Heat exchanger and method for manufacturing heat exchanger

By using an intermediate member with lower yield strength and higher thermal conductivity to deform and minimize gaps at structural member joints, the heat exchanger addresses thermal resistance issues, enhancing heat transfer and reducing costs.

WO2025154508A1PCT designated stage expired Publication Date: 2025-07-24DENSO CORP
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Patent Information

Application Number
PCT/JP2024/045742
Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2024-01-17
Filing Date
2024-12-24
Publication Date
2025-07-24

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing heat exchangers face challenges in maintaining high thermal conductivity and reducing thermal resistance at the joints of structural members due to the use of adhesives with lower conductivity and uneven surfaces from press-molding, leading to decreased heat transfer performance.

Method used

Incorporating an intermediate member with lower yield strength and higher thermal conductivity than the adhesive, which deforms to minimize gaps and reduce adhesive thickness, thereby enhancing thermal conductivity and reducing thermal resistance.

Benefits of technology

The intermediate member effectively minimizes gaps and reduces adhesive thickness, improving heat conduction performance and lowering manufacturing costs by simplifying assembly processes.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

This heat exchanger comprises a first structural member (110), a second structural member (120), an adhesive (130), and an intermediate material (140). The adhesive is provided between the first structural member and the second structural member, and has a lower thermal conductivity than the first structural member and the second structural member. The intermediate material is provided between the first structural member and the second structural member, has a lower yield strength than at least one of the first structural member and the second structural member, and has a higher thermal conductivity than the adhesive.
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Description

Heat exchanger and method for manufacturing the same CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-5043, filed on January 17, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a heat exchanger.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a method for manufacturing a heat exchanger in which aluminum tubes and aluminum fins are joined with an adhesive, in which the adhesive contains a thermally conductive filler to improve the thermal conductivity of the joint between the tubes and fins.

[0004] Patent No. 6341098

[0005] Since the adhesive has a significantly lower thermal conductivity than the structural components of the heat exchanger, such as the tubes and fins, it is desirable to make the adhesive thickness at the joint as thin as possible.

[0006] In contrast, when a conductive filler is contained in the adhesive as in Patent Document 1, the gap between the joints of structural members cannot be made smaller than the particle size of the thermally conductive filler, and the adhesive cannot be made sufficiently thin, making it difficult to ensure the thermal conductivity of the joint.

[0007] Furthermore, heat exchangers often use press-molded structural components. Because the surfaces of these components are uneven during the pressing process, the gaps between the structural components at the joints cannot be made smaller than the height of the surface irregularities, making it impossible to apply a sufficiently thin adhesive. This makes it difficult to ensure the thermal conductivity of the joints.

[0008] In view of the above, the present disclosure aims to suppress a decrease in heat exchange performance at the joint in a heat exchanger in which structural members are joined together with an adhesive.

[0009] To achieve the above object, one aspect of the present disclosure includes a first structural member, a second structural member, an adhesive, and an intermediate material. The adhesive is provided between the first structural member and the second structural member and has a lower thermal conductivity than the first structural member and the second structural member. The intermediate material is provided between the first structural member and the second structural member and has a lower yield strength than at least one of the first structural member and the second structural member and a higher thermal conductivity than the adhesive.

[0010] The intermediate material, which has low yield strength, deforms in accordance with the surface shape of at least one of the first and second structural members, absorbing unevenness at the joint between the first and second structural members. This minimizes the gap between the first and second structural members, allowing the adhesive between the first and second structural members to be as thin as possible, thereby reducing thermal resistance due to the adhesive. Furthermore, because the intermediate material is made of a material with a higher thermal conductivity than the adhesive, it is possible to prevent a decrease in thermal conduction performance between the first and second structural members.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a front view of a heat exchanger of a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a front view of a joint between a tube and a fin; FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a joint between a tube and a fin; FIG. 4 is a view showing a process of joining a tube and a fin; FIG. 5 is a view showing a process of joining a tube and a fin; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged cross-sectional view of a joint between a tube and a fin of a second embodiment; FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged cross-sectional view of a joint between a tube and a fin of a third embodiment; FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged cross-sectional view of a joint between a tube and a fin of a fourth embodiment; FIG. 9 is a view showing a process of preparing tubes and fins of a fifth embodiment; FIG. 10 is a view showing a process of joining tubes and fins of a fifth embodiment.

[0012] Hereinafter, several embodiments for carrying out the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, parts corresponding to matters described in the preceding embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations may be omitted. In each embodiment, when only a part of the configuration is described, other previously described embodiments may be applied to the other parts of the configuration. In addition to combinations of parts that are specifically specified as being combinable in each embodiment, it is also possible to partially combine embodiments even if not specified, as long as there is no particular problem with the combination.

[0013] First Embodiment A first embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in Fig. 1, a heat exchanger 1 of this embodiment is a fin-and-tube heat exchanger, and has a core portion 10 in which tubes 11 and fins 12 are joined. The core portion 10 is a heat exchange portion that exchanges heat between a cooling fluid passing through the inside of the tubes 11 and outside air. The cooling fluid is a heat exchange medium.

[0014] The core portion 10 is a laminate in which tubes 11 and fins 12 are arranged in multiple layers. The tubes 11 and the fins 12 are in thermal contact with each other, allowing heat transfer between the tubes 11 and the fins 12. The tubes 11 are formed by processing a tube material 110. The fins 12 are formed by processing a fin material 120. The tube material 110 and the fin material 120 are structural members that form the heat exchanger 1. The tube material 110 is a first structural member, and the fin material 120 is a second structural member. The fins 12 are obtained, for example, by press-molding the fin material 120.

[0015] Each tube 11 is a tubular member having a flow path formed therein through which a cooling fluid (not shown) flows. The longitudinal direction of each tube 11 extends horizontally. Each tube 11 is configured to have a flat shape so that the major axis direction of a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction extends along the direction of air flow passing through the core portion 10. Here, the flat shape includes an elliptical shape formed by a curved shape combining an arc portion with a large radius of curvature and an arc portion with a small radius of curvature, an oval shape formed by combining an arc portion and a flat portion, and the like.

[0016] The fins 12 are components that increase the heat transfer area with the outside air and promote heat exchange between the outside air and the cooling fluid. In this embodiment, the fins 12 are formed in a corrugated shape and are joined to the flat portions on both sides of the tubes 11.

[0017] The tube material 110 and the fin material 120 are made of a material having excellent thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance, etc. In the first embodiment, an aluminum alloy is used as the tube material 110 and the fin material 120. For example, a 3000 series, 5000 series, or 6000 series aluminum alloy can be used as the tube material 110 and the fin material 120.

[0018] Header tanks 20, which extend in the tube stacking direction and have an internal space, are disposed at both longitudinal ends of each tube 11. The header tanks 20 are configured to include a core plate 21 into which the tubes 11 are inserted and joined, and a tank body 22 that, together with the core plate 21, defines the tank space. The header tank 20 is joined with the longitudinal ends of each tube 11 inserted into insertion holes in the core plate 21. The internal passages of each tube 11 communicate with the space defined inside the header tank 20.

[0019] Side plates 30 are provided at both ends of the core portion 10 in the tube stacking direction to reinforce the core portion 10. The side plates 30 extend parallel to the tube longitudinal direction, and both ends are connected to the core plate 21. In this embodiment, the side plates 30 are made of a metal such as an aluminum alloy.

[0020] Here, the joining of the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 will be described. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 are joined with an adhesive 130. The adhesive 130 has fluidity in an initial state, and is applied to the joining surfaces of the tube material 110 and the fin material 120. The adhesive 130 bonds the joining surfaces of the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 together when it hardens. The adhesive 130 is interposed between the tube material 110 and the fin material 120, and bonds the joining surfaces of the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 together by mechanical adhesion, chemical adhesion, physical adhesion, or a combination of these.

[0021] The adhesive 130 may be, for example, a resin-based adhesive. The adhesive 130 may be thermoplastic or thermosetting. The adhesive 130 may be, for example, at least one of an epoxy-based adhesive, a urethane-based adhesive, and a silicone-based adhesive. The adhesive 130 is made of a material with lower thermal conductivity than the tube material 110 and the fin material 120, which are structural members.

[0022] An intermediate material 140 is provided between the tube material 110 and the fin material 120. The intermediate material 140 is a material that has lower strength than the tube material 110 and the fin material 120, which are structural members, and has higher thermal conductivity than the adhesive 130. The intermediate material 140 may be provided integrally with at least one of the tubes 11 and the fins 12 that are bonded by the adhesive 130, or may be provided as a separate member from the tubes 11 and the fins 12. In this embodiment, the intermediate material 140 is provided integrally with the tubes 11.

[0023] In this embodiment, an intermediate material 140 is provided on the surface of the tube material 110. The intermediate material 140 is provided on the joining surface of the tube material 110 that faces the fin material 120. Therefore, at the joining portion of the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 in this embodiment, the tube material 110, the intermediate material 140, the adhesive 130, and the fin material 120 are layered in this order.

[0024] In this embodiment, an aluminum alloy such as a 3000 series aluminum alloy is used as the tube material 110. An intermediate material 140 is clad on the surface of the tube 11 as the core material of the tube material 110, and the tube material 110 and the intermediate material 140 constitute a clad material 150.

[0025] The intermediate material 140 is formed as a coating on the joining surface of the tube material 110, and the intermediate material 140 is integrated with the tube material 110. The intermediate material 140 is clad on the joining surface of the tube material 110 that faces the fin material 120.

[0026] In this embodiment, the intermediate material 140 contains a metal material, and the tube material 110 can be clad with the intermediate material 140. Specifically, a 1000 series aluminum alloy is used as the intermediate material 140. The 1000 series aluminum alloy has a lower yield strength than the 3000 series, 5000 series, and 6000 series aluminum alloys. The yield strength is the stress at which plastic deformation begins when force is applied to a material.

[0027] The intermediate material 140 has a low yield strength, and is therefore more easily deformed than the tube material 110 and the fin material 120. In this embodiment, the intermediate material 140 is integrated with the joining surface of the tube material 110 and faces the joining surface of the fin material 120. The intermediate material 140 only needs to have a lower yield strength than the structural member with which it comes into contact, and it is sufficient for the intermediate material 140 to be made of a material with a lower yield strength than at least the fin material 120. This allows the intermediate material 140 to deform in accordance with the surface shape of the fin 12.

[0028] The intermediate material 140 is a material with a higher thermal conductivity than the adhesive 130. Therefore, by interposing the intermediate material 140 between the tube material 110 and the fin material 120, it is possible to improve the thermal conductivity of the joint between the tube material 110 and the fin material 120. The 1000 series aluminum alloy used as the intermediate material 140 in this embodiment is a material with excellent thermal conductivity, and has a higher thermal conductivity than the adhesive 130.

[0029] 3, the intermediate material 140 is deformed into a shape corresponding to the uneven shape of the surface of the fin material 120. In other words, when joining the tube material 110 and the fin material 120, the low-rigidity intermediate material 140 functions as a cushion material that deforms according to the uneven shape of the opposing fin material 120. This makes it possible to reduce the gap between the tube material 110 and the fin material 120, and to make the thickness of the adhesive 130 interposed between the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 as thin as possible.

[0030] Next, a method for manufacturing the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 in the heat exchanger 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0031] The manufacturing method of the tube 11 and the fin 12 includes a preparation step S10, a pressurizing step S11, a coating step S12, and a bonding step S13. In the example shown in Fig. 4, the preparation step S10, the pressurizing step S11, the coating step S12, and the bonding step S13 are performed in this order.

[0032] First, a preparation step S10 is performed to prepare a tube material 110 and a fin material 120. A clad material 150 is prepared by cladding an intermediate material 140 on the surface of the tube material 110. The fin material 120 is a press-molded product.

[0033] Next, a pressurizing step S11 is performed in which the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 are pressurized with the intermediate material 140 interposed between them. In the pressurizing step S11, the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 are pressed and compressed so as to be sandwiched between them with the joining surfaces of the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 facing each other. In the pressurizing step S11, the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 are pressed in a direction in which they approach each other.

[0034] In the pressurizing step S11, the joining surfaces of the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 come into contact and are pressed against each other. An intermediate material 140 is provided on the joining surface of the tube material 110. Because the intermediate material 140 has low rigidity, it deforms to conform to the surface shape of the fin material 120. As a result, the gap between the joining surfaces of the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 can be made as small as possible.

[0035] Next, an application step S12 is performed in which adhesive 130 is applied to the joining surfaces of the tube material 110 and the fin material 120. In the application step S12, the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 that have been brought into contact in the pressurizing step S11 are separated, and adhesive 130 is applied to at least one of the joining surfaces of the tube material 110 and the fin material 120.

[0036] Next, a bonding step S13 is performed to bond the tube material 110 and the fin material 120. In the bonding step S13, the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 are brought into close contact with each other with adhesive 130 interposed between the bonding surfaces of the tube material 110 and the fin material 120, and the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 are bonded together by the adhesive force of the adhesive 130.

[0037] In the example shown in FIG. 5, the order of the coating step and the pressurizing step is different from that in the example shown in FIG. 4, and the steps are performed in the order of a preparation step S10, a coating step S12, a pressurizing step S11, and an adhesion step S13.

[0038] 5, in the application step S12, adhesive 130 is applied to at least one of the joining surfaces of the tube material 110 and the joining surfaces of the fin material 120, and then the pressurizing step S11 is performed. Then, in the pressurizing step, the intermediate material 140 provided on the joining surface of the tube material 110 is deformed to conform to the surface shape of the fin material 120, and then the process proceeds directly to the bonding step S13.

[0039] According to the present embodiment described above, an intermediate material 140 having a lower yield strength than at least the fin material 120 is interposed between the tube material 110 and the fin material 120. The intermediate material 140, which has a lower yield strength, deforms according to the surface shape of the fin material 120 and can absorb the unevenness of the surface of the fin material 120. As a result, the gap between the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 can be minimized, and the thickness of the adhesive 130 interposed between the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 can be made as thin as possible. This reduces the thermal resistance caused by the adhesive 130 and makes it possible to suppress a decrease in the thermal conductivity between the tube material 110 and the fin material 120. Furthermore, by reducing the thickness of the adhesive 130, the amount of adhesive 130 used can be reduced, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the heat exchanger 1.

[0040] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a material having a higher thermal conductivity than the adhesive 130 is used as the intermediate material 140. As a result, the thickness of the adhesive 130, which has a low thermal conductivity, is reduced by using the intermediate material 140, which has a high thermal conductivity, so that it is possible to suppress a decrease in the thermal conduction performance between the tube material 110 and the fin material 120.

[0041] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a clad material 150 is used in which an intermediate material 140 is clad on the surface of the tube material 110. By cladding the intermediate material 140 on the tube material 110 in advance in this manner, the assembly process of the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 can be simplified compared to when the intermediate material 140 is a separate member, and the manufacturing cost of the heat exchanger 1 can be reduced.

[0042] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when joining the tube material 110 and the fin material 120, a pressurizing step is performed in which the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 are pressed in a direction in which they approach each other. This makes it possible to easily deform the intermediate material 140 to conform to the surface shape of the fin material 120, and to reduce the gap between the tube material 110 and the fin material 120.

[0043] In addition, in this embodiment, a press-molded product is used as the fin material 120. Since press molding is prone to causing unevenness on the surface, by using the intermediate material 140 as in this embodiment, the gap between the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 can be effectively reduced.

[0044] In the first embodiment, the intermediate material 140 is clad on the surface of the tube material 110, but the intermediate material 140 may also be clad on the surface of the fin material 120. In other words, the intermediate material 140 only needs to be clad on at least one of the tube material 110 and the fin material 120. When the intermediate material 140 is clad on the surface of the fin 12, the intermediate material 140 only needs to be a material that has a lower yield strength than at least the mating tube material 110.

[0045] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Only the differences from the first embodiment will be described below.

[0046] Figure 6 shows the state after the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 of the second embodiment have been joined. As shown in Figure 6, in the second embodiment, the intermediate material 140 is provided on both the joining surface of the tube material 110 and the joining surface of the fin material 120. In other words, the intermediate material 140 is provided between the adhesive 130 and the tube material 110, and between the adhesive 130 and the fin material 120. Therefore, at the joining portion of the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 of the second embodiment, the tube material 110, the intermediate material 140, the adhesive 130, the intermediate material 140, and the fin material 120 are layered in this order.

[0047] In the second embodiment, a first clad material 150 is used in which an intermediate material 140 is clad on the surface of a tube material 110, and a second clad material 160 is used in which an intermediate material 140 is clad on the surface of a fin material 120. In other words, the tube material 110 and the intermediate material 140, and the fin material 120 and the intermediate material 140 are integrated together.

[0048] According to the configuration of the second embodiment, the intermediate material 140 deforms in a direction that minimizes the surface energy, so the joining surface of the tube material 110 and the joining surface of the fin material 120 can be made even flatter. This allows the joining surface of the tube material 110 and the joining surface of the fin material 120 to be made narrower, and the thickness of the adhesive 130 can be made thinner. This further reduces the thermal resistance caused by the adhesive 130, and effectively suppresses a decrease in the thermal conduction performance between the tube material 110 and the fin material 120.

[0049] Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Only the differences from the above embodiments will be described below.

[0050] Figure 7 shows the state before the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 of the third embodiment are joined. As shown in Figure 7, the intermediate material 140 of the third embodiment is separate from the tube material 110 and the fin material 120, and is a separate member from the tube material 110 and the fin material 120. An adhesive 130 is provided between the intermediate material 140 and the tube material 110 and between the intermediate material 140 and the fin material 120. The intermediate material 140 is joined to the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 with the adhesive 130. Therefore, at the joint between the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 of the third embodiment, the tube material 110, adhesive 130, intermediate material 140, adhesive 130, and fin material 120 are layered in this order.

[0051] In the third embodiment, a material other than a metal material can be used as the intermediate material 140, for example, a carbon sheet in which carbon is kneaded into resin. The carbon sheet is a material that has lower strength than the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 and higher thermal conductivity than the adhesive 130.

[0052] According to the configuration of the third embodiment, by making the intermediate material 140 a separate member from the tube material 110 and the fin material 120, it is possible to use a material other than a metal material as the intermediate material 140. This improves the degree of freedom in selecting the material for the intermediate material 140.

[0053] Fourth Embodiment Next, a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Only the differences from the above embodiments will be described below.

[0054] Figure 8 shows the state after the tube material 110 and fin material 120 of this fourth embodiment have been joined. As shown in Figure 8, in this fourth embodiment, as in the first embodiment, an intermediate material 140 is provided on the joining surface of the tube material 110. Furthermore, the adhesive 130 of this fourth embodiment contains a filler 170. The filler 170 is a material with a higher thermal conductivity than the adhesive 130, and can be, for example, a powder of silica, alumina, aluminum, aluminum nitride, boron nitride, diamond, carbon fiber, or the like. The intermediate material 140 has a lower yield strength than the filler 170.

[0055] In the fourth embodiment, after an application process is performed in which adhesive 130 is applied to the joining surfaces of the tube material 110 and the fin material 120, a pressurizing process is performed in which pressure is applied to the tube material 110 and the fin material 120. In other words, the pressurizing process is performed in a state in which adhesive 130 containing filler 170 is interposed between the tube material 110 and the fin material 120.

[0056] In the pressurizing step, the intermediate material 140 deforms to conform to the surface shape of the fin material 120, and further, the intermediate material 140 deforms to conform to the outer shape of the filler 170. In this way, the intermediate material 140 deforms, and thereby can absorb the irregularities on the surface of the fin material 120 as well as the irregularities caused by the filler 170.

[0057] According to the fourth embodiment, when the adhesive 130 contains the filler 170, the gap between the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 can be made smaller than the particle size of the filler 170. As a result, the gap at the joint between the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 can be made as small as possible, and the thickness of the adhesive 130 interposed between the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 can be made as thin as possible. This reduces the thermal resistance caused by the adhesive 130, and makes it possible to suppress a decrease in the thermal conductivity between the tube 11 and the fin 12.

[0058] Fifth Embodiment Next, a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Only the differences from the above embodiments will be described below.

[0059] The fifth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a clad material 150 in which the surface of an intermediate material 140 is pre-coated with an adhesive 130 is used.

[0060] Next, a method for manufacturing the tube material 110 and the fin material 120 in the heat exchanger 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 9 and 10. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the method for manufacturing the heat exchanger 1 of this fifth embodiment includes a rolling step S20, a coating step S21, a processing step S22, a component stacking step S23, and a pressure bonding step S24. The rolling step S20, the coating step S21, and the processing step S22 correspond to preparation steps for preparing the tubes 11 and the fins 12.

[0061] In the rolling step S20, the tube material 110 and the intermediate material 140 are hot rolled by two rolling rollers 200, 201 to bond the intermediate material 140 to the surface of the tube material 110. This results in a clad material 150 in which the tube material 110 is clad with the intermediate material 140.

[0062] In the coating step S21, a precoat is performed by applying adhesive 130 to the surface of the clad material 150 obtained in the rolling step S20 on the side of the intermediate material 140. In the coating step S21, adhesive 130 is applied using a pickup roll 210, a coating roll 211, and a backup roll 212.

[0063] The adhesive 130 filled in the adhesive reservoir 213 adheres to the surface of the pickup roll 210, and after the film thickness is adjusted by the blade 214, is supplied to the coating roll 211. The coating roll 211 applies the adhesive 130 to the surface of the intermediate material 140 in the clad material 150.

[0064] In the processing step S22, the clad material 150 pre-coated with the adhesive 130 is pressed to form the tube 11. Further in the processing step S22, the fin material 120 to be used as the fins 12 is pressed to form the fins 12.

[0065] In the component stacking step S23, the tubes 11 and the fins 12 are alternately stacked and assembled. At this time, the surface of the tube material 110 on which the adhesive 130 is applied and the fin material 120 are arranged to face each other.

[0066] The pressure bonding step S24 includes a pressure applying step of compressing the tubes 11 and the fins 12 by applying pressure so as to sandwich them, and a bonding step of bonding the tubes 11 and the fins 12 with the adhesive 13.

[0067] In the pressure bonding step S24, the tube 11 and the fin 12 are pressurized from the outside with the joining surface of the tube material 110 and the joining surface of the fin material 120 facing each other. This causes the joining surface of the tube material 110 and the joining surface of the fin material 120 to come into contact and press against each other. The intermediate material 140 provided on the joining surface of the tube material 110 deforms to conform to the surface shape of the fin material 120. After the intermediate material 140 is deformed in the pressure bonding step S24, the process proceeds directly to the bonding step.

[0068] In the fifth embodiment described above, adhesive 130 is applied in advance to the surface of intermediate material 140 clad on tube material 110 in application step S21. Intermediate material 140 clad on tube material 110 before being processed into the shape of tube 11 has a simple, flat shape, which makes it possible to apply adhesive 130 more quickly than when applying adhesive 130 to fins 12 with complex shapes.

[0069] Furthermore, the surface area of ​​the intermediate material 140 clad on the tube material 110 is smaller than that of the fins 12. Therefore, by applying the adhesive 130 to the intermediate material 140 clad on the tube material 110 in advance, the amount of adhesive 130 used can be reduced compared to when the adhesive 130 is applied to the fin material 120. As a result, the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger 1 can be improved.

[0070] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made as follows without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the means disclosed in the above-described embodiments may be combined as appropriate within the scope of feasibility.

[0071] For example, although the above embodiments have described the joining of the tubes 11 and the fins 12 of a fin-and-tube heat exchanger, the present disclosure may be applied to the joining of different types of structural members. For example, in the case of a plate stacking type heat exchanger, the present disclosure may be applied to the joining of plates.

[0072] The heat exchanger disclosed in this specification has the following features: (Item 1) A heat exchanger comprising: a first structural member (110); a second structural member (120); an adhesive (130) disposed between the first structural member and the second structural member and having a lower thermal conductivity than the first structural member and the second structural member; and an intermediate material (140) disposed between the first structural member and the second structural member and having a lower yield strength than at least one of the first structural member and the second structural member and a higher thermal conductivity than the adhesive. (Item 2) The heat exchanger according to Item 1, wherein the intermediate material contains a metallic material. (Item 3) The heat exchanger according to Item 1 or 2, wherein the intermediate material is clad on the surface of at least one of the first structural member and the second structural member. (Item 4) The heat exchanger according to any one of Items 1 to 3, wherein the first structural member and the second structural member are aluminum alloys, and the intermediate material is an aluminum alloy having a lower yield strength than at least one of the first structural member and the second structural member. (Item 5) The heat exchanger according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the intermediate material is provided between the first structural member and the adhesive and between the second structural member and the adhesive. (Item 6) The heat exchanger according to item 1, wherein the intermediate material is a separate material from the first structural member and the second structural member and is joined to the first structural member and the second structural member by the adhesive. (Item 7) The heat exchanger according to any one of items 1 to 6, wherein the adhesive contains a filler (170) having a higher thermal conductivity than the adhesive, and the intermediate material has a lower yield strength than the filler. (Item 8) A method for manufacturing a heat exchanger according to item 1, comprising a pressurizing step (S11, S24) of pressurizing the first structural member and the second structural member in a direction toward each other with the intermediate material interposed between them, wherein the pressurizing step causes the intermediate material to deform in accordance with the surface shape of at least one of the first structural member and the second structural member.(Item 9) A method for manufacturing a heat exchanger according to item 8, comprising an application step (S12, S21) of applying the adhesive to at least one of the first structural member and the second structural member and at least one of the intermediate material, wherein the first structural member constitutes a tube (11) through which a heat exchange medium passes, and the second structural member constitutes a fin (12) in thermal contact with the tube, the first structural member and the intermediate material are a clad material (150), and the application step applies the adhesive to a surface of the intermediate material in the clad material. (Item 10) A method for manufacturing a heat exchanger according to item 9, comprising a processing step (S22) of processing the first structural member to form the tube, and the application step (S21) is performed before the processing step.

[0073] Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to the embodiments, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments or structures. The present disclosure also encompasses various modifications and modifications within the scope of equivalents. In addition, although various combinations and forms are shown in the present disclosure, other combinations and forms including only one element, more, or less than one element are also within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger comprising: a first structural member (110); a second structural member (120); an adhesive (130) provided between the first structural member and the second structural member and having a lower thermal conductivity than the first structural member and the second structural member; and an intermediate member (140) provided between the first structural member and the second structural member, having a lower yield strength than at least one of the first structural member and the second structural member and having a higher thermal conductivity than the adhesive.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate member contains a metallic material.

3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate member is clad on at least one surface of the first structural member and the second structural member.

4. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the first structural member and the second structural member are aluminum alloys, and the intermediate member is an aluminum alloy having a lower yield strength than at least one of the first structural member and the second structural member.

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate member is provided between the first structural member and the adhesive and between the second structural member and the adhesive.

6. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate member is a separate member from the first structural member and the second structural member and is joined to the first structural member and the second structural member by the adhesive.

7. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive contains a filler (170) having a higher thermal conductivity than the adhesive, and the intermediate member has a lower yield strength than the filler.

8. A method for manufacturing the heat exchanger according to claim 1, the method comprising a pressing step (S11, S24) of pressing the first structural member and the second structural member in a direction approaching each other with the intermediate member interposed therebetween, wherein in the pressing step, the intermediate member is deformed according to the surface shape of at least one of the first structural member and the second structural member.

9. A coating step (S12, S21) of applying the adhesive to at least one of at least one of the first structural member and the second structural member and the intermediate member, wherein the first structural member constitutes a tube (11) through which a heat exchange medium passes inside, the second structural member constitutes fins (12) that are in thermal contact with the tube, the first structural member and the intermediate member are clad materials (150), and in the coating step, the adhesive is applied to the surface of the intermediate member in the clad material. The method for manufacturing a heat exchanger according to claim 8.

10. A processing step (S22) of processing the first structural member to form the tube, wherein the coating step (S21) is performed before the processing step. The method for manufacturing a heat exchanger according to claim 9.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Method for manufacturing parallel flow heat exchanger

    JP6341098B2

  • Structure of heat exchanger

    JP1981027892A

  • Production of aluminum heat exchanger

    JP1986071172A

  • Heat exchanger manufacturing method, heat exchange tube having brazing filler metal foil, and method and device for manufacturing heat exchange tube having brazing filler metal foil

    JP2003001409A

  • Heat exchanger, method for manufacturing same, and refrigeration cycle device

    WO2018116408A1