Heat exchange bundle of a heat exchanger and circulation of a fluid within this heat exchange bundle

Abstract

Title of the invention: Heat exchange bundle of a heat exchanger and circulation of a fluid within this heat exchange bundle The present invention relates to a heat exchange bundle (2) of a heat exchanger, the heat exchange bundle comprising a plurality of collectors and a plurality of openings (4), each opening (4) opening on one side towards the outside of the heat exchange bundle (2) and on the other side towards one of said collectors, one opening (4) of the plurality of openings (4) being an inlet opening through which the fluid is able to enter the heat exchange bundle (2) and another opening (4) of the plurality of openings being an outlet opening through which the fluid is able to leave the heat exchange bundle (2), the openings (4) of the plurality of openings distinct from the inlet opening and the outlet opening being closed by a sealing means. (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Heat exchange bundle of a heat exchanger and circulation of a fluid within this heat exchange bundle

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of heat exchangers, in particular intended to equip heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning installations. The present invention relates more specifically to an exchange bundle of such a heat exchanger within which chambers superimposed on one another delimit at least one conduit for circulating a fluid.

[0002] In various technical fields and particularly in the automotive field, the thermoregulation of components used for the operation of a system or installation is a common practice. These systems or installations generate, during their operation, heat which must be evacuated to ensure optimal operation of said systems or installations.

[0003] It is known, for example, to evacuate this heat by carrying out a heat exchange between said systems or installations and a heat transfer fluid. This heat transfer fluid must in turn be cooled in order to be able to be reused to recover calories from the systems or installations previously mentioned.

[0004] For this purpose, it is known to implement heat exchangers specifically dedicated to cooling said heat transfer fluid. Within an exchange bundle of these heat exchangers, the heat transfer fluid circulates in a first circuit and a fluid, conventionally a refrigerant fluid, circulates in a second circuit, the heat transfer fluid being capable of transferring calories to the refrigerant fluid within this exchange bundle.

[0005] Manufacturers of such heat exchangers are constantly seeking to improve, in particular, the heat exchanges carried out between the heat transfer fluid and the refrigerant fluid. In this regard, many prototypes are produced to experiment with new technological advances. However, the manufacture of heat exchangers is not designed for small series production, such as for prototyping. As a result, the production of prototypes is currently very expensive and not suitable.

[0006] The present invention falls within this context and aims to resolve at least some of the drawbacks of the prior art. The present invention aims in particular to propose an exchange harness whose manufacture is inexpensive and suitable for prototyping.

[0007] Thus, the present invention relates to a heat exchange bundle of a heat exchanger intended to equip a vehicle, the heat exchange bundle comprising a plurality of chambers superimposed on one another in a superposition direction, first chambers of the plurality of chambers delimiting at least in part a first circuit intended to be traversed by a refrigerant fluid and second chambers of the plurality of chambers delimiting at least in part a second circuit intended to be traversed by a heat transfer fluid, the first circuit comprising at least three passes each comprising several first chambers which extend parallel to one another, the heat exchange bundle comprising a plurality of collectors of which at least one of said collectors is in fluid communication with the first chambers of at least one of said passes,each pass being connected to at least two collectors distinct from each other so that the refrigerant can circulate from one of said collectors to the other, the heat exchange bundle comprising a plurality of openings, each opening opening on one side towards the outside of the heat exchange bundle and on the other side towards one of said collectors, one opening of the plurality of openings being an inlet opening through which the refrigerant is able to enter the heat exchange bundle and another opening of the plurality of openings being an outlet opening through which the refrigerant is able to leave the heat exchange bundle, the openings of the plurality of openings distinct from the inlet opening and the outlet opening being closed by a sealing means.

[0008] Within the heat exchange bundle, the refrigerant fluid is capable of recovering calories from the heat transfer fluid so as to lower the temperature of the latter. The circulation of the refrigerant fluid and the heat transfer fluid takes place respectively in the first circuit and in a second circuit, these first and second circuits being two circuits distinct from each other.

[0009] Each chamber of the plurality of chambers is delimited by a wall, all of the walls delimiting the chambers of the plurality of chambers are made of one material with each other, that is to say that there is a continuity of material between each of said walls. It is understood that the first chambers and the second chambers are not formed from a plurality of stamped plates.

[0010] The collectors form elements of the heat exchange bundle allowing the refrigerant fluid to circulate between two adjacent passes. These collectors are machined from the outside of the heat exchange bundle to a solid wall delimiting a collector in the direction along which it extends. The machining of the collectors forms openings opening on one side into a collector and on an opposite side outwardly to the heat exchange bundle.

[0011] Among these openings, an inlet opening allows the fluid to enter. refrigerant in the heat exchange bundle, another opening, an outlet opening, allows the refrigerant fluid to exit the heat exchange bundle.

[0012] In order for the refrigerant to circulate in the first circuit between a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet, all of the separate openings of the inlet opening and the outlet opening are closed by a sealing means. By "closing" is meant that when the sealing means closes an opening, the refrigerant cannot circulate through the latter.

[0013] According to a characteristic of the invention, at least each chamber of the plurality of chambers is delimited by a wall, said walls being made of one material with each other.

[0014] According to a characteristic of the invention, at least the plurality of walls is obtained by additive manufacturing.

[0015] The entire heat exchange bundle is obtained by additive manufacturing. It is understood that all of the constituent elements of the heat exchange bundle are made from one material with each other. It should be noted that "made from one material" means that these elements are formed from a single piece, that is to say that they are devoid of a junction zone at the level of which these elements are secured to each other.

[0016] According to a characteristic of the invention, the closure means is a component attached to the heat exchange bundle. Indeed, after machining the collectors, the closure means is attached to the opening that allowed the machining so as to close the latter.

[0017] According to a characteristic of the invention, the heat exchange bundle comprises at least four passes, each collector extending around an elongation axis, the heat exchange bundle comprising a number of elongation axes distinct from each other equal to the number of passes minus one. The elongation axes are specifically associated with at least one collector. According to the invention, at least one collector extends radially around each elongation axis.

[0018] According to a characteristic of the invention, at least one closure means has a groove extending peripherally relative to the closure means, said groove being configured to house a sealing means. It is understood that this groove and this sealing means make it possible to ensure that the circulation of the refrigerant fluid through an opening closed by a closure means is prohibited.

[0019] According to a characteristic of the invention, the heat exchange bundle comprises at least one connection block through which at least one of the openings extends, the closure means being at least partly housed in the connection block.

[0020] According to a characteristic of the invention, each collector is closed on one side by at least one wall delimiting a chamber of the plurality of chambers, said wall being configured to prevent the passage of fluid from one pass to an adjacent pass.

[0021] According to a characteristic of the invention, at least one of said collectors is closed on one side by a wall delimiting one of the chambers of the plurality of chambers and on the other side by the closing means.

[0022] According to a characteristic of the invention, the circulation of the refrigerant fluid between at least two identical adjacent passes is carried out by at least two separate collectors.

[0023] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description which follows on the one hand, and examples of embodiment given for informational and non-limiting purposes with reference to the appended schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0024] [Fig-1] represents a general view of a heat exchange bundle according to the present invention;

[0025] [Fig.2] represents a sectional view of the heat exchange beam passing through a opening and according to the section plane AA visible in [Fig.l];

[0026] [Fig.3] represents a sectional view of the heat exchange beam passing through a opening and according to the section plane BB visible in [Fig.l];

[0027] [Fig.4] represents a sectional view of the heat exchange beam passing through a opening and according to the section plane CC visible in [Fig.l];

[0028] The features, variants and different embodiments of the invention may be combined with each other, in various combinations, provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be imagined comprising only a selection of features described below in isolation from the other features described, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the art.

[0029] In the figures, the elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

[0030] In the following description, reference will be made to an orientation as a function of the Longitudinal, Vertical and Transverse axes as defined by the trihedron L, V, T shown in Figures 1 to 4.

[0031] [Fig.l] illustrates a heat exchange bundle 2 according to the present invention. More specifically, this heat exchange bundle 2 is installed in a heat exchanger intended to equip a motor vehicle. This heat exchange bundle 2 is more specifically intended to cool a heat transfer fluid itself intended to carry out a heat exchange with a heat generating device. For this purpose, the heat exchange bundle 2 is traversed by a fluid which, in the embodiment shown, is a refrigerant fluid intended to recover calories from the heat transfer fluid so as to lower the temperature of the latter.

[0032] The heat exchange bundle 2 extends, in the embodiment shown, in a vertical main elongation direction, that is to say parallel to the axis V. As visible in this [Fig.l], the heat exchange bundle 2 comprises at least one vertical end a plurality of openings 4. It should be noted that as will be described in connection with FIGS. 2 to 4, each vertical end of the heat exchange bundle 2 comprises openings 4. Each opening 4 is open on one side towards the outside of the heat exchange bundle 2 and on the other side towards the inside of the heat exchange bundle 2.

[0033] More specifically, the heat exchange bundle 2 comprises connection blocks 5 arranged at the longitudinal ends of the heat exchange bundle 2. The openings 4 are provided at these connection blocks 5 so that closure means, which will be described in more detail in connection with FIGS. 2 to 4, can close some of the openings 4 by being housed in the associated connection block 5.

[0034] Furthermore, the heat exchange bundle 2 is formed by additive manufacturing. Such a means of manufacturing the heat exchange bundle 2 allows all of the constituent elements of the heat exchange bundle 2 to be made of one material with each other. Such a characteristic makes it possible to obtain a heat exchange bundle 2 in which said constituent elements of the latter have a continuity of material with each other. In other words, the heat exchange bundle 2 is devoid of junction zones between the constituent elements of said heat exchange bundle 2.

[0035] [Fig. 2] represents a sectional view of the heat exchange bundle 2 passing through an opening 4 along the section plane AA visible in [Fig. 1]. Like Figures 3 and 4, [Fig. 2] makes it possible to demonstrate that the heat exchange bundle 2 comprises a plurality of chambers 6 superimposed on one another in a direction of superposition which, in the embodiment shown, is parallel to the main vertical elongation direction of the heat exchange bundle 2.

[0036] Each chamber of the plurality of chambers 6 is delimited by a wall 8. It should be noted that the walls 8 are made of one material with each other due, in the embodiment shown, to the additive manufacturing of the heat exchange bundle 2. It is understood that each wall 8 has at least one portion at which said walls 8 are formed of a continuity of matter.

[0037] Furthermore, the heat exchange bundle 2 comprises, among the plurality of chambers 6, first chambers 10 and second chambers 12.

[0038] The first chambers 10 of the plurality of chambers 6 at least partially delimit a first circuit and the second chambers 12 of the plurality of chambers 6 at least partially delimit a second circuit. The first circuit allows the refrigerant fluid to circulate in the heat exchange bundle 2. The second circuit allows the heat transfer fluid to circulate in the heat exchange bundle 2.

[0039] The first chambers 10 and the second chambers 12 are separated from each other by at least one wall 8. Thus, this wall 8 delimits on one side a first chamber 10 and on the other opposite side a second chamber 12. As a result, a heat exchange can take place between the refrigerant fluid circulating in a first chamber 10 and the heat transfer fluid circulating in a second chamber 12 adjacent to these walls 8.

[0040] Each wall 8 delimiting the first chambers 10 extends in a main elongation plane. This main elongation plane is perpendicular to the vertical main elongation direction of the heat exchange bundle 2. More specifically, this main elongation plane of the walls 8 extends longitudinally and transversely, that is to say parallel to the axes L and T.

[0041] Each of the first chambers 10 is connected to at least one other first chamber 10 so that the refrigerant can circulate from one first chamber 10 to another first chamber 10 through the plurality of chambers 6. This configuration allows the refrigerant to circulate within the heat exchange bundle 4 between a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet of the heat exchange bundle 2.

[0042] Like the first chambers 10, the second chambers 12 are similarly interconnected so that the heat transfer fluid can circulate from a second chamber 12 to another second chamber 12 within the heat exchange bundle 2.

[0043] Furthermore, it should be noted that the first circuit and the second circuit are two circuits distinct from each other. In other words, the refrigerant circulates strictly in the first circuit and the heat transfer fluid circulates strictly in the second circuit.

[0044] Furthermore, the first circuit comprises a plurality of passes 14 through which the refrigerant circulates. According to the invention, the heat exchange bundle 2 comprises at least three passes 14. In the embodiment shown, the heat exchange bundle 4 comprises four passes 14, of course this number of passes 14 can be greater without departing from the context of the present invention.

[0045] Each pass 14 comprises a plurality of first chambers 10 and is connected by at least one end to a collector 16. Thus, the refrigerant fluid is able to circulate from one pass 14 to another pass 14 by using a collector 16.

[0046] The heat exchange bundle 2 comprises a plurality of collectors 16 extending perpendicularly to the main elongation plane of the walls 8, i.e. parallel to the main vertical elongation direction of the heat exchange bundle 2. Each collector 16 is associated and connected to at least one pass 14 and is connected to a plurality of first chambers 10. This connection of each collector 16 to at least one pass 14 makes it possible to ensure the circulation of the refrigerant fluid in at least one of said passes 14 or to allow the refrigerant fluid to exit the heat exchange bundle 2.

[0047] More particularly, each collector 16 extends perpendicularly to the main elongation plane from a wall 8 and / or to a wall 8 while being superimposed with respect to at least one other collector 16. More specifically, in the embodiment shown, each collector 16 extends radially around an elongation axis 18, several collectors 16 sharing the same elongation axis 18.

[0048] The heat exchange bundle 2 comprises a number of elongation axes 18 equal to the number of passes 14 minus one. In the present case, the heat exchange bundle 2 comprises four passes 14 and three elongation axes 18, a distinct elongation axis 18 being visible in FIGS. 2 to 4. These elongation axes 18 are distributed longitudinally on either side of the first chambers 10 so that the refrigerant circulates in the heat exchange bundle 2 by using the collectors 16 in a zigzag formation.

[0049] Within said collectors 16 the refrigerant circulates strictly. For this purpose, the walls 8 delimiting a second chamber 12, in which the heat transfer fluid circulates, meet at the level of a collector 16 so as to prevent the passage of the refrigerant from the collector 16 to said second chamber 12.

[0050] Furthermore, the collectors 16 are delimited by a plurality of walls 8. Each wall 8 delimiting a collector 16 has at least one orifice, at least a portion of the orifices of said walls 8 is aligned perpendicular to the main elongation plane of the walls 8 and centered on the same elongation axis 18 so as to delimit said collector 16.

[0051] In addition, one of the walls 8 of the plurality of walls 8 delimiting a collector 16 is solid, that is to say devoid of an orifice centered on the elongation axis 30 associated with said collector 16. This solid wall 8 participates on the one hand in delimiting the collector 16 and on the other hand in delimiting a pass 14.

[0052] It should be noted that in the embodiment shown, the orifices are, a once the heat exchange bundle 4 is obtained entirely by additive manufacturing, machined so that each orifice is circular. For this purpose, an electroerosion machining process is implemented to machine the openings and obtain circular orifices. To do this, the heat exchange bundle 2 is machined from the outside around the elongation axes 18 to a solid wall 8 delimiting a collector 16.

[0053] This electroerosion machining leads to forming the openings 4 in accordance with what has been described previously. Indeed, the electroerosion is carried out from the outside of the heat exchange bundle 2 up to a solid wall 8 delimiting a pass 14. It is understood that to machine all of the orifices of the walls 8, the electroerosion is carried out from each of the vertical ends of the heat exchange bundle 2.

[0054] Furthermore, as visible in [Fig.2], the heat exchange bundle 2 comprises two openings 4 centered on the elongation axis 18. Among these openings 4, one opening 4 is an inlet opening 20 through which the refrigerant fluid is able to enter the heat exchange bundle 2. It should be noted that the circulation of the refrigerant fluid in the heat exchange bundle 2 is represented by solid arrows 13.

[0055] The other opening 4, opposite in the main vertical elongation direction of the heat exchange bundle 2 to the inlet opening 20, is formed during the machining of the orifices of the walls 8 in accordance with what has been described previously. This opening 4 is closed by a closing means 21 forming a plug which is housed in the associated connection block 5. This closing means 21 comprises a groove 23 extending peripherally relative to the closing means 21 and is intended to house a sealing means. This sealing means makes it possible to ensure the sealing of the heat exchange bundle 2 and, more specifically, to ensure that the refrigerant cannot escape from the collector 16 via the opening 4.

[0056] The refrigerant fluid entering the heat exchange bundle 4 circulates directly in an inlet manifold 22 connected to a first pass 24. The refrigerant fluid is then able to circulate in the first chambers 10 of this first pass 24.

[0057] [Fig. 3] represents another sectional view of the heat exchange bundle 2 according to the section plane BB visible in [Fig.l]. More specifically, this section view makes it possible to highlight a first intermediate collector 26 of the heat exchange bundle 2 longitudinally opposite the inlet collector 22. This first intermediate collector 26 is connected on the one hand to the first pass 24 and on the other hand to a second pass 28. It is notable that the opening 4 associated with the first intermediate collector 26, that is to say the opening 4 opening on one side into the first intermediate collector 26 and on one side opposite the heat exchange bundle 2, is closed by a closing means 21 as described previously. It should be noted that this closing means 21 is an added component of the heat exchange bundle 2

[0058] [Fig.4] represents another sectional view of the heat exchange bundle 2 along the sectional plane CC visible in [Fig.l]. More specifically, this sectional view makes it possible to highlight a second intermediate collector 30 arranged on the same longitudinal side of the heat exchange bundle 2 as the inlet collector 22. However, this second intermediate collector 30 extends radially around an elongation axis 18 distinct from the elongation axis 18 around which the inlet collector 22 extends.

[0059] This second intermediate collector 30 allows the refrigerant fluid to circulate from the second pass 28 to a third pass 32. It is understood that the second pass 28 is fluidically connected to the first intermediate collector 26 and to the second intermediate collector 30. As visible in FIGS. 3 and 4, the third pass 32 is connected to a third intermediate collector 34, itself connected to a fourth pass 36.

[0060] The fourth pass 36 is fluidically connected to an outlet manifold 38 from which the refrigerant fluid is able to exit the heat exchange bundle at an opening 4 which is an outlet opening 40.

[0061] This outlet opening 40 allows the refrigerant fluid to leave the heat exchange bundle 2 and, by way of illustrative example, to join a fluid supply circuit. It is understood that this outlet opening 4 is not closed by a closing means 21. It is further understood that all the openings 4 distinct from the inlet opening 20 and the outlet opening 40 are closed by a closing means 21.

[0062] The present invention achieves the goal it set itself by proposing a heat exchange bundle suitable for prototyping and whose manufacture in this sense is inexpensive. This adaptability to prototyping is notably obtained by a heat exchange bundle in which the circulation of a refrigerant fluid within several is enabled by a plurality of collectors allowing the circulation of the refrigerant fluid in a plurality of passes.

Claims

Claims

1. Heat exchange bundle (2) of a heat exchanger intended to equip a vehicle, the heat exchange bundle (2) comprising a plurality of chambers (6) superimposed on one another in a superposition direction, first chambers (10) of the plurality of chambers (6) delimiting at least in part a first circuit intended to be traversed by a refrigerant fluid and second chambers (12) of the plurality of chambers (6) delimiting at least in part a second circuit intended to be traversed by a heat transfer fluid, the first circuit comprising at least three passes (14) each comprising several first chambers (10) which extend parallel to one another, the heat exchange bundle (2) comprising a plurality of collectors (16) of which at least one of said collectors (16) is in fluid communication with the first chambers (10) of at least one of said passes (14),each pass (14) being connected to at least two collectors (16) distinct from each other so that the refrigerant can circulate from one of said collectors (16) to the other, the heat exchange bundle (2) comprising a plurality of openings (4), each opening (4) opening on one side towards the outside of the heat exchange bundle (2) and on the other side towards one of said collectors (16), one opening (4) of the plurality of openings being an inlet opening (20) through which the refrigerant is able to enter the heat exchange bundle (2) and another opening (4) of the plurality of openings being an outlet opening (40) through which the refrigerant is able to leave the heat exchange bundle (2), the openings (4) of the plurality of openings distinct from the inlet opening (20) and the outlet opening (40) being closed by a sealing means (21).,

2. Heat exchange bundle (2) according to the preceding claim, in which at least each chamber of the plurality of chambers (6) is delimited by a wall (8), said walls (8) being made of one material with each other.

3. Heat exchange bundle (2) according to the preceding claim, in which at least the plurality of walls (8) is obtained by additive manufacturing.

4. Heat exchange bundle (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the sealing means (21) is a component added to the heat exchange core (2).

5. Heat exchange bundle (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least four passes (14), each collector (16) extending around an elongation axis (18), the heat exchange bundle (2) comprising a number of elongation axes (18) distinct from each other equal to the number of passes (14) minus one.

6. Heat exchange bundle (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which at least one closure means (21) has a groove (23) extending peripherally relative to the closure means (21), said groove (23) being configured to house a sealing means.

7. Heat exchange bundle (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one connection block (5) through which at least one of the openings (4) extends, the closure means (21) being at least partly housed in the connection block (5).

8. Heat exchange bundle (2) according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with claim 2, wherein each collector (16) is closed on one side by at least one wall (8) delimiting a chamber of the plurality of chambers (6), said wall being configured to prevent the passage of the refrigerant fluid from one pass (14) to an adjacent pass (14).

9. Heat exchange bundle (2) according to the preceding claim, wherein at least one of said collectors (16) is closed on one side by a wall (8) delimiting one of the chambers of the plurality of chambers (6) and on the other side by the closing means (21).

10. Heat exchange bundle (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the circulation of the refrigerant fluid between at least two identical adjacent passes (14) is carried out by at least two separate collectors (16).

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