PLATE-TYPE HEAT EXCHANGER

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001]The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0046001, filed on Apr. 4, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0002]The present invention relates to a plate-type heat exchanger including a sealing structure capable of separating different heat exchange regions without a separate structure.

Description of the Related Art

[0003]It is important to configure and arrange an air conditioning system for a vehicle so that the air conditioning system may perform heat exchange with maximum efficiency in an engine room having a limited space. Therefore, a heat exchanger requires a structure that is small in size and has high heat exchange efficiency or a structure that is configured to exchange heat with various types of fluids and ensure spatial utilization.

[0004]Therefore, the development is being conducted on a technology related to a hybrid-type heat exchanger in which a plurality of fluids may exchange heat while flowing in the single heat exchanger. The hybrid-type heat exchanger is a heat exchanger in which two or more types of heat transfer mechanisms are coupled. Heat exchange regions, in which different fluids flow, are separated in the single device, such that the device may be configured such that different types of fluids exchange heat while flowing in the separated regions.

[0005]In this case, in accordance with spatial utilization or a limited environment in the engine room, a fluid inlet or outlet formed in a plate-type heat exchanger sometimes requires a structure that is not disposed adjacent to the separated heat exchange regions. In this case, a flow path may be configured such that at least one inlet or outlet is connected to the heat exchange region through a separate structure.

[0006]In order to achieve the above-mentioned configuration, a first heat exchange plate-type heat exchanger region and a second heat exchange region may be separated in a stacking direction of plates of the plate-type heat exchanger. In this case, in accordance with some environments, the fluid inlet or outlet provided in the plate-type heat exchanger may be disposed only in the vicinity of the first heat exchange region. In this case, in the related art, a flow path structure, in which at least one fluid inlet or outlet is connected to a second heat exchange region, may be configured by using a straw structure. Further, in this case, in order to prevent the fluid in the first heat exchange region from flowing into the second heat exchange region, it is necessary to provide a structure in which the first heat exchange region and the second heat exchange region are sealed by brazing the straw and the plate.

[0007]However, in case that the heat exchanger includes the straw structure in the related art, it is necessary to perform a process of sealing the regions by brazing the straw and the plate in a partial region of the plate disposed and stacked to separate the first heat exchange region and the second heat exchange region. However, there is a limitation in that the process is complicated and difficult. In addition, the brazing process may cause damage to thermal deformation of the plate, and the effect of the process may fluctuate depending on the environment. For this reason, there is a problem in that it is difficult to ensure durability and quality of a welded portion and a defective product is likely to be produced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008]The present invention is proposed to solve these problems and aims to provide a plate-type heat exchanger in which heat exchange regions are separated, the plate-type heat exchanger having a structure in which the heat exchange regions may be sealed and a flow path May be defined by using features of plates stacked without a separate structure when the flow path is defined inward by restrictive positions of an inlet and an outlet.

[0009]The present invention provides a plate-type heat exchanger including: a core formed by stacking a plurality of plates and configured to allow a heat exchange medium to exchange heat; and a plurality of flow paths formed by through-holes continuously formed in the stacked plates so that a fluid flows in the core, in which the core is divided into a first heat exchange region at one side and a second heat exchange region at the other side based on any one plate among the stacked plates, in which the flow path includes at least one first flow path disposed at one end in a stacking direction of the plates and connected to the second heat exchange region, and in which a portion of the first flow path at least passing through the first heat exchange region has a sealing structure.

[0010]In this case, at least a part of the plate included in the first heat exchange region may include a first depressed portion depressed in a ‘U’ shape toward the other side so that a part of a periphery of the through-hole constituting the first flow path is in surface contact with the adjacent plate.

[0011]In this case, the plates constituting the first heat exchange region may include: first plates including the first depressed portion; and second plates including a second depressed portion depressed toward the other side so that a part of the periphery of the through-hole constituting the first flow path is in surface contact with the adjacent plate, and the first plates and the second plates may be disposed alternately.

[0012]In this case, the sealing structure may be formed as the first depressed portion is continuously in surface contact with the second plate to seal the periphery of the through-hole.

[0013]In this case, the first depressed portion may be formed outward of the second depressed portion based on the through-hole.

[0014]Further, the second depressed portion may be depressed within a range of a second diameter from an edge of the through-hole, the first depressed portion may be depressed within a range of a first diameter from a position spaced apart from the edge of the through-hole by the second diameter, and the first diameter may be larger than the second diameter.

[0015]In n addition, the plates disposed at a portion at least constituting the first flow path among the plates constituting the second heat exchange region may include: the second plates; and third plates including the through-hole of the first flow path, and the second plates and the third plates may be disposed alternately.

[0016]In this case, a portion of the first flow path passing through the second heat exchange region may have an open structure.

[0017]In this case, the fluid flowing through the first heat exchange medium and the fluid flowing through the second heat exchange medium may be identical or different.

[0018]In this case, a connection flange may be provided at one end of the core and connect an inlet pipe, through which a refrigerant is introduced into the core, and an outlet pipe through which the refrigerant is discharged to the outside from the core, and the first flow path may be connected to any one of the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe.

[0019]In addition, the first flow path may be configured to be biased toward any one side based on a center in a longitudinal direction of the plate.

[0020]Further, the core may include a partition plate configured to physically separate the first heat exchange region and the second heat exchange region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021]FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a plate-type heat exchanger according to an embodiment.

[0022]FIG. 2 is an A-A′ cross-sectional view of the plate-type heat exchanger in FIG. 1.

[0023]FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view perspective view of a first flow path in FIG. 2.

[0024]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a partition plate according to the embodiment.

[0025]FIG. 5 is a configuration view of a core that constitutes the first flow path according to the embodiment.

[0026]FIG. 6 is a B-B′ cross-sectional view of the plate-type heat exchanger in FIG. 1.

[0027]FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the core including a first plate according to the embodiment.

[0028]FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged perspective view of a through-hole of the first plate according to the embodiment.

[0029]FIG. 9 is a rear exploded perspective view of the core including the first plate according to the embodiment.

[0030]FIG. 10 is a C-C′ cross-sectional view of the plate-type heat exchanger in FIG. 1.

[0031]FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the core including a second plate according to the embodiment.

[0032]FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged perspective view of a through-hole of the second plate according to the embodiment.

[0033]FIG. 13 is a rear exploded perspective view of the core including the second plate according to the embodiment.

[0034]FIG. 14 is a D-D′ cross-sectional view of the plate-type heat exchanger in FIG. 1.

[0035]FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged perspective view of a through-hole of the third plate according to the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036]Hereinafter, the technical spirit of the present invention will be described in more detail using the accompanying drawings. In addition, terms or words used in the specification and the claims should not be interpreted as being limited to a general or dictionary meaning and should be interpreted as a meaning and a concept which conform to the technical spirit of the present invention based on a principle that an inventor can appropriately define a concept of a term in order to describe his/her own invention by the best method.

[0037]Therefore, the exemplary embodiments disclosed in the present specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are just the best preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all the technical spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that various modified examples capable of substituting the exemplary embodiments may be made at the time of filing the present application.

[0038]Hereinafter, the technical spirit of the present invention will be described in more detail using the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are only exemplary embodiments illustrated to explain the technical spirit of the present invention in more detail, and the technical spirit of the present invention is not limited to the form of the accompanying drawings.

[0039]With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a plate-type heat exchanger 1000 includes a core 100 formed by stacking a plurality of plates 101 each having a flat surface, and a heat exchange medium exchanges heat while flowing through the plates. A refrigerant or coolant, as the heat exchange medium, may flow through the inside of the core 100. The refrigerant and the coolant may alternately flow between the stacked plates 101 of the core 100. The plate may be formed in a quadrangular shape. The quadrangular shape may be a rectangular shape having a longer length in any one direction. A stacking direction of the plates of the core 100 may be one direction or the other direction. Cover plates of the plate and another plate, which constitute the core 100, may be respectively disposed, as necessary, at one end or the other end, i.e., one of two opposite ends of the stacked plate of the plate-type heat exchanger 1000. In this case, flow paths 200 may be formed in the cover plates of the plate-type heat exchanger 1000.

[0040]With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the core 100 may separate the stacked plates, based on any one plate, into one side plates 101 in a first heat exchange region 100A and the other side plates 101 in a second heat exchange region 100B. In this case, the heat exchange medium may be the refrigerant or the coolant. One of the refrigerant and the coolant is configured as a main fluid, and regions in which the main fluid exchanges heat may include the first heat exchange region 100A and the second heat exchange region 100B. Further, the regions may be separated so that the fluid flowing through the first heat exchange region 100A and the fluid flowing through the second heat exchange region 100B do not interfere with each other. In this case, the fluid flowing through the first heat exchange region 100A and the fluid flowing through the second heat exchange region 100B may be identical or different in type. However, in case that the fluid in the first heat exchange region 100A and the fluid in the second heat exchange region 100B are identical in type, the properties, such as a temperature of the fluid and introduced components, may be different from one another. In this case, a first flow path 210 may at least be the flow path 200 through which the refrigerant is introduced or discharged.

[0041]The present invention may include a partition plate 102 capable of physically separating the first heat exchange region 100A and the second heat exchange region 100B in order to clearly separate the heat exchange regions in the core 100. With reference to FIG. 4, the partition plate 102 is any one plate configured to separate the heat exchange regions. In the core 100, the partition plate 102 may be inserted, instead of the plate stacked to perform heat exchange, at a position at which the partition plate 102 is intended to separate the heat exchange regions. The partition plate 102 may physically separate the heat exchange regions while blocking a corresponding region so that the fluid flowing through the first heat exchange region 100A and the fluid flowing through the second heat exchange region 100B are not mixed with each other. In this case, the partition plate 102 may include a shape further protruding in a longitudinal direction of the plate or a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the plate. The partition plate 102 may be used as a fixing part, such as a mount, of the heat exchanger.

[0042]Further, the core 100 of the present invention may include a connection flange 300 configured to connect an inlet pipe having one end or the other end through which the heat exchange medium, i.e., the refrigerant or the coolant is introduced into the core 100, and an outlet pipe through which the heat exchange medium is discharged to the outside from the core 100. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the connection flange 300 may be formed by the cover plate positioned at one end, and the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe may be positioned adjacent to each other in a horizontal direction on a flat surface of the cover plate. In this case, the first flow path 210 may be connected to any one of the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe. In addition, the connection flange 300 may be disposed on the cover plate and biased toward any one side based on a center in the longitudinal direction. In particular, any one of the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe may be disposed to be positioned at an edge of the plate. Therefore, in case that the first flow path 210 is formed to be connected to the connection flange 300, the first flow path 210 may also be configured to be biased toward any one side based on the center in the longitudinal direction of the plate. In the embodiment of the present invention, the connection flange 300 may be disposed at a lower side in an upward/downward direction based on FIG. 1.

[0043]In addition, in case that the heat exchange medium introduced through the connection flange 300 is the refrigerant, the core 100 of the plate-type heat exchanger 1000 of the present invention may include a coolant outlet port 400 through which the coolant is introduced or discharged. The coolant outlet port 400 may include a coolant inlet port and a coolant discharge port separated from each other. Alternatively, a single coolant outlet port may serve as both a coolant inlet port and a coolant discharge port. The coolant outlet port 400 may be formed at one end of the core 100 and formed on the same plate as the connection flange 300. In case that the coolant outlet port 400 includes the coolant inlet port and the coolant outlet port, the coolant inlet port and the coolant outlet port may be respectively provided at edges on the flat surface of the plate and disposed at edges of a portion where at least the connection flange 300 is not formed. The flow paths 200 may be formed in the core 100 from the positions at which the coolant inlet port 400 and the coolant discharge port 400 are disposed. The flow path 200 may be connected by a through-hole formed in the plate from the coolant outlet port 400. In the embodiment of the present invention, in case that the connection flange 300 is disposed at a right side of a lower end based on FIG. 1, the coolant inlet port 400 and the coolant discharge port 400 may be disposed one by one at upper and lower sides in a diagonal direction.

[0044]In this case, in case that the heat exchange regions, through which the fluid flows, are separated by any one stacked plate in the plate-type heat exchanger 1000, the heat exchange regions and the flow paths 200 need to be different from one another depending on the directions and the positions of the inlet and the outlet for the fluid. An example will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2. In the plate-type heat exchanger 1000, the first heat exchange region 100A at one side and the second heat exchange region 100B at the other side may be separated based on any one plate. Further, the inlet and the outlet for the fluid containing the heat exchange medium introduced into the plate-type heat exchanger 1000 may be disposed to be biased toward any one side in the stacking direction in accordance with the necessity or type of the plate-type heat exchanger 1000. In this case, the separated heat exchange regions may be connected to at least one of the inlet and the outlet for the fluid. However, the inlet and the outlet for the fluid are not sometimes disposed adjacent to the heat exchange regions in accordance with the positions of the inlet and the outlet or the position at which the heat exchange regions are separated. In the related art, in this case, the inlet and the outlet are connected to portions distant from the heat exchange regions by a separate structure such as a straw, and the straw and the plate are brazed so that the fluids in the separated heat exchange regions do not flow over the heat exchange regions, such that the fluid flowing in the straw and the fluid flowing to the plate in another heat exchange region flow through the flow paths 200 separated from each other. However, the process of brazing the stacked plates by using a separate structure such as the straw is a difficult and complicated process with a high degree of difficulty. Because the brazing process is greatly affected by the environment, there is a high likelihood that a problem occurs on the processed part, and there is a limitation in that a defective product is likely to be produced.

[0045]In contrast, unlike the related art, the present invention provides the plate-type heat exchanger 1000 having the structure of the flow path 200 in which the fluids flowing through the different regions may flow in the separated states without bypassing by using the plates configured to define the heat exchange regions without a separate structure in case that the inlet and the outlet for the fluid are not adjacent to the separated heat exchange regions.

[0046]Therefore, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the plate-type heat exchanger 1000 of the present invention includes the core 100 configured by stacking the plurality of plates 101 so that the heat exchange medium exchanges heat, and the plurality of flow paths 200 configured by the through-holes continuously formed in the stacked plates so that the fluid flows in the core 100. In this case, the core 100 is divided into the first heat exchange region 100A at one side and the second heat exchange region 100B at the other side on the basis of any one of the stacked plates, and the flow paths 200 may include at least one first flow path 210 disposed at one end in the stacking direction of the plate and connected to the second heat exchange region 100B. In this case, a portion of the first flow path 210, which at least passes through the first heat exchange region 100A, has a sealing structure. That is, the plate, which defines the first flow path 210, has the sealing structure.

[0047]The plate-type heat exchanger 1000 of the present invention may be variously configured such that the flow paths 200 are respectively disposed at one end and the other end, as necessary, based on the core 100 configured by stacking the plurality of plates 101 or all the flow paths 200 are disposed at one end or the other end. However, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the present invention is characterized in that in the core 100 including the first heat exchange region 100A at one side and the second heat exchange region 100B at the other side, at least one flow path 200 disposed at one end of the core 100 is connected to the second heat exchange region 100B. That is, among the flow paths 200 provided in the plate-type heat exchanger 1000, the first flow path 210 disposed at one end of the core 100 is connected to the second heat exchange region 100B at a position that is not adjacent to the first flow path 210. In this case, the first flow path 210 is a shortest shape passing through the first heat exchange region 100A. Therefore, a portion of the first flow path 210, which at least passes through the first heat exchange region 100A, has a sealing structure, and the sealing structure is formed such that the fluid, which flows to the second heat exchange region 100B through the first flow path 210, is not introduced into the first heat exchange region 100A.

[0048]Further, the present invention is characterized in that the sealing structure of the first flow path 210 is formed by the structure of the plate disposed in the first heat exchange region 100A. The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5. The flow paths 200, through which the fluid flows, are provided in the core 100. The flow paths 200 are formed by through-holes 111, 121, and 131 formed continuously in the corresponding directions in the plates in consideration of the positions and the lengths of the flow paths 200. Further, the core 100 of the present invention at least may include the first flow path 210. The first flow path 210 starts from one end of the core 100, and the through-holes 111, 121, and 131 are formed continuously in the plates by predetermined lengths in the stacking direction from any one position on the flat surface of the plate. In one embodiment, the first flow path 210 is configured to be biased toward any one side on the basis of a center in the longitudinal direction of the plate.

[0049]In this case, with reference to FIG. 3, the present invention is characterized in that the plates 101 at one side, which is disposed in the first heat exchange region 100A among the plurality of plates 101 constituting the core 100, include at least a part of a first plate 110 including a first depressed portion 112 at a part of a periphery of the through-hole 111 constituting the first flow path 210. The first depressed portion 112 is depressed in a ‘U’ shape toward the other side from a part of the periphery of the through-hole 111 constituting the first flow path 210. The first depressed portion 112 is depressed by a height to a degree to which the first depressed portion 112 is in surface contact with the adjacent plate, and the first depressed portion 112 is in surface contact with the adjacent plate to seal a gap between the plates.

[0050]The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9. In case that the core 100 is formed by stacking the plates in one direction and the first flow path 210 is formed from one end of the core 100, the first plate 110, which is included in the first heat exchange region 100A including the through-hole 111 constituting the first flow path 210, includes the first depressed portion 112 depressed in a ‘U’ shape toward the other side.

[0051]In this case, a degree to which the first depressed portion 112 is depressed may correspond to a gap between the plates. Further, the first depressed portion 112 has a shape having an area outward from a position spaced apart from an edge of the through-hole 111 of the first plate 110 at a predetermined interval 113. In other words, in the through-hole 111 constituting the first flow path 210 of the first plate 110, the through-hole 111, a flat surface 113, and the first depressed portion 112 are disposed in a direction of a diameter that gradually increases based on the through-hole 111. That is, the predetermined interval 113 is present between the through-hole 111 and the first depressed portion 112, and the first depressed portion 112 is formed outward of the through-hole 111 by the predetermined interval 113. A thickness of the first depressed portion 112 may be adjusted, as necessary. A portion of the other end of the first depressed portion 112 is in surface contact with the adjacent plate, such that the gap between the plates is sealed.

[0052]In addition, with reference to FIG. 3, the plates 101 at one side disposed in the first heat exchange region 100A includes a second plate 120 including a second depressed portion 122 at a part of a periphery of the through-hole 121 constituting the first flow path 210. Therefore, the plate in the first heat exchange region 100A is disposed while including the first plate 110 and the second plate 120. In this case, the through-hole 121 formed in the second plate 120 may correspond in size and shape to the through-hole formed in the first plate 110. The second depressed portion 122 is formed such that a predetermined thickness portion is depressed outward toward the other side from a periphery of the through-hole 121 constituting the first flow path 210. The second depressed portion 122 is depressed by a height to a degree to which the second depressed portion 122 is also in surface contact with the plate, and the second depressed portion 122 is in surface contact with the adjacent plate to seal the gap between the plates. The present invention will be described in more detail with

[0053]reference to FIGS. 10 to 13. In the second plate 120 included in the first heat exchange region 100A including the through-hole 121 constituting the first flow path 210, the second depressed portion 122 is formed outward by a predetermined thickness along the edge of the through-hole 121. In this case, a degree to which the second depressed portion 122 is depressed may correspond to the gap between the plates. The second depressed portion 122 may have the same height as the first depressed portion 112. Further, the second depressed portion 122 is a depressed portion starting from the edge of the through-hole 121 of the second plate 120. The second depressed portion 122 is formed outward by a predetermined thickness. Therefore, the second depressed portion 122 is disposed at the edge of the through-hole 121 based on the through-hole 121 of the second plate 120. Therefore, in case that the through-hole 111 of the first plate 110 and the through-hole 121 of the second plate 120 are equal in diameter, the through-hole 121, the second depressed portion 122, and the second depressed portion 122 may be disposed outward of the through-hole 121 based on the through-hole 112. That is, the first depressed portion 112 may be formed outward of the second depressed portion 122. Further, a thickness of the second depressed portion 122 may be adjusted, as necessary. However, the second depressed portion 122 may be formed to be positioned inward of a portion where the first depressed portion 112 starts. Therefore, a diameter of the second depressed portion 122 may be larger than that of the through-hole 121, smaller than an inner diameter of the first depressed portion 112. The inner diameter of the first depressed portion 112 may be larger than an outer diameter of the second depressed portion 122. The second depressed portion 122 may be depressed within a range of a second diameter from the edge of the through-hole 121, and the first depressed portion 112 may be depressed within a range of a first diameter from a position spaced apart from the edge of the through-hole 121 by the second diameter. In this case, the first diameter may be larger than the second diameter.

[0054]The embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 5. In this case, based on FIG. 5, an upper end is described as being one side, and a lower end is described as being the other side. In the first heat exchange region 100A of the present invention, the first plates 110 and the second plates 120 are alternately disposed, the first depressed portion 112 of the first plate 110 is continuously in surface contact with an outer portion of the second depressed portion 122 of the second plate 120, and the corresponding portion has the sealing structure. That is, the first plates 110 at one side and the second plates 120 at the other side are alternately disposed, such that the other surface of the first depressed portion 112 is in surface contact with one surface of a flat surface portion 123 of the second plate 120 formed outward of the second depressed portion 122. This configuration is identical to the configuration in which the other surface of the flat surface portion 123 formed outward of the second depressed portion 122 is in surface contact with the other surface of the first depressed portion 112 disposed at one side. In addition, the other surface of the second depressed portion 122 is in contact with one surface of the flat surface portion 113 formed inward of the first depressed portion 112 of the first plate 110 disposed at the other side, such that the first heat exchange region 100A has the sealing structure.

[0055]Further, with reference to FIG. 5, the first flow path 210 of the present invention has an open structure, except for the sealing structure formed in the first heat exchange region 100A. In other words, the first flow path 210 is the flow path 200 formed from one end of the core 100, and the first flow path 210 passes through the first heat exchange region 100A and then is connected to the second heat exchange region 100B. In this case, the first flow path 210 is characterized in that the flow path 200 of the portion passing through the first heat exchange region 100A has the sealing structure. Further, the portion of the first flow path 210 connected to the second heat exchange region 100B has the open structure. Therefore, the first flow path 210 is connected to the second heat exchange region 100B. The heat exchange medium flowing through the second heat exchange region 100B is introduced into the other end of the first flow path 210 and flows through the first flow path 210.

[0056]The first flow path 210 formed in the second heat exchange region 100B is formed by connecting the through-holes 121 of the plates stacked in the second heat exchange region 100B. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the first flow path 210 may be formed merely by a third plate 130 having the through-hole 131 constituting the flow path 200 and by the second plate 120 including the second depressed portion 122 depressed at the other side so that a part of the periphery of the through-hole 121 constituting the first flow path 210 is in surface contact with the adjacent plate. In this case, the through-hole 131 formed in the third plate 130 may correspond in size and shape to the through-hole formed in the second plate 120.

[0057]The present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15. In the present invention, the plates 101 at the other side, which is disposed in the second heat exchange region 100B among the plurality of plates 101 constituting the core 100, include the plates 101 including the through-holes 121 and 131 constituting the first flow path 210. Further, in the second heat exchange region 100B, the second plates 120, which include the second depressed portion 122 formed at the periphery of the through-hole 121 constituting the first flow path 210, and the third plates 130, which include the through-hole 131 constituting the first flow path 210, may be disposed alternately. The second depressed portion 122 is formed such that the predetermined thickness portion is depressed outward toward the other side from the periphery of the through-hole 121 constituting the first flow path 210. The second plate 120 has a structure in which the portions of the third plate 130 and the second depressed portion 122, which are the adjacent plates, are in surface contact with each other to seal a partial section of the gap between the plates. That is, when the second plates and the third plates 130 are disposed alternately, the other surface of the second depressed portion 122 may be in surface contact with one surface of a flat surface portion 132 of the third plate 130 and seal the corresponding portion. In addition, the third plate 130 has a structure having a through-hole without a separate depressed portion, such that the open structure is formed between the third plate 130 and the second plate 120 after being disposed at the other side.

[0058]In this case, the open structure may be connected to the flow path 200 for the fluid flowing through the second heat exchange region 100B. That is, in case that the refrigerant and the coolant alternately flow between the stacked plates 101 of the core 100, the heat exchange medium flowing through the second heat exchange region 100B may flow between the third plate 130 and the second plate 120 disposed toward the other side, and the corresponding flow path 200 may be connected to the open structure, such that the fluid flowing through the second heat exchange region 100B is inserted into the first flow path 210 and flows. Therefore, the plates stacked in the second heat exchange region 100B each include the structure in which the sealing structures and the open structures are alternately disposed in the stacking direction, and the fluid in the second heat exchange region 100B is introduced into the first flow path 210 by the open structure and flows.

[0059]The other end of the first flow path 210 of the present invention may be formed regardless of a length as long as the other end of the first flow path 210 is connected to the second heat exchange region 100B. In more detail, a length of the first flow path 210 is defined as a length from one side of the core 100 to the other end of the first heat exchange region 100A, such that the other end may be positioned at one side of the second heat exchange region 100B. Alternatively, a length of the first flow path 210 is defined as a length further extending from one side of the core 100 to the inside of the second heat exchange region 100B, such that the other end of the first flow path 210 is connected to the second heat exchange region 100B in a larger number of regions.

[0060]The plate-type exchanger of the present invention configured as described above may have the flow paths and the heat exchange regions formed without a separate structure and be manufactured by the process excluding the welding process, thereby solving the problem of damage to and thermal deformation of the material caused by welding. Further, it is possible to provide the heat exchanger in which unnecessary components and processes may be excluded, such that productivity may be improved, costs may be reduced, the assembling process may be simplified, the process may be easily performed, and the stability and durability may be improved.

[0061]While the present invention has been described above with reference to particular contents such as specific constituent elements, the limited embodiments, and the drawings, but the embodiments are provided merely for the purpose of helping understand the present invention overall, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and may be variously modified and altered from the disclosure by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains.

[0062]Accordingly, the spirit of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiment, and all of the equivalents or equivalent modifications of the claims as well as the appended claims belong to the scope of the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS