Air cooler assembly, heat management system and vehicle

Abstract

The utility model provides an air cooler assembly, a heat management system and a vehicle, relates to the technical field of heat exchangers, and aims at solving the problem that the air outlet temperature difference of an air cooler is large. The air cooler assembly comprises a working medium flow channel and a heat exchange air channel, a working medium in the working medium flow channel is used for exchanging heat with airflow of the heat exchange air channel, the heat exchange piece is arranged at an air outlet of the heat exchange air channel and at least comprises a first heat exchange part and a second heat exchange part, the first heat exchange part is located on the upstream of the working medium flow channel, and the second heat exchange part is located on the downstream of the working medium flow channel. And the first heat exchange part can exchange heat with the second heat exchange part.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of heat exchangers, in particular to an air cooler assembly, a thermal management system and a vehicle. BACKGROUND

[0002] In the field of air conditioning of modern vehicles, with the continuous improvement of people's requirements for environmental comfort and the urgent need to improve energy utilization efficiency, heating technology is also continuously evolving. As a key component in some new heating systems, such as in a heat pump system using carbon dioxide (R744) as a refrigerant, the performance of the air cooler has a crucial influence on the heating effect of the entire system.

[0003] However, R744 may exhibit temperature slip in the air cooler, resulting in a large temperature difference in the air outlet of the air cooler, and thus causing significant temperature differences in different areas of the vehicle interior, reducing the comfort experience of the user. CONTENT OF THE UTILITY MODEL

[0004] The present application provides an air cooler assembly, a thermal management system and a vehicle to solve the problem of a large temperature difference in the air outlet of the air cooler.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present application adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides an air cooler assembly, comprising an air cooler body and a heat exchange element, the air cooler assembly comprising a working fluid flow channel and a heat exchange air channel, the working fluid in the working fluid flow channel being used to exchange heat with the airflow in the heat exchange air channel, the heat exchange element being arranged at the air outlet of the heat exchange air channel, the heat exchange element comprising at least a first heat exchange part and a second heat exchange part, the first heat exchange part being located upstream of the working fluid flow channel, the second heat exchange part being located downstream of the working fluid flow channel, and the first heat exchange part being capable of exchanging heat with the second heat exchange part.

[0007] In the present application, the heat exchange element is arranged at the air outlet of the heat exchange air channel, the first heat exchange part is located upstream of the working fluid flow channel, the second heat exchange part is located downstream of the working fluid flow channel, and the first heat exchange part is capable of exchanging heat with the second heat exchange part. In this way, the first heat exchange part and the second heat exchange part of the heat exchange element can exchange heat in the arrangement direction, thereby balancing the temperature of the air outlet near the upstream of the working fluid flow channel and the downstream of the working fluid flow channel, and further reducing the temperature difference of the air outlet near the upstream of the working fluid flow channel and the downstream of the working fluid flow channel, thereby improving the user experience.

[0008] In some embodiments of the present application, the heat exchange element comprises a heat pipe, the heat pipe comprising a heat pipe evaporation section and a heat pipe condensation section, the first heat exchange part comprising at least the heat pipe evaporation section, and the second heat exchange part comprising at least the heat pipe condensation section.

[0009] In some embodiments of the present application, the heat pipe further comprises a heat pipe adiabatic section arranged between the heat pipe evaporation section and the heat pipe condensation section.

[0010] In some embodiments of the present application, the heat exchange member further comprises a first fin arranged at the first heat exchange portion and a second fin arranged at the second heat exchange portion.

[0011] In some embodiments of the present application, the working medium flow channel comprises at least a first flow path and a second flow path located at the air outlet surface of the air cooler body, the first flow path being arranged upstream of the second flow path 112; the first heat exchange portion is arranged at the first flow path, and the second heat exchange portion is arranged at the second flow path.

[0012] In some embodiments of the present application, the air cooler body comprises a first header and a second header; the first header comprises a first flow section, the second header comprises a second flow section, and a plurality of first heat exchange pipes are in communication between the first flow section and the second flow section; the first flow path comprises at least a flow channel in the plurality of first heat exchange pipes; and the heat exchange air channel comprises a first heat exchange air channel formed between any two adjacent first heat exchange pipes.

[0013] In some embodiments of the present application, the plurality of heat exchange members are arranged at intervals along a first direction, and the first direction is the flow direction of the refrigerant in the first heat exchange pipes.

[0014] In some embodiments of the present application, the air cooler body further comprises a flow channel inlet in communication with the first header; the interval between two adjacent heat exchange members close to the first header is smaller than the interval between two adjacent heat exchange members close to the second header.

[0015] In some embodiments of the present application, along the first direction, the interval between two adjacent heat exchange members gradually increases.

[0016] In some embodiments of the present application, along the first direction, the interval between the heat exchange member and the air outlet side of the air cooler body gradually decreases.

[0017] In some embodiments of the present application, the first header further comprises a third flow section arranged at intervals with the first flow section, the second header comprises a fourth flow section in communication with the second flow section, and a plurality of second heat exchange pipes are in communication between the third flow section and the fourth flow section; the second flow path comprises at least a flow channel in the plurality of second heat exchange pipes; and the heat exchange air channel further comprises a second heat exchange air channel formed between any two adjacent second heat exchange pipes.

[0018] In some embodiments of the present application, the first heat exchange portion of the plurality of heat exchange members is at least partially arranged at the air outlet of the first heat exchange air channel; and the second heat exchange portion of the plurality of heat exchange members is at least partially arranged at the air outlet of the second heat exchange air channel.

[0019] In some embodiments of the present application, a flow guide member is arranged in the heat pipe, and the flow guide member is connected to the heat pipe evaporation section and the heat pipe condensation section.

[0020] In some embodiments of the present application, the flow guide comprises a wick.

[0021] In some embodiments of the present application, the heat exchange member is arranged obliquely relative to the air outlet side of the air cooler body.

[0022] In some embodiments of the present application, the first heat exchange part and the second heat exchange part of any one of the heat exchange members are the same distance to the air outlet side of the air cooler body.

[0023] In some embodiments of the present application, the heat pipe is rotatably arranged about its axis.

[0024] In some embodiments of the present application, the heat pipe is a flat plate heat pipe.

[0025] In some embodiments of the present application, the working fluid flow channel further comprises a third flow path and a fourth flow path on the windward surface of the air cooler body, the fourth flow path is arranged on the outflow side of the third flow path, and the third flow path is arranged on the outflow side of the second flow path.

[0026] In a second aspect of the present application, a heat management system is provided, comprising the air cooler assembly described in the first aspect.

[0027] In some embodiments of the present application, the heat management system comprises a housing, the housing is provided with a containing chamber, the air cooler body is arranged in the containing chamber, and the housing is provided with a plurality of outlets, which are all in communication with the containing chamber.

[0028] In some embodiments of the present application, a first air duct is formed between the air cooler body and the inner wall of the containing chamber; in the second direction, the distance from the air outlet side of the air cooler body to the first inner wall surface gradually decreases, the second direction is the flow direction of the gas in the first air duct, and the first inner wall surface is the wall surface opposite to the air outlet side of the air cooler body among the inner wall surfaces of the containing chamber.

[0029] In some embodiments of the present application, the heat exchange member is clamped with the housing.

[0030] In a third aspect of the present application, a vehicle is provided, comprising the air cooler assembly described in the first aspect or the heat management system described in the second aspect.

[0031] It should be noted that the technical effects brought by the implementation manners of the second aspect and the third aspect can refer to the technical effects brought by the corresponding implementation manners in the first aspect, which will not be described herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0032] The accompanying drawings are used to provide a further understanding of the technical scheme of the present application, and constitute a part of the specification, and are used together with the embodiments of the present application to explain the technical scheme of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical scheme of the present application.

[0033] Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of a vehicle provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0034] Figure 2 A schematic structural diagram of an air cooler assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0035] Figure 3 Provided in the embodiments of this application Figure 2 A partial cross-sectional view of an air cooler assembly disposed within a housing;

[0036] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a structure in which multiple temperature detection points are provided on an air cooler body according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0037] Figure 5 Provided for the embodiment of this application Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the temperature difference of the air cooler body;

[0038] Figure 6 A schematic structural diagram of a heat pipe provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0039] Figure 7 This is a rendering of the effect of setting up a heat pipe provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0040] Reference numerals: 1000, vehicle; 100, vehicle body; 200, wheel; 300, thermal management system; 310, housing; 311, accommodation compartment; 312, first air duct; 320, air cooler assembly;

[0041] 10. Air cooler body; 11. Working medium flow channel; 111. First flow path; 112. Second flow path; 113. Third flow path; 114. Fourth flow path; 12. First header; 121. First flow section; 122. Third flow section; 13. Second header; 131. Second flow section; 132. Fourth flow section; 14. First heat exchange tube; 15. Second heat exchange tube; 16. Heat exchange air duct; 161. First heat exchange air duct; 162. Second heat exchange air duct;

[0042] 20. Heat exchange element; 20A. First heat exchange section; 20B. Second heat exchange section; 201. Heat pipe; 201A. First heat pipe; 201B. Second heat pipe; 201C. Third heat pipe; 2011. Evaporation section of heat pipe; 2012. Condensation section of heat pipe; 2013. Insulation section of heat pipe; 2014. Shell and tube; 2015. Flow guide; 21. First fin; 22. Second fin. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] With reference to the drawings and the embodiments of the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments of the present application. Based on the embodiments of the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative efforts belong to the scope of the present application.

[0044] It should be noted that all the directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, and the like) in the embodiments of the present application are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement condition between components in a certain specific posture (as shown in the drawings), and if the specific posture changes, the directional indications also change accordingly.

[0045] The terms "first", "second", "third", "fourth", "fifth", "sixth", "seventh" and "eighth" are only used for descriptive purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the technical features indicated. Therefore, the features defined with "first", "second", "third", "fourth", "fifth", "sixth", "seventh" and "eighth" can explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present application, unless otherwise specified, the meaning of "a plurality of" is two or more.

[0046] In the description of the present application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise specified and limited, the terms "connected", "connected" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be fixedly connected, or it can be detachably connected, or it can be integrally connected. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to the specific circumstances. In addition, when describing the pipeline, "connected" and "connected" in the present application have the meaning of conducting. The specific meaning needs to be understood in combination with the context.

[0047] In the embodiments of the present application, the words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to represent as an example, illustration or description. Any embodiment or design scheme described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of the present application should not be interpreted as more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or design schemes. Rather, the words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are intended to present the relevant concept in a specific manner.

[0048] The present application provides a vehicle 1000. The vehicle 1000 can be a pure electric vehicle 1000, a hybrid electric vehicle 1000, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle 1000, a range-extended electric vehicle 1000, a fuel vehicle, etc. The vehicle 1000 can also be a sedan, a van, a bus, a truck, a trailer, etc.

[0049] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 1A structural schematic diagram of a vehicle is provided for some embodiments of the present application, the vehicle 1000 includes a vehicle body 100 and wheels 200. Wherein the vehicle body 100 can form a driving space inside, which is used for the driver and passengers to sit. The wheels 200 are installed below the vehicle body 100, used to carry the vehicle body 100, and can roll on the road surface to make the vehicle 1000 travel.

[0050] Please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 , Figure 2 A structural schematic diagram of an air cooler assembly is provided for embodiments of the present application, Figure 3 A structural schematic diagram of an air cooler assembly is provided for embodiments of the present application, Figure 2 A partial sectional view of the air cooler assembly provided in the housing, in some embodiments of the present application, the vehicle 1000 can include a thermal management system 300, which is a device for adjusting and guiding the air flow in the vehicle. Its main function is to distribute the gas discharged from the air conditioning system to different areas in the vehicle according to the preset mode, such as to the driver's seat, passenger seat, front and rear rows, etc., to meet the requirements of the people in the vehicle for temperature, ventilation and comfort.

[0051] In a possible structural design, the thermal management system 300 includes a housing 310, the housing 310 is provided with at least one air inlet for introducing external gas into the housing 310. The housing 310 can also be provided with multiple outlets, and the multiple outlets are in communication with the air inlet. The multiple outlets are respectively in communication with one end of multiple air guide channels, and the other end of the multiple air guide channels can be opened towards the co-driver, the driver, the front windshield and / or the rear row, so that the gas can be distributed to different areas in the vehicle through the housing and the air guide channels to meet the needs of the people in the vehicle.

[0052] In a possible structural design, the heat management system 300 can further integrate a gas cooler assembly 320. The gas cooler assembly 320 can include a gas cooler body 10, which can act as an evaporator to absorb heat from a low-temperature heat source (such as outdoor air or water), even if the temperature of the low-temperature heat source is low, for example, the outdoor air is about -10°C, and the refrigerant in the gas cooler body 10 can be converted from a liquid state to a gaseous state through heat exchange with the low-temperature heat source, to realize heat absorption. Subsequently, the refrigerant is compressed by a compressor, and the temperature and pressure are increased. The gas cooler body 10 assists in increasing the absorbed heat to a higher temperature level, so as to efficiently transfer heat to a heat requiring area such as a vehicle cabin of the vehicle 1000, and complete the heat transfer from a low-temperature environment to a high-temperature area. Compared with a conventional positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating, the heat pump heating provided by the gas cooler body 10 is realized by transferring heat rather than simply relying on the conversion of electrical energy into heat energy, which is more energy efficient and can reduce energy consumption.

[0053] In addition, the gas cooler body 10 can heat in a low-temperature environment, can absorb heat from a low-temperature heat source (such as outdoor air in winter), and can maintain relatively stable performance within a certain low-temperature range.

[0054] Specifically, the shell 310 is provided with a containing chamber 311, and the gas cooler assembly 320 is arranged in the containing chamber 311. The air inlet and the plurality of outlets are in communication with the containing chamber 311. In this way, the external gas entering the air inlet can exchange heat with the gas cooler assembly 320 in the containing chamber 311 to reduce or increase the temperature, and then flow to the cabin from the outlets to realize the temperature adjustment in the cabin.

[0055] The refrigerant flowing in the gas cooler body 10 can be gaseous refrigerant. For example, the gaseous refrigerant can be R744 (CO2). For convenience of description, the refrigerant is taken as R744 in the embodiments of the present application.

[0056] Because R744 can cause temperature glide in the gas cooler body 10, the temperature difference of the air outlet of the gas cooler body 10 is large, and thus the temperature difference between different areas in the vehicle is large, which reduces the comfort experience of the user.

[0057] For convenience of measuring the temperature difference of the air outlet of the gas cooler body 10, Figure 4 FIG. 1 shows a structure diagram of a gas cooler body 10 provided with a plurality of temperature detection points according to an embodiment of the present application, Figure 5 FIG. 1 shows a temperature difference diagram of the gas cooler body 10 according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 4 The temperature difference diagram of the gas cooler body 10 is shown in FIG. 1.Figure 4 In the embodiment of the present application, multiple temperature detection devices (such as thermocouples) are arranged on the air outlet side of the air cooler body 10 to measure the air outlet temperature of multiple temperature measurement points of the R744 air cooler body 10 at an ambient temperature of -15°C to 10°C. A working medium flow channel 11 is provided in the air cooler body 10, and the working medium flow channel 11 includes a first flow channel 111 and a second flow channel 112 arranged on the air outlet side of the air cooler body 10, and a third flow channel 113 and a fourth flow channel 114 arranged on the windward side of the air cooler body 10, the fourth flow channel 114 is arranged on the outflow side of the third flow channel 113, and the third flow channel 113 is arranged on the outflow side of the second flow channel 112. The flow direction of the refrigerant in the first flow channel 111 is from top to bottom, and the flow direction of the refrigerant in the second flow channel 112 is from bottom to top.

[0058] In addition, a plurality of outlet air temperature measuring points are provided at the outlet side of the first process 111 and the second process 112, and a temperature detection device is provided at each of the plurality of outlet air temperature measuring points. Figure 4 As shown, there are 12 temperature measuring points in total, 6 of which are set on the first process 111 and 6 on the second process 112 .

[0059] See also Figure 5 The temperature difference between the outlet air of the first process 111 and the second process 112 is relatively high. Figure 5 The average value of the maximum temperature difference of the outlet air is 26.8°C, and the maximum temperature difference along the width direction of the air cooler body 10 (i.e. Figure 5 The average value of the maximum temperature difference of the outlet air (in the Z-axis direction) is 9.6°C; the outlet air temperature difference along the length direction of the air cooler body 10 is about 2.8 times the outlet air temperature difference along the width direction of the air cooler body 10.

[0060] Depend on Figure 4 and Figure 5 It can be seen that the average maximum temperature difference of the air discharged from the upper part of the air cooler body 10 along the length direction of the air cooler body 10 is 26.8°C, the average maximum temperature difference of the air discharged from the middle part of the air cooler body 10 along the length direction of the air cooler body 10 is 19.6°C, and the average maximum temperature difference of the air discharged from the lower part of the air cooler body 10 along the length direction of the air cooler body 10 is 10.3°C. Figure 4 and Figure 5 It can be seen that the increasing temperature difference between the lower, middle, and upper parts of the air cooler body 10 is mainly related to the flow path of the R744 refrigerant in the air cooler body 10. In other words, the longer the refrigerant flow distance, the more obvious the sensible heat dissipation effect, and therefore, the greater the temperature difference of the outlet air.

[0061] That is, during the heat exchange process of R744 refrigerant in the air cooler body 10, as the flow distance increases, the temperature gradually decreases, which is specifically manifested as uneven temperature distribution in different processes of the air cooler body 10. Take the vertical distribution 4-process double-layer air cooler as an example, Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the temperature of the first process 111 is greater than the temperature of the second process 112, the temperature of the third process 113, and the temperature of the fourth process 114, and the temperature difference in the y direction is greater than the temperature difference in the z direction, and the temperature difference on the upper side in the z direction is greater than the temperature difference on the lower side. This causes a large temperature difference between the left and right air outlets of the air-conditioning system of the vehicle 1000, which may even exceed 10°C, seriously affecting the air-conditioning performance and comfort of the vehicle 1000.

[0062] Based on this, an embodiment of the present application provides an air cooler assembly 320 , which includes: an air cooler body 10 and a heat exchange element 20 .

[0063] Please continue reading Figure 2 The air cooler body 10 includes a working medium flow channel 11 and a heat exchange air duct 16. The working medium flow channel 11 is suitable for flowing working medium (i.e., refrigerant). For example, the working medium can be R744 refrigerant. The working medium can also be other gaseous refrigerants, which is not limited in this application.

[0064] In addition, the working fluid flow channel 11 is used to exchange heat with the airflow in the heat exchange duct 16, thereby increasing or decreasing the temperature of the airflow. A heat exchange element 20 is disposed at the air outlet of the heat exchange duct 16. The heat exchange element 20 includes at least a first heat exchange portion 20A and a second heat exchange portion 20B. The first heat exchange portion 20A is located upstream of the working fluid flow channel 11, and the second heat exchange portion 20B is located downstream of the working fluid flow channel 11. The first heat exchange portion 20A can exchange heat with the second heat exchange portion 20B.

[0065] In the embodiment of the present application, a heat exchange element 20 is arranged at the air outlet of the heat exchange air duct 16, and the first heat exchange part 20A is located upstream of the working fluid flow channel 11, and the second heat exchange part 20B is located downstream of the working fluid flow channel 11, and the first heat exchange part 20A can exchange heat with the second heat exchange part 20B. In this way, the first heat exchange part 20A and the second heat exchange part 20B of the heat exchange element 20 can realize heat exchange in their arrangement direction, thereby balancing the outlet air temperature near the upstream of the working fluid flow channel 11, and then reducing the outlet air temperature difference between the upstream of the working fluid flow channel 11 and the downstream of the working fluid flow channel 11, thereby improving the user experience.

[0066] Continue reading Figure 5 It can be seen that the outlet air temperature difference along the arrangement direction (length direction) of the first flow path 111 and the second flow path 112 of the air cooler body 10 is Figure 5The outlet air temperature difference of the air cooler is about 2.8 times the temperature difference of the z-axis direction, so the heat exchange element 20 of the embodiment extends along the arrangement direction of the first flow path 111 and the second flow path 112 of the air cooler body 10, that is, the heat exchange element 20 is arranged along the length direction of the air cooler body 10.

[0067] In a possible structural design, the air cooler body 10 can be arranged in the accommodating chamber 311, and the air cooler body 10 and the inner wall of the accommodating chamber 311 form the first air duct 312. In the second direction, the distance from the air outlet side of the air cooler body 10 to the first inner wall surface gradually decreases. The second direction is the flow direction of the gas in the first air duct 312, and the first inner wall surface is the wall surface opposite to the air outlet side of the air cooler body 10.

[0068] Since the distance from the air cooler body 10 to the inner wall of the accommodating chamber 311 gradually decreases in the flow direction of the gas in the first air duct 312, the gas can flow along the inner wall of the accommodating chamber 311. In this way, the inner wall of the accommodating chamber 311 has a certain flow guiding effect on the gas, and can reduce the vortex area and secondary flow in the first air duct 312, thereby reducing the airflow flow resistance in the shell 310 and reducing the air volume loss.

[0069] The heat exchange element 20 can be connected with the shell 310. For example, the heat exchange element 20 can be connected with the shell 310 by clamping, screwing or the like, which is not limited in the application. In this way, the heat exchange element 20 is connected with the shell 310 conveniently, thereby improving the installation efficiency.

[0070] Please continue to refer to Figure 2 and Figure 4 The air cooler body 10 is provided with a working fluid flow path 11, and the working fluid flow path 11 at least includes a first flow path 111 and a second flow path 112. The first flow path 111 is arranged upstream of the second flow path 112, and the second flow path 112 is arranged downstream of the first flow path 111. Both the first flow path 111 and the second flow path 112 are located on the air outlet surface of the air cooler body 10. That is, the refrigerant flows into the second flow path 112 through the first flow path 111, and both the first flow path 111 and the second flow path 112 are located on the leeward surface (i.e., the side away from the windward surface) of the air cooler body 10.

[0071] In addition, the first heat exchange part 20A is located on the first flow path 111, and the second heat exchange part 20B is located on the second flow path 112.

[0072] The first heat exchange part 20A and the second heat exchange part 20B of the heat exchange device 20 can exchange heat in the arrangement direction, so as to balance the temperature of the air outlets of the first flow 111 and the second flow 112, and further reduce the air outlet temperature difference of the first flow 111 and the second flow 112, and improve the experience effect of the user.

[0073] Please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 6 , Figure 6 A structure diagram of a heat pipe provided by an embodiment of the present application is shown. In some embodiments of the present application, the heat exchange device 20 can include a heat pipe 201. Since the heat pipe 201 has excellent heat conduction performance, the temperature unevenness phenomenon of the air outlet caused by the temperature glide characteristics of the heat release process of the gaseous refrigerant in the air cooler body 10 can be improved.

[0074] The heat pipe 201 mainly realizes efficient heat transfer based on the phase change heat transfer principle. The heat pipe 201 can include a heat pipe evaporation section 2011 and a heat pipe condensation section 2012. The first heat exchange part 20A at least includes the heat pipe evaporation section 2011, and the second heat exchange part 20B at least includes the heat pipe condensation section 2012.

[0075] In addition, the heat pipe 201 can include a pipe shell 2014, which is the shell of the heat pipe 201 and can be made of a metal material, such as copper, aluminum, stainless steel, etc. The pipe shell 2014 protects the internal structure of the heat pipe 201 (such as the working liquid and the wick, etc.), and provides a sealed environment to prevent the working liquid from leaking.

[0076] The pipe shell 2014 is provided with a working liquid, which is the working medium (referred to as working medium) inside the heat pipe 201. The working liquid can be a low-boiling liquid, such as water, ammonia, methanol, etc. The working liquid absorbs heat and vaporizes in the heat pipe evaporation section 2011, releases heat and liquefies in the heat pipe condensation section 2012, and realizes heat transfer.

[0077] The one end of the heat pipe 201 is a heat pipe evaporation section 2011, which is located at the air outlet of the heat exchange air duct 16 and is arranged near the first flow 111. The heat pipe evaporation section 2011 is a place where the working fluid absorbs heat and vaporizes. The temperature of the heat pipe evaporation section 2011 is relatively high. After the working fluid absorbs heat in the heat pipe evaporation section 2011, the working fluid changes from liquid state to gaseous state, expands in volume, and increases in pressure. The other end of the heat pipe 201 is a heat pipe condensation section 2012, which is located at the air outlet of the heat exchange air duct 16 and is arranged near the second flow 112. The heat pipe condensation section 2012 is a place where the working fluid vapor releases heat and liquefies. The temperature of the heat pipe condensation section 2012 is relatively low. After the working fluid vapor releases heat in the heat pipe condensation section 2012, the working fluid vapor changes from gaseous state to liquid state, shrinks in volume, and decreases in pressure.

[0078] In this way, the heat pipe 201 itself does not generate or absorb heat. The heat pipe 201 can transfer the heat absorbed by the heat pipe evaporation section 2011 to the heat pipe condensation section 2012 and release it. Since the heat pipe 201 realizes efficient heat transfer through the phase change heat transfer principle, the outlet air temperatures of the first flow 111 and the second flow 112 can be effectively balanced.

[0079] In some embodiments of the present application, the heat pipe 201 can further include a heat pipe adiabatic section 2013 arranged between the heat pipe evaporation section 2011 and the heat pipe condensation section 2012. Specifically, the heat pipe adiabatic section 2013 is located between the heat pipe evaporation section 2011 and the heat pipe condensation section 2012 and is a channel for the working fluid vapor to flow. The temperature of the heat pipe adiabatic section 2013 is relatively low. When the working fluid vapor flows in the adiabatic section, it does not exchange heat with the outside environment and remains in gaseous state.

[0080] In this way, the heat energy of the heat pipe evaporation section 2011 can be efficiently transferred to the heat pipe condensation section 2012. If there is no heat pipe adiabatic section 2013, the vapor will exchange heat with the outside environment during the movement from the heat pipe evaporation section 2011 to the heat pipe condensation section 2012, resulting in heat loss. This heat loss will prevent the heat of the heat pipe evaporation section 2011 from being transferred to the heat pipe condensation section 2012, and the heat exchange effect of the heat pipe evaporation section 2011 and the heat pipe condensation section 2012 will be poor. By arranging the heat pipe adiabatic section 2013, the present application can reduce unnecessary heat loss, so that the heat carried by the vapor can be transferred to the heat pipe condensation section 2012 as much as possible, thereby improving the overall heat transfer efficiency of the heat pipe 201.

[0081] In addition, in some embodiments of the present application, the heat pipe 201 can further include a flow guide 2015 arranged in the heat pipe 201 and connected to the heat pipe evaporation section 2011 and the heat pipe condensation section 2012. The flow guide 2015 is used to transport the working fluid from the heat pipe condensation section 2012 to the heat pipe evaporation section 2011 to realize the circulation of the working fluid and ensure stable heat exchange of the heat pipe 201.

[0082] In a possible structural design, the flow guide 2015 includes a wick which can be located inside the pipe shell 2014 and can be made of a capillary structure material such as metal wire mesh, fiber felt, powder sintering, etc. The wick can transport the working fluid from the heat pipe condensation section 2012 to the heat pipe evaporation section 2011 by capillary action to realize the circulation of the working fluid.

[0083] In this way, the working fluid in the heat pipe 201 absorbs heat from the air at the outlet of the first flow process 111 of the air cooler at a high temperature in the heat pipe evaporation section 2011, evaporates into steam, and flows to the heat pipe condensation section 2012 through the heat pipe adiabatic section 2013 under the action of a small pressure difference. In the heat pipe condensation section 2012, the working fluid in the heat pipe 201 releases heat to the air at the outlet of the air cooler body 10 at a low temperature, condenses into liquid, and returns to the heat pipe evaporation section 2011 by capillary force through the wick to realize the circulation of the working fluid in the heat pipe 201.

[0084] In some embodiments of the present application, the heat pipe 201 can be a flat plate heat pipe 201. Compared with the traditional circular heat pipe 201, the flat plate heat pipe 201 has a flat shape, which can better fit the flat heat source and the fins, thereby improving the heat transfer efficiency and reducing the contact thermal resistance.

[0085] Please continue to refer to Figure 2 In some embodiments of the present application, the heat exchange member 20 further includes a first fin 21 arranged in the first heat exchange part 20A and capable of heat exchange with the first heat exchange part 20A, and a second fin 22 arranged in the second heat exchange part 20B and capable of heat exchange with the second heat exchange part 20B.

[0086] The first fin 21 can be provided in a plurality, and the plurality of first fins 21 are arranged at intervals. In some examples, as shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of first fins 21 are arranged at intervals along the arrangement direction of the first flow process 111 and the second flow process 112 (i.e., the y-axis direction in FIG. 1). Figure 2 In other examples, the plurality of first fins 21 can also be arranged at intervals along the Z-axis direction in FIG. 1, which is not limited in the present application. Figure 2 Figure 2

[0087] ​​Similarly, the second fins 22 can also be provided in plurality, in some examples, the plurality of second fins 22 can be arranged along the arrangement direction of the first flow 111 and the second flow 112 (i.e. the y-axis direction in the coordinate system shown in FIG. 1). Figure 2 In other examples, the plurality of second fins 22 can be arranged along the Z-axis direction in the coordinate system shown in FIG. 1, which is not limited in the present application. Figure 2

[0088] The size of the heat pipe evaporation section 2011, the heat pipe condensation section 2012, the first fins 21 and the second fins 22 can be set according to the air cooler body 10 air outlet temperature distribution, which is not limited in the present application.

[0089] In this way, the first fins 21 can increase the contact area of the heat pipe evaporation section 2011 with the external medium (air flow), and the second fins 22 can increase the contact area of the heat pipe condensation section 2012 with the external medium, so that heat / cold can be transferred from the heat source to the working fluid inside the heat pipe 201 more quickly, improving the heat dissipation efficiency. In addition, the first fins 21 and the second fins 22 also have a certain flow guiding effect, reducing the influence of secondary flow and enhancing the uniformity of temperature distribution.

[0090] In some embodiments of the present application, the air cooler body 10 includes a first manifold 12 and a second manifold 13.

[0091] The first manifold 12 includes a first flow section 121 and a third flow section 122, and the first flow section 121 and the third flow section 122 are arranged in a spaced manner. The second manifold 13 includes a second flow section 131 and a third flow section 122 connected in communication, and the first flow section 121 is arranged opposite to the second flow section 131. A plurality of first heat exchange pipes 14 are in communication between the first flow section 121 and the second flow section 131, and the first flow 111 includes at least flow channels in the plurality of first heat exchange pipes 14. The heat exchange air duct 16 includes a first heat exchange air duct 161, and the first heat exchange air duct 161 is formed between any two adjacent first heat exchange pipes 14. That is, any two adjacent first heat exchange pipes 14 are arranged in a spaced manner, and the gap between the two adjacent and spaced first heat exchange pipes 14 constitutes at least part of the first heat exchange air duct 161. In this way, the refrigerant in the first flow section 121 can flow to the second flow section 131 through the first heat exchange pipes 14.

[0092] ​In addition, the third flow section 122 can be arranged opposite to the fourth flow section 132, and a plurality of second heat exchange pipes 15 are arranged in communication between the third flow section 122 and the fourth flow section 132, the second flow section 112 at least includes flow channels in the plurality of second heat exchange pipes 15, and the heat exchange air channel 16 further includes a second heat exchange air channel 162, and the second heat exchange air channel 162 is formed between any two adjacent second heat exchange pipes 15. That is, any two adjacent second heat exchange pipes 15 are arranged in a spaced manner, and the gap between the two adjacent and spaced second heat exchange pipes 15 constitutes at least part of the second heat exchange air channel 162.

[0093] In this way, the refrigerant in the third flow section 122 can flow to the fourth flow section 132 through the second heat exchange pipes 15. Since the second flow section 131 and the third flow section 122 are in communication, the flow direction of the refrigerant in the air cooler body 10 can be in sequence of the first flow section 121, the first heat exchange pipe 14, the second flow section 131, the third flow section 122, the second heat exchange pipe 15, and the fourth flow section 132.

[0094] In some embodiments of the present application, the first heat exchange part 20A of the plurality of heat exchange members 20 is at least partially arranged at the air outlet of the first heat exchange air channel 161, and the second heat exchange part 20B of the plurality of heat exchange members 20 is at least partially arranged at the air outlet of the second heat exchange air channel 162. That is, part of the plurality of heat pipes 201 is arranged near the first heat exchange pipe 14, and another part is arranged near the second heat exchange pipe 15, and the arrangement direction of the plurality of heat pipes 201 can be perpendicular to the extension direction of the plurality of first heat exchange pipes 14. In this way, it can be ensured that the first heat exchange part 20A can be fully heat exchanged with the air flow out of the first heat exchange air channel 161, and the second heat exchange part 20B can be fully heat exchanged with the air flow out of the second heat exchange air channel 162, thereby improving the heat exchange effect of the heat pipe 201 and balancing the air outlet temperature of the air cooler body 10.

[0095] In a possible structural design, as shown in Figure 2 The plurality of heat exchange members 20 are arranged in a spaced manner along a first direction, and the first direction is the flow direction of the refrigerant in the first heat exchange pipe 14. It can be understood that the arrangement direction of the first header 12 and the second header 13 can be the same as the second direction, or can be different from the second direction, which is not limited in the present application, and the embodiments of the present application are taken as an example for illustration.

[0096] In addition, the arrangement direction of the plurality of first heat exchange pipes 14 and the plurality of second heat exchange pipes 15 can be a third direction (i.e. Figure 2 The arrangement direction of the heat pipe evaporation section 2011 and the heat pipe condensation section 2012 can be the third direction, and the third direction can be perpendicular to the first direction.

[0097] In this way, the heat pipe evaporation section 2011 can exchange heat with the wind flowing through the first heat exchange tube 14 , and the heat pipe condensation section 2012 can exchange heat with the wind flowing through the second heat exchange tube 15 .

[0098] Continue reading Figure 4 and Figure 5 It can be seen that the longer the flow path of the gaseous refrigerant in the gas cooler, the greater the outlet air temperature difference. The air temperature difference of the air outlet in the middle and upper parts of the air cooler body 10 along the third direction is relatively large. Therefore, in some embodiments of the present application, the air cooler body 10 also includes a flow channel inlet connected to the first manifold 12. The spacing between two adjacent heat exchangers 20 on the side of the first manifold 12 among the multiple heat exchangers 20 is smaller than the spacing between two adjacent heat exchangers 20 on the side of the second manifold 13. In this way, by densely arranging heat pipes on the upper part of the air cooler body 10, the air temperature in the middle and upper part of the air cooler body 10 is balanced, thereby improving the user experience.

[0099] Specifically, along the first direction, the distance between two adjacent heat exchange elements 20 in the plurality of heat exchange elements 20 gradually increases. Exemplarily, the plurality of heat pipes 201 include at least a first heat pipe 201A, a second heat pipe 201B, and a third heat pipe 201C arranged sequentially along the first direction, with the distance between the first heat pipe 201A and the second heat pipe 201B being smaller than the distance between the second heat pipe 201B and the third heat pipe 201C.

[0100] That is, the outlet air temperature difference along the third direction in the upper-middle portion of the air cooler body 10 is larger, so the heat pipes 201 are arranged more densely. Meanwhile, the outlet air temperature difference along the third direction in the lower portion of the air cooler body 10 is smaller, so the heat pipes 201 are arranged more sparsely. Thus, by densely arranging the heat pipes 201 in the upper-middle portion of the air cooler body 10, the heat exchange efficiency in the upper-middle portion of the air cooler body 10 can be improved, the air temperature in the upper-middle portion of the air cooler body 10 can be further balanced, and the user experience can be improved.

[0101] In addition, along the first direction, the distance between the heat exchange element 20 and the air outlet side of the air cooler body 10 gradually decreases. For example, along the first direction, the distance between the first heat pipe 201A, the second heat pipe 201B, and the third heat pipe 201C and the air outlet side of the air cooler body 10 gradually decreases. Because the distance between the air cooler body 10 and the inner wall of the storage chamber 311 gradually decreases, the embodiment of the present application gradually reduces the distance between the heat exchange element 20 and the air outlet side of the air cooler body 10, so that the position arrangement of the heat pipe 201 is adapted to the shape of the inner wall of the storage chamber 311, thereby reducing the generation of eddy currents.

[0102] In some embodiments of the present application, the heat exchange element 20 is arranged at an inclination relative to the air outlet side of the air cooler body 10 .

[0103] Specifically, the heat exchange part 20A and the second heat exchange part 20B have the same distance to the air outlet side of the air cooler body 10. That is, as shown in the figure, the heat exchange part 20 has the same distance to the air cooler body 10 in the third direction, and the heat exchange part 20 is inclined in the x-z direction. The heat exchange part 20 can be arranged towards the upper side of the air cooler body 10. Figure 3 The heat exchange part 20 has the same distance to the air cooler body 10 in the third direction, and the heat exchange part 20 is inclined in the x-z direction. The heat exchange part 20 can be arranged towards the upper side of the air cooler body 10.

[0104] The inclination angle of the heat exchange part 20, the size of the heat exchange part 20, and the size, number and spacing of the first fins 21 and the second fins 22 can be set according to the flow field and temperature distribution inside the shell 310, and the present application does not limit them.

[0105] In this way, the heat pipe 201 is inclined at a certain angle to serve as a guide vane of the airflow bending part inside the shell 310. The impact of the fluid on the inner wall of the shell 310 is reduced, and the pressure distribution of the bending part is reasonable, and the speed distribution of the airflow is uniform. Figure 7 As shown in the figure, the heat pipe 201 is inclined to have a certain guiding effect on the airflow, thereby reducing the vortex area A and the secondary flow B caused by the airflow bending, reducing the airflow resistance inside the shell 310, and reducing the air volume loss.

[0106] In some embodiments of the present application, the heat pipe 201 can be rotatably arranged about its axis. Specifically, the heat pipe 201 can be rotatably arranged by a driving member and a transmission member.

[0107] In a possible structural design, the driving member can be a motor, and the transmission member can include a first gear and a second gear. The first gear can be arranged on the output shaft of the motor and rotate synchronously with the output shaft of the motor. The second gear can be connected with the heat pipe 201, and the first gear is engaged with the second gear. In this way, when the output shaft of the motor rotates, the first gear rotates, and then the second gear and the heat pipe 201 rotate to realize the rotatable arrangement of the heat pipe 201.

[0108] In this way, the inclination angle of the heat pipe 201 can be adjusted in real time according to the working condition to achieve the best guiding effect and the best uniform temperature performance.

[0109] In understanding the scope of the present application, the term "comprising" and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to be open-ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components, groups, integers, and / or steps, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components, groups, integers and / or steps. The foregoing also applies to like-terms, such as "comprise", "have", "include", and "contain", and all of their derivatives.

[0110] As used herein, the terms "attached" or "attaching" include a construction wherein an element is directly secured to another element by affixing the element directly to the other element; a construction wherein the element is indirectly secured to the other element by affixing the element to an intermediate member that, in turn, is affixed to the other element; and a construction wherein one element is integral with the other element, i.e., one element is essentially a portion of the other. The definition also includes words of similar import, such as "coupled," "connected," "engaged," "mounted," "attached," "bonded," and derivatives thereof. Finally, terms such as "substantially," "approximately," and "about" mean an acceptable close variation within the scope of the intended outcome to not result in a significant change in the final result.

[0111] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this application. The features described herein in one embodiment can be applied to another embodiment, mutatis mutandis, unless the features are not applicable or are otherwise stated.

[0112] The application has been described through the above embodiments, but it should be understood that the above embodiments are only for the purpose of example and illustration, and are not intended to limit the application to the scope of the described embodiments. Furthermore, those skilled in the art can understand that the application is not limited to the above embodiments, and more various modifications and changes can be made according to the teachings of the application, and these modifications and changes all fall within the scope of the application claimed.

Claims

1. An air cooler assembly, characterized in that: The invention comprises an air cooler body (10) and a heat exchange element (20), wherein the air cooler body (10) comprises a working fluid flow channel (11) and a heat exchange air channel (16), wherein the working fluid inside the working fluid flow channel (11) is used for heat exchange with the air flow in the heat exchange air channel (16), and the heat exchange element (20) is arranged at the air outlet of the heat exchange air channel (16), and the heat exchange element (20) comprises at least a first heat exchange part (20A) and a second heat exchange part (20B), wherein the first heat exchange part (20A) is located upstream of the working fluid flow channel (11), and the second heat exchange part (20B) is located downstream of the working fluid flow channel (11), and the first heat exchange part (20A) can exchange heat with the second heat exchange part (20B).

2. The air cooler assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The heat exchange element (20) comprises a heat pipe (201), the heat pipe (201) comprises a heat pipe evaporation section (2011) and a heat pipe condensation section (2012), the first heat exchange portion (20A) comprises at least the heat pipe evaporation section (2011), and the second heat exchange portion (20B) comprises at least the heat pipe condensation section (2012).

3. The air cooler assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The heat pipe (201) further comprises a heat pipe insulation section (2013) arranged between the heat pipe evaporation section (2011) and the heat pipe condensation section (2012).

4. The air cooler assembly according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The heat exchange element (20) further includes a first fin (21) provided on the first heat exchange portion (20A) and a second fin (22) provided on the second heat exchange portion (20B).

5. The air cooler assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The working medium flow channel (11) comprises at least a first flow path (111) and a second flow path (112) located on the air outlet surface of the air cooler body (10), wherein the first flow path (111) is arranged upstream of the second flow path (112); The first heat exchange part (20A) is located in the first process (111), and the second heat exchange part (20B) is located in the second process (112).

6. The air cooler assembly according to claim 5, wherein: The air cooler body (10) includes a first header (12) and a second header (13); The first header (12) includes a first flow section (121), the second header (13) includes a second flow section (131), a plurality of first heat exchange tubes (14) are connected between the first flow section (121) and the second flow section (131), and the first process (111) includes at least a plurality of flow channels in the first heat exchange tubes (14); The heat exchange air duct (16) comprises a first heat exchange air duct (161), and the first heat exchange air duct (161) is formed between any two adjacent first heat exchange tubes (14).

7. The air cooler assembly according to claim 6, wherein: The plurality of heat exchange elements (20) are arranged at intervals along a first direction, and the first direction is the flow direction of the refrigerant in the first heat exchange tube (14).

8. The air cooler assembly according to claim 7, wherein: The air cooler body (10) further includes a flow channel inlet communicating with the first header (12); The distance between two adjacent heat exchange elements (20) close to the first header (12) among the plurality of heat exchange elements (20) is smaller than the distance between two adjacent heat exchange elements (20) close to the second header (13).

9. The air cooler assembly according to claim 7, wherein: Along the first direction, the distance between two adjacent heat exchange elements (20) among the plurality of heat exchange elements (20) gradually increases.

10. The air cooler assembly according to claim 7, wherein: Along the first direction, the distance between the heat exchange element (20) and the air outlet side of the air cooler body (10) gradually decreases.

11. The air cooler assembly according to claim 6, wherein: The first manifold (12) further includes a third flow section (122) spaced apart from the first flow section (121); the second manifold (13) includes a fourth flow section (132) communicating with the second flow section (131); a plurality of second heat exchange tubes (15) are communicated between the third flow section (122) and the fourth flow section (132); and the second flow path (112) includes at least a plurality of flow channels in the second heat exchange tubes (15); The heat exchange air duct (16) further includes a second heat exchange air duct (162), and the second heat exchange air duct (162) is formed between any two adjacent second heat exchange tubes (15).

12. The air cooler assembly according to claim 11, wherein: The first heat exchange parts (20A) of the plurality of heat exchange elements (20) are at least partially arranged at the air outlet of the first heat exchange air duct (161); and the second heat exchange parts (20B) of the plurality of heat exchange elements (20) are at least partially arranged at the air outlet of the second heat exchange air duct (162).

13. The air cooler assembly according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: A flow guide (2015) is provided in the heat pipe (201), and the flow guide (2015) is connected to the heat pipe evaporation section (2011) and the heat pipe condensation section (2012).

14. The air cooler assembly according to claim 13, wherein: The flow guide (2015) includes a liquid absorbent core.

15. The air cooler assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The heat exchange element (20) is arranged obliquely relative to the air outlet side of the air cooler body (10).

16. The air cooler assembly according to claim 15, wherein: The distances between the first heat exchange portion (20A) and the second heat exchange portion (20B) of any one of the heat exchange elements (20) and the air outlet side of the air cooler body (10) are the same.

17. The air cooler assembly according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The heat pipe (201) is rotatable around its axis.

18. The air cooler assembly according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that The heat pipe (201) is a flat-plate heat pipe (201).

19. The air cooler assembly according to claim 5, wherein: The working medium flow channel (11) further includes a third flow path (113) and a fourth flow path (114) located on the windward side of the air cooler body (10), wherein the fourth flow path (114) is arranged on the outflow side of the third flow path (113), and the third flow path (113) is arranged on the outflow side of the second flow path (112).

20. A thermal management system, characterized in that: The air cooler assembly comprises the air cooler assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

21. The thermal management system according to claim 20, wherein: The air cooler comprises a shell (310), wherein a receiving chamber (311) is provided in the shell (310), the air cooler body (10) is provided in the receiving chamber (311), and the shell (310) is provided with a plurality of outlets, all of which are in communication with the receiving chamber (311).

22. The thermal management system according to claim 21, wherein: A first air duct (312) is formed between the air cooler body (10) and the inner wall of the accommodating chamber (311); along a second direction, the distance from the air outlet side of the air cooler body (10) to the first inner wall surface gradually decreases, the second direction being the flow direction of gas in the first air duct (312), and the first inner wall surface being the inner wall surface of the accommodating chamber (311) opposite to the air outlet side of the air cooler body (10).

23. The thermal management system according to claim 21, wherein: The heat exchange element (20) is snap-connected to the shell (310).

24. A vehicle, characterized in that: The invention comprises the air cooler assembly (320) according to any one of claims 1 to 19, or the thermal management system (300) according to any one of claims 20 to 23.

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