Stacked Plate Heat Exchanger, Assembly for a Thermal Management System, and Thermal Management System with at Least One Such Assembly

Abstract

A stacked plate heat exchanger for a thermal management system is provided, which has a stack of numerous heat exchanger plates that are brazed or glued together along the direction of the stack, which delimit a first fluid path and second fluid path, which are separated from one another in the stack, and adjacent to one another such that thermal energy can be transferred from a fluid in the first path to a fluid in the second path, or vice versa. The the stacked plate heat exchanger has a first plastic reinforcing plate on the first end of the stack. An assembly for a thermal management system and in particular to a thermal management system that contains such an assembly is provided.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from German Patent Application No. DE 102024119073.6, filed on Jul. 4, 2024, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

[0002] The invention relates to a stacked plate heat exchanger according to the preamble of Numbered Paragraph 1. The invention also relates to an assembly for a thermal management system, and in particular a thermal management system that contains at least one such assembly.

[0003] A stacked plate heat exchanger of this type is disclosed in DE 10 2009 030 095 A1, for example. A glued stacked plate heat exchanger is also described in DE 10 2015 214 694 A1. DE 10 2021 210 864 A1 discloses a thermal management system of this type that is equipped with a stacked plate heat exchanger.

[0004] Existing stacked plate heat exchangers and thermal management systems with stacked plate heat exchangers, which are used in particular in air conditioners for vehicles, are mainly made of metals, in particular aluminum alloys. Production of stacked plate heat exchangers and thermal management systems takes a lot of energy, because it takes a relatively large amount of energy to obtain and process these materials. The existing stacked plate heat exchangers and thermal management systems therefore have an undesirably large carbon footprint. Furthermore, it is difficult to use aluminum alloys for stacked plate heat exchangers because they tend to soften when subjected to high heats, e.g. when brazing, requiring more material to ensure the mechanical stability of the stacked plate heat exchanger.

[0005] The object of the invention is to therefore create a better, or at least different, design for a stacked plate heat exchanger with regard to the above disadvantages. In particular, an advantageous assembly for a thermal management system, and an advantageous thermal management system are to be obtained.

[0006] This object is achieved through the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings.

[0007] The fundamental idea of the invention is to improve the carbon footprint of a stacked plate heat exchanger by reducing the amount of materials and use materials that have less of an impact on the carbon footprint, e.g. plastics, to produce stacked plate heat exchangers.

[0008] For this, a stacked plate heat exchanger for a thermal management system is proposed, containing a stack of numerous heat exchanger plates that are brazed or glued together, which delimit first and second isolated fluid paths that pass by one another such that thermal energy in a fluid flowing in the first path, e.g. refrigerant, can be transferred to a fluid in the second path, e.g. refrigerant or coolant, or vice versa. This stacked plate heat exchanger also contains a reinforcing plate on a first end of the stack, which is made entirely of plastic. This reinforcing plate is better than conventional reinforcing plates, e.g. made of aluminum, with regard to environmental protection as well as production of the stacked plate heat exchanger obtained with the invention. This results in less CO2 being produced during the production of the proposed reinforcing plate, because plastics generally require less energy to produce and process than metals, in particular aluminum. This results in a smaller carbon footprint. The plastic reinforcing plate is also relatively lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to mass produce compared to stacked plate heat exchangers with reinforcing plates made of metal, in particular aluminum.

[0009] The term, “plastics,” is broad. These “plastics” can be pure plastics, in particular those without fillers or additives, plastic blends or mixtures composed of at least two or more base polymers, or plastics containing one or more fillers, in particular glass fibers, beads, etc. and / or one or more additives.

[0010] The stacked plate heat exchanger can also contain a second reinforcing plate on the other end of the stack, which is also made entirely of plastic.

[0011] The plastic used for the first and / or second reinforcing plates described above is ideally a thermoplastic, polyamide 66, or polyamide 66 GF30. Polyamide 66 GF30 is Polyamide 66 that is reinforced with glass fibers. The plastic used for the first and / or second reinforcing plates can also be diffusion resistant. This does not mean it has to be entirely diffusion resistant. The above plastics are inexpensive and normally readily available in large quantities, such that the reinforcing plates can be produced inexpensively.

[0012] To reduce the production costs for the proposed stacked plate heat exchanger, and / or be able to mechanically reinforce such a stack, the first and second reinforcing plates can be made of the same plastic.

[0013] The reinforcing plates can also be injection molded or glued to the first end. The second reinforcing plate can be injection molded or glued to the second end. This adhesive bond between the first reinforcing plate and the first end of the stack, and between the second reinforcing plate and second end of the stack, can be obtained with an adhesive film, liquid adhesive, or thermoplastic adhesive. A mechanically robust, diffusion resistant and permanent adhesive bond between the reinforcing plates and the first and / or second ends of the stack can be obtained when the reinforcing plates and the first and / or second ends of the stack have at least partially complementary designs. Ideally, part of the side of the first reinforcing plate facing the first end of the stack fits onto a counterpart surface on the first end of the stack. These surfaces can be contoured to facilitate spreading of a liquid adhesive over the joining surfaces of first plate and / or first end of the stack. Analogously, part of the surface of the second reinforcing plate facing the second end of the stack fits onto a counterpart surface of the second end of the stack. These surfaces can also be contoured to facilitate spreading of a liquid adhesive over the joining surfaces of the second plate and / or second end of the stack. These joining surfaces on the first reinforcing plate and first end of the stack, and on the second reinforcing plate and second end of the stack are substantially coated entirely with the adhesive, to obtain a permanent and diffusion resistant adhesive bond.

[0014] The first reinforcing plate may also be tray-shaped, and / or have a flat base with a raised edge over its circumference. This edge defines a joining surface facing the stack that is complementary to the joining counter-surface on the first end of the stack, and which fits thereon when the stacked plate heat exchanger is assembled. The second reinforcing plate may also be tray-shaped, and / or have a flat base with a raised edge over its circumference. This edge also defines a joining surface on the side facing the stack, which is complementary to the joining counter-surface on the second end of the stack, and fits thereon when the stacked plate heat exchange is assembled.

[0015] The stacked plate heat exchanger can be further improved by gluing the heat exchanger plates forming the stack to one another with a thermoplastic adhesive. Use of this thermoplastic adhesive makes it easier to recycle the proposed stacked plate heat exchanger, because it is relatively easy to separate the heat exchanger plates by heating the thermoplastic adhesive.

[0016] The first and / or second reinforcing plates described above can be produced in an injection molding process or through thermoforming. This results in reinforcing plates that can be produced inexpensively.

[0017] The first reinforcing plate can have at least one hole for the first or second fluid paths, through which such a fluid can enter or exit these paths. The second reinforcing plate described above can also have at least one hole for the first or second fluid paths, through which a fluid can enter or exit these paths.

[0018] The stacked plate heat exchanger ideally has at least one nozzle for the at least one hole in the first reinforcing plate. This nozzle can be an integral part of the reinforcing plate, or at least made of a plastic, in particular a thermoplastic, polyamide 66, or polyamide 66 GF30, that is bonded to the reinforcing plate, in particular with an adhesive. Fluid can enter or exit the first or second fluid paths through this nozzle. A supply tube or hose can be attached to this at least one nozzle, such that fluid can be supplied to the stacked plate heat exchanger. The adhesive bond between the at least one nozzle and the reinforcing plate can be obtained through welding or an adhesive film, a liquid adhesive, or a thermoplastic adhesive, with which the nozzle is either bonded to the reinforcing plate, or formed as an integral part thereof. The at least one nozzle can be formed as an integral part of the reinforcing plate in an injection molding process during the production thereof.

[0019] The reinforcing plate can also have ribs, webs, or fins on the reinforcing plate and the at least one nozzle. This reinforces the reinforcing plate. These ribs, webs or fins allow for a load from the at least one nozzle to be transferred to the reinforcing plate, thus increasing the overall mechanical strength of the reinforcing plate. The ribs, webs or fins can be formed as an integral part of the reinforcing plate in an injection molding process.

[0020] The stacked plate heat exchanger can have at least one lid that seals at least one hole in the reinforcing plate in a fluid-tight manner, and the lid can be formed as an integral part of the reinforcing plate, or can at least be made of a plastic and bonded to the reinforcing plate, in particular with an adhesive. This prevents fluid from entering or exiting the stack through this at least one hole. The at least one lid can be formed as an integral part of the reinforcing plate in an injection molding process. The at least one lid can also be subsequently attached to the reinforcing plate using an adhesive, or by welding it thereto. The adhesive can be an adhesive film, liquid adhesive, or thermoplastic adhesive.

[0021] In another embodiment, the first and / or second reinforcing plates described above can have at least one fastener with which a component can be attached to the stacked plate heat exchanger, e.g. a fastening point or retaining bracket for a tube or wire. These fasteners can be formed as integral parts of the first and / or second reinforcing plates. This reduces the number of assembly steps for the proposed stacked plate heat exchanger, thus simplifying production thereof.

[0022] The first reinforcing plate can exhibit a certain thickness. The second reinforcing plate can also exhibit a certain thickness. The heat exchanger plates can also exhibit a certain thickness. The thicknesses of the first and / or second reinforcing plates are ideally greater than the thicknesses of the heat exchanger plates. The first and / or second reinforcing plates are therefore thicker than the heat exchanger plates. This ensures that the heat exchanger plates are sufficiently reinforced by the first and / or second reinforcing plates.

[0023] To further reduce the carbon footprint of the proposed stacked plate heat exchanger, the heat exchanger plates can be made of the same aluminum material. This means that instead of using different aluminum materials for the heat exchanger plates, only one type of aluminum is used, such that the stack of heat exchanger plates is made entirely of the same material. The aluminum material that is used for the heat exchanger plates can preferably be an alloy. This is preferably an aluminum alloy that cannot be brazed, from the 5000 series. It is clear to the person skilled in the art that the expression, “series,” in this context refers to different groups of aluminum alloys standardized according to DIN EN 573-3 / 4. This significantly improves recyclability of the proposed stacked plate heat exchanger, because there is no need to separate the different aluminum materials if only one type is used for the heat exchanger plates.

[0024] Another improvement regarding environmental protection can be obtained when the aluminum material that is used contains a defined portion of recycled aluminum or aluminum alloy. This reduces the use of scarce resources as well as costs.

[0025] The invention also proposes an assembly for a thermal management system for a vehicle. The assembly is distinguished by at least one stacked plate heat exchanger according to the above description, or by two or more identical or different stacked plate heat exchangers. The assembly also has a flange to which the first stacked plate heat exchanger is attached, or with which the first stacked plate heat exchanger is mechanically attached to another stacked plate heat exchanger for fluid exchange.

[0026] This assembly can have a first stacked plate heat exchanger designed as a fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger, in particular a coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger, in which thermal energy from a fluid flowing along a first fluid path in the first stacked plate heat exchanger, in particular a refrigerant, can be transferred to a fluid flowing along the second fluid path in the first stacked plate heat exchanger, in particular a coolant, or vice versa. The thermal management system also has at least one second stacked plate heat exchanger, designed as an internal heat exchanger, in which thermal energy can be transferred from a liquid fluid, in particular a refrigerant, flowing along the first fluid path in the second stacked plate heat exchanger, to a gaseous fluid, in particular a refrigerant, flowing along the second fluid path in the second stacked plate heat exchanger, or vice versa. This results in an advantageous assembly for a thermal management system that has at least one advantageous stacked plate heat exchanger.

[0027] The invention also proposes a thermal management system for a vehicle that contains at least one assembly according to the above description. The thermal management system can contain a compressor downstream of the second stacked plate heat exchanger, which is connected at one end to the second stacked plate heat exchanger, and at the other end to another downstream heat exchanger (iCond). The thermal management system also has a reservoir downstream of the other heat exchanger (iCond) for accumulating and drying fluids, which is connected at one end to the other heat exchanger (iCond), and at the other end to the second stacked plate heat exchanger.

[0028] In summary, the present invention preferably relates to a stacked plate heat exchanger for a thermal management system that contains a stack of numerous heat exchanger plates that are brazed or glued together, which delimit first and second isolated fluid paths with which thermal energy can be transferred from a fluid flowing through the first path to a fluid in the second path, or vice versa. An essential aspect of the invention is that the stacked plate heat exchanger has a reinforcing plate on a first end of the stack that is made of a plastic. The present invention also relates to an assembly for a thermal management system, and in particular to a thermal management system that contains at least one such assembly.

[0029] Other important features and advantages of the invention can be derived from the dependent claims, drawings, and the descriptions of the drawings.

[0030] It is to be understood that the features specified above and described below can be used not only in the given combinations, but also in other combinations or in and of themselves, without abandoning the scope of the present invention.

[0031] Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, and shall be explained in greater detail below, in which the same reference symbols are used for identical, similar, or functionally identical components.

[0032] Therein, schematically:

[0033] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a first embodiment of a stacked plate heat exchanger,

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a reinforcing plate for a stacked plate heat exchanger according to another embodiment,

[0035] FIG. 3 shows an assembly for a thermal management system in an exploded view, and

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a highly simplified circuit diagram of a thermal management system for a vehicle.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a first embodiment of a stacked plate heat exchanger 1a, 1b intended for use in a thermal management system 2 for a vehicle.

[0038] The stacked plate heat exchanger 1a, 1b contains a stack 3 composed of heat exchanger plates 5, stacked and glued together in the direction of the arrow 4. Individual heat exchanger plates 5 and details of the heat exchanger plates 5 are not shown, for purposes of clarity. The heat exchanger plates 5 are made of an aluminum alloy, preferably the same alloy from the 5000 series, which cannot be brazed. The heat exchanger plates 5 delimit first and second fluid paths between them, which are isolated from one another and placed such that they pass by one another in the stack 3 such that thermal energy can be transferred from a fluid in the first path, e.g. refrigerant, to another fluid in the second path, e.g. refrigerant or coolant, or vice versa.

[0039] The stack 3 has two opposing ends 10, 11 in the stacking direction 4. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, there is a first reinforcing plate 8 for the stack 3 on the first end 10, and a second reinforcing plate 9 on the other end 11 of the stack 3. The stacked plate heat exchanger 1a, 1b could, however, just have the first reinforcing plate 8 or second reinforcing plate 9.

[0040] To improve the carbon footprint of the proposed stacked plate heat exchanger 1a, 1b or simply production thereof, both the first reinforcing plate 8 and second reinforcing plate 9 can be made of the same plastic. This results in a relatively small carbon footprint for the production of the proposed reinforcing plates 8, 9, resulting in a comparatively small carbon footprint for the proposed stacked plate heat exchanger 1a, 1b.

[0041] The first reinforcing plate 8 and second reinforcing plate 9 are produced as monolithic components in an injection molding process. The first reinforcing plate 8 and second reinforcing plate 9 each have numerous holes 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b, 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b, wherein the first reinforcing plate 8 in this case has two first holes 12a, 12b that are connected to the first fluid path, and two second holes 13a, 13b. The second reinforcing plate 9 has two first holes 14a, 14b that are connected to the first and / or second fluid path, and two second holes 15a, 15b.

[0042] It can also be seen in FIG. 1 that the stacked plate heat exchanger 1a, 1b has two separate nozzles 16a, 16b through which fluid can flow, the first 16a of which is on the first hole 12a in the reinforcing plate 8, and the second 16b is on the other first hole 12b in the reinforcing plate, such that fluid can enter and exit the first fluid path through the nozzles 16a, 16b. The two nozzles 16a, 16b are made of the same plastic as the reinforcing plate 8, and glued thereto. FIG. 1 also shows that the stacked plate heat exchanger 1a, 1b has two separate lids 17a, 17b with which the two holes 13a, 13b in the reinforcing plate 8 can be sealed. These lids 17a, 17b are also made of the same plastic as the reinforcing plate 8, and glued thereto.

[0043] To ensure that the first reinforcing plate 8 and second reinforcing plate 9 are permanently fixed in place on the stack 3, the first reinforcing plate 8 is glued to the first end 10, and the second reinforcing plate 9 is glued to the second end 11. The reinforcing plates 8, 9 have a tray-shaped design, with a flat base 22a, 22b, which has an edge 23a, 23b that is bent upward. Each of the edges 23a, 23b of the reinforcing plates 8, 9 defines a joining surface 25a, 25b on the side facing the stack 3, which is complementary to a counter-surface 26a, 26b on the stack 3. A thermoplastic adhesive can be used for gluing the reinforcing plates 8, 9 thereto.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the first reinforcing plate 8 on a stacked plate heat exchanger 1a, 1b according to another embodiment of the invention. The present reinforcing plate 8 differs from that in FIG. 1 in that the two nozzles 16a, 16b and / or lids 17a, 17b, and the reinforcing plate 8 form a monolithic component. This means that the two nozzles 16a, 16b and / or lids 17a, 17b are not glued to the reinforcing plate 8. This reduces the number of components that need to be assembled in the stacked plate heat exchanger, thus facilitating production of the stacked plate heat exchanger 1a, 1b.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows an assembled assembly 24 for a thermal management system 2 in a vehicle. The assembly 24 contains two stacked plate heat exchangers 1a, 1b, each of which contains a stack 3 of numerous heat exchanger plates 5, stacked and glued together in the direction 4. The first stacked plate heat exchanger 8 has a first plastic reinforcing plate 8 and a second reinforcing plate 9, each of which mechanically reinforce the stack 3 at opposite ends 10, 11 thereof. The second stacked plate heat exchanger 1b is substantially identical to the first 1a, with a first plastic reinforcing plate 8 and a second plastic reinforcing plate 9, each of which mechanically reinforce the stack, at opposite ends of the 10, 11 thereof. The stack 3 in the second stacked plate heat exchanger 1b is shorter than the stack 3 in the first stacked plate heat exchanger 1a.

[0046] Furthermore, the first stacked plate heat exchanger 1a forms a coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger. Thermal energy from a refrigerant flowing through the first fluid path in the first stacked plate heat exchanger 1a can be transferred to a coolant flowing through the second fluid path in the first stacked plate heat exchanger 1a, or vice versa. The second stacked plate heat exchanger 1b forms an internal heat exchanger, in which thermal energy from a liquid refrigerant flowing through the first fluid path in the second stacked plate heat exchanger 1b is transferred to a gaseous refrigerant flowing through the second fluid path in the second stacked plate heat exchanger 1b, or vice versa.

[0047] FIG. 3 also shows that the assembly 24 has a substantially rectangular flange 18 with which the first stacked plate heat exchanger 1a can be mechanically connected to the second stacked plate heat exchanger 1b for fluid exchange.

[0048] Lastly, FIG. 4 shows a highly simplified circuit diagram for a thermal management system 2 in a vehicle. The thermal management system 2 contains a single assembly 24, which purely by way of example is designed like that in FIG. 3 and thus contains two stacked plate heat exchangers 1a, 1b that are mechanically connected to one another by a flange 18 for fluid exchange. The thermal management system 2 also has a compressor 19 downstream of the second stacked plate heat exchanger 1b, which is connected at the low pressure side to the second stacked plate heat exchanger 1b in the assembly 24, and to another heat exchanger (iCond) 20 on the high pressure side, that is downstream of the compressor 19. The thermal management system 2 also contains a reservoir 21 downstream of the other heat exchanger (iCond) 20 and the second stacked plate heat exchanger 1b in the assembly 24. The second stacked plate heat exchanger 1b is connected in a thermal circuit to the first stacked heat exchanger 1a by the flange 18.

[0049] The specification can be readily understood with reference to the following Numbered Paragraphs:

[0050] Numbered Paragraph 1. A stacked plate heat exchanger (1a, 1b) for a thermal management system (2), which has a stack (3) of numerous heat exchanger plates (5) that are brazed or glued together along the direction (4) of the stack, which delimit a first and second fluid path, which are separated from one another in the stack, and adjacent to one another, such that thermal energy can be transferred from a fluid in the first path to a fluid in the second path, or vice versa, characterized by a first plastic reinforcing plate (8) on the first end (10) of the stack (3).

[0051] Numbered Paragraph 2. The stacked plate heat exchanger (1a, 1b) according to Numbered Paragraph 1, characterized by a second plastic reinforcing plate (9) on the second end (11) of the stack (3).

[0052] Numbered Paragraph 3. The stacked plate heat exchanger (1a, 1b) according to Numbered Paragraph 1 or 2, characterized in that the plastic from which the first reinforcing plate (8) and / or second reinforcing plate (9) described in Numbered Paragraph 2 is one of the following:

[0053] thermoplastic

[0054] polyamide 66,

[0055] polyamide 66 GF30.

[0056] Numbered Paragraph 4. The stacked plate heat exchanger (1a, 1b) according to any of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs, characterized in that

[0057] the first reinforcing plate (8) is sprayed onto the first end (10) in an injection molding process, or glued thereto, and / or

[0058] the second reinforcing plate (9) is sprayed onto the second end (11) in an injection molding process, or glued thereto.

[0059] Numbered Paragraph 5. The stacked plate heat exchanger (1a, 1b) according to any of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs, characterized in that the first reinforcing plate (8) and / or second reinforcing plate (9) are produced in an injection molding process or through thermal molding.

[0060] Numbered Paragraph 6. The stacked plate heat exchanger (1a, 1b) according to any of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs, characterized in that

[0061] the first reinforcing plate (8) has at least one hole (12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) connected to the first or second fluid path, such that fluid can enter or exit the first or second fluid path, and / or

[0062] the second reinforcing plate (9) has at least one hole (14a, 14b, 15a, 15b) connected to the first or second fluid path, such that fluid can enter or exit the first or second fluid path.

[0063] Numbered Paragraph 7. The stacked plate heat exchanger (1a, 1b) according to Numbered Paragraph 6, characterized in that

[0064] the stacked plate heat exchanger (1a, 1b) has at least one nozzle (16a, 16b) through which fluid can flow, for the at least one hole (12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) in the first reinforcing plate (8),

[0065] the first reinforcing plate (8) and at least one nozzle (16a, 16b) form a monolithic component, or

[0066] the at least one nozzle (16a, 16b) is made of plastic and bonded to the first reinforcing plate (8), in particular with an adhesive.

[0067] Numbered Paragraph 8. The stacked plate heat exchanger (1a, 1b) according to Numbered Paragraph 7, characterized in that the reinforcing plate (8) has ribs, webs, or fins on the first reinforcing plate (8) and the at least one nozzle (16a, 16b).

[0068] Numbered Paragraph 9. The stacked plate heat exchanger (1a, 1b) according to any of the Numbered Paragraphs 6 to 8, characterized in that

[0069] the stacked plate heat exchanger (1a, 1b) has at least one lid (17a, 17b) for at least one hole (12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) in the first reinforcing plate (8),

[0070] the first reinforcing plate (8) and at least one lid (17a, 17b) form a monolithic component, or

[0071] the at least one lid (17a, 17b) is made of plastic and is bonded to the first reinforcing plate (8), in particular with an adhesive.

[0072] Numbered Paragraph 10. The stacked plate heat exchanger (1a, 1b) according to Numbered Paragraph 6, characterized in that

[0073] the first reinforcing plate (8) and / or second reinforcing plate (9) have at least one fastener for attaching a component to the stacked plate heat exchanger (1a, 1b),

[0074] the at least one fastener and the reinforcing plate (8) form a monolithic component, and / or

[0075] the at least one fastener and the second reinforcing plate (9) form a monolithic component.

[0076] Numbered Paragraph 11. The stacked plate heat exchanger (1a, 1b) according to Numbered Paragraph 6, characterized in that

[0077] the first reinforcing plate (8) has a thickness in the stacking direction (4), and / or

[0078] the second reinforcing plate (9) has a thickness in the stacking direction (4),

[0079] the heat exchanger plates (5) each have a thickness in the stacking direction (4), and

[0080] the thickness of the first reinforcing plate (8) and / or second reinforcing plate (9) is greater than the thickness of the heat exchanger plates (5).

[0081] Numbered Paragraph 12. The stacked plate heat exchanger (1a, 1b) according to Numbered Paragraph 6, characterized in that the heat exchanger plates (5) are made of the same aluminum material, in particular an aluminum alloy from the 5000 series that cannot be brazed.

[0082] Numbered Paragraph 13. An assembly (24) for a thermal management system (2) in a vehicle, which has

[0083] at least one stacked plate heat exchanger (1a, 1b) according to any of the Numbered Paragraphs 1 to 12, or at least two stacked plate heat exchangers (1a, 1b) according to any of the Numbered Paragraphs 1 to 12, which can be identical or different,

[0084] a flange (18) on the first stacked plate heat exchanger (1a) or with which the first stacked plate heat exchanger (1a) and second stacked plate heat exchanger (1b) are mechanically connected to one another for fluid exchange.

[0085] Numbered Paragraph 14. The assembly (24) according to Numbered Paragraph 13, characterized in that

[0086] there is a first stacked plate heat exchanger (1a) that functions as a fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger, in particular a coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger, wherein thermal energy from a fluid flowing through the first fluid path in the stacked plate heat exchanger (1a), in particular a refrigerant, can be transferred to a fluid flowing through the second fluid path in the first stacked plate heat exchanger (1a), in particular a coolant, or vice versa,

[0087] there is a second stacked plate heat exchanger (1b) that functions as an internal heat exchanger, wherein thermal energy from a liquid fluid flowing through the first fluid path in the second stacked plate heat exchanger, in particular a refrigerant, can be transferred to a gaseous fluid flowing through the second fluid path in the second stacked plate heat exchanger (1b), in particular a refrigerant, or vice versa.

[0088] Numbered Paragraph 15. A thermal management system (2) for a vehicle that has at least one assembly (24) according to Numbered Paragraph 13 or 14.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)16. A stacked plate heat exchanger for a thermal management system, comprising a stack of a plurality of heat exchanger plates, the plurality of heat exchanger plates are brazed or glued together along a direction of the stack, the plurality of heat exchanger plates delimit a first fluid path and a second fluid path, which are separated from one another in the stack, and adjacent to one another, such that the plurality of heat exchanger plates are configured to transfer thermal energy from a fluid in the first path to a fluid in the second path, or vice versa, further comprising a first reinforcing plate disposed on a first end of the stack, the first reinforcing plate is made from plastic.

17. The stacked plate heat exchanger according to claim 16, further comprising a second reinforcing plate, the second reinforcing plate is made from plastic, the second reinforcing plate is positioned upon a second end of the stack opposite from the first end of the stack.

18. The stacked plate heat exchanger according to claim 17, wherein the plastic from which the first reinforcing plate and / or second reinforcing plate is one of the following:thermoplasticpolyamide 66,polyamide 66 GF30.

19. The stacked plate heat exchanger according to claim 17, wherein the first reinforcing plate is sprayed onto the first end in an injection molding process, or glued thereto, and / orthe second reinforcing plate is sprayed onto the second end in an injection molding process, or glued thereto.

20. The stacked plate heat exchanger according to claim 17, wherein the first reinforcing plate and / or second reinforcing plate are produced in an injection molding process or through thermal molding.

21. The stacked plate heat exchanger according to claim 17, wherein the first reinforcing plate comprises at least one hole connected to the first or second fluid path, such that fluid can enter or exit the first or second fluid path, and / orthe second reinforcing plate comprises at least one hole connected to the first or second fluid path, such that fluid can enter or exit the first or second fluid path.

22. The stacked plate heat exchanger according to claim 21, wherein the stacked plate heat exchanger comprises at least one nozzle through which fluid can flow, and through the least one hole in the first reinforcing plate,wherein the first reinforcing plate and at least one nozzle are a monolithic component, orthe at least one nozzle is made of plastic and bonded to the first reinforcing plate.

23. The stacked plate heat exchanger according to claim 22, wherein the reinforcing plate comprises ribs, webs, or fins upon the first reinforcing plate further comprises the at least one nozzle.

24. The stacked plate heat exchanger according to claim 21, whereinthe stacked plate heat exchanger comprises at least one lid for the at least one hole in the first reinforcing plate,wherein the first reinforcing plate and at least one lid form a monolithic component, andthe at least one lid is made of plastic and is bonded to the first reinforcing plate.

25. The stacked plate heat exchanger according to claim 21, wherein the first reinforcing plate and / or second reinforcing plate comprises at least one fastener configured for attaching a component to the stacked plate heat exchanger,wherein the at least one fastener and the reinforcing plate form a monolithic component, and / orthe at least one fastener and the second reinforcing plate form a monolithic component.

26. The stacked plate heat exchanger according to claim 21, whereinthe first reinforcing plate has a thickness in a stacking direction,the second reinforcing plate has a thickness in the stacking direction, andthe heat exchanger plates each have a thickness in the stacking direction,wherein the thickness of the first reinforcing plate and / or second reinforcing plate is greater than the thickness of the heat exchanger plates.

27. The stacked plate heat exchanger according to claim 21, wherein the heat exchanger plates are made of the same aluminum material.

28. An assembly for a thermal management system in a vehicle, which hasat least one stacked plate heat exchanger according to claim 16,further comprising a flange on the at least one stacked plate heat exchanger.

29. The assembly according to claim 28, whereinthe at least one first stacked plate heat exchanger is configured as a coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger, wherein either thermal energy from a refrigerant flowing through the first fluid path in the stacked plate heat exchanger, is configured to be transferred to a coolant flowing through the second fluid path in the first stacked plate heat exchanger, orthermal energy from a coolant flowing through the first fluid path in the stacked plate heat exchanger, is configured to be transferred to a refrigerant flowing through the second fluid path in the first stacked plate heat exchangerfurther comprising a second stacked plate heat exchanger that is configured as an internal heat exchanger, the second stacked plate heat exchanger comprises a first fluid path and a second fluid path, wherein either thermal energy from a liquid refrigerant flowing through the first fluid path in the second stacked plate heat exchanger, is configured to be transferred to a gaseous refrigerant fluid flowing through the second fluid path in the second stacked plate heat exchanger, orthermal energy from a gaseous refrigerant flowing through the first fluid path in the second stacked plate heat exchanger, is configured to be transferred to a liquid refrigerant fluid flowing through the second fluid path in the second stacked plate heat exchanger.

30. An assembly for a thermal management system in a vehicle, comprising first and second stacked plate heat exchangers according to claim 16, wherein the first and second stacked plate heat exchangers are the same as each other or are different from each other,further comprising a flange on the first stacked plate heat exchanger, wherein the first and second stacked plate heat exchangers are mechanically connected to one another for fluid exchange.

31. A thermal management system for a vehicle that has at least one assembly according to claim 28.

32. The stacked plate heat exchanger according to claim 27, wherein the heat exchanger plates are made from an aluminum alloy from the 5000 series that cannot be brazed.

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