EP4028274A1

EP4028274A1 - Cooling module for a motor vehicle having a tangential turbomachine

Info

Publication number: EP4028274A1
Application number: EP20780771.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kamel Azzouz; Sébastien Garnier; Amrid MAMMERI
Original assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques SAS
Current assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques SAS
Priority date: 2019-09-10
Filing date: 2020-09-08
Publication date: 2022-07-20
Also published as: CN114364560A; US20220348072A1; WO2021048495A1; CN114364560B; FR3100484B1; FR3100484A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooling module (22) for a motor vehicle, preferably having an electric motor, comprising: - at least one heat exchanger (24, 26, 28), - at least one tangential turbomachine (30) capable of creating a flow of air in contact with said at least one heat exchanger (24, 26, 28), and - a fairing (40) for housing said at least one heat exchanger (24, 26, 28), wherein the fairing (40) comprises at least one indentation (34-1, 34-2, 36-1, 36-2, 38-1, 38-2) for retaining at least one heat exchanger.

Description

TANGENTIAL TURBOMACHINE MOTOR VEHICLE COOLING MODULE

Technical area

The invention relates to a cooling module for a motor vehicle, preferably for an electric motor vehicle, with a tangential turbomachine. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle provided with such a cooling module.

Prior art

[0002] A cooling module (or heat exchange module) of a motor vehicle conventionally comprises at least one heat exchanger and a ventilation device suitable for generating an air flow in contact with at least one heat exchanger. The ventilation device thus makes it possible, for example, to generate a flow of air in contact with the heat exchanger, when the vehicle is stationary.

In conventional heat engine motor vehicles, the at least one heat exchanger is of substantially square shape, the ventilation device then being a propeller fan whose diameter is substantially equal to the side of the square formed by the heat exchanger .

[0004] Conventionally, the heat exchanger is then placed opposite at least two cooling bays, formed in the front face of the body of the motor vehicle. A first cooling bay is located above the bumper while a second bay is located below the bumper. Such a configuration is preferred because the heat engine must also be supplied with air, the engine air intake conventionally being located in the passage of the air flow passing through the upper cooling bay.

However, electric vehicles are preferably provided only with cooling bays located under the bumper, more preferably with a single cooling bay located under the bumper.

Indeed, the electric motor does not need to be supplied with air. And the reduction in the number of cooling bays improves the aerodynamic characteristics of the electric vehicle. This also translates by better autonomy and higher top speed of the motor vehicle.

[0007] Under these conditions, the implementation of a conventional cooling module appears unsatisfactory. This is because a large part of heat exchangers are no longer properly cooled by the flow of air coming only from the lower cooling bay (s).

[0008] An object of the invention is to provide a cooling module for a motor vehicle, preferably for an electric motor vehicle, which does not have at least some of the aforementioned drawbacks.

summary

[0009] To this end, a cooling module is proposed for a motor vehicle, preferably with an electric motor, comprising at least one heat exchanger, at least one tangential turbomachine capable of creating an air flow in contact with said at least one heat exchanger, and an air inlet part shaped to bring an air flow into the module and to guide said air flow at least as far as said at least one heat exchanger.

[0010] Thus, advantageously, the heat exchanger (s) has / have dimensions suitable for being cooled only by means of one or more lower cooling bays. In addition, the tangential turbomachine makes it possible to create an air flow through the heat exchanger (s) with a much better efficiency than if a propeller fan were used.

[0011] In addition, the air inlet piece provides better sealing of the cooling module, thereby improving the performance thereof.

[0012] In addition, the inlet part allows adaptation of the cooling module to the dimensions of the cooling bay on the one hand and to the dimensions of the heat exchanger on the other hand.

[0013] According to another aspect, the air inlet part comprises an air inlet and an air guide wall between said air inlet and said at least one heat exchanger. According to another aspect, in an installed position of the cooling module in the vehicle, the guide wall has a converging shape in a horizontal plane from the air inlet to said at least one heat exchanger.

According to another aspect, in an installed position of the cooling module in the vehicle, the guide wall has a divergent shape in a vertical plane from the air inlet to said at least one heat exchanger.

[0016] According to another aspect, the air inlet piece has a depth of between 10 cm and 30 cm.

[0017] According to another aspect, the air inlet piece has a depth of between 15 cm and 20 cm.

[0018] According to another aspect, the module comprises a fairing for housing said at least one heat exchanger.

According to another aspect, the fairing has a depth of between 10 cm and 20 cm.

According to another aspect, the fairing has a depth of between 10 cm and 15 cm.

According to another aspect, the module comprises a housing housing of said at least one tangential turbomachine, the depth of which is between 10 cm and 20 cm.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle, comprising a body, a bumper and a cooling module as described above, the body defining at least one cooling bay arranged under the bumper, the module cooling being disposed opposite the at least one cooling bay.

Brief description of the drawings

Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the description which follows. This is purely illustrative and should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1

[0024] [Fig. 1] shows schematically the front part of a motor vehicle, seen from the side.

Fig. 2 [0025] [Fig. 2] is a perspective view of part of the front face of the figure

1, comprising a cooling module according to one embodiment.

Fig. 3

[0026] [Fig. 3] is a perspective view of the cooling module of FIG.

2. Fig. 4

[0027] [Fig. 4] is a side view of the module of FIG. 3.

Fig. 5

[0028] [Fig. 5] is a partially exploded perspective view of the module of FIG. 3. Description of the embodiments

It is noted that, in the illustrated embodiment, the turbomachine operates in suction, that is to say that it sucks the ambient air to bring it into contact with the various heat exchangers, as will be detailed . Alternatively, however, each turbomachine operates by blowing, blowing air to the various heat exchangers.

Figure 1 schematically illustrates the front part of a motor vehicle 10 may include an electric motor 12. The vehicle 10 comprises in particular a body 14 and a bumper 16 carried by a frame (not shown) of the vehicle automobile 10. The body 14 defines a cooling bay 18, that is to say an opening through the body 14. The cooling bay 18 is unique here. This cooling bay 18 is located in the lower part of the front face 14a of the body 14. In the example illustrated, the cooling bay 18 is located under the bumper 16. A grid 20 can be used. arranged in the cooling bay 18 to prevent projectiles from passing through the cooling bay 18. A cooling module 22 is placed opposite the cooling bay 18. The grid 20 makes it possible in particular to protect this module from cooling 22.

In Figures 1 to 5, a first direction, denoted X, corresponds to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. It also corresponds to the direction of travel of the vehicle. A second direction, denoted Y, is a lateral or transverse direction. Finally, a third direction, denoted Z, is vertical. The directions, X, Y, Z are two by two orthogonal.

In Figures 1 to 5, the cooling module according to the present invention is illustrated in a functional position, that is to say when it equips a motor vehicle.

The cooling module 22 comprises at least one heat exchanger. In Figures 2 to 5, the ventilation device 1 comprises three heat exchangers 24, 26, 28. However, it could include more or less depending on the desired design.

In the illustrated embodiment, each of the heat exchangers has a general parallelepipedal shape determined by a length, a thickness and a height. The length extends along the Y direction, the thickness along the X direction, and the height in the Z direction.

The cooling module 22 also comprises at least one tangential fan, also called tangential turbomachine below, which sucks an air flow F intended for the heat exchangers 24, 26, 28. In the illustrated embodiment , the cooling module comprises a turbomachine 30. The cooling module may however include several turbomachines 30 which can be arranged in various configurations (not described in this application).

The tangential turbomachine 30 comprises a rotor or turbine 32 (or tangential propeller). The turbine has a substantially cylindrical shape. The turbine advantageously comprises several stages of blades (or vanes), not illustrated. The turbine is rotatably mounted around an axis of rotation A, for example parallel to the direction Y.

The turbomachine 30 is housed in a housing 34 comprising an outlet 36 forming the air outlet of the module 22.

As also emerges from the figures, the cooling module 22 comprises an air inlet part 38 shaped to bring an air flow F into the module 22 and to guide said air flow F at least up to the heat exchangers 24, 26 and 28.

[0039] The cooling module 22 also comprises a housing or shroud 40 forming an internal air channel. The fairing 40 makes it possible to house at least the heat exchangers 24, 26, 28.

[0040] The entry part 38 is integral with the fairing 40 and the housing 34. The entry part 38 and the fairing 40 could also form a single single part.

[0041] The entry part 38 is now detailed.

As illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, the inlet part 38 comprises an inlet 42. The inlet 42 forms the inlet of the cooling module 22.

[0043] The inlet part 38 also includes an air guide wall 44. The wall 44 is shaped to guide the flow of air F between the air inlet 42 and the heat exchangers 24, 26, 28.

The air inlet 42 is disposed in the cooling bay 18 by being preferably hermetically connected to the calender Cal.

[0045] The inlet 42 is advantageously provided with a grid 46 for protecting the exchangers. The grille can be fitted with movable or fixed mounted shutters.

The guide wall 44 is composed of an upper wall 48, a lower wall 50 and two side walls 52 extending between the air inlet 42 and the fairing 40.

The set of upper 48, lower 50 and side walls 52 ensures that the guide wall 44 forms a sealed channel between the air inlet 42 and the fairing 40. As particularly visible in Figure 5, the guide wall 48 has a converging shape in a horizontal plane (X, Y) from the air inlet 42 to the exchangers 24, 26, 28.

In other words, a length L1 of the upper wall 48 at the level of the air inlet 42 is greater than a length L2 of the upper wall 48 at the level of the fairing 40.

Likewise, a length L1 of the lower wall 50 at the level of the air inlet 42 is greater than a length L2 of the lower wall 50 at the level of the fairing 40.

The length L1 corresponds to the length of the air inlet 42, while the length L2 corresponds to the length of the fairing 40.

As particularly visible in Figure 4, the guide wall has a divergent shape in a vertical plane (X, Z) from the air inlet 42 to the heat exchangers 24, 26, 28.

In other words, a height H1 of the side walls 52 at the level of the air inlet 42 is less than a height H2 of the side walls 52 at the level of the fairing 40.

This convergent-divergent configuration ensures that the inlet part 38 constitutes an adaptive interface between the air inlet 42 and the fairing 40. Thus, thanks to the inlet part 38, a large inlet can be provided. air and smaller exchangers, without increasing pressure drops.

Reference is now made to certain dimensions of the cooling module 22, illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

The depth P of the inlet part 38 corresponds to the distance (in the X direction) between the air inlet 42 and the fairing 40. Advantageously, the depth P is between 10 cm and 30 cm, in particular between 15 cm and 20 cm, preferably between 18.1 cm and 18.5 cm.

The fairing for its part has a depth P '(in the X direction) of between 10 cm and 20 cm, advantageously between 10 cm and 15 cm, preferably between 13.5 cm and 14 cm. The housing 34 has a depth P ”of between 10 cm and 20 cm, advantageously between 15 cm and 20 cm, preferably between 15.5 cm and 16 cm. A maximum height H ”of the case 48 is between 25 cm and 35 cm, advantageously between 28 cm and 32 cm, preferably of the order of 30 cm.

The length L2 for its part is between 65 cm and 75 cm, advantageously between 65 cm and 70 cm, preferably between 66 cm and 67 cm.

It is noted that the fairing 40 comprises two indentations 54-1, 54-2, 56-1, 56-2, 58-1, 58-2 associated two by two respectively with the heat exchanger 24, 26, 28. The indentations make it possible to improve the sealing of the module 22 and to keep each exchanger in position in the fairing 40.

We also note that the outlet 36 of the housing 48 is advantageously provided with a grid 76 (dotted in Figure 4), in order to protect the module 22 against projectiles which, without the grid, could reach up to turbomachine or heat exchangers.

As more particularly visible in Figure 4, the cooling module 22 may include an opening and / or closing device. This device can be in different forms, for example in the form of a plurality of flaps 78 pivotally mounted between an open position and a closed position. The open position is particularly advantageous at high vehicle speed, when the turbomachine is stopped, while the closed position is advantageous at low vehicle speed, when the turbomachine is in operation.

In the illustrated embodiment, the flaps 78 are mounted parallel to the axis of rotation A of the turbomachine 30. However, the invention is not limited to this configuration, and the flaps 78 can also be arranged perpendicular to axis A.

In the closed position, the flaps 78 are arranged in a plane I (shown by dotted lines in Figure 4) forming a non-zero angle with a direction Z 'opposite to the direction Z, preferably between 5 and 20 °. This angle ensures a homogeneous distribution of the air on the heat exchangers 24, 26, 28. Note that the fairing 40 is advantageously made from a plastic material, for example a PP or PA6 polymer, or even based on a set of two materials, a rigid plastic forming frames and a foam placed between the frames . It is also noted that the cooling module 22 is advantageously integrated by force in the cooling bay 18, a sealing element, such as a lip seal and / or foam, which can be integrated between the entrance 42 and bay 18.

Claims

[Claim 1] Cooling module (22) for a motor vehicle (10), preferably with an electric motor (12), comprising:

- at least one heat exchanger (24, 26, 28),

- at least one tangential turbomachine (30) capable of creating an air flow in contact with said at least one heat exchanger (24, 26,28), and an air inlet part (38) shaped to bring in a air flow (F) in the module and to guide said air flow (F) at least up to said at least one heat exchanger (24, 26, 28).

[Claim 2] A cooling module according to claim 1, wherein the air inlet piece (38) comprises an air inlet (42) and an air guide wall (44) between said air inlet. air (42) and said at least one heat exchanger (24, 26, 28).

[Claim 3] A cooling module according to the preceding claim, wherein, in an installed position of the cooling module in the vehicle, the guide wall (44) has a converging shape in a horizontal plane (X, Y) from the air inlet (42) to said at least one heat exchanger (24, 26, 28).

[Claim 4] Cooling module according to one of claims 2 or 3, wherein, in an installed position of the cooling module in the vehicle, the guide wall (44) has a divergent shape in a vertical plane (X, Z) from the air inlet (42) to said at least one heat exchanger (24, 26, 28).

[Claim 5] Cooling module according to one of the preceding claims, in which the air inlet part (38) has a depth (P) of between 10 cm and 30 cm.

[Claim 6] Cooling module according to the preceding claim, in which the air inlet part (38) has a depth (P) of between 15 cm and 20 cm.

[Claim 7] Cooling module according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a fairing (40) for housing said at least one heat exchanger (24, 26,28), the fairing having a depth (P ') of between 10 cm and 20 cm.

[Claim 8] A cooling module according to the preceding claim, in which the fairing (40) has a depth of between 10 cm and 15 cm.

[Claim 9] Cooling module according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a housing housing of said at least one tangential turbomachine (30), the depth of which is between 10 cm and 20 cm.

[Claim 10] A motor vehicle, preferably with an electric motor, comprising a body (14), a bumper (16) and a cooling module (22) according to any one of the preceding claims, the body (14) defining at least one cooling bay (18) arranged under the bumper, the cooling module (22) being arranged opposite the at least one cooling bay (18).