Reactor structure as a heat exchanger layer stacking construction and method of making same

1. A reactor structure comprising a stack of heat-conductive plate elements, each having a main heat transfer surface; wherein:

said main heat transfer surface of said plate elements, alternating in a stacking direction, bound at least one reactor layer respectively that is filled with a reaction catalyst material for catalyzing a chemical reaction, and at least one tempering layer respectively, through which a tempering medium can flow;

at least two opposite edges of each said plate element are bent back on themselves toward a center area of the plate, forming side areas along opposite edges of said plate, said side areas having a substantially U-shaped cross section which is open toward said center area and bounded by opposing side flanks that are substantially parallel to said main heat transfer surface of said plate and are connected by a web portion that is substantially perpendicular to said side flanks;

adjacent plate elements are connected in a fluid-tight manner along said side areas;

the plate elements are arranged in the stack, resting against one another along said side flanks of said side areas, such that the reactor layers are formed with a larger height than the tempering layers.

2. The reactor structure according to claim 1 , wherein;

each plate element has a main surface;

inner flanks of said side areas are offset relative to said main heat transfer surface by a definable smaller height in a first direction; and

outer side flanks of said side areas are offset relative to said main heat transfer surface by a larger height in a second direction with respect to the main plate surface.

3. The reactor structure according to claim 2 , wherein corrugated ribs are inserted in the tempering layers.

4. The reactor structure according to claim 2 , wherein said main heat transfer surface is corrugated.

5. The reactor structure according to claim 1 , wherein said main heat transfer surface is corrugated.

6. A reactor structure comprising:

a plurality of reactor layers filled with a reaction catalyst material for catalyzing a chemical reaction;

a plurality of tempering layers disposed respectively between the reactor layers, said tempering layers accommodating a tempering medium flow therethrough; and

heat-conductive plate elements, each having a main heat transfer surface, said main heat transfer surfaces of said plate elements bounding the reactor layers and tempering layers, with adjacent plate elements connected in a fluid-tight manner on at least two closed side areas; wherein,

at least two opposite edges of each said plate element are bent back on themselves toward a center area of the plate, forming said side areas along opposite edges of said plate, said side areas having a substantially U-shaped cross section which is oven toward said center area and bounded by opposing side flanks that are substantially parallel to said main heat transfer surface of said plate and are connected by a web portion that is substantially perpendicular to said side flanks;

the plate elements are arranged in the stack resting against one another along said side flanks of each of said side areas, such that the reactor layers are formed with a larger height than the tempering layers.

7. The reactor structure according to claim 6 , wherein heat-conducting corrugated ribs are inserted in the reactor layers, which are formed with a height larger than a height of the tempering layers.

8. The reactor structure according to claim 8 , wherein:

inner side flanks of said side areas are offset relative to said main heat transfer surfaces by a definable smaller height in a first direction; and

outer side flanks of said side areas are offset relative to said main heat transfer surfaces by a larger height in a second direction with respect to the main plate surface.

9. The reactor structure according to claim 6 , wherein said main heat transfer surface is corrugated.

10. The reactor structure according to claim 9 , wherein corrugated ribs are inserted in the tempering layers.

11. The reactor structure according to claim 6 , wherein a height of the reactor layers is between 1½ and 2½ times a height of the tempering layers.

12. The reactor structure according to claim 11 , wherein the height of the reactor layers is twice the height of the tempering layers.

13. The reactor structure according to claim 6 , wherein the plate elements are connected together at facing side flanks by one of soldering, welding and gluing.

14. The reactor structure according to claim 6 , wherein the reactor structure forms a part of a methanol reforming reactor for a fuel cell driven vehicle.

15. A method of making a reactor structure for an exothermal or endothermal chemical reaction, comprising:

forming a plurality of reactor layers filled with reactor catalyst material for catalyzing a chemical reaction;

forming a plurality of tempering layers accommodating a tempering medium flow therethrough;

stacking the reactor layers and tempering layers adjacent one another with a tempering layer disposed between respective pairs of reactor layers; and

bounding the reactor layers and the tempering layers with heat-conductive plate elements, each of which has a main heat transfer surface; wherein,

at least two opposite edges of each said plate element are bent back on themselves toward a center area of the plate, forming side areas along opposite edges of said plate, said side areas having a substantially U-shaped cross section which is oven toward said center area and bounded by opposing side flanks that are substantially parallel to said main heat transfer surface of said plate and are connected by a web portion that is substantially perpendicular to said side flanks;

adjacent plate elements are in a fluid tight manner along said side areas; and

the plate elements are arranged in the stack, resting against one another along said side flanks of said side areas, such that the reactor layers are formed with a larger height than the tempering layers.

16. The method of making a reactor structure according to claim 15 , wherein heat-conducting corrugated ribs are inserted in the reactor layers which are formed with a height larger than a height of the tempering layers.

17. The method of making a reactor structure according to claim 15 , wherein the plate elements are connected together at facing side flanks by one of soldering, welding and gluing.

18. A reactor structure comprising:

a plurality of reactor layers filled with a reaction catalyst material for catalyzing a chemical reaction;

a plurality of tempering layers disposed respectively between the reactor layers, said tempering layers accommodating a tempering medium flow therethrough; and

heat-conductive plate elements, each having a main heat transfer surface, said main heat transfer surfaces of said plate elements bounding the reactor layers and tempering layers, with adjacent plate elements connected in a fluid-tight manner on at least two closed side areas; wherein,

at least two opposite edges of each said plate element are bent back on themselves toward a center area of the plate, forming said side areas along opposite edges of said plate, said side areas having a substantially U-shaped cross section which is open toward said center area and bounded by opposing side flanks that are substantially parallel to said main heat transfer surface of said plate and are connected by a web portion that is substantially perpendicular to said side flanks;

said plate elements are arranged in a stack, with alternating upward and downward orientation in a stacking direction, and with said fluid tight connection being formed at adjacent flanks in adjacent side plate elements;

said main surfaces have at least one depression formed therein in the stacking direction; and

said side portions extend in said stacking direction and are dimensioned to provide the reactor layers with a height larger than a height of the tempering layers.