DE102006061440A1 - Heat exchanger e.g. cooling liquid heat exchanger for use in motor vehicle, has tubes interacting with openings of collecting tank and header tank such that end of each tube has contour - Google Patents

Abstract

The heat exchanger comprises tubes (11) made of sheet-metal strip, for regulating the temperature of a medium such as coolant and charge air flowing through the tubes. The ends of the tubes interact with the openings (23) in a collecting tank (24), header tank (25) such that end (21) of each tube has a contour (220). Independent claims are included for the following: (1) cooling liquid heat exchanger; and (2) heat exchange liquid heat exchanger.

Description

The The invention relates to a cooling liquid cooler, the flat tubes and interposed ribs having a cooling power form and of cooling air flows through be to cool the flowing in the flat tubes cooling liquid, wherein the Ends of flat tubes with openings in collection boxes or with openings in tube sheets, those with the collection boxes are connected, cooperate, and with at least one partition in one of the collection boxes, around a low temperature current and a high temperature current in the Coolant cooler too produce.

The closest prior art known to the Applicant, having the said features, may be the WO 02/48516 A1 be removed. There, the coolant flow is divided into two streams already before entering the one collecting tank of the cooler, which are then, so to speak, "converted" within the cooling liquid cooler into a low-temperature stream (NT stream) and into a high-temperature stream (HT stream) in that the flows are partially diverted several times by means of partitions both in the entry collection box and in the discharge collection box, in order to obtain certain desired temperature differences between the streams In addition to its advantages recognizable to the person skilled in the art, however, the known cooling liquid cooler has the disadvantage that due to fluctuating cooling requirements to be due to changing operating conditions, such as a motor vehicle, can not be sufficiently responded.

This disadvantage may also be said to the heat exchanger, which from the WO 03 / 046457A1 is known, although with this heat exchanger considerable temperature differences will be feasible. There, the number of partitions and the deflections is apparently even greater than in the above-described Kühlflüssigkeitkühler, which must affect the pressure loss. Again, this can not be adequately responded to fluctuating cooling requirements.

This applies equally to the integrated heat exchanger, the FR 2 682 160 is known. There, the low temperature range is located laterally next to the high temperature range.

Finally, this also applies to the cooling liquid cooler, from the WO 98/12425 is known. There, the low temperature range is below the high temperature range.

For example, from the EP 1 515 110 A2 or from the US 2006/0090879 A1 it is known in heat exchangers for air conditioning circuits to make an adjustment of the heat exchange performance of the current cooling or heat load by the flow rate of the heat exchanger flowing through the refrigerant is controlled by quite complicated and arranged in or on a collection box mechanisms. A displaceable perforated plate releases openings of flat tubes or closes them accordingly.

The The object of the invention is the described Kühlflüssigkeitkühler so to design that he has the opportunity the need-based adaptation of its cooling capacity to fluctuating requirements allowed.

The solution according to the invention itself with a Kühlflüssigkeitkühler, the all Features of claim 1.

It it is provided that the at least one partition wall is designed to be movable is to either the with coolant acted upon cross-sectional area to change the flat tubes with respect to their size related to the currents, or around with coolant be streamed on the streams related number of flat tubes to change.

The movable partition is either by means of a linear movement or by means of a rotary movement or by means of both types of movement emotional.

It is according to one preferred feature provided that the the entry collection box performing Collecting box without inner subdivision is formed that one or more movable longitudinal partitions in the Collection box representing the exit collection box, and that the streams from the entry collection box to the exit collection box in one common Direction running through the flat tubes.

According to one other possible Feature is located in two headers each at least one movable longitudinal wall.

It can according to one preferred feature be provided that the movable partition a movable longitudinal partition is and that the cross-sectional area the flat tubes by moving the longitudinal partition transverse to the broad sides of the flat tubes or to the longitudinal direction of the collecting tank changeable is.

In this context, it is desirable that the currents extend over the area of the cooling network which is flown by the cooling air and over part of the cooling network depth, the HT flow (high temperature) in the flow direction of the cooling air seen, lies behind the NT current (low temperature).

It is about it out possible, that the movable partition is a movable transverse partition, and that the number of the streamed flat tubes by movement of the transverse partition in the longitudinal direction of the collecting tank changeable is. It can further be provided that the at least one movable partition in combination with at least one fixed Partition is arranged.

there is there a possibility, that the movable partition and the solid partition in a collecting box are arranged.

A different possibility is that the movable partition in a collection box and the solid partition are arranged in the other collection box. The The terms "longitudinal" and "transverse" refer to the longitudinal direction of the collecting tank independently of it, like the Kühlflüssigkeitkühler and Consequently, the collection box is arranged in the vehicle.

The Achievement of the set goal or the fulfillment of the task is also supported by that the flat tubes in a single row of flat multi-chamber tubes are arranged and designed, because even this measure improved in a sense, the adaptability of the coolant radiator. At least the measures contribute to Limiting construction costs and opens up the possibility of the cooling network compact to design.

It is in a preferred embodiment provided that at the outlet collecting box at least two outlet openings are present, through which the currents with different temperatures the cooler leave. In the entry collection box, one single opening is sufficient in the preferably the entire coolant flow - in any case but the largest share same - enters, which, however, does not rule out that the coolant flow through several openings in could enter the undivided entry collection box.

Other versions have at least one outlet opening and an inlet opening a collecting box, passing through a movable or fixed partition are separated.

The are flat tubes of the coolant radiator, as mentioned above, flat multi-chamber tubes with two narrow sides and two broad sides, which are arranged in a single row. This applies regardless of the depth of the cooling network. Thus, the Multi-chamber pipes Depth dimensions or dimensions of their in cooling air flow direction have extending broad sides, for example, between 20 and 300 mm. With particular preference are the multi-chamber pipes made of at least one formed sheet metal strip, the Thickness is in the range of 0.03 to 0.20 mm. A very special advantageous multi-chamber tube is made of three metal strips, wherein two metal strips form the wall of the multi-chamber tube and the third corrugated sheet metal strip forms an inner insert, the forming the chambers of the pipe. These features also contribute to reduce the construction costs and beyond that is due to the extreme low wall thickness the heat exchange efficiency positively influenced.

Further Features are included in the appended claims 2-20, on the herewith the completeness half referenced.

The Invention will be described below in embodiments with reference to FIG attached Drawings described. The description also includes features and theirs Advantages, even those that have not yet been addressed, but maybe could gain special meaning.

The Figures show the following:

1 Front view of a coolant radiator in principle;

1a Side view of it;

2 Front view of another coolant radiator in principle;

3 Cross section of a preferred flat multi-chamber tube of the Kühlflüssigkeitskühlers;

4 and 5 Partial views of a Kühlflüssigkeitkühlers in principle

6 and 7 Basic side views of a coolant radiator

8th Partial view of a coolant radiator with movable transverse partition

9 in a cooling circuit integrated cooling liquid cooler

10 various combinations of longitudinal partitions;

The coolant cooler has flat tubes 1 and intervening ribs 2 , who share the cooling network 3 form. The cooling air flows through the ribs 2 to get into the shallow raw reindeer 1 to cool flowing coolant. The ends of the flat tubes 1 flow into an entry collection box 4E and at the opposite end into an exit collection box 4A , The 1 and 2 show a view of the cooled air flows on the side of the coolant radiator. In the mentioned figures, the surface of the cooling network, which is flown by the cooling air, became 3 with a dashed line and denoted by A. It is the entire cooling network area A. The entire cooling liquid flow to be cooled passes through an opening 41 in the entry collection box 4E one. In the 2 owns the exit collection box 4A a single movable longitudinal partition 5L , as in the example 9 indicated by a dash. With this one movable longitudinal partition wall 5L extending over the entire length of the collecting tank 4A extends, set a low-temperature current NT and a high-temperature current HT, both the outlet collection box 4A via one opening each 40 leave. With the help of the movable longitudinal partition 5L The mass flows and, as a consequence, the temperature differences between the mass flows in the NT flow and in the HT flow can be regulated within reasonable limits. In contrast, the Kühlflüssigkeitkühler from the 1 and 1a two longitudinal partitions 5L why two low-temperature currents NT1 and NT2 can be formed there. At least one of them is mobile.

It is understood that to carry out the movement of the partitions 5 Force or torque generating organs and transmission organs, seals, etc., are necessary, their representation has been largely omitted here. The skilled person has sufficient hydraulic, electrical and mechanical and other means available. He will also be able to provide suitable elements of the control technology. If necessary, he will also ensure that when the movement of the partitions 5 is required, the cooling liquid pump P ( 9 ) is incorporated into the control circuit (s) to allow the mobility of the partitions 5 to facilitate.

The cooling network depth T was in the 3 . 5 . 6 and 9 located. The longitudinal partitions 5L are arranged so that each current NT, HT occupies only a certain proportion of the cooling network depth T, but extends over the entire flowed-cooling surface A. The streams NT, HT flow through the cooling network in the preferred embodiments 3 parallel and in a common direction from the entry collection box 4E to the exit collection box 4A what the arrows in the 1 . 2 and 9 to show. It should be clear to the extent that at the Kühlluftanströmseite A must be the most cooled stream NT, since there the highest temperature difference between the cooling air and the cooling liquid is present. In order for the NT and HT streams to develop, either an extra series of flat tubes must be assigned to each NT, HT line, or a single row of multi-chamber tubes 1M can be used, which extends over all streams NT, HT. The latter measure is particularly preferred because it contributes to the structural simplification. The multi-chamber pipes 1M have dimensions of their in the cooling air flow direction extending broadsides 11 , which are for example between 20 and 300 mm, what possible depth dimensions T of the cooling network 3 equivalent. The flat multi-chamber pipes in the coolant cooler 1M as components of its cooling network 3 are produced according to a very particularly preferred embodiment of three transformed endless metal strips a, b, and c. The metal strips a and b are formed identically, wherein the one longitudinal edge of the metal strip was provided with a larger arc than the other longitudinal edge. The two metal strips a, b are then arranged to each other so that the larger arc of a sheet metal strip engages around the smaller arc of the other metal strip to the two narrow sides 10 of the multi-chamber tube 1M to form, like that in the 3 you can see. It can also be seen there that the third sheet-metal strip c is formed with a corrugation which forms the chambers K of the multi-chamber tube 1M form. The corrugated metal strip c is inserted in the course of the merger of the pipe wall forming sheet metal strips a and b therebetween. The longitudinal edges of the metal strip c were also formed and lie inside in the narrow sides 10 of the multi-chamber tube 1M to reinforce them clearly. The thickness d of the tube wall forming sheet metal strips a and b is approximately between 0.06 mm and 0.20 mm and the thickness of the metal strip c, which forms the inner insert is between 0.03 mm and 0.10 mm. Because of the extremely small sheet thicknesses d are two stable narrow sides 10 of the multi-chamber tube 1M of special interest.

The 4 and 5 show the pipe ends of the cooling network 3 from multi-chamber pipes 1M and corrugated ribs 2 , The pipe ends are stuck in openings 45 a collection box 4 or a tube bottom. As can be seen further from the illustrations, has the collection box / tube sheet 4 a roughly semicircular contour. In any case, the pipe ends do not protrude inwards in order to avoid unnecessary pressure loss in the cooling liquid. It can also be seen that an approximately round cross section of the collecting tank 4 present, which has a good pressure stability. The existing in the embodiment shown rotational movement of the movable longitudinal wall 5L done so that the longitudinal edge 5K the longitudinal wall 5L along the contour 10 emotional. However, it is also recognizable that the movable longitudinal wall 5L does not necessarily have to be moved by means of a rotational movement. It could also be adjusted transversely to its longitudinal extent by means of a linear movement. In these cases could then also collection boxes / tube sheets 4 be present, the mentioned contour 10 do not have or do not have a round cross section but, for example, an approximately square or a rectangular cross-section.

How the particular 3 - 7 maybe the most 5 can make conceivable, causes the movement of the longitudinal wall 5L on the one hand, an enlargement of the acted upon by cooling liquid cross-sectional area Qa of the flat tubes 1 and on the other side an equally large reduction of the applied cross-sectional area. In the 3a was the addressed cross-sectional area Qa using a single multi-chamber tube 1M indicated by two differently hatched fields. The left surface Qa1 is associated with the NT current and the right surface Qa2 is correspondingly associated with the HT current.

When in the 5 shown position of the partition 5 is the left of the partition 5 located cross-sectional area Qa2 of the tubes 1 that is associated with the HT stream is much larger than the one to the right of it and associated with the NT stream. In the 5 the rotational movement of the longitudinal partition takes place 5L around the bearing or around the axle 5R around, which is on the wall of the collecting tank 4 located. In addition, but with dashed lines an alternative solution in the 5 plotted at which the bearing or axle 5R approximately centrally with respect to the partition 5 or also centrally with respect to the collecting tank 4 located. The warehouse 5R can be on the front sides of the collecting tank 4 be supported. (Not shown)

The statements regarding the mobility of the longitudinal partition 5L apply mutatis mutandis to the mobility of the transverse partition 5Q , which in the embodiment according to the 8th was provided. There is a linear movement by means of the organ 50 , a spindle, a hydraulic cylinder or the like, in the longitudinal direction of the collecting tank 4 has been hinted at, although there could be a rotation movement conceivable there. In this embodiment, the number of preferably multi-chamber tubes 1M , which is acted upon by the cooling liquid within the streams NT, HT, or which are associated with the streams, by the linear movement of the partition wall 5Q increased or decreased, whereby the flow is influenced. For example, the coolant could be on the left nozzle 41 enter and the cooling network 3 to the partition 5Q towards the not shown box at the other end of the cooling network 3 flow through. There could be a part of the coolant after in the cooling network 3 be taken off cooling. Another part of it, which has to be cooled further, ie the NT current, could be redirected, (arrow) in the cooling network 3 flow back and through the existing in the picture right neck 40 leave the coolant cooler. Like from the 8th and from the foregoing description, in this embodiment, the cooled-up cooling area A (in FIG 1 and 2 drawn) on the NT power and on the larger HT power has been divided. The temperature difference arises here because of the longer Durchströmweges of the NT - current in the cooling network 3 one.

This is not the case in the embodiment according to the 9 which represents a preferred embodiment in this regard. The entire cooling grid area A (in 2 displayed) is there occupied by the NT current and - seen in the direction of flow - behind it, the HT flow closes in the cooling network 3 at. The NT current and the HT current flow in the same direction from the inlet box 4E to the outlet box 4A from where they are recycled. Such solutions cause a relatively small pressure loss, which is an advantage. The currents are by means of the movable longitudinal partition wall 5L adjustable as needed. In the basic representation of the Kühlflüssigkeitkühlers in the 9 it could be either the top view of a cross-flow cooler, as in the 1 can be seen, so with left and right in the motor vehicle vertically arranged collection boxes 4 , or a so-called downdraft cooler (side view) with vertical tubes and two horizontal header boxes 4 , like in the 2 shown.

As the embodiments of the 6 and 7 can illustrate, it is also possible, for example, completely shut off the NT power, if a certain operating situation, the cooling capacity of the entire cooling liquid flow, for example, needed for engine cooling. For example, in long downhill runs of the motor vehicle can of course be set to zero or almost all HT power to provide a greater cooling capacity for retarder cooling can. Incidentally, there are different cases to see there, however, for example, agree that the NT flow T3 is the lowest temperature on the Kühlluftanströmseite and that the entire area A of the cooling network 3 occupied by this NT current T3.

This is also true for the 32 case types that are discussed in the 10 as an overview can be seen. All there to see variants of the arrangement of fes and movable longitudinal partitions 5L in the collection boxes 4E . 4A were studied by the inventors and considered as possible candidates for use in different refrigeration systems. Mobile longitudinal partitions 5L were drawn with dashed lines and fixed longitudinal partitions 5L were made to distinguish it with solid lines. The inlet box 4E should be provided on the right in the illustrations and the outlet box 4A accordingly lie on the left side. The embodiments of the 10 / 12 and 10 / 14 could the embodiment of the 1 and 1a correspond.

The embodiment according to the 10 / 13 equals to 9 , The 10 / 27 corresponds to the 6 and 7 , In the 10 There are no inlet and outlet openings. However, it is conceivable that by the number and arrangement of the chambers in the collection boxes 4E . 4A assigned inlets and outlets a desired other flow pattern can be generated, which is advantageous for some applications.

Claims (21)

Coolant cooler, the flat tubes ( 1 ) and intervening ribs ( 2 ) having a cooling network ( 3 ) and are traversed by cooling air to those in the flat tubes ( 1 ) cooling coolant, the ends of the flat tubes ( 1 ) with openings in collecting boxes ( 4 ) or with openings in tubesheets which are connected to the collecting tanks ( 4 ), cooperate, and with at least one partition wall ( 5 ) in the collecting box to produce a low-temperature (NT) and a high-temperature (HT) flow in the cooling liquid cooler, characterized in that the partition ( 5 ) is designed to be movable in order either to act upon the coolant surface with the cross-sectional area (Qa1, Qa2) of the flat tubes ( 1 ) with respect to their size relative to the flows (NT, HT), or the number of flat tubes associated with the cooling liquid (NT, HT) ( 1 ), wherein the movable partition ( 5 ) with the tube bottom / collecting box ( 4 ) cooperates. Coolant radiator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movable partition wall ( 5 ) is adjustable either by means of a linear movement or by means of a rotational movement. Coolant radiator according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the movable partition ( 5 ) a movable longitudinal partition wall ( 5L ) and that the cross-sectional area of the flat tubes ( 1 ) preferably by rotational movement of the longitudinal partition wall ( 5L ) across the broadsides ( 11 ) of the flat tubes or transversely to the longitudinal direction of the collecting tank ( 4 ) is changeable. Coolant radiator according to claims 1-3, characterized in that the flows (NT, HT) over the area of the cooling air (A) of the cooling network ( 3 ) and extend over a part of the cooling network depth (T), the HT flow seen in the flow direction of the cooling air, behind the NT flow. Cooling liquid cooler according to one of the claims or according to all claims 1-4, characterized in that the collecting box ( 4 ), the entrance collection box ( 4E ) is formed without subdivision and that the movable longitudinal partition wall ( 5L ) only in the collecting box ( 4 ), which houses the exit collection box ( 4A ). Coolant cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that the movable partition ( 5 ) a movable transverse partition ( 5Q ), and that the number of flat tubes ( 1 ) preferably by linear movement of the transverse partition wall ( 5Q ) in the longitudinal direction of the collecting tank ( 4 ) is changeable. Coolant radiator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one movable partition wall ( 5 ) in combination with at least one fixed partition ( 5 ) is arranged. Cooling liquid cooler according to claims 1 and 7, characterized in that the movable partition and the fixed partition in a collecting box ( 4 ) are arranged. Coolant radiator according to claims 1 and 7, characterized in that the movable partition ( 5 ) in a collecting box and the fixed partition ( 5 ) are arranged in the other collection box. Coolant cooler according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tubesheet / collecting box ( 4 ) a contour ( 10 ), wherein the movable partition ( 5 ), in particular the movable longitudinal partition wall ( 5L ) with its longitudinal edge ( 5K ) on this contour ( 10 ) is preferably movable along in the sense of a rotational movement. Coolant radiator according to one of the preceding claims, in particular according to claim 10, characterized in that the ends of the flat tubes ( 1 ) not inside the con gate ( 10 ) survive, but end before. Coolant radiator according to claim 1 or one of the other claims, characterized in that the flat tubes ( 1 ) are arranged and formed in a single row of flat multi-chamber tubes (1M). Coolant radiator according to claim 1 or one of the other claims 2-11, characterized in that the flat tubes ( 1 ) in several rows in the cooling network ( 3 ), each row being associated with a stream (NT or HT). Coolant cooler after one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of low-temperature currents (NT1, NT2 ...) are formed next to the high-temperature current (HT). Coolant cooler according to one of the preceding claims, in particular according to claim 12, characterized in that the flat multi-chamber tubes (1M) have two narrow sides ( 10 ) and two broadsides ( 11 ) and can be produced by forming at least one endless metal strip whose thickness (d) is approximately between 0.03-0.20 mm. Coolant cooler according to one of the preceding claims, in particular according to claims 12 and 15, characterized in that the multi-chamber tubes ( 1M ) are produced from three endless sheet metal strips (a, b, c), wherein two sheet metal strips (a, b) form the wall of the tube and wherein the third sheet metal strip (c) is a corrugated inner insert, whereby the chambers (K) of the multi-chamber tube ( 1M ) are formed. Cooling liquid cooler according to one of the preceding claims, in particular according to claims 15 and 16, characterized in that the sheet metal strips (a, b) are identical, wherein the one longitudinal edge of the sheet metal strips (a, b) was equipped with a larger arc than the other Longitudinal edge, wherein the two sheet metal strips (a, b) are arranged to each other so that the larger arc of a sheet metal strip engages around the smaller arc of the other metal strip to the two narrow sides ( 10 ) of the multi-chamber tube ( 1M ) to build. Cooling liquid cooler according to one of the preceding claims, in particular according to claims 12 and 15-17, characterized in that the multi-chamber tubes ( 1M ) Dimensions of their in the cooling air flow direction extending broadsides ( 11 ), which are between 20 and 300 mm, what possible depth dimensions (T) of the cooling network ( 3 ) corresponds. Coolant radiator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at the outlet collecting box ( 4A ) at least two outlet openings ( 40 ) are present, through which the streams (NT; HT) leave the cooler at different temperatures. Coolant radiator according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at the entry collection box ( 4E ) an entrance opening ( 41 ) is present to accommodate at least most of the total cooling liquid flow. Coolant radiator according to claim 1 or one of claims 7-9, characterized in that at the inlet collecting box ( 4E ) an inlet opening and at least one outlet opening are arranged, which are defined by at least one fixed or movable dividing wall ( 5 ) are separated.