WO2008145437A1

WO2008145437A1 - Device for controlling the flow of a fluid in a heat exchanger and associated air inlet module

Info

Publication number: WO2008145437A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/053963
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carlos Martins; Guillaume Bourgoin; Bertrand Gessier
Original assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
Priority date: 2007-05-24
Filing date: 2008-04-02
Publication date: 2008-12-04
Also published as: FR2916524A1; FR2916524B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device comprising a body having an inlet for a fluid and a first housing which can at least partially form an inlet chamber (24) for the fluid in a heat exchanger (72), a second housing which can at least partially form an outlet chamber (26) for the fluid in the heat exchanger and a third housing or valve chamber (28) which can receive a means (30) for controlling and/or distributing said fluid. The aforementioned means (30) can be moved between a cooling position in which the fluid inlet (22) is communicated with the inlet chamber (24) and a bypass position in which the fluid inlet is communicated with the outlet chamber (26), said fluid inlet, inlet chamber (24) and/or outlet chamber (26) opening into the above-mentioned third housing. The invention is suitable for heat engine charge air coolers.

Description

Device for regulating the circulation of a fluid in a heat exchanger, and associated air intake module

The invention relates to a device adapted to regulate the circulation of a fluid in a heat exchanger. It also relates to an air intake module comprising such a control device and a heat exchanger.

A preferred field of application of the invention is that of supercharged heat engines, particularly motor vehicles, which use a particular heat exchanger, also called "charge air cooler" (abbreviated as RAS), for cooling a fluid. that is, the charge air of the engine.

Supercharged or turbocharged heat engines, in particular diesel engines, are powered by an underpressure air called "boost air" from a turbo-compressor powered by the engine exhaust gas. As a result of its compression, this air is at a temperature too high and it is desirable, for proper operation of the engine, to cool before admission to the latter. For this purpose, in a conventional manner, a cooler called a charge air cooler is used. This chiller has the function of cooling the supercharging air by heat exchange with another fluid such as outside air or a liquid such as water in the engine cooling circuit, thus forming an air / air or liquid type exchanger. /air.

The use of an air / air type exchanger requires implantation on the front of the vehicle, which makes it more vulnerable in the event of a frontal impact. This is the reason why it is often preferred to use a liquid / air type exchanger, because it can be implanted in a chosen location of the engine compartment, especially near the engine.

DE 199 02 504 B4 already discloses an air cooling module for a supercharged heat engine comprising a housing housing a heat exchanger of the liquid / air type and an air inlet for charge air. to cool and an air outlet for cooled charge air. In an embodiment described in this prior patent the air outlet is arranged in the form of an air distributor which forms thus constitutes an intake manifold for the engine.

However, the performance of this known cooling module is limited because it only allows a cooling function. It does not include bypass means allowing the supercharging air to bypass the heat exchanger when cooling this supercharging air is not desirable, as is the case particularly in engine start phase .

The object of the invention is in particular to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

It aims in particular to provide a device adapted to regulate the circulation of a fluid in a heat exchanger, including the charge air circulation in a charge air cooler.

One of the aims of the invention is to propose such a control device that can be easily integrated, in particular in a fluid intake module.

It aims in particular to provide a device adapted to regulate the charge air circulation in a air cooler, supercharger, which. can be easily integrated into an air intake module.

The invention also aims to improve such a fluid intake module to facilitate its integration into an implantation site, particularly in a motor vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a fluid intake module that can be made in a particularly compact form.

The invention proposes for this purpose a device adapted to regulate the circulation of a fluid in a heat exchanger, said device comprising a body, said body having an inlet for said fluid and a first housing adapted to form at least partly a inlet chamber for said fluid in said heat exchanger, a second housing adapted to at least partly form an outlet chamber for said fluid in said heat exchanger and a third housing, said valve chamber, adapted to accommodate a means regulating and / or distributing said fluid, said regulating and / or distributing means being able to be moved between a so-called cooling position communicating the inlet for said fluid with the inlet chamber and a bypass position making communicating the inlet for said fluid with the outlet chamber, the inlet for said fluid, the inlet chamber and / or the outlet chamber opening into the said third lodging.

The device of the invention thus offers the advantage of grouping, in a compact form, the main functions making it possible to regulate the circulation of the fluid in a heat exchanger, so that this fluid can, depending on the needs, either pass through the exchanger heat to be cooled, either bypass the heat exchanger to avoid cooling.

Such a device is therefore of particular interest when the heat exchanger is a charge air cooler.

Other features of the invention are indicated below.

- The inlet for said fluid, the inlet chamber and / or the outlet chamber radially open into said third housing.

- Said third housing is interposed between the inlet for said fluid, the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber.

Said third housing comprises said means for regulating and / or distributing said fluid, and said means for regulating and / or distributing said fluid is a valve comprising a member movable in rotation and controlled by an actuator.

- Said device comprises on one side a first interface for receiving the heat exchanger and the opposite side a second interface for receiving an actuator adapted to control said means for regulating and / or distribution of said fluid.

The inlet chamber and the outlet chamber have elongate configurations extending in substantially parallel directions, and the valve chamber is disposed between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber.

- The fluid inlet opens into the valve chamber in a direction generally parallel to the direction of the inlet chamber and the direction of the outlet chamber, and generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the valve adjusting member.

- The device further comprises a liquid inlet pipe and a liquid outlet pipe which open into the first interface for the circulation of a cooling liquid in the heat exchanger.

- The device is made in one piece by molding material.

- The device is made of plastic.

- The device is made in one piece with an intake manifold adapted to be mounted on a heat engine and having intake manifolds opening into the outlet chamber of said device.

- In the position where the intake manifold is attached to the engine, said device extends in a substantially horizontal plane, with a first interface facing upwards to receive the heat exchanger and a second interface facing downwards. to receive an actuator adapted to control said means for regulating and / or distributing said fluid.

- The device is made in the form of an independent element adapted to be connected indirectly to an intake manifold of a heat engine.

- The device further comprises an interface plate adapted to be inserted between the first interface and a collector of the heat exchanger, said interface plate comprising fluid passages for communicating respectively with the inlet chamber and the output chamber of said device. - Said interface plate further comprises liquid passages adapted to communicate respectively with a liquid inlet pipe and a liquid outlet pipe that comprises said device.

In another aspect, the invention relates to an air intake module, comprising a device as defined above and a heat exchanger.

In this air intake module, the heat exchanger advantageously comprises a beam secured to a collector and a cover in which the beam is housed to help define a fluid inlet passage and an exit passage of fluid.

The beam is preferably formed by a stack of plates and corrugated dividers.

In the detailed description which follows, made only by way of example, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an air intake module comprising a control device according to the invention and a heat exchanger;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device for regulating the module of FIG. 1, the device being made in the form of a support plate;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 in which an interface plate has been added to the support plate;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the module of FIG. 1; - Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line VV of Figure 4, passing through the median plane of the valve of the device in the cooling position;

- Figure 6 is a sectional view along the line VI-VI of Figure 4, the section plane passing through the axis of rotation of the valve adjusting member;

FIG. 7 is a view from above of the module of FIG.

1;

FIG. 8 is a view from below of the module of FIG. 1;

- Figure 9 is a perspective view of the heat exchanger with its collector and its cover; and

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the heat exchanger of Figure 9 with the lid removed.

Referring first to Figure 1 which shows an air intake module, generally designated by reference 10, for a supercharged engine (not shown), such as a motor vehicle diesel engine . The module 10 comprises a regulating device 12 comprising a body and constituted here by a support plate, also called a base. In the present description, the reference 12 thus designates both the control device and the support plate.

In the exemplary embodiment, the regulation device 12 is made in one piece with an intake manifold 14. The latter is intended to form an interface with the heat engine. The device 12, including the intake manifold 14, can be made in one piece by molding a plastic material, in particular of the polyamide type (PA). An example of a suitable material is PA 6-6 loaded with glass fibers.

The device 12 receives a cover 16 for accommodating therein a heat exchanger of the liquid / air type, in the example an air intercooler, which will be described ^'below. The device 12 together with the cover 16 forms a module housing.

As best seen in Figures 2 and 3, the intake manifold 14 comprises a support plate 18, or interface plate, adapted to be fixed on the cylinder head of the engine and intake manifolds 20 which open into this support plate 18.

In the example described here, the device 12 forms a one-piece assembly with the intake manifold 14-. However, in one embodiment (not shown), this device could be in the form of an independent element adapted to be connected indirectly to an intake manifold of the engine. This then allows to mount the module itself in an appropriate place of the engine compartment, but away from the engine.

The body of the device 12 (support plate) has an inlet 22 for the fluid (here, supercharging air) whose circulation must be regulated in the heat exchanger (here a charge air cooler). This inlet 22 consists here of a manifold for admitting supercharging air (arrow Fl). The body of the device further comprises a first housing adapted to form at least part of an inlet chamber 24 for the fluid (charge air) in the heat exchanger, a second housing adapted to form at least one an outlet chamber 26 for said fluid in the heat exchanger and a third housing, said valve chamber, 28 adapted to accommodate a means for regulating and / or distributing said fluid.

In other words, in this embodiment, the inlet chamber 24 is placed upstream of the valve chamber 28 in the direction of circulation of the fluid. Similarly, the outlet chamber 26 is placed downstream of the valve chamber 28 in the fluid flow direction.

The body of the device 12 forms, here, a one-piece assembly grouping the inlet 22 for the fluid, the first housing, the second housing and the third.

The valve chamber 28 is generally circular cylindrical in shape to house the aforementioned control and / or distribution means. The latter means is a valve having a rotary adjusting member 30 adapted to be rotated about an axis XX (see Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8). The rotary adjustment member 30 is adapted to be controlled by an actuator 32 shown schematically in FIG. 6. The actuator 32 may in particular be an electric motor of the step-by-step type, for selectively bringing the adjustment member into positions chosen.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the inlet 22 for said fluid, the inlet chamber 24 and / or the outlet chamber 26 opens radially into the third housing, that is to say the valve chamber 28.

The regulating and / or distributing means (regulating member 30) can be moved between a so-called cooling position communicating the inlet 22 for said fluid with the inlet chamber 24 and a position of derivation communicating the inlet 22 for said fluid with the outlet chamber 26.

The inlet chamber 24 and the outlet chamber 26 have elongated configurations and extend in substantially parallel directions. Here, the extension directions of the inlet chamber 24 and the outlet chamber 26 are parallel to a given direction D1.

In the example shown, the inlet chamber 24 and the outlet chamber 26 have lengths, respectively L1 and L2 substantially equal.

The valve chamber 28 is, for its part, disposed between the inlet chamber 24 and the outlet chamber 26. In this way, the chambers 24, 26 and 28 jointly adopt a generally U-shaped shape in which the two branches are formed respectively by the inlet chamber 24 and the outlet chamber 26, while the connection between the two branches of the U is formed by the chamber 28.

The inlet 22 opens into the valve chamber 28 in a direction generally parallel to the direction of the inlet chamber 24 and the direction of the outlet chamber 26, and generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation XX of the adjusting member 30 of the valve.

The outlet chamber 26 also communicates with the intake manifolds 18 to send the fluid (the charge air), which has or has not been cooled by the charge air cooler, directly into the engine of the motor vehicle.

Indeed, the regulator 30 of the valve can direct the supercharging air to the inlet chamber 24 so that the air flow is then cooled by the charge air cooler and wins the chamber 26. This is the cooling position,

But the regulator 30 of the valve can also take another position in which the charge air is sent directly into the outlet chamber 26 without being cooled by the charge air cooler.

The regulator 30 of the valve may also, in the example, provide a so-called damper function, that is to say of total closure, preventing any intake of charge air to the engine to facilitate 'stop.

In FIG. 5, it can be seen that the regulator 30 can send the charge air either into the air inlet chamber 24 (arrow F2) or into the air outlet chamber 26 (arrow F3).

In the example shown, the device 12 (support plate) is intended to be implanted in a substantially horizontal plane, the axis XX of rotation of the adjustment member 30 of the valve then extending in a substantially vertical direction .

According to another feature of the invention, the device 12 comprises on one side a first interface 34 (Figure 2) for receiving the heat exchanger and the opposite side a second interface 36 for receiving the actuator. This first interface 34 here extends in a plane and is oriented upwards, while the second interface 36 is oriented here downwards.

This second interface 36 appears better in FIGS. 4 and 6 and also in the bottom view of FIG. 8. In this FIG. 8, it can be seen that the second interface 36 has a generally circular shape and comprises four radial tabs • 38, also called ears, for attaching the actuator 32.

The device 12 further comprises, coming from molding, a liquid inlet pipe 40 and a liquid outlet pipe 42 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 8). These two tubes protrude downwardly from the device 12 and open into the first interface 34. Their function is to respectively allow the admission and the discharge of a coolant clean to go through the charge air cooler for cool the charge air in the cooling position, as will be seen later.

Thus, in the example shown, in the position where the intake manifold 14 is fixed to the heat engine, the device 12 extends in a substantially horizontal plane, the first interface 34 being oriented upwards to receive the cooler d. charge air and the second interface 36 being oriented downwards to receive the actuator 32.

In this configuration, the device 12 is located under the heat exchange bundle. This allows the device to remain in the bulk of the heat exchange beam and thus to obtain a fluid intake module 10 made in a particularly compact form.

As seen in Figure 3, the module 10 further comprises an interface plate 44 adapted to be disposed against the first interface 34. This interface plate is adapted to be inserted between the first interface 34 and a collector 46 of the heat exchanger (see Figures 1, 4, 6, 9 and 10)).

The interface plate 44 (FIG. 3) comprises fluid passages (air passages) 48 and 50 of oblong shapes. to communicate respectively with the inlet chamber 24 and outlet chamber 26 of the device 12. The interface plate 44 also comprises two liquid passages 52 and 54 communicate own ^• respectively with the liquid inlet port 40 and the liquid outlet tubing 42 that the device comprises.

The fluid passages 48 and 50 for the charge air, as well as the liquid passages 52 and 54 are advantageously provided with seals to allow a sealed connection with the collector 46 of the heat exchanger.

As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 9 and 10, the collector 46 comprises two fluid passages 56 and 58 capable of communicating respectively with the fluid passages 48 and 50 of the interface plate 44 and two liquid passages 60 and 62 adapted to communicate respectively with the liquid passages 40 and 42 of the interface plate 44.

The collector 46 has a generally rectangular shape and is provided with eight protruding lugs 64 for attachment to homologous tabs 66 of the device (FIG. 2). The interface plate 44 also has homologous tabs 68 (FIG. 3). The manifold can thus be mounted on the device 12 with the interposition of the interface plate 44 by means of eight wing nuts 70 (Figure 4).

The collector 46 supports the beam of a heat exchanger 72 formed by an alternating stack of plates and corrugated inserts (FIGS. 6 and 10). The structure of such a heat exchanger is in itself known. It comprises a multiplicity of plates 74 arranged in pairs defining circulation blades for a coolant introduced by the liquid passage 60 and escaping through the liquid outlet passage 62, Between the pairs of plates 74 are arranged corrugated spacers - 76 forming heat exchanger fins and in which can circulate the charge air to be cooled.

The plates 74 comprise a general extension axis, along the direction D1, and, still in the same direction D1 ^" , a length L3.

Thus, in the embodiment shown, the length L1 of the inlet chamber 24, the length L2 of the outlet chamber 26 and the length L3 of the plates in the direction of D1 are substantially equal. In other ^words', the lengths of B and input and output and the length of the heat exchange bundle are substantially identical.

The collector 46 is provided with a peripheral flange 78 (FIGS. 1, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 10) allowing the fitting of a homologous rim of the cover 16, as is best seen in FIG. 9.

The heat exchanger 72 thus comprises a beam integral with the collector 46 and a cover 16 in which the beam is housed to help delimit a fluid inlet passage 80 and a fluid outlet passage 82 for the charge air. as best seen in Figure 6.

This figure shows the module in the cooling position. The regulator 30 of the valve directs the supercharging air to the air inlet chamber 24. This air then gains the inlet passage 80, then scans the heat exchanger beam to be cooled by exchange thermal with the liquid. The supercharging air thus cooled then gains the exit passage 82 and then the exit chamber 26 to then go directly to the engine.

When the valve is in bypass position, the charge air is fed directly into the outlet chamber 26 (Figure 5) to directly gain the engine without being cooled.

In the previous embodiment described, the heat exchanger 72 is preferably made of brazed aluminum and composed of a bundle of plates and spacers, the assembly being placed on the interface plate 44 as already described. . This interface plate 44 thus makes the connection between the heat exchanger and the device 12 made of plastic material. This device groups together a portion of the fluid inlets and outlets of the heat exchanger. It also integrates the valve and makes the support interface for the heat exchanger.

In the example shown, this device 12 also interfaces with the vehicle since it integrates the intake manifold 14.

However, as already indicated above, the module could be made in the form of an independent element and be connected to a different intake manifold by appropriate conduits to allow an implementation of the remote module of the engine.

The valve makes it possible to ensure different functions: the bypass, the thermal regulation, by reducing more or less the section of passage in the chosen lane

(bypass or cooling) and finally the complete closure for the engine stop. The valve is constituted by a rotary member, actuated by an electric motor, not shown here. In the example described, the axis of rotation of the valve is substantially vertical but it could be represented in other positions, especially in a horizontal position.

The fact that the device 12 partially integrates the inlet and outlet chambers makes it possible to reduce the width of the heat exchanger, the fluid inlet passages and the support being of oblong shape to gain even more space in the door. -to overhang.

The module can integrate other elements, including water pipes for supplying the heat exchanger, attachment accessories, etc.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above by way of example.

In the case of a motor whose air ducts are oriented horizontally, which is the case shown here, the module is fixed horizontally on the intake face, the heat exchanger being arranged in a horizontal position. In the example, the exchanger is placed above the support plate, but it could, alternatively, be fixed below this support plate.

In the case of a motor whose air ducts are oriented vertically, the module can be fixed on the top of the motor by overflowing on one side of it to allow the mounting of the heat exchanger indifferently on the top or the bottom of this overflowing part.

The module of the invention may alternatively be mounted on the intake face. The module is then fixed vertically on the face of the engine, the heat exchanger also being in a vertical position and the interface with the vehicle being oriented at 90 ° from the plate. The heat exchanger is then mounted indifferently above or below the interface with the vehicle.

Finally, in a last configuration, as already indicated, the module may not integrate the interface of the vehicle, that is to say the intake manifold.

The invention finds a preferential application to thermal engines of motor vehicles, especially diesel engines.

Claims

claims

1. Device adapted to regulate the circulation of a fluid in a heat exchanger, said device comprising a body, said body having an inlet (22) for said fluid and a first housing adapted to form at least partly a chamber of inlet (24) for said fluid in said heat exchanger, a second housing adapted to at least partially form an outlet chamber (26) for said fluid in said heat exchanger and a third housing said valve chamber (28) fit receiving means for regulating and / or distributing said fluid, said regulating and / or distributing means being able to be moved between a so-called cooling position communicating the inlet (22) for said fluid with the chamber of inlet (24) and a bypass position communicating the inlet (22) for said fluid with the outlet chamber (26), the inlet (22) for said fluid, the inlet chamber (24) and / or the exit chamber (26) opening into said third housing.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the inlet (22) for said fluid, the inlet chamber (24) and / or the outlet chamber (26) open radially into said third housing.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said third housing is interposed between the inlet (22) for said fluid, the inlet chamber (24) and the outlet chamber (26).

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said third housing comprises said means for regulating and / or distributing said fluid and wherein said means for regulating and / or distributing said fluid is a valve comprising an adjusting member (30) movable in rotation and controlled by an actuator (32),

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said device (12) comprises on one side a first interface (34) for receiving the heat exchanger and on the opposite side a second interface (36) for receiving an actuator (32) adapted to drive said means for regulating and / or distributing said fluid.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet chamber (24) and the outlet chamber (26) have elongated configurations extending in substantially parallel directions and wherein the valve chamber (28) ) • is arranged between the inlet chamber (24) and the outlet chamber (26).

7. Device according to one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the inlet (22) for the fluid opens into the valve chamber (28) in a direction generally parallel to the direction of the inlet chamber (24) and in the direction of the outlet chamber (26), and generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation (XX) of the valve adjusting member (30).

8. Device according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein said device (12) further comprises a liquid inlet pipe (40) and a liquid outlet pipe (42) which open into the first interface ( 34) for circulation of coolant in the heat exchanger.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said device (12) is made in one piece by molding material.

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said device (12) is made of plastic.

11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said device (12) is formed in one piece with an intake manifold (14) adapted to be mounted on a heat engine and having intake manifolds ( 20) opening into the outlet chamber (26) of said device.

12. Device according to claim 11, wherein in the position where the intake manifold (14) is attached to the engine, said device (12) extends in a substantially horizontal plane, with a first interface.

(34) facing upwards to receive the heat exchanger and a second interface (36) facing downwards to receive an actuator (32) adapted to drive said means for regulating and / or distributing said fluid.

13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said device (12) is formed as an independent element adapted to be connected indirectly to an intake manifold of a heat engine.

14. Device according to one of claims 5 to 13, which further comprises an interface plate (44) adapted to be inserted between the first interface (34) and a collector (46) of the heat exchanger, said interface plate comprising fluid passages (48, 50) for communicating respectively with the inlet chamber (24) and the outlet chamber (26) of said device (12).

The device of claim 14, taken in combination with claim 8, wherein said interface plate (44) further comprises passages of liquid (52, 54) adapted to communicate respectively with a liquid inlet pipe (40) and a liquid outlet pipe (42) that comprises said device (12).

16. Air intake module (10), comprising a device according to one of the preceding claims and a heat exchanger (72).

17. An air intake module according to claim 16, wherein the heat exchanger (72) comprises a beam integral with a collector (46) and a cover (16) in which is housed the beam to contribute to defining a fluid inlet passage (80) and a fluid outlet passage (82).

The air intake module of claim 17, wherein the beam is formed by a stack of plates (74) and corrugated spacers (76).

The air intake module of claim 18, wherein the inlet chamber (24), the exit chamber

(26) and the heat exchange bundle each have a length in a given direction (D1) and wherein the lengths of the inlet (Ll) and output (L2) chambers and the length (L3) of the bundle of heat exchange are substantially identical.