FR2878613A1 - Heat exchanger for air-conditioning of motor vehicle, has reservoirs and tubes, interposed in heat exchange separators, where each separator has side contacting with related tubes and related reservoirs - Google Patents

Abstract

The exchanger has a bundle of tubes for circulation of coolant and interposed in a set of aligned heat exchange separators (6). A bundle of reservoirs made of heat storage material is interposed in the set of separators, where the heat storage material is a frigorie storage material. Each separator has a side (10) contacting with the corresponding tubes and corresponding reservoirs.

Description

Thermal exchange device with thermal accumulator,

  The invention relates to a heat exchange device, and more particularly to a device comprising a bundle of heat transfer fluid circulation tubes interposed in an assembly of aligned heat exchange tabs and a bundle of storage material tanks. thermally interposed in the set of heat exchange tabs.

  A heat exchange device commonly comprises one or more rows of aligned tubes in which circulates a coolant. All of these tubes are generally referred to as the beam term. Such a device has the function of allowing a heat exchange between the coolant circulating in the tubes, and a fluid passing through the device externally.

  To improve this heat exchange, it is generally provided the heat exchange interlayer device disposed between the tubes and intended on the one hand to increase the available surface area for heat exchange, and on the other hand to disrupt the flow of external fluid to increase the performance of the heat exchange.

  Such a device can for example be integrated with a motor vehicle air conditioning system. In this case, the external fluid passing through the device is generally air intended to be blown into the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and the coolant a cooling fluid. In this case, the purpose of heat exchange is to cool the air supply.

  The circulation of the fluid, inside the air conditioning circuit, is provided by a compressor, generally driven directly by the engine of the motor vehicle.

  Therefore, when the engine of the vehicle is stopped, the circulation of the fluid stops, and the heat exchange between the air and the heat transfer fluid can not operate. The air blown into the passenger compartment of the vehicle is then no longer refreshed. This situation is all the more problematic because recent systems designed to reduce the fuel consumption of motor vehicles, provide for the automatic shutdown of the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop. In doing so, the cabin is deprived of fresh air.

  It is known to associate with a heat exchange device, tanks of thermal storage material, said material storing heat or cold when the coolant is circulating in the circuit, and restoring it to the external fluid when the circulation of the heat transfer fluid is no longer ensured. In the particular case, described above, of an air-conditioning circuit, it is known to provide the heat exchange device for storage tanks for frigory storage material, which is capable of storing frigories when the engine is on and return them when the engine is stopped but air continues to be blown into the cabin.

  Document EP 1 221 389 A2 for example provides a set of aligned tanks, or bundle of tanks, interposed in the set of heat exchange tabs. More specifically, this document describes a heat exchanger with two rows of flat tubes and interlayers interposed between these flat tubes. Between two flat tubes arranged side by side and belonging to two rows of different tubes, and one of the spacers adjacent to these two tubes, is provided each time a reservoir of thermal storage fluid.

  This configuration has only partially satisfied, in particular because it makes the assembly of such a heat exchanger complex.

  One of the aims of the invention is therefore to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a new type of heat exchange device, in which each heat exchange spacer comprises at least a first contact face with at least one tube and at least one tank.

  As will be seen in more detail below, this configuration makes it possible to assemble a conventional heat exchange device and then to add thereto the thermal storage material tanks, thus facilitating the assembly of such a device.

  In one embodiment, the first contact face of each heat exchange pad is in contact with a tube and a reservoir. This configuration makes it possible to associate a heat exchange device comprising the tubes with a heat exchange device comprising the tanks by means of the pooling of the spacers.

  In another embodiment, the first contact face of each heat exchange pad is further in contact with two tubes.

  In this embodiment, on the first contact face of each spacer, one of the two tubes may be disposed between the reservoir and the other of the two tubes, or the reservoir may be disposed between the two tubes.

  In yet another embodiment, the first contact face of each heat exchange pad is in contact with two tubes and two tanks.

  In this case, on the first contact face of each heat exchange insert, the tanks are advantageously interposed between the tubes. This makes it possible to increase the heat exchange between the tubes and the tanks.

  In another embodiment, the first contact face of each heat exchange pad is in contact with two tubes and three tanks.

  In this case, on the first contact face of each thermal exchange insert, the tubes are preferably interposed between the tanks. This configuration makes it possible to increase the heat exchange between the tubes and the tanks.

  In yet another embodiment, the first contact face of each heat exchange pad is in contact with a plurality of tubes and a plurality of tanks.

  In this case, on the first contact face of each heat exchange insert, the tubes are advantageously interposed between the tanks, to increase the heat exchange between the tubes and the tanks.

  Preferably, on the first contact face of each heat exchange spacer, the tubes then have a first contact face with the spacer and a second opposite contact face in contact with a reservoir while the reservoirs have a first face. contact with the spacer and a second opposite contact face in contact with a tube.

  In all embodiments, at least some of the heat exchange tabs advantageously comprise a second contact face with each tube and each tank in contact with the first contact face of an adjacent heat exchange pad. In this case, most of the tubes and tanks are in contact with two spacers, increasing the performance of the various heat exchanges.

  Preferably, the thermal storage material tanks are of tubular shape, and in particular, the tanks are made as flat tubes. In this configuration, the tanks are simple to make.

  The tubes are advantageously flat type tubes, which offer extended contact surfaces.

  In advantageous embodiments, the reservoirs have at least one contact zone with a fluid circulation tube, so as to optimize the exchange of heat between a tube and a reservoir in contact.

  The device further comprises, preferably, junction means arranged to provide fluid communication between at least some of the tanks. Thus, it is possible to fill in the same operation several tanks.

  In an alternative embodiment, the junction means are made in the form of a collector. In this variant, it is possible to produce a heat exchanger whose usual tubes are reservoirs and to add this exchanger to an exchanger comprising the fluid circulation tubes by dividing the spacers.

  In another variant embodiment, the device comprises at least one tubular piece folded so as to have reservoir portions linked in pairs by joining portions. This provides a simple way to make a bundle of tanks that can be filled in the same filling operation.

  In a preferred embodiment, the heat exchange fluid is a refrigerant type fluid and the thermal storage material is a frigory storage material. This configuration is then particularly suitable for an air conditioning circuit, for example for the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.

  Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below and the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a portion of an exchange device according to the invention comprising a plurality of heat exchange tabs and associated heat transfer fluid tubes, - Figs. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D are schematic top views of a tab of the figure 1 and associated tubes in different embodiments of the device according to the invention, FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D are top views of the spacers and tubes in the embodiments of FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D. respectively associated with reservoirs of thermal storage material to form a heat exchange subassembly, - Figures 3E and 3F are schematic top views of a heat exchange subassembly in two other m Figs. 4 is a perspective view of a heat exchange device according to the invention according to one embodiment; Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a subset of heat exchange according to an alternative embodiment, - Figure 6 is a sectional view of an embodiment of-realization of a reservoir, - Figure 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a reservoir .

  The attached drawings may not only serve to complete the invention, but also contribute to its definition, if any.

  Figure 1 schematically illustrates and seen from the front a heat exchanger 1 forming part of a heat exchange device according to the invention. The heat exchanger 1 comprises two collector boxes 2 of parallelepiped shape juxtaposed. The heat exchanger 1 further comprises a bundle of tubes 4 aligned in one or more rows of tubes. Each of the tubes 4 is received at one and the other of its ends by one of the manifolds 2. Between two adjacent tubes 4 of the same row of tubes is arranged each time a spacer heat exchange 6. A heat exchange pad 6 is for example a corrugated insert made from a sheet metal strip folded successively so as to form a succession of substantially flat portions 8 connected in pairs by bent portions. The vertices of the bent portions define a first and a second plane parallel to each other. The assembly of a heat exchange interlayer 6 is thus contained between these first and second planes.

  FIG. 2A schematically illustrates, seen from above, a heat exchange pad 6 in a first embodiment of the heat exchanger 1 of FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the beam of the heat exchanger Heat 1 comprises a single row of tubes 4. In this embodiment, the tubes 4 may be plate tubes 4A. A plate tube 4A is a tube consisting of metal plates stamped and matched to form a tube. The plate tubes 4A are known to those skilled in the art.

  Each of the parallel planes containing the bent portions of the spacer 6 is in contact with a plate tube 4A.

  The spacer 6 thus has a first contact face and a second contact face 12 with a plate tube 4A. The spacer 6 shown in FIG. 2A is any interlayer of the tube bundle of the heat exchanger of FIG. 1. However, in alternative embodiments not shown, the tubes arranged at the ends of the bundle are contact each with two spacers 6 arranged on either side of the tube. In these embodiments, the spacers 6 disposed at the ends of the bundle have a single, or first, contact face 10 with a plate tube 4A.

  In particular, each plate tube 4A has two large identical side faces 14A parallel to each other. One of the large faces 14A of the plate tube 4A is in full contact with the first contact face 10 of the insert 6. The other large face 14A is in contact with the second contact face 12 of an adjacent interlayer 6 not shown.

  A reference (X, Y, Z) is defined in the following manner: the beam height is arranged in the Z direction, the beam width is arranged in the Y direction, which is perpendicular to the Z direction, and the thickness of the bundle is arranged in the X direction, which is both perpendicular to the Y and Z directions. The width of the insert 6, i.e., its dimension in the X direction, is substantially greater large than the size of the plate tubes 4A according to this direction. In other words, the first contact face 10 has a free portion protruding in the X direction of the plate tube 4A in contact therewith. Similarly, the second contact face 12 has a free portion protruding in the X direction of the plate tube 4A in contact therewith.

  In the embodiment illustrated together with FIGS. 1 and 2A, the heat exchanger 1 is constructed as a conventional heat exchanger, well known to those skilled in the art. Only the spacers 6 are made of longer length so as to exceed the plate tube bundle 4A. In particular, each component of the heat exchanger 1 is a known component and the assembly of these components to form the exchanger 1 is also known.

  Figure 3A schematically illustrates and seen from above the insert 6 of Figure 2A, once integrated in the device according to the invention. In this first embodiment, the first contact face 10 is further in contact, at the level of the free portion visible in FIG. 2A, with a reservoir of thermal storage material 16. The reservoir 16 is for example a reservoir for plates 16A. A plate tank 16A consists of stamped and matched metal plates to form a tank of tubular appearance. The plate tank 16A has two large side faces 18A identical and parallel to each other. One of the large faces 18A is in contact over its entire extent with the first contact face 10 of the insert 6.

  Similarly, the second contact face 12 of the spacer 6 is in contact with one of the large faces 18A of a plate tank 16A.

  Each plate reservoir 16A has a large lateral face 18A in contact with the first contact face 10 of an insert 6 while its other large lateral face 18A is in contact with the second contact face 12 of an adjacent interlayer 6. represent.

  In addition, each plate tank 16A has two small side faces 20A identical and parallel to each other. For each plate tank 16A, one of the small faces 20A is in full contact with a small side face of a plate tube 4A.

  Thus, to produce a device according to the invention, it is sufficient to assemble a conventional heat exchanger 1 and then add to the free portions of the spacers 6 protruding from the plate tube bundle 4A 16A plate tanks.

  Advantageously, there are two collectors 22, for example of cylindrical shape, as shown in Figure 4. The collectors 22 are arranged juxtaposed and each receive one end of each of the plate tanks 16A. The manifolds 22 provide fluid communication of each of the plate tanks 16A with each other.

  Advantageously, one of the manifolds 22 is provided with a filling pipe 24 for filling the plate tanks 16A of thermal storage material.

  In this advantageous embodiment, the assembly consisting of the two collectors 22 and the plate tanks 16A can be assembled as a storage exchanger 26. The storage exchanger 26 is then associated with the heat exchanger 1 previously assembled.

  2B schematically illustrates and viewed from above a heat exchange pad 6 in a second embodiment of the heat exchanger 1 of FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the tube bundle of FIG. Heat exchanger 1 comprises two rows of tubes 4. The tubes 4 are for example flat tubes 4B. The flat tubes 4B have two large parallel faces 14B parallel to each other joined by two half-cylindrical bent portions. The flat tubes 4B can be obtained by extrusion, stamping or bending sheet metal. Flat tubes 4B are known to those skilled in the art.

  The first contact face 10 of the insert 6 is in contact with two flat tubes 4B. The second contact face 12 of the insert 6 is also in contact with two flat tubes 4B. As described above, when the spacer 6 is disposed at one end of the bundle of flat tubes 4B, the spacer 6 may comprise a single, or first, contact face 10.

  Each of the flat tubes 4B comprises two large side faces 14B identical and parallel to each other. One of the large faces 14B of each of the flat tubes 4B rests on its entire extent against the first contact face 10 of a spacer 6 while the other large face 14B bears against the second contact face 12 an adjacent interlayer 6.

  According to the X direction, the interlayer 6 is larger than the size of two flat tubes 4B joined together. The spacers 6 protrude from the bundle of flat tubes 4B.

  Figure 3B schematically illustrates and seen from above the insert 6 of Figure 3A, once integrated in the device according to the invention. In this first embodiment, the first contact face 10 is further in contact, at the level of the free portion visible in FIG. 2B, with a reservoir of thermal storage material 16. The reservoir 16 is, for example, a flat tube partition 16B so as to delimit several storage channels 28 of thermal fluid as shown in Figure 6. Such a tank can be made by extrusion for example. The tank 16B has two large side faces 18B identical and parallel to each other. One of the large faces 18B is in contact over its entire extent with the first contact face 10 of the insert 6. A reservoir 16B also has small side faces 20B joining the large faces 18B.

  Similarly, the second contact face 12 of the insert 6 is in contact with one of the large faces 18B of a tank 16B.

  Each tank 16B has a large side face 18B in contact with the first contact face 10 of an insert 6 while its other large side face 18B is in contact with the second contact face 12 of an adjacent interlayer 6 not shown.

  As described above, to produce a device according to the invention, it is sufficient to assemble a conventional heat exchanger 1 and then add to the free portions of the spacers 6 protruding from the bundle of flat tubes 4B tanks 16B.

  Advantageously, the ends of the tanks 16B are received in the collectors 22 as described above. In this case, a storage exchanger 26 is assembled comprising the tanks 26 and the collectors 22, which is associated with the heat exchanger 1 by the pooling of the spacers 6.

  FIG. 2C schematically illustrates and seen from above an insert 6 in another embodiment of the heat exchanger 1 of FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the bundle of the heat exchanger 1 comprises two rows of flat tubes 4C, the rows being substantially spaced apart from each other. The first contact face 10 of the insert 6 is in contact with two flat tubes 4C. Similarly, the second contact face 12 is in contact with two flat tubes 4C. Each flat tube 4C has two large side faces 14C. The spacers 6 protrude from the bundle of tubes as previously described so as to have a free portion of the first contact face 10. The first contact face 10 also has a free portion between the portions in contact with the large faces 14C of the tubes 4C dishes. With the exception of the beam end spacers 6, the second contact face 12 of the spacers 6 has the same configuration.

  Figure 3C schematically illustrates and seen from above the insert 6 of Figure 2C, once integrated in the device according to the invention. In this embodiment, the first contact face 10 is further in contact, at each of the free portions visible in Figure 2C, with a reservoir 16 of thermal storage material made for example in the form of a capsule 16C storage. A storage capsule 16C is illustrated by way of example in FIG. 7. Such a capsule is known to those skilled in the art. The storage capsule 16C has two large side faces 18C identical and parallel to each other. One of the large faces 18C is in contact over its entire extent with the first contact face 10 of the insert 6. The storage capsule 16C further has small side faces 20C joining the large faces 18C. Preferably, the small faces 20C are in contact with the flat tubes 4C.

  In this embodiment of the device according to the invention, the heat exchanger is first assembled and the storage caps 16C are interposed between the spacers.

  FIG. 2D schematically illustrates, and seen from above, a heat exchange insert 6 in an alternative embodiment of the heat exchanger 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2C. In this embodiment, the spacer 6 protrudes from either side of the flat tube bundle 4C so that the first contact face 10 has three free portions. Each free portion is in contact with a storage capsule 16D analogous to the storage capsule 16C described above.

  Other embodiments are possible. For example, FIG. 3E illustrates a device according to the invention in which the first contact face 10 of the spacer 6 is in contact with two spaced apart flat tubes 4E and protrudes from the tube bundle 4. The first contact face 10 is in contact with the further in contact with two tanks 16E of the type of tanks 16B for example. One of the tanks 16E is disposed between the flat tubes 4C while the other is disposed outside the beam.

  FIG. 3F schematically illustrates and seen from above an insert 6 in another embodiment of the heat exchanger 1 of FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the bundle of the heat exchanger 1 comprises a plurality rows of flat tubes 4F. The first contact face 10 of the insert 6 is in contact with a flat tube 4F of a row of tubes out of two. Similarly, the second contact face 12 is in contact with a flat tube 4F of a row of tubes out of two. Each tube 4F has two large side faces 14F. On the first contact face of the spacer 6 are alternately arranged a tank 16F and a flat tube 4F of a row of tubes. Each tank 16F has two large side faces 18F and two small side faces 20F. For each of the reservoirs in contact with the first contact face 10, one of the large faces 18F is in contact over its entire extent with the first contact face 10 while the other is in contact over its entire extent with a large side face 14F of a flat tube 4F whose other large face 14F is in contact over its entire extent with the second contact face 12 of an adjacent interlayer 6 not shown. Conversely, for each of the flat tubes 4F in contact with the first contact face 10, one of the large faces 14F is in contact over its entire extent with the first contact face 10 while the other is in contact over its entire extended with a large side face 18F of a tank 16F whose other large face 18E is in contact over its entire extent with the second contact face 12 of an adjacent interlayer 6 not shown.

  FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the heat exchange device according to the invention in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3B. In this embodiment, a serpentine tube 30 is provided as a flat tube successively bent at substantially right angles so as to form a succession of elongate portions aligned with each other acting as tubular tanks 16B connected in pairs by connecting portions 32. The junction portions allow communication tubular tanks 16B. Such a serpentine tube 30 makes it possible to produce in a single piece a bundle of tubular tanks 16B. In addition, the collectors 22 are no longer necessary in this case.

  Advantageously, the serpentine tube 30 is attached to an already mounted heat exchanger 1 whose tabs 6 protrude from the tube bundle 4. The first contact face 10 and the second contact face 12 then come into contact with each a large face of two adjacent portions forming a tubular reservoir.

  In a non-illustrated embodiment, the spacers 6 protrude either side of the bundle of tubes 4. Then, a coil tube 30 is disposed on both sides of the bundle on the inserts 6.

  In a preferred embodiment, the heat transfer fluid is a refrigerant and the storage material is capable of storing frigories. The device according to the invention is then particularly adapted to an air conditioning circuit for a motor vehicle.

  Other embodiments may be envisaged from those described above.

  The tubes have the function of creating fluid circulation channels. The tubes can thus be of the plate type, bent, extruded, flat tubes, or any other known embodiment.

  The reservoirs have the function of creating channels adapted to the reception of thermal storage material. These tanks may be of the tank type plate, folded tube tank, extruded tank, capsule tank, or any other known embodiment.

  Each type of tube and each type of tank may be combined in the configurations described in Figures 3A-3F as well as in other configurations. There may or may not be contact between the tanks and the tubes associated with the same heat exchange pad. In addition, on the same intercalator heat exchange, can be

  tubes of different types and tanks of different types are provided.

  The coolant can be coolant or warming. As the coolant, carbon dioxide 002 may be used. The thermal storage material may be a cold storage material or a heat storage material. In addition, it may take the form of a solid material (for example in the form of salt), a liquid with a phase change, or else be of the coolant type.

  The tanks can be implemented in a so-called passive storage device, that is to say in which there is no circulation of thermal storage material inside the tanks, or in a so-called device active storage device, that is to say a device in which a circulation of the storage material is ensured inside the tanks, by means of a loop or circuit of thermal storage material set in motion using a pump.

  Finally, a heat exchanger with two collecting boxes 2 has been described in particular in FIG. 1. A heat exchanger provided with a single collecting box associated with so-called U-shaped fluid circulation tubes may be envisaged. When several rows of tubes are provided in the bundle, the circulation can be done in U, that is to say that the flow of fluid enters two tubes vis-à-vis is in opposite directions, or I, that is to say that the flow of fluid in two tubes vis-à-vis is in the same direction.

  The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above only by way of example, but encompasses all the variants that may be considered by those skilled in the art within the scope of the claims below.

Claims (21)

claims   A heat exchange device comprising a bundle of heat transfer fluid circulation tubes (4, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4E, 4F) interposed in a set of aligned heat exchange pads (6) and a bundle of tanks (16A, 16B, 16C, 16D, 16E, 16F) of thermal storage material interposed in the set of heat exchange pads (6), characterized in that each heat exchange pad (6) comprises at least one first face (10) of contact with at least one tube (4, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4E 4F) and at least one reservoir (16A, 16B, 16C, 16D, 16E, 16F).   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first face (10) of contact of each spacer (6) of heat exchange is in contact with a tube (4A) and a reservoir (16A).   3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first face (10) of contact of each spacer (6) of heat exchange is further in contact with two tubes (4B, 4C).   4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that, on the first contact face (10) of each spacer (6), one of the two tubes (4B) is disposed between the reservoir (16B) and the other two tubes (4B).   5. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that, on the first contact face (10) of each spacer (6) of heat exchange, the tank (16C) is disposed between the two tubes (4C).   6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first contact face (10) of each spacer (6) of heat exchange is in contact with two tubes (4C) and two tanks (16C).   7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that, on the first contact face (10) of each spacer (6) of heat exchange, the tanks (16C) are interposed between the tubes (4C).   8. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first contact face (10) of each spacer (6) of heat exchange is in contact with two tubes (4C) and three tanks (16C).   9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that, on the first contact face (10) of each spacer (6) of heat exchange, the tubes (4C) are interposed between the tanks (16C).   10. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first contact face (10) of each spacer (6) of heat exchange is in contact with a plurality of tubes (4F) and a plurality of tanks (16F).   11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that, on the first contact face (10) of each spacer (6) heat exchange, the tubes (4F) are interposed between the tanks (16F).   12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that, on the first contact face (10) of each spacer (6) of heat exchange, the tubes (4F) have a first contact face (14F) with the interlayer (6) and a second opposite contact face (14F) in contact with a reservoir (16F) while the reservoirs (16F) have a first contact face (18F) with the spacer (6) and a second face of opposite contact (18F) in contact with a tube (4F).   13. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least some of the heat exchange pads (6) comprise a second contact face (12) with each tube (4, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4E, 4F) and each tank (16A, 16B, 16C, 16E, 16F) in contact with the first contact face (10) of an adjacent heat exchange pad (6).   14. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tanks (16A, 16B, 16C, 16 F) of thermal storage material are of tubular shape.   15. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the tanks (16B) are made as flat tubes.   16. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tubes (4B, 4C, 4E, 4F) are flat type tubes.   17. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tanks (16A, 16C) have at least one contact zone (20A, 20C) with a tube (4A, 4C) of fluid circulation.   18. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises junction means (22, 32) arranged to provide fluid communication between at least some of the tanks (16A, 16B, 16C, 16E , 16F).   19. Device according to claim 18, characterized in that the connecting means are in the form of a collector.   20. Device according to claim 18, characterized in that it comprises at least one tubular piece (30) folded so as to have reservoir portions (16B) connected in pairs by junction portions (32).   21. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coolant is a coolant type fluid and the thermal storage material is a frigory storage material.