Heat exchanger and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a heat exchanger (1) includes joining an inner fin (3) to a hollow structure (20) formed from at least two clad plates (200a, 200b) by heating and brazing a filler metal layer (B). Each clad plate has a core layer (A) composed of an aluminum alloy that contains Mg: 0.40-1.0 mass %. The filler metal layer is composed of an aluminum alloy that contains Si: 4.0-13.0 mass %, and further contains Li: 0.0040-0.10 mass %, Be: 0.0040-0.10 mass %, and / or Bi: 0.01-0.30 mass %. The inner fin is composed of an aluminum alloy that contains Si: 0.30-0.70 mass % and Mg: 0.35-0.80 mass %. A flux (F) that contains cesium (Cs) is applied along a contact part (201), and the vicinity thereof, of the at least two clad plates prior to the heating. A heat exchanger (1) may be manufactured according to this method.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE[0001]This application claims priority to Japanese patent application no. 2016-5554 filed on Jan. 14, 2016, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present invention relates to a heat exchanger and to a method of manufacturing the same.BACKGROUND ART[0003]Inverter units are used in various applications such as in the control of a drive motor of, for example, a hybrid automobile, an electric vehicle, or the like. An inverter unit comprises a semiconductor (switch) device, such as an IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor), and a heat exchanger for cooling the semiconductor device as well as other heat-generating elements (bodies) such as electronic parts that constitute the power conversion circuit.[0004]Such a known heat exchanger comprises a hollow structure having an outer surface defining a mounting surface, on which a heat-generating element (body) is mounted, and an inner fin housed in the interior of the hollow ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a method for manufacturing a heat exchanger using an aluminum alloy that contains Mg. The method improves the brazeability of the hollow structure of the heat exchanger by maintaining a low oxygen concentration throughout the brazing process. The method also reduces the risk of brazing failures on the exterior of the hollow structure by improving the brazeability of the parts to be joined. Additionally, the method includes steps to improve the strength of the jacket and inner fin of the heat exchanger by increasing the strength of the metallic material forming them. The heat exchanger can be manufactured by heating the object to be processed in an inert-gas atmosphere and using a flux containing Cs to break up the oxide films present on the contact part of the hollow structure. The method allows for the preparation of durable and robust heat exchangers with strong, effective brazed joints.

Problems solved by technology

In this case, the melted K—Al—F-based flux may contact Mg on the surface of the inner fin and consume it without breaking up the oxide film on the inner fin and / or interior surface of the hollow structure, thereby inhibiting the intended fluxless brazing of the inner fin to the hollow structure.

However, because only a relatively small amount of the melted flux will penetrate into the interior of the hollow structure, insufficient melted flux reaches the inner fin to break up (destabilize or disrupt) the oxide films on the inner fin and / or the portion of the interior surface of the hollow structure that contacts the inner fin prior to formation of the fillets.

Therefore, the technique of JP 2004-25297 is problematic, because unstable fillets may form at the parts to be joined inside the hollow structure, such as, e.g., the interior surface(s) of the hollow structure that will be joined with the inner fin, due to the impairment of the brazing process caused by the insufficiently broken-up oxide films.

In addition, the technique of JP 2013-233552 is problematic in that brazeability degrades if the brazing atmosphere has a relatively high concentration of oxygen.

On the other hand, because the oxygen concentration inside the brazing furnace typically fluctuates during the brazing process owing to various factors, it is difficult to constantly maintain a low oxygen concentration outside of the hollow structure throughout the entire brazing process.

Consequently, the brazeability of parts on the exterior of the hollow structure that are directly exposed to the brazing furnace atmosphere, such as, e.g., portions of the outer walls (contact part) of the hollow structure that will be joined to each other, tends to degrade.

However, this means there is a risk that an insufficient amount of the filler material will remain on the outer side (exterior) of the hollow structure, thereby leading to inferior brazed joints and possible brazing failures (defects), such as tearing of fillets, on exterior portions of the hollow structure.

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