Heat exchanger

Abstract

To provide a heat exchanger capable of improving workability while reducing pressure loss.SOLUTION: A heat exchanger 1 includes a stacked body 2 in which a flow passage for first fluid and a flow passage for second fluid are alternately formed in a Z direction (stacking direction) by alternately stacking first plates 21 and second plates 22, a bottomed cylindrical case 3 which stores the stacked body 2 and is opened on one side of the Z direction, and a base plate 4 which is provided on the opening side of the case 3. The case 3 has an inflow port and an outflow port through which the first fluid passes on a side wall extending along the Z direction. Each of the first plate 21 and the second plate 22 has an outer peripheral flange 224 extending from an outer peripheral end in the Z direction. The outer peripheral flange 224 is positioned on the outer side with respect to the outer peripheral flange 224 of another plate adjacent on the protruding side, and is joined by taper-fitting.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Generally, heat exchangers installed in vehicles and the like are known in which multiple plates are stacked to form alternating flow paths for two types of fluid. In such heat exchangers, pressure loss is reduced by aligning the inflow and outflow directions of the fluid with the in-plane direction of the plates rather than with the stacking direction. As a heat exchanger having such fluid inflow and outflow directions, a heat exchanger has been proposed in which a cooling water inlet and outlet are formed on the side of the outer wall of a cylindrical casing, and a gap is provided between the outer wall of the casing and the outer periphery of the core so that the cooling water can flow in the plate stacking direction of the core (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the heat exchanger described in Patent Document 1, the cooling water introduced into the casing from the outer wall is distributed vertically, passes through the inside of the core, and is then discharged from the outer wall. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-127819 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The multiple plates that form the core of the heat exchanger are formed with through-holes and the like for fluid to pass through, and in order to achieve the desired communication between them, it is necessary to suppress in-plane misalignment between the plates. However, in the heat exchanger described in Patent Document 1, the core is formed by stacking multiple tubes made of first and second plates, and it is difficult to stack the tubes accurately, so there is a need for improved workability.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a heat exchanger that can reduce pressure loss and improve workability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, a heat exchanger according to the present invention comprises: a stack of first plates and second plates stacked alternately, so that flow paths for a first fluid and flow paths for a second fluid are formed alternately in a stacking direction; a bottomed cylindrical case that houses the stack and is open on one side in the stacking direction; and a base plate provided on the open side of the case, wherein the case has, in a side wall portion extending along the stacking direction, an inlet and an outlet through which the first fluid passes; the first plate and the second plate each have an outer peripheral flange portion that protrudes from an outer periphery in the stacking direction, and the outer peripheral flange portion is positioned outward relative to the outer peripheral flange portion of another plate adjacent to the protruding side and is joined by a tapered fit; and between the first plate and the second plate adjacent to each other in the stacking direction, an open portion that opens the gap between the plates to form the flow path for the first fluid and a closed portion that closes the gap between the plates to form the flow path for the second fluid are formed at a position facing the inlet or the outlet.

[0007] According to this aspect, since the case has an inlet and an outlet in the side wall portion, the first fluid flows in a direction intersecting the stacking direction when flowing into the case and when passing between the plates, thereby reducing pressure loss. Also, since the first plate and the second plate have outer peripheral flanges and the outer peripheral flanges of adjacent plates in the stacking direction are tapered and fitted together, the plates can be positioned in the in-plane direction, and the plates can be stacked in a predetermined order, improving workability.

[0008] The case may have a first distribution flow path formed therein, extending in the stacking direction and continuous with the inlet or outlet, and at least some of the first plates or second plates may have an extension portion continuous with the outer peripheral flange portion and reducing the opening area of ​​the open portion. According to this aspect, by reducing the opening area of ​​the open portion, the flow rate of the first fluid flowing into the flow path for the first fluid can be limited. When the first fluid flowing into the case from the inlet is distributed in the stacking direction, the flow rate tends to be higher at positions closer to the inlet in the stacking direction and lower at positions farther from the inlet. By limiting the flow rate particularly at positions close to the inlet, it becomes easier to ensure a flow rate even at positions farther from the inlet, and the difference in flow rate between positions in the stacking direction can be reduced.

[0009] The outer peripheral flange portion may have a fluid guide wall extending along the flow direction of the first fluid and the second fluid in the stack, and the fluid guide walls may be joined to each other in the adjacent first and second plates. According to this aspect, the outer peripheral flange portion can define the fluid flow path. In other words, there is no need to define the flow path using a case or other members, and the structure of the heat exchanger can be simplified.

[0010] The outer flange portion may be provided over the entire outer periphery of the first plate and the second plate except for a position facing the first distribution channel. According to this aspect, the fluid can be more efficiently circulated through the channel between the inlet and the outlet.

[0011] The blocking portion may include a first blocking portion formed on the first plate and a second blocking portion formed on the second plate, the first blocking portion having a first wall portion extending toward the side opposite the protruding side and a first joint portion extending from a tip of the first wall portion toward the inlet or the outlet, the second blocking portion having a second wall portion extending toward the protruding side and a second joint portion extending from a tip of the second wall portion toward the inlet or the outlet, and the first joint portion and the second joint portion may be overlapped and joined. This aspect makes it easy to ensure a joining area between the first and second joint portions, thereby suppressing fluid leakage from the blocking portion.

[0012] The first closing section or the second closing section may have a cover section that is continuous with the tip of one of the first and second joints and covers the tip of the other from the inlet side. This aspect prevents the fluid that flows in from the inlet from flowing directly toward the tip of the first or second joint. This reduces the fluid pressure applied to the joint between the first and second joints, thereby preventing chemical denaturation of the joint and deformation or damage due to pressure. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the heat exchanger of the present invention, it is possible to reduce pressure loss and improve workability. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a laminate and a base plate of the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a cross-sectional view taken through an outlet pipe of a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a cross-sectional view taken through an inlet pipe of a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 5]FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a part of FIG. 3 in an enlarged scale. [Figure 6] 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing another part of FIG. 3 in an enlarged scale. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bottom plate of a stack of heat exchangers according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a first plate of a stack of the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a second plate of the stack of the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line passing through a second distribution channel of the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 1 is a side view showing a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a side view of a stack and a base plate of a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a side view of a laminate and a base plate of a heat exchanger according to a modified example of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a heat exchanger 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a stack 2 in which a plurality of plates 21 to 24 are stacked to form flow paths for a first fluid (coolant in this embodiment) and flow paths for a second fluid (oil in this embodiment) alternately in the Z direction (stacking direction), a cylindrical case 3 that houses the stack 2 and is open on one side in the Z direction, and a base plate 4 provided on the open side of the case 3. The case 3 has a side wall 32 extending along the Z direction, which has an inlet 33 and an outlet 34 through which the first fluid passes. An outer periphery 20 of the stack 2 is formed to fit along the inner surface of the side wall 32 of the case 3, and has recesses 26 spaced apart from the inner surface of the side wall 32 in portions facing the inlet 33 and the outlet 34. The recess 26 forms a first distribution flow path 28 between the outer periphery 20 of the stack 2 and the inner surface of the side wall portion 32, through which the first fluid flows along the Z direction.

[0016] 6, the first plate 21 and the second plate 22 each have an outer peripheral flange 214, 224 that protrudes in the Z direction from the outer peripheral edge. The outer peripheral flange 214, 224 is positioned outward relative to the outer peripheral flange 214, 224 of the other plate adjacent to the protruding side and is brazed to the outer peripheral flange 214, 224 through tapered fit. Between the first plate 21 and the second plate 22 adjacent to each other in the Z direction, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 12, an open portion 29B that opens the space between the plates to form a flow path for the first fluid (coolant) and a closed portion 29A that closes the space between the plates to form a flow path for the second fluid (oil) are formed at positions facing the inlet 33 or the outlet 34.

[0017] The case 3 is rectangular, and the short side wall portion 322, which is the flat portion of the side wall portion 32, has an inlet 33 and an outlet 34 through which the first fluid passes, and a step portion 322A formed around the inlet 33 or the outlet 34 (see Figure 11).

[0018] 1 is a perspective view showing a heat exchanger 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the stack 2 and base plate 4 of the heat exchanger 1, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view passing through the outlet pipe 6 of the heat exchanger 1, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view passing through the inlet pipe 5 of the heat exchanger 1, FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a part of FIG. 3, FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing another part of FIG. 3, FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the bottom plate 23 of the stack 2, FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the first plate 21 of the stack 2, FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the second plate 22 of the stack 2, FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view passing through the second distribution flow path 27 of the heat exchanger 1 (in this embodiment where the first fluid is cooling water and the second fluid is oil, among the oil flow paths formed alternately with the water paths, a flow path that connects the oil flow paths in the stacking direction of the core), FIG. 11 is a side view showing the heat exchanger 1, and FIG. 12 is a side view of the stack 2 and base plate 4.

[0019] The heat exchanger 1 is used, for example, by incorporating it into the cooling water system of an automobile (vehicle). The automobile in which the heat exchanger 1 is installed may have only an internal combustion engine as a drive source, or may have an internal combustion engine and a motor, or may have only a motor. The heat exchanger 1 is provided to cool heat-generating parts in each drive system. An example of the fluid used for cooling is coolant, and an example of the fluid to be cooled is oil such as hydraulic oil. These fluids can be selected appropriately depending on the drive system of the automobile, the type of heat-generating parts, the required cooling performance, and the like. In this embodiment, the fluid used for cooling is referred to as a first fluid, and the fluid to be cooled is referred to as a second fluid. However, it is also possible for the fluid used for cooling to be referred to as the second fluid and the fluid to be cooled to be referred to as the first fluid. In the following description, the first fluid is referred to as coolant, and the second fluid is referred to as oil.

[0020] As will be described later, the heat exchanger 1 has a flat rectangular parallelepiped case 3, and the thickness direction of the case 3 (the direction in which the case 3 has an opening as will be described later) is the Z direction, and in the XY plane, which is a plane perpendicular to the Z direction, the long side direction of the case 3 is the X direction, and the short side direction is the Y direction. In the following, the side of the case 3 where the opening is in the Z direction (the side where the base plate 4 is provided, the lower side in FIGS. 1 to 4) is referred to as the lower side, and the opposite side (the upper side in FIGS. 1 to 4) is referred to as the upper side, and these may be simply referred to as the upper and lower sides, but the upper and lower sides in the Z direction are for convenience and do not necessarily have to coincide with the upper and lower sides in the vertical direction in actual use.

[0021] In addition to the laminate 2, case 3, and base plate 4, the heat exchanger 1 further includes an inlet pipe 5 and an outlet pipe 6. The heat exchanger 1 has two-fold rotational symmetry about a rotation axis that passes through the intersection of diagonal lines L1 and L2 (described later) and extends in the Z direction, resulting in a symmetrical shape on the inlet side and outlet side. In other words, when the heat exchanger 1 is rotated 180° around this rotation axis, the shape before and after the rotation will match.

[0022] 5 and 6, the stack 2 is configured by alternately stacking first plates 21 and second plates 22 in the Z direction, thereby forming flow paths for a first fluid (coolant flow paths) and flow paths for a second fluid (oil flow paths) in the Z direction, and further includes a bottom plate 23 and a top plate 24. The stack 2 is formed into a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole by each of the plates 21 to 24 extending along the XY plane (the direction along the XY plane is the in-plane direction) and being stacked in the Z direction. Two imaginary diagonals when the stack 2 is viewed from the Z direction are defined as a first diagonal line L1 and a second diagonal line L2, and a pair of corners connected by the first diagonal line L1 is defined as a first corner line 2A, and a pair of corners connected by the second diagonal line L2 is defined as a second corner line 2B (see FIGS. 1, 7, 8, and 9).

[0023] In the stack 2, the second plate 22 is stacked on top of the bottom plate 23 (i.e., on the opposite side from the base plate 4), and the first plate 21 is stacked on top of that. The top plate 24 is stacked on top of the second plate 22, and unless otherwise specified, has the same shape as the first plate 21. A fin plate 25 is provided above the second plate 22 and below the first plate 21, and a flow path for the second fluid is formed. In contrast, a flow path for the first fluid is formed between the upper side of the first plate 21 and the lower side of the second plate 22. Note that each plate constituting the stack 2 can be made of, for example, an aluminum clad material.

[0024] 7, unlike the other plates, the bottom plate 23 does not have a recess as described below and is formed in a rectangular plate shape. The bottom plate 23 has a through hole 231 formed in the second corner portion 2B, a plurality of protrusions 232 formed on the upper surface, and an outer peripheral flange portion 233 protruding upward in the Z direction from the outer periphery.

[0025] 8, the first plate 21 has a recess 211 formed in the first corner 2A, a through hole 212 formed in the second corner 2B, a plurality of protrusions 213 formed on the upper surface and protruding upward, an outer peripheral flange 214 protruding upward in the Z direction from the outer periphery, and a first closing portion 215 (see FIG. 5) extending downward at the first corner 2A. The first plate 21 is formed in a rectangular plate shape with the corners cut away, thereby forming the recess 211.

[0026] 9, the second plate 22 has a recess 221 formed in the first corner 2A, a through hole 222 formed in the second corner 2B, a plurality of protrusions 223 formed on the lower surface and protruding downward, an outer peripheral flange 224 protruding upward in the Z direction from the outer periphery, and a second closing portion 225 (see FIG. 5) extending upward at the first corner 2A. The second plate 22 is formed in a rectangular plate shape with the corners cut away, thereby forming the recess 221.

[0027] As can be seen from Figure 2, the top plate 24 has a recess 241, multiple protrusions 243, and an outer peripheral flange portion 244, similar to the first plate 21 (see Figure 8), and has a rectangular shape with part of it removed, but differs from the first plate 21 in that no through holes are formed.

[0028] The outer peripheral flanges 214, 224, 233, and 244 are formed on the outer peripheral edge of each plate excluding the recessed portion (i.e., the entire area excluding the position facing the first distribution flow path 28), and as shown in FIG. 6 in particular, they are tapered in the Z direction so that they slope outward (i.e., the area enclosed by the outer peripheral flanges increases) toward the upper protruding side. As a result, the outer peripheral flanges adjacent in the Z direction are joined by brazing through tapered fit such that the outer peripheral flange of the lower plate is positioned outward relative to the outer peripheral flange of the plate adjacent above. For example, the outer peripheral flange 214 of the first plate 21 is positioned outward from the outer peripheral flange 224 of the second plate 22 adjacent above, and the outer peripheral flange 224 of the second plate 22 is positioned outward from the outer peripheral flange 214 of the first plate 21 adjacent above.

[0029] In this way, the outer peripheral flange portions are tapered and brazed together to assemble the multiple plates, forming a rectangular parallelepiped stack 2 as a whole, as shown in Fig. 2. The stack 2 may be assembled by stacking the plates inside the case 3, or may be assembled outside the case 3 and then housed inside the case 3.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 10 , the portions of the outer peripheral flange portions 214, 224, 233, and 244 that extend along the X direction are fluid guide walls 210, 220, 230, and 240. As described below, the first and second fluids flow along diagonal lines L1 and L2, and the fluid guide walls 210, 220, 230, and 240 that extend along the X direction (longer side direction) have a relatively small inclination angle with respect to the flow direction of the first and second fluids. When the outer peripheral flange portions 214, 224, 233, and 244 are joined together, the fluid guide walls 210, 220, 230, and 240 are also joined together. This allows the first and second fluids to flow along the inner surfaces of the fluid guide walls 210, 220, 230, and 240, preventing fluids from leaking into the case 3 from both sides in the Y direction.

[0031] In the assembled stack 2, the recesses 211, 221, and 241 overlap with each other, thereby forming a recess 26 in the vicinity of the first corner 2A with respect to the center in the Y direction of the side wall portion in the outer periphery 20 of the stack 2. The through holes 212, 222, and 231 overlap with each other, thereby forming a second distribution flow path 27 through which the second fluid can pass along the Z direction.

[0032] The first plate 21 has a flange portion extending upward from the periphery of the through-hole 212, and the second plate 22 has a flange portion extending downward from the periphery of the through-hole 222, and these flange portions are joined together (see FIG. 6). This separates the space between the upper side of the first plate 21 and the lower side of the second plate 22 from the second distribution flow path 27, so that the second fluid passing through the second distribution flow path 27 does not flow into this space. On the other hand, the space between the lower side of the first plate 21 and the upper side of the second plate 22 is in communication with the second distribution flow path 27.

[0033] In the laminate 2, the outer peripheral flange portions 214, 224, 233, and 244 are formed, so that the spaces between the plates are separated from the external space (the space inside the case 3) except in the recess 26. In the recess 26, the first closing portion 215 and the second closing portion 225 are joined to form a closing portion 29A, which separates the space between the lower side of the first plate 21 and the upper side of the second plate 22 from the external space, and an open portion 29B is formed between the upper side of the first plate 21 and the lower side of the second plate 22, and this space communicates with the external space (see FIG. 5). Note that the closing portion 29A is formed between the through holes 212, 222 and the outer peripheral flange portions 214, 224, extending in the Y direction to the position of the long sides of the plates (see FIGS. 2, 8, and 9).

[0034] The case 3 has a bottom plate portion 31 and a cylindrical side wall portion 32 continuous with the outer periphery of the bottom plate portion 31, and is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, and has a rectangular shape when viewed from the Z direction.

[0035] The bottom plate 31 is formed in a rectangular plate shape along the XY plane, and has corners connected by the first diagonal line L1 and the second diagonal line L2. In the case 3, the pair of corners connected by the first diagonal line L1 is referred to as first corners 3A, and the pair of corners connected by the second diagonal line L2 is referred to as second corners 3B.

[0036] The side wall portion 32 has a pair of long side side wall portions 321 corresponding to the long sides of the bottom plate portion 31, a pair of short side side wall portions 322 corresponding to the short sides, and a total of four curved portions 323 located between the long side side wall portions 321 and the short side side wall portions 322.

[0037] An inlet 33 and an outlet 34 through which the first fluid passes are formed in each of the pair of short-side sidewall portions 322. The inlet 33 and the outlet 34 are formed in the center of the short-side sidewall portion 322 in the Z direction, and are formed closer to the first corner portion 3A than the center in the Y direction. That is, the inlet 33 and the outlet 34 are disposed at positions adjacent to a pair of first corner portions 3A that are diagonal corners of a pair of short sides of a rectangle when the case 3 is viewed from the Z direction.

[0038] 11 , a step portion 322A is formed around the inlet 33 or the outlet 34 on each of the pair of short-side side wall portions 322, which are flat portions of the side wall portion 32. Specifically, when viewed from the X direction, the step portion 322A is formed as a straight line extending along the Z direction at a position sandwiching the inlet 33 or the outlet 34 in the Y direction. A rectangular region surrounded by these two straight lines, a line segment virtually connecting the upper ends of the two straight lines, and a line segment virtually connecting the lower ends of the two straight lines forms an inner region 322B in which the inlet 33 or the outlet 34 is located. Regions of the short-side side wall portion 322 sandwiching the inner region 322B in the Y direction form an outer region 322C.

[0039] Step portion 322A has a step such that inner region 322B protrudes further outward from case 3 than outer region 322C. Short-side side wall portion 322 has a constant thickness in inner region 322B and outer region 322C, that is, the inner and outer dimensions of case 3 are enlarged in inner region 322B.

[0040] The side wall 32 has an enlarged portion 324 with enlarged inner and outer dimensions at the lower edge portion on the opening side of the case 3. The outer dimensions of the bottom plate 23 are larger than those of the other plates, and the enlarged portion 324 is provided for attaching the bottom plate 23. The amount of enlargement of the enlarged portion 324 (the step height relative to the other portions) is equal to the step height of the stepped portion 322A. This allows the inner region 322B and the enlarged portion 324 to be smoothly connected, and the inner region 322B and the enlarged portion 324 to extend along the same plane.

[0041] The base plate 4 is formed in a flat plate shape and is provided so as to close the opening of the case 3. The base plate 4 is formed with a pair of through holes 41 through which the second fluid passes and a plurality of mounting holes for mounting to other devices. When the stack 2 is housed in the case 3 and the base plate 4 is mounted to the case 3, the through holes 41 communicate with the second distribution flow path 27. In this embodiment, the flow path of the second fluid in the other device is directly connected to the through holes 41, but a pipe or the like may be attached to the base plate 4 to introduce and discharge the fluid.

[0042] The inlet pipe 5 and the outlet pipe 6 are cylindrical members through which the first fluid passes, and are liquid-tightly brazed to the inlet 33 and the outlet 34, respectively. The outer diameters of the inlet pipe 5 and the outlet pipe 6 are approximately the same as the inner diameters of the inlet 33 and the outlet 34, respectively. In order to reduce fluid resistance, the inner diameters of the inlet pipe 5 and the outlet pipe 6 are relatively large (approximately φ15 mm). It is preferable that the inlet pipe 5 and the outlet pipe 6 protrude only a small amount into the case 3, but there are no particular limitations on the detailed structure or connection structure.

[0043] In the heat exchanger 1 described above, for example, by heating the laminate 2 housed in the case 3, the brazing material applied to the surfaces of each part of the laminate 2 melts, and then by cooling, the brazing material solidifies and bonds the parts together. Specifically, the outer flanges of adjacent plates are bonded together, and the bottom or top surfaces of the plates are bonded to the tips of the convex parts of the plates. The inner surface (lower surface) of the bottom plate portion 31 of the case 3 is also bonded to the top plate 24 in a similar manner.

[0044] Here, the relationship between each part of the case 3 and the stack 2 and the flow of fluid will be described. The outer dimensions of the rectangular parallelepiped stack 2 are approximately equal to or slightly smaller than the inner dimensions of the rectangular cylindrical side wall 32. That is, except for the recess 26, the outer periphery 20 of the stack 2 runs along the inner surface of the side wall 32. Furthermore, since the inlet 33 and the outlet 34 are provided near the first corner 3A and the recess 26 is provided near the first corner 2A, the recess 26 is provided in both the portion facing the inlet 33 and the portion facing the outlet 34.

[0045] In this way, between the case 3 and the stacked body 2, a gap is formed between the outer peripheral portion 20 and the inner surface of the side wall portion 32 in the recess 26, and this gap serves as the first distribution flow path 28. As described above, the open portion 29B is formed between the upper side of the first plate 21 and the lower side of the second plate 22, so that the first distribution flow path 28 and the space between the upper side of the first plate 21 and the lower side of the second plate 22 communicate with each other.

[0046] The first fluid is introduced into the case 3 through the inlet pipe 5 and discharged from the outlet pipe 6. The first fluid introduced into the inlet 33 by the inlet pipe 5 reaches the first distribution flow path 28. In the first distribution flow path 28, the first fluid can flow along the Z direction and can also flow into the spaces between the upper side of the first plate 21 and the lower side of the second plate 22. That is, the first fluid is distributed in the Z direction and flows into each of the multiple spaces between the upper side of the first plate 21 and the lower side of the second plate 22.

[0047] In the laminate 2, the first fluid flows from one of the pair of first corner portions 2A to the other and reaches the first distribution flow path 28 on the outlet 34 side. The first fluid that flows into the first distribution flow path 28 on the outlet 34 side from each of the spaces between the upper side of the first plate 21 and the lower side of the second plate 22 flows in the Z direction toward the outlet 34. In other words, the distributed first fluid is collected again. The first fluid is then led out of the outlet 34 by the outlet pipe 6.

[0048] The second fluid is introduced into and discharged from the stack 2 using one of the pair of through holes 41 as an inlet and the other as an outlet. The second fluid that flows into the second distribution flow path 27 from one of the pair of through holes 41 can flow along the Z direction and can flow into the space between the lower side of the first plate 21 and the upper side of the second plate 22. In other words, the second fluid is distributed in the Z direction and flows into each of the multiple spaces between the lower side of the first plate 21 and the upper side of the second plate 22.

[0049] In the laminate 2, the second fluid flows from one of the pair of second corner portions 2B to the other and reaches the other second distribution flow path 27. The second fluid that has flowed into the other second distribution flow path 27 from each of the spaces between the lower side of the first plate 21 and the upper side of the second plate 22 flows along the Z direction toward the other through hole 41. In other words, the distributed second fluid is collected again. Thereafter, the second fluid is discharged to the outside from the other through hole 41.

[0050] As described above, when the first fluid and the second fluid flow, it is preferable that the flow directions in the X direction are opposite to each other. That is, it is preferable that the second fluid is introduced into the case 3 from one of the pair of through holes 41 that is closer to the outlet 34 in the X direction. Depending on conditions such as the type and flow rate of the fluid, the first fluid and the second fluid may flow in the same direction in the X direction.

[0051] Next, the structure of the portion of the laminate 2 facing the inlet 33 or the outlet 34 will be described in detail. The first closing portion 215 is formed over the entire recess 211 and has a first wall-shaped portion 215A extending downward, which is the side opposite the protruding side, and a first joint portion 215B extending from the tip of the first wall-shaped portion 215A toward the inlet 33 or the outlet 34 along the XY plane (see FIG. 5). The second closing portion 225 is formed over the entire recess 221 and has a second wall-shaped portion 225A extending upward, a second joint portion 225B extending from the tip of the second wall-shaped portion 225A toward the inlet 33 or the outlet 34 along the XY plane, and a cover portion 225C continuous with the tip of the second joint portion 225B.

[0052] The first joint portion 215B and the second joint portion 225B are overlapped and joined to each other. The cover portion 225C extends upward and covers the tip of the first joint portion 215B from the side of the inlet 33 or the outlet 34. In other words, the joint between the first joint portion 215B and the second joint portion 225B is covered by the cover portion 225C. The first joint portion 215B and the second joint portion 225B are joined by brazing, and the joint extends in the Y direction to the position of the long side of the plate between the through holes 212, 222 and the outer peripheral flange portions 214, 224. In addition, the outer peripheral flange portions 214, 224 are also formed on the short side of the plate in positions facing the through holes 212, 222. That is, in the vicinity of the through holes 212, 222, the plates 21, 22 are brazed not only at the outer peripheral flange portions 214, 224 but also at the first and second joining portions 215B, 225B. This improves the liquid-tight reliability of the plate joining portions in the vicinity of the long sides of the plates 21, 22. The cover portions 225C are formed only at positions along the recesses 211, 221 (see FIGS. 2, 8, and 9). The outer peripheral flange portions 214, 224 are provided on the short sides of the plates up to positions facing the through holes 212, 222 in order to concentrate the flow of the first fluid near the first distribution passage 28.

[0053] As described above, according to the heat exchanger 1 of the embodiment of the present invention, recesses 26 are formed in the portions of the outer periphery of the stack 2 facing the inlet 33 and the portion facing the outlet 34, and these recesses 26 form the first distribution flow paths 28, eliminating the need to increase the size of the case 3 relative to the stack 2. Forming the recesses 26 shortens the distance in the XY plane through which the first fluid passes, and therefore the stack 2 needs to be made slightly larger to compensate for this. However, since the recesses 26 are formed locally and the outer periphery of the stack 2 is aligned with the inner surface of the side wall 32 of the case 3, an increase in the size of the stack 2 can be suppressed. In this way, the first distribution flow paths 28 formed by the recesses 26 allow the heat exchanger 1 to be made smaller overall while maintaining fluid distribution performance.

[0054] Furthermore, since the inlet 33 and the outlet 34 are positioned adjacent to each of a pair of diagonal first corner portions 3A, the first fluid flows along the first diagonal line L1 in the stack 2, and the distance in the XY plane that the first fluid passes through can be increased, making it easier to miniaturize the stack 2 and, as a result, making it easier to miniaturize the entire heat exchanger 1.

[0055] Furthermore, since each of the plates 21, 22, 24 of the laminate 2 has a rectangular shape with the corners cut off, the recesses 26 can be easily formed, and the shape of the laminate 2 can be prevented from becoming complicated.

[0056] Furthermore, by forming the through holes 212, 222, and 231 in the second corners 2B, second distribution flow paths 27 are formed in the pair of corners 2B, and the second fluid after distribution flows along the second diagonal line L2. This makes it possible to increase the distance in the XY plane that the second fluid travels, making it easier to reduce the size of the stack 2 and, as a result, the size of the entire heat exchanger 1.

[0057] Furthermore, the first corner 2A where the recess 26 is formed and the second corner 2B where the through holes 212, 222, 231 are formed are different, i.e., the first distribution flow path 28 and the second distribution flow path 27 are provided at different corners, so that the stack 2 can be used spatially efficiently and the entire heat exchanger 1 can be made smaller.

[0058] Furthermore, because the case 3 has an inlet 33 and an outlet 34 in the side wall portion 32, the first fluid flows along the XY plane when flowing into the case 3 and when passing between the plates, thereby reducing pressure loss. The first plate 21 and the second plate 22 are formed with outer peripheral flange portions 214, 224, and the outer peripheral flange portions 214, 224 of plates adjacent in the Z direction are tapered and brazed together, so that the plates can be positioned in the XY plane and the plates can be stacked in a predetermined order, improving workability.

[0059] Furthermore, since the outer peripheral flange portions 214, 224 have the fluid guide walls 210, 220, the fluid flow path can be defined by the outer peripheral flange portions 214, 224. In other words, there is no need to define the flow path by the case 3 or other members, and the structure of the heat exchanger 1 can be simplified.

[0060] Furthermore, since the outer flange portions 214, 224 are provided over the entire outer peripheral edges of the first plate 21 and the second plate 22 except for the position facing the first distribution flow path 28, the fluid can be more efficiently circulated through the flow path between the inlet 33 and the outlet 34.

[0061] Furthermore, by overlapping and joining the first joint portion 215B of the first blocking portion 215 and the second joint portion 225B of the second blocking portion 225, it is easier to ensure the joining area, and leakage of fluid at the blocking portion 29A can be suppressed.

[0062] Furthermore, since the second blocking part 225 has a cover part 225C that covers the tip of the first joint part 215B, the fluid that flows in from the inlet 33 is prevented from flowing directly toward the tip of the first joint part 215B. This reduces the fluid pressure applied to the joint part between the first joint part 215B and the second joint part 225B, and prevents chemical denaturation of the joint part and deformation or damage due to the pressure.

[0063] Furthermore, because the stepped portion 322A surrounds the inlet 33 and the outlet 34 in the flat short-side sidewall portion 322, the rigidity of the case 3 can be improved even when a rectangular parallelepiped case 3 is employed and the inlet 33 and the outlet 34 are provided in the sidewall portion 32 to improve space utilization efficiency. Furthermore, because the pipes 5, 6 are attached to the inlet 33 or the outlet 34 by brazing, stress concentration at the base of the pipes 5, 6 can be avoided when an external force acts from the outside in a direction that tilts the pipes 5, 6. Furthermore, when the diameters of the pipes 5, 6 are increased to reduce flow resistance, the brazed joint area of ​​the pipes 5, 6 increases, increasing the joint strength of the pipes 5, 6. Therefore, when an external force acts on the pipes 5, 6, a large deformation force acts on the short-side sidewall portion 322. However, the stepped portion 322A can suppress deformation of the short-side sidewall portion 322.

[0064] Furthermore, because the stepped portion 322A has a step in a direction in which the inner region 322B protrudes further outward from the case 3 than the outer region 322C, the internal space of the case 3 is expanded at the positions where the inlet 33 and the outlet 34 are formed. This allows the first distribution flow path 28 to be expanded.

[0065] Furthermore, forming the expanded portion 324 in the case 3 can improve the rigidity of the opening side of the case 3. Furthermore, since the inner region 322B and the expanded portion 324 extend along the same plane, the shape can be simplified compared to a configuration in which the step portion and the expanded portion are located on different planes.

[0066] Furthermore, by forming the inlet 33 and the outlet 34 at a position adjacent to the first corner 3A of the short side wall portion 322, which is a flat portion, where rigidity is relatively easy to ensure, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the rigidity of the case 3 due to the formation of the inlet 33 and the outlet 34.

[0067] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and includes other configurations that can achieve the object of the present invention, including modifications such as those described below. For example, in the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the first corner 2A where the recess 26 is formed and the second corner 2B where the through holes 212, 222, and 231 are formed are located on different diagonal lines. However, the positional relationship between the first distribution flow path and the through holes and second distribution flow path is not limited to this. For example, the first corner 2A and the second corner 2B may be designed not to be at the ends of the diagonal lines L1 and L2, but rather at the ends of a line segment parallel to the long sides of the plates 21 and 22, so that the first fluid and the second fluid flow parallel to each other.

[0068] In the above embodiment of the present invention, the recesses 26 are formed by each of the plates 21, 22, 24 of the laminate 2 having a rectangular shape with the corners cut off, but the recesses may be formed in other shapes, or may be formed by cutting out one side of a rectangle without cutting off the corners. In other words, the "recess" may be any recess that is recessed based on a predetermined shape (e.g., rectangular in plan view, circular in plan view, etc.) that the outer periphery of the laminate has.

[0069] In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the inlet 33 and the outlet 34 are located adjacent to a pair of diagonally opposite first corners 3A. However, the recesses for forming the first distribution flow paths and the inlet and outlet are not limited to being located near the corners and may be located, for example, in the center of the side on which the inlet and outlet are located. That is, the inlet and outlet may be located at appropriate positions on the case depending on the relative positions of the heat exchanger and other devices, the piping arrangement, and the like. For example, at least one of the inlet and outlet may be located on the long-side sidewall 321 or the base plate 4, rather than on the short-side sidewall 322. Furthermore, the inlet and outlet may be located not at diagonal positions but, for example, upstream and downstream of the parallel lines of the fluid guide walls 210 and 220, depending on the layout.

[0070] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the laminate 2 and the case 3 are rectangular and cuboid-shaped when viewed from the Z direction, but the laminate and the case may have corresponding shapes, and may have other shapes, such as a cylindrical outer shape.

[0071] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment of the present invention, first plate 21 simply opens opening 29B, but the first plate may be shaped to partially cover the opening. For example, as shown as a modified example in FIG. 13, first plate 21 may have an extension 216 continuous with outer peripheral flange 214. In the modified example shown in FIG. 13, extension 216 is formed in recess 211 and protrudes upward from the main body (plate-shaped portion along the XY plane) of first plate 21, with the protruding dimension being smaller than the distance between first plate 21 and second plate 22.

[0072] In this modified example, the extension portion 216 is formed on all of the plurality of first plates 21. The extension portion 216 is formed in a range of about half of the entire recess 211, but may be formed over the entire recess 211.

[0073] Extension portion 216 is provided to cover open portion 29B from the side of inlet 33 or outlet 34, thereby reducing the opening area of ​​open portion 29B when viewed from the X direction. That is, the original opening area of ​​open portion 29B is determined by the product of the distance between first plate 21 and second plate 22 and the Y-direction dimensions of first plate 21 and second plate 22, but the effective opening area is reduced by the area (projected area) of extension portion 216 when viewed from the X direction.

[0074] By providing extension 216 that reduces the opening area of ​​open portion 29B, the flow rate of the first fluid flowing into the flow path for the first fluid can be limited. When the first fluid that flows into case 3 from inlet 33 is distributed in the Z direction, the flow rate tends to be higher at positions closer to inlet 33 in the Z direction and lower at positions farther from inlet 33. By limiting the flow rate in the center in the Z direction, particularly close to inlet 33, it becomes easier to ensure a sufficient flow rate even at positions far from inlet 33, and the difference in flow rate between positions in the Z direction can be reduced.

[0075] 13, all first plates 21 have similar extensions 216, but the projected area of ​​the extensions may differ among multiple first plates, or only some of the first plates may have extensions. That is, the projected area (particularly the height) of the extensions of the first plates closer to the inlet 33 may be increased so that the opening area of ​​the open portion 29B decreases the closer to the inlet 33 in the Z direction, or extensions may be provided only on the first plates closer to the inlet 33. Furthermore, the extensions may be omitted if the diameter of the inlet is sufficiently large relative to the height of the stack, or if flow rate differences are unlikely to occur due to the pressure or viscosity of the fluid, etc.

[0076] Furthermore, when an extension portion is provided, it is sufficient to provide the extension portion on the first plate or the second plate whose side from which the outer peripheral flange portion protrudes and whose side on which the open portion is provided coincide with each other.

[0077] In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the fluid flow path is defined by the fluid guide walls 210, 220 of the outer peripheral flange portions 214, 224, but the stack may define the fluid flow path together with the case or other members. For example, the outer peripheral flange portions may not be provided in part of the outer peripheral edges of the first plate and the second plate, and in this part, the inner surface of the case or other members may form the fluid flow path.

[0078] In the above embodiment of the present invention, second closing portion 225 has cover portion 225C that covers the tip of first joining portion 215B, but a cover portion may also be provided on the first closing portion 215 side. Depending on the plate material, joining method, type of fluid, pressure of the fluid, etc., chemical denaturation of the joining portion, deformation or damage due to pressure may be unlikely to occur, and in such cases, the cover portion may be omitted.

[0079] In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, both the first blocking portion 215 and the second blocking portion 225 have wall portions 215A, 225A and joint portions 215B, 225B and are joined together, but the form of the blocking portion is not limited to this. For example, only one of the first plate and the second plate may be provided with a blocking portion extending toward the other plate.

[0080] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment of the present invention, step portion 322A has a step in a direction in which inner region 322B protrudes further outward from case 3 than outer region 322C, but, for example, if outward protrusion makes it more likely to interfere with other components, the step portion may have a step in a direction in which the inner region protrudes inward.

[0081] In the above embodiment of the present invention, the inner region 322B and the expanded portion 324 extend along the same plane, but the height of the step portion may be greater or smaller than the amount of expansion of the expanded portion, and these dimensions may be set appropriately depending on the rigidity, the relationship with other components, etc. In addition, the case may be formed with an expanded portion as needed, and for example, if the bottom plate is relatively small, an expanded portion may not be formed.

[0082] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the inlet 33 and the outlet 34 are formed adjacent to the first corner portion 3A, but the positions of the inlet and the outlet may be, for example, the center of the short side wall portion 322 in the Y direction, and may be set appropriately depending on the routing of the pipes, etc.

[0083] Although the present invention has been described above as an embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the heat exchanger according to the above embodiment, and includes all aspects encompassed by the concept and scope of the present invention. Furthermore, each configuration may be appropriately and selectively combined to achieve at least some of the above-described problems and advantages. For example, the shape, material, arrangement, size, etc. of each component in the above embodiment may be appropriately modified depending on the specific use of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1...heat exchanger, 2...laminated body, 20...periphery, 21...first plate, 212...through hole, 214, 224...periphery flange portion, 215...first closing portion, 215A...first wall-shaped portion, 215B...first joint portion, 216...extension portion, 210, 220...fluid guide wall, 22...second plate, 222...through hole, 225...second closing portion, 225A...second wall-shaped portion, 225B...second joint portion, 225C...cover portion, 26...recess, 27...second distribution flow path, 28...first distribution flow path, 29A...closed portion, 29B...open portion, 2A...first corner portion, 2B...second corner portion, 3...case, 32...side wall portion, 322...short side wall portion (flat portion), 322A...step portion, 322B...inner region, 322C...outer region, 324...expanded portion, 33...inlet, 34...outlet, 3A...first corner portion, 3B...second corner portion, 4...base plate

Claims

1. a stack body in which first plates and second plates are alternately stacked to form flow paths for the first fluid and flow paths for the second fluid alternately in the stacking direction; a cylindrical case that houses the stack and is open on one side in the stacking direction; a base plate provided on the opening side of the case, the case has an inlet and an outlet through which the first fluid passes, in a side wall portion extending along the stacking direction, the first plate and the second plate each have an outer peripheral flange portion protruding from an outer peripheral edge in the stacking direction, the outer peripheral flange portion is positioned outwardly relative to the outer peripheral flange portion of another plate adjacent to the protruding side and joined by tapered fit, a heat exchanger characterized in that, between the first plate and the second plate adjacent to each other in the stacking direction, an open portion that opens the space between the plates to form a flow path for the first fluid, and a closed portion that closes the space between the plates to form a flow path for the second fluid, are formed at a position opposite the inlet or the outlet.

2. a first distribution flow path is formed in the case, the first distribution flow path being continuous with the inlet or the outlet and extending in the stacking direction; 2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of first plates or second plates have an extension portion that is continuous with the outer peripheral flange portion and reduces the opening area of ​​the open portion.

3. the outer peripheral flange portion has a fluid guide wall extending along a flow direction of the first fluid and the second fluid in the stack, 3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the fluid guide walls of the first plate and the second plate adjacent to each other are joined together.

4. 4. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein the outer peripheral flange portion is provided over the entire outer peripheral edges of the first plate and the second plate except for a position facing the first distribution flow path.

5. the closing portion has a first closing portion formed on the first plate and a second closing portion formed on the second plate, the first blocking portion has a first wall portion extending toward the side opposite to the protruding side, and a first joint portion extending from a tip of the first wall portion toward the inlet or the outlet, the second blocking portion has a second wall portion extending toward the protruding side and a second joint portion extending from a tip of the second wall portion toward the inlet or the outlet, 3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the first joint portion and the second joint portion are joined together in an overlapping manner.

6. The heat exchanger according to claim 5, characterized in that the first blocking portion or the second blocking portion has a cover portion that is continuous with the tip of one of the first joint portion and the second joint portion and covers the other tip from the inlet side.

Images