DE102016006648A1 - Intercooler for cooling compressed air - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a charge air cooler (10) for cooling compressed air to be supplied to an internal combustion engine, comprising a radiator body (12) having a plurality of air flow through radiator tubes (14) for cooling the air, having an inlet box (16) a first chamber (18) common to the radiator tubes (14), with which the radiator tubes (14) are fluidically connected at one end, and an outlet box (22) having a second chamber (24) common to the radiator tubes (14) which at the other end are fluidically connected to the radiator tubes (14), and at least one storage tube (30) fluidly connected to the chambers (18, 24) for receiving condensate generated during the cooling of the air, at least one of the chambers (18 , 24) at least one of the at least one chamber (18, 24) at least partially into a first partial chamber (36), with which the radiator tubes (14) are fluidically connected, and a second sub-chamber (38), with which the storage tube (30) is fluidically connected, dividing and at least one passage opening for the condensate having dividing wall (32, 34) is arranged.

Description

The invention relates to a charge air cooler for cooling compressed air to be supplied to an internal combustion engine according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Such a charge air cooler for cooling compressed air to be supplied to an internal combustion engine, for example, is already the DE 10 2012 105 392 A1 to be known as known. The intercooler has a radiator body with a plurality of air flow through the radiator tubes for cooling the air. In other words, during operation of the charge air cooler, the air to be cooled flows through the radiator tubes and thus through the radiator body, so that the air flowing through the radiator tubes is cooled by means of the radiator tubes. For this purpose, for example, a heat transfer from the air flowing through the radiator tubes via the radiator tubes to a cooling medium, which flows around the radiator tubes, for example. The cooling medium is, for example, ambient air.

The intercooler also has an inlet box, which forms a first chamber common to the radiator tubes. The cooler tubes are at one end fluidly connected to the first chamber, so that, for example, the compressed and to be cooled air flow into the first chamber and can flow from the first chamber into the radiator tubes. Furthermore, the intercooler comprises a discharge box, which forms a second chamber common to the radiator tubes. In this case, the radiator tubes are fluidly connected to the second chamber at the other end so that the air flowing through the radiator tubes can flow out of the radiator tubes and into the second chamber common to the radiator tubes. From the second chamber can then be cooled by means of the intercooler air of the internal combustion engine, in particular at least one combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, are supplied. Furthermore, the intercooler comprises at least one fluidically connected to the chambers storage tube for receiving condensate formed in the cooling of the air. Typically, moisture is absorbed in the air, which condenses by the fact that the air is cooled by means of the charge air cooler, so that said condensate is formed. The condensate is usually water, wherein it should be avoided that an excessive amount of the condensate in the internal combustion engine, in particular in the combustion chamber, passes. Further, the DE 10 2010 050 806 A1 an engine air intake system for a vehicle.

Object of the present invention is to develop a charge air cooler of the type mentioned in such a way that the condensate can be particularly advantageously absorbed in the intercooler.

This object is achieved by a charge air cooler having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient developments of the invention are specified in the remaining claims.

To develop a charge air cooler specified in the preamble of claim 1 species such that the condensate can be particularly advantageously absorbed in the intercooler, it is inventively provided that in at least one of the at least one chamber at least partially into a first sub-chamber and at least is arranged in a second sub-chamber dividing and at least one passage opening for the condensate having partition. In this case, the radiator tubes are fluidically connected to the first sub-chamber, wherein the storage tube is fluidly connected to the second sub-chamber. For example, condensate which forms in the first sub-chamber can flow into the second sub-chamber via the passage opening, so that the condensate can flow from the second sub-chamber into the storage tube and be received or stored in the storage tube.

Through the use of the partition in the at least one chamber, the condensate can be stored particularly advantageous in the intercooler and is released again in only very small amounts, that is discharged from the intercooler, so that the condensate received in the storage tube not in a particularly large and thus Excessive amount can be discharged from the intercooler and get into the internal combustion engine, but the condensate stored in the storage tube is discharged, for example, successively in only small, respective amounts from the intercooler, so not an excessively large amount at once, but only, in particular successively, the said small amounts of condensate in the Internal combustion engine, especially in the combustion chambers, can get.

It has been found that this discharge of only small amounts of the condensate from the intercooler is advantageous in order to avoid combustion problems, in particular misfires, in the internal combustion engine. In other words, the invention is based on the following knowledge: If the condensate formed and stored in the intercooler discharged, for example in a very large amount at once, so that this large amount of condensate in the internal combustion engine, especially in their combustion chambers, can pass, so combustion problems and especially misfires occur. These problems and disadvantages can be avoided by means of the charge air cooler according to the invention, since it can be ensured by the partition that the condensate is not discharged in a very large amount from the intercooler, but the condensate is discharged in respective small amounts from the intercoolers, this amount does not lead to combustion problems in the internal combustion engine.

The arrangement of the partition in the at least one chamber, the condensate can be stored without additional components and in particular without additional space in the intercooler. Furthermore, by means of the partition, in particular by means of the passage opening of the partition wall, an air flow for discharging the condensate can be metered from the intercooler. Under this discharge of the condensate from the intercooler is to be understood that the air flow, for example, flows through the passage opening and flows through the second sub-chamber in the storage tube and takes the condensate received in the storage tube and remove from the storage tube and in particular from the intercooler total and the Can transport internal combustion engine. By means of the partition wall, in particular by means of the passage opening, the air flow can be metered specifically and as needed, so that the condensate is not discharged in a very large amount at once, but in only small quantities from the intercooler and transported into the internal combustion engine. This misfiring can be avoided in the internal combustion engine.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and from the drawing. The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the figure description and / or alone in the single figure can be used not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in other combinations or alone, without the frame to leave the invention.

The drawing shows in the single FIGURE is a schematic front view of a charge air cooler for cooling supplied from an internal combustion engine compressed air, wherein at least one partition wall is disposed in at least one chamber of the charge air cooler.

The single FIGURE shows in a schematic front view with a whole 10 designated intercooler for cooling compressed air, which is supplied to an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine is designed for example as a reciprocating internal combustion engine and has at least one combustion chamber, which may be formed as a cylinder. The internal combustion engine is, for example, part of a drive train of a motor vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, which is or which can be driven by means of the internal combustion engine. During its operation, the internal combustion engine sucks air which flows through an intake tract of the internal combustion engine. By means of the intake tract, the air is guided into the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. In this case, for example, a compressor of an exhaust gas turbocharger is arranged in the intake tract, so that the air flowing through the intake tract can be compressed by means of the compressor. The compressor is for example part of an exhaust gas turbocharger having a turbine. The turbine can be driven, for example, by exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine, wherein the compressor can be driven by the turbine. As a result, energy contained in the exhaust gas can be used to compress the air.

By compressing the air, the air is heated. In order to realize a high degree of turbocharging despite this heating of the air, the charge air cooler is in the intake tract 10 arranged. Relative to the direction of flow of the air through the intake tract is the intercooler 10 arranged downstream of the compressor. Thus, the compressed and thus heated air through the intercooler 10 flow and is - as will be explained in more detail below - by means of the intercooler 10 cooled, whereupon the air can then flow into the internal combustion engine, in particular in the combustion chamber.

The intercooler 10 has a radiator body 12 which has a plurality of radiator pipes through which the air to be cooled can flow 14 includes. By means of the radiator pipes 14 the air flowing through the radiator tubes is cooled by, for example, a heat transfer from the radiator tubes 14 air flowing through the radiator pipes 14 to a the radiator pipes 14 flowing around cooling medium. This cooling medium is, for example, ambient air, which flows around the outer side of the radiator tubes.

The intercooler 10 further comprises an entry box 16 which one the radiator pipes 14 common first chamber 18 forms. Here are the radiator pipes 14 at one end fluidly with the first chamber 18 connected, so that the compressed and thus heated air first, in particular over a connection 20 , in the first chamber 18 can flow in. Because the radiator pipes 14 at one end fluidly with the first chamber 18 can be connected to the first chamber 18 Infiltrated and compressed air over the first chamber 18 in the radiator pipes 14 flow. In other words, it flows into the first chamber 18 incoming air from the first chamber 18 off and the radiator pipes 14 one. The in the radiator pipes 14 inflowing air then flows through the radiator tubes and is by means of the radiator tubes 14 cooled. The radiator body 12 is also referred to as a radiator network, which the radiator pipes 14 includes.

The intercooler 10 includes a discharge box 22 which one the radiator pipes 14 common second chamber 24 forms. Here are the radiator pipes 14 at the other end fluidly with the second chamber 24 connected. The the radiator pipes 14 air flowing through can thus escape from the radiator pipes and into the second chamber 24 flow. About a connection 26 can be the compressed, cooled and in the second chamber 24 incoming air from the second chamber 24 removed and the internal combustion engine, in particular the combustion chamber, are supplied.

Usually in the air, since it comes from the environment of the motor vehicle, water or moisture contain, or condensed by the fact that the air is cooled condenses. This forms condensate, which has at least water.

In this case, the intercooler 10 at least one storage device 28 on which at least one storage tube 30 for storing the condensate. In the embodiment illustrated in the figure, the intercooler comprises 10 or the storage device 28 exactly one storage tube 30 for storing the condensate. Alternatively, it may be provided that the intercooler 10 or the storage device 28 has a plurality of storage tubes for storing condensate.

To now the condensate particularly advantageous in the intercooler 10 , in particular in the storage tube 30 to record and store is in at least one of the chambers 18 and 24 at least one partition 32 respectively 34 arranged. In the embodiment illustrated in the figure, in the first chamber 18 the partition 32 and in the second chamber 24 the partition 34 arranged. By means of the respective partition 32 respectively 34 is the respective chamber 18 respectively 24 at least partially into a first sub-chamber 36 and into a second sub-chamber 38 divided. Here are the radiator pipes 14 fluidic with the respective first sub-chamber 36 connected, the storage tube 30 fluidic with the respective second sub-chamber 38 connected is. The respective partition 32 respectively 34 is positioned so that the storage tube 30 from the radiator pipes 14 is separated.

The figure shows an installation position of the intercooler 10 , which assumes its installation position in fully manufactured state of the motor vehicle. Related to this installation position is the storage tube 30 in the vertical direction below the radiator tubes or under the radiator tubes 14 arranged so that the condensate by gravity in a vertical direction down into the storage tube 30 can flow. In the installation position or in the completely produced state of the motor vehicle, the vertical direction coincides, for example, with the vehicle vertical direction.

The respective partition 32 respectively 34 has at least one passage opening for the condensate. In particular, it can be provided that the respective partition 32 respectively 34 a plurality of such passage openings for the condensate. Thus, the condensate may, for example, from the respective first partial chamber 36 through the respective passage opening of the respective partition 32 respectively 34 in the respective lower sub-chamber 38 flow and then from the respective second sub-chamber 38 in the storage tube 30 flow.

The respective passage opening also has the function that the condensate is metered by means of air or by means of an air flow from the one storage area performing storage tube 30 is discharged, so then newly emerging or newly accumulating condensate in the storage tube 30 can be recorded and stored. The air flow for discharging the condensate from the storage tube 30 can be adjusted by means of the respective passage opening targeted and needs, so that the first in the storage tube 30 Stored condensate not in a very large amount at once, but, for example, successively in respective small amounts from the intercooler 10 is discharged. As a result, these small amounts of condensate can get into the internal combustion engine, which combustion problems, especially misfires, can be avoided.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Intercooler

12

cooler body

14

condenser tube

16

entry box

18

first chamber

20

connection

22

outlet box

24

second chamber

26

connection

28

memory device

30

storage tube

32

partition wall

34

partition wall

36

first compartment

38

second sub-chamber

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102012105392 A1 [0002]
• DE 102010050806 A1 [0003]

Claims (3)

Intercooler ( 10 ) for cooling compressed air to be supplied to an internal combustion engine, with a radiator body ( 12 ), which a plurality of air-flow through the radiator tubes ( 14 ) for cooling the air, with an inlet box ( 16 ), which one the radiator pipes ( 14 ) common first chamber ( 18 ), with which the radiator tubes ( 14 ) are fluidically connected at one end forms, and with a discharge box ( 22 ), which one the radiator pipes ( 14 ) common second chamber ( 24 ), with which the radiator tubes ( 14 ) are fluidically connected at the other end, and at least one with the chambers ( 18 . 24 ) fluidly connected storage tube ( 30 ) for receiving condensate formed during the cooling of the air, characterized in that in at least one of the chambers ( 18 . 24 ) at least one the at least one chamber ( 18 . 24 ) at least partially into a first sub-chamber ( 36 ), with which the radiator tubes ( 14 ) are fluidically connected, and a second sub-chamber ( 38 ), with which the storage tube ( 30 ) is fluidly connected, dividing and at least one passage opening for the condensate having partition ( 32 . 34 ) is arranged. Intercooler ( 10 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the storage tube ( 30 ) relative to an installation position of the intercooler ( 10 ) in the vertical direction under the radiator tubes ( 14 ) is arranged. Charging cooler ( 10 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the passage opening has a flow-through by the condensate flow cross-section, which is less than on both sides of the passage opening adjoining flow cross-sections of the respective sub-chambers ( 36 . 38 ).

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