EP4146995A1

EP4146995A1 - Heat exchanger assembly for a refrigeration device, and refrigeration device comprising same

Info

Publication number: EP4146995A1
Application number: EP21723146.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Felix Wiedenmann; Ming Zhang
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2020-05-07
Filing date: 2021-04-27
Publication date: 2023-03-15
Also published as: WO2021224060A1; DE102020205750A1; CN115769036A; US20230221056A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat exchanger assembly (1) for a refrigeration device (100), comprising a condensed water tray (2) for receiving condensed water discharged from a cooling compartment (110) of the refrigeration device (100); and a heat exchanger (3) with a housing (30), a refrigerant line assembly (33) arranged in an inlet opening (31) of the housing (30), a ventilator (34) which is arranged in an outlet opening (32) of the housing (30), and a sealing plate (4) which projects from the housing (30) and protrudes into the condensed water tray (2).

Description

HEAT EXCHANGER ARRANGEMENT FOR A REFRIGERATION UNIT AND A

REFRIGERATOR WITH IT

Technical area

The present invention relates to a heat exchanger arrangement for a refrigeration device and a refrigeration device, in particular a household refrigeration device, such as a refrigerator.

State of the art

Refrigeration devices such as refrigerators typically have a heat exchanger or condenser to condense compressed refrigerant. The heat exchanger is often arranged together with a condensation or evaporation tray in a machine room of the heat exchanger.

For example, DE 10 2011 007 412 A1 describes a refrigeration device with a machine room in which a compressor, a heat exchanger and a condensation water tray are arranged. The heat exchanger has a condenser and a fan with which a flow of cooling air is passed over the condenser, the condenser and fan being arranged in a common housing. The condensation water tray is arranged on the compressor next to the heat exchanger, with the cooling air expelled by the heat exchanger being passed over the condensation water tray.

In refrigeration devices with such heat exchangers, it is desirable that the largest possible part of an air flow sucked in by the fan is available for cooling the condenser or the refrigerant.

Summary of the invention

One of the objects of the invention is to provide improved solutions for heat exchangers in refrigeration devices, in particular to improve the efficiency of such heat exchangers. This object is achieved by a heat exchanger arrangement with the features of claim 1 and by a refrigeration device with the features of claim 9.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a heat exchanger arrangement for a refrigeration device is provided. The heat exchanger arrangement comprises a condensation water tray for receiving condensation water diverted from a cooling compartment of the refrigeration device and a heat exchanger with a housing, a refrigerant line arrangement arranged in an inlet opening of the housing, a fan arranged in an outlet opening of the housing and a sealing plate protruding from the housing, which is inserted into the The condensation tray protrudes.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a refrigeration device, in particular a domestic refrigeration device, such as a refrigerator or a fridge-freezer combination, is provided. The refrigeration device comprises a cooling compartment for storing items to be chilled, such as food or beverages, a machine room, a heat exchanger arrangement according to the first aspect of the invention arranged in the machine room and a condensation water line for discharging condensation water from the cooling compartment, which opens into the condensation water tray.

One idea on which the invention is based is to provide a sealing plate or screen, which protrudes from the housing into a condensation or evaporation tray, on a housing of a heat exchanger in which a refrigerant line arrangement for cooling and / or condensing a refrigerant and a fan are arranged . The housing can be implemented in the form of a tube or channel, for example, the refrigerant line arrangement being arranged on a suction side of the fan. The fan sucks in cooling air through an inlet opening of the housing in which the refrigerant line arrangement is arranged, and expels the cooling air through an outlet opening of the housing. The cover or sealing plate protrudes from the housing between the inlet opening and the outlet opening in the direction of a bottom of the condensation water tray and protrudes into the receiving volume defined by the condensation water tray, so that a gap is formed between the bottom and one end of the cover. When the receiving volume fills with condensation water to such an extent that the end of the sealing plate protrudes into the condensation water, an airtight seal between the inlet and outlet opening of the housing is achieved outside the housing of the heat exchanger.

One of the advantages of the invention is that the sealing plate protruding into the condensation water tray reduces a bypass or leakage air flow which is guided past the housing of the heat exchanger and thus the refrigerant line arrangement. This improves the efficiency of the heat exchanger.

Advantageous refinements and developments result from the subclaims referring back to the independent claims in connection with the description and the figures.

According to some embodiments it can be provided that the condensation water tray has a bottom and a peripheral wall protruding from the bottom, the sealing plate extending between opposing sections of the peripheral wall and a bottom gap being formed between the bottom and one end of the sealing plate.

For example, the condensation water tray can have two mutually opposite side walls, between which the sealing plate extends. In particular, the sealing plate can rest against the side walls or the opposite sections of the peripheral wall. As a result, the seal is further improved and the leakage air flow can be further reduced.

According to some embodiments it can be provided that the bottom gap has a clear width between 1 mm and 10 mm. In this area, a good compromise between tightness and manufacturing tolerances is achieved. In particular, it is easy to assemble the evaporation tray and heat exchanger. Furthermore, the clear width of the floor gap can optionally be between 2 mm and 3 mm. In this area of the clear width, a relatively narrow bottom gap is realized, whereby the bottom gap is closed by liquid even when the level of the condensation water container is low. Furthermore, a narrow flow cross-section is achieved through the small clear width, which also occurs when the fill level of the condensate container is not sufficient to close the bottom gap, creates a high flow resistance for leakage flows. This further reduces the leakage air flow.

According to some embodiments it can be provided that the condensation water tray has a sealing rib protruding from the bottom, which extends along the sealing plate between the opposite sections of the peripheral wall. The sealing rib thus divides the condensation water tray into two sub-areas or sub-volumes. In particular, the sealing rib protrudes at a height from a surface of the floor which is greater than the clear width of the floor gap. Thus, a kind of siphon is formed between the sealing rib and the sealing plate, which is filled with condensation water. This further improves the seal. Even if the fill level of the condensation water tray does not reach the lower end of the sealing plate, the sealing rib further improves the seal, since the pressure loss of the leakage flow through the bottom gap and the gap between the sealing rib and the sealing plate is increased.

According to some embodiments it can be provided that an overlap gap formed between the sealing plate and the sealing rib has a clear width between 0.2 mm and 10 mm. Further optionally, the clear width of the overlap gap can be between 0.3 mm and 5 mm. A relatively high flow resistance for a possible leakage air flow is realized in this area. At the same time, any possible vibrations of the sealing plate against the sealing rib are reliably counteracted and the development of noise is thereby advantageously reduced.

According to some embodiments it can be provided that the sealing rib is formed in one piece with the bottom of the condensation water tray. For example, the sealing rib and condensation water tray can be manufactured inexpensively as plastic injection-molded parts.

According to some embodiments it can be provided that the sealing plate is formed in one piece with the housing of the heat exchanger. For example, the sealing plate and housing can be manufactured inexpensively as plastic injection-molded parts. According to some embodiments it can be provided that the sealing plate is arranged in the area of the outlet opening of the housing of the heat exchanger.

According to some embodiments, the refrigeration device can be implemented with a heat exchanger arrangement in which the condensation water tray has a sealing rib protruding from the bottom, which extends along the sealing plate between the opposite sections of the circumferential wall, as has already been described above, whereby a point at which the Condensation water pipe opens into the condensation water tray and the sealing plate is located on the same side of the sealing rib. In this way, when condensation water is introduced, the partial volume of the condensation water tray into which the sealing plate protrudes is first filled.

With regard to directional information and axes, in particular directional information and axes that relate to the course of physical structures, a course of an axis, a direction or a structure “along” another axis, direction or structure is understood here to mean that these, in particular the tangents resulting in a respective point of the structures each run at an angle of less than 45 degrees, preferably less than 30 degrees and particularly preferably parallel to one another.

With regard to directions and axes, in particular directions and axes that relate to the course of physical structures, a course of an axis, a direction or a structure "transversely" to another axis, direction or structure is understood here to mean that these, in particular, the tangents resulting in a respective point of the structures each run at an angle of greater than or equal to 45 degrees, preferably greater than or equal to 60 degrees and particularly preferably perpendicular to one another.

In this context, “one-piece”, “one-piece”, “integral” or “one-piece” components or structures generally means that these components or structures are present as a single part that forms a unit of material and, in particular, are manufactured as such, wherein the one is not detachable from the other component or structure without breaking the cohesion of the material.

Brief description of the figures

In the following the invention with reference to the figures of FIG

Drawings explained. From the figures show:

1 shows a perspective sectional view of a heat exchanger arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the region, identified by the letter Z, of the heat exchanger arrangement shown in FIG. 1; FIG.

3 shows a plan view of a bottom of a condensation water tray of a heat exchanger arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a sealing plate being shown in section; and

4 shows a simplified, schematic sectional view of a refrigeration device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

In the figures, the same reference symbols denote the same or functionally identical components, unless stated otherwise.

Detailed description of exemplary embodiments

Fig. 1 shows, by way of example, a sectional view of the heat exchanger arrangement 1 for a refrigeration device 100, such as a refrigerator or a fridge-freezer combination. As is shown by way of example in FIG. 1, the heat exchanger arrangement 1 can in particular have a condensation water or evaporation tray 2 and a heat exchanger 3.

4 shows, purely schematically, a refrigeration device 100 in the form of a refrigerator with a cooling compartment 110 for storing items to be cooled, such as food or beverages, a machine room 120 and a heat exchanger arrangement 1. The refrigeration device 100 has a refrigerant circuit (not shown in full) to heat from the cooling compartment 110 by the circulation of a refrigerant discharge and thereby cool the cooling compartment 110. The heat exchanger arrangement 1 is part of the refrigerant circuit and serves to condense the gaseous refrigerant compressed by a compressor 140, which can also be arranged in the machine room 120. As is also shown schematically in FIG. 4, a condensation water line 130 can be provided which connects the interior of the cooling compartment 110 in a fluidically conductive manner with the machine room and opens into the evaporation tray 2 of the heat exchanger arrangement 1. Condensation water that forms in the cooling compartment 110 can thus be diverted through the condensation water line 130 into the condensation water or evaporation tray 2.

As is shown by way of example in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 3, which shows a top view of the condensation water tray 2, the condensation water tray 2 can have a base 20 and a peripheral wall 21. The floor 20 can be a flat plate, for example a flat plate. The peripheral wall 21 extends from the floor 20 and protrudes in a vertical direction or vertical direction V from the floor 20. The condensation water tray 2 can, for example, have a rectangular circumference, optionally with rounded corners, as is shown by way of example in FIG. 3. The peripheral wall 21 can be composed, for example, of a first side wall 21A, a second side wall 21B arranged opposite this, a third side wall 21C extending between the first and second side walls 21A, 21B and a fourth side wall 21D which is opposite to the third side wall 21C is arranged and extends between the first and the second side wall 21 A, 21 B, as shown in Fig. 3 purely by way of example. Of course, other circumferential shapes or designs of the circumferential wall 21 are also conceivable, for example circular. In general, the bottom 20 and the peripheral wall 21 define a receiving volume of the condensation water tray 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is shown by way of example, the condensation water tray 2 can have an optional sealing rib 24. As can be seen in particular in FIG. 2, the sealing rib 24 protrudes from the bottom 20 of the condensation water tray 2. In particular, the sealing rib 24 protrudes in the vertical direction V with a height h24 from a surface 20a of the bottom 20. The height h24 can, for example, be in a range between 2 mm and 15 mm. As shown by way of example in FIG. 2, the sealing rib 24 can have a Have rectangular cross-section. However, other cross-sectional shapes are also conceivable. As is shown schematically in FIG. 4, the optional sealing rib 24 extends between the first and second side walls 21A, 21B of the condensation water tray 2. In general, the sealing rib 24 can be located between opposing or circumferentially spaced sections 21A, 21B the peripheral wall 21 extend.

The condensation or evaporation tray 2 can for example be made of a plastic material, for example a thermoplastic material. The optional sealing rib 24 can, for example, be formed in one piece with the bottom 20 of the condensation water tray 2.

As is shown by way of example in FIG. 1, the heat exchanger 3 can have a housing 30, a refrigerant line arrangement 33 and a fan 34. The housing 30 can, for example, be tubular or channel-shaped and has an inlet opening 31 and an outlet opening 32 located opposite to this. As shown by way of example in FIG. 1, the inlet opening 31 can, for example, have a rectangular circumference.

The outlet opening 32 can, for example, have a circular circumference. The inlet opening 31 and the outlet opening 32 are connected by a housing wall 30A defining the cross section of the housing 30. The housing 30 thus extends overall along a housing longitudinal direction L3. The housing 30 can be composed of several housing parts or it can be realized in one piece as a continuous housing 30. The housing 30 can be formed from a plastic material, for example.

The refrigerant line arrangement 33 can be implemented, for example, as an MCHE unit, as is shown purely by way of example in FIG. 1. "MCHE" is an abbreviation for the expression "Micro Channel Heat Exchanger". In general, the refrigerant line arrangement 33 can have a multiplicity of refrigerant channels 35 for conducting the refrigerant. Optionally, a plurality of cooling plates or cooling fins 36 can also be provided, which are connected to the refrigerant channels 35 in order to enlarge the surface area of the refrigerant line arrangement 33. Intermediate spaces for the passage of cooling air are provided between the refrigerant channels 35 and between the optional cooling fins 36. As shown in Fig. 1, the refrigerant line arrangement 33 can in particular in the inlet opening 31 of the Housing 30 be arranged. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the refrigerant line arrangement 33 can in particular be arranged in the inlet opening 31 of the housing 30 in such a way that it fills the inlet opening 31. The cross section or the circumference of the inlet opening 31 and the outer circumference of the refrigerant line arrangement 33 can be adapted to one another.

As shown by way of example in FIG. 1, the fan 34 is arranged in the outlet opening 32 of the housing 30. In particular, the fan 34 can be arranged in the outlet opening 32 in such a way that the inlet opening 31 is located on a suction side of the fan 34. The fan 34 can thus suck in air through the inlet opening 31 and blow it out through the outlet opening 32 of the housing 30. Thus, by means of the fan 34, air is sucked in through the interstices of the refrigerant line arrangement 33 in order to cool the refrigerant line arrangement 33.

As is also shown in FIG. 1, a sealing plate 4 can be provided which protrudes from the housing 30 of the heat exchanger 3. In particular, the sealing plate 4 can protrude from the housing 30 transversely to the housing longitudinal direction L3. As is shown by way of example in FIG. 1, the sealing plate 4 can in particular be designed as a flat plate 4. In general, the sealing plate 4 is implemented as a flatly extending component which extends between a first end 41, which is located on the housing 30, in particular on the housing wall 30A, and a second end 42 located opposite the first end 41. As can also be seen in FIG. 1, the sealing plate 4 can be arranged, for example, in the area of the outlet opening 32 of the housing 30 of the heat exchanger 3. Optionally, the sealing plate 4 can be designed in one piece with the housing 30 of the heat exchanger 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, the heat exchanger 3 can be arranged opposite the condensation water tray 2, in particular in relation to the vertical direction V, so that the sealing plate 4 faces the condensation water tray 2. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the sealing plate 4 protrudes into the condensation water tray 2, as a result of which a bottom gap 5 is formed between the bottom 20 of the condensation water tray 2 and the second end 42 of the sealing plate 4. The bottom gap 5 can, for example, have a clear width d5 between 1 mm and 10 mm, in particular between 2 mm and 3 mm. As in FIGS. 1 and 2, the peripheral wall 21 of the condensation water tray 2 and the sealing plate 4 overlap in relation to the vertical direction

V.

As shown in particular in FIG. 3, it can be provided that the sealing plate 21 extends over an entire distance between opposing side walls 21A, 21B, in particular between the first and second side walls 21A, 21B. Regardless of the circumference of the evaporation or condensation water tray 2 defined by the circumferential wall 21, the sealing plate 4 can extend between mutually opposite sections 21 A, 21 B of the circumferential wall 21.

As in FIGS. 1 to 3, the sealing plate 4 and the optional sealing rib 24 can in particular extend along one another, optionally parallel to one another. As shown in FIG. 2, it can be provided, in particular, that the sealing plate 4 and the sealing rib 24 overlap with respect to the vertical direction V. An end 25 of the sealing rib 24 facing away from the surface 20a of the base 20 protrudes further from the surface 20a of the base 20 than the second end 42 of the sealing plate 4 is spaced from the surface 20a of the base 20. For example, the clear width d5 of the bottom gap 5 can be smaller than the height h24 of the sealing rib 24.

As shown by way of example in FIG. 2, the relative arrangement of the sealing plate 4 and the sealing rib 24 along one another forms an overlap gap 6 between the sealing plate 4 and the sealing rib 24. The overlap gap 6 can, for example, have a clear width d6 in a range between 0.2 mm and 10 mm, preferably between 0.3 mm and 5 mm.

As shown by way of example and purely schematically in FIG. 4, the heat exchanger arrangement 1 can be arranged in the machine room 120 of the refrigeration device 100. The condensation water line 130 has a first end 131 which is connected to the interior of the cooling compartment 110. A second end 132 of the condensation water line 130 opens into the condensation water tray 2. In this way, condensation water generated in the cooling compartment 110 is diverted into the condensation water tray 2. If the condensation water tray 2 has the optional sealing rib 24, the point at which the Condensation water line 130 opens into the condensation water tray 2 and the sealing plate 4 can be located on the same side of the sealing rib 6, as is shown by way of example in FIG. 4. For example, it can be provided that the sealing rib 24 divides the receiving volume into two sub-volumes of different sizes, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 is shown by way of example. Depending on the structural boundary conditions, the sealing plate 24 can protrude into the larger or the smaller partial volume. In FIGS. 1 to 4 it is shown, for example, that the sealing plate 24 protrudes into the larger partial volume. Accordingly, in FIG. 4, the condensate line 130 also opens into the larger partial volume.

As shown symbolically in FIG. 4 by the arrows S1 and S2, a cooling air flow S1 is sucked in by the fan 34 through the inlet opening 31 and guided over the refrigerant line arrangement 33 in order to cool the refrigerant. Since the sealing plate 4 protrudes into the condensation water tray 2 filled with condensation water K, a seal between the inlet opening 31 and the outlet opening 32 of the housing 30 is improved outside the housing 30. A leakage flow S2 is thus reduced or even blocked entirely, as is shown symbolically in FIG. 4.

Although the present invention has been explained above using exemplary embodiments, it is not restricted thereto, but rather can be modified in many ways. In particular, combinations of the preceding exemplary embodiments are also conceivable.

List of reference symbols

1 heat exchanger arrangement

2 condensation water tray

3 heat exchangers

4 sealing plate

5 floor gap

6 overlap gap

20 Bottom of the condensation water tray

21 Circumferential wall of the condensation water tray

21A first section of the peripheral wall / first side wall

21 B second section of the peripheral wall / second side wall

24 sealing rib

25 End of the sealing rib

30 Housing of the heat exchanger

30A housing wall

31 Inlet opening of the housing

32 outlet opening of the housing

33 Refrigerant line arrangement

34 fan

35 refrigerant channels

36 cooling fins

41 first end of the sealing plate

42 second end of the sealing plate

100 refrigerator

110 cooling compartment

120 engine room

130 condensation water pipe

131 first end of the condensation water pipe

132 second end of the condensation water pipe d5 inside width of the bottom gap d6 inside width of the overlap gap h24 height of the sealing rib

K condensation 51 cooling air flow

52 leakage flow

V vertical direction

Claims

Expectations

1. A heat exchanger arrangement (1) for a refrigeration device (100), comprising: a condensation water tray (2) for receiving condensation water diverted from a cooling compartment (110) of the refrigeration device (100); and a heat exchanger (3) with a housing (30), a refrigerant line arrangement (33) arranged in an inlet opening (31) of the housing (30), a fan (34) arranged in an outlet opening (32) of the housing (30) and a from the housing (30) protruding sealing plate (4) which protrudes into the condensation water tray (2).

2. Heat exchanger arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the condensation water tray (2) has a bottom (20) and a peripheral wall (21) protruding from the bottom (20), the sealing plate (4) being between mutually opposite sections (21A; 21B) extends the circumferential wall (21) and a bottom gap (5) is formed between the bottom (20) and one end (42) of the sealing plate (4).

3. Heat exchanger arrangement (1) according to claim 2, wherein the bottom gap

(5) has a clear width (d5) between 1 mm and 10 mm, preferably between 2 mm and 3 mm.

4. Heat exchanger arrangement (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the condensation water tray (2) has a sealing rib (24) projecting from the bottom (20) and extending along the sealing plate (4) between the opposite sections (21A; 21B) of the peripheral wall (21) extends.

5. Heat exchanger arrangement (1) according to claim 4, wherein an overlap gap formed between the sealing plate (4) and the sealing rib (24)

(6) has a clear width (d6) between 0.2 mm and 10 mm, preferably between 0.3 mm and 5 mm.

6. Heat exchanger arrangement (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the sealing rib (24) is formed in one piece with the bottom (20) of the condensation water tray (2).

7. Heat exchanger arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing plate (4) is formed in one piece with the housing (30) of the heat exchanger (3).

8. Heat exchanger arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing plate (4) is arranged in the region of the outlet opening (32) of the housing (30) of the heat exchanger (3).

9. Refrigeration device (100), comprising: a cooling compartment (110) for storing items to be cooled; a machine room (120); one arranged in the machine room (120)

Heat exchanger arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding

Expectations; and a condensation water line (130) for discharging condensation water from the cooling compartment (110) which opens into the condensation water tray (2).

10. Refrigeration device (100) according to claim 9 with a heat exchanger arrangement (1) according to claim 4, wherein a point at which the condensation water line (130) opens into the condensation water tray (2) and the sealing plate (4) on the same side of the sealing rib (6 ) are located.