Heat exchanger for a motor vehicle, method for operating a heat exchanger and method for producing a heat exchanger

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat exchanger for a motor vehicle, having a base body which can be flowed through by a temperature control medium and a medium guide which passes through the base body, by means of which the medium to be temperature controlled can be guided through the base body, whereby the medium to be temperature controlled can be temperature controlled by heat exchange with the temperature control medium, the base body being produced in one piece by injection molding, whereby the base body is configured to be closed on the circumference and internally hollow, the injection molding being a method combination consisting of foaming and injection, the injection molding being based on the principle of chemical foaming, in which a foaming agent is mixed into the granulate, which is then injected, the wall thickness being constant on the base body during injection of the melt of the granulate into the mold, the skin of the base body cooling after injection, the injection machine comprising the mold reducing the closing force and opening a so-called foaming stroke, the foaming agent foaming the melt in the still plastic core, whereby the base body has a closed skin, which surrounds the hollow volume of the base body which is open.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat exchange device for a motor vehicle, a method for operating the heat exchange device, and a method for providing a heat exchange device for a motor vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] An air conditioning system for a motor vehicle is known from DE 10 2011 121 068 A1, comprising a heating water circuit. The heating water circuit includes an electric heating module operating on the water side, a circulation pump, and a heat exchanger operating on the air side. On the air side, an air distribution chamber is disposed downstream of the heat exchanger, the air distribution chamber having a footwell ventilation outlet and a headwell ventilation outlet. The heat exchanger is configured to heat the airflow delivered to the vehicle's passenger compartment.

[0003] Furthermore, a device for diffuse ventilation of a vehicle interior space in the dashboard area is known from DE 195 08 983 C1. The device includes an upper component visible to vehicle occupants and a lower component covered by the upper component. The upper component has a plurality of air exhaust holes, and the lower component, together with the upper component, defines an air distribution chamber connected to an air delivery device. Air can flow into the air distribution chamber via the air delivery device, and the air can then diffusely flow out into the vehicle interior space via the air exhaust holes. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchange device for a motor vehicle, a method for operating the heat exchange device, and a method for providing a heat exchange device for a motor vehicle, said heat exchange device and method being particularly advantageous for temperature control of the medium to be regulated.

[0005] According to the present invention, this objective is achieved by a heat exchange device for a motor vehicle having the following features, a method for operating the heat exchange device having the following features, and a method for providing a heat exchange device for a motor vehicle having the following features. The heat exchange device for a motor vehicle according to the present invention has a substrate through which a temperature-regulating medium can flow and a medium guiding device through the substrate, by means of which the medium to be temperature-regulated can be guided through the substrate, thereby allowing temperature regulation of the medium to be temperature-regulated through heat exchange with the temperature-regulating medium. The heat exchange device is characterized in that the substrate is manufactured by injection molding, wherein the substrate is configured to be peripherally closed and internally open, wherein injection molding is a combination of foaming and injection methods, and is based on the principle of chemical foaming, wherein a foaming agent is mixed into the particles, and then… During the injection of the granules into the mold, the wall thickness on the matrix is ​​constant. After injection, the outer skin of the matrix cools, and the injection molding machine, including the mold, reduces the closing force and opens a so-called foaming stroke. In the still plasticized plastic core, the foaming agent foams the melt, so the matrix has a closed outer skin that surrounds the hollow volume of the opening in the matrix. Air can be blown into the interior space of the vehicle from the channel through nozzles provided on the outside of the matrix, and / or air can flow into the interior space of the vehicle from the channel through a permeable surface layer. In the method for operating the heat exchange device according to the invention, a temperature-regulating medium is guided in a substrate configured to be peripherally closed and internally open, made by injection molding, and the medium to be temperature-regulated is guided through the substrate via at least one channel by means of the medium guiding device. The injection molding method is a combination of foaming and injection methods based on the principle of chemical foaming, wherein a foaming agent is mixed into granules, which are then injected. During the injection of the molten granules into a mold, the wall thickness on the substrate is constant. After injection, the outer skin of the substrate cools, and the injection molding machine, including the mold, reduces the closing force and opens a so-called foaming stroke. In the still plasticized plastic core, the foaming agent causes the melt to foam, thus the substrate has a closed outer skin that surrounds the hollow volume of the open portion of the substrate. Air can be blown into the interior space of the vehicle through nozzles disposed on the outside of the substrate, and / or air can flow into the interior space of the vehicle through the channel via a permeable surface layer.In the method for providing a heat exchange device for a motor vehicle according to the invention, a matrix is ​​manufactured by injection molding, the matrix being peripherally closed and internally perforated, thereby allowing a temperature-regulating medium to flow through it, and the matrix is ​​traversed by at least one channel of a medium guiding device, by which the medium to be temperature-regulated can be guided through the matrix via the medium guiding device. The injection molding process is a combination of foaming and injection methods, based on the principle of chemical foaming, wherein a foaming agent is mixed into the particles. The granules are then injected. During the injection of the molten granules into the mold, the wall thickness on the matrix is ​​constant. After injection, the outer skin of the matrix cools, and the injection molding machine, including the mold, reduces the closing force and opens a so-called foaming stroke. In the still plasticized plastic core, the foaming agent causes the melt to foam, so the matrix has a closed outer skin that surrounds the hollow volume of the opening in the matrix. Air can be blown into the interior space of the vehicle from the channel through nozzles provided on the outside of the matrix, and / or air can flow into the interior space of the vehicle from the channel through a permeable surface layer.

[0006] A first aspect of the invention relates to a heat exchange device for motor vehicles, particularly automobiles, having a substrate through which a temperature-regulating medium can flow. Furthermore, the heat exchange device includes a medium guiding device that guides the medium to be temperature-regulated through the substrate, thereby enabling temperature regulation of the medium by heat exchange with the temperature-regulating medium. With the medium guiding device, the medium to be temperature-regulated can be guided toward the substrate and can be guided through the substrate via at least one channel. The at least one channel is fluidly separated from the substrate and extends completely through the substrate from a first side to a side opposite to the first side. Here, the respective channel may be configured to be open toward the first side and / or a second side of the substrate. During the guidance of the medium through the substrate via the channel, heat exchange occurs between the medium to be temperature-regulated and the temperature-regulating medium, based on which temperature regulation of the medium is achieved.

[0007] To achieve particularly advantageous temperature control of the medium to be controlled, according to the invention, the matrix is ​​manufactured using an injection molding process, wherein the matrix is ​​configured to be peripherally closed and internally porous. Therefore, the matrix, due to its injection molding manufacturing, has a peripherally closed and thus dense layer with internal pores. A temperature-regulating medium can be guided within this porous layer, by means of which the temperature-regulating medium can regulate the temperature of the medium flowing through the matrix via the at least one channel by absorbing or releasing heat. The injection molding process is a combination of foaming and injection methods. The injection molding process is based on the principle of chemical foaming. Here, a foaming agent is mixed into granules, which are then injected. During the injection of the molten granules into the mold, the wall thickness is constant throughout the component (in this example, the matrix). After injection, the outer skin of the matrix cools, the injection molding machine, including the mold, reduces the closing force and opens a so-called foaming stroke. In the still plasticized plastic core, the foaming agent causes the melt to foam. Therefore, the substrate has a closed outer skin that surrounds the hollow volume of the substrate's openings. Substrates manufactured using the injection molding process are particularly stable and, on the other hand, particularly simple to produce. Therefore, heat exchange devices can be provided particularly simply and cost-effectively via the substrate.

[0008] The heat exchanger can be integrated into the instrument panel. Here, the substrate can be the instrument panel substrate, in which at least one instrument is integrated, the instrument being configured to display the vehicle's status. Alternatively, the substrate can be the substrate of the center console, door panel, or headliner. When the substrate of the heat exchanger is used as the instrument panel substrate, it is particularly stipulated that the instrument is flush with the upper side of the substrate. This avoids the instrument protruding from the base element, thereby significantly reducing the risk of damage to the instrument. Therefore, the at least one instrument is integrated into the substrate, for example, so that the instrument can be temperature-regulated, and in particular, cooled, by means of the substrate. The instrument panel extends along the lateral direction of the vehicle below the windshield, especially in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, particularly configured as an automobile; that is, it extends overlapping the windshield in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0009] It has proven particularly advantageous in this respect that air, as the medium to be conditioned, can be guided through the substrate and into the interior space of the vehicle by means of a medium guiding device. The substrate is configured to conditioned the air as it flows through the substrate via the at least one channel. Here, the air can be cooled or heated as needed by means of the substrate. When conditioned air as the medium to be conditioned, the heat exchange device can advantageously be part of the vehicle's air conditioning system.

[0010] In another embodiment of the invention, it has proven advantageous that the interior space of a motor vehicle can be ventilated indirectly via a medium guiding device. This means that the medium guiding device is configured to allow air to flow non-directionally into the interior space of the motor vehicle. Therefore, the medium guiding device is configured to allow air to diffusely flow out into the interior space of the motor vehicle, thereby achieving indirect ventilation of the interior space. Particularly advantageous here is that the medium guiding device includes multiple channels extending through the substrate, through which air can be guided through the substrate and into the interior space of the motor vehicle. Here, the multiple channels are particularly evenly distributed on the entire outer surface of the substrate facing the interior space of the motor vehicle, thereby achieving uniform ventilation of the interior space of the motor vehicle across the entire outer surface of the substrate. Thus, particularly uniform ventilation of the interior space of the motor vehicle is achieved.

[0011] It has also proven advantageous that the heat exchanger includes a connecting device through which the temperature-regulating medium can flow into and / or be removed from the substrate. The connecting device, for example, enables the temperature-regulating medium to be guided through the substrate, discharged from the substrate, reheated outside the substrate, and subsequently returned to the substrate in a closed-loop process. This allows for particularly efficient guiding of the temperature-regulating medium. It also results in particularly minimal wear on the temperature-regulating medium. The temperature-regulating medium is, in particular, a temperature-regulating fluid, especially water.

[0012] The present invention also relates to a method for operating a heat exchange device, as described in conjunction with the heat exchange device according to the invention. In this method, a temperature-regulating medium is guided into a substrate manufactured by an injection molding process, which is configured to be peripherally closed and internally perforated. Furthermore, the method specifies that the medium to be temperature-regulated is guided through the substrate via at least one channel using a medium guiding device. In other words, the temperature-regulating medium is guided within the substrate, wherein circulating the temperature-regulating medium and reheating it outside the substrate proves particularly advantageous. The medium to be temperature-regulated is guided past the substrate via the at least one channel, particularly via multiple channels penetrating the substrate, thereby facilitating heat exchange between the medium to be temperature-regulated and the substrate. The medium can be temperature-regulated via the heat exchange between the substrate and the medium flowing through the at least one channel. Here, the temperature-regulating medium absorbs heat from the medium to be temperature-regulated to cool the medium, or releases heat to the medium to heat the medium. The medium flows, for example, into the interior space of a motor vehicle through the at least one channel penetrating the substrate. Therefore, this method advantageously enables temperature control of the medium using a substrate that is particularly simple and cost-effective to manufacture.

[0013] In this regard, it has proven particularly advantageous to guide a temperature-regulating fluid, especially antifreeze water, into the substrate as the temperature-regulating medium, and / or to guide air as the temperature-regulating medium using a medium guiding device. Water is both a very advantageous temperature-regulating fluid and a particularly environmentally friendly one. Furthermore, water has particularly advantageous heat transfer properties and is therefore particularly well-suited as a temperature-regulating fluid. When air is used as the temperature-regulating medium, the heat exchanger can be advantageously used in the air conditioning system of a motor vehicle. Air can be guided to the substrate using a medium guiding device, and for temperature regulation, the air is guided through the substrate via at least one channel, and after temperature regulation, the air is delivered to the interior space of the motor vehicle. Therefore, the heat exchanger enables particularly simple and effective temperature regulation of the air supplied to the interior space of a motor vehicle.

[0014] The present invention also relates to a method for providing a heat exchange device for a motor vehicle, wherein a substrate is manufactured by injection molding. The substrate, due to its injection molding manufacturing, is configured to be peripherally closed and internally perforated. This structural design of the substrate allows for the flow of a temperature-regulating medium, particularly a temperature-regulating fluid, especially antifreeze water. The injection molding method enables the particularly simple and rapid manufacture of the substrate, wherein the substrate is manufactured by injecting a melt and then foaming it internally. The method also specifies that the substrate is traversed by at least one channel, particularly multiple channels, of a medium guiding device. This means that the at least one channel extends continuously from a first side of the substrate to a second side opposite to the first side, wherein the channel is designed to be open not only towards the first side but also towards the second side. With the aid of the medium guiding device, the medium to be temperature-regulated, particularly air, can be guided toward the substrate. For temperature regulation, the medium can be guided through the substrate via the at least one channel, and after temperature regulation, the medium can be delivered, for example, to the interior space of the motor vehicle. The at least one channel of the medium guiding device can be introduced into the matrix during injection molding. Alternatively, the at least one channel can be introduced into the matrix after injection molding. The at least one channel through the matrix allows the medium to flow along the matrix, thereby causing heat exchange between the temperature-regulating medium guided within the matrix and the temperature-regulating medium guided through the channel. This heat exchange enables temperature regulation of the medium. Due to the described injection molding matrix manufacturing process, the heat exchange device can be provided particularly simply, quickly, and at low cost.

[0015] The advantages and advantageous further improvements of the heat exchange device according to the invention can be regarded as the advantages and advantageous further improvements of the method for operating the heat exchange device according to the invention and the method for providing the heat exchange device according to the invention, and vice versa.

[0016] Other features of the invention are derived from the claims, drawings, and description of the drawings. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the specification, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the drawings and / or shown separately in the drawings, can be applied not only in the combinations given separately, but also in other combinations or individually. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0018] Figure 1 A schematic longitudinal sectional view of a heat exchange device for a motor vehicle is shown. The heat exchange device has a substrate manufactured by injection molding and a medium guiding device through which a temperature-regulating medium can flow. Air can be guided into the interior space of the motor vehicle via a channel passing through the substrate by means of the medium guiding device.

[0019] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the heat exchange device is shown, in which the temperature-regulating medium flows into the substrate via a connecting device and circulates within the substrate through the channel of the medium guide device, thereby enabling temperature regulation of the air guided in the channel. Detailed Implementation

[0020] Identical or functionally identical elements are given the same reference numerals in the accompanying drawings.

[0021] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2 The image shows a heat exchange device 1 for motor vehicles, particularly automobiles, in both longitudinal and transverse sectional views. The heat exchange device 1 includes a substrate 3 by means of which the temperature of the air 8 to be supplied to the interior space of the automobile can be adjusted. The heat exchange device 1... Figure 1 The middle section is shown in longitudinal section and in Figure 2 The image is shown in a cross-section. The heat exchange device 1 includes a base 3 and a connecting device 4. A cooling medium, particularly a cooling fluid, especially antifreeze water, can flow into and out of the base 3 via the connecting device 4. The base 3 is configured to be circumferentially closed and internally perforated. This means that the base 3 has a closed outer surface that defines the internal volume of the perforations for continuous temperature-regulating medium. The temperature-regulating medium 5 flowing into the base 3 via the connecting device 4 can flow through the volume of the perforations in the base 3, where turbulent flow may occur due to the perforations.

[0022] In order to make it particularly easy to manufacture a substrate 3 with a closed outer surface and an open volume, it is specified that the substrate is manufactured by injection molding.

[0023] The heat exchanger 1 also includes a medium guiding device 6, which is configured to guide the medium to be temperature-controlled, in this case, air 8. The operation of the heat exchanger 1 will be described below using air 8 as an example of the medium to be temperature-controlled. Specifically, by means of the medium guiding device 6, air can be guided toward the base 3 of the heat exchanger 2, guided through the base 3 via multiple channels 7, and then guided into the interior space of the vehicle via the channels 7. For this purpose, the channels 7 are configured to be open toward the interior space of the vehicle. The channels 7 pass through the base 3, wherein the channels 7 are configured to be closed on their periphery. Because the channels 7 are configured to be closed on their periphery, the temperature-controlled medium does not mix with the air 8. The air 8 is temperature-controlled at least during the flow through the channels 7. In particular, the air 8 can absorb heat from or release heat to the base 3 when flowing through the corresponding channels 7. After the air 8 is temperature-controlled during the flow through the channels 7, the air 8 is released into the interior space of the vehicle.

[0024] Here, the heat exchanger 1 is part of the instrument panel of the motor vehicle, wherein the heat exchanger 1 provides the outer surface of the instrument panel. When multiple channels 7 are evenly arranged on the outer surface of the base 3, the heat exchanger 1 can achieve uniform indirect ventilation to the interior space of the motor vehicle.

[0025] When the heat exchanger 1 is operating, the perforated structure of the substrate 3 is permeated with the temperature-regulating medium 5. Air 8, to be temperature-regulated, flows from the first side of the substrate 3 to the second side opposite to the first side through the corresponding channel 7, thus permeating the substrate 3. Due to the interaction between the air 8 and the temperature-regulating medium 5 within the perforated substrate 3, the temperature of the flowing air matches the temperature of the temperature-regulating medium 5. The substrate 3 is therefore used for heat exchange between the temperature-regulating medium 5 and the air 8. In particular, water, as the temperature-regulating medium 5, can be used to flush through the perforated substrate 3. The air 8 is guided towards the corresponding channel 7 via the supply channel 9 of the medium guiding device 6. Air 8 can be blown into the interior space of the vehicle from the channel 7 through a nozzle (not shown) disposed on the outside of the substrate 3. As an alternative or additional solution to the nozzle, air 8 can flow into the interior space of the vehicle from the channel 7 through a permeable surface layer, particularly made of fabric or perforated leather. When flowing through the channel 7, the air 8 has at least substantially the temperature of the substrate 3.

[0026] The heat exchanger 1 can be used in many different locations within the interior space of a motor vehicle. In particular, the heat exchanger 1 can be integrated into the vehicle's dashboard. Here, the dashboard and the substrate 3 can be directly cooled using the temperature-regulating medium 5. The substrate 3 can simultaneously cool the air 8 using the temperature-regulating medium 5. This saves or reduces the need for evaporators and / or heat exchangers installed in existing air conditioning systems for temperature control. The heat exchanger 1 provides a large surface outlet with its own temperature regulation. Here, the temperature of the air 8 to be regulated can be adjusted via the temperature of the temperature-regulating medium 5 and / or via the flow rate of the air 8.

[0027] In general, the present invention demonstrates how a substrate 3 manufactured by injection molding can be used as a heat exchanger.

[0028] List of reference numerals

[0029] 1. Heat exchanger

[0030] 3 matrix

[0031] 4. Connecting device

[0032] 5 Temperature regulating medium

[0033] 6. Media guiding device

[0034] 7 channels

[0035] 8 air

[0036] 9 supply channels

Claims

1. A heat exchange device (1) for a motor vehicle, the heat exchange device having a substrate (3) through which a temperature-regulating medium (5) can flow and a medium guiding device (6) through the substrate (3), wherein the medium to be temperature-regulated can be guided through the substrate (3 by means of the medium guiding device, thereby allowing the temperature of the medium to be temperature-regulated to be adjusted by heat exchange with the temperature-regulating medium (5), characterized in that, The substrate (3) is manufactured by injection molding, wherein the substrate (3) is configured to be closed on the periphery and open on the inside, wherein injection molding is a combination of foaming and injection methods based on the principle of chemical foaming, wherein a foaming agent is mixed into granules and then the granules are injected, wherein the wall thickness on the substrate (3) is constant during the injection of the melt of the granules into the mold, and after injection, the outer skin of the substrate (3) cools, the injection molding machine including the mold reduces the closing force and opens a so-called foaming stroke, in which the foaming agent foams the melt in the still plasticized plastic core, thus the substrate (3) has a closed outer skin that surrounds the hollow volume of the open space of the substrate, wherein air (8) can be blown into the interior space of the vehicle from the channel (7) through a nozzle provided on the outside of the substrate (3), and / or air (8) can be flowed into the interior space of the vehicle from the channel (7) through the permeable surface layer.

2. The heat exchange device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, With the aid of the medium guiding device (6), air (8) can be guided through the substrate (3) as the medium to be conditioned and into the interior space of the motor vehicle.

3. The heat exchange device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The interior space of the motor vehicle can be ventilated indirectly by means of the air (8) via the medium guiding device (6).

4. The heat exchange device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, A connecting device (4) is provided, through which the temperature regulating medium (5) can flow into the substrate (3) and / or the temperature regulating medium can be taken out from the substrate (3) through the connecting device.

5. A method for operating a heat exchanger (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a temperature-regulating medium (5) is guided in a substrate (3) configured to be peripherally closed and internally perforated, and manufactured by injection molding, and the medium to be temperature-regulated is guided through the substrate (3) via at least one channel (7) by means of the medium guiding device (6), wherein, The injection molding process is a combination of foaming and injection methods. The injection molding process is based on the principle of chemical foaming, in which a foaming agent is mixed into granules and then the granules are injected. During the injection of the melt of the granules into the mold, the wall thickness on the substrate (3) is constant. After injection, the outer skin of the substrate (3) cools down, and the injection molding machine including the mold reduces the closing force and opens a so-called foaming stroke. In the still plasticized plastic core, the foaming agent causes the melt to foam, so the substrate (3) has a closed outer skin that surrounds the hollow volume of the opening of the substrate. Air (8) can be blown into the interior space of the vehicle from the channel (7) through a nozzle set on the outside of the substrate (3), and / or air (8) can be flowed into the interior space of the vehicle from the channel (7) through the permeable surface layer.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The temperature-regulating fluid, which serves as the temperature-regulating medium (5), is guided in the substrate (3), and / or the air (8), which serves as the temperature-regulating medium, is guided by means of the medium guiding device (6).

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The temperature-regulating fluid is water with antifreeze properties.

8. A method for providing a heat exchange device (1) for a motor vehicle, wherein a substrate (3) is manufactured by injection molding, the substrate being configured to be peripherally closed and internally perforated, thereby allowing a temperature-regulating medium (5) to flow through the substrate (3), and the substrate (3) being traversed by at least one channel (7) of a medium guiding device (6), by means of which the medium to be temperature-regulated can be guided through the substrate (3) via at least one channel (7), wherein, The injection molding process is a combination of foaming and injection methods. The injection molding process is based on the principle of chemical foaming, in which a foaming agent is mixed into granules and then the granules are injected. During the injection of the melt of the granules into the mold, the wall thickness on the substrate (3) is constant. After injection, the outer skin of the substrate (3) cools down, and the injection molding machine including the mold reduces the closing force and opens a so-called foaming stroke. In the still plasticized plastic core, the foaming agent causes the melt to foam, so the substrate (3) has a closed outer skin that surrounds the hollow volume of the opening of the substrate. Air (8) can be blown into the interior space of the vehicle from the channel (7) through a nozzle set on the outside of the substrate (3), and / or air (8) can be flowed into the interior space of the vehicle from the channel (7) through the permeable surface layer.

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