FR3000187B1 - HEAT EXCHANGER, PARTICULARLY FOR REFRIGERANT FLUID CIRCULATING IN A MOTOR VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat exchanger, especially for a refrigerant circulating in a motor vehicle, said exchanger comprising a first block (1) for circulating a first fluid defining first blades (3) for circulating said first fluid and a second block (2) for circulating a second fluid defining second blades (4) for circulating said second fluid, said blades (3, 4) being superimposed in a stacking direction of said blades so as to allow a heat exchange between said first and second fluids, said blocks (1, 2) allowing a circulation of the first fluid avoiding the second block (2) and a circulation of the second fluid avoiding the first block (1).

Description

The invention relates to a heat exchanger, in particular for a refrigerant circulating in a motor vehicle. Although more particularly intended for applications as an internal exchanger of an air conditioning loop or exchanger between a refrigerant and a coolant, it will be more widely used for any type of heat exchange between two fluids.

In this field, it is known to many exchanger configurations defining circulation blades for each of the fluids between which the heat exchange must take place. In particular brazed exchangers are known in which the blades are defined by stacked plates between which the circulation blades are defined alternately. The fluid circulation blades are connected by connecting elements opening at the passage orifices also provided in the plates so that each fluid passes from one of its circulation blades to the other without penetrating into the blades. circulation of the other fluid. The circulation blades of each of the fluids are thus traversed by the connecting elements of the other fluid.

Such a configuration multiplies the soldering zones, in particular at the junction between the connecting elements and the through holes of neighboring plates. It also multiplies the risks in terms of sealing between each of the fluid circuits. Specific sealing tests are thus necessary.

Moreover, the zones of the plates provided with said connecting elements contribute little or no to the heat exchange. They therefore increase the cost of the exchanger by the mass of material engaged without improving the efficiency of the heat exchange. The invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and proposes in this sense a heat exchanger, in particular for refrigerant circulating in a motor vehicle, said exchanger comprising a first flow block of a first fluid defining first circulation blades said first fluid and a second circulation block of a second fluid defining second circulation blades of said second fluid, said blades being superimposed in a stacking direction of said blades so as to allow a heat exchange between said first and second fluids . According to the invention, said blocks allow a circulation of the first fluid avoiding the second block and a circulation of the second fluid avoiding the first block.

In other words, the exchanger is configured so that the blocks are nested one inside the other so as to ensure a heat exchange between the two fluids, without the first fluid passing through components of the second block or the second fluid. crosses components of the first block.

By such a constitution in blocks, it is avoided to pass connecting elements between the circulation blades of one of the fluids through the circulation blades of the other fluid. In this way, the zones to be brazed are reduced and the risks of leakage of a circulation circuit from one fluid to the other are limited. The test procedures can therefore be simplified. In addition, areas of circulation slats which do not or do not serve the purpose of heat exchange are further reduced.

According to various embodiments, which may be taken together or separately: said blades extend in a longitudinal direction, perpendicular to the stacking direction, said first block comprises collectors for the first fluid, located at the level of a longitudinal end edge of the blades of said first block and / or said second block comprises collectors for the second fluid, located at a longitudinal end edge of the blades of said second block, - said blades are configured to make a U-shaped fluid circuit between a first of said collectors and a second one of said collectors of the corresponding block, - the collectors of the first block are located opposite a longitudinal end edge of the blades of the second block, opposite the longitudinal end edge of the blades of the second block at which these collectors of the second block are located, - the collectors of the second block are located s vis-à-vis a longitudinal end edge of the blades of the first block, opposite the longitudinal end edge of the blades of the first block at which are said collectors of the first block, - and / / either of said blocks comprises plates, stacked in said stacking direction, said plates being pairwise associated to define said circulation blades, for one and / or the other of the fluids, - the pairs of plates for each of the fluids have a projecting portion of the pairs of plates for the other fluid, in planes orthogonal to said stacking direction, so as to be able to release an area of said plates, said head plates, accommodating said collectors, - said exchanger comprises fluid connections between the plates of the pairs of plates of the same fluid, located at said plate heads, so as to form said collectors, - said links are located outside secondly to the pairs of plates for said other fluid, - said fluid connections comprise stampings from said plates, said stampings coming into contact with stampings of the plate opposite the neighboring pair of plates for the circulation of the same fluid said plates comprise a longitudinal end edge, said distal, opposite to an opposite longitudinal end edge of said plates at which said fluid connections are situated, said distal edge being situated between two plates facing each other; two adjacent pairs of plates for the circulation of the other fluid, - said distal edge of the plates of one of the blocks is in proximity to said fluid connections of the other block, and vice versa, - said distal edge matches a part of the contour of said fluid connections, said blades comprise means for disturbing the flow of the first and / or second fluid, such means being for example of the type of a stamped plate, then called disruptive, which is adapted to integrate into a flow circuit of the first and / or second fluid. the second block comprises at least one pair of end plates, in said stacking direction, comprising a plate having a longitudinal extension identical to the other plates of said block and a termination plate having an upper longitudinal extension; said second block comprises at least one end plate; less a connection flange for one of the fluids secured to said termination plate. The invention also relates to an exchanger block such as one or other of the exchanger blocks described above.

Said block may be used as a functional brick either in such a nested block exchanger, or in another type of exchanger.

Said block may thus be provided with an interlayer between said pairs of plates and serve, in particular, evaporator by exchange with a flow of air.

It may also be inserted in a housing and the invention furthermore relates to a heat exchanger comprising such a heat exchanger block and a circulation housing of another fluid, said block being located inside said housing to allow heat exchange between the fluid flowing in said block and said other fluid.

These and other features of the present invention are illustrated below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a heat exchanger according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view, partially exploded, of the exchanger of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a first plate of the exchanger of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of another plate of the exchanger of Figure 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view of one of the fluid circulation blocks of the exchanger of FIG. 1, equipped with a fluid connection flange;

FIG. 6 is a side-to-side view of the fluid circulation blocks of the exchanger of FIG. 1, equipped with a single fluid connection flange; and

Figure 7 is a side view of an exchanger using the block of Figure 5, here equipped with an additional component.

In the following description, identical references are used to designate similar or identical elements.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the invention relates to a heat exchanger, in particular for refrigerant circulating in a motor vehicle.

Said exchanger comprises a first block 1 for circulating a first fluid defining first blades 3 for circulating said first fluid and a second block 2 for circulating a second fluid defining second blades 4 for circulating said second fluid. Said blades 3, 4 are superimposed in a stacking direction D of said blades so as to allow heat exchange between said first and second fluids.

Said blocks 1, 2 are formed, for example, of aluminum component and / or aluminum alloy. They may be assembled, for example, by brazing said components. In Figure 1, said first block 1 extends from top to bottom while the second block 2 extends from bottom to top. An example of circulation of the fluid in the blades of the first block 1 is illustrated by the arrows 1a, 1b1c while an example of circulation of the fluid in the blades of the second block 2 is illustrated by the arrows 2a, 2b, 2c, on the right of the figure.

According to a first example of application, said heat exchanger may be an internal exchanger of an air conditioning circuit. In other words, said first and second fluids may be a fluid known as R134a or R1234yf, among others, so that the first block 1 serves for the circulation of the fluid in a first state of temperature and pressure and the second block 2 serves for the circulation of the fluid in a second state of temperature and pressure.

In another example of application, said exchanger provides a heat exchange between said coolant and a coolant, such as a mixture of water and antifreeze, including glycol. Depending on the refrigerant state, it may then occur cooling or heating of the coolant. However, other applications are still possible.

According to the invention, said blocks 1, 2 allow a circulation of the first fluid avoiding the second block 2 and a circulation of the second fluid avoiding the first block 1. In other words, the exchanger is configured so that the blocks are nested one. in the other, here as two combs, without the first fluid passes through components of the second block 2 nor the second fluid passes through components of the first block 1. It can thus obtain a heat exchange between the two fluids while avoiding the more complex circulations of the state of the art.

Such nesting is best understood by observing Figures 5 and 6, ignoring the clamps 100, 200 present in these figures. In Figure 5, we see the first block 1, used here for the circulation of a refrigerant. In Figure 6, we see the second block 2, used here for the circulation of a heat transfer fluid. It is understood in this way that the exchanger of Figures 1 and 2 results from the interlocking of the blocks 1,2 of each of these figures.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that said blades 3, 4 extend here in a longitudinal direction L, perpendicular to the stacking direction D. Said first block 1 may comprise collectors 5a, 5b for the first fluid, located at a longitudinal end edge 7 of the blades 3 of said first block 1. Said second block 2 may comprise on its side of the collectors 6a, 6b for the second fluid, located at an edge longitudinal end 8 of the blades 4 of said second block 1.

As illustrated by the arrows 1a, 1b, 1c and 2a, 2b, 2c mentioned above, said blades are configured here to make a U-shaped circuit to said fluid between a first 5a, 6a of said collectors and a second 5b, 6b said collectors the corresponding block. The first 5a of the collectors of the first block 1 thus constitutes an inlet manifold for the first fluid while the second 5b collectors of said first block 1 constitutes an outlet manifold of said first fluid. Similarly, the first 6a of the collectors of the second block 2 constitutes an inlet manifold for the second fluid while the second 6b collectors of said second block 2 constitutes an outlet manifold of said second fluid. In other words, the first fluid flows in the first block 1 being distributed by the inlet manifold 5a of said first block 1 in the blades 3 of said first block 1 where it follows the circuit 1a, 1b, 1c U referred above for then enter the corresponding outlet manifold 5b. Similarly, the second fluid circulates in the second block 2 being distributed by the inlet manifold 6a of said second block 2 in the blades 4 of said second block 2 where it follows the circuit 2a, 2b, 2c U referred above for then enter the corresponding output manifold 6b. The circulation of the first fluid in the blades 3 of said first block 1 is carried out at the co-current of the circulation of the second fluid in the blades 4 of said second block 2.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the circulation of the first fluid in the blades 3 of said first block 1 advantageously takes place against the flow of the second fluid in the blades 4 of said second block 2.

For the compactness of the exchanger, the collectors 5a, 5b of the first block 1 are situated, for example, opposite a longitudinal end edge 10 of the blades of the second block 2, opposite the edge 8 longitudinal end of the blades 2 of the second block 2 at which are said collectors 6a, 6b of the second block 2. Combined or not, the collectors 6a, 6b of the second block 2 are located vis-à-vis a longitudinal end edge 9 of the blades 3 of the first block 1, opposite the longitudinal end edge 7 of the blades 3 of the first block 1 at which are said collectors 5a, 5b of the first block 1.

In other words, said blocks 1,2 are mounted head to tail. In other words, the blades 3, 4 of each of said blocks 1, 2 are offset with respect to the blades 3, 4 of the other of said blocks 1, 2 in a direction orthogonal to said stacking direction D.

Said blocks 1, 2 here comprise plates 11, 12, stacked in said stacking direction, said plates being associated in pairs to define said blades 3, 4 and said circuits 1a, 1b, 1c, 2a, 2b, 2c circulation for each of the fluids. According to other embodiments, said blades may be defined by extruded tubes, bent tubes or any other means for guiding a fluid.

The pairs of plates 11 for the first fluid have a projecting portion 13 of the pairs of plates 12 for the second fluid, in planes orthogonal to said stacking direction so as to release a zone of said plates, said head plates, accommodating said collectors 5a, 5b of said first block 1. Similarly, the pairs of plates 12 for the second fluid have a projecting portion 14 of the pairs of plates 11 for the first fluid, in planes orthogonal to said stacking direction of to be able to release a zone of said plates, said head plates, accommodating said collectors 6a, 6b of said second block 2.

In other words, said pairs of plates 11 are made to communicate for the first fluid between them without passing through the pairs of plates 12 for the second fluid, and vice versa. In other words, said pairs of plates 11 of the first block 1 are offset with respect to the pairs of plates 12 of the second block 2, in said longitudinal direction, and vice versa.

Said pairs of plates 11, 12 are advantageously identical to each other in the same block, except possibly for the pair or pairs of plates comprising an end plate of the stack, as will be detailed below.

Said heat exchanger comprises connections 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b of fluid between the plates 11, 12 of the pairs of plates of the same fluid, located at said plate heads 13, 14, so as to form said collectors 5a, 5b , 6a, 6b. According to the invention, said links 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b for one of the fluids are located externally to the pairs of plates 11,12 for the other fluid.

Said fluid connections 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b comprise, for example, stampings from said plates 11, 12. The said stampings 15a, 15b of the plates 11 of the first block 1 come here in contact with the stampings 15a, 15b of the plate 11 against the neighboring pair of plates 11 of said first block 1. Likewise, said stampings 16a, 16b of the plates 12 of the second block 2 come here in contact with the stampings 16a, 16b of the plate 12 vis-à-vis -vis the adjacent pair of plates 12 of said second block 1. The said stamps are provided with fluid passage opening. The said stampings 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b thus effect the circulation of fluid from one pair of plates to the other, in the same block. The said stampings 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b of the same collector 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b are here located in the axial extension of each other so that said collectors are substantially rectilinear. According to the invention, the stampings of the pairs of plates for the circulation of the first fluid and the stampings of the pairs of plates for the circulation of the second fluid are located at two opposite longitudinal ends of the assembly formed by the two blocks 1,2 .

Said plates 11, 12 comprise a longitudinal end edge 17, 18, said distal, opposite a longitudinal end edge 19, 20 opposite said plates at which are located said fluid links 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b. Said distal edge 17, 18 of the plates 11, 12 of one of the fluids is located between two plates 11, 12 opposite two adjacent pairs of plates for the circulation of the other fluid.

Said distal edge 17, 18 of the plates 11, 12 of one of the blocks 1, 2 is close to said fluid connections 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b of the other block. To ensure good mechanical stability, said distal edge 17, 18 can fit a portion of the contour of said fluid connections 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, said plates 11, 12 of each of the blocks 1, 2 comprise a bottom 21, 22, a raised edge 23, 24 and a brazing lip 25, 26. Said pair of plates are formed by two of said plates, provided identical, mounted head to tail so that their lips are in contact. Along the distal edge 17, 18 of said plates 11, 12, the brazing lip 25, 26 of the plates of one of the blocks 1, 2 is in contact with the stampings 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b of the plates of the other block 1,2. Said plates of the first and / or second block may also comprise stops 32 (Figure 1) extending from said solder lips 26, in particular to facilitate the stacking of said plates before soldering.

Each of said pairs of plates 11, 12 comprises a duct for the U circulation of the corresponding fluid, between a first of said collectors 5a, 6a allowing an introduction of said fluid into said duct and a second of said collectors 5b, 6b allowing an output of said fluid out said conduit.

Said blades 11, 12 may comprise an interferer 27, 28 of the flow of the first and / or second fluid. Here, said disruptors define longitudinal channels for circulation of the first and / or second fluid.

According to a non-illustrated variant, the desired U-shaped circulation is obtained by a stamped form of the bottom of the plates such as a central partial rib starting from longitudinal end edges provided with connecting pieces.

According to another variant, corresponding to the exchanger illustrated, the inlet manifolds 5a, 6a open opposite the first channel portions of the disrupters 27, 28 while the outlet manifolds open vis-à-vis a second part of the channels separated from said first part of the channels 29, 30 by one or more central channels 29, 30. In addition, said plates 11, 12 comprise locking stampings 31, 32, between the connecting pieces 15a , 15b, 16a, 16b, closing the one or more central channels 29, 30 at one of their longitudinal ends.

Said interferers 27, 28 are advantageously shorter than the bottom 21, 22 of said plates 11, 12 to define a turning zone for the fluids in each of the pairs of plates.

Referring again to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the second block 2 comprises at least one pair of terminal plates 12a, 12b, in the said stacking direction D. Said pair of plates 12a, 12b, which terminal comprises a plate 12a, having a longitudinal extension identical to the other plates of said second block 2 and a termination plate 12b having an upper longitudinal extension.

The plate 12b of upper termination, according to the orientation given to the exchanger in this figure, comprises a projecting portion 34 provided with orifices, non-visible, for the passage of the first fluid. Said holes come in correspondence of the collectors 5a, 5b of the first block 1. Said upper termination plate 12b may also have orifices, also non-visible, for the passage of the second fluid to the corresponding collectors 6a, 6b. Said exchanger then comprises one or more connection flanges 36, 38 for one and the other fluids, secured to said terminal plate 12b at said passage orifices. In other words, said second block 2 here comprises not only the connection flange (s) 38 for the second fluid but also the connection flange 36 for the first fluid.

According to a variant corresponding to the blocks illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, each of said blocks may include its own connection flange 100, 200, as already mentioned, coming respectively vis-à-vis the collectors 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b corresponding. Said pair of upper terminal plates of each of the blocks 1,2 is then identical to the pairs of non-terminal plates.

In one and / or the other of these embodiments, the lower termination plate 12b, still in the orientation of FIG. 2, of the second block 2 may comprise a protruding portion 40 provided with stampings 42. contacting a bottom portion of the collectors 5a, 5b of the first block 1.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the invention also relates to an exchanger block 1, 2 as described above, possibly equipped with a corresponding connection flange 100, 200.

As is apparent from what has been said above, the block or blocks are configured so as to fit into a block of the same configuration, with or without the same height of blades 3, 4, having a space 101, 102, open between said pairs of blades 3, 4 at longitudinal end edges 7, 8 of said blades.

Said blocks 1, 2 may be used according to the nested configuration already described or in other configurations, for example in the form, not illustrated, of an exchanger comprising a flow box of another fluid and such a block, placed in said housing, so as to benefit from a heat exchange between said other fluid and that flowing in said block.

As illustrated in FIG. 7 for the first block 1, the block or blocks may be provided with a spacer 110 between said pairs of plates 11. They may then be used, in particular air exchangers such as evaporators.

Claims (11)

claims 1. Heat exchanger, particularly for refrigerant circulating in a motor vehicle, said exchanger comprising a first block (1) for circulating a first fluid defining first blades (3) for circulating said first fluid and a second block (2). ) of circulation of a second fluid defining second blades (4) for circulation of said second fluid, said blades (3, 4) being superimposed in a stacking direction of said blades so as to allow a heat exchange between said first and second fluids, said blocks (1, 2) allowing a circulation of the first fluid avoiding the second block (2) and a circulation of the second fluid avoiding the first block (1), characterized in that the second block (2) comprises at least a pair of terminal plates (12a, 12b), in said stacking direction, comprising a plate (12a) having a longitudinal extension identical to the other plates of said block and a termina plate ison (12b) having an upper longitudinal extension. 2. Exchanger according to claim 1 wherein said blades (3, 4) extend in a longitudinal direction, perpendicular to the stacking direction, and said first block (1) comprises collectors (5a, 5b) for the first fluid, located at a longitudinal end edge (7) of the blades (3) of said first block (1) and / or said second block (2) comprises collectors (6a, 6b) for the second fluid, located at a longitudinal end edge (8) of the blades (4) of said second block (2). 3. Heat exchanger according to claim 2 wherein the collectors (5a, 5b) of the first block (1) are located vis-à-vis a edge (10) of longitudinal end of the blades (4) of the second block (2), opposite to the longitudinal end edge (8) of the blades (4) of the second block (2) at which are said collectors (6a, 6b) of the second block (2) and / or the collectors ( 6a, 6b) of the second block (2) are located vis-à-vis a longitudinal end edge (9) of the blades of the first block (1), opposite the edge (7) of the longitudinal end of the blades (3) of the first block (1) at which are said collectors (5a, 5b) of the first block (1). 4. Exchanger according to claim 2 or 3 wherein said blocks (1, 2) comprise plates (11, 12), stacked in said stacking direction, said plates (11, 12) being associated in pairs to define said blades. (3,4) of circulation, for each of the fluids. 5. Exchanger according to claim 4 wherein the pairs of plates (11, 12) for each of the fluids have a portion (13, 14) projecting pairs of plates for the other fluid, in planes orthogonal to said direction d stacking so as to release a zone of said plates, said head plates, accommodating said collectors (5a, 5b, 6a, 6b). 6. Exchanger according to claim 5 comprising fluid connections (15a, 15b, 16a, 16b) between the plates of the pairs of plates (11, 12) of the same fluid, located at said plate heads, so as to forming said collectors (5a, 5b, 6a, 6b), said links (15a, 15b, 16a, 16b) being located externally to the pairs of plates (11, 12) for said other fluid. 7. Exchanger according to claim 6 wherein said fluid connections (15a, 15b, 16a, 16b) comprise stampings from said plates (11, 12), said stampings coming into contact with stampings of the plate vis-à-vis of the neighboring pair of plates for the circulation of the same fluid. 8. Exchanger according to any one of claims 6 or 7 wherein said plates (11, 12) comprise a longitudinal end edge (17, 18), said distal, opposite to an opposite longitudinal end edge (19, 20) of said plates at which said fluid connections (15a, 15b, 16a, 16b) are located, said distal edge (17, 18) being located between two plates facing two adjacent pairs of plates for the circulation of the other fluid. 9. Exchanger according to claim 8 wherein said distal edge (17, 18) of the plates (11, 12) of one of the blocks (1, 2) is close to said fluid connections (15a, 15b, 16a, 16b). ) of the other block (1,2). An exchanger according to any of claims 8 or 9 wherein said distal edge (17, 18) conforms to a portion of the contour of said fluid links (15a, 15b, 16a, 16b). 11. Exchanger according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said second block (2) comprises at least one connecting flange (36, 38) for one of the fluids secured to said end plate (12b).