Thermal exchanger

Abstract

To suppress increase of the temperature of a heating unit of a thermal exchanger.SOLUTION: A heat exchanger device 1 to be attached to a housing includes: a partition unit 11 formed using a plate material; an intake unit 111 provided in the partition unit; a heat exchange unit 12 provided in the partition unit, and configured to change the temperature of air taken in from the intake unit; a fan 13 configured to allow air to be sent through the intake unit to a heat exchange airflow path 121 of the heat exchange unit; a heat-generating unit 14 for generating heat when used; an exhaust unit 112 provided in the partition unit, for allowing air taken in from the intake unit and subjected to heat exchange by the heat exchange unit to be released; and a cooling air introduction port 16 leading to an equipment cooling airflow path 15 for guiding a part of air having passed through the heat exchange airflow path to the heat-generating unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat exchange device. [Background technology]

[0002] A heat exchange device includes a heat-generating part, such as a power supply part, that generates heat depending on its specifications. When the heat generated by the heat-generating part rises in temperature, there is a risk that it may affect the heat-generating part itself or surrounding devices. Furthermore, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the heat-generating part may be covered with a cover. In this case, it is possible to prevent the heat generated by the heat-generating part from affecting devices located outside the cover. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-012741

[0004] However, when a heat-generating part is covered with a cover, heat tends to build up around the heat-generating part, which can cause the temperature inside the cover to rise, potentially causing malfunctions or breakdowns in the power supply, which is a heat-generating part. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The inventors of the present invention have conducted extensive research into this issue and have attempted to solve it. The problem that the present invention aims to solve is to be able to suppress the temperature rise of a heat generating part provided in a heat exchanger. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, a heat exchange device is provided that is attached to a housing and includes a partition section made of plate material, an intake section provided in the partition section, a heat exchange section that can change the temperature of the air taken in through the intake section provided in the partition section, a fan that can send air through the intake section to the heat exchange ventilation path of the heat exchange section, a heat generation section that generates heat when used, an exhaust section provided in the partition section that can release the air taken in from the intake section and heat exchanged in the heat exchange section, and a cooling air inlet that leads to an equipment cooling ventilation path that leads a portion of the air that has passed through the heat exchange ventilation path to the heat generation section.

[0007] It is also preferable to provide a cooling air inlet downstream of the intake section and upstream of the exhaust section.

[0008] Furthermore, it is preferable that the heat exchange device be attached to the outside of the housing, with the cooling air inlet provided in the partition, and the exhaust section, cooling air inlet and intake section provided on the mounting surface side to the housing.

[0009] It is also preferable to provide an opening that can release the air taken in from the cooling air inlet closer to the fan than the center of the heat generating part, and to provide the cooling air inlet on the opposite side of the fan from the center of the heat generating part.

[0010] Furthermore, it is preferable that the heat exchange section is provided with a plurality of pipes, outside air passes through the pipes of the heat exchange section, and air sent from inside the housing passes through the heat exchange ventilation passage located between the pipes, the partition section having a cooling air inlet formed therein and the heat exchange section are arranged at a distance from each other, and a detour suppression guide wall section is provided between the partition section and the heat exchange section and closer to the intake section than the cooling air inlet section, which can assist the air between the partition section and the heat exchange section in flowing into the heat exchange ventilation passage.

[0011] It is also preferable to provide a cooling air guide wall portion, which can assist the flow of air into the cooling air inlet, on the exhaust side of the cooling air inlet.

[0012] It is also preferable that the cover be provided with an air guide plate portion capable of guiding the air exhausted from the exhaust portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise of a heat generating portion provided in a heat exchange device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heat exchange device. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an internal structure as seen from a plane cut along the line AA in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 2 is a diagram showing an example of the internal structure as seen from a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG. 1, with arrows indicating an example of the flow of air taken in from the intake section. [Figure 4] This is a diagram showing an example of the internal structure as seen through the cross section AA in Figure 1, with arrows indicating the flow of air that exchanges heat with the other. The arrows with diagonal lines indicate the flow of outside air, and the arrows with black lines indicate the flow of air taken in from the housing. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example in which a cooling air inlet is provided on the top surface of the case of the heat exchanger. [Figure 6] 6 is a diagram showing the state after the heat generating part and the cover are attached to the case from the state shown in FIG. 5. FIG. [Figure 7] 7 is a diagram showing an example of the internal structure as seen from a cross section taken along CC in FIG. 6, with arrows indicating the flow of air entering and exiting the equipment cooling ventilation duct. [Figure 8] This is a diagram showing an example of the internal structure as seen from a cross section taken along the line AA in Figure 1, with the heat exchange section indicated by a two-dot chain line, the area between the partition section and the heat exchange section indicated by a one-dot chain line, and the area passing through the center of the heat generating section indicated by a dashed line. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state before a cover having an air guide plate portion is attached. [Figure 10]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing only the heat exchange section of the internal structure as seen from the cross section taken along the line BB in FIG. 1. [Figure 11] This is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 10. However, it shows an example of the flow of outside air and inside air (air taken in from the housing). [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example in which a cooling air guide wall is provided so as to form an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the partition portion. [Figure 13] 10 is a diagram showing an example in which a cooling air guide wall is provided so as to form an acute angle with a partition portion. FIG. [Figure 14] This is a partially enlarged view of Figure 13. However, dashed lines are drawn along the partitions, and the angle between the partitions and the heat exchanger, on the intake side, is marked with θ, of the angle formed by the partitions and the direction from the heat exchanger side of the cooling air guide wall toward the partitions. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example before a heat generating unit is attached to a partitioning unit. [Figure 16] 1 is a diagram showing an example in which a plurality of cooling air inlets are provided in a partition section, but shows the state before a heat generating section is attached to the partition section. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an example in which a heat exchange device is attached to the outside of a housing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] 1 to 4, a heat exchanger 1 according to an embodiment is attached to a housing 9. The heat exchanger 1 includes a partition 11 made of a plate material, an intake section 111 provided in the partition 11, a heat exchanger 12 capable of changing the temperature of air taken in through the intake section 111 provided in the partition 11, a fan 13 capable of sending air through the intake section 111 to a heat exchange ventilation passage 121 of the heat exchanger 12, a heat-generating section 14 that generates heat when used, an exhaust section 112 provided in the partition 11 that can release the air taken in through the intake section 111 and heat-exchanged in the heat exchanger 12, and a cooling air inlet 16 that communicates with an equipment cooling ventilation passage 15 that guides a portion of the air that has passed through the heat exchange ventilation passage 121 to the heat-generating section 14. Therefore, a part of the air that has passed through the heat exchange ventilation passage 121 can be used to cool the heat generating portion 14, and an increase in the temperature of the heat generating portion 14 provided in the heat exchange device 1 can be suppressed.

[0016] The heat exchanger 1 shown in Fig. 1 includes an intake section 111 used to introduce air from the outside into the heat exchanger 1, and an exhaust section 112 used to exhaust air from the inside of the heat exchanger 1 to the outside (see Figs. 2 to 4). This heat exchanger 1 can be used, for example, to draw air heated inside a separately provided housing 9 into the interior through the intake section 111, exchange heat in the heat exchanger section 12, and then exhaust the air toward the housing 9 through the exhaust section 112. The example is not limited to this, and the heat exchanger 1 can be installed so that part of the air in the housing 9 can pass through the interior of the heat exchanger 1.

[0017] In this example, outside air is allowed to pass through the heat exchange section 12 in order to exchange heat with the air drawn in from the housing 9 (see FIG. 4). The air drawn in from inside the housing 9 into the heat exchange ventilation passage 121 of the heat exchange device 1 and the outside air capable of cooling the drawn air do not mix, but heat exchange occurs in the heat exchange section 12. The heat exchange ventilation passage 121 is a part of the heat exchange section 12. In this example, a second fan 41 is used to allow outside air to pass through the heat exchange section 12.

[0018] Furthermore, a cooling air inlet 16 is provided separately from the exhaust section 112 so that a portion of the air cooled by the heat exchange section 12 can be used to cool the heat-generating section 14. The air that passes through this cooling air inlet 16 passes through the equipment cooling ventilation duct 15 and is used to cool the heat-generating section 14 (see FIG. 3). Note that the heat-generating section 14 may be anything that generates heat when used, and examples include a heat-generating board (such as a control section for the fan 13), a switching power supply (which may be separate from the board or integrated with the board), a lamp, a switch, etc.

[0019] In the example shown in FIG. 2, intake section 111, which takes in air heated by heat radiation from devices provided inside housing 9, is provided on one end side of partition section 11, and exhaust section 112, which discharges air that has been heat exchanged, is provided on the other end side of partition section 11. In this way, intake section 111 and exhaust section 112 can be separated, which makes it possible to prevent air coming out of exhaust section 112 from being immediately sucked into intake section 111. In addition, exhaust section 112 preferably has air guide plate section 17 that guides air to the side opposite intake section 111. In this way, it is possible to further prevent air coming out of exhaust section 112 from being immediately sucked into intake section 111.

[0020] 2, air guide plate 17 is provided on the air exhaust section 112 on the air intake section 111 side, and a portion is provided that moves away from air intake section 111 from the base end side of air guide plate 17 toward the tip end side. Note that in this example, the configuration that moves away from air intake section 111 from the base end side of air guide plate 17 toward the tip end continues throughout, but the air direction can be changed even if the entire configuration is not like this. Therefore, for example, even if a portion on the tip end side is bent toward air intake section 111, as long as there is a configuration on the base end side that moves away from air intake section 111 from the base end side toward the tip end, air can be discharged away from air intake section 111.

[0021] In any case, the main use of heat exchange device 1 is to lower the temperature of air by letting air taken in through intake section 111 flow into heat exchange ventilation duct 121 and expelling it from exhaust section 112, but in this invention, the air cooled in heat exchange ventilation duct 121 is used to cool heat-generating section 14 located in equipment cooling ventilation duct 15. For this reason, cooled air inlet 16 is provided to introduce the air cooled in heat exchange ventilation duct 121 into equipment cooling ventilation duct 15.

[0022] It is preferable that the cooling air inlet 16 be provided downstream of the intake section 111 and upstream of the exhaust section 112. In the example shown in Fig. 2, the intake section 111 is located to the left of the cooling air inlet 16, and the exhaust section 112 is located to the right of the cooling air inlet 16. In this way, if the cooling air inlet 16 is provided downstream of the intake section 111 and upstream of the exhaust section 112, air can be easily sent to the cooling air inlet 16.

[0023] The heat exchanger 1 does not necessarily have to be attached to the outside of the housing 9, but if the heat exchanger 1 is configured to be attached to the outside of the housing 9, it is preferable that the cooling air inlet 16 be provided in the partition 11. It is also preferable that the exhaust section 112, the cooling air inlet 16, and the intake section 111 be provided on the mounting surface side to the housing 9. In this way, it is possible to prevent the heat exchanger 1 from becoming larger.

[0024] In the example shown in FIG. 2, the cooling air inlet 16 is provided in the partition 11, but this configuration is not essential. For example, the cooling air inlet 16 may be provided on the top or bottom surface of the case 21 of the heat exchanger 1 (see FIGS. 5 to 7). The air sent to the heat generating unit 14 side through the cooling air inlet 16 may or may not be returned to the housing 9. Because the air sent to the heat generating unit 14 may be warmed by receiving heat from the heat generating unit 14, it is preferable to make it easy to send the air back to the heat exchange ventilation passage 121. In the example shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the air sent to the heat generating unit 14 side through the cooling air inlet 16 cools the heat generating unit 14 and is released into the housing 9 through the opening 152.

[0025] It is preferable that the air that has passed around the heat-generating portion 14 be discharged from the equipment cooling ventilation duct 15 toward the fan 13. Also, in order to ensure that the air introduced from the cooling air inlet 16 passes through the heat-generating portion 14 and is discharged toward the fan 13, it is preferable to provide an opening 151 that can discharge the air taken in from the cooling air inlet 16 closer to the fan 13 than the center of the heat-generating portion 14, and to provide the cooling air inlet 16 on the opposite side of the fan 13 from the center of the heat-generating portion 14 (see FIG. 8). It is more preferable that the fan 13 and the equipment cooling ventilation duct 15 be adjacent to each other. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the cover 18 forms part of the equipment cooling ventilation duct 15, and the fan 13 and the cover 18 are adjacent to each other.

[0026] When the cover 18 is provided, it may be integrated with the air guide plate portion 17 or may be a separate body. Integrating the cover 18 and the air guide plate portion 17 can improve ease of assembly (see FIG. 9). It also makes it possible to reduce the number of parts. For this reason, it is preferable to provide the cover 18 with the air guide plate portion 17 that can guide the air exhausted from the exhaust portion 112.

[0027] It is also preferable that a portion of cover 18 is removable. Making a portion of cover 18 removable while leaving the rest of cover 18 attached facilitates inspection of the equipment covered by cover 18. For example, if cover 18 covers a fuse that is damaged when a large current flows, it may be necessary to replace the fuse. In such cases, not having to remove the entire cover 18 would be more convenient.

[0028] 2, 10, and 11 includes a plurality of pipes 122. Outside air passes through the pipes 122 of the heat exchanger 12, and air sent from inside the housing 9 passes through heat exchange ventilation passages 121 located between the pipes 122. In addition, the partition 11 in which the cooling air inlet 16 is formed and the heat exchanger 12 are arranged with an interval between them.

[0029] In a configuration in which the partition 11 in which the cooling air inlet 16 is formed and the heat exchanger 12 are arranged with a gap between them, it is preferable to provide a detouring suppression guide wall 31 between the partition 11 and the heat exchanger 12 and closer to the intake section 111 than the cooling air inlet 16, that can assist the air between the partition 11 and the heat exchanger 12 in flowing into the heat exchange ventilation passage 121. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress the air from passing between the partition 11 in which the cooling air inlet 16 is formed and the heat exchanger 12 and not reaching the heat exchange ventilation passage 121, thereby enabling efficient heat exchange.

[0030] The detour prevention guide wall 31 only needs to promote the movement of air toward the heat exchanger 12, and therefore does not necessarily have to be configured to completely block the gap between the partition plate and the heat exchanger 12. For example, in the example shown in Fig. 2, the detour prevention guide wall 31 is configured by attaching an angle to the partition plate so that part of the L-shaped angle points from the partition plate toward the heat exchanger 12, but this angle does not reach the heat exchanger 12. The detour prevention guide wall 31 may be configured by bending part of the partition plate used in the partition 11, or may be configured by fixing a separate member to the partition 11 or the cover 18 by welding or the like.

[0031] Providing the detour prevention guide wall portion 31 so as to have a gap between it and the heat exchanger 12 in this manner can prevent problems from occurring between the detour prevention guide wall portion 31 and the heat exchanger 12 when the heat exchanger 12 is attached. This makes it easier to replace the heat exchanger 12.

[0032] Furthermore, in a configuration in which the partition 11 in which the cooling air inlet 16 is formed and the heat exchanger 12 are arranged with a gap between them, it is preferable to provide a cooling air guide wall 32 between the partition 11 and the heat exchanger 12 and closer to the exhaust section 112 than the cooling air inlet 16, which can assist the flow of air into the cooling air inlet 16. With such a configuration, the flow of air into the cooling air inlet 16 can be promoted.

[0033] The cooling air guide wall 32 may be formed by bending a portion of the partition plate used in the partition 11, or may be formed by fixing a separate member to the partition 11 or the cover 18 by welding or the like. The angle formed by the cooling air guide wall 32 and the partition 11 may be a right angle (see FIG. 12), an acute angle (see FIG. 13), or an obtuse angle. This angle is the angle on the intake section 111 side of the angle formed between the partition 11 and the heat exchange section 12, between the partition 11 and the heat exchange section 12, and the direction of the cooling air guide wall 32 from the heat exchange section 12 side toward the partition 11 side (see FIG. 14).

[0034] To more efficiently pass air through cooling air inlet 16, the angle is preferably 90 degrees or less. It is more preferably in the range of 45 degrees or more and less than 90 degrees. In particular, when the distance between intake section 111 and exhaust section 112 is long, the flow not directed toward cooling air inlet 16 tends to become stronger, so it is preferable to set the angle to less than 90 degrees.

[0035] If the distance between the intake section 111 and the exhaust section 112 is short, the rebound air (air rebounding in the front-to-rear direction as shown in FIG. 4) is also likely to enter the cooling air inlet 16. In this case, the air flow in the front-to-rear direction becomes stronger, so it is preferable to make the angle larger. For example, it can be set to be between 80 degrees and 110 degrees.

[0036] The cooling air inlet 16 may be configured in any manner. In the examples shown in Figures 2, 9, and 15, the cooling air inlet 16 is configured by fixing the cover 18 to the partition 11 so as to leave a portion of the cutout in the partition 11. In the example shown in Figure 16, multiple through holes are provided as the cooling air inlet 16. The cooling air inlet 16 may also be configured by providing only one slit or the like.

[0037] 2 and 15, the partition 11 is provided with an exhaust section 112, an intake section 111, and a cooling air inlet 16. Also, the partition plate used in the partition 11 is provided with a fan 13, a cover 18, and a heat generating section 14. However, such a configuration is not necessary. For example, the cover 18 is not necessarily required.

[0038] In the embodiment, the partition plate used in the partition section 11 is configured to be screwable to the housing 9. The heat exchanger 1 is attached to the housing 9 by screwing the partition plate to the housing 9. An example of the housing 9 is a housing 9 for storing electrical and electronic equipment. In an electrical and electronic equipment storage box in which electrical and electronic equipment is provided, the temperature inside the housing 9 can rise due to the electrical and electronic equipment, which can have an adverse effect on the electrical and electronic equipment. However, by operating the heat exchanger 1 attached to the housing 9, it is possible to prevent problems caused by such things.

[0039] Furthermore, since it is desirable to effectively utilize the interior of the housing 9 for functions other than heat exchange, it is preferable that the heat exchange device 1 be attached to the outside of the housing 9. Furthermore, in order to be able to attach the heat exchange device 1 along the flat surface of the housing 9, it is preferable that the electronic devices and the like provided in the partition 11 are configured so that they do not protrude toward the housing 9 beyond the attachment surface 113 used to fix the heat exchange device 1 to the housing 9.

[0040] 2, the end of the partition plate used in partition 11 is bent to provide a portion that serves as mounting surface 113. The portion of partition 11 closer to the center is attached so as to be farther away from housing 9 than the portion that serves as mounting surface 113, so that electronic devices and the like can be placed in the gap between this portion of partition 11 closer to the center and housing 9.

[0041] 2, the heat generating unit 14 and cover 18 are attached to a portion near the center of the partition 11. The cover 18 itself may have various shapes, but it is preferable that at least a portion of the cover 18 be used to form the equipment cooling ventilation passage 15. It is also preferable that at least a portion of the cover 18 covers the cooling air inlet 16 and the heat generating unit 14. In order to reduce the number of parts, it is preferable that the cover 18 be fixed to the partition plate used in the partition 11.

[0042] 17 uses straight pipes 122, with outside air passing through the inside of the pipes 122 and air inside the housing 9 passing between the pipes 122 to perform heat exchange, but the reverse is also possible. For example, it is conceivable that air inside the housing 9 passes through the inside of the pipes 122 of the heat exchanger 1 shown in FIG. 1 and outside air passes between the pipes 122 to perform heat exchange. However, such an installation method requires that the heat exchange unit 12 and the like be positioned inside the housing 9, and both sides of the heat exchanger 1 must be secured as paths for the air passing through the pipes 122. For this reason, unless sufficient space is secured in the housing 9, the installation method shown in FIG. 17 is preferable to such an installation method.

[0043] The present invention has been described above using exemplary embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be implemented in various other forms. For example, the heat exchanger may be of a type other than a pipe-type heat exchanger. For example, a plate-type or Peltier-type heat exchanger is also possible. Furthermore, the heat exchanger does not have to be attached to the side of the housing. For example, the heat exchanger may be attached to the top or bottom of the housing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1 Heat exchange device 9. Cabinet 11 Partition 12 Heat exchange section 13 Fan 14 Heat generating part 15 Equipment cooling passage 16 Cooling air inlet 17 Wind guide plate section 18 Cover 31 Detour prevention guide wall 32 Cooling air guide wall 111 Intake section 112 Exhaust section 121 Heat exchange ventilation duct 122 Pipe 151 Aperture

Claims

1. A heat exchange device attached to a housing, A partition section made of boards; An intake section provided in the partition section; a heat exchange unit capable of changing the temperature of air taken in through an intake unit provided in the partition unit; a fan that can send air to the heat exchange ventilation passage of the heat exchange unit through the intake unit; a heat generating part that generates heat when used; an exhaust section provided in the partition section so as to be able to release air taken in through the intake section and heat exchanged in the heat exchange section; a cooling air inlet port leading to an equipment cooling air duct that guides a portion of the air that has passed through the heat exchange air duct to a heat generating portion; A heat exchange device comprising:

2. A cooling air inlet is provided downstream of the intake section and upstream of the exhaust section. The heat exchange device of claim 1 .

3. A heat exchange device attached to the outside of a housing, The cooling air inlet is provided in the partition, The mounting surface to the housing is equipped with an exhaust section, a cooling air inlet, and an intake section. The heat exchange device according to claim 2 .

4. an opening that can release air taken in from the cooling air inlet on the fan side of the center of the heat generating part; A cooling air intake is provided on the opposite side of the fan from the center of the heat generating part. The heat exchange device according to claim 3.

5. The heat exchange section is equipped with multiple pipes. Outside air flows through the pipes of the heat exchanger, and air sent from inside the housing flows through the heat exchange ventilation passages located between the pipes. A partition section in which a cooling air inlet is formed and a heat exchange section are arranged at an interval, A heat exchange device as described in claim 4, further comprising a detour suppression guide wall portion between the partition portion and the heat exchange portion and on the intake side of the cooling air inlet, which is capable of assisting the flow of air between the partition portion and the heat exchange portion into the heat exchange ventilation path.

6. A cooling air guide wall portion capable of assisting the flow of air into the cooling air inlet is provided on the exhaust side of the cooling air inlet. The heat exchange device according to claim 4.

7. 7. The heat exchange device according to claim 4, wherein the cover is provided with an air guide plate portion capable of guiding the air exhausted from the exhaust portion.

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