Heat-exchange system for a motor vehicle
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchange systems in vehicles face inefficiencies due to complex assembly processes, increased size, and higher manufacturing costs, particularly with refrigerant storage tanks integrated into condensers, leading to suboptimal refrigerant circulation and increased leakage risks.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchange system with a direct connection link between a refrigerant fluid collector bottle and a subcooling exchanger, arranged in an axial stack, allowing efficient refrigerant fluid circulation and reducing overall system size through a compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the storage tank is attached laterally to the condenser by mechanical assemblies, then the storage tank remains removable, but this configuration requires bulky connecting pipes which increase overall size, leakage risk, and manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The storage tank is integrated directly into the condenser structure by brazing, merging two previously separate components into a unified assembly. This eliminates the need for external connecting pipes and mechanical attachments, thereby reducing overall module size while maintaining structural integrity and refrigerant circulation efficiency
2Volume of moving object
If the storage tank is integrated into the condenser volume in the stack of plates, then the overall size is reduced, but the assembly operation becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The condenser is divided into two separate blocks: a first heat exchange block and a second heat exchange block. The storage tank is integrated into the second block, which can be manufactured and tested independently before final assembly. This segmentation simplifies the manufacturing process by allowing modular production and quality control while achieving compact integration
3Volume of moving object
If brazing is used to integrate the storage tank between heat exchange blocks, then a compact integrated structure is achieved, but the brazing operation becomes complex when completing the module in one go
Solution Approach 1:
The brazing process is segmented into two stages: first, the storage tank is brazed to the second heat exchange block in a separate operation; second, the two heat exchange blocks are brazed together to complete the module. This staged approach simplifies each brazing operation, improves quality control, and reduces the complexity of completing the entire module in a single brazing cycle
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enhances refrigerant circulation efficiency, reduces overall volume, and simplifies assembly while minimizing leakage risks and manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
The condenser is configured to be crossed by the air flow and allow the refrigerant fluid to be cooled in the gaseous state until it condenses into the liquid state
Implementation Method 2
a subcooling exchanger configured to subcool a refrigerant fluid present in the liquid state at the condenser outlet
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a heat-exchange system (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a plurality of heat exchangers (2, 4), each configured to perform heat exchange between an airflow (F), passing mainly longitudinally through the heat-exchange system, and a refrigerant (F1) circulating in the heat exchanger (2, 4), the plurality of heat exchangers comprising at least one condenser (2) and a subcooling exchanger (4) configured to subcool the refrigerant (F1) present in the liquid state at the output of the condenser (2). According to the invention, the condenser (2) comprises a collecting bottle (24) for the refrigerant (F1) configured to at least separate the liquid phase from the gaseous phase of the refrigerant and in that there is a system (5) for direct connection between an outlet (10) of the collecting bottle (24) and an inlet (7) of the subcooling exchanger (4).