EP2818817B1 - Condenser module - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a capacitor assembly according to the preamble of claim 1.

State of the art

A capacitor assembly is part of an air conditioning system, in particular an air conditioning system in a motor vehicle, comprising a refrigerant circuit with an evaporator, an expansion valve, a compressor and the condenser assembly. In the refrigerant circuit circulates a refrigerant, which is also referred to as cooling fluid. Nowadays R 134a and R 1234yf are used as coolants. In the condenser assembly, which includes a condenser with tubes and headers and suitable inlet and outlet openings and flanges, the cooling fluid, which is in a vaporous state upon entering the condenser assembly, is converted to a liquid state with the liquid cooling fluid in a subcooling range is further undercooled.

The US 5,546,761 shows a capacitor assembly with horizontally extending tubes, which are arranged between a first and a second manifold, wherein seen in the vertical direction between two tubes corrugated sheets are arranged. At the first manifold a collection container or reservoir is arranged. The in the US 5,546,761 illustrated embodiments of the condenser assembly have an inlet opening for introducing cooling fluid and an outlet opening for discharging cooling fluid, wherein the inlet opening and the outlet opening are usually arranged on the second manifold. One embodiment shows a capacitor assembly in which the outlet opening is arranged on the collecting container. This embodiment is in FIG. 1 represented as state of the art.

The DE 10 2010 039 511 A1 shows a refrigerant condenser assembly for an automotive air conditioning system for a new refrigerant R 1234yf. The refrigerant condenser assembly has arranged between two manifolds tubes, which are designed as flat tubes. An inlet and an outlet opening are arranged on one of the two manifolds, wherein a collecting container is arranged on the respective other manifold. A subcooling region of the capacitor assembly has a total of three subcooling parallel sections.

Presentation of the invention, object, solution, advantages

It is the object of the invention to provide a capacitor assembly, which is thermodynamically and space-optimized and which has no significant space limitations.

This is achieved with a capacitor assembly having the features of claim 1.

The condenser assembly for an air conditioner, in particular a motor vehicle, has a plurality of tubes providing a flow path for a cooling fluid, in particular coolant, a first manifold, a second manifold, a reservoir, an inlet opening for introducing the cooling fluid and an outlet opening for discharging the Cooling fluid, wherein the collecting container and the first collecting pipe are arranged on the same side of the tubes, wherein the tubes with the collecting tubes and the first collecting tube in fluid communication with the collecting container, wherein the inlet opening and / or the outlet opening at the first collecting tube, to the collecting container or interposed and is in direct or indirect fluid communication with the first manifold. Due to the arrangement of the inlet and outlet on one side, there is a clear expansion of the installation space freedom and the space limitations could be overcome. The thermodynamic design of the capacitor assembly can be optimized and there is more design freedom. In addition, the use of materials can be reduced, thereby reducing costs. The inventive arrangement of the inlet and outlet to the sump or the first manifold also the soldering process and the overall manufacturing process can be improved.

The inlet port is disposed on the reservoir and fluid communication between the inlet port and the first manifold is through a sealed first chamber in the reservoir connected to the inlet port and the first manifold.

According to the invention, the first chamber is sealed by a closure element for the collecting container and by a sealing element, in particular a sealing plate, wherein the closure element and the sealing element are connected to one another via a web with a throughflow opening for the cooling fluid.

Preferably, the outlet opening is arranged on the collecting container and the fluid connection between the first collecting tube and the outlet opening can be effected by a sealed second chamber in the collecting container, wherein the second chamber is connected to the first collecting tube and the outlet opening.

Preferably, the second chamber is formed by the bottom of the collecting container and a sealing element, in particular seal plate or soldered disc, which is arranged on a filter and / or dryer element.

Preferably, the tubes and the manifolds are connected such that the tubes form a condensation region and a subcooling region, wherein at least one flow path extends through the tubes of the condensation region and at least one flow path through the tubes of the subcooling region.

Particularly preferably, the inlet opening and / or the outlet opening to a flange which is connected to the first manifold, with the reservoir or with both.

Preferably, the flange of the inlet opening and / or the flange of the outlet opening has a cross-section which is circular, elliptical or rectangular.

Preferably, the inlet and / or the outlet opening are arranged on the first manifold so that their central axis is perpendicular to the course of the tubes.

Preferably, the collecting container extends in relation to the capacitor width shortened, in particular only over two thirds of the capacitor width, in particular only over half of the capacitor width.

The object is also achieved by an air conditioner having a capacitor assembly according to the invention. The condenser assembly has tubes for flowing the fluid, a first header, a second header, a header and an inlet, and an outlet. The collecting container and the first collecting pipe are in fluid communication through connecting openings, the flow path of the coolant is in this case realized by the connecting opening on the one hand and by Strömungsleitbleche or partitions on the other. The coolant may be allowed to flow through the communication holes from the header through the header to the outlet when disposed on the header. When the inlet opening is arranged on the collecting container, an opening is provided, through which the collecting container and the collecting tube are in fluid communication, so that the coolant can flow through the inlet opening through the collecting container into the first collecting tube and into the tubes connected to the first collecting tube. The tubes are arranged such that they form an overheating region for cooling the vaporous coolant and a condensation region for condensing the coolant and a subcooling region for further cooling the liquid coolant. The length of the tubes defines a length of the capacitor assembly. The number and height (vertical dimension) of the stacked and / or juxtaposed tubes defines a width and the diameter or horizontal dimension defines a depth of the capacitor assembly. In this case, the collecting container is preferably arranged vertically along the width of the capacitor assembly. If the inlet and outlet openings are arranged on the first collection tube and / or on the collection container, the condenser assembly may have an even number of Have flow paths in the condensation region and in the subcooling. If the outlet port is located on the second header, the condenser assembly may have an odd number of flow paths. By arranging at least the inlet opening on the collecting container, an extension of the installation space freedom has been realized. Furthermore, a significant expansion of the possibilities in the thermodynamic design of the capacitor assembly can be achieved. In addition, the manufacturing process can be improved, the soldering process can be made simpler and it is possible to reduce the use of materials.

Preferably, the outlet opening is likewise arranged on the first collecting tube and / or on the collecting container and is in fluid communication with the first collecting tube and / or the collecting container. Thus, the inlet opening and the outlet opening are arranged on the same side of the condenser assembly and thereby the connections to the cooling circuit can be made compact. As a result, the space for the capacitor assembly can be optimized. The tubes are preferably arranged such that at least two tubes are arranged in a condensation region and at least two tubes are arranged in a supercooling region. In this embodiment, the inlet opening and the outlet opening are preferably arranged on the collecting container, wherein the inlet opening is arranged in the condensation region. The outlet opening is arranged at the subcooling region, preferably connected to the second flow path of the subcooling region. The inlet opening and the outlet opening are preferably provided with a flange, wherein the flanges of the inlet opening and the outlet opening are arranged on the first collecting tube and / or the collecting container and / or can be connected thereto. By means of the flanges hoses or lines of the coolant circuit of the air conditioner can be connected to the condenser assembly.

In a preferred embodiment of the capacitor assembly, the collecting container extends almost over the entire width. The width is defined by the dimensions of tubes arranged one above the other and can be defined both by the distance of the tubes from one another and also by the dimension of the tubes. The collecting container preferably extends in the vertical direction at the end face of the tubes, wherein the first collecting tube is arranged between the collecting container and the tubes. In this case, the inlet opening and / or the outlet opening are preferably arranged between the collecting container and the first collecting tube. As a result, a considerable space savings seen in the longitudinal direction can be realized. This is advantageous for installation in small cars with a limited engine compartment.

In the condenser assembly, the flange of the inlet opening and / or the flange of the outlet opening may be disposed on the sump or sump. In this case, the flow guidance can take place with known collecting pipes, wherein the flow guidance in the interior of the collecting container is taken over by an already existing dryer and / or a filter element. In addition, the flow guide can also be provided by means of the closure element.

Further advantageous embodiments are described by the following description of the figures and by the subclaims.

Short description of the drawing

Fig. 1a

eine Kondensatorbaugruppe in Ansicht von Draufsicht senkrecht zur Längserstreckungsrichtung der Rohre (seitliche Draufsicht),

Fig. 1b

die Kondensatorbaugruppe in Draufsicht von oben,

Fig. 2

ein Beispiel einer nicht erfindungsgemäßen Kondensatorbaugruppe in seitlicher Draufsicht,

Fig. 3

ein weiteres Beispiel einer nicht erfindungsgemäßen Kondensatorbaugruppe in seitlicher Draufsicht,

Fig. 4

ein weiteres Beispiel einer nicht erfindungsgemäßen Kondensatorbaugruppe in seitlicher Draufsicht,

Fig. 5

ein Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Kondensatorbaugruppe in seitlicher Draufsicht, und

Fig. 6

ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Kondensatorbaugruppe in seitlicher Draufsicht.

The invention will be explained in more detail on the basis of at least one embodiment with reference to the figures of the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1a

a capacitor assembly in plan view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tubes (lateral plan view),

Fig. 1b

the capacitor assembly in plan view from above,

Fig. 2

an example of a non-inventive capacitor assembly in a side plan view,

Fig. 3

a further example of a non-inventive capacitor assembly in a lateral plan view,

Fig. 4

a further example of a non-inventive capacitor assembly in a lateral plan view,

Fig. 5

an embodiment of a capacitor assembly according to the invention in a lateral plan view, and

Fig. 6

a further embodiment of a capacitor assembly according to the invention in a lateral plan view.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

The FIG. 1a shows a capacitor assembly 1 according to the prior art in a side plan view. The side plan view is a plan view of the capacitor assembly 1 perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of tubes 2. FIG. 1b shows the capacitor assembly 1 in plan view from above. The FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 disclose examples not belonging to the invention but useful for understanding the invention.

The capacitor assembly 1 has tubes 2, which are arranged one above the other in the vertical direction 3. The tubes 2 are preferably formed as flat tubes 2 and have a depth and a height and a length 4, which defines the extension in the horizontal direction. Here, the cross-sectional area of the tube 2 is rectangular and the depth shows a larger dimension than the height. The tubes 2 are arranged in the longitudinal direction 4 between a first manifold 5 and a second manifold 6. The first manifold 5 is in fluid communication with a sump 7. The capacitor assembly 1 has fastening means 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d, by means of which the capacitor assembly 1 with a body of a motor vehicle, not shown, is connectable. At the collecting container 7, an outlet opening 9 is arranged, can be discharged by means of the supercooled coolant from the condenser assembly 1 and can flow into a coolant circuit of an air conditioner.

FIG. 2 shows a capacitor assembly 10, which is a heat exchanger and is used to transfer heat from a cooling medium to air, which flows around the capacitor assembly 10. The condenser assembly 10 is part of an air conditioner (not shown) that can be installed in a motor vehicle. The capacitor assembly 10 has tubes 12 (not shown here explicitly, but symbolically represented only by the arrow 12), which are arranged one above the other in the vertical direction 14. The tubes 12 are preferably formed as flat tubes 12 and have a depth and a height and a length 16 which defines the extension in the horizontal direction. Here, the cross-sectional area of the tube 12 is rectangular and the depth shows a larger dimension than the height. The tubes 12 form a condensation region 42 and a subcooling region 44. The tubes 12 are arranged in the longitudinal direction of extension 16 between a first header 18 and a second header 20. The first manifold 18 is in fluid communication with a reservoir 22. An inlet port 30 and an outlet port 32 are disposed on the manifold 18. In this embodiment, the inlet and outlet ports 30, 32 are disposed laterally of the manifold 18. The collecting container 22 extends over the entire width 36 of the collecting tube 18 and is closed with a sealing plug 34. In the collecting container 22, a filter element 45 is arranged. The tubes 12 form flow paths 40, flow paths 40a and 40b extending in the condensation region 42, and flow paths 40c, 40d extending in the subcooling region 44. The flow paths 40a, 40b, 40c and 40d are the paths through which the cooling medium, which is preferably a cooling fluid, can flow. The flow path 40a is connected to the inlet port 30 so that the coolant introduced into the condenser assembly 10 can flow along the flow path 40a. In the manifold 20, the coolant is directed by means of a Strömungsleitblechs 47 or a partition 47 on the flow path 40b. The coolant can not flow through flow paths 40 c and 40 d because the flow path is blocked by the Strömungsleitblechs 47. The coolant may flow into the manifold 18 through the flow path 40b, passes through an opening 46 in the sump 22, and may flow back into the manifold 18 along the path 43 and an opening 48. Thereafter, the cooling medium along the flow path 40c in the direction of manifold 20 and flow through the flow path 40d to the outlet opening 32, through which the coolant can leave the capacitor assembly 10 and into a non can reach shown coolant circuit. A flow path 40e exemplarily shows the flow path between the condensation region 42 and the subcooling region 44, which leads from the collection tube 18 through the opening 46 into the flow path 40c through the opening 48. The flow paths 40a, 40b, 40c and 40d may each be formed by a different number of tubes 12. Wherein, in tubes 12 which realize a flow path, for example flow path 40a, the cooling medium flows in parallel in the direction represented by the arrow representing the flow path 40a.

Identical objects are provided with the same reference numerals in all subsequent figures. For the sump 22, different reference numbers are chosen for each embodiment to identify the different embodiments. The other objects with the same function in the capacitor assembly are each provided with the same reference numerals in the following figures.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of a flange 26, which may be arranged at the inlet opening 30 and / or the outlet opening 32. The flange 26 preferably has a cross-section 28 which may be circular. The cross section 28 of the flange 26 may also be oval, elliptical or rectangular. The flange 26 is disposed on the manifold 18, preferably attached to this and in fluid communication therewith. The flange 26 is part of an inlet opening (not shown) and / or an outlet opening (not shown). The flange 26 shown in this embodiment shows an embodiment of the flange 26 for the condenser assembly 10 in which the inlet opening and / or the outlet opening is disposed between the header 18 and the header tank 20. The fluid communication between the inlet port and the manifold 18 is realized through the opening 25. The embodiment of the capacitor assembly 10, which in FIG. 4 is shown, has a shortened sump 50, which is arranged substantially centrally of the collecting tube 18. An inlet opening 52 is arranged geodetically above the collecting container 50 directly on the collecting pipe 18. An outlet opening 54 is arranged below the collecting container 50 directly on the collecting pipe 18. The manifold 20 has the Strömungsleitblech 47 or the partition 47 and the manifold 18 has Strömungsleitbleche 49 or partitions 49 and openings 46 and 48 which direct the flow of coolant such that the flow paths 40a, 40b, 40c and 40d respectively from the inlet port 52nd be directed to the outlet opening 54, as in FIG. 4 represented by the arrows. The fluid communication between the inlet port and the first manifold is disposed through a sealed first chamber 33 disposed in the reservoir 50.

FIG. 5 shows the capacitor assembly 10 according to the invention with a further variant for inlet and outlet openings. An inlet opening 60 is realized by being arranged directly on a collecting container 62 by means of a sealing plate 61, which is arranged on the closure element 34 via the web 64. The web 64 has an opening through which a cooling fluid can flow. The closure element 34 may be designed as a plug or as a screw. An outlet opening 66 is realized by the filter 45, an additional sealing element 68 is arranged, which takes over the flow guidance. It is formed in the collection container 62, a chamber in which at least partially a dryer granules can be stored. The flow path 40e between the flow path 40b and 40c extends at least in sections through the filter 45 or the dryer 45. The fluid connection between the first collection tube 18 and the outlet opening 66 takes place through a second chamber 70 in the collection container 62.

FIG. 6 shows the embodiment of the capacitor assembly 10, which in FIG. 5 is shown, wherein the sub-cooling region 44 geodetically above and the condensation region 42 are arranged below. The terms above and below are to be understood as geodetic below. The flow paths 40a, 40b, 40c and 40d extend correspondingly, the outlet opening 66 is also at the top and the inlet opening 60 is located at the bottom. The closure element 34 arranged below with the sealing element 68 takes over the flow guidance for the introduced cooling medium. The flow guidance on the output side toward the outlet opening 66 is likewise realized by the filter insert / dryer insert 35 with the sealing element 68, wherein the second chamber 70 is an outlet chamber 70 formed on the outlet side and can be used to store cooling medium. In this illustration, the collecting container 62 can be seen with a pipe guide for flow guidance of the coolant.

The capacitor assemblies 10, which are in the FIGS. 1 to 6 are shown, each have two cooling paths in the condensation region 42 and two cooling paths in the sub-cooling region 44. The equivalent embodiments may also be realized with an odd number of flow paths when a flange 26 of the inlet port 30, 52, 60 is disposed on and connected to the first header 18 and / or the header tank 22, 50, 62 and the other flange 26 of the outlet opening 32, 54, 66 is arranged on the manifold 20.

Claims (9)

1. Capacitor assembly for an air-conditioning system, in particular of a motor vehicle, comprising: a plurality of tubes (2, 12) which provide a flow path (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d) for a cooling fluid, in particular a coolant, a first manifold (18), a second manifold (20), a collecting tank (22), an inlet port for introducing the cooling fluid and an outlet port for discharging the cooling fluid, wherein the collecting tank (22, 50, 62) and the first manifold (18) are disposed on the same side of the tubes (12), wherein the tubes (12) are in fluid communication with the manifolds (18, 20) and the first manifold (18) is in fluid communication with the collecting tank (22, 50, 62), wherein the outlet port (9, 32, 54, 66) is disposed at the first manifold (18), at the collecting tank (22, 50, 62) or therebetween and is in direct or indirect fluid communication with the first manifold (18), and the inlet port (30, 52, 60) is disposed at the collecting tank (22, 50, 62) and the fluid communication between the inlet port (30, 52, 60) and the first manifold (18) is provided by a sealed first chamber (33) inside the collecting tank (22, 50, 62), which is in fluid communication with the inlet port (52, 60) and the first manifold (18), wherein the first chamber (33) is sealed by a sealing member (34) for the collecting tank and by a sealing element (61, 68), in particular sealing plate, characterized in that the sealing member(34) and the sealing element (61, 68) are connected to one another via a web (64) including an outlet opening for the cooling fluid.
2. Capacitor assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the outlet port (32, 54, 66) is disposed at the collecting tank (22, 50, 62) and the fluid communication between the first manifold (18) and the outlet port (32, 54, 66) is provided through a sealed second chamber (70) inside the collecting tank (22, 50, 62), which is in fluid communication with the first manifold (18) and the outlet port (9, 32, 54, 66) .
3. Capacitor assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the second chamber (70) is formed by a the bottom of the collecting tank (22, 50, 62) and a sealing element (68), in particular sealing plate or soldered plate, which is arranged at a filter and/or drying element (45).
4. Capacitor assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tubes (12) and the manifolds (18, 20) are connected in such a way that the tubes/manifolds (12, 18, 20) form a condensation area (42) and a supercooling area (44), wherein at least one flow path is through the tubes (12) of the condensation area (42) and at least one flow path is through the tubes/manifolds (12, 18, 20) of the supercooling area (44).
5. Capacitor assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inlet port (30, 52, 60) and/or the outlet port (32, 54, 66) have a flange (26) which is connected to the first manifold (18), the collecting tank (22, 50, 62) or both.
6. Capacitor assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that the flange (26) of the inlet port (30, 52, 60) and/or the flange (26) of the outlet port (32, 54, 66) have a cross section (28) which is circular, elliptical, or rectangular.
7. Capacitor assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inlet port (30, 52, 60) and/or the outlet port (32, 54, 66) at the first manifold (18) are arranged in such a way that their central axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tubes (12).
8. Capacitor assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collecting tank (22, 50, 62) is shortened in relation to the capacitor width (38), in particular only two thirds of the capacitor width (38), in particular only half of the capacitor width (38).
9. Capacitor assembly, in particular for a motor vehicle, characterized in that the air-conditioning system has a capacitor assembly (10) according to any of the claims 1 to 8.

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