Coolant routing with improved use of installation space, cooling system and vehicle

Abstract

A coolant passage (50) comprising a condensate drain (51) of an evaporator (21) of an air conditioning system (20), which fluid-carrying opens into a flange (52) and extends through the flange (52) by means of a condensate passage (53), wherein the flange (52) is configured to be arranged in or on an opening (111) of an end wall (110), wherein the flange (52) has at least one first coolant connection (54) and at least one second coolant connection (55), wherein the at least one first coolant connection (54) and the at least one second coolant connection (55) are arranged adjacent to the condensate passage (53) and form a fluid-carrying connection through the flange (52), wherein the condensate passage (53) is arranged between the at least one first coolant connection (54) and the at least one second coolant connection (55).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a coolant passage, in particular for coolant lines, a cooling system comprising a coolant passage, and a vehicle with such a cooling system.

[0002] The increasing performance of sensor-based environmental monitoring and the growing degree of automation in vehicles are accompanied by a rise in the required computing power of the central computers used in these vehicles. Due to the typically limited installation space, the thermally stressed components of the central computers often cannot be cooled by air. Therefore, connecting components of the central computer, such as the processor, RAM, graphics card, and the like, to a liquid cooling system within the vehicle is necessary.

[0003] For example, WO 2019 / 023 578 A1 describes an electronic system in which electronics mounted on a vehicle roof can be cooled particularly efficiently by a cooled liquid or by a refrigerant.

[0004] US patent 2021 / 0300150A1 also describes a system and a method for cooling electrical components and, if necessary, heating them. For this purpose, the coolant pump can be controlled in opposite directions.

[0005] A cooling system for electrical components, such as power electronics, is also known from DE 10 2011 084 263 A1.

[0006] JP H09-193 648 A discloses an air conditioning system, for example used in a vehicle air conditioning system, which has an evaporator with a block-like expansion valve at its side end.

[0007] From US 2004 / 0 069 480 A1, a vehicle air conditioning system is known comprising an arrangement of heating and cooling pipes arranged around the air conditioning unit.

[0008] JP 2007-69 734 A reveals a cooling device for an antenna.

[0009] DE 10 2018 211 382 A1 discloses an air conditioning unit for air conditioning the interior of a motor vehicle with a coolant connection, a refrigerant connection, a condensate connection and an air supply duct connection, all of which are arranged in a coupling end plate.

[0010] From DE 11 2016 006 444 T5 an air conditioning unit for a vehicle is known in which a first through-hole and a second through-hole are defined in the separating element and are sealed by a single seal.

[0011] A problematic aspect here is routing coolant lines from the engine compartment to components in the passenger compartment. This typically requires a penetration through the firewall, which separates the engine compartment from the passenger compartment, for each coolant line. Solutions already exist that place the component to be cooled directly against or integrate it into the firewall to avoid the need for such penetrations for the coolant lines. However, due to space constraints, such an implementation is not feasible in every vehicle or model.

[0012] The invention is based on the objective of creating a coolant feedthrough that enables space-optimized routing of coolant lines through an end wall and avoids the need for additional feedthroughs. This objective is achieved by the features specified in claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0013] According to one aspect of the invention, a coolant feedthrough, particularly for coolant lines, is provided. The coolant lines are designed, for example, to carry liquid or gaseous coolant. A refrigerant such as that used in air conditioning systems can also be configured as the coolant. In a technically simple embodiment, the coolant can be water or an aqueous solution, for example, in combination with a refrigerant stabilizer.

[0014] The refrigerant passage includes a condensate drain from an air conditioning evaporator, which flows into a flange. The condensate drain can, for example, be designed as a funnel located below the evaporator to collect and remove condensing humidity. Advantageously, the condensate drain opens into a condensate passage that runs through the flange. This condensate passage thus forms a fluid-carrying connection between the two sides of the flange. The flange is designed to be installed in or on an opening in an end wall. The end wall can, for example, separate a passenger compartment from an engine compartment.

[0015] The flange advantageously has at least one first coolant connection and at least one second coolant connection. The at least one first coolant connection and the at least one second coolant connection are arranged adjacent to each other for condensate passage and form a fluid-carrying connection through the flange.

[0016] According to a further aspect of the invention, a cooling system with a coolant feedthrough according to the invention is provided. The cooling system comprises an air conditioning unit with an evaporator, a condenser, a refrigerant compressor, and an expansion valve. Furthermore, at least one component to be cooled by means of liquid cooling is provided. Advantageously, the condensate drain of the air conditioning unit's evaporator and at least two coolant lines of the liquid cooling system terminate in the coolant feedthrough. This allows the coolant feedthrough to be used for a multitude of different lines, thereby reducing the number of required penetrations through the end wall.

[0017] According to another aspect of the invention, a vehicle is provided which has an air conditioning system and liquid cooling. Furthermore, the vehicle has a cooling system according to the invention.

[0018] Depending on the design, condensate can be drained from the passenger compartment through the coolant feed-through flange, and at least one component can be supplied with coolant. The refrigerant lines of the evaporator, from which the condensate is drained via the condensate drain, can also be routed through the coolant connections. This measure minimizes the number of required penetrations through the vehicle's bulkhead. This also reduces the risk of leaks from water ingress while simultaneously decreasing installation effort.

[0019] The coolant feedthrough according to the invention makes it possible in particular to additionally cool a central computer or any other component with coolant from the engine compartment of the vehicle, without having to introduce additional feedthroughs into the front wall between the engine compartment and the passenger compartment.

[0020] In an advantageous design, additional coolant connections can also be provided for guiding a refrigerant to and from the evaporator.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the first and second coolant connections are designed to be connected to coolant lines on both sides of the flange. For this purpose, the coolant lines can have a quick-release coupling, a bayonet fitting, a hose connection, or the like, to allow for a fluid-tight connection of flexible or rigid coolant lines. This allows the coolant connections to be integrally formed with the flange. For example, the flange, the coolant connections, and the condensate drain with the condensate passage can be manufactured as a single piece from a common material. Alternatively or additionally, the flange, the coolant connections, and / or the condensate passage can be metallurgically bonded to the flange.

[0022] The coolant passage can be manufactured in a particularly compact and cost-effective manner if the first coolant connection and / or the second coolant connection are arranged adjacent to the condensate passage in such a way that at least one wall of the condensate passage is designed, at least partially, as a common wall of the first coolant connection and / or the second coolant connection. This measure allows for material savings and increases the mechanical stability of the coolant passage, particularly in the case of an injection-molded component.

[0023] In another embodiment, the bulkhead is designed to separate at least a portion of the passenger compartment from the engine compartment. This allows the coolant passage to reduce the number of necessary openings in the bulkhead, thus enabling more cost-effective manufacturing. A reduced number of openings also increases the bulkhead's mechanical stability.

[0024] Coolant lines can be routed to the coolant penetration in a particularly material-friendly manner if the condensate drain and / or the first coolant connection and / or the second coolant connection are aligned vertically and / or at an angle to the flange. In particular, this measure can avoid unnecessary bends or deliberately bypass components adjacent to the coolant penetration if the coolant connections are already pre-wired in a U-shape, an L-shape, an I-shape running orthogonally through the flange, or angled or diagonally through the flange.

[0025] The fluid passage formed by the coolant connections and / or the condensate passage, which leads through the flange, is preferably designed to be straight or curved in order to allow flexible adaptation to different installation conditions.

[0026] According to the invention, the condensate passage is arranged between the first coolant connection and the second coolant connection. This allows reinforcement structures for the condensate drain to be positioned, for example, above the coolant connections. The coolant lines are therefore not affected by the reinforcement structures.

[0027] The coolant lines can be connected to the coolant connections of the flange in a particularly stable manner if the condensate drain has reinforcing ribs that are oriented essentially parallel and / or perpendicular to the flange, with at least one reinforcing rib having a feedthrough for accommodating at least one coolant line. This allows the reinforcing rib or structure with the feedthrough to mechanically relieve the coolant lines in the connection area to the coolant connections.

[0028] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a sectional view of a cooling system according to the invention in a vehicle according to one embodiment, Fig. 2 a perspective view of a coolant feedthrough according to the invention made of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 a sectional view along line A from Fig. 2 to illustrate the coolant feedthrough according to the invention.

[0029] In the figures, the same constructive elements each have the same reference numerals.

[0030] The Fig. Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a cooling system 10 according to the invention in a vehicle 100 according to one embodiment. A detailed view of an area is illustrated in which a passage or opening 111 is provided in an end wall 110 of the vehicle 100. The end wall 110 separates an engine compartment 120 from a passenger compartment 130.

[0031] The cooling system 10 includes an air conditioning unit 20 with an evaporator 21, a condenser 22, a refrigerant compressor 23, and an expansion valve 24. For clarity, the components of the air conditioning unit 20 are shown in a highly simplified manner. The respective connecting lines, sensors, and the like are therefore not shown in detail.

[0032] Furthermore, at least one component 40 to be cooled by means of liquid cooling 30 is provided. The component 40 to be cooled is designed as a central computer or as a control unit and is in Fig. 2 shown. Fig. Figure 2 illustrates a coolant feedthrough 50 according to the invention in a perspective view. Fig. 1, which is located in the area of ​​opening 111 and connects the engine compartment 120 with the passenger compartment 130. In the Fig. 3 is still a cross-sectional view along line A from Fig. Figure 2 is shown to illustrate the coolant feedthrough 50 according to the invention.

[0033] In the illustrated embodiment, the coolant passage 50 is provided for coolant lines 31 of the liquid cooling system 30, which are designed, for example, to carry liquid coolant. The coolant can, for example, be water mixed with a refrigerant. For the sake of simplicity, the components of the liquid cooling system 30, such as heat exchangers, circulation pumps, sensors, and the like, are not shown.

[0034] The coolant passage 50 has a condensate drain 51 for the evaporator 21 of the air conditioning system 20, which flows into a flange 52. The condensate drain 51 is designed as a funnel and is located below the evaporator 21 to collect and drain the condensate produced during operation of the air conditioning system 20. For this purpose, the condensate drain 51 opens into a condensate passage 53 that runs through the flange 52. The condensate passage 53 thus forms a fluid-carrying connection between one side of the flange 52 facing the passenger compartment 130 and the other side of the flange 52 facing the engine compartment 120.

[0035] The flange 52 acts as a closure for the opening 111 in the end wall 110 and is, for example, made of an elastomer. Alternatively, the flange 52 can be attached to the opening 111 via a screw connection (not shown).

[0036] In the illustrated embodiment, the flange 52 has a first coolant connection 54 and a second coolant connection 55. The first coolant connection 54 and the second coolant connection 55 are arranged adjacent to the condensate passage 53 and also form a fluid-carrying connection through the flange 52. In the illustrated embodiment, the fluid-carrying connections of the coolant connections 54, 55 and the condensate passage 53 run in a straight line and parallel to each other. The fluid-carrying connections are oriented orthogonally to the essentially disc-shaped flange 52. This is illustrated by the Fig. 3 the arrangement of the coolant connections 54, 55 and the condensate passage 53.

[0037] The coolant lines 31 are attached to the coolant connections 54, 55. This can be done, for example, by a positive fit or a friction fit, whereby the coolant lines 31 are pushed onto the coolant connections 54, 55 at their ends. The coolant lines 31 can be pushed onto the coolant connections 54, 55 on both sides of the flange 52, since the coolant connections 54, 55 extend through the flange 52 or are located on both sides of the flange 52.

[0038] In the illustrated embodiment, the condensate passage 53 is arranged centrally between the first coolant connection 54 and the second coolant connection 55. Reinforcing structures 56 are also provided, which mechanically reinforce the condensate drain 51. Two reinforcing structures 56, designed as reinforcing ribs 57, are illustrated as examples. These are aligned parallel to the flange 52 and have feedthroughs 58 to accommodate and mechanically support the coolant line 31. These reinforcing ribs 57 are particularly important in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 illustrated. Reference symbol list 100 motor vehicles 110 Front wall 111 Opening 120 Engine compartment 130 passenger compartment 10 Cooling system 20 air conditioners 21 evaporators 22 Capacitor 23 Refrigerant compressor 24 Expansion valve 30 Liquid cooling 31 Coolant line 40 components to be cooled 50 Coolant feedthrough 51 Condensate drain 52 flange 53 Condensate passage 54 first coolant connection 55 second coolant connection 56 reinforcement structures 57 reinforcing ribs 58 penetrations in reinforcing ribs

Claims

[1] Coolant passage (50) comprising a condensate drain (51) of an evaporator (21) of an air conditioning system (20), which fluid-carrying opens into a flange (52) and passes through the flange (52) by means of a condensate passage (53), wherein the flange (52) is arranged to be located in or on an opening (111) of an end wall (110), wherein the flange (52) has at least one first coolant connection (54) and at least one second coolant connection (55), wherein the at least one first coolant connection (54) and the at least one second coolant connection (55) are arranged adjacent to the condensate passage (53) and form a fluid-carrying connection through the flange (52), wherein the condensate passage (53) is arranged between the at least one first coolant connection (54) and the at least one second coolant connection (55). [2] Coolant feedthrough (50) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first coolant connection (54) and the at least one second coolant connection (55) are configured to be connected to coolant lines (31) on both sides of the flange (52). [3] Coolant passage (50) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one first coolant connection (54) and / or the at least one second coolant connection (55) are arranged adjacent to the condensate passage (53) such that at least one wall of the condensate passage (53) is designed at least partially as a common wall of the at least one first coolant connection (54) and / or the at least one second coolant connection (55). [4] Coolant passage (50) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the front wall (110) is configured to separate at least partially a passenger compartment (130) from an engine compartment (120). [5] Coolant passage (50) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the condensate passage (53) and / or the at least one first coolant connection (54) and / or the at least one second coolant connection (55) are oriented perpendicularly and / or at an angle to the flange (52). [6] Coolant passage (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the condensate passage (53) and / or the at least one first coolant connection (54) and / or the at least one second coolant connection (55) form a fluid passage running straight and / or curved through the flange (52). [7] Coolant passage (50) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the condensate drain (51) has reinforcing ribs 57, wherein the reinforcing ribs 57 are aligned parallel and / or perpendicular to the flange (52), wherein at least one reinforcing rib (57) has a passage (58) for receiving at least one coolant line (31). [8] Cooling system (10) comprising a coolant passage (50) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising an air conditioning system (20) with an evaporator (21), a condenser (22), a refrigerant compressor (23) and an expansion valve (24), and comprising at least one component (40) to be cooled by means of a liquid cooling system (30), wherein a condensate drain (51) of the evaporator (21) and at least two coolant lines (31) of the liquid cooling system (30) open into the coolant passage (50). [9] Vehicle (100) comprising an air conditioning system (20) and a liquid cooling system (30), and comprising a cooling system (10) according to claim 8 with a coolant feedthrough (50) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

Images