EP2378225B1 - Condenser for an air conditioner, in particular for a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a condenser for an air conditioner according to the preamble of claim 1 - known by the FR 2 764 680 ,

Condensers for air conditioning systems of motor vehicles are usually flowed through in several floods from top to bottom, wherein in the lower part of the condenser is a subcooling section, in which the refrigerant is cooled below the condensation temperature. Such cross-flow capacitors, which also have a built-in collector with dryer, have been characterized by the DE 103 06 192 A1 . DE 103 38 526 A1 and the DE 198 48 744 A1 the applicant known. In certain installation situations in the vehicle, this type is less advantageous with underlying subcooling, namely, when the condenser in the lower end face area another heat exchanger, eg. B. an intercooler is connected upstream. In this case, the subcooling portion of the condenser is not sufficiently cooled. It has therefore already been proposed capacitors with overhead subcooling, as by the DE 198 30 329 A1 and the DE 199 12 381 A1 the applicant known. In the first case, the known cross-flow condenser to a lower condensation section, which is flowed through from top to bottom, and an overhead supercooling section, which communicates with the lower region of the collector via a arranged in the collector and the manifold refrigerant pipe. In the second case, the known capacitor (the Applicant) a bottom condensing section, which is flowed through from bottom to top, ie the refrigerant leaves the Kondensierabschnitt in the upper region and then enters a collector, which receives a dryer-filter insert, which is penetrated by a riser. The dryer-filter insert is arranged in the lower area of the collector, while in the central area of the collector is a space for receiving liquid and gaseous refrigerant. Below the dryer, a deflection space is arranged, from which liquid refrigerant passes through the riser and an upper chamber in the collector in the overhead subcooling.

It is an object of the present invention to improve a capacitor of the type mentioned in particular with regard to its collector, the refrigerant guide and the degassing of the refrigerant.

The object of the invention is solved by the features of claim 1. According to the invention, a drop tube is provided in the collector, which - indirectly - is connected via a plug to the transfer opening of the condensing section and conducts the refrigerant to the filter dryer. Thus, the advantage is achieved that a mixing of gaseous and liquid phase of the refrigerant is limited.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the downpipe is passed through the filter dryer through into a chamber into which the refrigerant enters while reducing its flow velocity with simultaneous degassing. The filter dryer, d. H. the molecular sieve is not flowed through, but due to density differences of the refrigerant. The advantage here is that the possibility of mixing gaseous and liquid refrigerant further limited or prevented by the extension of the downpipe and thus better degassing of the subcooling section supplied refrigerant is achieved.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the plug, the riser and / or the downpipe can be integrally formed and advantageously also connected to the dryer-filter insert to form a unit, which can be used as a prefabricated part in the collector and also exchanged for maintenance purposes , For the collector is provided with a detachable closure.

• Fig. 1 einen Querstromkondensator mit oben liegender Unterkühlstrecke und seitlich angeordnetem integrierten Sammler,
• Fig. 2 den Sammler mit einem benachbarten Sammelrohr als Schnittdarstellung,
• Fig. 3 den Sammler mit einem Fallrohr (erstes Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung),
• Fig. 4 den Sammler gemäß Fig. 3 mit Ansichten von Stopfen und Filter-Trockner,
• Fig. 5 den Sammler mit den Filter-Trockner durchsetzendem Fallrohr (zweites Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung) und
• Fig. 6 den Sammler gemäß Fig. 5 mit Ansichten von Stopfen und Filter-Trockner.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in more detail below. Show it

• Fig. 1 a cross-flow capacitor with overhead subcooling and laterally arranged integrated collector,
• Fig. 2 the collector with a neighboring manifold as a sectional view,
• Fig. 3 the collector with a downpipe (first embodiment of the invention),
• Fig. 4 according to the collector Fig. 3 with views of plugs and filter dryers,
• Fig. 5 the collector with the filter-drier durchsetzendem downpipe (second embodiment of the invention) and
• Fig. 6 according to the collector Fig. 5 with views of plugs and filter dryers.

Fig. 1 shows a multi-flow permeable cross-flow condenser 1, which has a tube fin block 2, laterally arranged manifolds 3, 4 and an integrated collector 5. The pointing in alternating directions arrows P1, P2, P3, P4, P5 and P6 represent the flow directions of the refrigerant in individual pipe groups of the pipe fin block 2, not shown, wherein the refrigerant enters via a lower nozzle 3a and an overhead nozzle 3b exit. The tube fin block 2 consists of a condensing section, which corresponds to the arrows P1 to P5, and a above the Kondensierabschnittes arranged subcooling section, which is indicated by the arrow P6. In the subcooling section flows substantially liquid refrigerant, which is cooled by the ambient air, which acts on the condenser 1, below the condensation temperature of the refrigerant. Subsequently, the refrigerant leaves the condenser 1 via the connection 3b.

Fig. 2 shows the collector 5 with manifold 4 of the capacitor 1 in section in a 3-D representation. From the manifold 4, only the two upper chambers 4a, 4b are shown, which with the last passage P5 of the Kondensierabschnittes of the capacitor or with the sub-cooling path P6 are connected. The collector 5 is - as known from the prior art mentioned - from a cylindrical container, which is composed of a tube 5a and an extruded profile piece 5 b. The collector 5 is undetachably closed at the bottom by a soldered-in bottom 6 and closed at the top by a detachable sealing plug 7. The chamber 4a is connected via a first Obertrittsöffnung 8 and the chamber 4b via a second transfer opening 9 with the interior of the collector 5 on the refrigerant side. Inside the collector 5, a filter drier 10 (also called dryer-filter insert) is arranged, which - as known from the prior art - is filled with a drier material, a so-called molecular sieve and on its top and bottom, d, h. Refrigerant inlet and refrigerant outlet side a sieve, z. B. in the form of a nonwoven (not shown) for filtering the refrigerant. Above the dryer 10, a plug 11 is arranged, which is peripherally sealed via an O-ring 12 in the region between the two transfer openings 8, 9 with respect to the interior of the profile piece 5b. Between the plug 11 and the dryer 10, an inflow chamber 13 is formed in the region of the transfer opening 8. Below the dryer 10 there is a storage chamber 14, which serves to store liquid and / or gaseous refrigerant. Within the collector 5 is also eccentrically and near the wall, a riser 15 is arranged, which is passed through the filter-dryer 10, immersed down into the storage space 14 and extends to the bottom 6 and extends up into the plug 11 which connects the riser 15 via an opening 11a with the chamber 4b and thus with the subcooling section P6. In the plug 11 thus takes place, not shown deflection of the refrigerant from the riser 15 into the chamber 4 b instead. The riser 15 has in the region of the bottom 6 an opening 15 a, via which refrigerant can enter the riser 15.

The function of the previously described collector 5 with filter-drier 10 is as follows: The refrigerant emerging from the last passage P5 of the condensing section of the condenser 1 passes via the transfer opening 8 into the inflow chamber 13, where the refrigerant evenly distributed over the cross section of the collector 5 and thus reduced in its flow velocity. From the inflow chamber 13, the refrigerant flows (forcibly) through the filter dryer 10, through which it is filtered and dried. After exiting the filter-drier 10, the refrigerant passes into the storage space 14, where its flow rate is further reduced, thereby gaseous components of the refrigerant can be deposited, which rise upwards and collect in the upper region of the storage space 14. In the lowermost region of the storage space 14, at the bottom 6, the refrigerant enters the riser 15 via the inlet opening 15a and flows through it from bottom to top, ie it passes through the filter drier 10 in the riser 15 and enters the plug 11 where it is deflected into the chamber 4b and enters from there into the subcooling section P6.

Since the collector 5 has a releasable sealing plug 7, the filter-dryer 10, the riser 15 and the plug 11 can be exchanged for maintenance purposes. This is particularly easy to handle when filter dryer 10, riser 15 and plug 11 are formed as a prefabricated contiguous unit.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show as an embodiment of the invention, the collector 5 with manifold 4, wherein the same reference numerals are used for the same parts as before. The chambers 4a and 4b of the manifold 4 are connected via the transfer openings 8, 9 with the collector 5. In the lower region of the collector 5, the filter-drier 10 is arranged in Fig. 3 only partially, that is shown with an upper end flange 10a and a lower end flange 10 b The filter-dryer 10 is penetrated by the riser 16. In the region of the transfer openings 8, 9, a plug 16 is arranged in the collector 5, which has two with the Übertrittsörfnungen 8, 9 aligned channel openings 17, 18, between which an O-ring 16a is arranged for sealing the channel opening 17 is via an inflow passage 17a connected to a drop tube 19, the upper tube end opens into the inflow passage 17 a and is received by the plug 16. The drop tube 19 extends down to near the end flange 10a of the filter dryer 10 and has at the bottom Pipe end diametrically opposite outflow openings 19a. Below the filter drier 10, ie between the lower end flange 10b and the bottom 6, a deflection chamber 20 for the refrigerant is provided, into which the lowermost end 15a of the riser tube projects with an inlet opening (not shown). The upper end 15b of the riser 15 is received in the plug 16 and connected to a deflection channel 18a, which leads to the channel outlet opening 18 and thus into the chamber 4b of the subcooling path P6.

The collector 5 with downpipe 19 operates as follows: The refrigerant passes from the last flow path P5 of the condensing section via the chamber 4a and the inflow channel 17 directly into the downpipe 19, in which it flows downwards through the outflow openings 19a, the refrigerant exits on both sides of the Downpipe 19 and thus distributed to the inner cross section of the collector 5, which is accompanied by a delay in the flow rate. The refrigerant then enters the filter-dryer 10, which it flows (forced) from top to bottom. This is done at the entrance and exit by non-illustrated webs filtering the refrigerant. The thus dried refrigerant passes after exiting the filter-drier 10 in the lower deflection chamber 20, then enters the lower tube end 15a of the riser 15 and flows through this from bottom to top to stopper 16, in which it deflected and into the chamber 4b is passed to the subcooling path P6. Due to the delay of the refrigerant flow at the exit from the downpipe 19 gaseous components can be separated from the liquid refrigerant, which rise to the top. Further degassing may take place on the way through the filter dryer 10. Through the downpipe 19 and its direct connection to the chamber 4a is prevented that separated gas constituents mix with the liquid supplied from the Kondensierabschnitt refrigerant. Below the plug can thus form a gas space for separated gas bubbles, which is separated and sealed against the Kondensierabschnitt and the inflowing refrigerant.

Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 show as a further embodiment of the invention, the collector 5 with manifold 4 (again, the same reference numerals used for the same parts) with a continuous, ie the filter dryer 10 passing down tube 21. The arrangement and design of the plug 16 corresponds to that in the previous embodiment according to the FIGS. 3 and 4 , Likewise, the upper pipe ends of downpipe 21 and riser 15 are received in the plug 16 and connected via deflection in the plug 16 with the chambers 4a, 4b of the manifold 4. Below the filter dryer 10 and the lower end flange 10b, a chamber 22 is arranged, in which the lower tube end 21a of the downpipe 21 opens. The chamber 22 is bounded below by a front flange 22 a, but downwardly open, where the deflection space 20 is located with the lower tube end 15 a of the riser 15. The filter-dryer has on both sides in the region of the end flanges 10a, 10b formed as nonwovens filter or sieves (not shown).

The execution of the collector 5 with a continuous downpipe 21 works as follows: The refrigerant enters - analogous to the previous embodiment - directly into the downcomer 21 and flows through this from top to bottom and occurs only in the chamber 22 at the lower end of the pipe 21a from the downpipe 21st out. In the chamber 22, the refrigerant is distributed to the cross section of the collector, which results in a delay of the flow velocity and thus the possibility for the deposition of gaseous components. A portion of the refrigerant thus rises upward through the filter-dryer 10 and comes in this way in contact with the dryer substance, whereby a drying takes place. The filter dryer 10, d. H. his dryer substance is thus not forced through this. The other part of the refrigerant flows - according to the arrow U - in the deflection chamber 20 and then enters the lower tube end 15 a of the riser 15 a. Subsequently, as in the previous exemplary embodiment, the refrigerant flows via the riser pipe 15 and the plug 16 into the subcooling section P6.

The invention is not limited to filter dryers filled with granules of hygroscopic material. Possible within the scope of the invention are also compact dryers, which consist of a solid plastic mass with intercalated molecular sieve - as in DE 102 34 889 A1 the applicant described.

Claims (12)

1. A condenser (1) for an air-conditioning system, in particular of a vehicle, with a finned tube block (2) and laterally arranged header tubes (3, 4), wherein the finned tube block (2) has horizontally running tubes, a condensing section (P1 to P5) and a supercooling section (P6) arranged above the condensing section, as well as with a collector arranged parallel to one of the header tubes, wherein the collector accommodates a dryer-filter insert (10) and an ascending flow pipe (15), wherein the collector is in refrigerant connection to the condensing section (P5) via a first overflow opening (8) and to the supercooling section (P6) via a second overflow opening (9), characterised in that a downward flow pipe (19, 21) having a pipe end on the inlet side connected to the first overflow opening (8) is arranged inside the collector (5).
2. The condenser according to claim 1, characterised in that the pipe end on the inlet side of the downward flow pipe (19, 21) is accommodated in a stopper (16) which extends from the first to the second overflow opening (8, 9).
3. The condenser according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the downward flow pipe (19) has a pipe end on the outlet side which is arranged above the dryer-filter (10, 10a).
4. The condenser according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the downward flow pipe (21) passes through the dryer-filter (10) and opens in a chamber (22) arranged below the dryer-filter (10).
5. The condenser according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the pipe end (21a) on the outlet side of the downward flow pipe (19, 21) has diametrically opposite outlet openings (19a).
6. The condenser according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the dryer-filter (10) is arranged in the lower region of the collector (5) and the ascending flow pipe (15) passes therethrough.
7. The condenser according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the ascending flow pipe (15) has an upper pipe end (15b) accommodated in the stopper (16) and is connected on the refrigerant side to the second overflow opening (9).
8. The condenser according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the stopper (11, 16) has a deflecting duct (11a, 18a) from the ascending flow pipe (15, 15b) to the second overflow opening (9).
9. The condenser according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the stopper (11, 16) can be circumferentially sealed against the collector (5) in particular by an O-ring (12, 16a).
10. The condenser according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the stopper (11, 16), the ascending flow pipe (15) and/or the downward flow pipe (19, 21) are integrally formed, in particular as a plastic injection-moulded part.
11. The condenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the stopper (11, 16), the ascending flow pipe (15), the downward flow pipe (19, 21) and/or the dryer-filter insert (10) form an exchangeable constructional unit.
12. The condenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the collector (5) can be closed by a releasable closure stopper (7).

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