EP2260253A1

EP2260253A1 - Heat exchanger and integrated air-conditioning assembly including such exchanger

Info

Publication number: EP2260253A1
Application number: EP09721889A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Aurélie Bellenfant; Jimmy Lemee; Lionel Renault; Frédéric Bernard
Original assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques SAS
Current assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques SAS
Priority date: 2008-03-20
Filing date: 2009-03-17
Publication date: 2010-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 2029-03-17
Also published as: JP5555220B2; US20110083468A1; FR2928997B1; CN102037305B; FR2928997A1; EP2260253B1; CN102037305A; JP2011515644A; WO2009115284A1; US9920999B2

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat-exchanger for an air-conditioning circuit that includes a first pipe (110) defining a path for a flow of fluid, the first pipe being spirally wound about a so-called exchanger axis (A). According to the invention, the heat exchanger (9) further includes at least one second pipe (120a, 120b) defining a path for a flow of a second fluid, said second pipe being provided against a surface of the first pipe (110) and spirally wound together with said first pipe (110) about said axis (A). The invention can be used in air-conditioning circuits operating with a super-critical coolant, in particular carbon dioxide (CO2).

Description

HEAT EXCHANGER AND INTEGRATED AIR CONDITIONING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING SUCH AN EXCHANGER

The present invention relates to a heat exchanger for an air conditioning circuit. It also relates to a use of said heat exchanger as an internal exchanger of an air conditioning circuit, an integrated assembly for an air conditioning circuit operating with a refrigerant, and an air conditioning circuit comprising such an integrated assembly.

The invention finds a particularly advantageous application in the field of air conditioning circuits operating with a supercritical refrigerant fluid, such as carbon dioxide (CO2).

Air conditioning circuits of this type generally include a compressor, a gas cooler, an internal heat exchanger, a pressure reducer, an evaporator and an accumulator. The refrigerant fluid carried at high pressure by the compressor is sent to the gas cooler to be cooled.

The high-pressure fluid from the cooler then flows into a first branch of the internal exchanger, and is then expanded by the expander. The low pressure fluid then passes through the evaporator, then the accumulator before circulating in a second branch of the internal exchanger. The refrigerant then returns to the compressor to undergo a new cycle.

In the internal heat exchanger, the hot fluid at high pressure flowing in the first branch exchanges heat with the cold fluid at low pressure flowing in the second branch.

The accumulator disposed at the outlet of the evaporator is designed to store the excess liquid present in the cold fluid at low pressure leaving the evaporator. This accumulator is generally in the form of a reservoir adapted to separate the liquid portion of the refrigerant fluid from the gas portion. The accumulator sends the gaseous portion of the refrigerant fluid at low temperature to the compressor after passing through the internal exchanger.

COPY OF CONFSRMATSON Among the many known internal exchangers, one can mention that which, associated with a horizontal accumulator, constitutes the integrated assembly described in the French patent application No. 2,752,921. In this integrated assembly, the internal exchanger has a general shape. of spiral. A spacing is provided between the windings of the internal exchanger to allow the circulation of the cold fluid, while the hot fluid circulates inside the spirally wound tube in parallel channels arranged perpendicularly to the axis of the tube.

This solution, however, involves arranging a space between each winding to create the low pressure fluid channel. It therefore generates a large diametral bulk.

To remedy this drawback, it has been proposed a heat exchanger for air conditioning circuit, comprising a tube defining a path for the circulation of a fluid, called high pressure, and a second fluid, called low pressure, the tube being wound around an axis so as to define successive windings.

It is further provided in this exchanger that the successive windings of the tube are closely clamped together so as to delimit so-called secondary channels, sealed for the circulation of the second fluid, these secondary channels being located between projecting areas of the tube. The tube also has channels, said main, arranged in the projecting areas, to be traversed by the first fluid.

This known heat exchanger comprises an inner core of substantially cylindrical shape placed in the center of the tube and consisting of several nested elements which ensure, at the same time, the winding of the tube, the evacuation of the first fluid at the exit of the main channels and the second fluid supply to the inlet of the secondary channels.

However, this solution requires the implementation of a relatively complex inner core. Also, an object of the invention is to provide a heat exchanger for air conditioning circuit that would in particular simplify the architecture of the aforementioned known exchanger at the outlet of the first fluid and the inlet of the second fluid. This object is achieved, according to the invention, by means of a heat exchanger for an air conditioning circuit, comprising a first tube defining a path for the circulation of a first fluid, called a high pressure fluid, said first tube being wound in a spiral about an axis, said axis of the exchanger, remarkable in that said heat exchanger further comprises at least a second tube defining a path for the circulation of a second fluid, called low pressure fluid, said second tube being attached to a face of the first tube and spirally wound with said first tube about said axis. Thus, as will be seen in detail below, because the first and the second fluids circulate in independent tubes, it is possible to separate the outlet of the first tube and the inlet of the second tube and thus to provide independent means. discharging the first fluid and supplying the second fluid, instead of using a single complex piece simultaneously providing these two functions.

The invention also relates to a use of the heat exchanger according to the invention as an internal exchanger of an air conditioning circuit, remarkable in that said first fluid is a high pressure fluid and said second fluid a fluid to low pressure. In particular, said first and second fluids are constituted by the same refrigerant fluid, in particular a supercritical fluid.

According to one embodiment of the invention, said first tube comprises a plurality of parallel main channels each delimiting a flow path of the first fluid spiral around the axis of the exchanger. Advantageously, said main channels have a substantially circular section for a better resistance to the pressure of the first tube in which the first high pressure fluid flows.

Similarly, the invention provides that said second tube comprises a plurality of parallel secondary channels each defining a flow path of the second fluid spiral around the axis of the exchanger. Advantageously, said secondary channels have a substantially rectangular section for a better heat exchange surface between the second low pressure fluid flowing in the second tube and the first high pressure fluid flowing in the first tube.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the heat exchanger comprises two second tubes respectively contiguous to one face of the first tube.

This embodiment makes it possible in fact to obtain, by increasing the passage sections offered to the second fluid, a reduction in the pressure drop in the second branch of the exchanger, the one in which the second low-level fluid circulates. pressure. Of course, the invention nevertheless remains open to any number of second circulation tubes of the second fluid at low pressure.

The invention further relates to an integrated assembly for an air conditioning circuit operating with a refrigerant fluid, characterized in that said integrated assembly comprises a housing in which is housed an internal exchanger according to the invention, between a cover and a bottom, said bottom being provided with an inlet of the second fluid inside the windings constituted by said first and second tubes, and in that said housing comprises a secondary outlet pipe of the second fluid, parallel to the axis of the exchanger and having an outlet opening.

According to a particular embodiment, the integrated assembly according to the invention comprises a secondary inlet pipe of said second fluid, parallel to the axis of the exchanger and one end communicates with said outlet through said bottom. In this particular embodiment, the invention notably provides that said integrated assembly comprises an accumulator connected to the bottom of said integrated assembly, into which said secondary inlet pipe opens so as to communicate with said outlet orifice.

According to a first variant, the main pipes and the secondary pipes are arranged to make a circulation of the first fluid in the first tube co-current with the circulation of the second fluid in the second tube. According to a second variant, the main pipes and the secondary pipes are arranged to make a circulation of the first fluid in the first tube against the current with the circulation of the second fluid in the second tube. Finally, the invention relates to an air conditioning circuit operating with a refrigerant, comprising a compressor, a gas cooler, a pressure reducer and an evaporator, remarkable in that said air conditioning circuit comprises an integrated element according to the invention, the main tubing. inlet pipe being connected to the gas cooler and the main outlet pipe being connected to the expansion valve, while the secondary inlet pipe is connected to the evaporator and the secondary outlet pipe is connected to the compressor.

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, given as non-limiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be achieved.

Figure 1 is a diagram of an air conditioning circuit according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an integrated assembly for the air conditioning circuit of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a view from above of the integrated assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the heat exchange device of the integrated assembly of FIGS. 2 and 3.

In Figure 1 is shown an air conditioning circuit 10 operating with a refrigerant, in particular a supercritical refrigerant fluid, for example carbon dioxide (CO2).

The air conditioning circuit 10 can be installed in a motor vehicle to cool the air of the passenger compartment, according to the needs of the passengers.

Such an air conditioning circuit operating according to a supercritical refrigerant cycle essentially comprises a compressor 14, a gas cooler 11 associated with a fan 16, an internal heat exchanger 9, a pressure reducer 12, an evaporator 13, and an accumulator 17 . The compressor 14 compresses the refrigerant fluid to a discharge pressure, called high pressure. The fluid then passes through the gas cooler 11 where it undergoes a gas phase cooling under high pressure. During this cooling, the fluid is not condensed unlike air conditioning circuits that use fluorinated compounds as refrigerant.

The fluid thus cooled by the gas cooler 11 then flows into a first branch 90 of the internal heat exchanger 9, called "hot" branch, to be further cooled. The fluid then passes into the regulator 12 which lowers its pressure, bringing it at least partly in the liquid state.

The fluid passing through the evaporator 13 then passes to the gaseous state under constant pressure. The heat exchange in the evaporator 13 makes it possible to produce a flow of conditioned air which is sent towards the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Generally, the refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator is not fully vaporized. The accumulator 17 is provided at the outlet of the evaporator 13 to store the excess of liquid still contained in the fluid. The conventional accumulators are in the form of a reservoir adapted to separate the liquid portion of the refrigerant fluid from the gaseous portion. The accumulator 17 then sends the gaseous portion of the refrigerant fluid at low temperature into a second branch 92 of the internal heat exchanger 9, called the "cold" branch, for a heat exchange with the high temperature refrigerant circulating in the "hot" branch 90.

As indicated in FIG. 1, the accumulator 17 and the internal heat exchanger 9 can be combined into a single component 100. This is called an "integrated assembly".

FIG. 2 shows such an integrated assembly 100 comprising, in the same housing 130, an accumulator 17 surmounted by an internal heat exchanger 9. The internal exchanger 9 of Figure 2 is essentially organized around a device 140 for heat exchange between the high pressure fluid and the low pressure fluid. According to FIG. 3, this device 140 comprises a first tube 110 which delimits a path for the circulation of the fluid at high pressure, this first tube 110 being wound in a spiral around an axis A which will be referred to in the following axis of the invention. exchanger. The heat exchange device 140 further comprises two second tubes 120a, 120b each defining a path for the circulation of the second fluid at low pressure. These second tubes are contiguous to a respective face of the first tube 110 and spirally wound simultaneously with said first tube about the axis A of the internal exchanger 9. Each rolling, the inner wall of the second inner tube 120a can come in contact with the outer wall of the second outer tube 120b. The coolant is identical in the first tube 110 and in the second tube 120a, 120b with the exception of its pressure level. Indeed, this fluid is subjected to a pressure (called high pressure) in the first tube 110 greater than the pressure (so-called low pressure) of the fluid in the second tube 120a, 120b.

In other words, the first high pressure tube 110 is "sandwiched" between the two second tubes 120a, 120b low pressure so as to promote an exchange between the high pressure fluid and the low pressure fluid. The manner in which the different tubes are arranged relative to each other within the heat exchange device 140 is also illustrated in FIG. 4.

In practice, the tubes 110, 120a, 120b can be extruded and joined together by brazing or gluing. The circulation of the high-pressure fluid in the first tube 110 is provided by a plurality of parallel main channels each delimiting a flow path of the high-pressure fluid spirally around the axis A of the exchanger. These main channels are contained in successive planes perpendicular to the axis A. Although they are not shown in the figures, French Patent Application No. 2,752,921 describes a structure of such channels. key.

Advantageously, said main channels have a substantially circular section, in order to offer a better resistance to pressure. This same channel structure can also be implemented to produce in each second tube 120a, 120b of the secondary channels each delimiting a flow path of the fluid at low pressure spiral around the axis A of the exchanger, these main channels being contained in successive planes perpendicular to the axis A.

Advantageously, said secondary channels have a substantially rectangular section, so as, on the one hand, to offer a larger heat exchange surface with the first tube 110 and, on the other hand, to reduce the pressure drop the along the path followed by the fluid at low pressure by maximizing the useful cross section of the fluid through the second tubes 120a, 120b.

As shown more particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the ends of the main channels of the first tube 110 extend between a main inlet pipe 111 capable of receiving the high pressure fluid coming from the gas cooler 11 of the air conditioning circuit. , and a main outlet pipe 112 capable of delivering the high pressure fluid outside the exchanger, in particular to the expander 12 of the air conditioning circuit. These main pipes 111, 112 have a substantially cylindrical shape with an axis parallel to the axis A of the exchanger and respectively have an opening 113, 114, shown in Figures 3 and 4, adapted to receive one of the ends of the first tube 110.

The main pipes 111, 112 are not in contact with the inner or outer faces of the second tubes 120a, 120b.

In practice, the main pipes 111, 112 are brazed or glued to the ends of the first tube 110. Similarly, it can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4 that the main pipes 111, 112 are closed at one of their ends by means of plugs 115, 116, the latter are made by means of shutter reported or directly integrated in the tubing 111 or 112 for example by folding and soldering the end. As can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the heat exchange device 140 provided with the main pipes 111, 112 is housed inside the housing 130 between a cover 150 and a bottom 160. In this space are also housed secondary pipes 121, 122 for controlling the flow of fluid at low pressure in the internal exchanger 9.

More specifically, there is provided a secondary tubing 121 of low-pressure fluid inlet, parallel to the axis A of the exchanger, for receiving the low-pressure fluid from the evaporator 13 of the air conditioning circuit, and to pass it through the accumulator 17 through the bottom 160 of the exchanger. The low-pressure fluid freed from its liquid phase leaves the accumulator 17 via a low-pressure fluid inlet orifice 161a, 161b in the heat exchange device 140, inside the windings constituted by the first tube 110 and the second tubes 120a, 120b.

After circulating in the two second tubes 120a, 120b and exchanging heat therewith with the high pressure fluid flowing in the first tube 110, the low pressure fluid opens secondary channels into the housing 130 where it is collected by a secondary outlet pipe 122 provided with an opening 123. The low pressure fluid is then driven through the secondary outlet pipe 122 outside the exchanger towards the compressor 14 of the air conditioning circuit.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the bottom 160 comprises two plates 160a, 160b.

The plate 160a, said upper bottom plate, has holes 163a, 164a on which are brazed respectively the secondary tubing 122 of the low pressure fluid outlet and the main pipe 111 inlet of the high pressure fluid. Another hole referenced 162a is formed in the upper bottom plate 160a through which passes the secondary tubing 121 inlet fluid low pressure. At this hole, two variants are possible: one in which the secondary tubing 121 is brazed to the plate 160a at the hole and another or the secondary tubing 121 is not mechanically connected to the plate 160a. Another hole 161a located substantially in the center of the windings of the tubes participates in the inlet port 160 of the fluid at low pressure in the heat exchange device 140. The plate 160b, called bottom bottom plate, has a hole 162b for the passage of the secondary tubing 121 of low pressure fluid inlet, a hole 164b for the housing of the plug 115 of the main pipe 111 of the fluid inlet at high pressure and a hole 161b constituting with the hole 161a of the upper plate 160a bottom opening 160 of the fluid at low pressure. The secondary tubing 122 of low pressure fluid outlet simply bears against the bottom plate 160b.

Similarly, the cover 150 of the exchanger consists of two plates referenced 150a, 150b. The plate 150a, called the lower lid plate, has four holes 151a, 152a, 153a, 154a on which the main outlet pipe 112 for the high-pressure fluid, the secondary pipe 121 for the inlet of the low-pressure fluid, are respectively brazed. the secondary tubing 122 of low pressure fluid outlet, and the main pipe 111 of high pressure fluid inlet.

The plate 150b, referred to as the top lid plate, makes it possible to bind the inlets / outlets of the high and low pressure fluids of the internal exchanger 9 to the corresponding user-side inlets / outlets which are located on a plug 170 which can be fixed on studs. 151b, 152b of the top cover plate 150b by means of screws passing through holes 171, 172 of the plug 170. In a variant, the connection between the plug 170 and the top plate 150b is performed by soldering at the studs 151b and 152b .

It can be seen in the embodiment of FIG. 3 that the high-pressure fluid and the low-pressure fluid circulate in their respective tubes against the current. However, it is possible to envisage a co-current circulation. It suffices for this to reverse the roles of the main pipes 111, 112 and to penetrate the high pressure fluid in the first tube 110 through the main pipe 112 and recover it at the outlet of the first tube 110 through the main pipe 111.

The accumulator is a separate part mechanically connected to the bottom 160 of the integrated assembly. In a variant, it is the accumulator which delimits the housing 130 of the integrated assembly, this housing having the shape of a tank where the lower part delimits a fluid receiving chamber subjected to low pressure, this lower part extending to the right of the internal heat exchanger to end with an overlap zone with the cap 170, the latter entering the accumulator. It is thus understood that the integrated assembly according to the invention is then either arranged and connected to the top of the accumulator, or completely integrated in the accumulator.

The above description identifies a first fluid and a second fluid but it is apparent that in a preferred form of the invention, this fluid is identical and circulates in a closed loop in what constitutes the air conditioning circuit according to the invention.

Claims

I ₁ heat exchanger for an air conditioning circuit, comprising a first tube (110) delimiting a path for the circulation of a fluid, said first tube being wound in a spiral about an axis (A), said axis of the exchanger characterized in that said heat exchanger (9) further comprises at least a second tube (120a, 120b) delimiting a path for fluid circulation, said second tube being attached to a face of the first tube (110) and wound spirally with said first tube (110) about said axis (A).

2. Heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said first tube (110) comprises a plurality of parallel main channels each defining a flow path of the fluid spiral around the axis (A) of the exchanger.

3. Heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein said main channels have a substantially circular section. 4. Heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said second tube (120a, 120b) comprises a plurality of parallel secondary channels each defining a flow path of the fluid spiral about the axis (A). ) of the exchanger, the fluid being identical in the first tube (110) and in the second tube (120a, 120b) and subjected to a pressure in the first tube (110) greater than the pressure of the fluid in the second tube ( 120a, 120b).

5. Heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein said secondary channels have a substantially rectangular section.

6. Heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising two second tubes (120a, 120b) respectively contiguous to one side of the first tube (110).

7. Heat exchanger according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the ends of said main channels extend between a main inlet pipe (111) adapted to receive said fluid, and a main pipe (112) of output adapted to deliver said fluid to the outside of the exchanger.

8. Heat exchanger according to claim 7, wherein at least one main pipe (111, 112) has a substantially cylindrical shape with an axis parallel to the axis (A) of the exchanger, and has an opening (113, 114) adapted to receive an end of the first tube (110). The heat exchanger of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said first (110) and second tubes (120a, 120b) are extruded. 10. Heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said first (110) and second tubes (120a, 120b) are joined by brazing or gluing. H ₁ use of the heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 10 as an internal exchanger (9) of an air conditioning circuit (10), characterized in that said fluid is a high pressure fluid when it travels the first tube (110) and said fluid is a low pressure fluid as it travels the second tube (120a, 120b). 12. Use according to claim 11, wherein said high pressure fluid and said low pressure fluid are constituted by the same refrigerant fluid.

13. Use according to claim 12, wherein said coolant is a supercritical fluid. 14. Integrated assembly for air conditioning circuit operating with a refrigerant, characterized in that said integrated assembly (100) comprises a housing (130) in which is housed an internal exchanger (9) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 between a cover (150) and a bottom (160), said bottom being provided with a fluid inlet (161a, 161b) inside the windings constituted by said first (110) and second tubes (120a). , 120b), and in that said housing (130) comprises a secondary outlet (122) fluid outlet, parallel to the axis (A) of the exchanger and having an outlet opening (123). 15. Integrated assembly according to claim 14, comprising a secondary inlet tubing (121) of said fluid, parallel to the axis (A) of the exchanger and an end communicates with said orifice (161a, 161b) outlet to through said bottom (160).

Integrated assembly according to claim 15, comprising an accumulator (17) connected to the bottom (160) of said integrated assembly (9), into which said secondary inlet manifold (121) opens out so as to communicate with said orifice (161a, 161b). 17. Integrated assembly according to claim 14, wherein the housing (130) extends in the extension of the internal exchanger (9) after the bottom (160) and comprises a low pressure fluid receiving chamber.

18. Integrated assembly according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the main pipes (111, 112) and the secondary pipes (121, 122) are arranged to achieve a flow of fluid in the first tube (110) to co-current with the flow of fluid in the second tube (120a, 120b).

19. Integrated assembly according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the main pipes (111, 112) and the secondary pipes (121, 122) are arranged to achieve a flow of fluid in the first tube (110) to countercurrent with the flow of fluid in the second tube (120a, 120b).

20. An air conditioning circuit operating with a refrigerant, comprising a compressor (14), a gas cooler (11), a pressure reducer (12) and an evaporator (13), characterized in that said air conditioning circuit (10) comprises an integrated element (100) according to any one of claims 14 to 19, the main inlet pipe (111) being connected to the gas cooler (11) and the main outlet pipe (112) being connected to the pressure reducer (12). ), while an inlet secondary pipe (121) is connected to the evaporator (13) and the secondary outlet pipe (122) is connected to the compressor (14).