DE102022201103A1 - Use for a collector of a refrigerant condenser - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an insert (21) for a collector (11) of a refrigerant condenser (1), with a base body (28) which has a partition (25) and a seal (29) in the area of the partition (25), the partition (25) for dividing an interior (22) of the collector (11) into a lower interior region (23) associated with a heat removal and condensation region (16) and an upper interior region (24) associated with a supercooling region (17). with a riser pipe (26), the partition (25) being connected to the riser pipe (26), the riser pipe (26) having a lower interior area (23) below the partition wall (25) with an upper interior area (24) above of the dividing wall (25), wherein the seal (29) in the area of the dividing wall (25) is designed as a ring-shaped elastomer element (30) injection-molded in one piece with the insert (21).

Description

technical field

The invention relates to an insert for a collector of a refrigerant condenser and a refrigerant condenser for a refrigerant circuit, in particular a refrigerant circuit of a motor vehicle.

Background of the Invention

In motor vehicles, refrigeration circuits are known in which a refrigerant condenser is provided which has a finned tube block and a collector arranged next to the finned tube block. The refrigerant in vapor form flows into the condenser, where it is cooled and condensed in a desuperheating and condensation area, so that the condensed liquid refrigerant flows from the finned tube block into the collector. In the collector, the liquid refrigerant is separated from residual vapor and partly stored, preferably filtered and fed back into the finned tube block as liquid refrigerant, so that the liquid refrigerant is further cooled in the subcooling area of the condenser and is thus subcooled below the condensation temperature. At the end of the subcooling section, the liquid and subcooled refrigerant is discharged from the condenser.

A certain amount of refrigerant is collected and stored in the collector and at the same time the refrigerant flowing through is at least filtered. For this purpose, an insert is provided in the tubular collector, which is inserted into the collector, which takes over the filtering.

In principle, condensers are known in the prior art in which the heat removal and condensation area is arranged above the supercooling area, so that the tube fin block is flown through from top to bottom, which in the collector causes the liquid refrigerant with its vapor residues to flow in at the top of the collector , where it is separated into the liquid phase and the vapor phase and the liquid refrigerant is sucked off for the inflow into the subcooling area at the bottom of the collector. Condensers are also known in the prior art in which the heat removal and condensation area is arranged below the supercooling area, so that the tube-fin block is flowed through from the bottom up, which in the collector causes the liquid refrigerant with its vapor residues to flow down into the collector flows in, is separated there into the liquid phase and the vapor phase and the liquid refrigerant for the inflow into the supercooling area is guided upwards in the collector by means of a riser pipe and a partition wall in the collector and is then sucked off at the top. However, this presupposes that the dividing wall in the collector is in tight contact with the collector wall, so that the refrigerant sucked in upwards does not flow past the dividing wall but instead leaves the collector above the dividing wall as intended.

The inserts provided for this purpose in the collector are made of plastic by injection molding, so that they can be produced inexpensively. As a sealing means, it is known that a circumferential sealing web made of the material of the insert is injected onto the circumference of the partition and is pivotably connected to the partition by means of a film hinge. It is also known that two such sealing webs are arranged at a distance from one another in order to improve the sealing effect. The sealing web or the two sealing webs have the advantage that they can be produced together with the other insert in one process step, which reduces costs because the material is inexpensive and separate assembly is not required. However, it has been found that the sealing webs become brittle over time and cannot guarantee the required tightness over the service life of the insert. In the case of long periods of operation, this leads to reduced subcooling and thus to reduced performance of the air conditioning due to reduced subcooling of the refrigerant.

Inserts have also become known in which the injection-molded insert has one or two circumferential receptacles, in each of which an O-ring is fitted after the insert has been injection-molded. This process is relatively expensive because the respective O-ring has to be purchased, stored and installed.

Presentation of the invention, task, solution, advantages

It is the object of the invention to create an insert for a collector of a refrigerant condenser and a refrigerant condenser which is improved over the prior art and is inexpensive and simplified in terms of manufacture and assembly.

The object of the insert is solved with the features of claim 1.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to an insert for a collector of a refrigerant condenser, with a base body which has a partition and a seal in the area of the partition, the partition for dividing an interior of the collector into a heat extraction and a condensation area assigned lower interior area and in an upper interior area assigned to a supercooling area, furthermore with a riser pipe, wherein the partition wall is connected to the riser pipe, wherein the riser pipe is provided to fluidly connect a lower interior area below the partition wall with an upper interior area above the partition wall, wherein the Sealing in the area of the partition wall is designed as a ring-shaped elastomer element that is molded in one piece with the insert. As a result, a permanently elastic sealing element is created as a seal, which does not have to be installed in a complicated manner and nevertheless seals securely over the service life of the insert in relation to the inner wall of the collector. In this case, an elastomer material or duroplast, in particular such as rubber, silicone, etc., is preferably injected onto the insert in the area of the partition, in particular in a two-component injection molding process. The insert is preferably made of a thermoplastic such as a polyamide, polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polylactate (PLA), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene ( PS), polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyolefins, polypropylene or similar are injection molded as a hard plastic and the seal consists of an elastomeric soft plastic.

In one embodiment, it is expedient if the dividing wall and the riser pipe are produced in one piece by injection molding. As a result, simple and inexpensive assembly can be achieved. Alternatively, the partition wall and the riser pipe can also be manufactured separately and connected to one another.

It is also advantageous if the dividing wall is surrounded by an annular region of the base body, which extends axially from the dividing wall, in particular starting from the dividing wall in one or in both axial directions. This creates an axially wider base onto which the seal can be injection molded in order to create a more planar contact of the elastomeric material on the base body in the vicinity of the partition wall.

Furthermore, it can also be expedient in one exemplary embodiment if the base body forms a cage which extends axially from the partition wall in at least one direction, in particular in both directions. As a result, a stable structure through which a flow can flow can be created on one side of the partition wall towards the supercooling area. In this way it can be achieved that the partition wall is arranged securely in the axial direction and cannot be displaced too much in the axial direction because the partition wall defines the transition to the supercooling area in its position. The cage can also help prevent the partition wall from tilting, thereby reducing the sealing effect of the seal.

It is particularly advantageous if the cage forms openings which are filled with a net or grid and serve as a sieve and/or filter. A filter function or screen effect can thus also be integrated.

It is also expedient in a further exemplary embodiment if the base body in the area of the partition wall forms at least one annular ridge that projects radially outwards and runs in the circumferential direction, in particular the base body in the area of the partition wall forms two ring ridges that project radially outwards and run in the circumferential direction and are arranged spaced apart from one another , wherein the seal is formed in the region of the annular ridge or axially between the annular ridges and projects radially beyond the annular ridge or the annular ridges. As a result, the seal is securely placed on a ring ridge or between two ring ridges, and the sealing function can still be reliably performed due to the radial protrusion.

It is also advantageous if the two ring webs form a groove between them, in which the seal is arranged. The arrangement of the seal can thus be carried out reliably, which facilitates the injection molding process. The ring ridges also serve as a radial stop for placing the insert in the collector. The collector is basically designed as a tubular collector which has an inner wall against which the seal rests in a sealing manner.

The object of the refrigerant condenser is solved with the features of claim 8 .

An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a refrigerant condenser with a collector and an insert arranged in the collector, the insert being designed in accordance with the insert according to the invention.

It is particularly advantageous if a tube-fin block is provided from a row of tubes and fins arranged between the respective adjacent tubes, furthermore with a first header tube and with a second header tube, with one of the header tubes being arranged on one side of the tube-fin block, wherein the tubes of the tube fin block each have a tube end on both sides, the tube ends each being in fluid communication with one of the two header tubes, the collector being arranged adjacent to one of the header tubes and with the is fluidly connected to the collector pipe arranged adjacent thereto, the collector for this purpose has a fluid inlet opening and a fluid outlet opening, which are fluidly connected to the collector pipe arranged adjacent thereto in such a way that a first fluid connection is provided from the collector pipe to the fluid inlet opening, through which fluid flows from the collector pipe into the collector and a second fluid connection is provided from the collector tube to the fluid outlet opening, through which fluid flows from the collector into the collector tube, wherein the tube-fin block is divided into a desuperheating and condensation area and a supercooling area, the two collector tubes each being separated by a partition wall in each a header area of the desuperheating and condensing area and in each case a header area of the supercooling area, wherein the fluid inlet opening of the header is fluidly connected to the header area of the desuperheating and condensation area and the fluid outlet opening of the collector is fluidly connected to the header area of the subcooling area, the subcooling area being above the Desuperheating and condensation area is arranged.

It is also advantageous if the dividing wall of the insert is arranged in the collector in such a way that it serves to divide the interior of the collector into a lower interior area assigned to the heat removal and condensation area and an upper interior area assigned to the supercooling area, with the riser pipe of the insert fluidly connects the lower interior area below the partition wall with the upper interior area above the partition wall by the riser pipe leading through an opening in the partition wall or connecting to an opening in the partition wall.

character list

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the figures in the drawing.

• 1 eine schematische, perspektivische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Kältemittelkondensators mit einem Sammler eines Kältemittelkreislaufs,
• 2 eine schematische, perspektivische Darstellung eines Einsatzes für einen Sammler eines Kältemittelkondensators, und
• 3 eine schematische Schnittdarstellung des Einsatzes gemäß 2.

Show it:

• 1 a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a refrigerant condenser according to the invention with a collector of a refrigerant circuit,
• 2 a schematic perspective view of an insert for a collector of a refrigerant condenser, and
• 3 a schematic sectional view of the insert according to FIG 2 .

Preferred embodiment of the invention

The 1 shows a schematic representation of a refrigerant condenser 1 with a collector 11, in particular for a refrigerant circuit of a motor vehicle.

The refrigerant condenser 1 has a tube fin block 3 made up of a row of tubes 4 and fins 5 arranged between the tubes 4 which are arranged adjacent in each case. The tubes 4 are arranged in at least one row transversely to their longitudinal direction, so that a rib 5 is arranged between two adjacent tubes 4 in each case and touches the adjacent ribs 5 in a thermally conductive manner. The rib 5 extends in the longitudinal direction of the tubes 4.

The tube-fin block 3 also has a first header 6 and a second header 7 , one of the headers 6 , 7 being arranged on one side of the tube-fin block 3 .

The tubes 4 of the tube fin block 3 each have a tube end 8 on both sides, with the tube ends 8 each being fluidly connected to one of the two header tubes 6 , 7 .

The tube fin block 3 has a fluid inlet 9 and a fluid outlet 10 . Thus, fluid such as refrigerant flows into the refrigerant condenser 1 through the fluid inlet 9 , flows through the tube fin block 3 and flows out of the refrigerant condenser 1 again at the fluid outlet 10 .

Furthermore, a collector 11 is provided, which is arranged adjacent to one of the collector pipes 6, 7. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the collector 11 is arranged, for example, adjacent to the collector pipe 7 , which is arranged opposite the collector pipe 6 with the fluid inlet 9 and the fluid outlet 10 .

The collector 11 is fluidly connected to the collector pipe 7 arranged adjacent thereto. For this purpose, the collector 11 has a fluid inlet opening 12 and a fluid outlet opening 13, which are fluidly connected to the adjacently arranged collector pipe 7 in such a way that a first fluid connection 14 is provided from the collector pipe 7 to the fluid inlet opening 12, through which fluid from the collector pipe 7 into the Collector 11 flows. Furthermore, a second fluid connection 15 is provided from the collector pipe 7 to the fluid outlet opening 13 through which fluid flows from the collector 11 into the collector pipe 7 .

The tube-fin block 3 of the refrigerant condenser 1 is divided into a desuperheating and condensing section 16 and a supercooling section 17, the two headers 6, 7 being divided by a partition 18 into a header area 19 of the deheating and condensation area 16 and a header area 20 of the supercooling area 17.

Correspondingly, the fluid inlet port 12 of the collector 11 is fluidly connected to the collector pipe area 19 of the desuperheating and condensing area 16 and the fluid outlet opening 13 of the collector 11 is fluidly connected to the collector pipe area 20 of the supercooling area 17 .

The supercooling area 17 is arranged above the heat removal and condensation area 16 when the refrigerant condenser is installed as intended, for example in a motor vehicle. Correspondingly, the coolant flows through the coolant condenser 1 from bottom to top, which also applies to the collector 11 .

According to 1 An insert 21 is arranged in the collector 11 , which divides the interior space 22 of the collector 11 at least into a lower interior area 23 and an upper interior area 24 .

The insert 21 has a partition 25 . The partition wall 25 of the insert 21 is arranged in the collector 11 in such a way that it serves to divide the interior space 22 of the collector 11 into a lower interior region 23 associated with the heat removal and condensation region 16 and an upper interior region 24 associated with the supercooling region 17.

A riser pipe 26 of the insert 21 is provided on the partition wall 25, which fluidly connects the lower interior area 23 below the partition wall 25 with the upper inner space area 24 above the partition wall 25, in that the riser pipe 26 leads through an opening 27 in the partition wall 25 or to an opening 27 in the partition 25 connects. In this way, coolant can rise from the lower interior area 23 through the riser pipe 26 into the upper interior area 24 .

The insert 21 is designed such that it seals against the inner wall of the collector 11 in the area of the partition 25 so that as little refrigerant as possible can flow from the upper interior area 24 past the partition 25 to the lower interior area 23 .

The insert 21 is in the 2 and 3 shown in an advantageous embodiment.

The insert 21 for the collector 11 of the refrigerant condenser 1 has a base body 28 which has the partition 25 and a seal 29 in the area of the partition 25 .

The insert 21 also has a riser tube 26 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, the partition wall 25 is connected to the riser pipe 26, for example plugged together, glued or manufactured in one piece with one another.

The riser pipe 26 is provided to fluidly connect the lower interior space 23 below the partition 25 with the upper interior space 24 above the partition 25 .

To seal the dividing wall 25 against the inner wall of the collector 11 , the seal 29 in the area of the dividing wall 25 is designed as an annular elastomer element 30 molded in one piece with the insert 21 . This permits uncomplicated production and avoids complex assembly.

The partition wall 25 and the riser pipe 26 are preferably produced in one piece by injection molding. The ring-shaped elastomer element 30 can be molded onto the injection-molded part of the partition wall 25 and the riser pipe 26 with the base body 28 .

The ring-shaped elastomer element 30 is designed in section in such a way that it has a U-shaped bead 31 radially outwards, which protrudes in the radial direction and can rest against the inner wall of the collector 11 .

The partition wall 25 is surrounded by an annular region 32 of the base body 28, which extends axially from the partition wall 25, in particular starting from the partition wall 25 in one or in both axial directions A.

In the area of the partition wall 25, the base body 28 can form at least one annular web 33 that projects radially outward and runs in the circumferential direction.

The seal 29 is arranged in the area of the annular ridge 33 or axially between the annular ridges 33 . The seal 29 protrudes radially beyond the at least one annular ridge 33 or the annular ridges 33 so that a reliable seal with respect to the inner wall of the collector 11 is possible.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the two ring webs 33 form a groove 34 between them, in which the seal 29 is arranged.

The in the 2 and 3 The base body 28 shown optionally also forms a cage 35 which extends axially from the partition wall 25 in at least one direction, in particular in both directions. The cage 35 forms openings 36 which are filled with a net 37 or grid and serve as a sieve and/or filter.

Claims (10)

Insert (21) for a collector (11) of a refrigerant condenser (1), with a base body (28) which has a partition (25) and a seal (29) in the area of the partition (25), the partition (25) for dividing an interior (22) of the collector (11) into a lower interior region (23) associated with a heat removal and condensation region (16) and an upper interior region (24) associated with a supercooling region (17), furthermore with a riser pipe ( 26), the partition wall (25) being connected to the riser pipe (26), the riser pipe (26) having a lower interior area (23) below the partition wall (25) with an upper interior area (24) above the partition wall (25 ) to be fluidly connected, characterized in that the seal (29) in the area of the partition wall (25) is designed as a ring-shaped elastomer element (30) injection molded in one piece with the insert (21). Use (21) after claim 1 , characterized in that the partition (25) and the riser (26) are made in one piece by injection molding. Use (21) after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the partition (25) is surrounded by an annular region (32) of the base body (28) which extends axially from the partition (25), in particular starting from the partition (25) in one or in both axial directions . Use (21) after claim 1 , 2 or 3 , characterized in that the base body (28) forms a cage (35) which extends axially in at least one direction, in particular in both directions, from the partition (25). Use (21) after claim 4 , characterized in that the cage (35) forms openings (36) which are filled with a net (37) or grid and serve as a sieve and/or filter. Insert (21) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body (28) in the region of the partition (25) forms at least one annular web (33) which projects radially outwards and runs in the circumferential direction, in particular the base body (28) in the region the partition (25) forms two spaced-apart annular webs (33) that project radially outward and run in the circumferential direction, the seal (29) being formed in the region of the annular web (33) or axially between the annular webs (33) and the annular web ( 33) or the ring ridges (33) radially beyond. Use (21) after claim 6 , characterized in that the two ring webs (33) form a groove (34) between them, in which the seal (29) is arranged. Refrigerant condenser (1) with a collector (11) and an insert (21) arranged in the collector (11), the insert (21) being designed according to at least one of the preceding claims. Refrigerant condenser (1) after claim 8 , characterized in that a tube fin block (3) is provided from a row of tubes (4) and arranged between the respectively adjacent tubes (4) fins (5), furthermore with a first header tube (6) and with a second header tube (7 ), one of the collecting tubes (6, 7) being arranged on one side of the tube-fin block (3), the tubes (4) of the tube-fin block (3) each having a tube end (8) on both sides, the tube ends (8) each are fluidly connected to one of the two header pipes (6, 7), the header (11) being arranged adjacent to one of the header pipes (6, 7) and being fluidly connected to the header pipe (6, 7) arranged adjacent thereto, the header (11 ) for this purpose has a fluid inlet opening (12) and a fluid outlet opening (13), which are fluidly connected to the adjacent manifold (6, 7) in such a way that a first fluid connection (14) runs from the manifold (6, 7) to the fluid inlet opening (12 ) is provided, through which fluid flows from the collecting pipe (6, 7) into the collector (11) and from the collecting pipe (6, 7) a second fluid connection (15) to the fluid outlet opening (13) is provided, through which fluid flows out flows from the collector (11) into the collecting tube (6, 7), with the tube fin block (3) being divided into a deheating and condensation area (16) and a supercooling area (17), the two collecting tubes (6, 7) passing through a partition wall (18) is divided into a respective header pipe area (19) of the deheating and condensation area (16) and a respective header pipe area (20) of the supercooling area (17), the fluids the outlet opening (12) of the header (11) is fluidly connected to the header pipe area (19) of the deheating and condensation area (16) and the fluid outlet opening (13) of the header (11) is fluidly connected to the header pipe area (20) of the supercooling area (17), the supercooling section (17) being located above the desuperheating and condensing section (16). Refrigerant condenser (1) after claim 9 , characterized in that the dividing wall (25) of the insert (21) in the collector (11) is arranged in such a way that it divides the interior (22) of the collector (11) into a lower heating and condensation area (16). Interior area (23) and in an upper interior area (24) assigned to the supercooling area (17), the riser pipe (26) of the insert (21) connecting the lower interior area (23) below the partition (25) with the upper interior area (24) above the dividing wall (25) in that the riser pipe (26) leads through an opening (27) in the dividing wall (25) or connects to an opening (27) in the dividing wall (25).

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