Method for producing a heat exchanger system, preferably of the exchanger/reactor type

1. Method for producing a heat exchanger system comprising at least one module ( 1 ) traversed by a row of fluid circulation channels ( 2 ), the embodiment of said module being implemented as follows:

formation of an assembly ( 4 ) comprising, in parallel, a plurality of metal conduits ( 10 ) each forming, with the inner space ( 16 ) thereof, one of said fluid circulation channels ( 2 ), said conduits being arranged between two metal plates ( 6 , 6 ), and the spaces ( 17 ) defined by the directly consecutive conduits and said metal plates being filled by a metal filling substance ( 8 ), said assembly ( 4 ) also including two metal connection elements ( 20 , 20 ), one being provided with a plurality of through orifices ( 22 ) respectively housing one of the two ends of the conduits, and the other being provided with a plurality of through orifices ( 22 ) respectively housing the other of the two ends of the conduits; and

treatment of said assembly ( 4 ) so as to obtain diffusion welding of the conduits ( 10 ) with said metal filling substance ( 8 ), with said plates ( 6 , 6 ), and with the two metal connection elements ( 20 , 20 );

wherein material removal is carried out on one of the two metal connection elements ( 20 ) between two directly consecutive orifices ( 22 ), so as to create a joining channel ( 32 ) between these two orifices, and a closing plate ( 34 ) is positioned on said connection element ( 20 ) to seal said joining channel ( 32 ) between the two directly consecutive orifices.

2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein said assembly ( 4 ) is embodied so as to also include a consolidation casing ( 26 ) wherein the rest of the assembly is inserted, and wherein the implementation of said treatment also results in the diffusion welding of said casing ( 26 ) with the rest of the assembly.

3. Method according to claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger system comprises, in one piece, at least one first and one second stacked modules ( 1 a , 1 b ), respectively traversed by a row of first fluid circulation channels ( 2 a ) and by a row of second fluid circulation channels ( 2 b ), the embodiment of said first and second modules being implemented as follows:

formation of a first assembly ( 4 a ) comprising, in parallel, a plurality of first metal conduits ( 10 a ) each forming, with the inner space thereof, one of said first fluid circulation channels ( 2 a ), said first conduits ( 10 a ) being arranged between two first metal plates ( 6 a , 6 a ), and the spaces defined by the directly consecutive first conduits and said first metal plates being filled by a first metal filling substance ( 8 a ), and the formation of a second assembly ( 4 b ) comprising, in parallel, a plurality of second metal conduits ( 10 b ) each forming, with the inner space thereof, one of said second fluid circulation channels ( 2 b ), said second conduits ( 10 b ) being arranged between two second metal plates ( 6 b , 6 b ), and the spaces defined by the directly consecutive second conduits and said second metal plates being filled by a second metal filling substance ( 8 b ), said second assembly being stacked on the first assembly with the first metal plate ( 6 a ) and the second metal plate ( 6 b ), situated between the first and second conduits consisting of the same plate; and

simultaneous treatment of said first and second stacked assemblies ( 4 a , 4 b ) so as to obtain diffusion welding of the first conduits ( 10 a ) with said first metal filling substance ( 8 a ) and said first plates ( 6 a , 6 a ), and diffusion welding of the second conduits ( 10 b ) with said second metal filling substance ( 8 b ) and said second plates ( 6 b , 6 b ).

4. Method according to claim 1 , wherein said treatment is a hot isostatic compression.

5. Method according to claim 4 , characterised in that said hot isostatic compression is carried out at a temperature of approximately 1040° C., at a pressure of approximately 1200 bar, for approximately 2 hours.

6. Method according to claim 1 , characterised in the conduits ( 10 ) are made of stainless steel and the metal filling substance ( 8 ) and said plates ( 6 , 6 ) of an alloy with a high heat conductivity.

7. Method according to claim 1 , characterised in that said metal filling substance ( 8 ), before said assembly treatment step, is made of metal powder.

8. Method according to claim 1 , characterised in that at least one of the fluid circulation channels ( 2 ) is equipped with an insert, preferably made of metal, coated at least partially with a catalyst enabling a catalytic chemical reaction inside said channel.