Water-air heat exchanger with reduced heat leakage

Abstract

This invention discloses a water-air heat exchanger employing a structure to reduce heat leakage, relating to the field of automotive air conditioning technology. It includes a first manifold assembly, a second manifold assembly disposed opposite to the first manifold assembly, and a flat tube assembly connecting the first and second manifold assemblies. The first manifold assembly includes an inlet-side manifold and an outlet-side manifold, which are physically separated to create a heat-insulating gap between their adjacent walls, reducing heat conduction. This invention, through its separate design of two rows of manifolds on the inlet and outlet sides, effectively reduces heat leakage caused by ineffective heat exchange.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automotive air conditioning technology, and more particularly to a water-air heat exchanger that employs a structure to reduce heat leakage. Background Technology

[0002] In existing automotive air conditioning systems, the dual-layer water-air heat exchanger is an emerging heat exchange component. This component is mainly used in systems using environmentally friendly refrigerants such as R290. It is located in the vehicle's air conditioning unit and replaces the traditional evaporator and heater core with a single component. Through heat exchange between the coolant and the air, it achieves the cooling and heating functions of the passenger compartment.

[0003] Currently, existing double-layer water-air heat exchangers typically use a continuous or contact-type design for the front and rear manifolds on the inlet and outlet sides. However, in actual operation, due to the significant temperature difference between the inlet and outlet coolants on both sides, heat transfer losses occur at the contact points. This means heat can be directly conducted from the high-temperature side to the low-temperature side through the walls of the continuous or contact manifolds, resulting in internal heat loss. This internal heat transfer loss reduces the system's effective heating / cooling capacity and overall energy efficiency, thus affecting heat exchange efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to address the shortcomings of existing technologies by proposing a water-air heat exchanger with a structure that reduces heat leakage.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A water-air heat exchanger with a structure for reducing heat loss includes a first manifold group, a second manifold group disposed opposite to the first manifold group, and a flat tube group connected between the first manifold group and the second manifold group. The first manifold assembly includes an inlet-side manifold and an outlet-side manifold. The inlet-side manifold and the outlet-side manifold are physically separated from each other to form a heat-insulating gap between their adjacent walls to reduce heat conduction.

[0006] Furthermore, the width of the heat insulation gap is 1-2 mm.

[0007] Furthermore, the flat tube assembly includes a first set of flat tubes connecting the inlet-side manifold and the second manifold, and a second set of flat tubes connecting the outlet-side manifold and the second manifold.

[0008] Furthermore, it also includes fins disposed between the flat tubes.

[0009] Furthermore, the fins are positioned separately between the flat tube assemblies.

[0010] Furthermore, the fins are integrally formed between the flat tube assemblies.

[0011] Furthermore, the second manifold is provided with a perforated partition plate inside, which divides the inner cavity of the second manifold into two chambers corresponding to the inlet-side manifold and the outlet-side manifold, respectively.

[0012] Furthermore, the inlet-side manifold is connected to the inlet pipe via an inlet connecting pipe, and the outlet manifold is connected to the outlet pipe via an outlet connecting pipe.

[0013] Furthermore, it also includes side plates disposed on both sides of the flat tube assembly.

[0014] Furthermore, the water-air heat exchanger is applied to automotive air conditioning systems.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: This invention solves the problem of internal heat leakage in automotive double-layer water-air heat exchangers by reducing heat leakage caused by ineffective heat exchange through a separate design of two rows of manifolds on the inlet and outlet sides. It effectively improves energy utilization efficiency without significantly increasing volume or cost. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of gap A is shown for Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a partial cross-sectional view of Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a side view of Embodiment 1 of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the coolant flow direction for the present invention; Figure 6 This is a side view of Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0017] In the diagram: 1. First manifold assembly; 11. Inlet-side manifold; 12. Outlet-side manifold; 2. Second manifold; 3. Flat tube assembly; 31. First flat tube assembly; 32. Second flat tube assembly; 4. Fin; 5. Side plate; 6. Inlet connecting pipe; 7. Outlet connecting pipe; 8. Perforated partition plate; 81. Through hole. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments.

[0019] Example 1 A water-air heat exchanger with a structure that reduces heat leakage has a double-layer flow channel structure and is integrated into the vehicle air conditioning unit to realize the cooling and heating functions of the passenger compartment.

[0020] like Figure 1 As shown, the water-air heat exchanger includes a first manifold group 1, a second manifold group 2, a flat tube group 3 connected between the two, fins 4 disposed between adjacent flat tubes, and side plates 5 disposed at both ends of the flat tubes.

[0021] Combination Figure 2 The inlet and outlet flow channels of the water-air heat exchanger in this application are of a separate structure. Specifically, the first manifold group 1 includes an inlet-side manifold 11 and an outlet-side manifold 12 located on the same side. The inlet-side manifold 11 and the outlet-side manifold 12 are physically separated from each other, so that the wall surface of the manifold where the inlet coolant is located does not come into direct contact with the wall surface of the manifold where the outlet coolant is located.

[0022] In this embodiment, preferably, there is a gap A between the adjacent side walls of the inlet-side manifold 11 and the outlet-side manifold 12, with a width of 1-2 mm. This arrangement physically blocks the solid-state heat conduction path, reducing ineffective heat exchange and thus reducing heat leakage.

[0023] Back Figure 1 The inlet-side manifold 11 is connected to the external water inlet pipe (not shown in the figure) via the inlet connecting pipe 6, and the outlet-side manifold 12 is connected to the external water outlet pipe (not shown in the figure) via the outlet connecting pipe 7.

[0024] Figure 1 Combination Figure 3 The second manifold 2 is located on the opposite side of the first manifold group 1. A perforated partition 8 is fixedly installed inside it along its length. This partition divides the inner cavity of the second manifold 2 into two independent chambers, corresponding to the inlet-side flow channel and the outlet-side flow channel, respectively. Several through holes 81 are provided on the partition to connect the chambers on both sides.

[0025] The flat tube group 3 includes a first group of flat tubes 31 and a second group of flat tubes 32. The two ends of the first group of flat tubes 31 are respectively connected to the inlet-side manifold 11 of the first manifold group 1 and one chamber of the second manifold 2; the first group of flat tubes 31 is the inlet-side flat tube. The two ends of the second group of flat tubes 32 are respectively connected to the outlet-side manifold 12 of the first manifold group 1 and another chamber of the second manifold 2; the second group of flat tubes 32 is the outlet-side flat tube. The first group of flat tubes 31 and the second group of flat tubes 32 are separate and arranged in parallel.

[0026] Combined Figure 4The fins 4 are interspersed in the gaps between all the flat tubes. In one embodiment, the fins 4 are an integral structure, that is, a continuous fin 4 spans and connects all the flat tubes.

[0027] It should be noted that the illustration only shows a portion of the flat tube and fins.

[0028] Side plates 5 are respectively located on the outside of the two outermost flat tubes, and their upper and lower ends are respectively connected to the corresponding parts of the first manifold group 1 and the second manifold 2.

[0029] The working principle and process of this application are as follows: Figure 5 As shown, coolant flows in from the external inlet pipe, enters the inlet-side manifold 11 via the inlet connecting pipe 6, and is distributed from the inlet-side manifold 11 to the first set of flat pipes 31, flowing along the first set of flat pipes 31 into one of the chambers on the same side of the second manifold 2. Within the second manifold 2, the coolant flows laterally through the through-hole 81 on the perforated partition 8 to another chamber. From this chamber, the coolant enters the second set of flat pipes 32, flowing along the second flat pipe into the outlet-side manifold 12. Finally, the coolant flows out of the heat exchanger via the outlet connecting pipe 7 and the outlet pipe. Simultaneously, air exchanges heat with the coolant through the fin area 4, releasing or absorbing heat to obtain high-temperature or low-temperature air. The cooled or heated air is then sent into the crew compartment.

[0030] In this embodiment, since the inlet-side manifold 11 and the outlet-side manifold 12 are designed separately with an air gap in between, the high-temperature manifold wall and the low-temperature manifold wall on the inlet and outlet sides are prevented from directly contacting each other. The coolant with a significant temperature difference cannot have its heat directly conducted through the manifold wall, thus reducing ineffective heat exchange and heat leakage.

[0031] Example 2 This embodiment has the same main structure and working principle as Embodiment 1, the difference being that the fin 4 is a split structure.

[0032] Specifically, such as Figure 6 As shown, the fins 4 corresponding to the inlet-side flat tube and the fins 4 corresponding to the outlet-side flat tube are independent and separate from each other. This split structure further reduces lateral heat conduction from the high-temperature region to the low-temperature region through the fins 4 themselves. In conjunction with the split manifold structure, it can further optimize and reduce the overall heat loss.

[0033] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention, based on the technical solution and inventive concept of the present invention, should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A water-air heat exchanger employing a structure to reduce heat leakage, comprising a first manifold assembly, a second manifold assembly disposed opposite to the first manifold assembly, and a flat tube assembly connected between the first manifold assembly and the second manifold assembly, characterized in that: The first manifold assembly includes an inlet-side manifold and an outlet-side manifold. The inlet-side manifold and the outlet-side manifold are physically separated from each other to form a heat-insulating gap between their adjacent walls to reduce heat conduction.

2. The water-air heat exchanger with a heat loss reduction structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The width of the heat insulation gap is 1-2 mm.

3. The water-air heat exchanger with a heat loss reduction structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flat tube assembly includes a first set of flat tubes connecting the inlet-side manifold and the second manifold, and a second set of flat tubes connecting the outlet-side manifold and the second manifold.

4. The water-air heat exchanger with a heat loss reduction structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes fins disposed between the flat tubes.

5. The water-air heat exchanger with a heat loss reduction structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The fins are positioned separately between the flat tubes.

6. The water-air heat exchanger with a heat loss reduction structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The fins are integrally integrated between the flat tubes.

7. The water-air heat exchanger with a heat loss reduction structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second manifold has a perforated partition plate inside, which divides the inner cavity of the second manifold into two chambers corresponding to the inlet-side manifold and the outlet-side manifold, respectively.

8. The water-air heat exchanger with a heat loss reduction structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inlet-side manifold is connected to the inlet pipe via the inlet connecting pipe, and the outlet manifold is connected to the outlet pipe via the outlet connecting pipe.

9. The water-air heat exchanger with a heat loss reduction structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes side plates disposed on both sides of the flat tube assembly.

10. The water-air heat exchanger with a heat loss reduction structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water-air heat exchanger is used in automotive air conditioning systems.

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