, it should be noted that it is not at all necessary that the perforated flat plates 6.R be obtainable only by rotation of 180 ° from the perforated flat plates 6; this is in fact a considerable production advantage, but for the purposes of the operation of the exchanger, the plate 6.R could be suitably different (for example by design of the row of through holes 11 and / or by the thickness) from the flat perforated plate 6. Furthermore, for fluid-thermodynamic reasons, it is generally appropriate that the arrays of through holes 11 are designed according to the type of fluid that passes through them: therefore, in general, in the same exchanger the chambers in which the primary fluid flows could be made up of flat perforated plates 6 and 6.R different, according to the design of the array of through holes 11, thickness and quantity, from the corresponding perforated plates 6 and 6.R relating to the secondary fluid. It may also be appropriate for the array of through holes 11 to be suitably constituted, for thermo-fluid dynamics reasons, by holes having a different shape and distributed unevenly.

The only conditions required are that, by superimposing a perforated flat plate 6 on a perforated flat plate 6.R, the already said crossing openings 11.B and the already said contact areas 11.A.

The device according to the invention is basically obtained by alternating flat separation plates with spacer means of a first type and a second type, so as to obtain chambers of two different types intercalated with each other.

In particular, as will be seen better below, the heat and / or material exchange device according to the invention consists of material and / or heat exchange chambers, each comprising a single cavity for containing the fluids involved in the thermo-fluid dynamic process. in question (for example, liquid to be distilled and steam to be rectified), intercalated with heat exchange chambers, each divided into one or more independent cavities, or topologically and thermally isolated from each other, for the containment of one or more heat transfer fluids, which independently carry out a heat exchange with the fluids confined in the said material and / or heat exchange chambers, through limited areas of the flat plates in common with the chambers of the two different types.

The compact device for the exchange of heat and / or matter according to the present invention will now be described with reference to Figs. 10 to 20 and in relation to a distillation and rectification device; however, it is clear, as will become apparent in the following, that the inventive idea is also applicable to other devices for the exchange of heat and / or matter.

Fig. 10 shows a generic flat end or separation plate, indicated with 13, of the compact distillation and rectification device according to the invention; this plate 13 has: - a passage IL, delimited by a hole 14, for the transit of a rich liquid mixture to be distilled, to be distributed in cavities which form distillation chambers;

- an IR passage, delimited by a hole 15, for the transit of a refrigerant fluid to be distributed in cavities for a refrigerant fluid, included in heat exchange chambers - a UV passage, delimited by a hole 16, for the transit of a distilled steam, to be collected from the aforementioned cavities of the distillation chambers,

- a passage UR, delimited by a hole 17, for the transit of the aforementioned refrigerant fluid, to be collected from the cavities of the refrigerant fluid,

- a passage IV, delimited by a hole 18, for the transit of a very rich mixture in the state of vapor to be rectified, to be distributed in the cavities of the distillation chambers,

a passage UE, delimited by a hole 19, for the transit of a heating fluid, to be collected from the cavities for a heating fluid, also included in the aforementioned heat exchange chambers,

- a passage UL, delimited by a hole 20, for the transit of a lean liquid mixture, to be collected from the cavities of the distillation chambers,

- a passage E, delimited by a hole 21, for the transit of the aforementioned heating fluid, to be distributed in the cavities of the heating fluid.

These passages, since they allow the distribution of fluids only in the distillation chambers ("primary" chambers) or in the heat exchange chambers ("secondary" chambers), can functionally be divided into primary passages (IL, IV, UL, UV) and passages secondary (IR, E, UE, UR)

Figs. 11 and 12 show flat perforated plates 22 and 22. R, hereinafter referred to as the "rectification side", to be used for forming the chambers in which a mixture to be distilled flows; as will be seen, by packing two or more flat plates 22 and 22. R "rectification side", the distillation and rectification chambers are obtained in which the mixture to be distilled and / or rectified circulates, as will become apparent in the following of this description.

The plate 22 of Fig. 11 shows, indicated with the same letters E, IR, UV, UR, IV, UE, UL and IE, the same passages already highlighted in Fig. 10, respectively delimited by passage holes 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30; an array of through holes 31 are also visible, arranged in a regular manner substantially over the entire surface of the plate 22; the row of through holes 31 is suitably interrupted near the through holes 24, 26, 28 and 30, while it intersects the through holes 23, 25, 27 and 29 (in particular, of the row of through holes 31, they are the holes 31. A and 31. B, intersecting the passage hole 23) are highlighted; finally, 32 indicates a boiling area of the mixture to be distilled, an adiabatic rectification area 33 and a rectification area 34 with refrigeration; the reason for this denomination will become clear later.

In Fig. 12, with 22.R, a perforated flat plate "grinding side" is shown identical to that indicated with 22 in Fig. 11, which however has undergone a rotation of 180 ° with respect to the latter; the letters IL, IR, UV, UR, IV, UE, UL and IE identify the same passages already defined in Fig. 10, which are now delimited, due to the rotation of the plate, respectively by the passage holes 27, 28, 29, 30, 23, 24, 25 and 26; also indicated is the array of through holes 31 (of which in particular the holes 31.C and 31.D, intersecting the passage hole 27, are highlighted), as well as the aforementioned boiling zones 32, of adiabatic rectification 33 and grinding with refrigeration 34.

Figs. 13 and 14 show flat perforated plates "exchanger side", indicated with 35 and 35. R, to be used for making the chambers in which the heating or cooling fluids flow for the mixture to be distilled; as will be seen, the perforated plates "exchanger side" 35 and 35. R are the elements suitable to constitute, by packing, of two or more specimens, the heat exchange cavities in which the fluids intended to cause the partial boiling of the liquid mixture circulate to be distilled or the partial condensation of the vapor of the mixture to be rectified.

The perforated flat plate 35 "exchanger side" of Fig. 13 has, indicated with the same letters IL, IR, UV, UR, IV, UE, UL and IE, the same passages already defined in Fig. 10, respectively delimited by holes passing 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 and 43; furthermore, at the positions of the boiling zones 32, adiabatic rectification 33 and rectification with refrigeration 34 identified in Figs. 11 and 12, three rows of holes are indicated, namely:

- a heating fluid crossing array, indicated by 44 (suitably interrupted near the passage holes 40 and 42, while it intersects the passage holes 41 and 43),

- a neutral array, indicated by 45 (not intersecting any of the passage holes, but connected to the outside through vent openings 47),

- a cooling fluid crossing array 46 (suitably interrupted near the passage holes 36 and 38, while it intersects the passage holes 37 and 39).

In Fig. 14, with 35. R, a perforated flat plate is shown identical to that indicated with 35 in Fig. 13, but rotated by 180 ° with respect to this; the letters IL, IR, UV, UR, IV, UE, UL and IE identify the same passages already defined in Fig. 10, which in this case are delimited, due to the rotation of the plate, respectively by the passage holes 40, 41 , 42, 43, 36, 37, 38 and 39; the figure also indicates the same rows of holes, already identified in Fig. 13, as well as the vent openings 47.

Fig. 15 shows, in axonometry, the packing criterion of the plates of Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, to make a generic portion of the distillation and rectification device, comprising the cavity in which the mixture to be distilled circulates and the cavity in which the heating or cooling fluids of said mixture circulate.

In this Fig. 15, a perforated flat plate "grinding side" 22, a perforated flat plate "grinding side" 22.R, a flat separation plate 13, a perforated flat plate "exchanger side" 35, a flat plate are shown perforated "exchanger side" 35. R and again a flat separation plate 13; the usual passages IL, IR, UV, UR, IV, UE, UL and IE are also indicated, in the same position for each of said plates.

In Fig. 16 a generic portion of the distillation and rectification device made according to the invention is shown frontally; it can be seen a perforated flat plate "grinding side" 22 superimposed on a perforated flat plate "grinding side" 22.R, as well as the boiling zones 32, adiabatic grinding 33 and grinding with refrigeration 34; the passages EL, IR, UV, UR, IV, UE, UL and IE are also indicated, having omitted to mark the other elements whose identification is now clear.

Fig. 17 shows a "exchanger side" perforated flat plate 35 of Fig. 13, superimposed on a "exchanger side" perforated flat plate 35. R of Fig. 14; they are also highlighted

- the array of heating fluid passage holes 44, which is in a position corresponding to the aforementioned boiling zones 32 of FiG. 16,

- the neutral hole array 45, which is in a position corresponding to the adiabatic rectification zones 33 of FiG. 16,

- the array of cooling fluid passage holes 46, which is in a position corresponding to the rectification areas with cooling 34 of FiG. 16,

- the vent openings 47,

- the passages IL, IR, UV, UR, IV, UH, UL and IE.

Fig. 18 shows, according to a section made along the axis A - A of Fig. 16, a chamber provided for the circulation of the fluid to be distilled and another chamber provided for the circulation of the heating or cooling fluids; Fig. 18. A represents an enlarged detail of Fig. 18.

These figures therefore show a possible sequence of perforated plates "grinding side" 22 and 22.R, constituting a distillation and rectification chamber 48, and a possible sequence of perforated plates "exchanger side" 35 and 35. R, constituting a heat exchange chamber 49; between the two aforementioned sequences there is a flat separation plate 13, between the distillation chamber 48 and the heat exchange chamber 49.

Fig. 18 also indicates, in the distillation chamber 48, the boiling zone 32 of the mixture to be distilled, the adiabatic rectification zone 33, the rectification zone with refrigeration 34; in the heat exchange chamber 49, on the other hand, the array of heating fluid passage holes 44, the array of neutral holes 45 and the array of cooling fluid passage holes 46 are indicated.

Fig. 19 shows in axonometry a possible embodiment of a compact distillation and rectification device, indicated with 50, according to the present invention.

This device 50 comprises an unspecified number of distillation chambers, intercalated with an equal number of heat exchange chambers, separated as previously described by separation plates; Fig. 19 also shows the several times cited passages IL, IR, UV, UR, IV, UH, UL and IE, delimited by nozzles 51; the arrows 52 indicate the direction of the flows entering or exiting the aforementioned nozzles 51.

Fig. 20, similar to Fig. 15, shows in axonometry, the packing criterion of a generic portion of a compact distillation and rectification device made according to the invention, which uses components that do not have the aforementioned holes. crossing; as will be seen, the function of these holes, and of the relative arrays, is achieved through the appropriate shaping of spacer means, for example in the form of gaskets or frames. In Fig. 20, 22. B indicates a "grinding side" spacer means, substantially in the shape of a frame, which fulfills the functions of the plates 22 and 22.R of the previous figures; as can be seen, in the "grinding side" spacer means 22.B there are through holes for making the secondary passages IR, IE, UE and UR; the same spacer means 22.B has some appendages, indicated with 31. k, which surround the passages IL and IV for about 180 °: these appendages 31. k have the same function that can be obtained from the appropriate position of the holes 31. A, 31. B, 31.C and 31.D indicated in Figs. 11 and 12.

Again in Fig. 20, 13B indicates two separation plates, similar to those previously described, while 35. B indicates an "exchanger side" spacer means; also the "exchanger side" spacer means 35. B is substantially in the form of a frame, and fulfills the functions of the plates 35 and 35. R of the previous figures; as can be seen, in the spacer means 35. B there are through holes which form the passages IL, IR, UV, UR, IV, UE, UL and IE; it is also noted how the intermediate part of the frame which constitutes the spacer means 35. B is solid. Two successive separation plates 13.B, interposed with a "rectification side" spacer means 22. B, delimit a distillation chamber, indicated with 48. B, which consists of a single cavity, but which can be functionally divided into three zones, respectively called boiling zone 32.B, adiabatic rectification zone 33.B and rectification zone with refrigeration 34. B. Two successive separation plates 13.B, with a half spacer "interposed on the exchanger side 35. B instead a heating fluid transit cavity 44. B, a neutral zone 45. B and a refrigerant fluid transit cavity 46.B.

The operating modes and the advantages of the heat and / or compact material exchange device according to the invention are now described in detail (whether it is made with the aid of the plates 22, 22. R - 35, 35.R , both with the aid of the frames 22.B - 35. B), illustrating some preferred but not exclusive embodiments and limiting themselves to the case of the separation of two rather than more substances from a single liquid mixture, in the case of a distillation device and rectification.

The "grinding side" perforated flat plates 22 and 22. R of Figs. 11 and 12 are, as mentioned, the elements suitable for constituting, by packing two or more specimens, the distillation and rectification chambers 48 of Fig. 18, in which the mixture to be distilled and / or rectified circulates; the perforated plates "exchanger side" 35 and 35. R of Figs. 13 and 14, on the other hand, are the elements suitable for forming, by packing two or more specimens, the heat exchange chambers 49 of Fig. 18, in which the fluids intended to cause the partial boiling of the liquid mixture to be distilled and / or the partial condensation of the vapor of the mixture to be rectified, or in which both said fluids circulate, without them being able to come into thermal or material contact with each other.

The distillation and rectification chambers 48 and heat exchange 49 are separated by the flat separation plates 13 of Fig. 10; the first or last, or both of the flat separation plates 13 can be provided with the nozzles 51 of Fig. 19.

Some embodiments of the device according to the invention and other devices obtainable using the same inventive concept will now be illustrated. Each device, unless otherwise specified, consists of an indeterminate quantity of distillation and rectification cavities 48 intercalated with heat exchange cavities 49, in the manner described above.

COMPLETE DISTILLATION AND GRINDING DEVICE

In all the distillation and rectification chambers 48, shown frontally in Fig. 16, through the passage IL enters a rich liquid mixture to be distilled, through the UV passage the distilled vapor exits, through the passage UL the lean liquid mixture comes out; in this distillation and rectification process the passage IV is therefore not used and therefore said passage is closed with respect to the outside, for example in correspondence with the relative mouthpiece 51 of Fig. 19. At the same time, in all the heat exchange chambers 49, shown frontally in Fig. 17, a refrigerant fluid enters the passage IR and exits the passage UR, while a heating fluid enters the passage IE and exits the passage UE.

The device is divided, from bottom to top, into the following three areas:

I - Boiling and distillation zone.

In the boiling zone 32 of Fig. 16 the boiling and partial vaporization of the liquid mixture coming from II takes place, by the heating fluid circulating in the array of heating fluid crossing holes 44 of Fig. 17; as a consequence of this, the liquid residue depleted of the more volatile substance leaves the passage UL, while the vaporized part rises in the adiabatic rectification zone 33 to meet, in counter-current, the rich liquid mixture that enters from passage IL. It should be noted that the liquid mixture coming from IL drips by gravity alone through a very bumpy path, created by the series of crossing gates (II.B, Fig. 8) interrupted by the contact areas (11.A, Fig. 7) and moreover hindered by the steam generated by boiling; therefore, by suitably designing the "grinding side" perforated flat plates 22 and 22.R, the descent can be sufficiently slow to allow a sufficiently depleted mixture to reach the passage UL.

II - Adiabatic rectification area.

The distillation and rectification chambers 48 can be constructed of sufficient width and with a sufficient number of flat "rectification side" perforated plates 22 and 22. R, so that the liquid mixture coming from the passage IL cannot flood said chambers, but must sliding along the surfaces of the already said "grinding side" perforated flat plates 22 and 22. R; the possible tendency of said rich liquid mixture to collect in rivulets, instead of wetting said surfaces, is continually opposed by the fact that said mixture which descends is continually forced to change path in correspondence with the contact areas 11. A and the crossing openings l l.B; in this way a rectification is obtained according to the principle of gravitational films, avoiding however the drawbacks of the known art.

Alternatively, if this is considered advantageous for the specific process of use, there is nothing to prevent the arrays of through holes 31 of the "grinding side" perforated flat plates 22 and 22. R from having holes in this area small enough to slow down the descent of the liquid mixture, forcing the vapor to bubble through it.

Therefore, in the adiabatic rectification zone 33 of Fig. 16 the liquid which descends is preheated at the expense of the steam which rises; in this way the equilibrium concentrations of the substances in the mixtures are shifted: therefore, the liquid mixture, when heated, will release part of the more volatile substance to the vapor, while the vapor, cooling down, will release part of the less volatile substance to the liquid; the process is therefore "adiabatic" in the sense that there are heat exchanges between the liquid and vapor phases, but not with fluids outside the distillation and rectification chambers 48.

In correspondence with the adiabatic rectification areas 33, the heat exchange chambers 49 have arrays of neutral holes 45, not traversed by any fluid, the purpose of which is to ensure structural continuity of the whole device; said arrays of neutral holes 45 are connected to the outside by means of vent openings 47, which are suitable to avoid pressure increases or to dispose of gases which may be produced during the brazing phase of the device.

III - Rectification area with refrigeration.

When the steam has passed the passage IL, it enters the rectification zone with refrigeration 34, where a further cooling of the steam takes place by a colder fluid circulating in the heat exchange chambers 49; by virtue of this latter cooling of the vapor, an almost total condensation of the less volatile residues, still present in the vapor, occurs, while the more volatile substance, practically pure, leaves the UV passage; the purification process is facilitated by the fact that, also in this rectification zone with refrigeration 34, the condensate which descends is forced into intimate contact with the rising steam, for the same reasons valid for the adiabatic rectification zone 33; moreover, the accidents of the path capture any condensate droplets carried by the steam.

It has been noted that the distillation and rectification chambers 48 must be sufficiently large not to be flooded by the rich liquid mixture coming from the passage IL; taking this need into account, if the passage IL were intersected by the array of through holes 31 both in the upper part of its perimeter and in the lower part, it would be possible that all the rich liquid mixture coming from the outside of the distillation and rectification device it was drained by the first distillation and rectification chambers 48 encountered, flooding them, while the following ones would not be fed; for this reason, and with reference to Figs.

11, 12 and 16, it is advisable that the array of through holes 31 intersect the passage IL only in correspondence with the holes 3 l.A, 31.B, 31.C and 31.D, which are all placed in correspondence with the upper half of the perimeter of the passage IL; in this way the rich liquid mixture distributed by the passage IL, before going down into the distillation and rectification chamber 48, must flood the lower half of the aforementioned passage IL and therefore overflow along the entire length of said passage IL, without being able to preferentially feed the first 48 distillation and rectification chambers encountered.

It has also been said that in the distillation and rectification process just discussed, step IV is not used; in reality it can be used in particular cases, in which the process, in addition to requiring relatively cold and extremely pure steam of the most volatile substance, also requires hotter and more easily condensable steam at low pressure, or in any case also requires steam relatively little rich; in this case, said steam can be tapped from passage IV, coming directly from the boiling zones 32.

It should be noted, with regard to steam tapping from passage IV, that said passage IV, in correspondence with the distillation and rectification chambers 48, is delimited by the same holes that delimit passage IL; therefore, as evident in Fig. 16, it communicates with the distillation and rectification chambers 48 only from the lower part, which constitutes a valid obstacle to the entry, in the passage IV itself, of the rich liquid mixture dripping from the passage IL. Finally, it should be noted that, since no thermal exchanges with the outside are foreseen (nor pressures to be endured, except for the flat separation plates 13 at the ends), the "grinding side" perforated flat plates 22 and 22. R may also not be made with material with particular thermal conductivity or mechanical resistance; in particular it is not necessary that said plates be metallic, but of any other material suitable for the purpose, such as particular types of ceramics or synthetic material.

It is clear how the construction criteria set out can be used even only partially, to build less complex devices than the one just described, without departing from the inventive idea.

By way of example, forms of the device according to the invention are now illustrated which use only some of the functions, processes or elements just described.

COMPLETE GRINDING COLUMN

In this case, reference is made to Fig. 16, which remains unchanged, except that the passages LE and UE are not used and therefore must be closed with respect to the outside. From passage IV a very rich mixture in the vapor state enters the device, coming from a suitable steam generator external to the device itself; from the passage IL a rich liquid mixture enters as previously to be distilled; the lean liquid mixture and the rectified vapor exit respectively from the UL and UV passages as previously.

As the device does not need to boil the mixture to be distilled, only the cooling fluid circulates in the heat exchange chambers 49, through the array of through holes 46, while the remaining rows of through holes have only a structural function.

ADIABATIC GRINDING COLUMN

The operating principle is quite similar to that of the rectification column of Fig. 1, but the means are used exclusively according to the invention.

Reference is therefore still made to Fig. 16, which remains unchanged, except that the passages IE, UE, IR and UR are not used and are therefore closed with respect to the outside.

In this case, neither cooling fluid nor heating fluid are required and the rectification device according to the invention can be composed exclusively of a first separation flat plate 13, of an indeterminate quantity of perforated flat plates "on the grinding side" 22 and 22. R, alternating between them, and by a second flat separating plate 13.

DISTILLATION DEVICE OR STEAM GENERATOR

In all the distillation and rectification chambers 48, shown frontally in Fig. 16, through the passage IL enters a rich liquid mixture to be distilled, through the UV passage the distilled vapor exits, through the passage UL the lean liquid mixture comes out; in this distillation and rectification process, step IV is not used and is therefore closed from the outside. The boiling zones 32 extend from the level of the lower UL and EU passages up to the height of the upper IR and UV passages.

In this application, instead of the cavities 49, there are heat exchange cavities made with the same type of perforated plates "grinding side" 22 and 22. R, however, overturned by 180 ° around the horizontal axis, with respect to how they are shown in Fig, 16; in this way the heating fluid can enter the passage IR and exit the passage UE.

ABSORBER FOR ABSORPTION REFRIGERATING SYSTEMS

In the chambers 48, which in this case become absorption chambers, the lean mixture is allowed to enter from the passage IL and the vapor to be absorbed from the UV passage, while the rich mixture exits from the passage UL.

As regards the heat exchange cavities, from which the heat generated by the absorption process must be removed, they can be made exactly as described for the "Distillation device or steam generator" just treated.

INTERMEDIATE FLUID HEAT EXCHANGERS

Intermediate fluid heat exchangers can be made when, for safety reasons, it is not advisable for the two fluids exchanging heat to directly touch the opposite faces of the same wall. In this case, using the known technique of the so-called heat pipes, a first fluid circulating in the cavities 44 can for example transferring heat to a second fluid circulating in the cavities 46 by means of an intermediate fluid which is continuously boiling and condensing in the cavities 48.

One way of constructing the device according to the present invention is as follows.

Through one or more of the passages UL, IL, IV and UL, a vacuum is made into the chambers 48 and then a suitable liquid is introduced. In no case must the quantity of liquid introduced be such as to completely fill the cavities 48 but, preferably, it must be sufficient to flood the lowest part 32 of the cavities 48, corresponding to the adjacent heat exchange cavities 44.

The liquid introduced into the cavities 48 is selected according to the criteria deemed most appropriate and in particular of the type capable of boiling (receiving heat from the fluid circulating in the cavities 44) and condensing (giving heat to the fluid circulating in the cavities 46) at the pressure deemed most suitable and with the best efficiency of the heat exchange.

After the operation of filling said liquid, the passages UL, L.UV and IV must be sealed with respect to the outside so that the liquid itself remains confined in the cavity 48 which, however, remain connected to each other through said passages so that the liquid is distribute in a uniform manner and the vapor pressure (and therefore the boiling and condensing temperature) is substantially the same in all the aforementioned cavities 48.

It may be advisable that not all cavities 48 have the same dimensions, but that one or more of them are thicker than the others so as to constitute a sort of reserve reservoir for the confined liquid. This is particularly easy to accomplish if plates with rows of holes 22 and 22 are used to construct said cavities 48. R and said plates usefully in said cavities 48 have particularly large and dense holes so as to increase the useful volume and limit the heat exchange capacity due to the reduction of the contact areas 11. A.

It is also possible to establish preferential paths for the vapor that rises following the boiling at the bottom and for the liquid that drips following the condensation at the top, so that they do not hinder each other in the natural circulation.

To obtain this, first type chambers 48 must be provided in which in the boiling zones 32 the heat exchange with the cavities 44 is particularly privileged; this is achieved by making relatively small and spaced holes in the array of holes 31 and consequently obtaining particularly extensive contact areas 11. A.

In the condensation zone 34, on the other hand, the heat exchange capacity is kept low by making the holes in the array of relatively large and closely spaced holes 31 and consequently obtaining particularly limited contact zones 11.A.

The chambers 48 of the first type just described are alternated in the most appropriate manner with chambers 48 of the second type where on the contrary, but proceeding as already described, the heat exchange is enhanced at the top, in the areas 34 and contained at the bottom, in the areas 32.

As a consequence of this, in the zones 32 of the chambers 48 of the first type, the boiling is very active while in the zones 34 the vapor produced has difficulty in condensing, therefore there is little liquid that drips down, hindering the rise of the vapor; said vapor, on the other hand, through the passages IL and UL, is sucked into the cavities 48 of the second type where the boiling is not very active and therefore there are no large quantities of rising vapor which can hinder the descent of the liquid. Said liquid therefore rapidly reaches the zones 32, from which, through the passages IV and UL, it returns to the cavities 48 of the first type where it is brought to boiling again. Preferred routes for natural circulation are therefore established.

The advantage of the indirect heat pipe exchanger is that it reasonably excludes the possibility of an undesirable mixing between a heat transfer fluid circulating in the cavities 44 and a second heat transfer fluid circulating in the cavities 46, due to failures. of the separation plates 13 or 13.B immediately puts the heat-carrying fluid circulating in the cavities 44 or that circulating in the cavities 46 into contact exclusively with the fluid circulating in the cavities 48, an event that can be detected in some known way before a progression of the fault gives rise to said undesired mixing. HEAT EXCHANGER BETWEEN THREE HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS

Another interesting use of the exchanger device according to the invention is that of being able to heat two or more secondary heat transfer fluids by means of a primary fluid or vice versa of being able to heat a secondary fluid successively with two or more primary fluids.

In the first case, a primary fluid is circulated in the cavities 48, introduced, for example, through the UV passages and extracted from the passages UL, while the passages IL and IV are not used and are sealed from the outside. At the same time two secondary fluids are made to circulate, in counter-current with respect to the primary heat-carrying fluid, in the cavities 46 and 44 introduced respectively through the passages UR and UE and extracted through the passages IR and IV. If the inlet temperature in UV of the fluid passing through the cavities 48 is higher than the inlet temperature of the fluids passing through the cavities 46 and 44, both said secondary fluids can be heated, provided of course that the secondary heat-carrying fluid passing through the cavities 46 it will reach a higher outlet temperature than is possible for the secondary heat-carrying fluid passing through the cavities 44, due to the fact that the primary heat-carrying fluid has already been partially cooled in the heat exchange with the said cavities 44.

This type of multiple exchanger can be very useful, for example, in district heating systems since with a single exchanger a primary fluid, distributed in a neighborhood network, can heat domestic water circuits for heating or sanitary purposes.

In a completely analogous way, it is possible to illustrate by way of example, in a device made according to the invention, the methods of preheating and definitive heating of a secondary fluid by two primary fluids. According to one of the possible fluid paths, the secondary heat transfer fluid enters cold into the cavities 48 distributed by the UV passages, while the passages IL and IV, not used, are not provided or are sealed from the outside. In countercurrent, said secondary fluid is preheated by a primary fluid having a relatively low temperature which passes through the cavities 44, introduced by the passages IE and extracted from the passages UE. The complete heating of the secondary fluid takes place in correspondence with the zones 34 by a further primary fluid having a sufficiently high temperature and which is introduced into the cavities 46 by the passages IR and extracted from the passages UR. By way of example, an important use of the device just described is the preheating of sanitary water with solar energy and a possible integration of the thermal energy required by means of thermal energy from a traditional source.

OTHER APPLICATIONS

It is evident that many other variants and applications are possible for the heat and / or compact material exchange device according to the invention.

For example, distillation or rectification columns can be created in which steam tapping takes place in several areas, for example to separate several substances from each other, as well as more than two heat exchange zones with more than two heat transfer fluids in the case of which, in complex systems, it is useful to make the best use of fluids available at various temperatures in various stages of the cycle.

Such heat recoveries, theoretically obtainable even now, are generally ignored due to the excessive cost of the quantity of exchangers required; with the present invention, the simplicity with which several heat exchange zones can be obtained (by making further passage holes) from a single compact device makes the cost increase irrelevant.

Finally, the intimate contact that is obtained between the liquid phase which descends and the vapor phase which rises, by virtue of the large surfaces that form the perforated flat plates of one of the types described, makes the present invention particularly interesting for the construction of chemical reactors.

It is evident that, as already explained for the "perforated plate" exchanger, the perforated flat plates "grinding side" 22.R can be obtained from the perforated flat plates "grinding side" 22 by simply rotating them 180 ° with respect to at their center, as well as the already said "grinding side" perforated flat plates 22.R may originate from a completely different design with respect to that of the already said "grinding side" perforated flat plates 22; obviously the same condition applies to the "exchanger side" perforated flat plates 35 and 35. R, provided that the conditions are met that, in the overlapping of all the aforementioned plates, the arrays of crossing holes 31, 44, 45 and 46 create the contact areas 11. A and the crossing gates l l.B and that the continuity of the passages is ensured (IL, UL, IV, UV, IE, UE, IR, UR).

It is also evident that all the arrays of through holes just mentioned must have holes of suitable dimensions, spacing and distribution for the individual processes and fluids and that said arrays of holes may also consist of a series of holes with a diameter and / or pitch. different within the same slab or different slabs.

However, it is important to point out that different fluid-thermodynamic needs, such as heat exchange efficiency or acceptable pressure drop, can be answered not only by varying, from case to case, the design of the arrays of crossing holes 33, 44 or 46, but also maintaining the design of the perforated flat plates 22 or 35 unchanged for many applications, and varying the quantity and / or thickness constituting each chamber 48 or 49.

Therefore, all the distillation and rectification devices described are substantially achievable with the sole use of the three elements:

- perforated flat plate "grinding side" 22 ",

- perforated flat plate "exchanger side" 35 e

- flat separation plate 13,

arranged according to the appropriate position and suitably intercalated with each other and all equipped with the eight passages IL, IR, UV, UR, IV, UE, UL and IE, suitably used or intercepted.

Finally, it is evident, as shown in some examples, that the constructive simplicity of the components of the complete distillation and rectification device according to the invention greatly extends the freedom of choice of materials and surface treatments necessary for the components themselves, compared to what possible with reference to the current state of the art.

The operating modes and the examples of use set out above also apply to the device illustrated in Fig. 20, with the limitations that, for the latter, the thickness of the cavities intended for the various fluids is determined by the thickness of the spacer means, or gaskets. , "rectification side" 22.B and "exchanger side" 35. B, and that the fluid distribution problems are mainly solved according to the known art.

Again with reference to Fig. 20, the separation plates 13.B are shown flat, but in reality they could be corrugated, as in most of the known plate heat exchangers; alternatively, inside the spacer means on the "grinding side" 22. B and "exchanger side" 35. B, metal meshes could be contained, as already mentioned with reference to the prior art; the interspaces could be sealed not by the gaskets "grinding side" 22. B and "exchanger side" 35. B, but by equivalent spacer means suitably glued or welded to the separation plates 13.B; finally the appendages 31.k have the same function that can be obtained from the appropriate position of the holes 31.A, 31.B, 31.C and 31.D indicated in Figs. 11 and 12.

Claims (28)

CLAIMS 1. Heat and / or material exchanger for fluids comprising a plurality of flat plates (13; 13.B), one or more first type spacer means (22.22.R; 22. B) and one or more second spacer means type (35.35.R; 35.B), said flat plates (13; 13. B) defining, together with said first type spacer means (22,22.R; 22.B), one or more heat exchange chambers and / or material (48; 48. B) for the transit of one or more primary fluids, said flat plates (13; 13. B) further defining, together with said second type spacer means, one or more heat exchange chambers (49) for the transit of one or more secondary heat transfer fluids, called heat and / or matter exchange chambers (48; 48. B), communicating with each other and with the outside through a plurality of primary passages (IL, UL, IV, UV), and said heat exchange chambers (49), communicating with each other and with the outside through a plurality of secondary passages (IE, UE, IR, UR), being intercalated, characterized by the fact that said second type spacer means (35.35.R; 35. B) define, in said heat exchange chambers (49), one or more hollow areas (44,46; 44.B.46.B), in each of which one of said secondary fluids exchanges heat with the adjacent chambers exchange of heat and / or matter (48; 48. B) through a limited portion of the surface of said flat plates (13; 13.B). 2. Heat and / or material exchanger, according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of said heat exchange chambers (49) comprises a plurality of independent hollow areas (44,46; 44.B.46.B ) or without geometric interconnection and sufficiently spaced from each other to be thermally insulated from each other, in such a way as to prevent direct exchange of heat and / or matter between heat transfer fluids circulating in said independent hollow areas. 3. Heat and / or material exchanger, according to claim 2, characterized in that each hollow area (44,46; 44.B.46.B) of each heat exchange chamber (49) is in communication, through two of said secondary passages (IE, UE, IR, UR) for the inlet and outlet of a relative heat-carrying fluid, exclusively with the outside and / or with a corresponding hollow area of all the other possible exchange chambers heat (49) provided. 4. Material heat exchanger, according to claim 2, characterized in that said plurality of hollow zones (44,46; 44.B.46.B) comprises a first zone (44; 44.B), for the transit of a heating fluid and a second zone (46; 46. B) for the transit of a refrigerant fluid, said zones being topologically and / or thermally insulated from each other by means of a neutral zone (45; 45. B). 5. Material heat exchanger, according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second type spacer means (35,35.R; 35.B) comprise a frame (35. B) having, in addition to said primary passages , (IL, UL, IV, UV) at least one solid area (45. B) and a hollow area (44.B; 46.B), in particular an intermediate solid area which separates two hollow areas located respectively in the upper and lower part of said frame (35. B). 6. Heat and / or material exchanger, according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said first type spacer elements (22b; 22.22R) comprises a frame (22.B), defining a single hollow area (48 . B), in addition to said secondary passages (IE, UE, IR, UR) and able to be connected to two of said flat plates (13.B) along a perimeter area of said flat plates. 7 Heat and material exchanger for fluids, according to claim 1, characterized in that said primary passages comprise at least three passages (IL, UV, UL) for the introduction or extraction of a first, a second and a third fluid, of which in in particular, two injection passages (IL.UV) in said heat and material exchange chambers (48; 48.B) of two fluids to be mixed and one passage (UL) for extracting the mixture resulting from said two fluids to be mixed, i.e. a step (IL) for introducing a mixture to be treated into said heat and material exchange chambers (48; 48. B) and two steps (UV, UL) for extracting two fluids obtained from said mixture to be treated. 8. Heat and material exchanger, according to claim 7, characterized in that said primary passages comprise at least a fourth passage (IV) for the introduction or extraction from said heat and / or material exchange chambers (48; 48 .B) of at least a fourth fluid participating in or resulting from the heat and matter exchange process. 9. Heat and / or material exchanger, according to claim 1, characterized in that said first type spacer elements (22.B; 22.22.R) each comprise two or more perforated flat plates (22.22.R) of the first type , said perforated flat plates (22,22.R) being each equipped with crossing openings (31) in such a position that the overlapping of two or more of said perforated flat plates gives rise to the formation of crossing openings (Π.Β) and contact areas (11. A). 10. Heat and / or material exchanger, according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 7, characterized in that said second type spacer elements (35. B; 35,35.R) each comprise two or more flat perforated plates (35,35R) of the second type, said perforated flat plates (35.35.R) being each equipped with crossing openings (31) in such a position that the overlapping of two or more of said perforated flat plates gives rise to the formation of crossing (ll.B) and contact zones (11. A) 11. Heat and / or material exchanger, according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that, in each of said perforated flat plates (22,22.R, 35,35.R), some of said crossing openings ( 31) intersect some of said primary (IL, UL, IV, UV) or secondary (IE, UE, IR, UR) passages. 12. Heat and / or material exchanger, according to claim 11, characterized in that in each of said heat and / or material exchange chambers (48) and / or heat exchange chambers (49) the intersection between said some openings (31) and said some primary passages (IL, UL, IV, UV) or secondary passages (IE, UE, IR, UR) is such as to put in communication with each other, through said crossing gates (11.B) , at least two of said primary and / or secondary passages. 13. Heat and / or material exchanger, according to claim 9, characterized in that said first type perforated flat plates (22,22.R) have, in addition to said passages (IL, UL, IV, UV, IE, UE, IR, UR), an array of through holes (31) arranged in a regular manner substantially over the entire surface of the sheet 14. Heat and / or material exchanger, according to claim 10, characterized in that said second type perforated flat plates (35,35.R) have, in addition to said passages (IL, UL, IV, UV, IE, UE, IR, UR), a first array (44) of through holes, intersecting a first (IE) and a second (UE) of said passages, a second array (45) of holes, not intersecting any of said passages, and a third array (46) of through holes, intersecting a third (IR) and a fourth (UR) of said passages. 15. Heat and / or material exchanger, according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that said first type (22.22.R; 22. B) or second type (35.35.R; 35. B) spacer means comprise at least two of said equal perforated flat plates (22.22.R; 35.35.R), where one is positioned on the other rotated by 180 ° on its plane. 16. Heat and / or material exchanger, according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the thickness of said heat and / or material exchange chambers (48) and / or said heat exchange chambers (49) is variable by varying the number of overlapping perforated flat sheets. 17. Heat and / or material exchanger, according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that said crossing openings (31) have different mutual dimensions and / or distances within the same plate or different plates. 18. Heat and / or material exchanger, according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that said contact areas (11. A) are suitable for forming gravitational films. 19. Heat and material exchanger, according to claim 13, characterized by the fact that said crossing holes (31) of said first type perforated plates (22.22.R) have a sufficiently small diameter so that said crossing openings (11.B) cause the bubbling of one of said primary fluids, having a vapor phase, into another of said primary fluids, having a liquid phase. 20. Heat and / or material exchanger, according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that said perforated flat plates (22,22.R, 35,35.R) and said separation plates (13.13.B) are sealed with adhesives or brazed to each other at the surface not affected by said arrays of crossing holes (31) and / or at said contact areas (11. A). 21. Heat and / or material exchanger, according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that means (31.A, 31.B, 31.C, 31.D, 31.k) are provided to facilitate a uniform distribution in said heat and / or material exchange chambers (48; 48. B) of a liquid coming from one of said passages (IL), said means being suitable for preventing said liquid from falling into said chambers (48; 48. B) except after flooding the lower part of this passage (IL). 22. Heat and / or material exchanger, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that nozzles (51) are provided at the front and / or rear part of the exchanger, for inlet and extraction from said primary (IL, UL, IV, UV) and secondary (IE, UE, IR, UR) passages of the fluids participating in the processes, where in particular the passages that are not used for specific processes can be closed at the respective mouthpieces (51). 23. Heat and / or material exchanger, according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first type perforated flat plates (22.22.R) are made of ceramic or synthetic material. 24. Heat and / or material exchanger, according to claim 1, characterized in that said material and / or heat exchange chambers (48.48.B) are traversed by a primary heat-carrying fluid, which said heat exchange chambers (49) they are traversed by a plurality of secondary heat-carrying fluids, and said primary fluid transfers heat to or absorbs heat from each of said secondary fluids. 25. Heat and / or material exchanger, according to claim 1, characterized in that said primary fluids comprise a single primary heat-carrying fluid, said secondary fluids comprise a first and second secondary heat-carrying fluid and said primary passages (IL, UL, IV, UV) are all closed towards the outside, said exchanger allowing the indirect heat exchange between said secondary fluids through said primary fluid. 26. Heat and / or material exchanger, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said primary fluid is simultaneously kept boiling by heat exchange with said first secondary fluid and in condensation by heat exchange with said second secondary fluid. 27. Heat and / or material exchanger, according to claims 4, 13 and 26, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of heat and / or material exchange chambers (48), one or more of said chambers (48) being made of a first type, the remaining of said chambers (48) being made of a second type, in which: i) the chambers of the first type comprise flat perforated plates (22,22.R) having arrays of through holes (31) of relatively large diameter and relatively small pitch in the upper area, in correspondence with the delta second hollow area (46) and arrays of through holes (31) of relatively small diameter and relatively large pitch in the lower zone, in correspondence with said first hollow zone (44); ii) the chambers of the second type comprise flat perforated plates (22.22.R) having arrays of through holes of relatively large diameter and relatively small pitch in the lower zone, in correspondence with said first hollow zone (46) and arrays of crossing of relatively small diameter and relatively large pitch in the upper zone, in correspondence with said second hollow zone (44). 28. Heat exchanger and / or material, as it results from the present description and the annexed drawings.