heat exchanger
The heat exchanger design with grooved plates and recesses forms efficient flow paths with reduced parts, enhancing flow rate and efficiency by connecting bypass paths to adjacent bends, addressing the need for fewer components in existing designs.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2022190512
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-11-29
- Publication Date
- 2025-09-09
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-11-29
AI Technical Summary
Existing heat exchangers require multiple fins and plates, increasing the number of parts and potentially reducing the flow rate of the heat exchange medium.
A heat exchanger design featuring a first plate with grooves and a second plate with recessed grooves and auxiliary recesses forming main and bypass flow paths, connected to outer and inner regions of adjacent bends, reducing the number of parts while enhancing flow rate.
The design increases the flow rate and efficiency of the heat exchanger by forming flow paths with fewer parts, maintaining high flow velocity in bypass paths, and ensuring effective contact with heating elements.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a heat exchanger. [Background technology]
[0002] In a heat exchanger using a heat exchange medium, a configuration is known in which multiple main flow paths are formed by fins attached to a plate material and bypass flow paths are formed by openings in the fins (see Patent Documents 1 and 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-205802 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-102505 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] In the above-described heat exchanger, the bypass passage increases the flow rate of the heat exchange medium. However, the heat exchanger requires at least a plurality of fins and two plates sandwiching the fins, which inevitably increases the number of parts.
[0005] An object of one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a heat exchanger that can increase the flow rate of a heat exchange medium while reducing the number of parts. [Means for solving the problem]
[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is a heat exchanger including a first plate, a second plate overlapping the first plate and having at least one groove recessed in a direction away from the first plate, and a medium flow path provided between the first and second plates. The medium flow path is defined by the at least one groove and includes multiple main flow paths having bent portions, and at least one bypass flow path connecting the bent portions of two adjacent main flow paths among the multiple main flow paths. The at least one bypass flow path is connected to an outer region of a bend in one of the bent portions and an inner region of a bent portion in the other of the bent portions.
[0007] With this configuration, a medium flow path having a main flow path and a bypass flow path can be formed by joining the first plate and the second plate. Furthermore, the bypass flow path is connected to the outer and inner regions of each of the two adjacent bends, thereby increasing the flow rate in the bypass flow path. As a result, the flow rate of the heat exchange medium can be increased, improving the efficiency of the heat exchanger, while reducing the number of parts in the heat exchanger.
[0008] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the cross-sectional area of at least one bypass flow path perpendicular to the flow direction of the heat exchange medium may be smaller than the cross-sectional area of each of the main flow paths perpendicular to the flow direction of the heat exchange medium, thereby enhancing the effect of increasing the flow velocity in the bypass flow path.
[0009] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the media flow path may have multiple bypass flow paths as at least one bypass flow path. The multiple bypass flow paths may be connected to only one of the outer region and the inner region of a single bend. This configuration can prevent a decrease in flow rate due to multiple bypass flow paths being connected to both sides of a single bend.
[0010] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the second plate may have a plurality of grooves as at least one groove, and an auxiliary recess that is recessed in a direction away from the first plate and connects two adjacent grooves among the plurality of grooves. This configuration eliminates the need to provide irregularities on the first plate, thereby increasing the contact area of the first plate with the heating element. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view of a heat exchanger in an embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line IB-IB in FIG. 1A. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the second plate in the heat exchanger of FIG. 1A. [Figure 3] 3A is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line IIIA-IIIA in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line IIIB-IIIB in FIG. [Figure 4] 4A, 4B, and 4C are schematic plan views showing weld lines in the second plate of FIG. [Figure 5] 5A is a schematic plan view of a second plate in an embodiment different from that in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VB-VB in FIG. 5A. [Figure 6] 6A, 6B, and 6C are schematic cross-sectional views of the second plate in an embodiment different from that in FIG. 3B. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments to which the present disclosure is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. [1. First embodiment] [1-1.Configuration] 1A and 1B uses a heat exchange medium such as coolant to cool a heating element 100. The heat exchanger 1 is used, for example, to cool a battery module of an automobile. The heat exchanger 1 includes a first plate 2, a second plate 3, and a medium flow path 4.
[0013] <1st board> The first plate 2 has a heat exchange surface that comes into contact with the heating element 100 and exchanges heat with the heating element 100. The first plate 2 is made of a metal with high thermal conductivity, such as stainless steel, copper, or aluminum.
[0014] The first plate 2 has a flat plate shape with no irregularities on its surface. The heat exchange surface is formed by the plate surface opposite the second plate 3 (i.e., the plate surface opposite the medium flow path 4) of the two plate surfaces of the first plate 2, and is a flat surface. A supply port 5 for the heat exchange medium and a discharge port 6 for the heat exchange medium are connected to the first plate 2. Note that the first plate 2 may have irregularities in the area of the heat exchange surface that does not come into contact with the heating element 100.
[0015] <2nd board> The second plate 3 is overlapped on the first plate 2 in the thickness direction. The second plate 3, together with the first plate 2, defines a medium flow path 4. The second plate 3 is made of the same metal (e.g., stainless steel) as the first plate 2.
[0016] 2, the second plate 3 has a plurality of grooves 31 and a plurality of auxiliary recesses 32. The grooves 31 are portions of the plate material constituting the second plate 3 that are deformed so as to protrude in the thickness direction, and are recessed in a direction away from the first plate 2.
[0017] The multiple grooves 31 each form a main flow path 41 of the media flow path 4. The side and bottom surfaces of the grooves 31 respectively form the side and bottom surfaces of the main flow path 41. In a plan view (i.e., when viewed parallel to the thickness direction of the first plate 2), the grooves 31 are curved in a continuous S-shape.
[0018] Each of the multiple auxiliary recesses 32 constitutes a bypass flow path 42 of the media flow path 4. The auxiliary recesses 32 are recessed in a direction away from the first plate 2, and connect two adjacent recesses 31 among the multiple recessed streak portions 31.
[0019] 3A and 3B, the depth of the auxiliary recess 32 (i.e., the distance from the bottom surface of the first plate 2) is smaller than the depth of the groove 31. The auxiliary recess 32 is a portion obtained by offset deformation of the region between the two grooves 31 in the thickness direction.
[0020] Although there are no limitations on the thickness of the second plate 3, a thickness that allows press working is preferable. By press working, the second plate 3 having the multiple grooves 31 and the multiple auxiliary recesses 32 can be easily formed.
[0021] <Media flow path> 1B, the media flow path 4 is provided between the first plate 2 and the second plate 3. Specifically, the media flow path 4 is formed by the space existing between the first plate 2 and the second plate 3.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the medium flow path 4 has a plurality of main flow paths 41, a plurality of bypass flow paths , an inlet portion 43, and an outlet portion .
[0023] The multiple main flow paths 41 are each connected to an inlet portion 43 and an outlet portion 44. In other words, the medium flow path 4 branches into multiple main flow paths 41 at the inlet portion 43, and the multiple main flow paths 41 merge at the outlet portion 44. A supply port 5 is connected to the inlet portion 43, and a discharge port 6 is connected to the outlet portion 44.
[0024] Each main flow path 41 has a plurality of arc-shaped curved portions 411, 412. In each main flow path 41, first curved portions 411 protruding to the right side of the second plate 3 in FIG. 2 in plan view (i.e., in a direction intersecting the direction from the inlet portion 43 toward the outlet portion 44) and second curved portions 412 protruding to the left side (i.e., the opposite side to the first curved portions 411) are alternately arranged along the flow direction of the heat exchange medium.
[0025] 3A, the main flow passages 41 are defined by the plurality of grooves 31 of the second plate 3 and the plate surface of the first plate 2. The cross-sectional areas of the plurality of main flow passages 41 perpendicular to the flow direction of the heat exchange medium are equal to each other.
[0026] 2, each of the multiple bypass flow paths 42 connects two adjacent main flow paths 41 among the multiple main flow paths 41. Specifically, the bypass flow path 42 connects the first bend portions 411 or the second bend portions 412 of the two adjacent main flow paths 41.
[0027] The bypass flow path 42 is connected to the outer region of the bend of one of the first bend section 411 or the second bend section 412 and the inner region of the bend of the other of the first bend section 411 or the second bend section 412. The bypass flow path 42 connects one bend section 411, 412 to the closest bend section 411, 412 of another main flow path 41 via the shortest distance.
[0028] Here, the "outer region of the bend" refers to the region including the outer edge of the two outer edges of the bend sections 411, 412 in a planar view that has the longer length along the flow of the heat exchange medium, and the "inner region of the bend" refers to the region including the outer edge opposite to the outer region of the bend.
[0029] Furthermore, each bypass flow path 42 is connected to only one of the outer region and the inner region of one of the first bending portion 411 and the second bending portion 412. In other words, the inner region of the bending portion 411, 412 to which the bypass flow path 42 is connected in the outer region is not connected to another bypass flow path 42. Similarly, the outer region of the bending portion 411, 412 to which the bypass flow path 42 is connected in the inner region is not connected to another bypass flow path 42.
[0030] In other words, in a main flow path 41 sandwiched between two main flow paths 41 on the left and right in a plan view (for example, the second main flow path 41 from the left in Figure 2), bypass flow paths 42 connected to the adjacent main flow path 41 on the left and bypass flow paths 42 connected to the adjacent main flow path 41 on the right are arranged alternately in the flow direction of the heat exchange medium.
[0031] 3B, the bypass flow passage 42 is defined by the multiple auxiliary recesses 32 of the second plate 3 and the plate surface of the first plate 2. The multiple bypass flow passages 42 have the same cross-sectional area perpendicular to the flow direction of the heat exchange medium. The cross-sectional area of the bypass flow passage 42 perpendicular to the flow direction of the heat exchange medium is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the main flow passage 41 perpendicular to the flow direction of the heat exchange medium.
[0032] <Joining the first and second plates> The first plate 2 and the second plate 3 are joined by welding such as laser welding. As shown in Fig. 4A, the weld line W (i.e., the weld bead) is preferably provided at a position overlapping the side walls of the groove portion 31 and the auxiliary recess 32 in a plan view. In other words, the welding is preferably performed along the outer edges of the groove portion 31 and the auxiliary recess 32. This improves the sealing performance of the flow path.
[0033] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 4B, it is preferable that the start and end points of the weld are located inside the area surrounded by the weld line W. This prevents deterioration of sealing performance due to cracks at the start and end points of the weld. Note that, as shown in Fig. 4C, the weld line W does not necessarily have to be closed and may be, for example, linear.
[0034] Furthermore, the first plate 2 and the second plate 3 may be joined with an adhesive such as wax. When an adhesive is used, the entire area of the second plate 3 other than the grooves 31 and the auxiliary recesses 32 (i.e., the flat area) is used as the joining surface, thereby increasing the rigidity of the heat exchanger 1.
[0035] [1-2.Effects] According to the embodiment described above in detail, the following effects can be obtained. (1a) By joining the first plate 2 and the second plate 3, a medium flow path 4 having a main flow path 41 and a bypass flow path 42 can be formed. In addition, the bypass flow path 42 is connected to the outer and inner regions of each of the two adjacent bends 411, 412, thereby increasing the flow rate in the bypass flow path 42. As a result, the flow rate of the heat exchange medium can be increased to improve the efficiency of the heat exchanger 1, while reducing the number of parts of the heat exchanger 1.
[0036] (1b) The cross-sectional area of the bypass flow passage 42 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the main flow passage 41, which promotes the effect of improving the flow velocity in the bypass flow passage 42.
[0037] (1c) By connecting the bypass flow path 42 to only one of the outer and inner regions of one bending portion 411, 412, a decrease in flow velocity caused by connecting multiple bypass flow paths 42 to both sides of one bending portion 411, 412 can be suppressed.
[0038] (1d) Since the second plate 3 has an auxiliary recess 32 that connects the two groove portions 31, there is no need to provide unevenness on the first plate 2, and therefore the contact area of the first plate 2 with the heating element 100 can be increased.
[0039] 2. Other Embodiments Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it goes without saying that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can take on various forms.
[0040] (2a) In the heat exchanger of the above embodiment, the bypass flow passage does not necessarily have to be connected to only one of the outer region and the inner region of one bend. For example, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B, the bypass flow passage 42 may be connected to both the outer region and the inner region of one bend.
[0041] (2b) In the heat exchanger of the above embodiment, the grooves 31 and the auxiliary recesses 32 of the second plate 3 may be formed by cutting or casting the plate material that constitutes the second plate 3, as shown in FIG. 6A.
[0042] The second plate does not necessarily have to have an auxiliary recess. For example, as shown in Fig. 6B, two main flow paths 41 and a bypass flow path 42 may be defined by one groove portion 31 and one protrusion portion 21.
[0043] The convex portion 21 is a portion within the groove portion 31 that protrudes in the thickness direction of the first plate 2 from the first plate 2 toward the second plate 3. Of the convex portion 21, the portion that forms the bypass flow path 42 is separated from the second plate 3. As shown in FIG. 6C , of the convex portion 21, the portion that does not form the bypass flow path 42 is joined to the second plate 3, thereby isolating the two main flow paths 41.
[0044] (2c) In the heat exchanger of the above embodiment, the curved portion of the main flow path does not necessarily have to be an arc. The curved portion may have a bent shape with corners, for example.
[0045] (2d) The heat exchanger of the above embodiment can be used to heat an object to be heated instead of cooling a heating element. In this case, a fluid having a higher temperature than the object to be heated is supplied to the heat exchanger as a heat exchange medium.
[0046] (2e) The function of one component in the above embodiments may be distributed among multiple components, or the functions of multiple components may be integrated into one component. Also, part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be omitted. Furthermore, at least part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be added to or substituted for the configuration of another of the above embodiments. All aspects included in the technical idea identified by the wording of the claims are embodiments of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]
[0047] 1... Heat exchanger, 2... First plate, 3... Second plate, 4... Medium flow path, 5... Supply port, 6... Discharge port, 21...convex portion, 31...concave portion, 32...auxiliary concave portion, 41...main flow path, 42...bypass flow path, 43...inlet portion, 44...outlet portion, 100...heating element, 411...first bend portion, 412...Second bend.
Claims
1. The first board and a second plate overlapping the first plate and having at least one groove portion recessed in a direction away from the first plate; a medium flow path provided between the first plate and the second plate; Equipped with The medium flow path is a plurality of main flow paths defined by the at least one groove portion, the plurality of main flow paths having a first bend portion protruding in a predetermined direction and a second bend portion protruding on an opposite side to the first bend portion; at least one bypass flow path connecting the first bent portions or the second bent portions of two adjacent main flow paths among the plurality of main flow paths; and a heat exchanger, wherein the at least one bypass flow path is connected to an outer region of a bend in the first bend portion or the second bend portion of one of the two main flow paths and to an inner region of a bend in the first bend portion or the second bend portion of the other of the two main flow paths.
2. 2. The heat exchanger of claim 1, A heat exchanger, wherein a cross-sectional area of the at least one bypass flow path perpendicular to the flow direction of the heat exchange medium is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the main flow paths perpendicular to the flow direction of the heat exchange medium.
3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 or 2, The medium flow path has a plurality of bypass flow paths as the at least one bypass flow path, a heat exchanger, wherein the plurality of bypass flow paths are connected to only one of the outer region and the inner region in one of the first bent portion or the second bent portion;
4. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 or 2, The second plate is A plurality of grooves as the at least one groove; an auxiliary recess that is recessed in a direction away from the first plate and connects two adjacent recesses among the plurality of recesses; A heat exchanger having:
Citation Information
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