FR3089612A1 - COLLECTOR BOX FOR HEAT EXCHANGER AND HEAT EXCHANGER COMPRISING SUCH A COLLECTOR BOX - Google Patents

Abstract

COLLECTOR BOX FOR HEAT EXCHANGER AND HEAT EXCHANGER COMPRISING SUCH A COLLECTOR BOX Box (1) collector for heat exchanger (2), said box (1) collector comprising at least one tubular box (6), said tubular box (6) defining compartments (24, 25, 26, 27) for the passage of a fluid intended to circulate in tubes of the heat exchanger (2), at least two of said compartments (24, 25, 26, 27) being separated by a partition (28) formed by crushing a wall of said tubular housing (6) so as to be able to organize a circulation of fluid in several passes and / or several rows in said heat exchanger (2). Figure for the abstract: Figure 1 [Figure 1] [Figure 2] [Figure 3] [Figure 4] [Figure 5] [Figure 6] [Figure 7] [Figure 8] [Figure 9] [Figure 10] [Figure 11]

Description

Description

Title of the invention: COLLECTOR BOX FOR

HEAT EXCHANGER AND HEAT EXCHANGER COMPRISING SUCH A COLLECTOR BOX

The invention relates to the automotive field and more particularly to heat exchangers for air conditioning systems of motor vehicles.

Motor vehicles are, in general, provided with an air conditioning system, the main objective of which is to supply fresh or hot air in the passenger compartment.

The air conditioning systems of motor vehicles include, in their simplified form, an air conditioning circuit provided with a compressor which makes it possible to compress and circulate a refrigerant in the circuit, a regulator for lowering the pressure of the refrigerant, and two heat exchangers respectively a condenser and an evaporator.

It is known heat exchangers comprising a heat exchange bundle in the form of several rows of tubes located one behind the other in the direction of the air flow passing through them and in which circulates the refrigerant. In order to uniformly distribute the refrigerant in the bundles of the heat exchanger, it includes one or more manifold (s) in relation to the bundle (s). Said boxes allow the circulation of the fluid in one or more passes in the beam or beams.

It is known manifold boxes comprising a body formed of a sheet metal plate folded on itself to form both a cover and a manifold plate. In order to allow the circulation of the fluid in several passes in the row or rows of the bundle, partitions are attached to the inside of the box to separate it into several compartments. For this, the box is provided with slots inside which the partitions are inserted.

The manufacture of such manifolds is complex, in particular due to the operations of pre-assembling the partitions on the box body which it requires. In addition, the presence of slots generates risks in terms of the box being leaking.

The objective of the invention is to at least partially remedy the aforementioned drawbacks and to this end provides a manifold for heat exchanger, said manifold comprising at least one tubular housing, said tubular housing defining compartments of passage of a fluid intended to circulate in tubes of the heat exchanger, at least two of said compartments being separated by a partition formed by crushing a wall of said tubular housing so as to be able to organize a circulation of fluid in several passes and / or more rows in said heat exchanger.

Thanks to the crushing of the tubular housing, partitions are formed without having to bring in specific parts for this purpose. In addition, the presence of slits is avoided.

Various additional characteristics can be provided alone or in combination:

- The tubular housing (s) comprise a plurality of compartments, each compartment being separated from another compartment by a partition formed by crushing the said tubular housing (s);

- the partitions have a double thickness of material;

- said manifold comprises a manifold plate which extends a longitudinal axis, said partition being substantially planar and extending along the longitudinal axis of said manifold plate;

- the partition extends in a plane substantially parallel to the header plate.

Secondly, there is provided a heat exchanger, in particular an evaporator, said heat exchanger comprising a bundle distributed in two adjacent rows, said bundle comprising tubes, and in which, the heat exchanger comprises a manifold as previously described, arranged at one end of the tubes.

This heat exchanger comprising a manifold as previously described, a second manifold makes it possible to maximize the number of passages of the refrigerant in the heat exchanger. This advantageously makes it possible to increase the exchange surface, and therefore to maximize the heat exchanges inside the heat exchanger, making it possible to obtain a better thermal efficiency of said heat exchanger.

Various additional characteristics can be provided alone or in combination:

- the heat exchanger comprises a second manifold arranged at the other end of the tubes;

- the second manifold includes a return tubular housing defining several compartments, each compartment being separated from another compartment by a second partition, said second partition being obtained by crushing said return tubular housing;

- one of the compartments has a bend so that said compartment is in fluid communication with two different rows of the bundle of said heat exchanger;

- the first manifold comprises:

• a first compartment,

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• a second compartment, • a third compartment, and • and a fourth compartment,

- the second manifold includes:

• a fifth compartment, • a sixth compartment, and • a seventh compartment,

said heat exchanger being configured so that the refrigerant crosses the bundle six times, said refrigerant producing:

• a first passage through the beam in a row, from the first compartment to the fifth compartment, • a second passage through the beam in a row, from the fifth compartment towards the second compartment, • a third passage through the beam in a row , from the second compartment to the sixth compartment, • a fourth passage through the beam in another row, from the sixth compartment to the third compartment, • a fifth passage through the beam in another row from the third compartment to the seventh compartment , • a sixth passage through the bundle in another row from the seventh compartment to the fourth compartment.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the description below in relation to the appended drawings, given by way of nonlimiting examples and in which:

- [Figure 1]: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger equipped with at least one manifold according to the invention;

- [Figure 2]: Figure 2 is a two-dimensional sectional view of a tubular refrigerant inlet housing of the manifold of Figure 1;

- [Figure 3]: Figure 3 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger equipped with at least one manifold according to a second embodiment of the invention

- [Figure 4]: Figure 4 is a two-dimensional sectional view of a tubular refrigerant inlet housing of the manifold of Figure 3;

- [Figure 5]: Figure 5 is a perspective view of a connection plate according to the second embodiment of the invention;

- [Figure 6]: Figure 6 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger equipped with at least one manifold according to a third embodiment of the invention;

- [Figure 7]: Figure 7 is a two-dimensional sectional view of a tubular refrigerant inlet housing of the manifold of Figure 6;

- [Figure 8]: Figure 8 is a perspective view of a connection plate according to the third embodiment of the invention;

- [Figure 9]: Figure 9 is a sectional view, in two dimensions, of one end of the manifold according to the second embodiment of the invention;

- [Figure 10]: Figure 10 is a perspective view of the end of Figure 9;

- [Figure 11]: Figure 11 is a perspective view of an outlet box according to the second and the third embodiment of the invention.

In Figure 1 is shown a box 1 collector of a heat exchanger 2. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the heat exchanger 2 is an evaporator. The heat exchanger 2 comprises a heat exchange bundle 3 intended to be traversed by a refrigerant. The bundle 3 comprises two rows 4 positioned one behind the other so as to be successively traversed by an air flow intended to exchange heat with the fluid passing through the bundle.

Each row 4 of the bundle 3 comprises tubes 5. The tubes 5 are arranged parallel to each other. To improve the heat exchange, the bundles 3 include spacers, not illustrated, arranged between and in contact with two neighboring tubes 5 in the same row 4.

The manifold box 1 comprises at least one tubular housing 6 and a manifold plate 7. In the embodiments shown in the figures, the manifold box 7 comprises two tubular boxes 6, namely an inlet box 8 and an outlet box 9. The tubular housings 6 are in fluid communication, at one of their ends, to external flanges 10. The collecting plate 7 has openings 11 intended to receive the tubes 5 of the bundle 3.

The manifold box 1 comprises a connecting plate 12. The connection plate 12 is located between the tubular housings 6 and said collecting plate 7.

The connection plate 12 has bosses 13. The bosses 13 each define a pocket 14. Each pocket 14 is intended to communicate, on the one hand, with one of the tubular housings 6 and, on the other hand, with the tubes 5.

Preferably, the bundle 3 and the manifold box 1 are formed of aluminum or aluminum alloy components, brazed together. The heat exchanger 2 is configured, for example, to allow a circulation of the refrigerant in series in the two rows 4. In each of the rows 4, the refrigerant can circulate in a single pass, that is to say , in the same direction in each of the tubes 5 of the same bundle. As a variant, the manifold box 1 can be configured, for example using partitions placed in the compartments, so that the fluid circulates in several passes in one or each of the beams 3. Between two neighboring passes of the same beam 3 , the refrigerant flows in two opposite directions.

The collector plate 7 is in the form of a metal plate which extends in an extension direction represented by an axis X. The metal plate has the openings 11 for the passage of a heat transfer fluid. More specifically, the openings are intended to receive the tubes of the bundles of the heat exchanger 2. The openings 11 are arranged in two columns 38, and separated from each other by a solid central zone 15. The collecting plate 7 comprises on its periphery a skirt, here provided with teeth 16, allowing its crimping on the connecting plate 12. Said collector plate 7 may also include collars 17 surrounding the openings 11 for receiving the tubes 5, here facing the inside of the tubes 5.

The bosses 13 of the connection plate 12 each have a recess 18 in the form of an open semicircular cavity. The depression 18 defines a partial counter-cavity of the tubular housing 6 so as to match the shape of said tubular housing 6. Thus the tubular housing 6 is inserted inside the recesses 18, the latter acting as a support for said tubular housing 6.

The connection plate 12 has a face 19 open on the collector plate. This open face 19 is located opposite the collecting plate 7 and defines with said collecting plate 7, the pockets 14.

Each tubular housing 6 has first holes 20. Each boss has second holes 21. The second holes 21 are located in the bottom of the recess 18 of the bosses 13. The second holes 21 are in fluid communication with the first orifices 20 of the tubular housings 6. Thus, the first holes 20 and the second holes 21 together define a fluid passage 22 between the pockets 14 and the tubular housings 6. The first orifices 20 and the second orifices 21 are respectively located opposite one another.

First embodiment

The first embodiment is shown in Figures 1 and 2. The first embodiment has six passes. This means that the refrigerant crosses the bundle 3 six different times.

The number of first holes 20 of the tubular housings 6 is equal to the number of second holes 21 in the connection plate 12. In this embodiment, each boss 13 has a second orifice 21 which communicates with a first orifice 20 of the inlet housing 8 or the outlet housing 9. As previously mentioned, the first orifice 20 and the second orifice 21 form the fluid passage 22. This fluid passage 22 is located in a central region of the boss 13, that is to say substantially at the center of said boss 13.

As illustrated in detail in Figure 2, each boss 13 defines a pocket 14 which extends from the connecting plate 12 on the one hand, to the collecting plate 7 on the other hand. Thus the connection plate 12 comprises a plurality of pockets 14 separated by a partition 23. Each pocket 14 is in fluid communication with three openings 11 made in the collecting plate 7, which are each in fluid communication with a tube 5 of the bundle 3 of the heat exchanger 2. Thus the number of fluidic passages 22 is less than the number of tubes 5. In particular, the ratio is of a fluidic passage 22 for three openings 11, therefore for three tubes 5.

The first and second orifices 20, 21 have a substantially identical shape. They also have a substantially identical section.

Referring to the inlet housing 8, when the refrigerant arrives in said inlet housing 8 from the outer flange 10, said refrigerant is distributed in the pockets 14 passing through the first orifice 20, then through the second orifice 21. The refrigerant then enters the tubes 5 of the bundle 3.

In order to achieve the passes mentioned above, the inlet housing 8 and the outlet housing 9 are compartmentalized. Thus the inlet casing 8 comprises two compartments, namely a first compartment 24 and a second compartment 25. The outlet casing 9 comprises two compartments, namely a third compartment 26 and a fourth compartment 27. The compartments are separated by a partition 28 formed by crushing the wall of the tubular housings 6. The tubular housings 6 are configured to organize a circulation of fluid in several passes and / or several rows in the heat exchanger 2.

The partition 28 is substantially planar and it extends in a plane substantially parallel to the collecting plate 7. Said plane comprises a longitudinal axis of the tubular housings 6. It advantageously comprises a double thickness of material. The double thickness of material advantageously makes it possible to increase the mechanical strength and the pressure resistance of the partition 28.

Advantageously, the section of the fluid passage 22, which corresponds to the section of the first orifice 20 or the second orifice 21 according to which of these orifices is the smallest, is less than the section of the tubes 5 in a given pocket . The refrigerant is thus better distributed in the tubes 5.

Second embodiment

The second embodiment is illustrated in Figures 3 to 5. The second embodiment has two passes. This means that the refrigerant crosses the bundle 3 on two different occasions.

Regarding the connection plate 12, on the side of the inlet housing 8, each boss 13 has only a second inlet port 39. The second inlet port 39 has an oblong shape. The second inlet port 39 extends along a longitudinal axis of the connection plate 12. The inlet housing 8 has three first inlet openings 41. In this embodiment, the second inlet port 39 is in fluid communication with three first inlet ports 41 thus forming three fluid passages 22. Each of the first inlet orifices 41 has a circular section which is substantially smaller than the section of the second inlet orifice 39. There are as many fluid passages 22 as tubes 5, on the side of the inlet housing 8

Regarding the connection plate 12, on the side of the outlet housing 9, each boss 13 has three second outlet openings 40. The second outlet orifices 40 have an oblong shape. The second outlet orifices 40 extend along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the connection plate 12. The outlet box 9 has three first outlet ports 42. The shape of the first outlet orifices 42 is substantially identical to that of the second outlet orifices 40, said first outlet orifices 42 also extend along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the connection plate 12. For each boss 13, the number of first outlet orifices 42 is identical to the number of second outlet orifices 40. Each first outlet port 42 is located opposite a second outlet port 40. Each pocket 14 communicates with three openings 11, therefore with three tubes 5 of the bundle 3. Thus the number of fluidic passages 22 is identical to the number of tubes 5, on the side of the outlet housing 9.

In this embodiment, the inlet housing 8 comprises a distribution tube 29 arranged inside said inlet housing 8. The distribution tube 29 extends over a length substantially identical to the length of the inlet housing 8 and has a smaller diameter. The distribution tube 29 is in fluid communication with the outer flange 10. The refrigerant arrives from the outer flange 10 and circulates along the distribution tube 29. The distribution tube 29 has a plurality of holes 30 arranged along said distribution tube 29. The refrigerant is distributed in the inlet housing 8 through the distribution tube 29. Thus, in this embodiment, the input box 8 is mechanically connected to the external flange 10 but is not directly in fluid communication with the latter.

Advantageously, the section of the fluid passage 22, which corresponds to the section of the first orifice 20 or of the second orifice 21, is less than the section of the tubes 5 in a given pocket. The refrigerant is thus better distributed in the tubes 5.

Third embodiment

The third embodiment is illustrated in Figures 6 to 8. The third embodiment has two passes. This means that the refrigerant crosses the bundle 3 on two different occasions.

The connection plate 12 comprises, on the inlet side 8 and on the outlet side, a boss 13. The boss 13 extends along the connection plate 12, substantially from one end to the other of it. Each boss 13 defines a single pocket 14, therefore not compartmentalized, which extends along the collecting plate 7 and the connecting plate 12. The pocket 14 is intended to communicate with all of the tubes 5, on the outlet side 9 or on the inlet side 8.

On the side of the inlet housing 8, the boss 13 has only a second inlet port 39. The second inlet port 39 has an oblong shape and extends continuously substantially along the boss 13 from one end to the other thereof. The second inlet port 39 extends along a longitudinal axis of the connection plate 12. The inlet housing 8 has a plurality of first inlet openings 41. The first inlet ports 41 are located opposite the second inlet port 39. Each of the first inlet orifices 41 has a circular section which is substantially smaller than the section of the second inlet orifice 39. There are as many fluid passages 22 as tubes 5, on the side of the inlet housing 8.

Regarding the connection plate 12, on the side of the outlet housing 9, the boss 13 has a plurality of second outlet holes 40. The second outlet orifices 40 have an oblong shape. The second outlet orifices 40 extend along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the connection plate 12. The outlet box 9 has a plurality of first outlet ports 42. The shape of the first outlet orifices 42 is substantially identical to that of the second outlet orifices 40, said first outlet orifices 42 also extend along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the connection plate 12. The number of first outlet orifices 42 is identical to the number of second outlet orifices 40. Each first outlet orifice 42 is located opposite a second outlet orifice 40, along the boss 13, forming a plurality of fluidic passages 22. Each pocket 14 communicates with a plurality of openings 11 of the collecting plate 7 each of said openings 11 opening onto a tube 5. There are as many fluid passages 22 as there are tubes 5, on the side of the outlet housing 9.

In this embodiment, the inlet housing 8 comprises a distribution tube 29 arranged inside said inlet housing 8. The distribution tube 29 extends over a length substantially identical to the length of the inlet housing 8 and has a smaller diameter. The distribution tube 29 is in fluid communication with the outer flange 10. The refrigerant arrives from the outer flange 10 and circulates along the distribution tube 29. The distribution tube 29 has a plurality of holes 30 arranged along said distribution tube 29. The refrigerant is distributed in the inlet housing 8 through the distribution tube 29. Thus, in this embodiment, the input box 8 is mechanically connected to the external flange 10 but is not directly in fluid communication therewith.

Advantageously, the section of the fluid passage 22, which corresponds to the section of the first orifice 20 or the second orifice 21, is less than the section of the tubes 5 in a given pocket. The refrigerant is thus better distributed in the tubes 5.

Whatever the embodiment, the tubular housings 6 can be formed by extrusions and then by drilling to produce the different orifices. Another technique is for example by winding sheet metal. Other techniques may be used.

At the opposite end to the external flanges 10, the inlet and outlet boxes 8, 9 can be closed by plugs 31 as in the second and the third embodiment, or they can be closed by crushing as in the first embodiment. In the case where plugs 31 are used, these include an angular indexing means. Thus, the plugs are in the form of a wall 32 comprising a portion 33 inserted inside the inlet and outlet housings 8, 9. The wall 32 has a lower face 34 cooperating with the collecting plate 7 and allowing the angular indexing of said plug 31.

Whatever the embodiment, the heat exchanger 2 comprises a second manifold 35 arranged at an opposite end of the tubes 5.

In the first embodiment, the second box 35 includes a tubular housing 49 back comprising several compartments 45, 46, 47 obtained by crushing the wall as for the box 1 collector. Thus each compartment 45, 46, 47 is separated from another compartment 45, 46, 47 by a second partition 48. The tubular casing 49 returning from the second collecting box 35 comprises a fifth compartment 45, a sixth compartment 46, and a seventh compartment 47. The sixth compartment 46 defines an elbow 36, which allows the return of the refrigerant to another row 4 of the bundle 3. The second collecting box 35 comprises a connecting plate 12 and a collecting plate 7 identical and arranged in the same way as in the collector box 1. With reference to the first embodiment is configured so that the refrigerant crosses the bundle 3 six times. Thus the refrigerant performs the following passages:

• a first passage through the bundle 3 in a row 4, from the first compartment 24 towards the fifth compartment 45, • a second passage through the bundle 3 in a row 4, from the fifth compartment 45 towards the second compartment 25, • a third passage through the bundle 3 in a row 4, from the second compartment 25 towards the sixth compartment 46, • a fourth passage through the bundle 3 in another row 4, from the sixth compartment 46 towards the third compartment 26, • a fifth passage through the bundle 3 in another row 4 from the third compartment 26 towards the seventh compartment 47, • a sixth passage through the bundle 3 in another row 4 from the seventh compartment 47 towards the fourth compartment 27.

In the second and third embodiments, the second manifold box 35 is in the form of a cover 43 comprising bumps 37 defining pockets 44 for return intended to return the refrigerant to the bundle 3 by putting in Fluid communication of the neighboring 4 row tubes.

Claims (1)

Claims [Claim 1] Collector box (1) for heat exchanger (2), said collector box (1) comprising at least one tubular case (6), said tubular case (6) defining compartments (24, 25, 26, 27) for passage of 'a fluid intended to circulate in tubes (5) of the heat exchanger (2), at least two of said compartments (24, 25, 26, 27) being separated by a partition (28) formed by a crushing of a wall of said tubular housing (6) so as to be able to organize a circulation of fluid in several passes and / or several rows in said heat exchanger (2). [Claim 2] Collector box (1) according to claim 1, in which the tubular casing (s) (6) comprise a plurality of compartments (24, 25, 26, 27), each compartment (24, 25, 26, 27) being separate from 'another compartment (24, 25, 26, 27) by a partition (28) formed by crushing of said tubular housing (s) (6). [Claim 3] Collector box (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the partitions (28) have a double thickness of material. [Claim 4] Collector box (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which said collector box (1) comprises a collector plate (7) which extends a longitudinal axis (X), said partition (27) being substantially flat and s' extending along the longitudinal axis (X) of said collecting plate (7). [Claim 5] Collector box (1) according to claim 4, in which the partition (28) extends in a plane substantially parallel to the collector plate (7). [Claim 6] Heat exchanger (2), in particular an evaporator, said heat exchanger (2) comprising a bundle (3) distributed in two adjacent rows (4), said bundle comprising tubes (5), and in which the exchanger (2 ) heat comprises a box (1) collector according to one of the preceding claims arranged at one end of the tubes (5). [Claim 7] Heat exchanger (2) according to claim 6, comprising a second collecting box (35) arranged at the other end of the tubes (5). [Claim 8] Heat exchanger (2) according to claim 7, in which the second collecting box (35) comprises a tubular return housing (49) defining several compartments (45, 46, 47), each compartment (45, 46, 47) being separated from another compartment (45, 46, 47) by a second partition (48), said second partition (48) being obtained by crushing said tubular housing (49) back. [Claim 9] Heat exchanger (2) according to claim 8, in which one of the compartments (46) has an elbow (36) so that said compartment (36) is in fluid communication with two different rows (4) of the bundle (3) of said heat exchanger (2). [Claim 10] Heat exchanger (2) according to claim 9, in which: at. the first collecting box (1) comprises: i. a first compartment (24), ii. a second compartment (25), iii. a third compartment (26), and iv. and a fourth compartment (27), b. the second collecting box (35) comprises: i. a fifth compartment (45), ii. a sixth compartment (46), and iii. a seventh compartment (47), vs. said heat exchanger (2) being configured so that the refrigerant crosses the bundle (3) six times, said refrigerant producing: i. a first passage through the bundle (3) in a row (4), from the first compartment (24) to the fifth compartment (45), ii. a second passage through the bundle (3) in a row (4), from the fifth compartment (45) to the second (25) compartment, iii. a third passage through the bundle (3) in a row (4), from the second compartment (25) to the sixth compartment (46), iv. a fourth passage through the bundle (3) in another row (4), from the sixth compartment (46) to the third compartment (26), v. a fifth passage through the bundle (3) in another row (4) from the third compartment (26) to the seventh compartment (47), vi. a sixth passage through the bundle (3) in another row (4) from the seventh compartment (47) to the fourth compartment (27).