TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a fluid flow-path device including multiple flow paths in which fluid flows.

BACKGROUND ART

A fluid flow-path device including multiple flow paths in which fluid flows has been known. Such a fluid flow-path device is used for a heat exchanger configured to cool cooling target fluid by heat exchange between the cooling target fluid and cooling fluid as described in, e.g., Patent Document 1.

The heat exchanger described in Patent Document 1 includes a flow-path structure, a supply header, and a discharge header. The flow-path structure has multiple first flow paths in which the cooling target fluid flows and multiple second flow paths in which the cooling fluid for cooling the cooling target fluid flows. The supply header is arranged such that the cooling fluid is supplied to the multiple second flow paths through the supply header. The discharge header is arranged such that the cooling fluid is discharged from the multiple second flow paths through the discharge header. At the flow-path structure, multiple introduction ports for introducing the cooling target fluid into each of the multiple first flow paths and multiple discharge ports for discharging the cooling target fluid from each of the multiple first flow paths are formed. In the heat exchanger described in Patent Document 1, the cooling target fluid is cooled by heat exchange between the cooling target fluid flowing in each of the multiple first flow paths and the cooling fluid flowing in each of the multiple second flow paths.

However, in the above-described heat exchanger, there is a probability that when a foreign substance contained in the fluid enters the flow path, the foreign substance is caught by an inner surface of the flow path and blocks the flow path. As the technique of preventing clogging of the flow path due to entrance of the foreign substance as described above, prevention of entrance of the foreign substance into the flow path is conceivable. For example, it is conceivable that a strainer is arranged at a pipe which is connected to the supply header and in which the fluid flows toward the supply header and the strainer allows passage of the fluid while preventing passage of the foreign substance contained in the fluid. The strainer can trap the foreign substance contained in the fluid, and can remove the foreign substance from the fluid.

However, for maintaining a foreign substance removal function by the strainer, maintenance as the process of removing the foreign substance adhering to the strainer from the strainer is necessary. For performing such maintenance, the burdensome process of detaching the strainer from the pipe to wash the strainer in a state in which the flow of the fluid in the pipe is stopped is necessary.

In addition, due to a small flow path area in the pipe, it is difficult to ensure the area of a portion (e.g., a mesh) for preventing passage of the foreign substance contained in the fluid while allowing passage of the fluid in the strainer. For this reason, the number of times of burdensome maintenance as described above increases. Further, a space for arranging the strainer is necessary in the pipe, and in some cases, a space with the same size as that of the heat exchanger is necessary. Moreover, the pressure of the fluid acts on the strainer, and for this reason, it is necessary to design the strainer as a pressure-resistant member, and depending on the design pressure, the strainer needs to have an extremely-great thickness.

CITATION LIST

Patent Document

Patent Document 1: JP 2014-152963 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a fluid flow-path device including a member configured to prevent passage of a foreign substance and capable of easily performing the process of removing the foreign substance adhering to the member from the member. Provided is a fluid flow-path device for supplying target fluid. The fluid flow-path device includes a flow-path formation body having multiple flow paths and a side surface, the multiple flow paths being formed inside the flow-path formation body and allowing the flow of the target fluid in the flow paths and an inlet of each of the multiple flow paths opening at the side surface; and a distribution header arranged on the side surface to cover the inlet of each of the multiple flow paths and forming a distribution space for distributing the target fluid to each of the multiple flow paths between the distribution header and the flow-path formation body. The distribution header includes a header body having a recessed portion and a supply port, the recessed portion opening to the side surface to form the distribution space in a state in which the distribution header is arranged on the side surface and the supply port being communicated with the distribution space to allow supply of the target fluid to the distribution space through the supply port; and a partition member provided at the header body at a position in the distribution space, partitioning the distribution space into an upstream-side space communicated with the supply port and a downstream-side space communicated with each of the multiple flow paths at a position closer to the flow-path formation body than the upstream-side space is to, and having a fluid passable portion allowing the target fluid supplied into the distribution space through the supply port to flow to the downstream-side space from the upstream-side space while preventing a foreign substance contained in the target fluid from flowing to the downstream-side space from the upstream-side space. The header body is formed with an introduction port and a discharge port, the introduction port is communicated with the downstream-side space such that washing fluid for discharging the foreign substance adhering to the fluid passable portion from the inside of the space to the outside of the distribution header is supplied to the downstream-side space through the introduction port and passes through the fluid passable portion in a direction from the downstream-side space toward the upstream-side space to remove the foreign substance adhering to the fluid passable portion from the fluid passable portion, and the discharge port is communicated with the upstream-side space such that the washing fluid containing the foreign substance removed from the fluid passable portion by passing through the fluid passable portion in the direction from the downstream-side space toward the upstream-side space is discharged to the outside of the distribution header from the upstream-side space through the discharge port.

