Filter module

Abstract

The invention relates to a filter module (1) having a housing (2) and a particle filter (3). The particle filter (3) is arranged in the housing (2) and divides the housing (2) into an untreated side (2a) and a clean side (2b). Furthermore, the filter module (1) has a bypass (5). A bypass (5) connects the untreated side (2a) and the clean side (2b) within the housing (2) by bypassing the particle filter (3). The invention also relates to an air-conditioning system having a filter module (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a filter module for filtering air in an air conditioning system of a vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1, the filter module having a housing and a particle filter. The invention also relates to an air conditioning system having such a filter module. Background Art

[0002] Filter modules can be used, for example, in the air conditioning system of a vehicle. The great challenge here is to achieve a sufficient separation efficiency in the filter module with the lowest possible pressure loss. Current solutions always involve a compromise between the separation efficiency of the filter module and the pressure loss of the filter module. As a result, the separation efficiency of the filter module is often not sufficient over the entire life cycle of the filter module at the lowest flow rates through the filter module and thus through the air conditioning system. Summary of the invention

[0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to specify an improved or at least alternative embodiment for a generic filter module in which the described disadvantages are overcome.

[0004] This object is achieved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0005] The general idea of ​​the invention is to realize water separation and prefiltration or prefiltration stage in the filter module by means of a bypass, thereby improving the particle separation effect without increasing the pressure loss in the filter module and without seriously reducing the service life. In addition, the solution should be as simple and cost-effective as possible, in particular, additional components (such as filter bypass baffles) should be avoided as much as possible.

[0006] The filter module according to the present invention is arranged or designed for filtering air for the air conditioning system of the vehicle. The filter module has a housing through which flow can flow and a particle filter through which flow can flow. The particle filter is arranged in the housing and divides the housing into an untreated side and a clean side. In addition, the housing also has an inlet through which flow can flow on the untreated side, and an outlet through which flow can flow on the clean side. The inlet and the outlet are connected here in a way that flow can flow through the particle filter. According to the present invention, the filter module has a bypass, wherein the bypass connects the untreated side and the clean side within the housing in a way that flow can bypass the particle filter.

[0007] The filter module according to the invention is primarily a filter module of a pre-filter stage of an air conditioning system of a vehicle or a water separation section of an air conditioning system of a vehicle with a particle filter. Within the scope of the present invention, the term "permeable" is synonymous with the term "permeable by air". The expression "dividing the housing into a clean side and an untreated side" is synonymous with the expression "dividing the housing into an untreated side and a clean side at least partially". The expression "untreated side" is here synonymous with the expression "located on the untreated side" or "assigned to the untreated side". The expression "clean side" is here synonymous with the expression "located on the clean side" or "assigned to the clean side".

[0008] The bypass formed in the housing of the filter module is continuous and thus the untreated side and the clean side of the housing are continuously or permanently connected to each other in a flow-through manner. The air flowing in through the inlet is separated on the untreated side when flowing through the filter module, wherein a part of the air flows through the particle filter, and a part of the air flows to the clean side through the bypass and further flows to the outlet. The division of air or the amount of each part of air is related to the charge of the particle filter. As the charge of the particle filter increases, the division of air will be automatically adapted, because the air will find the path with the least resistance. Thus, the particle filter is loaded as needed depending on the charge, and the maximum amount of air to be transported by the filter module can be maintained at any time regardless of the charge of the particle filter. Thus, the pressure loss in the filter module is also reduced, and the influence of the filter module on the overall pressure loss of the air conditioning facility is correspondingly reduced. In addition, the bypass also reduces the charge of the particle filter, and thus improves the service life of the filter module.

[0009] In particular, the particle filter can be a flat (e.g. pleated) particle filter having an untreated side filter surface and a clean side filter surface. The untreated side filter surface and the clean side filter surface can in particular be arranged back to back with each other. The particle filter can have an adsorption layer on the untreated side filter surface. For example, the particle filter can be a coarse particle filter or a fine particle filter. In particular, the particle filter can have a filter material that can flow through and a firm frame or support that supports the filter material. If the particle filter is pleated, the filter material can be pleated and held on the frame or support.

[0010] For example, the housing can be formed of plastic. Suitably, the housing can have a support for positioning and holding the particle filter. In particular, the support can be integrally formed on the housing. The inlet and / or outlet can be integrally formed on the housing, for example, in the form of a pipe socket.

[0011] For example, the bypass can be formed by an area of ​​the housing that is not filled or occupied by the particle filter. In other words, the bypass can be formed, for example, in such a way that the particle filter leaves the housing partially empty or unfilled. Advantageously, the particle filter leaves a volume that can flow through the housing in a certain area (preferably at the end) transversely to the spacing direction or transversely to the connecting line between the inlet and the outlet, so that the bypass is formed in the empty area.

[0012] The bypass can be formed between the housing and the particle filter, for example in the form of a gap through which flow can flow. The bypass can be arranged spaced apart from the inlet and the outlet. The bypass can be formed adjacent to the particle filter. The bypass and the particle filter can be located in a common plane oriented transversely to a connecting line connecting the inlet and the outlet. In particular, the bypass can be spaced apart from the inlet and the outlet transversely to the connecting line and arranged along the connecting line between the inlet and the outlet.

[0013] The flowable cross section of the bypass can be smaller than the flowable cross section of the particle filter, preferably a fraction of the flowable cross section of the particle filter. In particular, the flowable cross section of the bypass can be designed to ensure that the particle separation in the particle filter is as high as possible when the filter module has a sufficient service life. The flowable cross section of the bypass can be designed in particular so that even when the particle filter is completely blocked or fully loaded, the maximum permissible pressure loss of the filter system is not exceeded.

[0014] In one possible design of the filter module, it can be provided that the particle filter can flow through from the inlet to the outlet in the shortest distance. This ensures that, regardless of the charge level of the particle filter, the portion of air flowing through the bypass is minimal, while the portion of air flowing through the particle filter (and being filtered) is always the largest.

[0015] For example, the housing may have a filter path. The filter path may connect the inlet and the outlet in a manner that allows the particle filter to flow through, and may be at least partially linear. For example, the inlet and the outlet may be arranged in the housing back to back, and the particle filter may be located or arranged between the inlet and the outlet, for example. In other words, the particle filter may be located at the connecting line between the inlet and the outlet, or may intersect with the connecting line between the inlet and the outlet. As a result, the air flowing in through the inlet may directly hit the untreated side filter surface, and flow through the particle filter from the inlet to the outlet may be achieved in the shortest distance.

[0016] The particle filter may have an untreated side filter surface facing the untreated side and / or a clean side filter surface facing the clean side. For example, the clean side filter surface may be arranged opposite to the outlet and / or oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal center axis of the outlet. For example, the untreated side filter surface may be arranged opposite to the inlet. As a result, the air flowing in through the inlet may directly hit the untreated side filter surface and at least partially flow through the particle filter from the inlet to the outlet with the shortest distance. For example, the untreated side filter surface may be oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal center axis of the inlet. In addition, by oriented the untreated side filter surface perpendicularly to the longitudinal center axis of the inlet or the socket of the shaped inlet, it is also possible to flow into the untreated side filter surface at an angle equal to 90°, thereby maximizing the portion of air flowing through the particle filter.

[0017] In a possible design of the filter module, it can be provided that the bypass can flow through the longest distance from the inlet to the outlet. This ensures that, regardless of the charge level of the particle filter, the portion of air flowing through the bypass is minimal, while the portion of air flowing through the particle filter (and being filtered) is always the largest.

[0018] The housing can have, for example, a bypass channel through which flow can pass, wherein the bypass channel connects the inlet and the outlet in such a way that flow can pass through the bypass channel and bypasses the particle filter. The bypass channel is preferably siphon-shaped or U-shaped. In particular, the siphon-shaped bypass channel can prevent the air flowing in from the inlet from flowing directly to the outlet via the bypass without being directed to the particle filter. In addition, as described in detail below, the siphon-shaped bypass channel can also be used as a water separator.

[0019] The untreated side section of the bypass channel that is assigned to the untreated side can be oriented, for example, parallel to the untreated side filter surface of the particle filter toward the untreated side. Thus, part of the air flowing through the bypass can be guided along the untreated side filter surface in the untreated side section of the bypass channel. The clean side section of the bypass channel that is assigned to the clean side can be oriented parallel to the clean side filter surface of the particle filter toward the clean side. Thus, part of the air flowing through the bypass can be guided along the clean side filter surface in the clean side section of the bypass channel. Thus, the air flowing in from the inlet can first be guided at the particle filter and partially guided through the particle filter, and then guided to the outlet via the bypass. In the filter module oriented according to the operation needs, the untreated side section of the bypass channel can lead to the bypass downward from the inlet, and the clean side section of the bypass channel can lead to the outlet upward from the bypass. The bypass can be arranged under the particle filter. Therefore, in the filter module oriented according to the operation needs, the bypass channel can have a U shape. The inlet and the outlet can then be formed or arranged on the housing at the ends of the bypass channel facing away from each other.

[0020] In a possible design of the filter module, it can be provided that the filter module has a water separator, and the water separator has a water barrier or an impact surface and a drainage channel for separating the water contained in the air. The water barrier can be formed or reflected or presented by the untreated side filter surface of the particle filter toward the untreated side of the housing, and the drainage channel can be formed on the untreated side of the housing. Suitably, the drainage channel can lead to the outside from the housing. The water contained in the inflowing air can be separated on the untreated side by the water barrier, and guided to the outside of the housing, for example, into a collection container via the drainage channel. The drainage channel can be suitably led downward from the housing in the filter module oriented according to the operation needs. In particular, the drainage channel can be formed adjacent to the bypass. Advantageously, the aerosol contained in the air flowing into the inlet can be partially deflected from the air flow to the particle filter due to its inertia, and thus the separation performance of the filter module is also improved.

[0021] The invention also relates to an air conditioning system for a vehicle. The air conditioning system has a fresh air inlet for letting fresh air flow into the air conditioning system and a fresh air-circulating air mixing point for mixing circulating air and fresh air. The air conditioning system also has a filter module, wherein the filter module is connected downstream of the fresh air inlet. The filter module is designed or shaped as described above. The air conditioning system also has a filter element, wherein the filter element is connected downstream of the fresh air-circulating air mixing point.

[0022] The filter module is connected downstream of the fresh air inlet and can thus achieve water separation and pre-filtration by bypassing. In this way, the particle separation effect can be improved without increasing the pressure loss in the filter module and without seriously reducing the service life. The filter element is connected downstream of the fresh air-circulating air mixing point and can provide additional filtering of the fresh air in fresh air operation and also filtering of the circulating air in circulating air operation of the air conditioning system.

[0023] Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the dependent claims, the drawings and the associated description of the figures in conjunction with the drawings.

[0024] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in other combinations or alone, without exceeding the scope of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein the same reference numerals indicate the same or similar or functionally identical components.

[0026] In which respectively schematically:

[0027] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view showing a filter module according to the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a filter module according to the invention with an indication of the air flow;

[0029] Figure 3 The curves of the pressure loss in a filter module according to the invention and in generic filter modules are shown with increasing filling volume. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Figure 1 A sectional view of a filter module 1 of an air conditioning system of a vehicle according to the present invention is shown. The filter module 1 has a housing 2 through which flow can flow and a particle filter 3 through which flow can flow. The particle filter 3 is arranged in the housing 2 in a way that flow can flow through and divides the housing 2 into an untreated side 2a and a clean side 2b. The particle filter 3 is flat in shape and has an untreated side filter surface 3a facing the untreated side 2a and a clean side filter surface 3b facing the clean side 2b. The particle filter 3 can have a pleated filter material or a pleated filter medium. The particle filter 3 can also be implemented in a curved manner as an integral element.

[0031] In addition, the housing 2 has an inlet 4a on the untreated side 2a for air to flow into the housing 2 and an outlet 4b on the clean side 2b for air to flow out of the housing 2. The inlet 4a and the outlet 4b are connected to each other in a flow-through manner through the particle filter 3. Here, the particle filter 3 only partially separates the housing 2, so that a bypass 5 is formed between the untreated side 2a and the clean side 2b. Air can flow from the untreated side 2a to the clean side 2b via the bypass 5, bypassing the particle filter 3.

[0032] The bypass 5 is formed here by an area in the housing 2 that is not occupied by the particle filter 3. In other words, the bypass 5 is formed in such a way that the particle filter 3 partially leaves the housing 2 free or a gap through which flow can flow is formed in the housing 2. Here, the particle filter 3 leaves a volume through which flow can flow in the housing 2 in the end region transversely to the spacing direction (not shown) between the inlet 4a and the outlet 4b. The bypass 5 is formed here adjacent to the particle filter 3 at a distance from the inlet 4a and the outlet 4b.

[0033] Thus, a filter path 6 and a bypass channel 7 are formed in the housing 2. The filter path 6 here leads from the inlet 4a via the particle filter 3 to the outlet 4b, and the bypass channel 7 leads from the inlet 4a via the bypass 5 to the outlet 4b, bypassing the particle filter 3. In the embodiment shown here, the inlet 4a and the outlet 4b are arranged opposite to each other, and the particle filter 3 is arranged between the inlet 4a and the outlet 4b. Thus, the filter path 6 is at least partially formed in a straight line.

[0034] In contrast, the bypass channel 7 extends on the raw side 2a from the inlet 4a along the raw side filter surface 3a to the bypass 5 and on the clean side 2b from the bypass 5 along the clean side filter surface 3b to the outlet 4b. The bypass channel 7 is thus siphon-shaped or U-shaped. If the filter module 1 is oriented according to the operating requirements (as shown here), the bypass channel 7 leads from the inlet 4a downwards to the bypass 5 and from the bypass 5 upwards to the outlet 4b. The bypass 5 is then arranged below the particle filter 3.

[0035] The housing 2 also has a water separator 8. The water separator 8 is formed here by the untreated side filter surface 3a and the drainage channel 9. The filter surface 3a forms a water barrier here, where the water contained in the inflowing air can gather on the untreated side and settle downward. The drainage channel 9 is formed here on the untreated side 2a of the housing 2 and leads from the housing 2 to the outside.

[0036] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of a filter module 1 according to the invention is shown with the air flow indicated by the dotted line. When the filter module 1 is flowed through, the air to be filtered flows into the raw side 2a of the housing 2 via the inlet 4a. Here, the air hits the raw side filter surface 3a of the particle filter 3 and is divided. The division of the inflowing air is achieved with different intensities over the entire filter surface 2a. Here, part of the air passes through the particle filter 3 in the filter path 6, while part of the air bypasses the particle filter 3 via the bypass 5 in the bypass channel 7. On the clean side 2b, the two parts of air merge and flow further to the outlet 4b.

[0037] The division of air or the amount of each portion of air is related to the filling amount of the particle filter 3. If the filling amount of the particle filter 3 increases, the portion of air flowing through the bypass channel 7 or the bypass 5 will also automatically increase. Accordingly, the particle filter 3 is flowed through depending on its filling amount, so that the filter module 1 provides the maximum amount of air to be conveyed at any time regardless of the filling amount of the particle filter 3.

[0038] Part of the air flowing in the filter path 6 is filtered by the particle filter 3, while part of the air flowing through the bypass channel 7 is directly guided from the untreated side 2a to the clean side 2b or from the inlet to the outlet 4b without being filtered. However, when the air is deflected to the bypass 5, heavy particles 10 (such as aerosols) are deflected to the untreated side filter surface 3a due to their inertia and are bound there. As a result, the part of the air flowing in the bypass channel 7 can also be partially filtered or purified. This can improve the separation performance of the filter module 1. Tests that have been carried out have shown that particles PM2.5 (fine dust, whose particle size: 100% weight < 0.5 µm; 0% weight > 3.5 µm; 50% weight = 2.5 µm) can also be separated by the filter module 1. Therefore, even in the case of a high proportion of air flowing through the bypass 5, sufficient particle separation can be achieved.

[0039] Figure 3 The diagram shows the course of the pressure loss ΔP_1 in a filter module 1 according to the invention with bypass 5 and in a generic filter module 1 ′ without bypass, with increasing fill level B. Both filter modules 1 and 1 ′ have identical particle filters.

[0040] If the filling amount of the particle filter of the conventional filter module 1' increases, the pressure loss ΔP_1' also increases. As a result, the amount of air delivered to the air conditioning system will decrease in the case of a large filling amount. In contrast, in the filter module 1 according to the invention, the bypass 5 can compensate for the pressure loss ΔP_1 and prevent an excessive decrease in the air delivered to the air conditioning system. If the filter module 1 in the fresh air area of ​​the air conditioning system is combined with a filter element in the fresh air / circulation air area of ​​the air conditioning system, a higher dust separation performance can still be achieved here.

Claims

1. A filter module (1) for filtering air in an air conditioning system of a vehicle, - in, The filter module (1) comprises a housing (2) through which flow can pass and a particle filter (3) through which flow can pass. - wherein the particle filter (3) is arranged in the housing (2) and divides the housing (2) into an untreated side (2a) and a clean side (2b), - wherein the housing (2) has an inlet (4a) through which a flow can flow on the raw side (2a) and an outlet (4b) through which a flow can flow on the clean side (2b), - wherein the inlet (4a) and the outlet (4b) are connected within the housing (2) in such a way that a flow can pass through the particle filter (3), It is characterized in that The filter module (1) has a bypass (5), and the bypass (5) connects a raw side (2a) and a clean side (2b) of the housing (2) within the housing (2) in such a way that a flow can bypass the particle filter (3).

2. The filter module (1) according to claim 1, It is characterized in that - the bypass (5) is formed through a region of the housing (2) not occupied by the particle filter (3), and / or - the bypass (5) is arranged between the inlet (4a) and the outlet (4b), and / or - the bypass (5) is arranged spaced apart from the inlet (4a) and / or the outlet (4b), and / or - the bypass (5) is formed adjacent to the particle filter (3), and / or - the bypass (5) and the particle filter (3) are located in a common plane which is oriented transversely to a connecting line connecting the inlet (4a) to the outlet (4b), and / or The cross-sectional area through which the bypass (5) can flow is smaller than the cross-sectional area through which the particle filter (3) can flow, preferably is a fraction of the cross-sectional area through which the particle filter (3) can flow.

3. The filter module (1) according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that The inlet (4a) and the outlet (4b) are arranged opposite to each other in the housing (2), and the particle filter (3) is arranged between the inlet (4a) and the outlet (4b).

4. The filter module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that - the housing (2) has a filter path (6), and the filter path (6) connects the inlet (4a) and the outlet (4b) in a manner that allows flow through the particle filter (3), and - The filtration path (6) is at least partially rectilinear.

5. The filter module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that - the particle filter (3) has an untreated side filter surface (3a) facing the untreated side (2a), and the untreated side filter surface (3a) is arranged opposite to the inlet (4a), and / or The particle filter (3) has an untreated side filter surface (3a) facing the untreated side (2a), and the untreated side filter surface (3a) is oriented perpendicularly to a longitudinal center axis of the inlet (4a).

6. The filter module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that - the particle filter (3) has a clean side filter surface (3b) facing the clean side (2b), and the clean side filter surface (3b) is arranged opposite to the outlet (4b), and / or The particle filter (3) has a clean-side filter surface (3b) facing the clean side (2b), and the clean-side filter surface (3b) is oriented perpendicularly to a longitudinal center axis of the outlet (4b).

7. The filter module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that - the housing (2) has a bypass channel (7) through which flow can pass, and the bypass channel (7) connects the inlet (4a) and the outlet (4b) in a manner that flow can pass through the bypass (5), and - The bypass channel (7) is of siphon type.

8. The filter module (1) according to claim 7, It is characterized in that - a raw side section of the bypass channel (7) assigned to the raw side (2a) is oriented parallel to a raw side filter surface (3a) of the particle filter (3) facing the raw side (2a), and / or A clean-side section of the bypass channel (7) associated with the clean side (2b) is oriented parallel to a clean-side filter surface (3b) of the particle filter (3) facing the clean side (2b).

9. The filter module (1) according to claim 7 or 8, It is characterized in that - in the filter module (1) oriented according to operating requirements, the raw side section of the bypass channel (7) assigned to the raw side (2a) leads downwards from the inlet (4a) to the bypass (5), and / or - in the filter module (1) oriented according to operating requirements, the clean side section of the bypass channel (7) assigned to the clean side (2b) leads upwards from the bypass (5) to the outlet (4b), and / or In the filter module (1) oriented according to operating requirements, the bypass (5) is arranged below the particle filter (3).

10. The filter module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that - the filter module (1) has a water separator (8) having a water barrier and a drainage channel (9), - the water barrier is formed by the untreated side filter surface (3a) of the particle filter (3) which faces the untreated side (2a) of the housing (2), and - The drainage channel (9) is formed on the untreated side (2a) of the housing (2) and leads from the housing (2) to the outside.

11. Air conditioning facilities in vehicles, - wherein the air conditioning system has a fresh air inlet and a fresh air-circulating air mixing point, - in, The air conditioning system has a filter module, and the filter module is connected downstream of the fresh air inlet. It is characterized in that - the filter module (1) is constructed according to any of the preceding claims, and The air conditioning system has a filter element and the filter element is arranged downstream of the fresh air / circulating air mixing point.

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