HEAT EXCHANGER

Description

[0001] The field of the present invention is that of heat exchangers, in particular heat exchangers for automobiles. In particular, the invention relates to a heat exchanger as defined in the preamble of claim 1, and as illustrated in document WO98 / 592081.

[0002] Motor vehicles are commonly equipped with heat exchangers. These allow the transfer of heat from one fluid to another and are used, for example, to cool internal combustion engines.

[0003] Some of these exchangers are plate exchangers and are used to cool liquids such as oil. These exchangers consist of a stack of plates with several spaces between them. This stack of plates constitutes the heating element of the heat exchanger.

[0004] The efficiency of these heat exchangers depends on the intensity of the heat exchange between the fluids, but also on the distribution of the fluids in the spaces. The plate heat exchanger also includes a collector that distributes the fluid in each of the spaces with which it is connected. This collector is formed by openings made in each of the plates.

[0005] The distribution of fluid within the space between two plates is influenced by the shape of the collector section that feeds this space. On the side of the circuit to which the heat exchanger is connected, the section of the conduit is standardized, and this section does not promote good distribution of the fluid within the space.

[0006] The technical problem is therefore that of connecting a pipe of similar section to that of the conduit with the heat exchanger collector, without unduly degrading the pressure loss of the heat exchanger.

[0007] The aim of the present invention is therefore to resolve the drawback described above by designing a means for connecting the collector to the tubing, these two elements having a different shaped section.

[0008] The invention therefore relates to a heat exchanger as defined in claim 1.

[0009] These characteristics allow the use of collectors and pipes with different shaped sections.

[0010] Preferably, the fluid is a heat transfer fluid or a refrigerant fluid.

[0011] The heating body comprises a stack of circulation plates following a stacking direction d.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the circulation plates of the heating body of the heat exchanger have at least one oblong-shaped opening.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the adapter is an element which makes it possible to converge an oblong-shaped collector section towards a circular-shaped tubing section.

[0014] According to a characteristic of the invention, the adapter has a flared profile.

[0015] The flared profile of the adapter is observed between the longitudinal ends of the adapter, these longitudinal ends being those through which the fluid enters and exits.

[0016] This flared profile is visible along a longitudinal direction of the adapter. The adapter therefore has a first longitudinal end whose section has a larger diameter than the second longitudinal end.

[0017] According to the invention, the heating body comprises a first end plate, the adapter being an independent part having a first end secured to the first end plate and a second end secured to the tubing. These ends are the longitudinal ends of the adapter.

[0018] Preferably, the adapter according to the second embodiment of the invention is connected to the tubing by brazing.

[0019] Preferably, the adapter according to the second embodiment of the invention is fixed to the opening of the first end plate by brazing.

[0020] According to the invention, the adapter comprises at least one stop for bearing against the first end plate.

[0021] The adapter stop allows control of the insertion of the adapter into the manifold, but also increases the surface area of ​​the area to be brazed.

[0022] This stop can be an excess thickness that emerges from the outer wall of the adapter, surrounding the adapter.

[0023] The stop can also be a rounded bead surrounding the adapter and resulting from a deformation of the adapter wall.

[0024] According to another characteristic of the invention, the circulation plate comprises at least one opening which delimits the collector, the opening comprising at least one edge which is at least partly rectilinear.

[0025] The edge is a slice of the bottom of the circulation plate and / or the first end plate.

[0026] The edge delimits the collector which channels the refrigerant fluid into the first space of the heating body or the heat transfer fluid into the second space of the heating body.

[0027] According to the invention, the circulation plate comprises a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, the circulation plate comprising at least four openings, two openings of which are provided at the first longitudinal end and two other openings are provided at the second longitudinal end.

[0028] Preferably, the two openings provided at the second longitudinal end of the circulation plate each comprise a collar, while the two openings provided at the first longitudinal end of the circulation plate are without a collar. In this case, the two openings without a collar extend in a plane coinciding with a plane of a bottom of the circulation plate.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the invention, the tubing section is circular.

[0030] According to a characteristic of the invention, the collector section is oblong.

[0031] According to a characteristic of the invention, at least two circulation plates each comprise a bottom and a raised edge which surrounds the bottom, the bottom and the raised edge of a first circulation plate and the bottom and the raised edge of a second circulation plate delimiting the space, the raised edge of the first circulation plate being connected in a sealed manner to the raised edge of the second circulation plate.

[0032] Advantageously, the raised edge of the first circulation plate and the second circulation plate comprise two faces, an upper face and a lower face. Thus the lower face of a raised edge of a first circulation plate comes into contact with the upper face of a raised edge of a second circulation plate.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the invention, the heating body is organized into an alternation of first spaces and second spaces, the first spaces being configured to be traversed by a refrigerant fluid and the second spaces being configured to be traversed by a heat transfer liquid.

[0034] Alternation means that two first spaces are not adjacent. Similarly, two second spaces are not immediately adjacent.

[0035] According to one embodiment, at least one space has a U-shaped profile. The first spaces and / or the second spaces may have such a U-shaped profile.

[0036] According to one embodiment of the invention, the circulation plate has a rib on its bottom.

[0037] According to one embodiment of the invention, the circulation plate has flow disruptors on its bottom.

[0038] These flow disruptors break the laminar flow of the heat transfer fluid and the refrigerant fluid as they circulate in their respective spaces. This feature increases heat exchange.

[0039] Preferably, the circulation plate and / or the end plate are made of a metallic material, allowing them to be easily deformed, in particular by stamping.

[0040] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description given below for information purposes in relation to drawings in which: there figure 1 is a general perspective view of a heat exchanger according to one of the embodiments of the invention. figure 2 is a perspective view of a traffic plate according to the invention. figure 3 is a top view schematically illustrating the tubing section and the manifold section. figure 4 is an exploded view of a tubing connected to the first end plate by means of an adapter according to the first embodiment of the invention. figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of an adapter not in accordance with the invention.

[0041] It should first be noted that the figures set out the invention in detail to implement the invention, said figures can of course be used to better define the invention where appropriate.

[0042] In the remainder of the description, the terms longitudinal or lateral, above, below, in front, behind refer to the orientation of the heat exchanger according to the invention. The longitudinal direction corresponds to the main axis of the heat exchanger in which it extends, while the lateral orientations correspond to concurrent straight lines, that is to say which cross the longitudinal direction, in particular perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the heat exchanger.

[0043] The directions mentioned above are also visible in an LVT orthonormal reference frame shown in the figures.

[0044] There figure 1 presents a heat exchanger 1 in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention.

[0045] This comprises a stack of circulation plates 2 in a stacking direction d, a first end plate 3a and a second end plate 3b. This set of circulation plates 2, first end plate 3a and second end plate 3b constitutes the heating body 4 of the heat exchanger 1. The heating body 4 constitutes the location of the heat exchanger 1 where the heat transfer fluid and the refrigerant exchange calories. The heating body 4 extends in a longitudinal direction and comprises a first longitudinal end 200 and a second longitudinal end 201.

[0046] The superposition of the circulation plates 2 delimits a first space configured to be traversed by the refrigerant fluid and a second space configured to be traversed by the heat transfer fluid. The first spaces 20 and the second spaces 21 are visible at the figure 5 .

[0047] A first circulation plate 2a, a second circulation plate 2b and a third circulation plate 2c delimit two by two the first space and the second space, the latter being distributed alternately in the heating body 4. Thus, the circulation of the refrigerant fluid and the heat transfer liquid is carried out by alternating layer in the heating body 4, along the stacking direction d.

[0048] The first space and the second space, as well as the first circulation plate 2a, the second circulation plate 2b and the third circulation plate 2c will be detailed in the description of the figure 5 .

[0049] The first end plate 3a is intended to seal the upper part of the heating body 4 in the stacking direction d. This first end plate 3a is positioned on top of the set of circulation plates 2 of the heating body 4, in the stacking direction d.

[0050] The second end plate 3b is intended to seal the lower part of the heating body 4 in the stacking direction d. This second end plate 3b is positioned below the set of circulation plates 2 of the heating body 4 in the stacking direction d.

[0051] The first end plate 3a and the second end plate 3b have a rectangular shape.

[0052] The first end plate 3a and the second end plate 3b have a bottom 16 and a raised edge 15 continuously surrounding the bottom 16 of the first end plate 3a and the second end plate 3b. The first end plate 3a and the second end plate 3b therefore have a rectangular bathtub configuration. A bottom of the bathtub constitutes the bottom 16 and an edge of the bathtub constitutes the raised edge 15.

[0053] The first end plate 3a has four openings 131, a first opening 131a, a second opening 131b, a third opening 131c and a fourth opening 131d. The four openings 131 are provided through the bottom 16 of the first end plate 3a.

[0054] The second end plate 3b does not have any openings so that the heat transfer fluid and the refrigerant do not escape from the heating body 4.

[0055] The heating body 4 has collectors 5 whose function is to supply refrigerant fluid or heat transfer liquid to the spaces provided in the heating body 4.

[0056] On the figure 1 a second collector 5b is visible positioned at the second longitudinal end 201 of the heating body 4. A first collector 5a is positioned opposite the second collector 5b, along the transverse axis t of the heat exchanger 1 and on the same second longitudinal end 201 of the heating body 4.

[0057] The first collector 5a and the second collector 5b are volumes which extend in the stacking direction d. The volume of the first collector 5a and the second collector 5b are delimited respectively by the openings of the circulation plates 2, in particular by first openings 130a and fourth openings 130d visible on the figure 2 .

[0058] The first collector 5a and the second collector 5b make it possible to distribute or collect the heat transfer liquid in the heating body 4. More precisely, the first collector 5a and the second collector 5b make it possible to irrigate the second spaces of the heating body 4.

[0059] A third collector 5c is provided at the first longitudinal end 200 of the heating body 4. A fourth collector 5d is positioned opposite the third collector 5c along the transverse axis of the heat exchanger 1 and on the same first longitudinal end 200 of the heating body 4.

[0060] The third collector 5c and the fourth collector 5d are volumes which extend in the stacking direction d. The volume of the third collector 5c and the fourth collector 5d are delimited respectively by the second openings 130b and by the third openings 130c visible on the representation of the circulation plate 2 shown in figure 2 .

[0061] The third collector 5c and the fourth collector 5d make it possible to distribute or collect the refrigerant fluid in the heating body 4. More precisely, the third collector 5c and the fourth collector 5d make it possible to irrigate the first spaces of the heating body 4.

[0062] The heat exchanger 1 comprises a first fixing block 13a and a second fixing block 13b for the inlet and outlet of the refrigerant fluid. The first fixing block 13a or the second fixing block 13b make it possible to fix a conduit supplying the heating body 4 with refrigerant fluid. The first fixing block 13a and the second fixing block 13b are positioned at the first longitudinal end 200 of the heating body 4.

[0063] On the second longitudinal end 201 of the heating body 4, opposite the first longitudinal end 200 of the heating body 4, is positioned at least one adapter 8 according to the invention. In the present case, the figure 1 shows a first adapter 8 and a second adapter 8 according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0064] The first adapter 8 and the second adapter 8 according to the first embodiment of the invention are independent parts, that is to say, they are attached between a tube 6 and the first end plate 3a, then secured to this tube 6 and to this first end plate 3a. According to one example, at least one of these adapters 8 comprises a support stop 12 which makes it possible to limit the insertion of the first adapter 8 or the second adapter 8 into the first collector 5a or the second collector 5b, respectively.

[0065] The first adapter 8 and the second adapter 8 have a first end 30 in contact with the first end plate 3a and a second end 31 in contact with the tubing 6.

[0066] The first adapter 8 and the second adapter 8 therefore have a flared configuration from the first end 30 to the second end 31.

[0067] The tubing 6 is a tube for connecting the first adapter 8 or the second adapter 8 to a circuit external to the heat exchanger 1. The circuit external to the heat exchanger 1 is, for example, a heat transfer fluid circuit. The external circuit is not shown in the figures.

[0068] There figure 2 illustrates a traffic plate 2. The traffic plate 2 has a rectangular bottom 116 and a set of raised edges 115 composed of a first longitudinal raised edge 115a, a second longitudinal raised edge 115b, a first lateral raised edge 115c, a second lateral raised edge 115d, a first curved raised edge 115e, a second curved raised edge 115f, a third curved raised edge 115d and a fourth curved raised edge 115h.

[0069] The first longitudinal raised edge 115a, the second longitudinal raised edge 115b, the first lateral raised edge 115c, the second lateral raised edge 115d, the first curved raised edge 115e, the second curved raised edge 115f, the third curved raised edge 115d and the fourth curved raised edge 115h peripherally surround the bottom 116 continuously. All of the raised edges 115 have an upper face 150 and a lower face 151.

[0070] The circulation plate 2 extends along a longitudinal axis of the heat exchanger 1 and has a first longitudinal end 110 and a second longitudinal end 120 opposite the first longitudinal end 110. The bottom 116 is delimited by an upper face 101 and by a lower face 102.

[0071] The circulation plate 2 has four openings such that a first opening 130a and a fourth opening 130d are positioned at its first longitudinal end 110. A second opening 130b and a third opening 130c are positioned on its second longitudinal end 120.

[0072] The first opening 130a, the second opening 130b, the third opening 130c and the fourth opening 130d are each surrounded by an edge 17. The edge 17 is partly straight and its straight part is perpendicular to the first lateral raised edge 115c or to the second lateral raised edge 115d.

[0073] A second part of the edge 17 runs along the lateral raised edge 115c, 115d on the one hand and the curved raised edge 115e, 115f, 115d, 115h on the other hand which adjoins the lateral raised edge which is run along the edge 17.

[0074] At the second longitudinal end 120 of the circulation plate 2, the second opening 130b and the third opening 130c each comprise a collar 18. The collar 18 is a shoulder which emerges from the bottom 116 of the circulation plate 2.

[0075] It will be noted that only the second opening 130b and the third opening 130c are provided with a collar 18, the first opening 130a and the fourth opening 130d being without a collar. The first opening 130a and the fourth opening 130d are thus made directly in the bottom 116, by being inscribed in a plane merged with a majority extension plane of the bottom 116.

[0076] The circulation plate 2 also comprises a rib 19 extending on the bottom 116 of the circulation plate 2 along the longitudinal axis of the heat exchanger 1. The rib 19 emerges above the plane AB of the bottom 116 of the circulation plate 2. This rib 19 starts from the first lateral raised edge 115c, between the first opening 130a and the fourth opening 130d. The rib 19 ends at a non-zero distance from the second lateral raised edge 115d and thus divides the volume delimited by the circulation plates 2 to form a first space or a second U-shaped space.

[0077] According to one example, the circulation plate 2 comprises fluid flow disruptors 14 arranged on the bottom 116 of the circulation plate 2. These disruptors 14 are arranged in rows parallel to each other and aligned parallel to the transverse direction B. These rows are offset in the transverse direction B, so that the disruptors 14 are arranged in a staggered pattern from one row relative to the other, thus forming bays of disruptors 14 parallel to the longitudinal direction A.

[0078] All the characteristics of the traffic plate 2 of the figure 2 also apply to a plurality of circulation plates 2 of the heat exchanger.

[0079] There figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the adapter 8 which joins a manifold section 25 to a tubing section 26. The manifold section 25 and the tubing section 26 are determined by orthogonal projection onto a plane passing through the opening which receives the adapter 8. The first end 30 of the adapter 8 has a section identical to the manifold section 25, while the second end 31 of the adapter 8 has a section identical to the tubing section 26.

[0080] We see on the figure 3 that the tubing section 26 is different from the collector section 25. According to this example, the tubing section 26 is smaller than the collector section 25. The adapter 8 therefore widens from its second end 31 to its first end 30 by means of a flare 23.

[0081] According to a non-limiting example, the tubing section 26 has a circular shape, while the collector section 25 has an oblong shape.

[0082] There figure 4 is an exploded view of the adapter 8 according to a first embodiment.

[0083] The first end 30 of the adapter 8 is configured to have a shape complementary to the shape of the manifold section 25. Thus, the first end 30 of the adapter 8 can be inserted into the relevant opening of the first end plate 3a. Similarly, the second end 31 of the adapter 8 is configured to have a shape complementary to the shape of the tubing section 26. Thus, the second end 31 of the adapter 8 can be inserted into the relevant opening of the first end plate 3a.

[0084] There figure 4 also illustrates the flare 23 of the adapter 8 over its entire length, from the first end 30 of section corresponding to the first collector 5a to the second end 31 in contact with the tubing 6.

[0085] The stop 12 is configured to limit the insertion of the adapter 8 into the first end plate 3a by coming into contact with the edge of the opening concerned, for example the first opening 131a.

[0086] All the characteristics evoked the figure 3 apply to the two adapters 8 shown in the figure 1 .

[0087] There figure 5 is a partial sectional view of the heating body 4 according to the invention. The section is longitudinal at the level of the first collector 5a of the heating body 4. This section illustrates the interior of a heating body 4 at the level of the first collector 5a and also the stacking of the circulation plates 2 and the first end plate 3a.

[0088] There figure 5 illustrates, among other things, the sealing achieved between the first circulation plate 2a and the second circulation plate 2b. The upper face 150 of the raised edge 115 of the second circulation plate 2b is in contact with the lower face 151 of the raised edge 115 of the first circulation plate 2a. This sealing is achieved in particular by brazing the circulation plates.

[0089] There figure 5 also shows the presence of a peripheral blank 50 which extends in a plane parallel to the plane of the bottom 116 of the circulation plates 2, 2a, 2b. This peripheral blank 50 goes around each circulation plate 2. Once stacked, the peripheral blank 50 of the first circulation plate 2a is at a non-zero distance from the peripheral blank 50 of the second circulation plate 2b.

[0090] The first space 20 is bordered on one side by the first circulation plate 2a and by the second circulation plate 2b, while the second space 21 is bordered by this second circulation plate 2a and by a third circulation plate 2c identical to the first circulation plate 2a. This is how the alternation of first space 20 with second space 21 is formed.

[0091] The first space 20 is reserved for the refrigerant fluid. In order to prevent the heat transfer fluid from penetrating into this first space 20, the collar 18 is arranged around the opening 130a of the second circulation plate 2b. The second space 21 is reserved for the circulation of the heat transfer fluid in the heating body 4. Thus, the first collector 5a fits into a tubular volume defined by the first openings 130a arranged in the circulation plates 2.

[0092] There figure 5illustrates the adapter 8 according to a second embodiment. The first end plate 3a has a deformation which corresponds to the adapter 8 according to this second embodiment. The adapter 8 is thus a deformation of the plate which has a flared profile along the vertical axis v, so that the first end 30 of the adapter 8 closest to the collector has a section greater than the section of the second end 31 which cooperates with the tubing 6.

[0093] The invention thus achieves its goal by connecting the collector to the tubing, even if these components have a significantly different cross-section. This fluid connection is achieved by reducing pressure losses, which more generally contributes to increasing the performance of the heat exchanger.

[0094] The invention cannot, however, be limited to the means and configurations exclusively described and illustrated, and also applies to any equivalent means or configurations and to any combination of such means or configurations. In particular, if the invention has been described here in its application to a refrigerant fluid / heat transfer liquid heat exchanger, it goes without saying that it applies to any shape and / or dimension of the adapter, the collector and the tubing, as long as the latter two are of different sections.

Claims

1. Heat exchanger (1) comprising a heating body (4) made up of a plurality of circulation plates (2, 2a-2c) which are nested one inside the other and formed between which are spaces (20, 21) configured to be flowed through by a fluid, the heating body (4) comprising at least one header (5, 5a-5d) which connects the spaces (20, 21), the heat exchanger (1) comprising a manifold (6) via which the header (5, 5a-5d) is connected to a circuit outside the heat exchanger (1), characterized in that the header (5, 5a-5d) has a header cross section (25), the manifold (6) has a manifold cross section (26) different from the header cross section (25), the heat exchanger (1) comprising an adapter (8) which is interposed between the header (5) and the manifold (6) and joins the header cross section (5) to the manifold cross section (26), the heating body (4) comprising a first end plate (3a) having four openings (131): a first opening (131a), a second opening (131b), a third opening (131c) and a fourth opening (131d), the heat exchanger being characterized in that the adapter (8) is an independent part having a first end (30) secured to the first end plate (3a) and a second end (31) secured to the manifold (6), the adapter (8) comprising at least one bearing end stop (12) for bearing against the first end plate (3a), the end stop (12) being configured to limit the insertion of the adapter (8) into the first end plate (3a) by coming into contact with the rim of one of the openings (131) of the first end plate (3a), for example the first opening (131a).

2. Heat exchanger (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the adapter (8) has a flared profile.

3. Heat exchanger (1) according to either one of the preceding claims, wherein the circulation plate (2, 2a-2c) comprises at least one opening (130a-130d) which delimits the header (5, 5a-5d), the opening (130a-130d) comprising at least one edge corner (17) that is at least partially straight.

4. Heat exchanger (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the circulation plate (2, 2a-2c) comprises a first longitudinal end (110) and a second longitudinal end (120), the circulation plate (2) comprising at least four openings (130a-130d), of which two openings (130a, 130d) are provided at the first longitudinal end (110) and two other openings (130b, 130c) are provided at the second longitudinal end (120).

5. Heat exchanger (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the manifold cross section (26) is circular.

6. Heat exchanger (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the header cross section (25) is oblong.

7. Heat exchanger (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least two circulation plates (2, 2a-2c) each comprise a bottom (116) and a raised rim (115, 115a-115h) which surrounds the bottom (116), the bottom (116) and the raised rim (115, 115a-115h) of a first circulation plate (2a) and the bottom (116) and the raised rim (115, 115a-115h) of a second circulation plate (2b) delimiting the space (20, 21), the raised rim (115, 115a-115h) of the first circulation plate (2a) being connected in a sealed manner to the raised rim (115, 115a-115h) of the second circulation plate (2b).