Heat exchanger for an air-conditioning device for a track-bound vehicle, air-conditioning device, and track-bound vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat exchanger (100), in particular for an air-conditioning device (10) for a track-bound vehicle (1), comprising at least one refrigerant tube (110) and a plurality of lamellae (120) which are connected to the refrigerant tube (110) in order to transfer heat. The heat exchanger (100) has at least one cleaning tube (130) which is designed to provide a fluid F for cleaning the heat exchanger (100).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Heat exchanger for air conditioning unit for a rail-guided vehicle, air conditioning unit and rail-guided vehicle.

[0003] The invention relates to a heat exchanger, in particular for an air conditioning unit for a track-guided vehicle, comprising at least one refrigerant pipe and a plurality of fins connected to the refrigerant pipe for heat transfer.

[0004] The invention relates to an air conditioning unit for a rail-guided vehicle for passenger transport, comprising such a heat exchanger or a heat exchanger developed as described below.

[0005] Furthermore, the invention relates to a track-guided vehicle for passenger transport, comprising at least one heat exchanger of this type or further developed as described below and / or at least one air conditioning unit of this type or further developed as described below.

[0006] When operating air conditioning systems, large volumes of air are required to transfer the refrigerant's thermal energy through the heat exchangers, especially the condensers. Depending on the application and environmental conditions, the heat exchangers become contaminated. The contaminants settle on the heat exchanger fins and thus prevent the heat transfer from the refrigerant to the heat exchanger or condenser air.

[0007] In the case of track-guided vehicles, such as rail vehicles, to remove contamination from the heat exchanger fins, the state of the art requires that the heat exchangers, particularly the condensers, be cleaned annually using high-pressure cleaners. This entails considerable costs (personnel costs, infrastructure costs, costs for transporting the vehicle to a depot, etc.). The cleaning of the heat exchangers, particularly the condensers, is currently carried out by personnel of the operator of the track-guided vehicle. Structural modifications to the heat exchangers or condensers are not known.

[0008] Based on this, the object of the invention is to provide a heat exchanger which has improved maintainability.

[0009] This object is achieved by the heat exchanger of claim 1. Furthermore, the object is achieved by the air conditioning unit according to claim 10 and the track-guided vehicle according to claim 11.

[0010] Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the respective subclaims.

[0011] According to the invention, a heat exchanger is provided, in particular for an air conditioning unit for a rail-guided vehicle. The heat exchanger comprises at least one refrigerant pipe and a plurality of fins connected to the refrigerant pipe for heat transfer. The heat exchanger has at least one cleaning pipe designed to provide a fluid for cleaning the heat exchanger.

[0012] According to the invention, an air conditioning unit is further provided, which has at least one such heat exchanger or one further developed as described below. Furthermore, according to the invention, a rail-guided vehicle for passenger transport is provided, comprising at least one such heat exchanger or one further developed as described below, or at least one such air conditioning unit or one further developed as described below.

[0013] The fluid is preferably an incompressible fluid, such as water or water mixed with a cleaning agent. This achieves the best possible cleaning results.

[0014] However, a compressible fluid such as air can also be used, which achieves a less effective cleaning result than an incompressible fluid, but is permanently available in the form of, for example, compressed air.

[0015] Based on a suitable analysis of the degree of contamination of the heat exchangers, rail-guided vehicles only need to be brought to the depot for heat exchanger cleaning if the heat exchanger cleaning can no longer be postponed.

[0016] The track-guided vehicle is, for example, a rail vehicle or a magnetic levitation train, preferably for passenger transport.

[0017] The heat exchanger and / or the air conditioning unit can be part of an air conditioning system.

[0018] The track-guided vehicle is, for example, a rail vehicle or a magnetic levitation train, preferably for passenger transport. In a further development of the heat exchanger, it can be provided that the heat exchanger has a coupling that is fluidly connected to the cleaning pipe.

[0019] The coupling provides a means of ensuring that an externally pressurized cleaning pipeline is supplied with fluid.

[0020] In the design of the heat exchanger, it can further be provided that the coupling is designed in such a way that a fluid line can be coupled to it.

[0021] This allows a fluid line to be connected to the coupling when the rail-guided vehicle is, for example, in the depot. This simplifies maintenance. For example, a line from a high-pressure cleaner can be connected to the coupling, allowing a pressurized fluid released by the high-pressure cleaner to flow through the cleaning line.

[0022] In one embodiment, it may further be provided that the coupling is a quick coupling.

[0023] The quick coupling can, for example, have a plug-in closure, a screw closure or a bayonet closure, which makes it possible to establish a connection between an external fluid line and the coupling without much expenditure of time.

[0024] Furthermore, it can be provided that the heat exchanger has a maintenance flap which is arranged such that it covers the coupling when closed and, when open, allows access to the coupling from outside the heat exchanger. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger has a fluid connection which is accessible via the maintenance flap. The maintenance flap and the coupling are arranged such that access to the coupling is possible via an automated system (e.g., a robot arm).

[0025] To clean the heat exchangers, especially those of track-guided vehicles, no cladding parts, such as side covers or components of the heat exchanger, such as a heat exchanger fan, need to be dismantled.

[0026] It can further be provided that the cleaning pipe has a plurality of outflow openings which are arranged in such a way that a fluid flowing out through them cleans the fins of the heat exchanger.

[0027] This ensures an even distribution of the fluid in the heat exchanger.

[0028] The outflow openings are preferably designed as nozzles.

[0029] In the design of the heat exchanger, it can be provided that the cleaning pipeline can be subjected to a fluid pressure of 2.5 MPa to 12.5 MPa, preferably of 5.0 MPa to 10.0 MPa.

[0030] The cleaning pipe is subjected to such a fluid pressure, and the fluid, preferably an incompressible fluid such as water, flows under such pressure onto the fins. The fluid pressure (preferably water pressure) ensures that dirt deposits are removed from the fins.

[0031] This will achieve the desired cleaning result.

[0032] In an advantageous further development, the heat exchanger can have an optical inspection system, in particular a camera, for checking the cleaning status of the heat exchanger.

[0033] The cleaning success can be determined by visual inspection or by a functional test of the air conditioning system. The visual inspection can be performed by an employee or by an optical system (e.g., a camera) with connected AI, which verifies the cleaning success. It is also helpful for this purpose if the heat exchanger is painted gray, unlike the current version (current paint finish: black). The color change facilitates the analysis of the cleaning success.

[0034] In one embodiment, it can be provided that the heat exchanger is a condenser.

[0035] All designs of the heat exchanger, the air conditioning unit and / or the track-guided vehicle apply equally to the process.

[0036] The invention will now be explained using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawing.

[0037] There show: Fig. 1 in a schematic representation the track-guided vehicle according to the invention with an air conditioning unit according to the invention, which has a heat exchanger according to the invention;

[0038] Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the heat exchanger according to the invention; and

[0039] Fig. 3 shows a schematic side view of the heat exchanger according to the invention.

[0040] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of the track-guided vehicle 1 according to the invention with an air conditioning unit 10 according to the invention, which has a heat exchanger 100 according to the invention. The air conditioning unit 10 is designed to ventilate and / or air-condition the interior 2 of the track-guided vehicle 1.

[0041] The air conditioning unit 10 has at least one heat exchanger 100 according to the invention.

[0042] Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the heat exchanger 100 according to the invention.

[0043] The heat exchanger 100 shown in Fig. 2 is designed in particular for an air conditioning unit 10 for a track-guided vehicle 1.

[0044] The heat exchanger 100 comprises at least one refrigerant pipe 110 and a plurality of fins 120 connected to the refrigerant pipe 110 for heat transfer. The fins 120 increase the heat transfer area of ​​the heat to be transferred from the refrigerant pipe 110 to the air in the heat exchanger 100.

[0045] The heat exchanger 100 further comprises, in addition to the at least one refrigerant pipe 110, at least one cleaning pipe 130.

[0046] The cleaning pipe 130 is designed to provide a fluid F for cleaning the heat exchanger 100.

[0047] The heat exchanger 100 further comprises a coupling 140 fluidically connected to the cleaning pipe 130.

[0048] The coupling 140 is preferably a quick coupling and can have a plug-in closure, a screw closure or a bayonet closure.

[0049] The coupling 140 is designed such that a fluid line (not shown) can be coupled thereto. The fluid line can be coupled to the coupling 140 from outside the heat exchanger to provide a fluid.

[0050] Fig. 3 shows a schematic side view of the heat exchanger 100 according to the invention.

[0051] As can be clearly seen from Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the cleaning pipe 130 has a plurality of outlet openings 132. The outlet openings 132 can be designed, for example, as nozzles. These can be directed specifically at certain areas of the slats.

[0052] The outflow openings 132 are arranged such that a fluid F flowing out through them cleans the fins 120 of the heat exchanger 100.

[0053] To clean the heat exchanger 100, the cleaning pipe 130 can be subjected to a fluid pressure of 2.5 MPa to 12.5 MPa, preferably 5.0 MPa to 10.0 MPa.

[0054] As can be seen from Fig. 3, the heat exchanger 100 according to the invention is designed such that the fluid is distributed through the cleaning pipe 130 essentially over the entire interior for cleaning the heat exchanger 100.

[0055] As can be seen from Fig. 3, the heat exchanger 100 is designed such that the waste water A, which is formed by the fluid F and contaminants detached from the heat exchanger 100, can flow downwards out of the heat exchanger 100.

[0056] The heat exchanger 100 further comprises an optical inspection system 160, in particular a camera, for checking the cleaning status of the heat exchanger 100. The optical inspection system can be arranged inside the heat exchanger 100, as can be seen from Fig. 2.

[0057] As can be seen from Fig. 1, the heat exchanger 100 has a maintenance flap 142, which is arranged such that, when closed, it covers the coupling 140 and, when open, allows access to the coupling 140 from outside the heat exchanger 100. In this way, the coupling 140 is accessible from outside the track-guided vehicle.

[0058] The above disclosure applies equally to the heat exchanger 100 and to a rail-guided vehicle 1 comprising at least one air conditioning unit 10 configured as described above. Likewise, the above disclosure can also relate to an individual carriage of a rail-guided vehicle 1.

[0059] Finally, it should be mentioned that the features of all the above-described embodiments can be combined with one another in any desired manner to form further alternative embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, all features of subclaims can be combined individually with any feature of any other claim, either individually or in any desired combination, to obtain further alternative embodiments.

[0060] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by means of an embodiment, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples and other variations can be derived therefrom by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0061] Regardless of the grammatical gender of a particular term, persons with male, female or other gender identity are included.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Heat exchanger (100), in particular for an air conditioning unit (10) for a track-guided vehicle (1), comprising at least one refrigerant pipe (110) and a plurality of fins (120) connected to the refrigerant pipe (110) for heat transfer, characterized in that the heat exchanger (100) has at least one cleaning pipe (130) which is designed to provide a fluid (F) for cleaning the heat exchanger (100).

2. Heat exchanger (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat exchanger (100) has a coupling (140) fluidically connected to the cleaning pipe (130).

3. Heat exchanger (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the coupling (140) is designed such that a fluid line (150) can be coupled to it.

4. Heat exchanger (100) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the coupling (140) is a quick coupling.

5. Heat exchanger (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat exchanger has a maintenance flap (142) which is arranged such that it covers the coupling (140) in the closed state and allows accessibility of the coupling (140) from outside the heat exchanger (100) in the open state.

6. Heat exchanger (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cleaning pipe (130) has at least one, preferably a plurality of, outflow openings (132) which are arranged such that a fluid (F) flowing out through them cleans the fins (120) of the heat exchanger (100).

7. Heat exchanger (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning pipe (130) can be subjected to a fluid pressure of 2.5 MPa to 12.5 MPa, preferably of 5.0 MPa to 10.0 MPa.

8. Heat exchanger (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat exchanger (100) has an optical inspection system (160), in particular a camera, for checking the cleaning state of the heat exchanger (100).

9. Heat exchanger (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat exchanger (100) is a condenser.

10. Air conditioning unit (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air conditioning unit (10) has at least one heat exchanger (100) according to one of claims 1 to 9.

11. A track-guided vehicle (1) for passenger transport, comprising at least one heat exchanger (100) according to one of claims 1 to 9 or an air conditioning unit (10) according to claim 10.

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