A plate for a heat exchanger

Abstract

The invention also concerns a heat exchanger (1000) for heat exchange between a first fluid and at least second fluid comprising at least one plate (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the heat exchanger (1000) further comprises: a first fluid circuit (1100) comprising plurality of first passes (1100A) and a second fluid circuit (1200) comprising plurality of second passes (1200A), wherein the passes (1200A, 1100A) are stacked in alternating manner, wherein the claws (111) of the plate (100) are arranged at an entry to at least one of first passes (1100A).

Description

[0001] A PLATE FOR A HEAT EXCHANGER

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention relates to a plate for a heat exchanger. In particular, the invention relates to a plate for a heat exchanger for a motor vehicle.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Heat exchange capacity is one indicator for evaluating the performance of heat exchangers and media systems. The heat exchange capacity may vary due to differences in media flow rates in multiple heat exchange channels. The medium may be a gas-liquid two-phase medium in which a gas-phase medium and a liquid-phase medium are mixed. The addition of oil in the medium may also be present. In this case, the difference in the gas-liquid ratio between the gas-phase medium and the liquidphase medium between the plurality of heat exchange passes may change the heat exchange performance. Thus there is a need to improve the global efficiency of the heat exchanger (e.g. chiller, water- cooled condenser) by improving its heat exchange capability.

[0006] The stacked plate heat exchanger design, such as in chiller or water- cooled condenser is usually suited to transferring heat between medium- and low-pressure fluids. Welded, semi-welded and brazed heat exchangers are used for heat exchange between high-pressure fluids or where a more compact product is required. In place of a pipe passing through a chamber, there are instead two alternating chambers, usually thin in depth, separated at their largest surface by a metal plate. The plates used in a plate and frame heat exchanger are obtained by one piece pressing of metal plates.The chiller is a compact heat exchanger using one medium used in vehicle’s refrigeration system to cool down the other medium (e.g. water, coolant) used for cooling the batteries or electronics in a hybrid or electric vehicles. Consequently, the chiller must be robust and efficient.

[0007] The know way for improving the efficiency is, for example increasing the heat exchange surface by providing bigger chiller core or by providing multiple passes in said heat exchanger.

[0008] However, these methods are limiting as they always require increased packaging what generates costs.

[0009] One of the improvements is adding so-called mixing device to onto the manifold of the plate heat exchanger in order to provide homogenous distribution of liquid and gaseous phases across the heat exchanger. This however requires placing an additional component which partly obstructs the flow what may increase the pressure drop of the refrigerant.

[0010] Thus it is desired to provide an alternative mixing device.

[0011] There is also a need that the mixing device is easy to produce and inexpensive.

[0012] It is also desired that there is no additional process such as fixing the mixing device onto the heat exchanger.

[0013] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The object of the invention is, among others, a plate for a heat exchanger, said plate comprising a first face and a second face defining a general plane of the plate, wherein the plate further comprises: a circumferential edge delimiting the outline of the plate in a direction parallel to the general plane, at least one opening arranged on the plate, and at least on claw arranged in the vicinity of the opening, wherein the claw projects from at least one of the faces.

[0015] Accordingly, the claw projects beyond the general plane of the plate .Accordingly, the opening is at least partially overlapped by at least one claw, wherein the opening is substantially coplanar with the general plane.

[0016] Accordingly, each claw comprises a first surface and a second surface, the surfaces being substantially parallel to each other, wherein the distance between the second surface and any of the face is smaller than the distance between the first surface and any of the faces.

[0017] Accordingly, each claw further comprises a front wall and at least one sidewall, the walls being configured to join the surfaces of each claw.

[0018] Accordingly, the sidewall comprises a U-shaped portion, wherein both free ends of said U-shaped portion are connected with the front wall.

[0019] Accordingly, the claw is disposed on any of the first face and / or the second face. Accordingly, the opening comprises an opening circumference for delimiting the opening, wherein said opening circumference comprises at least one straight portion. Accordingly, the opening circumference further comprises at least one opening finger arranged between the adjacent claws, wherein said finger is at the different level than the claw.

[0020] The invention also concerns a heat exchanger for heat exchange between a first fluid and at least second fluid comprising at least one plate according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the heat exchanger further comprises: a first fluid circuit comprising plurality of first passes and a second fluid circuit comprising plurality of second passes, wherein the passes are stacked in alternating manner, wherein the claws of the plate are arranged at an entry to at least one of first passes.

[0021] Accordingly, the claws of the plate are arranged at an entry to all first passes.

[0022] The invention allows providing plate concept for heat exchanger for the distribution of the refrigerant liquid in a heat exchanger (in the chiller) in order to improve the homogeneity of the distribution of the two-phase fluid (liquid and gas).

[0023] The invention also allows providing a mixing device which is integrated in the plate, therefore no additional steps such as fixing the mixing device onto the heat exchanger are required.The invention therefore significantly reduces the cost of obtaining mixing device for the heat exchanger.

[0024] The invention also allows to provide a heat exchanger of the high efficiency.

[0025] BRIEF DESCRITPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0026] Examples of the invention will be apparent from and described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027] Fig. 1 shows a top view of the plate.

[0028] Fig. 2 shows the first detailed perspective view with a plate comprising claws.

[0029] Fig. 3 shows the second detailed perspective view with a plate comprising claws. Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of exemplary heat exchanger comprising plate with claws.

[0030] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0031] The invention refers to a plate 100 for a heat exchanger 1000. In particular, the plate 100 may be used the heat exchanger 1000 for vehicle. The vehicle may be an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle or vehicle having an internal combustion engine.

[0032] The plate 100 may be regarded as any planar element which has defined shape. For example, the plate may have a substantially rectangular shape. The term “substantially” includes the shapes such as rectangle and square, i.e. any shape that has two pairs of parallel edges. The plate 100 may be modified by providing rounded corner areas, meaning the area where two edges meet can be rounded.

[0033] The shape of the plate 100 may be defined by a circumferential edge 150. The circumferential edge 150 includes all the edges that encompass the shape of the plate 100. Thus, the circumferential edge 150 is delimiting the outline of the plate 100.The plate 100 may further comprise a first face 101 and a second face 102. The faces 101 , 102 may define a general plane G of the plate 100. In particular, the general plane G of the plate 100 extends in-between the first face 101 and the second face 102. Thus, the aforementioned circumferential edge 150 is delimiting the outline of the plate 100 in a direction parallel to the general plane G.

[0034] The plate 100 may further comprise at least one opening 130 arranged on the plate 100. The opening 130 is a void space within the outline defined by the circumferential edge 150 and thus the opening 130 itself may comprise its own edge which separates the void space form the plate 100 structure. The term at least one opening 130 refers to specific applicability of the plate 100, but usually more than one, i.e. two, three, four or five openings 130 may be arranged on a single plate 100.

[0035] The plate 100 being the subject matter of present invention aims to enhance mixing of the fluid that comes into contact with plate 100 structure. For this purpose, the plate 100 may comprise at least on claw 111 described in further paragraphs.

[0036] The claw 111 is a protrusion arranged in the vicinity of the opening 130. It is preferred that the claw 111 is carried out directly from the structure of the plate 100, i.e. the claw 111 is preferable integral with the plate 100. This can be carried out by partial cutting the plate’s structure and bending the material to from the claw.

[0037] Therefore the claw 111 may project from at least one of the faces 101 , 102. The claw 111 may project from the first face 101. Alternatively, the claw 111 may project from the second face 102. Alternatively, one claw 111 may project from the second face 102 and the other claw 111 may at the same time project from the first face 101 of the same plate 100.

[0038] As shown on the figures, the claw 111 may project beyond the general plane G of the plate 100. In other words, the claw 111 at least partially projects away from the face 101 , 102 of the plate 100. This way, the claw 111 is at the different level than the general plane G of the plate 100. This allows the claw 111 to disrupt the smooth edge of the opening 130 so that it deflects the fluid and therefore mixes it. Naturally, when referring to standalone plate 100, the intended fluid flow shall be taken into consideration when describing the effect.As the claw 111 is unitary with the structure of the plate 100, the opening 130 is at least partially overlapped by at least one claw 111. The formation of the claw 111 may influence the structure of the opening 130. The opening 130 may comprise an opening circumference 131 which effectively defines the shape of the opening 130 and its hydraulic cross-section. The opening circumference 131 may be adapted to the presence of the claws 111 as in the production process of the latter, the material which was used for the formation of the opening circumference 131 was used for claw 111 formation. This allows facilitating the production process of mixing means, i.e. claws 111 , as less material is used and the process is much simpler, compared to other means of arriving at the same effect. Thus, each claw 111 may have its corresponding gap 132 comprised in the opening circumference 131. The gap 132 further enhances mixing of fluid as is additionally disrupts the opening 130 structure.

[0039] The gap 132 along with the claw 111 enable formation of at least one fingers 133. In particular, one finger 133 is protrusion remaining after formation of two adjacent claws 111. The finger 133 is locally encompassed in the opening circumference 131. Each finger 133 arranged alternately with the claw 111 , whereas the finger 133 is arranged at the different level than the claw 111.

[0040] Each plate 100 may comprise at least one claw 111 , yet it is preferred that more claws 111 are present at each opening 130 of the plate 100. For example, the plate 100 may comprise three or four claws 111 arranged one next to the other so that the mixing effect is multiplied.

[0041] Each claw 111 may comprise a first surface 111A and a second surface 111B. In simple words, the first surface 111 A is formed form the first face 101 of the plate 100, whereas the second surface 111 B is formed from the second face 102 of the plate 100 when the claw 111 protrudes form the first face 101. Analogically, the first surface 111 A is formed form the second face 102 of the plate 100, whereas the second surface 111 B is formed from the first of the plate 100 when the claw 111 protrudes form the second face 102.

[0042] The surfaces 111 A, 111 B, similarly to faces 101 , 102, may be substantially parallel to each other. It should be noted that due to the fact that claw 111 is shifted with respect to the surface of the plate 100, the distance between the second surface 111 B and any of the faces 101 , 102 is smaller than the distance between the first surface 111A andany of the faces 101 , 102, irrespectively whether the claw protrudes form the first face 101 or the second face 102.

[0043] The claw 111 may further comprise a front wall 111 C and at least one sidewall 111 D, the walls 111 C, 111 D being configured to join the surfaces 111 A, 111 B of each claw 111. The front wall 111 C shall be regarded as the outermost portion of the claw 111 which faces the opening 130, whereas the sidewall 111 D is joining the front wall 111 C and the surfaces 111 A, 111 B together.

[0044] As shown in the figures the sidewall 111 D may comprise a U-shaped portion, wherein both free ends of said U-shaped portion are connected with the front wall 111C. It should be noted that other shapes of the sidewall 111 D are also envisaged, as the shape of the sidewall 111 D is related to formation method of the claw 111.

[0045] The opening 130 with its opening circumference 131 may comprise at least one straight portion 134. The straight portion 134 allows arranging more claws 111 at respective opening 130 so that the claws 111 do not interfere with each other.

[0046] The invention further concerns a heat exchanger 1000 for heat exchange between a first fluid and at least second fluid. The first fluid may be for example a refrigerant. The second fluid may be for example coolant. Other types of fluid are also envisaged. The first fluid being refrigerant may comprise a gaseous phase and a liquid phase. The more uniform mixture of the phases, the better heat exchange of the heat exchanger 1000 and thus better performance thereof. The heat exchanger 1000 may thus comprise at least one plate 100 described in previous paragraphs. The heat exchanger may be, for example a chiller, but other plate type heat exchangers which require increased efficiency are also envisaged.

[0047] The heat exchanger 1000 may further comprise a first fluid circuit 1100 comprising plurality of first passes 1100A. The passes 1100A are formed by the plates forming the heat exchanger 1000.

[0048] The heat exchanger 1000 may further comprise a second fluid circuit 1200 comprising plurality of second passes 1200A.

[0049] The term “circuit” should be understood as the intended flow path for the first or second fluid within the heat exchanger 1000. This includes manifolds formed by openings 130in the plates 100 and the spaces between the adjacent plates called passes 1100A, 110OB. The passes 110OA, 110OB form a fluidal communication between the manifolds for the first and second fluid, respectively, so that the first fluid circuit 1100 is fluidly insulated from the second fluid circuit 1200.

[0050] For the most optimal heat exchange, the passes 1200A, 110OA are stacked in alternating manner. This includes the variants in which the neighboring passes 1200A, 1100A have equal or different hydraulic diameter. In other words, adjacent passes 1200A 1100A may comprise same or different number of plates forming these passes 1100A 1200A.

[0051] In order to provide the mixing of phases, the claws 111 of the plate 100 are arranged at an entry to at least one of first passes 1100A. In particular, as the claws 111 are located at respective openings 130 forming the inlet manifold to the first passes 1100A so that the first fluid undergoes mixing prior to entering the first pass 1100A.

[0052] The presence of claws 111 even on one plate 100 of the heat exchanger 1000 improves the performance thereof, however, one could provide multiple plates 100 with claws 111 so that the first section i.e. plates 100 having the claws 111 is provided and a second section i.e. plates not having the claws 111 is provided. Alternatively, the claws 111 of the plate 100 may be arranged at an entry to all first passes 1100A. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to the advantage.

Claims

9Claims1. A plate (100) for a heat exchanger (1000), said plate (100) comprising a first face (101 ) and a second face (102) defining a general plane (G) of the plate (100), wherein the plate (100) further comprises:-A circumferential edge (150) delimiting the outline of the plate (100) in a direction parallel to the general plane (G)- At least one opening (130) arranged on the plate (100)And at least on claw (111) arranged in the vicinity of the opening (130), wherein the claw (111) projects from at least one of the faces (101 , 102).

2. The plate (100) according to claim 1 , wherein the claw (111) projects beyond the general plane (G) of the plate (100).

3. The plate (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the opening (130) is at least partially overlapped by at least one claw (111), wherein the opening (130) is substantially coplanar with the general plane (G).

4. The plate (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each claw (111) comprises a first surface (111 A) and a second surface (111 B), the surfaces (111 A, 111 B) being substantially parallel to each other, wherein the distance between the second surface (111 B) and any of the faces (101, 102) is smaller than the distance between the first surface (111 A) and any of the faces (101 , 102).

5. The plate (100) according to claim 4, wherein each claw (111) further comprises a front wall (111C) and at least one sidewall (111 D), the walls (111C, 111 D) being configured to join the surfaces (111 A, 111 B) of each claw (111).

6. The plate (100) according to claim 5, wherein the sidewall (111 D) comprises a U-shaped portion, wherein both free ends of said U-shaped portion are connected with the front wall (111C).

7. The plate (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the claw (111) is disposed on any of the first face (101 ) and / or the second face (102).

8. The plate (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the opening (130) comprises an opening circumference (131) for delimiting the opening (130), wherein said opening circumference comprises at least one straight portion (132).

9. The plate (100) according to claim 8, wherein the opening circumference (131) further comprises at least one opening finger (133) arranged between the adjacent claws (111), wherein said finger (133) is at the different level than the claw (111).

10. A heat exchanger (1000) for heat exchange between a first fluid and at least second fluid comprising at least one plate (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the heat exchanger (1000) further comprises: a first fluid circuit (1100) comprising plurality of first passes (1100A) and a second fluid circuit (1200) comprising plurality of second passes (1200A), wherein the passes (1200A, 1100A) are stacked in alternating manner, wherein the claws (111) of the plate (100) are arranged at an entry to at least one of first passes (1100A).

11. The heat exchanger (1000) according to claim 10, wherein the claws (111 ) of the plate (100) are arranged at an entry to all first passes (1100A).

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