FR2945106A1 - MODULAR ELEMENT FOR A RADIATOR WITH A HEAT PUMP AND AN ELECTRICAL RADIATOR COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE SUCH ELEMENT - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular element (1) for heat transfer fluid radiator, comprising at least one vertical heating tubular element (2) containing said heat transfer fluid, characterized in that the tubular element, containing an electrical resistance and the heat transfer fluid heated by said electrical resistance, is closed at its two ends and is integral with a diffuser in the form of fins arranged along generatrices of said tubular element, housed in a casing surrounding said tubular element, the tubular element being held in place in said envelope by spacers constituted by at least a portion of the fins of the diffuser, allowing said envelope to be heated by conduction. This modular element can constitute alone an electric heater, or several modular elements can be secured by their envelopes to form an electric heater.

Description

The invention relates to the field of heat transfer fluid radiators, and more particularly that of heat transfer fluid electric radiators. Heat transfer radiators are heating devices comprising heated tubular elements inside which circulates the fluid carrying the calories, so as to heat the entire radiator by conduction. These devices are of two main types, namely the central heating radiators for which the coolant is heated outside the radiators, by means of a boiler to which are connected said radiators, and the electric radiators in which the fluid coolant is heated by one or more resistance (s) to electric (s) disposed (s) within the heating elements and circulates in closed circuit in said elements. These radiators generally consist of an assembly of tubular elements comprising a manifold for the hot fluid (connected to the hot water pipe coming from the boiler or incorporating the electric heating resistance) and a collector for the cooled fluid, the two collectors being interconnected by fluidic connection conduits for the circulation of fluid between said collectors. These connecting conduits, which are multiple and of various shapes (for example in the form of cylindrical tubes or parallelepipedic blades), are themselves heated by the heat transfer fluid coming from the hot collector passing through them, and in turn serve to heat the heat transfer medium. air surrounding the radiator, or to dry or reheat clothes (towel radiators). To increase the exchange surface between the radiator and the surrounding air, the number of heating connection conduits is multiplied. However, the more the number of connecting ducts is increased, the greater the number of connections to be made between the collectors and the connecting ducts, and consequently the risk of sealing defects and the associated manufacturing costs is increased. Indeed, for all these coolant radiators the connection between the various tubular elements is a critical point because this connection must ensure the communication of the fluid between them without generating fluid leakage. Two main solutions are implemented in a conventional manner to ensure this connection between the different tubular elements.

A first solution is to weld together the tubular elements. In the contact zones between these tubular elements, orifices are made before assembly; these orifices allow the passage of heat transfer fluid between the collectors and the connecting ducts. Sealing is ensured by the realization of a continuous weld bead made at said contact zone surrounding each orifice. This solution involves multiple welds radiator, so many risks of leaks. For example, for a single radiator having two collectors and ten connecting conduits, it is necessary to reliably produce twenty welds. In addition, the welding operation is relatively complex technically because it requires special know-how, substantial industrial resources, a manual preparation phase for the establishment of the various elements relative to each other, holding templates during welding and baking ovens (in the case of soldering by welding for example). The greater the number of welds, the longer the cycle of manufacture of a radiator increases and therefore its cost. A second solution is to connect the heating ducts (mainly heating blades) to each other by means of connectors called "nipple", that is to say, tubular connectors threaded at their two ends in inverted screw pitches. In this case, in said heating ducts, generally made of aluminum, are provided lateral orifices intended, after assembly, for the passage of fluid from one heating blade to the other by means of the "nipple" connections screwed to each of the ends of two adjacent heating pipes. The seal is provided by a silicone / elastomer seal or klingerite seal placed between the wall of said heating pipe and the "nipple" before screwing it. The collector is then not a continuous tubular element but is formed by the succession of internal tubular parts of the "nipple" connections between the heating pipes. This solution avoiding welding operations has, however, the disadvantage of requiring a large number of assemblies: the risk of leakage are therefore even higher. For example, for a radiator with heat transfer fluid having ten heating blades connected two by two at their two ends, it is necessary to provide eighteen connections "nipple" thus make thirty-six assemblies sealed in total. In addition, this type of assembly is relatively expensive and requires for a correct realization a particular know-how.

A first object of the invention is therefore to reduce the risk of leaks in electric heat radiators coolant. Another object of the invention is to simplify the manufacture of such radiators and reduce their cost.

Yet another object of the present invention is to reduce, or even eliminate, the number of welds or connections with joints allowing the communication of the fluid between the tubular elements between them. For this purpose, the present invention proposes a modular element for a heat-transfer fluid radiator, comprising at least one vertical heating tubular element enclosing an electrical resistance heating said heat-transfer fluid, characterized in that the vertical tubular element closed at its two ends, is integral with a diffuser in the form of fins connecting to the tubular element in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tubular element and is housed in a casing surrounding said tubular element, the tubular element being 15 held in place in said casing by spacers constituted by at least a portion of the fins of the diffuser, allowing said casing to be heated by conduction. Preferably, the envelope is also substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular element. The closed ends of the tubular heating elements are preferably equipped with plugs for their closure, the heat transfer fluid being retained in a closed circuit. No welding or fitting is needed, which greatly simplifies assembly, and lowers the cost of manufacture. The risks of leakage of the heat transfer fluid are also greatly reduced. To also reduce the risks of leakage at the plugs, these plugs are preferably made in accordance with the patent application FR07-09080 of the same applicant. In addition, the tubular elements are not in direct contact with the outer casing of the modular element, which allows the heating of these tubular elements, and therefore of the heat transfer fluid, to much higher temperatures (for example temperatures around 100 ° C to 140 ° C) at the usual temperatures of the heating collectors of the state of the art, limited to about 80 to 90 ° C according to the standards currently in force, for reasons of safety for the user. The fins are preferably vertical fins, arranged tangentially or radially to the wall of the tubular element, for example in a radiating arrangement around said tubular elements, and developing in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular element. tubular element. These fins form between them air circulation ducts and thus participate, (in addition to the participation of some of them in heating by conduction of the envelope) to the circulation, within said envelope, of the heated by convection by the heating elements (in particular tubular element and diffuser). Advantageously, the envelope is open at least partially at its two ends, said upper and lower, so as to allow the circulation of convection heated air, with the outside of the envelope, in particular along the fins vertical. The periphery of the envelope may also have orifices or discontinuities, such as slots in the form of slots, vertical, oblique or horizontal, further involved in improving the convection near the envelope. This gives a very high thermal efficiency of heating by means of such a modular element. According to an advantageous embodiment, the modular radiator element according to the invention comprises a plurality of heating tubular elements each containing a heating electric resistance, said tubular elements being housed in the same envelope. These tubular elements are independent of each other, closed at each of their ends, for example by sealing plugs; they each contain a heating element-type heating element, thus constituting autonomous heating elements having no fluid connection between them. No welding or fitting is required. According to other advantageous features of the present invention: - the tubular element (s) heating (s), the fins of the diffuser and the envelope are made of the same material; The heating tubular element (s), the fins of the diffuser and the envelope are made in one piece; - The tubular member (s) heating (s), the fins of the diffuser and the casing are made of a thermally conductive material, in particular metal, and preferably based on cast aluminum or extruded. Extrusion makes it possible to manufacture large modules whose length can easily be adapted to the required height of the modular element. The present invention also relates to an electric radiator with heat transfer fluid comprising at least one modular element as described above, each of which may contain one or more heating tubular elements. According to a first variant, the radiator consists of a single modular element.

According to a second variant, the radiator consists of several modular elements, juxtaposed or superimposed, and joined together at their envelopes. Since no welding or connection is required between the tubular elements, the manufacture of the radiator is facilitated, and its cost is considerably reduced.

The invention will be described in more detail by means of illustrative exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a modular element for a heat transfer fluid radiator according to a first embodiment of the present invention, comprising a single tubular element; Figure 2 is a sectional view along AA of the modular element of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevational view of a modular element for a heat transfer fluid radiator according to a second embodiment of the present invention, comprising two tubular elements; Figure 4 is a sectional view along BB of the modular element of Figure 3; Figures 5 and 6 are top views of two variants of arrangement of the fins of the first embodiment of the modular element of the invention; Figure 7 is a top view of a radiator according to the present invention, consisting of an assembly of two modular elements.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the modular element 1 for a heat transfer fluid radiator is composed of a single vertical tubular element 2, here cylindrical in shape, containing a heat transfer fluid and in the lower part a heating electric resistance 4 connected to a power supply (not shown). The coolant is heated by the electrical resistance 4 and circulates throughout the tubular element 2 delimited by substantially cylindrical walls 3. The ends of the tubular element 2 are closed by a plug (not shown). As can be seen in the sectional view of FIG. 2, the walls 3 of the tubular element 2 extend radially by vertical fins 8 which serve as spacers between said wall 3 of the tubular element 2 and the front walls, respectively. 5 and rear 6 and the side walls 7 of said casing 11 of the modular element 1. Thus the walls of the tubular element 2, constituting the heating element of the module, are not in direct contact with the casing of the modular element. The coolant can thus be raised to high temperatures, for example between 100 and 140 ° C, while the envelope 11 remains at a temperature compatible with use by the public, that is to say a temperature not not more than about 80 to 90 ° C. The thickness of the fins can range from about 0.5 to 5 mm. In this example, the vertical tubular element is of cylindrical shape, but could be of oval, square, rectangular, hexagonal or any other shape. According to a second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the modular element 1 encloses two vertical parallel tubular elements 2, each containing a heating electric resistor 4. The arrangement of the fins 8 may be in accordance with the arrangement of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2. As can be seen in FIG. 4, additional spacers directly connecting two walls facing the envelope 11 may be provided. (referenced 9 in Figure 4), and spacers connecting the two heating elements together (referenced 10). These spacers also create between them vertical ducts for air circulation. Two further variants of fin arrangement in the case of a single tubular element in the modular element 1 are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

In the example of FIG. 5, the fins 8 are arranged radially around the tubular element 2. In the variant shown in FIG. 6, the fins are at tangential disposition with respect to the cylindrical wall 3 of the element In this case, they directly connect the front wall 5 and the rear wall 6 of the casing 11 of the modular element by integrating a tangential connection zone to the wall 3, along a generator of the tubular element 2. Such a modular element 1 may be made of aluminum-based material or aluminum alloy manufactured by molding or extrusion. The extrusion manufacturing process makes it possible to obtain modular elements 1 of very great length, the length of which can be adjusted on demand. The radiator according to the invention may consist of a single modular element 1, or as shown in FIG. 7, consisting of an assembly of two or more modular elements 1 juxtaposed and assembled by means of connecting piece 12 at the level of of their sidewalls 7. A clipping assembly may also be provided. It can be seen from this view from above of the radiator according to the invention that only a portion of the fins 8 serves as spacers between the tubular element 2 and the envelope 11. In order to obtain a temperature of the envelope 11 acceptable for the user, the manufacturer will adjust the number of these fins and their length (i.e. the distance between the wall of the tubular member and the casing) to limit the temperature increase of the casing by conduction. The casing 11 may be partially or fully open at its upper and lower ends so as to allow the circulation of the convection heated air along the vertical fins and struts to the radiator external environment. However, a protective cover (for example a grid or a plate provided with slots allowing the evacuation of air) of the tubular heating element can be provided for reasons of safety vis-à-vis users. In addition, apertures or slots 13, for example vertical as shown in FIG. 7, may be formed in the wall of the envelope 11 (these orifices or slots are of small size making it possible to further promote the circulation of the air while prohibiting the direct access of the user to the wall 3 of the tubular element 2). The assembly of these radiators is very fast. This simplification considerably lowers manufacturing costs.

In addition, such a heat transfer fluid radiator comprises no welding and therefore no risk of fluid leakage, the latter being enclosed in tubular elements 2 individual and autonomous without connection between them.

Claims (9)

REVENDICATIONS1. Modular element (1) for radiator with heat transfer fluid, comprising at least one vertical heating tubular element (2) containing an electrical resistance (4) 5 heating said coolant, characterized in that the tubular element (2) vertical closed at its two ends, is integral with a diffuser in the form of fins (8) connecting to the tubular element in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tubular element and is housed in a casing (11) surrounding said tubular element (2), the tubular element (2) being held in place in said casing (11) by spacers constituted by at least a portion of the fins of the diffuser, allowing said casing (11) to be heated by conduction. 2. modular element (1) for radiator according to claim 1, characterized in that the envelope is open at least partially at its two ends, said upper and lower, so as to allow the circulation of convection heated air , with the outside of the envelope. 3. Modular element (1) for radiator according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of tubular elements (2) heating each containing an electrical resistance, said tubular elements being housed in 20 the same envelope. 4. Modular element (1) for radiator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the periphery of the casing (11) has orifices or discontinuities, such as openings in the form of slots. 5. Modular element (1) for radiator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the element (s) tubular (s) (s) (2) heating (s), the fins (8) of the diffuser and the envelope (11) are made of the same material. 6. modular element (1) for radiator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the or the tubular element (s) (s) (2) heating (s), the fins (8) of the diffuser and the envelope (11) are made in one piece. 9 7. Modular element for radiator according to any one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the or the tubular element (s) (s) (2) heating (s), the fins (8) of the diffuser and the envelope (11) are made of a metallic material, preferably based on cast aluminum or extruded. 8. Electric radiator heat transfer fluid characterized in that it consists of a single modular element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims. 9. Electric radiator heat transfer fluid characterized in that it consists of several modular elements (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, juxtaposed or superimposed, and secured to each other at their envelopes (11). ).