DE102012109038B4 - Device for heat transfer in a refrigerant circuit - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for a refrigerant circuit (2, 2 ') with a heat exchanger (6) for heat transfer between the refrigerant and air, the heat exchanger (6) with a valve (17) and a collector (7) as a compact, coherent module (30 ) is designed with integrated refrigerant connections, wherein the valve (17) - is arranged integrated within the collector (7) and - is designed as a connecting element between the collector (7) and the heat exchanger (6), characterized in that the module (30 ) is designed so that the refrigerant can flow bidirectionally, the module (30) in the first flow direction of the refrigerant for heat transfer from the refrigerant to the air in the order heat exchanger (6), valve (17) and collector (7) and in the second flow direction of the Refrigerant for heat transfer from the air to the refrigerant flows through in the order collector (7), valve (17) and heat exchanger (6) and that in addition to the vent il (17) a second valve (18) is arranged integrated within the collector (7) or the heat exchanger (6), the valves (17, 18) being designed to be controllable with separate drives or with a common drive.

Description

The invention relates to a device for a refrigerant circuit with a heat exchanger for transferring heat between the refrigerant and air. The invention also relates to the use of the device in a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioning system for conditioning the air in a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.

Series vehicles known from the prior art have an air conditioning system for cooling the passenger compartment. For future generations of vehicles, the use of the air conditioning system in a combined refrigeration system and heat pump operation as well as a post-heating operation for heating, cooling and dehumidifying the air to be conditioned in the passenger compartment is examined. The refrigerant circuit of the air conditioning system is adapted for operation in the different modes.

Due to their large number, the technical components in modern motor vehicles are generally required to optimize the volume of the individual components and their arrangement in relation to one another in order to be able to achieve the desired functionality by accommodating all components in the limited space of the motor vehicle. The arrangement of the components must be combined in a space-saving and cost-saving manner.

Known vehicle air conditioning systems consist of various individual components, such as the condenser usually located in the front of the vehicle, the compressor connected to the vehicle engine and driven by it, the evaporator located in the passenger compartment, as well as hoses and connections. To drive the compressor, the motor of the vehicle is usually used by coupling in mechanical energy to drive the compressor shaft. In the future, electric compressors will also be used, which are supplied by the high-voltage battery of the hybrid or electric vehicle. The cooling fan and blower are electrically powered by the 12 V on-board power supply.
The components of the system are conventionally delivered individually to vehicle production and assembled there. Due to the majority of the components, different assembly steps are required, which concern a large number of connections and increase the installation effort. The connections to be made during assembly also represent potential leakage points, which in turn may be very time-consuming and costly to correct.

From the WO 2012/025099 A1 shows a heating / cooling device for motor vehicles with a refrigerant circuit, having a compressor, a gas cooler, an internal heat exchanger, an expansion valve, a refrigerant reservoir and an evaporator. The gas cooler and the evaporator are each thermally coupled to a coolant circuit. The compressor, the gas cooler and the evaporator are combined as a unit to form a refrigerant block.

In the DE 101 41 389 A1 a coolant circuit of a motor vehicle with a coolant / refrigerant heat exchanger for the thermal coupling of a refrigeration system to the coolant circuit is disclosed. When the refrigerant circuit is operating in the heat pump mode, the coolant serves as a heat source for heating the interior of the motor vehicle. The coolant / refrigerant heat exchanger is designed as a heat exchanger module with integrated connecting lines with an external heat exchanger, an accumulator / collector and an internal heat exchanger of the refrigerant circuit and a cooler of the coolant circuit.

In the JP 2000-205 700 A describes a refrigerant collector integrated in a condenser of a refrigerant circuit. The condenser / collector unit is designed to prevent the high pressure rising within the condenser after the compressor has been switched off with a connection path. The condenser has manifolds which are connected to one another via flow paths. The connection path formed between the collector and a collecting pipe of the condenser is arranged above the liquid level of the refrigerant in the collector. A valve device for opening and closing the connection path is also provided within the collector, so that the connection path is opened or closed depending on the pressure level or operation of the compressor.

In the DE 698 24 694 T2 shows a refrigerant circuit for an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle with a compressor, a condenser, a collector, an expansion element and an evaporator. The refrigerant circuit also has a pre-pressure reducing device, which is arranged between the condenser and the collector and serves to lower the pressure of the refrigerant in the liquid state down to the saturation vapor pressure.

From the JP 2003-083 643 A shows an evaporator, having a manifold on the inlet side and a manifold on the outlet side, which are connected to one another via flow paths, and an expansion valve. The evaporator and the expansion valve are connected to one another as a unit. The expansion valve is arranged between the header pipes and has a connection to the header pipes on. The refrigerant entering the evaporator is expanded when it flows through the expansion valve.

In the DE 10 2011 005 749 A1 discloses a collector for a cooling and / or heating system operated with a refrigerant. The collector comprises a container filled with refrigerant and having a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet. The refrigerant is in a liquid state in a first part of the container and in a gaseous state in a second part of the container. Furthermore, a separating device is provided which, depending on the pressure and / or the temperature of the refrigerant, causes liquid or gaseous refrigerant to be conducted to the refrigerant outlet.

In the DE 103 42 110 A1 describes a refrigerant circuit of a motor vehicle air conditioning system with a compressor driven by an engine, a condenser, an expansion element, a refrigerant collector and an evaporator. In addition, a pressure reduction device is provided within the refrigerant circuit, which brings about a pressure reduction in the event of a standstill of the compressor.

In the US 2011/0030934 A1 a device for separating the different phases of vapor and liquid and for collecting a refrigerant in the form of a vessel, with a vapor line, a liquid line, an access line and an element for regulating the mass flow of the refrigerant is shown. The access line is designed with an expansion valve. The element for regulating the mass flow is arranged within the steam line. The vapor line is connected to a first collecting pipe and the liquid line is connected to a second collecting pipe of a heat exchanger

The object of the present invention is to arrange components of a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle within a module. As a combination of the components, the module should take up little space. The constructive connection of the components minimizes maintenance and assembly costs as well as refrigerant leakage to the outside. This is intended to reduce the number of connections that seal to the outside. The module should be easy to integrate into the vehicle during assembly.

The object is achieved by a device according to the invention for a refrigerant circuit with a heat exchanger for transferring heat between the refrigerant and air, in particular ambient air.
The refrigerant circuit has a compressor, the heat exchanger for heat transfer between the refrigerant and the environment, a collector, an expansion element and a heat exchanger for heat transfer between the refrigerant and an air mass flow to be conditioned.
The collector is operated depending on the operating mode of the refrigerant circuit and the application of refrigerant at high pressure level or medium pressure level as a receiver and at low pressure level as an accumulator.

According to the conception of the invention, the heat exchanger for heat transfer between the refrigerant and air of the device according to the invention with a valve and the collector is designed as a compact, coherent module with integrated refrigerant connections. According to the concept, the valve is arranged integrated within the collector or within the heat exchanger and is designed as a connecting element between the collector and the heat exchanger.
When the valve is integrated within the heat exchanger, the valve is preferably arranged in a collecting tube.
With the integration of the components within the compact, preassembled module, no refrigerant lines and their connections between the components are necessary. The module can be processed cost-effectively with higher quality in terms of transport, assembly of the components and in the vehicle as well as the leak-free connections.

According to the invention, the module is designed so that the refrigerant can flow through it in both directions. The module is flowed through in the first flow direction of the refrigerant for heat transfer from the refrigerant to the air in the order heat exchanger, valve and collector. In the second flow direction of the refrigerant for heat transfer from the air to the refrigerant, the refrigerant flows one after the other through the collector, the valve and the heat exchanger.
Alternatively, the valve can also be closed and, in the closed state, blocks either the flow path of the refrigerant through the collector or the flow path of the refrigerant through the heat exchanger. The refrigerant is then passed through a further flow path, which can also have a valve.
The valve is preferably designed as an expansion valve, switching valve, straight-way valve and / or shut-off valve. When the valve is designed as a straight-way valve, it is switched between the "open" and "closed" positions.

In addition to the first valve, a second valve, which is also arranged integrated within the collector or the heat exchanger. The valves are either designed with drives that can be controlled separately from one another, that is, with separate drives, or have a common drive in order to control the valves simultaneously and jointly. One valve is advantageously open while the other valve is closed and vice versa.

According to a further development of the invention, the collector is connected to the heat exchanger via an externally releasable connection. The externally releasable connection is advantageously designed as a plug-in connector. In order to rule out possible refrigerant leakage, the connection between the collector and the heat exchanger is alternatively designed as a non-detachable connection, which can be produced, for example, by soldering, gluing, shrinking or friction welding.

With regard to its base area, the heat exchanger has two opposite narrow sides and two long sides. The base area is to be understood as the area perpendicular to the flow direction of the air, that is to say the area through which the air flows into or out of the heat exchanger. The collector is preferably arranged on one of the narrow sides of the base area of the heat exchanger. A first end of the collector is arranged on the first longitudinal side of the heat exchanger and a second end of the collector is arranged on the second longitudinal side of the heat exchanger, so that the collector extends over the entire length of a narrow side of the heat exchanger. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the collector extends only over part of the narrow side of the heat exchanger.
The collector advantageously has the shape of a cylinder, such as a bottle or a tube. The collector or the collector can be arranged in connection with the heat exchanger either standing, that is to say vertically aligned, or lying, that is to say horizontally aligned.

It is particularly advantageous that the module has only two refrigerant passages. The first refrigerant passage is designed as a connection between a refrigerant line of the refrigerant circuit and the heat exchanger and the second refrigerant passage as a connection between a refrigerant line of the refrigerant circuit and the collector.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the first refrigerant passage is arranged on the upper longitudinal side of the heat exchanger in the region of the upper end of the collector and the second refrigerant passage in the lower region of the collector. The valve is also advantageously designed in the lower region of the collector.

Alternatively, the module is provided with three refrigerant passages, the third refrigerant passage being designed in terms of flow technology parallel to the second refrigerant passage. The third refrigerant passage is then also connected to the collector as a direct connection of a refrigerant line of the refrigerant circuit. In addition, further refrigerant passages connected in parallel to the existing refrigerant passages can be arranged on the collector.

According to a further development of the invention, the module has a service opening for exchanging a component arranged within the collector. The service opening can advantageously be closed again and is formed on the collector.
With the help of the service opening, for example, components integrated in the collector, such as a dryer or a filter, can be inserted, removed or replaced. The filter elements serve to protect the valve or the refrigerant circuit.

According to a further development of the invention, the heat exchanger has a depth in the range from 10 mm to 20 mm. The depth is to be understood as the expansion of the heat exchanger in the flow direction of the air. The depth thus results from the extension perpendicular to the base area of the heat exchanger, the base area being understood to be the area perpendicular to the direction of flow of the air, i.e. the area through which the air flows into or out of the heat exchanger.

The advantageous embodiment of the invention, particularly with regard to the very space-saving design and the reduced number of connections within the refrigerant lines of the refrigerant circuit, enables the device according to the invention to be used in a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioning system for conditioning the air in a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.
The refrigerant circuit is preferably designed for a combined refrigeration system and heat pump mode and for an after-heating mode of the air conditioning system. When the device according to the invention is used in the refrigerant circuit when operating in heat pump mode, heat is transferred from the ambient air to the refrigerant in the heat exchanger. The ambient air serves as a heat source.

• - kältemittelleckagefreie, hermetische Verbindungen zwischen den Komponenten des Moduls und Reduzierung der Anzahl der nach außen zu dichtenden Verbindungen,
• - platz- und bauraumsparende Einheit zur einfachen Integration in einem Kraftfahrzeug,
• - Reduzierung des Herstellungs-, Wartungs- und Montageaufwandes und der damit verbundenen Kosten, zum Beispiel durch Vormontieren,
• - Möglichkeit des Tests des Moduls vor der Montage im Kraftfahrzeug führt zur Verringerung von Qualitätsproblemen und Nachbearbeitungsaufwand.

Further advantages of the device or the compact, coherent module with integrated refrigerant connections the state of the art can be summarized as follows:

• - refrigerant leak-free, hermetic connections between the components of the module and reduction of the number of connections to be sealed to the outside,
• - Space and space saving unit for easy integration in a motor vehicle,
• - Reduction of the manufacturing, maintenance and assembly effort and the associated costs, for example through pre-assembly,
• - The possibility of testing the module before assembly in the motor vehicle leads to a reduction in quality problems and reworking costs.

• 1: die Klimaanlage mit einem ersten Kältemittelkreislauf als Anordnung im Kraftfahrzeug,
• 2: die Klimaanlage mit einem zweiten Kältemittelkreislauf unter alternativer Anordnung der Komponenten,
• 3: aus einem Wärmeübertrager, einem Ventil und einem Sammler kombinierte Komponente des Kältemittelkreislaufes sowie
• 4: Detaildarstellung der Komponente aus 3.

Further details, features and advantages of the invention emerge from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the associated drawings. Show it

• 1 : the air conditioning system with a first refrigerant circuit as an arrangement in the motor vehicle,
• 2 : the air conditioning system with a second refrigerant circuit with an alternative arrangement of the components,
• 3 : components of the refrigerant circuit combined from a heat exchanger, a valve and a collector as well as
• 4th : Detail display of the component 3 .

In 1 is the air conditioning 1 for a motor vehicle with a refrigerant circuit 2 and an engine cooling circuit 3 shown as an arrangement in the motor vehicle.

The primary refrigerant circuit 2 In addition to the evaporators arranged one after the other in the flow direction of the refrigerant in the refrigeration system mode 4th , Compressor 5 , heat exchanger operated as a condenser / gas cooler 6th , Collector 7th and valve 16 also an internal heat exchanger 8th . Under the internal heat exchanger 8th is to be understood as a circuit-internal heat exchanger, which is used to transfer heat between the refrigerant at high pressure and the refrigerant at low pressure. For example, the liquid refrigerant is further cooled after condensation and the suction gas is cooled before the compressor 5 overheated.
The check valve 19th prevents the refrigerant from flowing through from the direction of the valve 16 in the heat exchanger 11 . The check valve is in the opposite direction of flow 19th permeable.

If the refrigerant is liquefied during subcritical operation, for example with the refrigerant R134a or under certain ambient conditions with carbon dioxide, the heat exchanger becomes 6th referred to as a capacitor. Part of the heat transfer takes place at a constant temperature. With supercritical operation or with supercritical heat dissipation in the heat exchanger 6th the temperature of the refrigerant steadily decreases. In this case the heat exchanger 6th also known as a gas cooler. Supercritical operation can occur under certain environmental conditions or operating modes of the air conditioning system 1 for example with the refrigerant carbon dioxide.

For simultaneous cooling and dehumidification and heating of the supply air for the passenger compartment, also referred to as reheat, the refrigerant circuit 2 the air conditioning 1 secondary flow paths with additional components. At the outlet of the compressor 5 is a branch 21st educated. Between the branch 21st and the heat exchanger 6th is an additional shut-off valve 14th arranged. A first secondary flow path extends from the branch 21st to the junction 23 between the expansion valve 16 as well as the valve 9 and points in the direction of flow of the refrigerant from the compressor 5 starting with a shut-off valve 13 as well as a heat exchanger 11 on, which also acts as a heating register 11 is designated and fulfills the function of a second condenser / gas cooler.

In addition to the first secondary flow path, a second secondary flow path extends from a branch 22nd up to the muzzle 24 at the inlet to the compressor 5 or the internal heat exchanger 8th . The second secondary flow path opens between the outlet from the evaporator 4th and the internal heat exchanger 8th into the primary refrigerant circuit and has an expansion element designed as an expansion valve 18th as well as a heat exchanger 10 on. The heat exchanger 10 can on the one hand from the refrigerant and on the other hand from the coolant of the engine cooling circuit 3 , for example an internal combustion engine or an electric motor, are flowed through. The coolant can, for example, also circulate in a coolant circuit of the vehicle electronics. The heat exchanger is on the refrigerant side 10 operated as an evaporator, so that depending on the operating mode, heat is transferred from the coolant to the refrigerant. The heat exchanger 10 is also known as a chiller.
A third secondary flow path with a shut-off valve 15th connects the section between the shut-off valve 14th and the heat exchanger 6th with the entry of the compressor 5 .

Within the engine cooling circuit 3 the coolant, preferably a water-glycol Mixture, between the engine 20th and the heat exchanger 12 circulated. In the heat exchanger 12 , which is also referred to as a heating system heat exchanger, is used by the engine 20th transferred heat to the air to be supplied to the passenger compartment. The heat exchanger 12 is designed as a glycol-air heat exchanger.

The parallel connected flow paths of the engine cooling circuit 3 are made by means of a shut-off valve designed as a three-way valve 25th opened or closed, whereby each flow path can be switched separately.

Depending on the heat pump mode with different heat sources, the valves are designed as expansion valves 17th , 18th alternately closed or open, so that either the heat exchanger 6th or the heat exchanger 10 is flowed through by refrigerant, while the other heat exchanger 6th , 10 is not applied. Alternatively, both heat exchangers can be used 6th , 10 be flowed through by refrigerant, so that both the ambient air and the coolant of the engine cooling circuit 3 can be used as heat sources.

The valves 13 , 14th , 15th are designed as 2-2-way valves in the embodiment shown. The valves 13 , 14th , 15th consequently each have two connections and two switching positions. Alternatively are the valves 13 , 14th or the valves 14th , 15th also each in a combination as a 3-2-way valve or with the addition of all three valves 13 , 14th , 15th as a 4-2-way valve with the same valve characteristics of the valves 13 , 14th , 15th educated.

The valves 9 , 16 , 17th , 18th can also be designed as fixed throttles depending on the operating mode.
The collector 7th , which in the specified embodiments in the high pressure area of the refrigerant circuit 2 is arranged and operated as a receiver, depending on the use in a combined refrigerant circuit for cooling and heating, alternatively as an accumulator on the low-pressure side in the direction of flow of the refrigerant before the refrigerant enters the evaporator 4th or after the evaporator 4th can be arranged. The collector 7th can also be operated at medium pressure level, i.e. an intermediate pressure between high pressure and low pressure of the refrigerant, and thus as a receiver, for example to optimize the refrigerant charge in the refrigerant circuit.

When arranging the components of the refrigerant circuit 2 in a motor vehicle is in a front area 26th , a wheel arch 27 , a water tank 28 and an air conditioner 29 distinguished. When arranging after 1 are the valves 13 , 14th , 15th , 17th , the collector 7th and the branch 21st in the wheel arch 27 as well as the heat exchanger 6th in the front area 26th of the motor vehicle housed. The heat exchanger 10 who have favourited valves 9 , 16 , 18th , 25th , the check valve 19th who have favourited branches 22nd , 23 as well as the muzzle 24 are in the water tank 28 and thus in the immediate vicinity of the air conditioning unit 29 with the heat exchangers 4th , 11 , 12 arranged. The other components of the refrigerant circuit 2 are located in the engine compartment of the motor vehicle.

2 shows the air conditioning 1 with an alternative to the refrigerant circuit 2 to 1 trained refrigerant circuit 2 ' . The main difference in the design of the refrigerant circuits 2 , 2 ' lies in the integration of the heat exchanger 8th and 10 or the integration of the second secondary flow path in the primary refrigerant circuit 2 ' .
To 1 the second secondary flow path extends from the branch 22nd which is between the valve 16 and the internal heat exchanger 8th is arranged up to the muzzle 24 , which between the exit from the evaporator 4th and the internal heat exchanger 8th is trained.
After the configuration in 2 is the branch 22nd between the collector 7th and the valve 17th educated. The muzzle 24 is at the inlet to the compressor 5 formed so that the outlet of the heat exchanger 10 directly with the entry into the compressor 5 connected is.

The collector 7th is within the refrigerant circuit 2 , 2 ' arranged so that the refrigerant the collector 7th regardless of the operating mode of the air conditioning system 1 applied under high pressure. The refrigerant is only released after flowing through the collector 7th in the refrigeration system mode in the expansion valve 16 and in heat pump mode in the expansion valve 17th and / or in the expansion valve 18th relaxed.
When operating the air conditioner 1 in a heat pump mode the collector 7th can also be charged with refrigerant at low pressure level and thus as an accumulator. In this case, the refrigerant is flowing through the expansion valve 16 relaxes while the expansion valve 17th and / or the expansion valve 18th are fully open. There is also the possibility of the collector 7th operate at a medium pressure level, with the expansion valves 16 and 17th the fill quantity or the density of the refrigerant is regulated.

In 3 is one from the heat exchanger 6th , the valve 17th and the collector 7th combined module 30th of the refrigerant circuit 2 out 1 shown. The heat exchanger 6th , the collector 7th and the valve 17th form the coherent module 30th , which only has two refrigerant passages 31 , 32 having. With the help of the pressure transducer 33 is the pressure of the refrigerant on the High pressure side of the refrigerant circuit 2 , 2 ' determined in refrigeration mode.

The primary refrigerant circuit 2 is in refrigeration mode of the air conditioner 1 acted upon in such a way that the refrigerant from the compressor 5 through the valve 14th to the first refrigerant passage 31 of the module 30th is directed. The refrigerant flows through the first refrigerant passage 31 into the heat exchanger operated as a condenser / gas cooler 6th one. The refrigerant flow direction in refrigeration mode is in 3 shown with solid arrows. The refrigerant passage 31 corresponds to the entry into the heat exchanger 6th .
The module 30th points at the outlet of the heat exchanger 6th the valve firmly and tightly connected to the outlet 17th on. The refrigerant flows out of the heat exchanger 6th out and through the valve 17th also with the valve 17th firmly and tightly connected collector 7th one. The valve 17th is with a first opening designed as a passage with the heat exchanger 6th and with a second opening formed as a passage with the collector 7th connected. The valve 17th is opened in such a way that the refrigerant flows through with no or negligible pressure loss.
The collector 7th extends over the entire narrow side of the heat exchanger 6th from the refrigerant passage 31 , which is arranged in the area of the upper longitudinal side, up to the valve 17th , which is arranged on the lower long side. The valve 17th is as a connection between the heat exchanger 6th and the collector 7th educated.
The refrigerant flows through the second refrigerant passage in the refrigeration system mode 32 from the module 30th out. The second refrigerant passage 32 is in the lower part of the collector 7th arranged. Under the lower area of the collector 7th is to be understood as the area in which the collector 7th with the valve 17th connected is.

The primary refrigerant circuit 2 to 1 is in the air conditioning heat pump mode 1 acted upon such that the refrigerant through the second refrigerant passage 32 in the collector 7th flows in. The direction of flow of the refrigerant in heat pump mode is in 3 shown with dashed arrows.
From the collector 7th the liquid refrigerant is turned off through the valve operated as an expansion valve 17th in the heat exchanger 6th guided and relaxed in the two-phase area. The heat exchanger 6th is operated as an evaporator. After absorbing heat, the refrigerant emerges from the first refrigerant passage 31 from the module 30th out.

The refrigerant flows in a comparison of the operating modes of the air conditioning system 1 in the opposite direction of flow through the module 30th , especially the heat exchanger 6th and the valve 17th . The module 30th is thus bidirectional flow bar.

For use in the refrigerant circuit 2 ' to 2 assigns the module 30th , including the heat exchanger 6th , the collector 7th and the valve 17th next to the two refrigerant outlets 31 , 32 an additional, not shown, refrigerant passage. The additional refrigerant passage, which the branch 22nd according to the embodiment 2 corresponds, is parallel to the second refrigerant passage 32 on the collector 7th educated.
Alternatively, the collector 7th be designed with further refrigerant passages, in particular as connections to additional heat exchangers.

The module 30th can furthermore be developed in such a way that there is not only the additional refrigerant outlet, corresponding to the branch 22nd to 2 but also the valve 18th includes. The valve 18th is then preferably also within the collector 7th arranged. The additional refrigerant outlet on the collector 7th or on the module 30th when the valve 18th outside the collector 7th is arranged is with respect to the refrigerant circuit 2 ' to 2 in the direction of flow after the valve 18th or between the valve 18th and the heat exchanger 10 arranged. In addition, the collector can 7th additionally have further valves.

The valves 17th , 18th preferably each have separate drives, but can alternatively also be controlled by means of a common drive. The drives are advantageously designed as electrical drives.
According to an alternative embodiment, the valves 17th , 18th also be designed as a switching valve, which is located within the collector 7th is arranged. The switching valve is then designed as a 3-2-way valve, which can also be used as an expansion valve in one flow direction.
The valve 17th can also be designed as a combined switchover / expansion valve.

The heat exchanger 6th preferably has an extent in the depth direction in the range from 8 mm to 20 mm, other sizes and special dimensions also being included. Below the depth is in the case of an air-loaded heat exchanger 6th the expansion of the heat exchanger 6th to understand in the flow direction of the air. The depth thus results from the extension perpendicular to the base area of the heat exchanger, the base area being understood to be the area perpendicular to the direction of flow of the air, i.e. the area through which the air flows into or out of the heat exchanger.

4th shows a detailed representation of the module 30th out 3 , especially the valve 17th as a connecting element between the heat exchanger 6th on the one hand and the collector 7th on the other hand.
The valve designed either as an electronic expansion valve, a thermostatic expansion valve or a fixed throttle 17th , each can be combined with a switch-off function, is within the collector 7th arranged integrated. The collector 7th has an elongated shape which takes the form of a tube or bottle. The collector 7th can also have elliptical or angular shapes. The valve 17th is in the lower part of the collector 7th arranged. The refrigerant flows in the direction of flow depending on the operating mode 34 from the heat exchanger 6th in the collector 7th or from the collector 7th in the heat exchanger 6th .

The collector 7th is with the heat exchanger 6th connected via an externally detachable or alternatively a non-detachable connection. The externally releasable connection is advantageously designed as a plug-in connector which is used to connect a container of the heat exchanger 6th with a connection pipe for the supply or the discharge of the heat transferring, the heat exchanger 6th flowing through refrigerant is provided. A plug-in connector is therefore to be understood as meaning all releasable connections used in the refrigerant circuit of an air conditioning system.
The first refrigerant passage 31 is after 3 formed on the plug-in connector.

The collector 7th can on the the valve 17th having side be formed with a screw connection, which can also be used as a connecting element for a plug-in connector.

The module 30th also has a service opening, not shown, for example for exchanging one within the collector 7th arranged dryer, also not shown. The lockable service opening is on the collector 7th formed and arranged in the upper area.
According to an alternative embodiment of the module 30th is the closable service opening below and the valve 17th on top of the collector 7th arranged. The service opening can also be at any position on the collector 7th be trained.

In addition to the dryer or a dryer package, the collector 7th also include a filter, which is not shown.

The module 30th , which as a combination of the components heat exchanger 6th , Collector 7th and valve 17th is formed, can also with one or more of the valves 13 , 14th , 15th , 18th and / or the internal heat exchanger 8th be formed together. The additional components can already be combined. The configurations include the refrigerant lines connecting the components with the branches and / or opening points provided in the lines.

List of reference symbols

1

air conditioner

2, 2 '

Refrigerant circulation

3

Engine cooling circuit

4th

Heat exchanger, evaporator

5

compressor

6th

Heat exchanger

7th

Collector

8th

internal heat exchanger

9

Valve

10

Heat exchanger, evaporator

11

Heat exchanger, heating register

12

Heat exchanger, heating heat exchanger

13

Valve, shut-off valve

14th

Valve, shut-off valve

15th

Valve, shut-off valve

16

Valve, expansion device, expansion valve

17th

Valve, expansion valve

18th

Valve, expansion device, expansion valve

19th

check valve

20th

engine

21st

Branch

22nd

Branch

23

Branch

24

Mouth point

25th

Valve, three-way valve

26th

Front area

27

Wheel arch

28

Water tank

29

Air conditioner

30th

module

31

first refrigerant passage - exit / entry

32

second refrigerant passage - exit / entry

33

Pressure transducer

34

Direction of flow of the refrigerant

Claims (7)

Device for a refrigerant circuit (2, 2 ') with a heat exchanger (6) for heat transfer between the refrigerant and air, the heat exchanger (6) with a valve (17) and a collector (7) as a compact, coherent module (30 ) is designed with integrated refrigerant connections, wherein the valve (17) - is arranged integrated within the collector (7) and - is designed as a connecting element between the collector (7) and the heat exchanger (6), characterized in that the module (30 ) is designed so that the refrigerant can flow bidirectionally, the module (30) in the first flow direction of the refrigerant for heat transfer from the refrigerant to the air in the order heat exchanger (6), valve (17) and collector (7) and in the second flow direction of the The refrigerant for heat transfer from the air to the refrigerant flows through in the sequence collector (7), valve (17) and heat exchanger (6) and that in addition to the V entil (17) a second valve (18) is arranged integrated within the collector (7) or the heat exchanger (6), the valves (17, 18) being designed to be controllable with separate drives or with a common drive. Device for a refrigerant circuit (2, 2 ') with a heat exchanger (6) for heat transfer between the refrigerant and air, the heat exchanger (6) with a valve (17) and a collector (7) as a compact, coherent module (30 ) is designed with integrated refrigerant connections, wherein the valve (17) - is arranged integrated within the heat exchanger (6) and - is designed as a connecting element between the collector (7) and the heat exchanger (6), characterized in that the module (30 ) is designed so that the refrigerant can flow bidirectionally, the module (30) in the first flow direction of the refrigerant for heat transfer from the refrigerant to the air in the order heat exchanger (6), valve (17) and collector (7) and in the second flow direction of the Refrigerant for heat transfer from the air to the refrigerant flows through in the order collector (7), valve (17) and heat exchanger (6) and that besides In the valve (17) a second valve (18) is arranged integrated within the collector (7) or the heat exchanger (6), the valves (17, 18) being designed to be controllable with separate drives or with a common drive. Device according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the valve (17) is designed as an expansion valve and a straight-way valve, the valve (17) being operable as an expansion valve or a straight-way valve depending on the direction of flow of the refrigerant. Device according to one of the Claims 1 to 3 , characterized in that the collector (7) is arranged connected to the heat exchanger (6) via an externally releasable connection, the externally releasable connection being designed as a plug-in connector. Device according to one of the Claims 1 to 4th , characterized in that the heat exchanger (6) each has two opposite narrow sides and longitudinal sides, the collector (7) being arranged on one of the narrow sides of the heat exchanger (6) and extending over the length of the narrow side, so that a first end of the collector (7) is arranged on the first longitudinal side of the heat exchanger (6) and a second end of the collector (7) is arranged on the second longitudinal side of the heat exchanger (6). Device according to one of the Claims 1 to 5 , characterized in that the module (30) has only two refrigerant passages (31, 32), the first refrigerant passage (31) as a connection of a refrigerant line to the heat exchanger (6) and the second refrigerant passage (32) as a connection of a refrigerant line to the Collector (7) is formed. Device according to one of the Claims 1 to 6th , characterized in that the module (30) is designed with a service opening for exchanging a component arranged within the collector (7), the service opening being closable and designed on the collector (7).

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