Thermal conditioning system
The multifunctional heat exchange assembly addresses the challenge of compactness and efficiency in vehicle heat treatment systems by optimizing the heat exchanger layout and integrating the expansion device, resulting in reduced energy consumption and enhanced system performance.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-03-04
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-20
AI Technical Summary
Existing vehicle heat treatment systems face challenges in achieving compactness and efficiency due to the need for multiple heat exchangers that occupy significant space and require separate expansion devices, leading to increased energy consumption and complexity.
A multifunctional heat exchange assembly is designed with a stacked configuration of condenser, internal heat exchanger, and evaporator types, where the bodies of the first and second heat exchangers are inscribed within the third, maximizing the evaporator's surface area and minimizing the internal heat exchanger's surface area to reduce superheating, while integrating the expansion device within the assembly to enhance compactness.
The solution results in a more compact heat exchange system that reduces energy consumption, minimizes superheating, and integrates the expansion device, thereby improving overall efficiency and reducing the need for external connections.
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Thermal conditioning system technical field
[0001] The invention relates to a heat exchange assembly for a vehicle and a heat pump circuit comprising such an assembly.
[0002] The invention relates to the technical field of heat treatment of fluids within a vehicle using plate heat exchangers. The vehicle is preferably a motor vehicle (car, truck, etc.), but more generally, can be of a land, sea or air type. Previous technique
[0003] Motor vehicles are commonly equipped with a refrigerant circuit and at least one heat transfer fluid circuit, both used to contribute to the thermal treatment of different areas or components of the vehicle. It is particularly known to use the refrigerant circuit and / or the heat transfer fluid circuit to thermally treat an airflow sent into the passenger compartment of a vehicle equipped with such a circuit and / or to cool components of the vehicle's powertrain (battery, engine, etc.).
[0004] The refrigerant and the heat transfer fluid usually circulate within their respective circuits and interact with each other via a plurality of heat exchangers, ensuring heat exchange between the two fluids. To improve the compactness of the heat treatment system, several of these heat exchangers can be grouped into a heat treatment module. Since automotive manufacturers are constantly striving to improve their vehicles, one improvement objective is to group more elements of the heat treatment system into heat treatment modules to reduce the space occupied by these elements.
[0005] The invention is aimed in particular at such a goal. Summary
[0006] To this end, the present invention proposes a multifunctional heat exchange assembly comprising: - a first plate heat exchanger, in particular of the condenser type, comprising first plates, said first plates being stacked in a stacking direction so as to define an alternation of at least one heat transfer fluid channel and one refrigerant fluid channel, - a second plate heat exchanger of the internal heat exchanger type, comprising second plates, said second plates being stacked according to said stacking direction so as to define an alternation of at least one refrigerant channel at a first pressure, called high pressure, and a refrigerant channel at a second pressure, called low pressure, different from the first pressure, - a third plate heat exchanger of the evaporator type, comprising third plates, said third plates being stacked along said stacking direction so as to define an alternation of at least one heat transfer fluid channel and one refrigerant fluid channel, the first and second heat exchangers being arranged side by side along a direction perpendicular to said stacking direction, the heat exchanger assembly being characterized in that the bodies of the first and second heat exchangers are inscribed in a projection, along said stacking direction, of the body of the third heat exchanger.
[0007] The first heat exchanger is a water condenser. It is configured to transfer heat from the high-pressure refrigerant, which undergoes condensation, to the heat transfer fluid.
[0008] The second heat exchanger is an internal heat exchanger, or IHX for "Internai Heat eXchanger". The internal heat exchanger is configured to perform heat exchange between low-pressure refrigerant and high-pressure refrigerant.
[0009] The third heat exchanger is a water evaporator, or "chiller". It is configured to extract heat from the heat transfer fluid and transfer it to the low-pressure refrigerant, which undergoes evaporation.
[0010] The heat exchange assembly is thus made more compact. According to the invention, the surface of the heat exchange assembly, projected along the stacking direction, corresponds to the surface of the third plates of the third heat exchanger.
[0011] Furthermore, according to the invention, the surface area of the third heat exchanger projected along the stacking direction is greater than or equal to the sum of the surface areas of the first and second heat exchangers projected along the stacking direction.
[0012] In this way, the surface area of the third heat exchanger, the evaporator, is maximized. On the other hand, the surface area of the second heat exchanger, the internal heat exchanger, is minimized. The advantage of minimizing the surface area of the second heat exchanger is to limit superheating at its outlet, on the low-pressure side. Indeed, excessive superheating at the second heat exchanger would cause excessive energy consumption at the compressor.
[0013] Finally, the invention makes it possible to significantly reduce the length of the connectors, the first, second and third heat exchangers being positioned as close as possible from each other.
[0014] In particular, the body of the second heat exchanger is not included in a projection, along the stacking direction, of the body of the first heat exchanger. Similarly, the body of the first heat exchanger is not included in a projection, along the stacking direction, of the body of the second heat exchanger.
[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least the first and third heat exchangers are joined.
[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first, second and third heat exchangers are joined together.
[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, the heat exchange assembly forms a housing suitable for receiving at least one expansion device.
[0018] Such a heat exchange assembly according to the invention thus makes it possible to integrate, in the volume occupied by the heat exchange assembly, the expansion device, which avoids the need to install an expansion device at a distance from the heat exchange assembly, as well as the pipes that must connect this expansion device to the heat exchange assembly.
[0019] Furthermore, since the expansion device is integrated into the volume of the heat exchange assembly, its compactness is improved.
[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, the housing suitable for receiving the expansion device is interposed, at least partially, between the second and third heat exchangers.
[0021] The housing suitable for receiving the expansion device being interposed between the second and third heat exchangers, the compactness of the heat exchange assembly is improved.
[0022] According to one embodiment of the invention, each of the stacks of first, second and third plates of the first, second and third heat exchanger comprises, respectively, at least one first, second and third end plate.
[0023] A first, second, and third end plate delimits the plate stack at at least one end, respectively, of the first, second, and third heat exchanger. In particular, an end plate may be thicker than the other plates in the plate stack, so as to mechanically reinforce the first, second, and third heat exchanger.
[0024] According to an embodiment of the invention, the housing is defined, on a first side, by a second end plate of the second heat exchanger, and, on a second side, opposite to the first side, by a third end plate of the third heat exchanger.
[0025] According to one embodiment of the invention, the heat exchange assembly includes a decompression device, said decompression device being in contact with second and third end plates respectively of the second and third heat exchangers.
[0026] The heat exchange assembly comprises, depending on the stacking direction, the second heat exchanger, the expansion device and the third heat exchanger, in particular each of the second and third heat exchangers being integral with the expansion device.
[0027] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first, second and third heat exchangers and the expansion device are joined together.
[0028] According to an embodiment of the invention, at least one of the second plates of the second heat exchanger and / or at least one of the third plates of the third heat exchanger forms the housing suitable for receiving the expansion device.
[0029] In other words, the housing crosses the extension plane of at least one of the plates of the second and / or third heat exchanger.
[0030] According to an example of an embodiment of the invention, a plurality of second plates of the second heat exchanger and / or a plurality of third plates of the third heat exchanger form the housing suitable for receiving the expansion device.
[0031] In other words, the expansion device crosses the extension plane of a plurality of second plates of the second heat exchanger and / or a plurality of third plates of the third heat exchanger.
[0032] In particular, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the second and / or third heat exchanger comprises respectively at least one second and / or third opening plate, preferably several second and / or third opening plates, said at least one second and / or third opening plate comprising an opening forming at least partially the housing.
[0033] According to this alternative embodiment, the opening of the opening plate(s) forms an orifice, that is to say that at least a portion of the opening plate(s) surrounds the release device.
[0034] According to a variant of this alternative embodiment, the opening of the opening plate(s) is formed by a truncated portion of said opening plate(s).
[0035] The housing is then formed, on at least one side, by at least one of the edges of the opening plates of the second and / or third heat exchanger.
[0036] According to a variant of this alternative embodiment, the second exchanger of heat is at least partially in contact with the third heat exchanger, in particular a second plate or a second end plate or a second opening plate of the second heat exchanger is in contact with a third plate or a third end plate or a third opening plate of the third heat exchanger.
[0037] According to an example of an embodiment of the invention, the first, second and third plates forming respectively the first, second and third heat exchangers are rectangular, in particular with rounded corners, and are defined by a length and a width.
[0038] According to one embodiment of the invention, the heat exchange assembly includes an expansion device, said expansion device comprising at least a first pass, directly connected, on the one hand, to the second heat exchanger, and, on the other hand, to the third heat exchanger.
[0039] The expansion device includes at least one first expansion member, configured to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant flowing through it. The first passage passes through the first expansion member. Said first passage connects the outlet, on the high-pressure refrigerant side, of the second heat exchanger to the refrigerant inlet of the third heat exchanger.
[0040] The first expansion device is a regulator, for example an electronic regulator, thermostatic regulator or a calibrated orifice.
[0041] According to a variant of this embodiment of the invention, the expansion device comprises a second passage, directly connected, on the one hand, to the second heat exchanger, and, on the other hand, to the third heat exchanger.
[0042] According to a variant of this embodiment of the invention, the expansion device comprises at least a third passage, directly connected, on the one hand, to the second heat exchanger, and connected, on the other hand, to a fourth heat exchanger.
[0043] According to this embodiment, the expansion device includes a second expansion member, configured to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant flowing through it. The third passage passes through the second expansion member. This third passage connects the outlet, on the high-pressure refrigerant side, of the second heat exchanger to the refrigerant inlet of the fourth heat exchanger.
[0044] The second expansion member is a regulator, for example an electronic regulator, thermostatic regulator or a calibrated orifice.
[0045] According to a variant of this embodiment of the invention, the expansion device includes a fourth passage, connected, on the one hand, to the fourth heat exchanger, and directly connected, on the other hand, to the second heat exchanger, and in particular to the second passage.
[0046] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the fourth heat exchanger is an air-evaporator type heat exchanger. It is configured to extract heat from an airflow passing through it, in particular an airflow from inside the passenger compartment, and to transfer it to the low-pressure refrigerant, which undergoes evaporation.
[0047] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the fourth heat exchanger is a plate heat exchanger, of the water evaporator type, or "chiller". It is configured to extract heat from the heat transfer fluid and to transfer it to the low-pressure refrigerant, which undergoes evaporation.
[0048] According to this embodiment, the fourth plate heat exchanger comprises fourth plates stacked along the stacking direction so as to define an alternation of at least one heat transfer fluid channel and one refrigerant fluid channel. In particular, the fourth plates of the fourth heat exchanger are stacked in line with the stacking of the third plates of the third heat exchanger. In this way, the heat exchange assembly partially retains its compactness, with only its dimensions along the stacking direction being affected.
[0049] Preferably, the third heat exchanger is interposed between, on one side, the fourth heat exchanger, and on the other side, the housing, the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.
[0050] According to an embodiment of the invention, at least one of the first plates or one of the first end plates of the first heat exchanger is in contact with at least one of the third plates or one of the third end plates of the third heat exchanger.
[0051] According to one embodiment of the invention, the third heat exchanger is integral with the first heat exchanger.
[0052] According to one embodiment of the invention, the heat exchange assembly comprises a first thermal insulation element, said first thermal insulation element being disposed between the first heat exchanger and the third heat exchanger.
[0053] Indeed, the refrigerant circulates in the third heat exchanger at a temperature around 0°C, and in the first heat exchanger at a temperature around 60°C. To avoid degrading the performance of either, it can therefore be beneficial to insert a first thermal insulation element between the two. The first thermal insulation element can be, for example, an insulating material or an air gap.
[0054] According to one embodiment of the invention, the heat exchange assembly comprises a second thermal insulation element, said second thermal insulation element being disposed between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger.
[0055] Since the first and second heat exchangers operate at different refrigerant temperatures, placing a second thermal insulation element between them optimizes their performance. This second thermal insulation element can be, for example, an insulating material or an air gap.
[0056] According to one particular embodiment, at least the first and third heat exchangers can be brazed at the same time, thereby limiting the manufacturing time and steps.
[0057] According to another embodiment of the invention, the second and third heat exchangers and the expansion device can be brazed at the same time, thereby limiting the manufacturing time and steps.
[0058] According to another embodiment of the invention, the first, second and third heat exchanger and the expansion device can be brazed at the same time, thereby limiting the manufacturing time and steps.
[0059] The invention also relates to a two-fluid circuit of a heat pump, comprising a heat exchange assembly according to the invention.
[0060] According to an example embodiment of the invention, the heat transfer fluid is, for example, water, glycol water, or a dielectric fluid.
[0061] According to an example embodiment of the invention, the refrigerant is, for example, R134a, R1234yf, R744 or R290. Brief description of the drawings
[0062] Other features, details and advantages will become apparent upon reading the detailed description below, and upon analysis of the accompanying drawings, on which:
[0063] [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates an example of a two-fluid circuit of a heat pump comprising a heat exchange assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention.
[0064] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of a heat exchange assembly according to the first embodiment of the invention.
[0065] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of the heat exchange assembly of the [Fig.2] comprising a decompression device.
[0066] [Fig.4] is a view along a first section of the heat exchange assembly of the [Fig.3].
[0067] [Fig.5] is a view along a second section of the heat exchange assembly of [Fig.3].
[0068] [Fig.6] schematically shows the two-fluid circuit of a heat pump of [Fig.1] superimposed on the heat exchange assembly of [Fig.3].
[0069] [Fig.7] is a side view of the heat exchange assembly according to a example of an alternative embodiment of the invention.
[0070] [Fig.8] is a perspective view of the heat exchange assembly according to a particular embodiment of the invention.
[0071] [Fig.9] schematically illustrates an example of a two-fluid circuit of a heat pump comprising a heat exchange assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention.
[0072] [Fig. 10] is a perspective view of a heat exchange assembly according to the second embodiment of the invention. Description of the implementation methods
[0073] The features, variants, and different embodiments of the invention can be combined in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be conceived comprising only a selection of features, described hereafter in isolation from the other described features, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage and / or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.
[0074] Figure 1 represents a two-fluid circuit 100 of a heat pump for a motor vehicle, according to a first embodiment of the invention. This two-fluid circuit 100 comprises a refrigerant loop 101 through which a refrigerant circulates, a first heat transfer fluid loop 102 (shown schematically) through which a first heat transfer fluid, for example glycol water or a dielectric fluid, circulates, and a second heat transfer fluid loop 103 (shown schematically) through which a second heat transfer fluid, for example glycol water or a dielectric fluid, circulates. The first and second heat transfer fluids may be of the same type or of different types.
[0075] The refrigerant loop 101 comprises, in the direction of refrigerant flow: - a 105 compressor, - a first two-fluid heat exchanger 10, located downstream of the compressor 105, configured to extract heat from the high-pressure refrigerant by its condensation and transfer it to the heat transfer fluid of the first heat transfer fluid loop 102, this exchanger can be designated as a water condenser or WCDS for Water Cooled Condenser in English, - a 107 accumulator or cylinder configured to remove gas from the refrigerant, - a high-pressure pass of a second internal heat exchanger 20 (generally designated as an internal heat exchanger or IHX for Internal Heat Exchanger in English abbreviation) configured to cool the refrigerant by heat exchange between the high-pressure refrigerant of the high-pressure pass and the low-pressure refrigerant of a low-pressure pass of the second heat exchanger 20, - a first branch 101A comprising: — a first expansion device 61, this first expansion device 61 being connected to a third bifluid heat exchanger 30, — said third two-fluid heat exchanger 30, configured to extract heat from the heat transfer fluid of the second heat transfer fluid loop 103 and transfer it to the low-pressure refrigerant by its evaporation, this exchanger being able to be designated as a water evaporator (or “Chiller” in English), - a second branch 101B, in parallel with the first branch 101A, comprising: — a second expansion member 62, this second expansion member 62 being connected to a fourth air heat exchanger 31, — said fourth air heat exchanger 31, configured to extract heat from an internal airflow Fi passing through it and transfer it to the low-pressure refrigerant fluid by its evaporation, this exchanger being able to be designated as an air evaporator, - the low-pressure pass of the second internal heat exchanger 20.
[0076] The refrigerant loop 101 is not described in further detail as it is known from the prior art. The same applies to the first and second heat transfer fluid loops 102, 103.
[0077] Fig. 2 represents a multifunctional heat exchanger assembly 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention.
[0078] Assembly 1 comprises: - a first plate heat exchanger 10, in particular of the condenser type, comprising first plates 41 stacked, according to a stacking direction E, so as to define an alternation of at least one heat transfer fluid channel and one refrigerant fluid channel, - a second plate heat exchanger 20 of the internal heat exchanger type, comprising second plates 42 stacked, according to said stacking direction E, so as to define an alternation of at least one refrigerant fluid channel at a first pressure, called high pressure, and a refrigerant fluid channel at a second pressure, called low pressure, different from the first pressure, - a third plate heat exchanger 30 of the evaporator type, comprising third plates 43 stacked along said stacking direction E, so as to define an alternation of at least one heat transfer fluid channel and one fluid channel refrigerant, the first and second heat exchangers 10, 20 being arranged side by side in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction E, the heat exchanger assembly 1 being characterized in that the bodies of the first and second heat exchangers 10, 20 are inscribed in a projection, in said stacking direction E, of the body of the third heat exchanger 30.
[0079] The heat exchange assembly 1 is thus made more compact. According to the invention, the surface of the heat exchange assembly 1, projected along the stacking direction E, corresponds to the surface of the third plates 43 of the third heat exchanger 30.
[0080] Furthermore, according to the invention, the surface area of the third heat exchanger 30 projected along the stacking direction E is greater than or equal to the sum of the surfaces of the first and second heat exchangers 10, 20 projected along the stacking direction E.
[0081] In this way, the surface area of the third heat exchanger 30, the evaporator, is maximized. On the other hand, the surface area of the second heat exchanger 20, the internal heat exchanger, is minimized. The advantage of minimizing the surface area of the second heat exchanger 20 is to limit superheating at its outlet, on the low-pressure side. Indeed, excessive superheating at the second heat exchanger 20 would cause overconsumption at the compressor 105.
[0082] Finally, the invention makes it possible to significantly reduce the length of the connectors, the first, second and third heat exchangers 10, 20, 30 being positioned as close as possible to each other.
[0083] In particular, the body of the second heat exchanger 20 is not included in a projection, along the stacking direction E, of the body of the first heat exchanger 10. Similarly, the body of the first heat exchanger 10 is not included in a projection, along the stacking direction E, of the body of the second heat exchanger 20.
[0084] According to the embodiment illustrated [Fig.2], the first and third heat exchangers 10, 30 are joined.
[0085] The heat exchange assembly 1 forms a housing 50 suitable for receiving at least one expansion device 60.
[0086] Such a heat exchange assembly 1, as represented [Fig.3], thus makes it possible to integrate, in the volume occupied by the heat exchange assembly 1, the expansion device 60, which avoids the installation of an expansion device 60 at a distance from the heat exchange assembly 1, as well as the pipes to connect this expansion device 60 to the heat exchange assembly 1.
[0087] Furthermore, since the expansion device 60 is integrated into the volume of the heat exchange assembly 1, its compactness is improved.
[0088] The housing 50 suitable for receiving the expansion device 60 is interposed, at least partially, between the second and third heat exchangers 20, 30. In particular, each of the second and third heat exchangers 20, 30 is integral with the expansion device 60.
[0089] The housing 50 suitable for receiving the expansion device 60 being interposed between the second and third heat exchangers 20, 30, the compactness of the heat exchange assembly 1 is improved.
[0090] According to one embodiment of the invention, each of the stacks of first, second and third plates 41, 42, 43 of the first, second and third heat exchanger 10, 20, 30 comprises, respectively, at least one first, second and third end plate 401, 402, 403.
[0091] A first, second and third end plate 401, 402, 403 delimits the plate stack at at least one of the ends, respectively, of the first, second and third heat exchanger 10, 20, 30. In particular, an end plate 401, 402, 403 may be thicker than the other plates 41, 42, 43 of the plate stack, so as to mechanically reinforce the first, second and third heat exchanger 10, 20, 30.
[0092] According to the example embodiment of the invention illustrated in particular in figures 2 and 3, the housing 50 is defined, on a first side, by a second end plate 402 of the second heat exchanger 20, and, on a second side, opposite to the first side, by a third end plate 403 of the third heat exchanger 30.
[0093] According to the illustrated embodiment [Fig.3], the heat exchange assembly 1 comprises a decompression device 60, said decompression device 60 being in contact with second and third end plates 402, 403, respectively of the second and third heat exchangers 20, 30.
[0094] The heat exchange assembly 1 comprises, depending on the stacking direction, the second heat exchanger 20, the expansion device 60 and the third heat exchanger 30.
[0095] According to the embodiment illustrated in particular in figures 4 and 5, the expansion device 60 comprises a first passage 601, directly connected, on the one hand, to the second heat exchanger 20, and, on the other hand, to the third heat exchanger 30.
[0096] The expansion device 60 includes a first expansion member 61, configured to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant flowing through it. The first passage 601 passes through the first expansion member. Said first passage 601 connects the outlet, on the high-pressure refrigerant side, of the second heat exchanger 20, to the inlet of refrigerant fluid from the third heat exchanger 30.
[0097] The first expansion member 61 is a regulator, for example an electronic regulator, thermostatic regulator or a calibrated orifice.
[0098] The expansion device 60 includes a second passage 602, directly connected, on the one hand, to the second heat exchanger 20, and, on the other hand, to the third heat exchanger 30.
[0099] The expansion device 60 includes a third passage 603, directly connected, on the one hand, to the second heat exchanger 20, and connected, on the other hand, to the fourth heat exchanger 31.
[0100] The expansion device includes a second expansion member 62, configured to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant flowing through it. The third passage 603 passes through the second expansion member 62. Said third passage 62 connects the outlet, on the high-pressure refrigerant side, of the second heat exchanger 20, to the refrigerant inlet of the fourth heat exchanger 31.
[0101] The second expansion member 62 is a regulator, for example an electronic regulator, thermostatic regulator or a calibrated orifice.
[0102] The expansion device 60 includes a fourth passage 604, connected, on the one hand, to the fourth heat exchanger 31, and directly connected, on the other hand, to the second heat exchanger 20, and in particular to the second passage 602.
[0103] With reference to [Fig. 6], the refrigerant loop 101 comprises, in the direction of refrigerant flow: - the 105 compressor, - the first 10 bi-fluid heat exchanger, - the 107 accumulator or bottle, - the high-pressure pass of the second internal heat exchanger 20, - the first branch 101A comprising: — the first passage 601 of the detent device 60, passing through the first detent member 61, — said third bi-fluid heat exchanger 30, — the second passage 602 of the detent device 60, - the second branch 101B, parallel to the first branch 101A, comprising: — the third passage 603 of the detent device 60, passing through the second detent member 62, — said fourth air heat exchanger 31, — the fourth passage 604 of the expansion device 60, - the low pressure pass of the second internal heat exchanger 20.
[0104] One of the first end plates 401 of the first heat exchanger 10 is in contact with one of the third end plates 403 of the third heat exchanger heat 30.
[0105] The third heat exchanger 30 is integral with the first heat exchanger 10.
[0106] According to an example of an embodiment not shown, at least one of the second plates 42 of the second heat exchanger 20 and / or at least one of the third plates 43 of the third heat exchanger 30 forms the housing 50 suitable for receiving the expansion device 60.
[0107] In other words, the expansion device 60 crosses the extension plane of at least one of the second plates 42 of the second heat exchanger 20 and / or at least one of the third plates 43 of the third heat exchanger 30.
[0108] In particular, according to this embodiment, a plurality of second plates 42 of the second heat exchanger 20 and / or a plurality of third plates 43 of the third heat exchanger 30 form the housing 50 suitable for receiving the expansion device 60.
[0109] In other words, the expansion device 60 crosses the extension plane of a plurality of second plates 42 of the second heat exchanger 20 and / or of a plurality of third plates 43 of the third heat exchanger 30.
[0110] According to another alternative embodiment illustrated [Fig.7], the second and third heat exchanger 20, 30 respectively comprise several second and third opening plates 420, 430, said second and third opening plates 420, 430 comprising an opening forming at least partially the housing 50.
[0111] According to this alternative embodiment, the opening of the opening plates is formed by a truncated portion of said second and third opening plates 420, 430.
[0112] The housing 50 is then formed, on at least one side, by at least one of the edges of the second and third opening plates 420, 430 of the second and third heat exchangers 20, 30.
[0113] According to a variant of this alternative embodiment, not illustrated, the opening of the second and / or third opening plates 420, 430 forms an orifice, that is to say that at least a portion of the second and / or third opening plates 420, 430 surrounds the detent device 60.
[0114] According to a variant of this alternative embodiment, illustrated [Fig.7], the second heat exchanger 20 is at least partially in contact with the third heat exchanger 30, in particular a second opening plate 420 of the second heat exchanger 20 is in contact with a third opening plate 430 of the third heat exchanger 30.
[0115] The first, second and third plates 41, 42, 43 forming respectively The first, second and third heat exchangers 10, 20, 30 are rectangular, notably with rounded corners.
[0116] According to a particular embodiment illustrated [Fig.8], the heat exchange assembly 1 comprises a first thermal insulation element 80, said first thermal insulation element 80 being disposed between the first heat exchanger 10 and the third heat exchanger 30.
[0117] Since the first and third heat exchangers 10, 30 operate at different refrigerant temperatures, placing a first thermal insulation element 80 between them optimizes their performance. The first thermal insulation element 80 can be, for example, an insulating material or an air gap.
[0118] According to an embodiment not illustrated, the heat exchange assembly 2 includes a second thermal insulation element, said second thermal insulation element being disposed between the first heat exchanger 10 and the second heat exchanger 20.
[0119] Since the first and second heat exchangers 10, 20 operate at different refrigerant temperatures, placing a second thermal insulation element between them optimizes their performance. The second thermal insulation element can be, for example, an insulating material or an air gap.
[0120] The heat transfer fluid is, for example, water, a mixture of water and glycol, or a dielectric fluid.
[0121] The refrigerant is for example R 134a, R1234yf, R744 or R290.
[0122] Figure 9 represents a two-fluid circuit 100 of a heat pump for a vehicle automotive, according to a second embodiment of the invention. This two-fluid circuit 100 comprises a refrigerant loop 101 through which a refrigerant circulates, a first heat transfer fluid loop 102 (shown schematically) through which a first heat transfer fluid circulates, for example, glycol water or a dielectric fluid, a second heat transfer fluid loop 103 (shown schematically) through which a second heat transfer fluid circulates, for example, glycol water or a dielectric fluid, and a third heat transfer fluid loop 104 (shown schematically) through which a third heat transfer fluid circulates, for example, glycol water or a dielectric fluid. The first, second, and third heat transfer fluids may be of the same type or of different types.
[0123] The refrigerant loop 101 comprises, in the direction of refrigerant flow: - a 105 compressor, - a first two-fluid heat exchanger 10, located downstream of the compressor 105, configured to extract heat from the high-pressure refrigerant by its condensation and transfer it to the heat transfer fluid of the first heat transfer fluid loop 102, this exchanger can be designated as a water condenser or WCDS for Water Cooled Condenser in English, - a high-pressure pass of a second internal heat exchanger 20 (generally designated as an internal heat exchanger or IHX for Internal Heat Exchanger in English abbreviation) configured to cool the refrigerant by heat exchange between the high-pressure refrigerant of the high-pressure pass and the low-pressure refrigerant of a low-pressure pass of the second heat exchanger 20, - a first branch 101A comprising: — a first expansion device 61, this first expansion device 61 being connected to a third bifluid heat exchanger 30, — said third two-fluid heat exchanger 30, configured to extract heat from the heat transfer fluid of the second heat transfer fluid loop 103 and transfer it to the low-pressure refrigerant by its evaporation, this exchanger being able to be designated as a water evaporator (or “Chiller” in English), - a second branch 101B, in parallel with the first branch 101A, comprising: — a second expansion member 62, this second expansion member 62 being connected to a fourth heat exchanger 31, — said fourth heat exchanger 31 being, according to this second embodiment, a two-fluid heat exchanger, configured to extract heat from the heat transfer fluid of the third heat transfer fluid loop 104 and transfer it to the low-pressure refrigerant by its evaporation, this exchanger being able to be designated as a water evaporator (or “Chiller” in English), - a desiccant bottle 106 or a bottle configured to capture moisture from the refrigerant, - the low pressure pass of the second internal heat exchanger 20.
[0124] The refrigerant loop 101 is not described in further detail as it is known from the prior art. The same applies to the first, second and third heat transfer fluid loops 102, 103, 104.
[0125] The desiccant bottle 106 allows the moisture to be captured and the liquid to be separated from the gas in order to protect the compressor from the liquid.
[0126] Subsequently, we will only describe the characteristics which differentiate the second embodiment from the first embodiment.
[0127] According to the second embodiment, illustrated in particular in [Fig. 10], the fourth plate heat exchanger 31 comprises fourth plates 44 stacked along the stacking direction E so as to define an alternation of at least one heat transfer fluid channel and one coolant fluid channel. In particular, the The fourth plates 44 of the fourth heat exchanger 31 are stacked in line with the stacking of the third plates 43 of the third heat exchanger 30. In this way, the heat exchange assembly 1 retains part of its compactness, only its dimension along the stacking direction E being impacted.
[0128] In particular, according to the embodiment illustrated [Fig.10], the third heat exchanger 30 is interposed between, on one side, the fourth heat exchanger 31, and on the other side, the housing 50, the first heat exchanger 10 and the second heat exchanger 20.
Claims
Demands
1. A multi-function heat exchanger assembly (1) comprising: - a first plate heat exchanger (10), in particular of the condenser type, comprising first plates (41) stacked in a stacking direction (E) so as to define an alternation of at least one heat transfer fluid channel and one refrigerant fluid channel; - a second plate heat exchanger (20) of the internal heat exchanger type, comprising second plates (42) stacked in said stacking direction (E) so as to define an alternation of at least one refrigerant fluid channel at a first pressure, referred to as high pressure, and a refrigerant fluid channel at a second pressure, referred to as low pressure, different from the first pressure; - a third plate heat exchanger (30) of the evaporator type, comprising third plates (43) stacked in said stacking direction (E),so as to define an alternation of at least one heat transfer fluid channel and one coolant fluid channel, the first and second heat exchangers (10, 20) being arranged side by side in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction (E), the heat exchanger assembly (1) being characterized in that the bodies of the first and second heat exchangers (10, 20) are inscribed in a projection, along said stacking direction (E), of the body of the third heat exchanger (30).
2. Heat exchange assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the heat exchange assembly forms a housing (50) suitable for receiving at least one expansion device (60).
3. Heat exchange assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the housing (50) suitable for receiving the expansion device (60) is interposed, at least partially, between the second and third heat exchangers (20, 30).
4. Heat exchange assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the second and / or third heat exchanger (20, 30) comprises at least one opening plate (420, 430), preferably several opening plates (420, 430), said at least one opening plate (420, 430) comprising an opening forming at least partially the housing (50).
5. Heat exchange assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the opening of the opening plate(s) (420, 430) is formed by a truncated portion of said opening plate(s) (420, 430).
6. Heat exchange assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an expansion device (60), said expansion device (60) comprising at least a first pass (601), directly connected, on the one hand, to the second heat exchanger (20), and, on the other hand, to the third heat exchanger (30).
7. Heat exchange assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the expansion device (60) comprises at least one expansion member (61, 62).
8. Heat exchange assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein at least the second and third heat exchangers (10, 20, 30) and the expansion device (60) are integral.
9. Heat exchange assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a first thermal insulation element (80), said first thermal insulation element (80) being disposed between the first heat exchanger (10) and the third heat exchanger (30).
10. Two-fluid circuit of a heat pump comprising a heat exchange assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.