EP2225527B1 - Heat exchange system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat exchange system (1) having a heat exchange module (2, 21, 22) including at least one first heat exchange module (21) with a heat exchanger (3), wherein an outer boundary of the heat exchange modules (2, 21, 22) is formed by an inflow surface (41) and an outflow surface (42) such that, for the exchange of heat between a transport fluid (5) and a heat transfer agent (6) flowing through the heat exchanger (3) in the operating state, the transport fluid (5) can be supplied to the heat exchange module (2, 21, 22) via the inflow surface (41), can be brought into flow contact with the heat exchanger (3) and can be led away again from the heat exchange module (2) via the outflow surface (42). In accordance with the invention, in this respect, a cleaning system (7) is provided with a cleaning flap (71).

Description

The invention relates to a heat exchange system according to the preamble of independent claim 1. DE 19837683 describes such a heat exchange system.

The use of heat exchange systems is well known in a nearly intangible number of prior art applications. Heat exchangers are used in refrigerators, e.g. used in ordinary household refrigerators, in air conditioners for buildings or in vehicles of all kinds, especially in automobiles, aircraft and ships, as water or oil coolers in internal combustion engines, as condensers or evaporators in coolant circuits and in a myriad of different applications, all of which are well known to those skilled in the art are.

There are different ways to classify heat exchangers from different applications. One attempt is to make a distinction according to the design of the various types of heat exchangers.

Thus, a classification according to so-called "laminated heat exchangers" on the one hand, and "Minnichannel-" or "Microchannelwärmetauscher" on the other hand be made.

The laminated heat exchangers, well known for a very long time, serve, like all types of heat exchangers, to transfer heat between two media, for example, but not only, to transfer from a cooling medium to air or vice versa, as is known, for example, from a classic household refrigerator in which heat is released to the ambient air via the heat exchanger for generating a cooling capacity in the interior of the refrigerator.

The ambient medium outside the heat exchanger, e.g. Water, oil or often simply the ambient air, which absorbs heat or transfers heat to the heat exchanger, for example, is either cooled or heated accordingly. The second medium may e.g. be a liquid refrigerant or heat transfer or a vaporizing or condensing refrigerant. In any case, the surrounding medium, e.g. the air, a much lower heat transfer coefficient than the second medium, e.g. the coolant that circulates in the heat exchanger system. This is compensated by greatly different heat transfer surfaces for the two media: The medium with the high heat transfer coefficient flows in the tube, which on the outside by thin sheets (ribs, fins) has a greatly enlarged surface at which the heat transfer, for. takes place with the air.

Fig. 3 shows a simple example of an element of such a known laminated heat exchanger. In practice, the heat exchanger is characterized by a variety of such elements Fig. 3 educated.

The ratio of the outer surface to the inner surface depends on the lamella geometry (= pipe diameter, pipe arrangement and pipe spacing) and on the lamellar spacing. The lamellar spacing is chosen differently for different applications. However, purely thermodynamically, it should be as small as possible, but not so small that the air-side pressure loss is too large. An economic optimum is about 2mm, which is a typical value for condenser and recooler.

The production of these so-called laminated heat exchangers is carried out according to a long-known standardized process: The slats are punched with a press and a special tool and put into packages to each other. Subsequently, the tubes are inserted and expanded either mechanically or hydraulically so that a very good contact and thus a good heat transfer between the tube and lamella arises. The individual tubes are then connected by arches and manifold and manifold, often soldered together.

The efficiency is essentially determined by the fact that the heat that is transferred between the fin surface and the air, must be transmitted through heat conduction through the fins to the pipe. This heat transfer is all the more effective, the higher the conductivity or the thickness of the lamella, but also the smaller the distance between the tubes. This is called the lamella efficiency. As a lamellar material is therefore nowadays predominantly aluminum used, which has a high thermal conductivity (about 220 W / mK) to economic conditions. The pipe pitch should be as small as possible, but this leads to the problem that you need many pipes. Many pipes mean high costs because the pipes (usually made of copper) are considerably more expensive than the thin aluminum fins. This material costs could be reduced by reducing the pipe diameter and the wall thickness, ie you build a heat exchanger with many small pipes instead of few big pipes. Thermodynamically, this solution would be optimal: very many tubes in close proximity with small diameters. However, a significant cost factor is also the working time for expanding and soldering the pipes. This would increase extremely with such a geometry.

Therefore, a few years ago, a new class of heat exchangers, so-called minichannel or microchannel heat exchangers, have been developed, which are manufactured by a completely different process and almost correspond to the ideal of a laminated heat exchanger: many small tubes with small spacings.

Instead of small tubes, however, aluminum extrusions are used in the mini-channel heat exchanger, which have very many small channels with a diameter of, for example, about 1 mm. Such, also known per se extruded profile is, for example in Fig. 2 shown schematically. In practice, a heat exchanger, depending on the required heat output, already manage with a single extruded profile as a central heat exchange element. Of course, in order to achieve higher heat transfer rates, it is also possible to provide a plurality of extruded profiles at the same time in a single heat exchanger, which are connected to each other in suitable combinations, for example by means of supply and discharge, for example soldered together.

For example, such profiles can be made simply and in a variety of shapes from a variety of materials using suitable extrusion techniques.
However, other manufacturing methods for the production of mini-channel heat exchangers are known, such as the assembly of suitably shaped profile sheets or other suitable methods.

These profiles can not, and you do not need to widen and they are not inserted into stamped plate packs. Instead, for example, between two closely spaced profiles (common distances, for example, <1 cm) sheet metal strips, in particular aluminum sheet laid, so that by alternating juxtaposition of sheet metal strip and profile a heat exchanger package is created. This package is then completely soldered in a soldering oven.

Due to the narrow distances and the small channel diameter, a heat exchanger with a very high fin efficiency and a very small filling volume (channel inside) is created. The other advantages of this technique are the avoidance of material pairings (corrosion), the low weight (no copper), the high pressure stability (about 100 bar) and the compact design (typical depth of a heat exchanger, for example 20mm).

In mobile use, mini-channel heat exchangers have established themselves during the 1990s. The low weight, the small block depth and the limited dimensions that are required here are the ideal conditions for this. Car coolers and condensers and evaporators for car air conditioning systems are today almost exclusively realized with mini-channel heat exchangers.

In the stationary area, on the one hand, larger heat exchangers are usually needed; on the other hand, the emphasis here is less on weight and compactness than on the optimal price-performance ratio. Minichannelwärmeaustauscher were previously limited in size to be eligible. Many small modules would have to be connected consuming. In addition, the use of aluminum in the extruded profiles is relatively high, so that hardly a cost advantage was expected from the use of materials.

Due to the high quantities in the automotive sector, the production processes for mini-channel heat exchangers have become standardized and improved, so that today this technology can be described as mature. The size of the soldering furnace has meanwhile also increased, so that heat exchangers in the size of 6 can already be made of about 1 x 2 m. The initial difficulties with the connection system are resolved. There are now several patented procedures how the stiffening and header pipes can be soldered.

Above all, however, the price of copper, which has risen sharply in comparison with aluminum, is now causing this technology to become very interesting for stationary use as well.

In addition to the simple systems in which the heat exchanger for exchanging heat substantially only a surrounding medium, such as air is available, so-called hybrid coolers or hybrid dry coolers are known, such as in the WO90 / 15299 or the EP 428 647 B1 are disclosed in which the gaseous or liquid medium to be cooled of the primary cooling circuit flows through a lamella heat exchanger, and deliver the dissipated heat through the cooling fins partly as sensitive and partly as latent heat to the air flow. One or more fans promote the flow of air through the heat exchanger and advantageously have variable speed. The dissipation of the latent heat is carried out by a liquid medium, preferably water, which is adapted to its specific values such as conductivity, hardness, content of carbonates and each is applied as a drop-forming liquid film on the air side heat transfer surface. Immediately below the heat exchanger elements, the excess water drips back into a collection tray. Also sprayed heat exchanger concepts are known where water is sprayed on the finned heat exchanger and completely evaporated and the evaporation energy is used to improve the heat transfer as well as in the wetting for energy optimization. Here you can drive without excess water, but a deposit formation must be prevented, for which, for example, deionized water is used. It is understood that in special cases other than water, other cooling fluids, such as oil in question.

The operation of wetting or spraying the fins of the heat exchanger results in significant energy and water savings compared to conventional methods, such as open cooling towers. A disadvantage, however, is the restriction of the choice of material of the wetted or sprayed heat exchanger tube in connection with the lamella, where it must not come in conjunction with an electrolyte to corrosion.

Hybrid heat transfer is thus understood to mean the considerable improvement in the heat transfer of lamella heat exchangers with pipes by targeted wetting or spraying of water. In this case, it is especially necessary to regulate the air velocity in the disk pack in such a way that the water titration on the disk surface does not occur. This is advantageously achieved by a speed control of the fans or by other suitable measures.

The disadvantage here is that the sprayed or wetting water acts together with dissolved ions as the electrolyte, which can lead to numerous corrosion problems in the usually used material pairings copper pipe, and aluminum fins of the heat exchanger.

As a suitable surface protection for heat exchangers, it is known, for. B. to use the so-called cataphoretic dip coating. Furthermore, both the material pairings such as copper tube and lamella, as well as aluminum tube and lamella and stainless steel tube and lamella are used to control the problem of contact corrosion. It is also known to completely galvanize the heat exchanger. The quality of the circulating or Besprühungswassers high demands are made in terms of pH, water hardness, chlorine content, conductivity, etc., to prevent that on the one hand deposits on thickening on the lamella by evaporation, and on the other hand form too high levels of chemically reactive substances, which in turn can lead to corrosion together with the deposits.

To achieve higher heat transfer rates than e.g. are known in small heat exchangers from the automotive or household technology, has been trying in larger heat transfer systems to resort to the hybrid technology described above.

Another way of obtaining greater heat transfer performance is, in principle, by combining several individual heat exchange components, e.g. through the interconnection of Al-MCHX modules, attempts to achieve greater exchange rates.

A problem with all previously known heat exchange systems is the pollution of the system components of the heat exchange system, which in principle can not be avoided in the operating state. The heat exchangers, on which, for example, the cooling air is guided past with the aid of appropriate fan, can be polluted by pollution of all kinds contained in the cooling air with time more and more, which may for example lead to the heat transfer coefficient of the surface of the heat exchanger is lowered, so that the heat transfer performance is reduced. This can lead to increased operating costs or in extreme cases, the heat exchange system can no longer provide the required heat exchange performance, which can lead to serious damage in the worst case. For example, a connected machine to be cooled, such as a data processing system or an internal combustion engine or other machine overheats and is damaged. But Also, damage to goods, such as food that is stored in a cold store, can spoil, for example, in the absence of cooling.

Therefore, the heat exchange systems must be cleaned regularly, but this is cumbersome in the known systems, so consuming and expensive. Moreover, in many known heat exchange systems it is necessary to open a housing by e.g. To clean the heat exchanger itself or other essential components inside the housing of the heat exchanger. The opening of the housing is not only complicated and cumbersome. Also, in this case, the corresponding connected heat engine must be put out of action, otherwise opening the housing of the heat exchange system alone is not allowed for security reasons, or for technical reasons in the operating state is not possible.

Another problem is that the cleaning liquid with which the heat exchange system is cleaned, for example, water, a detergent-added water or other cleaning fluid must be collected consuming, so that it can be disposed of properly. As a rule, the cleaning liquid soiled after the cleaning process must not simply be supplied to the sewage system. Therefore, in the known heat exchange systems corresponding elaborate devices are provided, for example, separators, separate channel systems, removed via the dirty cleaning liquid and fed to a collection point, or provided other known separation and collection systems that not only take up extra space, but also expensive are under construction and in operation.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved heat exchange system which overcomes the problems known from the prior art, which in particular is easy to clean, preferably can also be cleaned in the operating state, and with which a dirty cleaning liquid is simply collected or . can be collected and disposed of.

The objects of the invention solving these objects are characterized by the features of independent claim 1.

The dependent claims relate to particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention.

The invention thus relates to a heat exchange system with a heat exchange module comprising at least a first heat exchange module with a heat exchanger, wherein an outer boundary of the heat exchange module is formed by an inflow and an outflow surface such that for exchanging heat between a Transportfluidum and a heat exchanger flowing through the heat exchanger in the operating state in that the transport fluid can be supplied to the heat exchange module via the inflow surface, can be brought into flowing contact with the heat exchanger and can be discharged again via the outflow surface from the heat exchange module. According to the invention, a cleaning system with a cleaning flap is provided.

Essential to the invention is therefore that in a heat exchange system of the present invention, a cleaning system is provided with a cleaning flap, which can be easily opened or closed so that without dismantling the heat exchange system access to the interior of the heat exchange module is created, the cleaning and service work, in principle even allowed in the operating state of the heat exchange system.

In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning system of the present invention comprises a cleaning opening and / or a dust collecting grille and / or a scraper and / or a dishwasher, the function of which is known to the person skilled in the art in principle. In particular, the heat exchanger can be provided on the cleaning flap and / or the heat exchanger itself is designed as a cleaning flap, which can significantly facilitate service or cleaning in special cases and depending on the application.

Particularly preferably, the cleaning flap is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation for opening the heat exchange module, so that the cleaning flap in an open state is a collecting trough for a cleaning agent. This makes it possible that without further structural measures, a contaminated cleaning agent automatically collected in the drip pan and a professional disposal can be supplied.

In another embodiment, a first boundary surface of the first heat exchange module is inclined at a predetermined tilt angle with respect to a second boundary surface of the first heat exchange module. In this case, the heat exchanger itself can have a supporting function in the formation of the heat exchange module, for example by forming a statically integral component of a housing of the heat exchange module. This can for example be realized in that the heat exchanger itself forms a housing wall of the heat exchanger module, or that the housing of the heat exchanger module does not have a boundary wall at all boundary surfaces of the housing, so that the heat exchanger itself performs a connecting and stabilizing integral static function as a housing component.

In a further simple embodiment, a boundary surface of the heat exchange system may be missing from its housing, wherein the missing housing wall in the installed state of the heat exchange system is formed by a wall of an installation object, in particular by a wall of a building is formed.

To increase the heat exchange performance, the heat exchange system may in particular also be formed from a plurality of heat exchange modules.

Especially in cases, but not only, in which the heat exchange system is formed of a plurality of heat exchange modules, the first boundary surface of the first heat exchange module may be inclined with respect to the second boundary surface of the first heat exchange module below the predetermined inclination angle, that the modular heat exchange system by a second heat exchange module, in particular in a compact design can be expanded, wherein the second heat exchange module is preferably identical to the first heat exchange module. Thus, for example, by two triangular cross-section heat exchange modules, the first and second boundary surfaces are inclined at 45 ° to each other, a heat exchange system are created, which has a rectangular or square cross-sectional area, idem the two inclined surfaces are arranged against each other.

The angle of inclination between the first boundary surface and the second boundary surface of the heat exchange module is between 20 ° and 70 °, preferably between 40 ° and 50 °, and is particularly preferably 45 °.

So, for example, if the heat exchange modules in the form of a parallelepiped formed with an inclination angle of 45 °, so two such heat exchange modules can be assembled in a particularly compact manner, for example on the inclined surfaces and also, if necessary, be extended by stringing together.

Thus, the heat transfer performance and / or heat transfer performance of a modular heat transfer system of the present invention can be easily and efficiently adjusted by regularly repeating preferably identical heat exchange modules or by removing identical heat exchange modules.

Thus, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the first boundary surface of the first heat exchange module is inclined with respect to the second boundary surface of the first heat exchange module below the predetermined inclination angle, that the modular heat exchange system is expandable by a second heat exchange module, in particular in a compact design, wherein the second heat exchange module preferred identical to the first heat exchange module. Compact design means that two heat exchange modules can be combined as possible to save space, so that between two combined heat exchange modules as little, preferably practically no free space remains

Thus, a particularly important importance to those embodiments according to the invention, in which the heat exchange system is formed of a plurality of heat exchange modules, since in these, for example, by removing a heat exchange module particularly simple, the heat transfer performance can be reduced.

To further increase the power density of the heat transfer between the heating medium and the transport fluid and / or to increase a heat transfer rate between the heating medium and the transport fluid, a cooling device may be provided for cooling the heat exchanger, in particular a fan for generating a gas flow, and / or the heat exchange system as known per se and described in detail as a hybrid system, and it can be a sprinkler for sprinkling the Heat exchanger to be formed with a cooling fluid, in particular with cooling water. A droplet separator for separating the cooling fluid is also particularly advantageous.

In this case, the heat exchanger itself, as known from the prior art, by a plurality of microchannels as a microchannel heat exchanger and / or the heat exchanger may also be formed as a laminated heat exchanger with cooling fins. Specifically, the heat exchange system is formed as a combination heat exchange system of the laminated heat exchanger and the microchannel heat exchanger, if specific requirements favor such a design.

To improve the possibilities to regulate the heat transfer performance of a heat exchange system according to the invention, for example, a foreclosure, in particular a Luftabschottung for regulating a flow rate of the transport fluid may be provided, which can be controlled either manually or via a drive unit in response to a predetermined operating parameters and / or regulated.

In addition, a compensating means known per se can very advantageously be provided to compensate for thermo-mechanical stresses.

The components of the modular heat exchange system of the present invention, such as the heat exchangers and / or a supply and / or discharge for the heating means and / or the cleaning flap and / or any other component of a heat exchange system according to the invention with any other component of the heat exchange system by a Universal connection element may be connected so that, for example, a heat exchange module can be added or removed particularly easily. Specifically, it is particularly preferable that the purge door and the manifolds for the heating means or even the blanks and other modules and components of the heat exchange system are connected to a universal connector. These universal connecting elements are suitable for both vertical as well as for the horizontal installation of the heat exchange systems or the heat exchange modules particularly well suited.

For the control and / or regulation of the heat exchange system in the operating state is usually, but not necessarily, a drive unit, in particular a drive unit with a data processing system for controlling the cooling device and / or the cleaning system and / or Luftabschottung and / or an operating or state parameter the heat medium and / or another operating parameter of the heat exchange system, as is known per se from the prior art in existing heat exchange systems to those skilled in the art.

The heat exchange system or the heat exchange module and / or the heat exchanger and / or a boundary surface of the heat exchange module, in particular the entire heat exchange system is particularly advantageously made of a metal and / or a metal alloy, in particular a single metal or a single metal alloy, and in particular made of stainless steel, in particular made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, wherein a sacrificial metal is preferably provided as corrosion protection, and / or wherein the heat exchange system is at least partially provided with a protective layer, in particular with a corrosion protection layer. Especially the distribution and header pipes are preferred for high pressures, for example, for operation with CO ₂ , made of high-strength materials such as stainless steel.

In particular, a heat exchange system according to the invention is a radiator, in particular a radiator for a vehicle, in particular for a land vehicle, for an aircraft or for a watercraft, or a radiator, a condenser or an evaporator for a mobile or stationary heating system, cooling system or air conditioning in particular a cooler device for a machine, a data processing system or for a building or for another device which is to be operated with a heat exchange system.

Fig. 1 a

ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemässen Wärmeaustauschsystems im Betriebszustand;

Fig. 1 b

das Wärmeaustauschsystem der Fig. 1a während eines Reinigungsvorgangs;

Fig. 2

einen Wärmetauscher mit Mikrokanälen;

Fig. 3

ein Element eines lamellierten Wärmetauschers;

Fig. 4

ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemässen Wärmeaustauschsystem mit seitlicher Reinigungsklappe;

Fig. 5

ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel gemäss Fig. 4 mit Luftabschottung;

Fig. 6a

ein anderes Ausführungsbeispiel gemäss Fig. 1a mit Universalverbindungselement;

Fig. 6b

ein Universalverbindungselement der Fig. 6a im Detail;

Fig. 7

eine erfindungsgemässes Wärmeaustauschsystem mit zwei Wärmeaustauschmodulen;

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. In a schematic representation:

Fig. 1 a

a first embodiment of an inventive heat exchange system in the operating state;

Fig. 1 b

the heat exchange system of Fig. 1a during a cleaning process;

Fig. 2

a heat exchanger with microchannels;

Fig. 3

an element of a laminated heat exchanger;

Fig. 4

A second embodiment of an inventive heat exchange system with side cleaning flap;

Fig. 5

a further embodiment according to Fig. 4 with air partitioning;

Fig. 6a

another embodiment according to Fig. 1a with universal connector;

Fig. 6b

a universal connector of the Fig. 6a in detail;

Fig. 7

a heat exchange system according to the invention with two heat exchange modules;

Fig. 1 a and Fig. 1 b show in a schematic representation of a first simple embodiment of an inventive heat exchange system, which in the following together with the Reference numeral 1 is provided. The heat exchange system is in Fig. 1 a shown in the operating state while Fig. 1 b same heat exchange system during a cleaning process shows.

The inventive heat exchange system 1 of Fig. 1 a or Fig. 1 b comprises as an essential element a heat exchange module 2, 21 with a heat exchanger 3 for exchanging heat between a heating means 6, for example a cooling liquid 6 or an evaporator means 6 and a transport fluid 5, for example air 5. The heat exchanger 3 is in the present case a per se known micro-channel heat exchanger 3 with a plurality of micro-channels 31. The heat exchanger 3 is with its micro-channels 31 via a in the Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b not shown connection system, which is known in the art in principle, connected to the exchange of heating means 6 to a chiller, also not shown.

In a manner known per se, the chiller is flow-connected to the connection system, comprising an inlet channel with an inlet segment of the heat exchanger 3 and an outlet channel with an outlet segment of the heat exchanger 3, such that the heat medium 6 exchanges heat with the air 5 from the inlet channel via the inlet channel Inlet segment, through the plurality of micro channels 31 of the heat exchanger 3, and finally via the outlet segment to the outlet channel can be fed.

An outer boundary of the heat exchange module 2, 21 is formed by an inflow 41 and an outflow 42 such that in the operating state for exchanging heat between the Transportfluidum 5, whose flow direction is shown symbolically by the arrows 5, and the heat exchanger 3 by flowing heat 6, the Transportfluidum 5 via the inflow 41 to the heat exchange module 2, 21 fed, with the heat exchanger 3 can be brought into flowing contact and via the outflow surface 42 from the heat exchange module 2, 21 can be discharged again.

In order that the heat between the air 5 and the heating means 6 can be better exchanged, a cooling device 10, in the present case a fan 10 is provided, with which an amount of air 5, which is transported per unit time through the heat exchange module 2, 21, is controllable.

In this case, a first boundary surface 9, 91, which is formed in the present case by the heat exchanger 3 itself, with respect to a second boundary surface 9, 92 of the first heat exchange module 2, 21 at a predetermined inclination angle α, which in the present specific example about 45 ° is inclined. It is understood that in another embodiment, the inclination angle α may also have a different value, for example, a value greater than or less than 45 °, for example, but not only, 25 ° or 46 °. In the simple embodiment according to Fig. 1 In this case, the second boundary surface 92 is formed by a wall 9 of an installation object, which in the present case is a non-illustrated cold store.

According to the present invention is further provided as an essential element, a cleaning system 7 with cleaning flap 71, wherein Fig. 1a shows the heat exchange system 1 in the operating state in which the interior, in particular the surface of the heat exchanger 3 gradually contaminated. Fig. 1 b on the other hand shows the heat exchange system 1 during a cleaning process.

The cleaning flap 71 is designed as an access flap 71, which is designed to be rotatable about the axis of rotation 711 according to the arrow P, so that by pivoting the cleaning flap 71 about the rotation axis 711, which may be configured, for example, as a universal connection element 12 a Access to the interior of the heat exchange system 1 is created, which allows easy service, repair and cleaning work inside without the heat exchange system 1 must be dismantled or, depending on the specific embodiment, without the heat exchange system must be turned off. That is, the fact that the cleaning flap can be easily opened even in the operating state, a cleaning of the heat exchange system 1 is also possible in the operating state by the present invention.

The Fig. 1 b shows a situation in which just the heat exchanger 3 is cleaned with a cleaning liquid 714, for example with water 714. The cleaning flap 71 was based on the situation of Fig. 1 a so pivoted about the axis of rotation 711 by 270 °, that they according to Fig. 1 b acts as a sump 712, which reliably collects the dirty cleaning liquid 714 during the cleaning process, so that the dirty cleaning liquid can be safely and optionally automatically removed and disposed of, so that, for example, environmental damage can be avoided.

In Fig. 2 is schematically a heat exchanger 3, 300 according to Fig. 1 shown with micro channels 31 in section. Instead of small pipes, as in the classic laminated heat exchangers 3 according to Fig. 3 As already mentioned, in mini-channel heat exchangers 300, eg aluminum extruded sections are used which have very many small channels 31 with a diameter of eg about 1 mm. The heat exchanger 3 of Fig. 2 For example, in a suitable extrusion process, it can be easily prepared in a variety of forms from a variety of materials. In this case, the heat exchanger 3 according Fig. 2 in another, in Fig. 2 not explicitly illustrated embodiment, be prepared by other manufacturing processes, such as by the assembly of suitably shaped profile sheets or other suitable method. The Fig. 3 shows in contrast to Fig. 2 an element of a per se known laminated heat exchanger 3, 301 with cooling fins 32, as it could also be used instead of a microchannel heat exchanger 300 in an embodiment of the present invention. The heating means 6 flows through the tubular element of the laminated heat exchanger 3, 301, which exchanges heat in the operating state, mainly via the cooling fins 32, with the air 5 flowing past it. It is understood that in practice, the heat exchanger 3 is usually made of a variety of elements according to Fig. 3 is formed. In a very specific embodiment of the present invention, which is not shown explicitly for reasons of space with reference to a drawing, a combination heat exchanger 3, 300, 301 is used as the heat exchanger 3. That is, a heat exchange system 1 of the present invention may include, in addition to a heat exchanger 300 having a plurality of microchannels 31, a laminated heat exchanger 301 with cooling fins 32 for very specific applications.

In order to cope with possibly even greater heat transfer performance, the heat exchange system 1 can also be designed as a so-called hybrid system 1, the functional principle of which is also known per se to a person skilled in the art, and therefore does not have to be explicitly illustrated by a separate drawing. In that case, a sprinkling device is preferably provided for sprinkling the heat exchanger 3, 300, 301 with an external cooling fluid, in particular with cooling water or cooling oil. In particular, a droplet separator, e.g. be provided in the form of a trough for the separation and collection of the external cooling fluid in the operating state, so that the external cooling fluid in an external cooling system, which is used to cool the external cooling fluid is rezierkulierbar and re-cooling the heat exchanger 3, 300, 301 this over the Sprinkler is fed back.

In Fig. 4 is a second embodiment of an inventive heat exchange system 1 with lateral cleaning flap 71 schematically shown. The embodiment of Fig. 4 differs from that of the Fig. 1a in that the cleaning flap 71 is provided on the side of the heat exchange module 2, 21, as shown in the side view, ie, the cleaning flap 71 is mounted orthogonally to the surface of the heat exchanger 3. In order to keep the overall design of the heat exchange module 2, 21 as compact as possible, the cleaning flap 71 covers only the cross section of the heat exchange module, resulting in the illustrated triangular shape of the cleaning flap 71 results. When cleaning or servicing the cleaning flap 71 can be pivoted about the axis of rotation 711 in the direction of arrow P to open the heat exchange system 1, whereby access to the interior of the heat exchange system 1 is provided.

For collecting and safely discharging the cleaning liquid 713, which is obtained in a cleaning of the heat exchange system 1, in the example of Fig. 4 In addition, a drip tray 73 is provided, which, if not necessary, of course, may be missing.

In Fig. 5 is a further embodiment according to Fig. 4 shown schematically with an air partition 11. The Luftabschottung 11 is preferably in the form of a blind or a Venetian blind comprising individual blind elements 111 and Storenelemente 111 configured so that the degree of coverage of the heat exchanger 3 is variably, preferably electronically controlled and / or controlled variable, in which the Luftabschottung in known Way, for example, wholly or partially by pulling together of the individual shutter elements 111 and shutter elements 111 is removed from the surface of the heat exchanger 3, or by changing an angle between the individual shutter elements 111 and the surface of the heat exchanger 3, so that the effective passage area for the Air 5 is variable. As a result, in a simple way, without changing the flow dynamics in the cooling system, a regulation of the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger 3 possible.

In the embodiment of the Fig. 5 In addition, another possible variant for a lateral cleaning flap 71 according to Fig. 4 shown. In contrast to the side cleaning flap 71 of Fig. 4 , which has a triangular shape, the cleaning flap 71 is the Fig. 5 so rectangular or square designed that it covers approximately twice the cross-sectional area of the heat exchange module 2, 21 and is rotatably mounted about the axis of rotation 711 by 270 °, that they according to the embodiment according to. Fig. 1 b during a cleaning process at the same time as a collecting tray 712 for the cleaning agent 713 is used.

In Fig. 6a another embodiment of an inventive heat exchange system 1 is shown schematically, in which the cleaning flap 71 with a universal connector 12 according to Fig. 6b is attached. The universal connection element 12 is among other things for the simple and reliable connection of known per se, in the Fig. 6a and 6b not explicitly shown distribution and collecting pipes suitable for supplying or discharging the heating means 6 to or from the heat exchanger 3 are used.

Preferably, the universal connection element 12 is designed so that it is particularly easy, for example via a screw or by soldering to the corresponding parts of the heat exchange system 1 is connectable.

It may be suitable for connection of conduits carrying heat means 6 or even itself as conduit for the conveyance of heating means 6. It may further be suitable for joining sheet metal parts, such as the cleaning flap 71 or other parts. Preferably, in a given modular heat exchange system 1, the universal connector 12 is configured in detail such that it fits into a and the same embodiment can simultaneously create as many different connections, so that as little differently designed universal connection elements in one and the same modular heat exchange system 1 must be used simultaneously.

Ideally, the universal connector 12 is configured to simultaneously perform all the connection functions between all parts of the modular heat exchange system, such that only one type of universal connector needs to be used in the same heat exchange system 1, which is the design, extension or design Reduction of a novel modular heat exchange system 1 enormously simplified and thus guarantees maximum flexibility of the system.

Fig. 7 Finally, there is shown a modular heat exchange system 1 according to the present invention comprising two identical heat exchange modules 2, 21, 22. The two modules are of identical design, wherein the inclination angle α has a value of preferably, but not necessarily 45 °. The person skilled in the art immediately understands that, in principle, any number of identical heat exchange modules 2, 21, 22 can be added perpendicular to the double arrow DP, that is to say parallel to the plane of the drawing. That is, to change the heat exchange performance of the modular heat exchange system 1, only a single type of heat exchange modules 2, 21, 22 needs to be provided to provide a plant 1 with practically any predeterminable heat exchange performance, or to expand this or an existing Plant by reducing the number of heat exchange modules 2, 21, 22 to reduce its heat exchange performance. Particularly preferably, the individual heat exchange modules 2, 21, 22 are integrated in the heat exchange system 1 by using the universal connection elements 12, as they are based on the Fig. 6a and Fig. 6b already discussed. Analogous to Fig. 1a respectively. Fig. 1 b are the two cleaning flaps 71 for service and cleaning purposes preferably about the axes of rotation about 270 ° pivotally, so that the cleaning flaps 71, as already explained several times above, can also serve as a sump 712 for a cleaning agent 713.

It is understood that the embodiments described in the context of this application are to be understood as exemplary only. That is, the invention is not limited solely to the specific embodiments described. In particular, all suitable combinations of the specific embodiments presented are also covered by the invention.

Claims (15)

1. A heat exchange system having a heat exchange module (2, 21, 22) including at least one first heat exchange module (21) with a heat exchanger (3), wherein an outer boundary of the heat exchange module (2, 21, 22) is formed by an inflow surface (41) and an outflow surface (42) such that, for the exchange of heat between a transport fluid (5) and a heat transfer agent (6) flowing through the heat exchanger (3) in the operating state, the transport fluid (5) can be supplied to the heat exchange module (2, 21, 22) via the inflow surface (41), can be brought into flow contact with the heat exchanger (3) and can be led away again from the heat exchange module (2) via the outflow surface (42), and a cleaning system (7) characterized in that the cleaning system is provided with a cleaning flap (71) in the operating state, wherein a first boundary surface (9, 91) of the first heat exchange module (2, 21) is inclined at a presettable angle of inclination (α) between 20° and 70° with respect to a second boundary surface (9, 92) of the first heat exchange module (2, 21.
2. A heat exchange system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cleaning system (7) includes a dust capturing grid and/or a scraper and/or a washing device, in particular a cleaning opening (72); and/or wherein the heat exchanger (3) is provided at the cleaning flap (71) and/or the heat exchanger (3) is made as a cleaning flap (71).
3. A heat exchange system in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2,
   wherein the cleaning flap (71) is rotatably supported about an axis of rotation (711) for the opening of the heat exchange module (2, 21, 22) so that the cleaning flap (71) is a collection pan (712) for a cleaning agent (713) in an open state.
4. A heat exchange system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat exchanger (3) has a supporting function in the forming of the heat exchange module (2, 21, 22).
5. A heat exchange system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat exchange system is formed from a plurality of heat exchange modules (2, 21, 22).
6. A heat exchange system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first boundary surface (9, 91) of the first heat exchange module (2, 21) is inclined at the presettable angle of inclination (α) with respect to the second boundary surface (9, 92) of the first heat exchange module (2, 21) such that the modular heat exchange system can be expanded by a second heat exchange module (2, 22), in particular in compact construction shape, with the second heat exchange module (2, 22) preferably being identical to the first heat exchange module (2, 21).
7. A heat exchange system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the angle of inclination (α) between the first boundary surface (9, 91) and the second boundary surface (9, 92) of the heat exchanger module (2, 21, 22) is between 40° and 50°, and particularly preferably amounts to 45°.
8. A heat exchange system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein a boundary surface (9) of the heat exchange system is formed by a wall (9) of an installation object, in particular by a wall (9) of a building.
9. A heat exchange system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein a cooling device (10) is provided for the cooling of the heat exchanger (3), in particular a fan (10) for the generation of a gas flow, to increase a heat transfer capacity between the heat transfer agent (6) and the transport fluid (5); and/or wherein the heat exchange system is made as a hybrid system and a sprinkling device is provided for the sprinkling of the heat exchanger (3) with a cooling fluid, in particular with cooling water, and/or a drop separator is provided for the separation of the cooling fluid.
10. A heat exchange system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein a sealing (11) is provided, in particular an air sealing (11), for the regulation of a flowthrough rate of the transport fluid (5).
11. A heat exchange system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat exchanger (3) is formed by a plurality of microchannels (31) as a microchannel heat exchanger (3, 300); and/or wherein the heat exchanger is made as a finned heat exchanger (3, 301) with cooling fins (32) and/or the heat exchange system is made as a combination heat exchange system of the finned heat exchanger (3, 301) and the microchannel heat exchanger (3, 300).
12. A heat exchange system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein a compensation means is provided for the compensation of thermomechanical strains; and/or wherein a universal connection element (12) is provided for the connection of a component of the heat exchange system.
13. A heat exchange system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein a control unit, in particular a control unit with a data processing system for the control of the cooling device (10) and/or of the cleaning system (7) and/or of the air sealing (11) and/or of an operating or state parameter of the heat transfer agent (6) and/or of another operating parameter of the heat exchange system is/are provided for the control and/or regulation of the heat exchange system in the operating state.
14. A heat exchange system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat exchange module (2, 21, 22) and/or the heat exchanger (3) and/or a boundary surface (9, 91, 92) of the heat exchange module (2, 21, 22), specifically the whole heat exchange system, is/are made of a metal and/or of a metal alloy, in particular of a single metal or of a single metal alloy, in particular of stainless steel, specifically of aluminum or of an aluminum alloy with a sacrificial metal preferably being provided as corrosion protection and/or with the heat exchange system being provided at least partly with a protection layer, in particular with a corrosion protection layer.
15. A heat exchange system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat exchange system is a radiator, in particular a radiator for a vehicle, specifically for a land vehicle, for an aircraft or for a water vehicle, or is a cooler, a capacitor or an evaporator for a mobile or stationary heating system, a cooling system or an air-conditioning system, in particular a cooler apparatus for a machine, for a data processing system or for a building.

Images