Assembly for a thermal management module

Abstract

Assembly for a Thermal Management Module The invention relates to an assembly (1) for a thermal management module (100) for a heat transfer fluid, this assembly (1) comprising a first plate (2) having open cavities and a second plate (4), in particular flat, assembled together to define at least a first channel (6) and a second channel (7) for the flow of the heat transfer fluid, the first channel (6) and the second channel (7) overlapping in an intersection zone (10), and the assembly (1) further comprising a valve (20) located in the intersection zone (10) of the channels and configured to assume at least one open position and one closed position. Figure for the abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Assembly for a thermal management module

[0001] The present invention relates to an assembly for a thermal management module for a heat transfer fluid, in particular for a vehicle.

[0002] The vehicle may be of land, sea or air type.

[0003] Thermal management modules using a heat transfer fluid are known, which are relatively flat, with a reduced footprint, allowing for the realization of desired fluidic arrangements by using channels formed between plates, connecting different fluidic components and customer interfaces.

[0004] To optimize costs, the upper plate is manufactured by forging, for example, or by a casting process or by a semi-solid processing process, thus obtaining a flat channel shape without machining. Another flat, stamped lower plate is added to close the channels. Therefore, the only areas requiring machining are the interfaces for the fluidic components and the customer interfaces.

[0005] In this type of manufacturing, channels that need to intersect require an additional component, such as an additional connecting pipe, or another channel plate, or an additional block with a machined double channel, or an additional metal cap to close a machining access to a top channel. This results in a more expensive construction.

[0006] The invention aims in particular to remedy this problem.

[0007] The invention thus relates to an assembly for a thermal management module for a heat transfer fluid, in particular for a vehicle, this assembly comprising a first plate having open cavities and a second plate, in particular flat, assembled together to define at least a first channel and a second channel for the flow of heat transfer fluid, each channel being defined circumferentially by at least one of the open cavities of the first plate and by a region, in particular flat, of the second plate, the first channel and the second channel overlapping in an intersection zone, and the assembly further comprising a valve placed in the intersection zone of the channels and being configured to take at least one open position and one closed position,This valve comprises a heat transfer fluid inlet and a heat transfer fluid outlet which are connected to each other when the valve is in the open position and isolated from each other when the valve is in the closed position, the fluid inlet of the valve being connected to the second channel and the fluid outlet of the valve being connected to the first channel such that, that, when the valve is in the open position, the first channel and the second channel are connected together to allow the passage of heat transfer fluid, and when the valve is in the closed position, the first channel is isolated from the second channel.

[0008] The first channel comprises an upstream section and a downstream section connected to the fluid outlet of the valve, the second channel comprises an upstream section and a downstream section connected to the fluid inlet of the valve.

[0009] According to one aspect of the invention, the valve is an inlet valve, in particular of the shut-off type, which is bistable between the open and closed positions. Such a valve is designated in English as a "shut-off valve".

[0010] According to one aspect of the invention, the second channel is an upper channel which extends, in the intersection area at least, above the first channel which is a lower channel.

[0011] According to one aspect of the invention, the first channel and the second channel intersect at approximately 90°. Any other angle of intersection is of course conceivable.

[0012] According to one aspect of the invention, the assembly includes a housing receiving a valve body and this housing includes a mounting opening, in particular a vertical opening (namely an opening with axis perpendicular to the main plane of extension of the plates), for mounting the valve body in the housing.

[0013] The invention is advantageous in that it takes advantage of a valve, in particular a shut-off valve, placed in the center of the channel path. Advantageously, the integration of the valve requires a mounting opening allowing vertical machining access for machining the upper channel at 90° above the lower channel. Therefore, no additional parts are needed to close the machining access, since the valve itself performs this closure.

[0014] The heat transfer fluid flow (for example, refrigerant) reaches the valve through the upper channel on the assembly, which defines a manifold. Then, depending on whether the valve is open or closed, at least a portion of the flow circulates inside the valve and descends to the lower channel, or the entire flow bypasses the valve and continues through the upper channel, respectively.

[0015] The invention allows a reduction in costs thanks to the construction of the assembled plates which form a generally flat module, without fully machined channels, and with an intersection, or crossing, of channels which is present due to the design of the fluid circuit.

[0016] According to one aspect of the invention, each of the plates is made in one piece, for example by forging, or by casting process or by semi-solid processing, or by stamping.

[0017] According to one aspect of the invention, the plates, in particular made of aluminium, are brazed together.

[0018] According to one aspect of the invention, the valve mounting opening comprises at least one machined area.

[0019] According to one aspect of the invention, the first plate has a seat against which the valve body is applied.

[0020] According to one aspect of the invention, the first plate has a clearance around the valve body and this clearance is configured to form a bypass path for the heat transfer fluid, this bypass path running at least partly along a perimeter of the valve body, in particular by bypassing the valve body on two sides of the valve.

[0021] According to one aspect of the invention, the valve comprises one or more orifices forming the fluid inlet inside the valve and the bypass path is formed adjacent to this or these fluid inlet orifices.

[0022] According to one aspect of the invention, the first channel (or lower channel) is arranged between the valve seat and the second plate.

[0023] According to one aspect of the invention, the fluid outlet of the valve opens, in particular vertically (namely perpendicular to the main plane of extension of the plates), onto the first channel.

[0024] In other words, the fluid outlet of the valve has an axis which is substantially parallel to the axis of the valve mounting opening on the first plate.

[0025] According to one aspect of the invention, the second channel (or upper channel) has at least one machined area.

[0026] According to one aspect of the invention, the valve is fixed, in particular by means of one or more screws, to the first plate.

[0027] According to one aspect of the invention, the clearance which forms the bypass path around the valve, includes an inlet window and an outlet window in this clearance for the fluid, allowing the clearance to communicate with respectively the upstream section and the downstream section of the second channel.

[0028] According to one aspect of the invention, the upstream section of the second channel communicates with the inlet window of the clearance by means of an elbow, in particular a vertical elbow (that is to say an elbow which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the plates).

[0029] According to one aspect of the invention, the outlet window of the clearance communicates with the downstream section of the second channel by means of a bend, in particular a substantially vertical bend.

[0030] According to one aspect of the invention, during operation of the thermal management module, the heat transfer fluid passes: - either independently in the first channel and in the second channel, - or in the first channel and in the second channel, a part of the fluid from the upstream section of the second channel passing through the valve to join the first channel or a part of the fluid from the upstream section of the first channel passing through the valve to join the second channel.

[0031] In other words, opening the valve allows the first channel and the second channel to be connected.

[0032] According to one aspect of the invention, the operation of the valve in the open or closed position allows the heat transfer fluid flows to be controlled in the intersection area.

[0033] The invention further relates to a method for regulating heat transfer fluid in a thermal management module comprising an assembly as described above, the method comprising the step of controlling the valve so as to regulate the flow of heat transfer fluid in the intersection zone of the first channel and the second channel.

[0034] Thus, when it is necessary to circulate fluid from the first channel (or lower channel) to the second channel (or upper channel), or from the second channel to the first channel, the valve is placed in the open position. When it is necessary to circulate the heat transfer fluid separately in the first channel and in the second channel, the valve is placed in the closed position.

[0035] The clearance is configured so that the heat transfer fluid from the upstream section of the second channel can circulate around the valve and continue its path in the downstream section of the second channel.

[0036] In particular, the assembly according to the invention forms a compact module which is part of the heat pump.

[0037] According to one aspect of the invention, the first plate and the second plate assembled together form a support for one or more additional fluidic components, in particular selected from the following elements: - a pump to pump the heat transfer fluid, - a heat transfer fluid diverter valve, in particular a multi-way valve, - a non-return valve for the heat transfer fluid, - a restrictor valve for the heat transfer fluid, - a condensing heat exchanger, in particular a water condenser, - an electric heating element arranged to heat the heat transfer fluid, - a desiccant bottle, - a filter to filter particles present in the heat transfer fluid, in particular a dielectric fluid.

[0038] According to one aspect of the invention, the heat transfer fluid is a cooling fluid such as water, in particular glycol water.

[0039] Alternatively, the heat transfer fluid is chosen from: a dielectric fluid, a refrigerant such as R 134a, R1234yf, R290 or R744.

[0040] The invention also relates to a heat pump, in particular mounted on a vehicle, comprising an assembly as described above, dedicated to a circuit for the heat transfer fluid.

[0041] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the following description, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, and the accompanying drawings, among which:

[0042] - Fig. 1 illustrates, schematically and partially, in perspective, an assembly according to an example of implementation of the invention;

[0043] - [Fig.2] illustrates, schematically and partially, in perspective, the support of the assembly of the [Fig.1];

[0044] - [Fig. 3] illustrates, schematically and partially, in perspective, the first plate of the support of the assembly of the [Fig.l];

[0045] - [Fig. 4] illustrates, schematically and partially, in cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the plates, the assembly of the [Fig.l], with the valve in the open position;

[0046] - [Fig. 5] illustrates, schematically and partially, in cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the plates, the assembly of the [Fig.l], with the valve in the closed position.

[0047] Figure [1] shows an assembly 1 for a thermal management module 100 of a heat transfer fluid, comprising a support 50 arranged to carry components with fluidic function, as will be described below.

[0048] In the example described, assembly 1 forms a compact module which is part of a heat pump.

[0049] The heat transfer fluid can be glycol water.

[0050] As can be clearly seen in figures 2 and 3, the support 50 comprises a first plate 2 provided with open cavities 3 and a second flat plate 4, assembled together to define at least a first channel 6 and a second channel 7 for the flow of heat transfer fluid.

[0051] Each channel 6, 7 is defined circumferentially by at least one of the open cavities 3 of the first plate 2 and by a flat region 8 of the second plate 4, as can be seen for example in [Fig.4].

[0052] Each of the plates 2 and 4 is made from a single piece of aluminum, for example by forging, or by casting process or by process semi-solid processing), and said plates are brazed together.

[0053] The first channel 6 and the second channel 7 overlap in an intersection zone 10.

[0054] The assembly 1 further includes a valve 20 placed in the intersection zone 10 of the channels and configured to take at least one open position ([Fig.4]) and one closed position ([Fig.5]).

[0055] As can be seen in [Fig.4], the valve 20 includes a heat transfer fluid inlet 21 and a heat transfer fluid outlet 22 which are communicating with each other when the valve 20 is in the open position and which are isolated from each other when the valve 20 is in the closed position.

[0056] The fluid inlet 21 of the valve 20 is connected to the second channel 7 and the fluid outlet 22 of the valve 20 is connected to the first channel 6 so that, when the valve 20 is in the open position (see [Fig.4]), the first channel 6 and the second channel 7 are connected together to allow the passage of heat transfer fluid (see arrow Fl which schematically shows the passage of fluid from the second channel 7 to the first channel 6 through the valve 20), and when the valve 20 is in the closed position (see [Fig.5]), the first channel 6 is isolated from the second channel 7 (see arrows F2 and F3 which schematically show the separate flows in channels 6 and 7).

[0057] Valve 20 is an inlet valve, for example of the shut-off type, which is bistable between the open and closed positions. Such a valve 20 is designated in English as a "shut-off valve".

[0058] The valve 20 is configured to, in the closed position, cut off the fluid flow by moving an internal piston in response to a control signal. The movement of the piston, actuated electrically or pneumatically, allows for a rapid and leak-proof closure of the valve 20.

[0059] The second channel 7 is an upper channel which extends, at least in the intersection zone 10, above the first channel 6, which is a lower channel. The lower channel 6 is thus, in the intersection zone 10, of lesser height than the upper channel 7.

[0060] The first channel 6 and the second channel 7 intersect at approximately 90°. Any other angle of intersection is of course conceivable.

[0061] The assembly 1 includes a housing 27, of generally cylindrical shape, receiving a body 28 of the valve 20 and this housing 27 includes a mounting opening 29, here a vertical opening (namely an opening with axis perpendicular to the main extension plane of the plates), for mounting the body 28 of the valve 20 in the housing 27. Sealing gaskets 30 are provided between the body 28 of the valve 20 and this housing 27.

[0062] The invention is advantageous in that it takes advantage of a valve 20, here a shut-off valve 20, located in the center of the channel path. Advantageously, the integration of the valve 20 requires a mounting opening 29 allowing vertical machining access to perform 90° machining of the upper channel 7 above the lower channel 6. No additional parts are therefore necessary to close the machining access since the valve 20 performs this closure.

[0063] The heat transfer fluid flow reaches the valve 20 via the upper channel 7 on the assembly 1, which defines a manifold. Then, depending on whether the valve is open or closed, at least a portion of the flow circulates inside the valve 20 and descends to the lower channel 6, or the entire flow bypasses the valve 20 and continues through the upper channel 7, respectively.

[0064] The invention allows a reduction in costs thanks to the construction of the assembled plates which form an overall flat module, without fully machined channels, and with an intersection, or crossing, of channels which is present due to the design of the fluid circuit.

[0065] The mounting opening 29 for the valve 20 has at least one machined area.

[0066] The first plate 2 has a seat 31 against which the body 28 of the valve 20 is applied.

[0067] The first plate 2 has a clearance 32 around the body 28 of the valve 20 and this clearance 32 is configured to form a bypass path for the heat transfer fluid, this bypass path running at least partly along a perimeter of the body of the valve 20, in particular by bypassing the body of the valve 20 on two sides of the valve 20.

[0068] The valve 20 has several orifices 33 forming the fluid inlet 21 inside the valve 20 and the bypass path is formed adjacent to these orifices 33 of the fluid inlet.

[0069] The first channel 6 (or lower channel) is arranged between the seat 31 of the valve 20 and the second plate 4.

[0070] The fluid outlet 22 of the valve 20 opens vertically (i.e. perpendicular to the main extension plane of the plates) onto the first channel 6.

[0071] In other words, the fluid outlet of the valve 20 has a Y axis which is substantially parallel to the axis of the mounting opening of the valve 20 on the first plate 2.

[0072] The second channel 7 (or upper channel) has at least one machined area.

[0073] The valve 20 is fixed, using one or more screws, to the first plate 2.

[0074] The clearance 32 which forms the bypass path around the valve 20, includes an inlet window 38 in this clearance 32 for the fluid and a window exit 39 allowing the clearance to communicate with respectively an upstream section 7a and a downstream section 7b of the second channel 7.

[0075] The upstream section 7a of the second channel 7 communicates with the inlet window 38 of the clearance by means of a bend 41, here a vertical bend (that is to say a bend which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the plates).

[0076] The exit window 39 of the clearance communicates with the downstream section 7b of the second channel 7 by a bend 42, here a substantially vertical bend.

[0077] During operation of the thermal management module 100, the heat transfer fluid passes: - either independently through the first channel 6 and through the second channel 7, - either in the first channel 6 and in the second channel 7, a part of the fluid originating from the upstream section of the second channel 7 passing through valve 20 to join the first channel 6 or part of the fluid originating from an upstream section of the first channel 6 passing through valve 20 to join the second channel 7.

[0078] In other words, opening the valve 20 allows the first channel 6 and the second channel 7 to be connected.

[0079] The operation of the valve 20 in the open or closed position allows the heat transfer fluid flows to be controlled in the intersection area.

[0080] When it is necessary to circulate fluid from the first channel 6 (or lower channel) to the second channel 7 (or upper channel), or from the second channel 7 to the first channel 6, the valve 20 is placed in the open position. When it is necessary to circulate the heat transfer fluid separately in the first channel 6 and in the second channel 7, the valve 20 is placed in the closed position.

[0081] The clearance 32 is configured so that the heat transfer fluid from the upstream section of the second channel 7 can circulate around the valve 20 and continue its path in the downstream section of the second channel 7.

[0082] According to one aspect of the invention, the support 50 can carry other valves 81 configured to control heat transfer fluid flows in other channels 82 of the support 50.

[0083] A degassing tank 80 may be provided to allow the heat transfer fluid to undergo degassing to separate a gas, in particular air, present in the heat transfer fluid.

[0084] The heat transfer fluid is a cooling fluid such as water, in particular glycol water.

[0085] Alternatively, the heat transfer fluid is chosen from: a dielectric fluid, a refrigerant such as R 134a, R1234yf, R290 or R744.

Claims

Demands

1. Assembly (1) for a thermal management module (100) for a heat transfer fluid, in particular for a vehicle, said assembly (1) comprising a first plate (2) having open cavities (3) and a second plate (4), in particular flat, assembled to each other to define at least a first channel (6) and a second channel (7) for the flow of heat transfer fluid, each channel being defined circumferentially by at least one of the open cavities (3) of the first plate (2) and by a region (8), in particular flat, of the second plate (4), the first channel (6) and the second channel (7) overlapping in an intersection zone (10), and the assembly (1) further comprising a valve (20) located in the intersection zone (10) of the channels and configured to assume at least one open position and one closed position,this valve (20) comprising a heat transfer fluid inlet (21) and a heat transfer fluid outlet (22) which are connected to each other when the valve (20) is in the open position and isolated from each other when the valve (20) is in the closed position, the fluid inlet (21) of the valve (20) being connected to the second channel (7) and the fluid outlet (22) of the valve (20) being connected to the first channel (6) so that, when the valve (20) is in the open position, the first channel (6) and the second channel (7) are connected to each other to allow the passage of heat transfer fluid, and when the valve (20) is in the closed position, the first channel (6) is isolated from the second channel (7).

2. Assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the valve (20) is an inlet valve, of the stop valve type which is bistable between the open position and the closed position.

3. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second channel (7) is an upper channel which extends, in the intersection zone (10) at least, above the first channel (6) which is a lower channel.

4. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the assembly (1) comprises a housing (27) receiving a valve body (28) (20) and this housing (27) comprises a mounting opening (29), in particular an opening with axis perpendicular to a main plan for extending the first and second plates (2, 4), for mounting the body (28) of the valve (20) in the housing.

5. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plates are each made in one piece, for example by forging, or by casting process or by semi-solid process, or by stamping.

6. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first plate (2) has a clearance (32) around the valve body (20) and this clearance is configured to form a bypass path for the heat transfer fluid, this bypass path running at least partly along a periphery of the valve body (20), in particular by bypassing the valve body (20) on two sides of the valve (20), and in particular the clearance (32) which forms the bypass path around the valve (20), has an inlet window in this clearance for the fluid and an outlet window enabling the clearance to communicate with respectively an upstream section and a downstream section of the second channel (7).

7. Assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid outlet of the valve (20) opens, in particular perpendicularly to a principal plane of extension of the first and second plates (2, 4), onto the first channel (6).

8. Heat pump, in particular mounted on a vehicle, comprising an assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, dedicated to a circuit for the heat transfer fluid.

9. Method for regulating heat transfer fluid in a thermal management module comprising an assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the method comprising the step of controlling the valve (20) so as to regulate the flow of heat transfer fluid in the intersection zone of the first channel (6) and the second channel (7).

10. A method according to the preceding claim, wherein, when it is necessary to circulate fluid from the first channel (6) to the second channel (7), or from the second channel (7) to the first channel (6), the valve (20) is placed in the open position, and when it is necessary to circulate the heat transfer fluid separately in the first channel (6) and in the second channel (7), the valve (20) is placed in the closed position.

Images