Heat exchanger

Abstract

[Problem] The purpose of the present invention is to reduce variation in flow velocity in a heat exchanger. [Solution] This heat exchanger is provided with a core and tanks provided on the upstream side and the downstream side of the core, and is provided with a plurality of heat exchange modules arranged in the thickness direction of the core, and a manifold (5) positioned on the upstream side of the plurality of heat exchange modules. The manifold (5) is provided with a hub part (10) having an opening part (11) provided on one side in the thickness direction of the core, and a plurality of pipe parts (20) branching from the hub part (10) and connected to the plurality of tanks positioned on the upstream side. On a flow path (13) between the opening part (11) and one of the pipe parts (20) closest to the opening part (11), the hub part (10) has a large cross-section part (14) having a cross-sectional area larger than that of the opening part (11). Boundary parts (20B) between the hub part (10) and the plurality of pipe parts (20) get closer and closer to a tank (4) toward the other side in the thickness direction. [Selected drawing] FIG. 3

Description

Heat exchanger

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

[0002] There is known a heat exchanger provided with a manifold for distributing a fluid to a plurality of heat exchange modules (for example, Patent Document 1). The heat exchange module has a core and tanks provided on the upstream side and the downstream side of the core. The plurality of heat exchange modules are arranged in the thickness direction of the core. The upstream manifold has a cylindrical hub portion having an opening through which oil flows in, and a plurality of piping portions branched from the hub portion and connected to the tanks of the respective heat exchange modules.

[0003] International Publication No. 2016 / 190445

[0004] In the conventional heat exchanger disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the like, although the fluid flows into the tanks of the respective heat exchange modules through the plurality of piping portions from the hub portion of the upstream manifold, in a portion where the variation in the flow velocity in the tank is large, a water hammer phenomenon is likely to occur due to the start / stop of the pump that supplies the internal fluid to the heat exchanger, the opening / closing of the valve, etc., and there is a risk that the tank will be damaged.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to suppress the variation in the flow velocity in the heat exchanger.

[0006] To solve the above problems, a heat exchanger 1 according to the present invention includes a core 3 and tanks 4 provided on the upstream side and the downstream side of the core 3, and a plurality of heat exchange modules 2 arranged in the thickness direction of the core 3, and a manifold 5 provided on the upstream side of the plurality of heat exchange modules 2. The manifold 5 includes a hub portion 10 provided with an opening 11 on one side in the thickness direction of the core 3, and a plurality of piping portions 20 branched from the hub portion 10 and connected to the plurality of upstream tanks 4. The hub portion 10 has a large cross-sectional portion 14 having a larger cross-sectional area than the opening 11 in a flow path 13 between the piping portion 20 closest to the opening 11 and the opening 11. Each boundary portion 20B between the hub portion 10 and the plurality of piping portions 20 is closer to the tank 4 corresponding to each boundary portion 20B toward the other side in the thickness direction.

[0007] The surface 15 of the hub portion 10 located on the opposite side of the upstream tank 4 in the flow path 13 may be closer to the group of upstream tanks 4 as it moves toward the other side in the thickness direction.

[0008] The heat exchanger 1 has three heat exchange modules 2, and the plurality of piping sections 20 include a first piping section 21 closest to the opening 11, a second piping section 22 further away from the opening 11 than the first piping section 21, and a third piping section 23 further away from the opening 11 than the second piping section 22. In a cross section passing through the center of the opening 11 and parallel to the thickness direction and the fluid flow direction F within the core 3, the inner wall 16 on the tank 4 side of the flow path 13 between the opening 11 and the large cross section 14 is formed linearly along the thickness direction. The angle of inclination β of the straight line BC connecting the first branch point B and the second branch point C between the second piping section 22 and the third piping section 23 may be larger than the angle of inclination α of the straight line AB connecting the other end A of the inner wall 16 and the first branch point B between the first piping section 21 and the second piping section 22 with respect to the thickness direction.

[0009] The heat exchanger 1 may include the manifold 5 downstream of the plurality of heat exchange modules 2, and the plurality of piping sections 20 of the downstream manifold 5 may be connected to the plurality of downstream tanks 4.

[0010] According to the present invention, variations in flow velocity within a heat exchanger can be suppressed.

[0011] This is a perspective view showing a heat exchanger according to one embodiment of the present invention. This is a perspective view showing an upstream manifold according to one embodiment of the present invention. This is a cross-sectional view showing an upstream manifold according to one embodiment of the present invention. This is a cross-sectional view showing sections I-I, II-II, III-III, and IV-IV in Figure 3. This is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional manifold. This is a diagram showing the measurement results of the pressure inside the tank during a dynamic pressure impulse test of a heat exchanger equipped with manifold according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] The following describes a heat exchanger 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the drawings.

[0013] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the heat exchanger 1. In each figure, U, Lo, L, R, Fr, and Rr indicate top, bottom, left, right, front, and back, respectively. These directions are defined only for the sake of explanation.

[0014] [Heat Exchanger] The heat exchanger 1 comprises a plurality of heat exchange modules 2 and manifolds 5 provided on the upstream and downstream sides of the plurality of heat exchange modules 2. In this embodiment, the heat exchanger 1 is specifically an oil cooler, but the present invention may also be applied to a radiator. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the present invention is applied to a vertical flow type heat exchanger 1, but the present invention may also be applied to a horizontal flow type heat exchanger 1. In addition, in this embodiment, an example is shown in which the present invention is applied to a heat exchanger 1 having three heat exchange modules 2, but the present invention may also be applied to a heat exchanger 1 having two or more heat exchange modules 2.

[0015] [Heat Exchange Module] The heat exchange module 2 comprises a core 3 and tanks 4 located upstream and downstream of the core 3. The direction of fluid flow F inside the core 3 is from bottom to top in Figure 1. That is, the tank 4 below the core 3 is the upstream tank 4, and the tank 4 above the core 3 is the downstream tank 4. The flow direction F may also be from top to bottom.

[0016] [Core] The core 3 comprises a plurality of tubes whose longitudinal direction is vertical, and fins provided between the tubes (not shown). The tubes have a flattened cross-sectional shape and are provided at equal intervals in the left-right direction, with the front-to-back direction being the longitudinal direction of the cross-section. The fluid is lubricating oil. The fluid may also be a heat transfer medium for cooling or heating. The fluid may also be a liquid or a gas. The core 3 as a whole is a rectangular plate shape with the thickness direction in the front-to-back direction (Fr-Rr direction). The three heat exchange modules 2 are arranged in the thickness direction of the core 3.

[0017] [Tank] Tank 4 is cylindrical with its longitudinal direction running horizontally and both ends closed. The upstream tank 4 is connected to the lower ends of multiple tubes. The downstream tank 4 is connected to the upper ends of multiple tubes.

[0018] [Upstream Manifold] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the upstream manifold 5. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the upstream manifold 5. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the I-I, II-II, III-III, and IV-IV sections of Figure 3. Note that in Figures 2 to 4, the upstream manifold 5 is shown inverted vertically and horizontally for ease of explanation.

[0019] The upstream manifold 5 is connected to the upstream tank 4. The upstream manifold 5 comprises a hub section 10 and a plurality (three in this embodiment) of piping sections 20. The hub section 10 has an opening 11 into which fluid flows in on one side (rear side) in the thickness direction (Fr-Rr direction) of the core 3. The fluid flows from one side to the other side (front side) through the opening 11. A diamond-shaped flange 12 is provided around the opening 11. Piping (not shown) that guides fluid from a heat source such as an engine is connected to the flange 12. The three piping sections 20 branch off from the hub section 10 and each is connected to the upstream tank 4. The three piping sections 20 protrude upward from three locations in the front-rear direction corresponding to the three tanks 4 on the upper part of the hub section 10. Hereinafter, the three piping sections 20 will be distinguished as the first piping section 21, the second piping section 22, and the third piping section 23, in order from the opening 11 side. The three piping sections 20 are arranged at roughly equal intervals in the front-to-back direction.

[0020] Each boundary 20B between the hub section 10 and the multiple piping sections 20 is closer to the tank 4 corresponding to each boundary 20B the other side in the thickness direction. Here, "closer to the tank 4 corresponding to each boundary 20B the other side in the thickness direction" means that the other side in the thickness direction is closer to the tank 4 connected to the piping section 20 corresponding to each boundary 20B. Specifically, the second boundary 22B between the hub section 10 and the second piping section 22 is closer to the upstream tank 4 than the first boundary 21B between the hub section 10 and the first piping section 21. Also, the third boundary 23B between the hub section 10 and the third piping section 23 is closer to the upstream tank 4 than the second boundary 22B between the hub section 10 and the second piping section 22.

[0021] Figure 3 shows a cross-section that passes through the center of the opening 11 and is parallel to the thickness direction and the fluid flow direction F (see Figure 1) within the core 3. The hub portion 10 has a flow path 13 that guides fluid from one side (rear side) to the other side (front side) in the thickness direction of the core 3. The inner wall 16 of the flow path 13 is cylindrical within a predetermined length range from the opening 11 (the range from the left end to end A in Figure 3). On the other side of the cylindrical flow path 13, a large cross-sectional portion 14 (see Figures 3 and 4) with a larger cross-sectional area than the opening 11 is provided. The width W2 and height H2 of the large cross-sectional portion 14 are greater than the diameter D1 of the opening 11. The cross-sectional area of ​​the large cross-sectional portion 14 increases towards the other side. In Figure 3, the inner wall 16 on the tank 4 side of the flow path 13 between the opening 11 and the large cross-sectional portion 14 is formed linearly along the thickness direction. The surface 15 of the hub portion 10 located on the opposite side of the upstream tank 4 in the flow path 13 is closer to the group of upstream tanks 4 as it moves toward the other side in the thickness direction. Here, the group of upstream tanks 4 includes all the upstream tanks 4 (in this embodiment, three tanks 4).

[0022] As shown in Figure 4, the cross-sectional area of ​​the channel 13 in the II-II section is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the channel 13 in the III-III section, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the channel 13 in the III-III section is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the channel 13 in the IV-IV section. Specifically, the width W2 of the channel 13 in the II-II section, the width W3 of the channel 13 in the III-III section, and the width W4 of the channel 13 in the IV-IV section are substantially equal. On the other hand, the height H2 of the channel 13 in the II-II section is higher than the height H3 of the channel 13 in the III-III section, and the height H3 of the channel 13 in the III-III section is higher than the height H4 of the channel 13 in the IV-IV section.

[0023] In Figure 3, if we let α be the angle of inclination with respect to the thickness direction of the straight line AB connecting the other end A of the inner wall 16 on the tank 4 side of the flow path 13 between the opening 11 and the large cross section 14, and the first branching point B between the first piping section 21 and the second piping section 22, and if we let β be the angle of inclination with respect to the thickness direction of the straight line BC connecting the first branching point B and the second branching point C between the second piping section 22 and the third piping section 23, then the angle of inclination β is greater than the angle of inclination α.

[0024] [Downstream Manifold] The downstream manifold 5 is connected to the downstream tank 4. The downstream manifold 5 has the same shape as the upstream manifold 5, but is installed facing the opposite direction vertically and horizontally. That is, the downstream manifold 5 is positioned with its opening 11 facing the other side in the thickness direction, and the multiple piping sections 20 of the downstream manifold 5 are connected to the multiple downstream tanks 4. For this reason, a detailed explanation of the downstream manifold 5 is omitted. Note that the downstream manifold 5 may also be positioned with its opening 11 facing one side in the thickness direction.

[0025] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional manifold 5. The conventional manifold 5 is similar to the manifold described in Patent Document 1 in that it has a cylindrical hub section having an opening for oil to flow in, and a plurality of piping sections branching from the hub section and connected to the tanks of each heat exchange module. In the conventional manifold 5, the second boundary 22B between the hub section 10 and the second piping section 22 is spaced further from the upstream tank 4 than the first boundary 21B between the hub section 10 and the first piping section 21. Also, the third boundary 23B between the hub section 10 and the third piping section 23 is at the same distance from the second boundary 22B between the hub section 10 and the second piping section 22 and the upstream tank 4. The distance from the upstream tank 4 to the surface 15 located on the opposite side of the upstream tank 4 in the flow path 13 of the hub section 10 is uniform.

[0026] Figure 6 shows the measurement results of the pressure inside the tank 4 during a dynamic pressure impulse test of a heat exchanger 1 equipped with a conventional manifold 5. The horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents output pressure, which are dimensionless. When a dynamic pressure impulse is input, the rapid flow of fluid causes the fluid supply to stop, generating negative pressure. Subsequently, the return fluid collides with the impulse, resulting in a water hammer phenomenon where locally excessive pressure is generated. According to the flow velocity measurement results (not shown), in the conventional manifold 5, a fast flow occurs near the opening 11 and in a part of the flow path 13, which is the cause of the localized fast flow inside the tank. Note that the variation in flow velocity inside the tank 4 is an example of the variation in flow velocity inside the heat exchanger 1, and variations in flow velocity can also occur in the piping section 20.

[0027] Figure 7 shows the measurement results of the pressure inside the tank 4 during a dynamic pressure impulse test of the heat exchanger 1 equipped with the manifold 5 of this embodiment. After the dynamic pressure impulse was input, no negative pressure was generated, and as a result, no water hammer phenomenon occurred, which was a good result. According to this embodiment, the flow velocity of the fluid flowing in from the opening 11 temporarily decreases in the large cross section 14 (see Figure 4), so a localized increase in flow velocity is suppressed. Also, according to this embodiment, the boundary 20B between the hub section 10 and the multiple piping sections 20 is closer to the tank 4 on the other side in the thickness direction, so the change in the direction of flow when the fluid flows from the hub section 10 to the tank 4 becomes gradual, and a localized increase in flow velocity is suppressed.

[0028] The heat exchanger 1 according to the embodiment described above comprises a core 3, tanks 4 provided on the upstream and downstream sides of the core 3, a plurality of heat exchange modules 2 arranged in the thickness direction of the core 3, and a manifold 5 provided on the upstream side of the plurality of heat exchange modules 2. The manifold 5 comprises a hub portion 10 with an opening 11 on one side in the thickness direction of the core 3, and a plurality of piping portions 20 that branch off from the hub portion 10 and are connected to the plurality of upstream tanks 4. The hub portion 10 has a large cross-sectional portion 14 with a larger cross-sectional area than the opening 11 in the flow path 13 between the piping portion 20 closest to the opening 11 and the opening 11. Each boundary portion 20B between the hub portion 10 and the plurality of piping portions 20 is closer to the tank 4 corresponding to each boundary portion 20B as the other side in the thickness direction approaches. According to this embodiment, variations in flow velocity within the heat exchanger 1 can be suppressed. As a result, the occurrence of water hammer can be prevented.

[0029] Furthermore, according to the heat exchanger 1 of this embodiment, the surface 15 located on the opposite side of the upstream tank 4 in the flow path 13 of the hub portion 10 is closer to the group of upstream tanks 4 as the other side in the thickness direction approaches. According to this embodiment, the change in the direction of flow when fluid flows from the hub portion 10 to the tank 4 becomes gradual, and localized increases in flow velocity are suppressed. Therefore, according to this embodiment, variations in flow velocity within the heat exchanger 1 can be suppressed. As a result, the occurrence of water hammer can be prevented.

[0030] Furthermore, according to the heat exchanger 1 of this embodiment, it has three heat exchange modules 2, and the plurality of piping sections 20 include a first piping section 21 closest to the opening 11, a second piping section 22 further away from the opening 11 than the first piping section 21, and a third piping section 23 further away from the opening 11 than the second piping section 22. In a cross section that passes through the center of the opening 11 and is parallel to the thickness direction and the fluid flow direction F within the core 3, the inner wall 16 on the tank 4 side of the flow path 13 between the opening 11 and the large cross section 14 is formed linearly along the thickness direction, and the angle of inclination β with respect to the thickness direction of the straight line BC connecting the first branching point B and the second branching point C between the second piping section 22 and the third piping section 23 is larger than the angle of inclination α with respect to the thickness direction of the straight line AB connecting the other end A of the inner wall 16 and the first branching point B between the first piping section 21 and the second piping section 22. According to this embodiment, the change in flow direction when fluid flows from the hub section 10 to the tank 4 is gradual, and localized increases in flow velocity are suppressed. Therefore, according to this embodiment, variations in flow velocity within the heat exchanger 1 can be suppressed. As a result, the occurrence of water hammer can be prevented.

[0031] Furthermore, according to the heat exchanger 1 of this embodiment, a manifold 5 is provided downstream of a plurality of heat exchange modules 2, and a plurality of piping sections 20 of the downstream manifold 5 are connected to a plurality of downstream tanks 4. According to this embodiment, localized increases in flow velocity are suppressed in the downstream manifold 5, just as in the upstream side. Therefore, according to this embodiment, variations in flow velocity within the heat exchanger 1 can be suppressed. As a result, the occurrence of water hammer can be prevented. In addition, since the upstream and downstream manifolds 5 are made of the same parts, costs can be reduced.

[0032] The above embodiment may be modified as follows.

[0033] In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the downstream manifold 5 has the same shape as the upstream manifold 5; however, the downstream manifold 5 may have a different shape from the upstream manifold 5.

[0034] 1 Heat exchanger 2 Heat exchange module 3 Core 4 Tank 5 Manifold 10 Hub section 11 Opening 13 Flow path 14 Large cross section 15 Surface 16 Inner wall 20 Piping section 20B Boundary section 21 First piping section 22 Second piping section 23 Third piping section A End B First branching point C Second branching point F Flow direction AB, BC Straight line α, β Inclination angle

Claims

1. The apparatus comprises a core (3), tanks (4) provided on the upstream and downstream sides of the core (3), a plurality of heat exchange modules (2) arranged in the thickness direction of the core (3), and a manifold (5) provided on the upstream side of the plurality of heat exchange modules (2), wherein the manifold (5) comprises a hub portion (10) having an opening (11) on one side of the core (3) in the thickness direction, and a plurality of piping portions (20) branching from the hub portion (10) and connected to the plurality of upstream tanks (4), wherein the hub portion (10) has a large cross-sectional portion (14) with a larger cross-sectional area than the opening (11) in the flow path (13) between the piping portion (20) closest to the opening (11) and the opening (11), A heat exchanger characterized in that each boundary portion (20B) between the hub portion (10) and the plurality of piping portions (20) is closer to the tank (4) corresponding to each boundary portion (20B) on the other side in the thickness direction.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the flow path (13) of the hub portion (10), the surface (15) located on the opposite side from the plurality of upstream tanks (4) is closer to the group of upstream tanks (4) as it moves toward the other side in the thickness direction.

3. Having three heat exchange modules (2), the plurality of piping sections (20) include a first piping section (21) closest to the opening (11), a second piping section (22) further away from the opening (11) than the first piping section (21), and a third piping section (23) further away from the opening (11) than the second piping section (22), and in a cross section passing through the center of the opening (11) and parallel to the thickness direction and the fluid flow direction (F) within the core (3), the inner wall (16) of the flow path (13) between the opening (11) and the large cross section (14) on the tank (4) side is formed linearly along the thickness direction. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the angle of inclination (β) of the straight line (BC) connecting the first branching point (B) and the second branching point (C) between the second pipe section (22) and the third pipe section (23) is greater than the angle of inclination (α) of the straight line (AB) connecting the other end (A) of the inner wall (16) and the first branching point (B) between the first pipe section (21) and the second pipe section (22) with respect to the thickness direction.

4. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that a manifold (5) is provided downstream of a plurality of heat exchange modules (2), and a plurality of piping sections (20) of the downstream manifold (5) are connected to a plurality of downstream tanks (4).

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