JP2006313054A - Plate-shaped heat exchanger and radiator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance heat-exchanging efficiency in a thin heat exchanger comprising a plurality of stacked plate-shaped elements each of which is made of a thin metal plate and has a fluid passage formed therein, by allowing a large amount of fluid to flow into/out of the heat exchanger at a time. <P>SOLUTION: The plate-shaped heat exchanger 70 is fabricated by stacking and hermetically bonding a plurality of plate-shaped elements that form fluid passages through which a plurality of fluids can flow separately. One of the fluid passages is formed to extend from one side face to the other side face of the heat exchanger 70 while the other fluid passage is formed to extend from one end face to the other end face of the heat exchanger 70, and almost the entire side faces and end faces of the heat exchanger 70 are formed as openings 71, 72, 74 that serve as inlets and outlets of the fluid passages. As the above plate-shaped elements, use of elements in which a number of ribs partitioning the fluid passages are formed in the shape of steps forming a nearly right angle with respect to a direction of flow of the fluids and arranged in a corrugated pattern facilitates the generation of a turbulent flow, and thus provides high heat-exchanging efficiency, in particular. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a small plate heat exchanger and a radiator to which a cooling fan is attached.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for forming a fluid passage in a plate element made of a thin metal plate and stacking a plurality of the plate elements to form a thin heat exchanger. By using this technology for a CPU cooler of a personal computer, an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, etc., it is possible to achieve a significant reduction in size.

However, when the fluid inlet / outlet is small, the amount of fluid that can flow into and out of the heat exchanger at a time is limited to a certain limit, so that there is a problem that the efficiency of heat exchange does not increase beyond a certain level. Especially when a heat exchanger is used as a radiator, it is necessary to pass a large amount of cooling fan air at a time. However, since the diameter of the fan is limited to the size of the inlet / outlet of the heat exchanger, this problem becomes more remarkable. . Having such a problem, the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not disclose a technique for flowing a large amount of fluid into and out of the heat exchanger at a time, and there is still room for improvement. It can be said.
JP 2004-108690 A

  Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is that a fluid passage is formed in a plate-shaped element made of a thin metal plate, and a thin heat exchanger formed by stacking a plurality of the plate-shaped elements heat-exchanges a large amount of fluid at a time. The purpose is to increase the efficiency of heat exchange by flowing into and out of the vessel.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a plate-type heat exchanger in which a plurality of plate-like elements forming a fluid passage through which a plurality of fluids can separately flow are overlapped and hermetically joined. Is formed from one side of the heat exchanger to the other side, and the other fluid passage is formed from one end surface to the other end surface of the heat exchanger, and almost one or both of the heat exchanger side surface and the end surface are fluid passages. It was opened as a doorway.

  In this way, by opening the entire side surface or end surface of the heat exchanger as the inlet / outlet of the fluid passage, a large amount of fluid can flow into and out of the heat exchanger at a time.

  If a large number of ribs defining the fluid passages of at least a pair of plate-like elements are formed in a staircase shape that is substantially perpendicular to the fluid flow direction and arranged in a wave shape as a whole, turbulent flow is likely to occur in the fluid. The heat exchange efficiency is excellent.

  When a step is provided on the peripheral edge of one or both of the side surface opening and the end surface opening of the entrance / exit, the lid can be easily aligned and attached by contacting the opening blocking lid to the step.

  In addition, when a radiator is formed by attaching a cooling fan to the opening of the above-described heat exchanger that is open on the almost entire surface, a fan having a relatively large diameter can be attached compared to the size of the heat exchanger. A large amount of air can flow into the interior at a time, and the cooling efficiency is very excellent.

  Furthermore, when the end face of the heat exchanger opened as the inlet of the other fluid passage is covered with a lid attached with a fluid inflow nozzle in an airtight manner, the inner surface of the lid is provided with a fluid inlet whose longitudinal section is formed by a plate-like element. When the arc shape or the arc shape having the focal point is formed in a linear shape, the fluid flowing in from the nozzle is efficiently guided to the fluid inlet serving as the focal point of the arc by the arc shape or the wave shape of the longitudinal section.

  One fluid passage is formed from one side surface to the other side surface of the heat exchanger, and the other fluid passage is formed from one end surface to the other end surface of the heat exchanger, so that almost the entire side surface and end surface of the heat exchanger flow. It can be opened as a road entrance. By opening the front surfaces of the side surfaces and the end surfaces, a large amount of fluid can be made to flow into and out of the heat exchanger from the side surfaces and the end surfaces at a time.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a spacer 10 which forms a heat exchange membrane by separating different fluid flow paths from each other. As shown in the figure, the spacer has bulged portions 12 at four corners of a flat, substantially rectangular plate-like body 11, and the bulged portion 12 is provided with through holes 13 for alignment. In addition, concave portions 14 are provided at the inner corners of the bulging portion 12.

  FIG. 2 represents a first composite plate element 20 forming a fluid passage. In order to form one fluid passage as shown, a flat single plate element 20a and a single plate element 20b are used as a whole.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, both sides of the single plate element 20a are surrounded by a frame 21a having the same contour as the spacer 10, and both ends are open. From the opened one end to the other end, the both sides are supported by the frame 21a and are discontinuously partitioned by a pattern in which U-shaped ribs 22a having the same thickness as the frame 21a are arranged in parallel. The four corners of the frame 21a are provided with bulging portions 23a, and the bulging portions 23a are provided with through holes 24a. Moreover, the recessed part 25a is provided in the inner corner of the bulging part 23a.

  The single plate element 20b has substantially the same dimensions as the single plate element 20a as shown in FIG. 2B, but the pattern in which the U-shaped ribs 22b are arranged in parallel is reversed left and right. The only difference is the pattern in which the mold ribs 22b are arranged in parallel. Accordingly, the single plate element 20a can be used by being reversed left and right. In the figure, reference numeral 21b denotes a frame, 23b denotes a bulging portion, 24b denotes a through hole, and 25b denotes a concave portion.

  FIG. 3 represents a second composite plate element 30 forming a fluid passage. In order to form one fluid passage as shown, a flat single plate element 30a and a single plate element 30b as a whole are used.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, both ends of the single plate element 30a are surrounded by a frame 31a having the same contour as the spacer 10, and both sides are open. From the opened one side to the other side, the corrugated ribs 32a having the same thickness as the frame 31a, supported at both ends by the frame 31a, are discontinuously partitioned by a pattern having a shape arranged in an oblique lattice shape. Yes. In the four corners of the frame 31a, bulges 33a are provided, and the bulges 33a are provided with through holes 34a. Moreover, the recessed part 35a is provided in the inner corner of the bulging part 33a.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the single plate element 30b has substantially the same size and shape as the single plate element 30a, except that the pattern in which the corrugated ribs 32b are arranged in an oblique lattice is vertically inverted. Therefore, the single plate element 30a can be used upside down. In the figure, reference numeral 31b denotes a frame, 33b denotes a bulging portion, 34b denotes a through hole, and 35b denotes a concave portion.

  FIG. 4 represents a third composite plate element 40 forming a fluid passage. In order to form one fluid passage as shown, a flat single plate element 40a and a single plate element 40b as a whole are used.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, both sides of the single plate element 40a are surrounded by a frame 41a having the same contour as the spacer 10, and both ends are open. From the opened one end to the other end, corrugated ribs 42a having the same thickness as the frame 41a are arranged in parallel and are discontinuously partitioned by such a pattern. In the four corners of the frame 41a, bulges 43a are provided, and in the bulges 43a, through holes 44a are provided. Moreover, the recessed part 45a is provided in the inner corner of the bulging part 43a.

  The single plate element 40b has substantially the same dimensions and the same shape as the single plate element 40a as shown in FIG. 4B, except that the pattern in which the corrugated ribs 42b are arranged in parallel is vertically inverted. Therefore, the single plate element 40a can be used upside down. In the figure, reference numeral 41b denotes a frame, 43b denotes a bulging portion, 44b denotes a through hole, and 45b denotes a concave portion.

  FIG. 5 represents a fourth composite plate element 50 forming a fluid passage. In order to form one fluid passage as shown in the figure, a flat single plate element 50a and a single plate element 50b are used as a whole.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the single plate element 50a is surrounded by a frame 51a having the same contour as the spacer 10, and both ends are open. Stepped ribs 52a having the same thickness as the frame 51a are arranged in a wave shape from one end to the other end, and are partitioned discontinuously by such a pattern. At the four corners of the frame 51a, bulged portions 53a are provided, and the bulged portions 53a are provided with through holes 54a. Moreover, the recessed part 55a is provided in the inner corner of the bulging part 53a.

  The single plate element 50b has substantially the same dimensions and the same shape as the single plate element 50a as shown in FIG. 5 (b), except that the pattern in which the stepped ribs 52b are arranged in a wave shape is reversed left and right. Therefore, the single plate element 50a can be used by being reversed left and right. In the figure, reference numeral 51b denotes a frame, 53b denotes a bulging portion, 54b denotes a through hole, and 55b denotes a recess.

  FIG. 6 shows a side plate 60 that hermetically sandwiches the composite plate-like elements 20, 30, 40, 50 and the spacer 10. The side plate 60 is provided with bulging portions 62 at four corners of a flat and airtight substantially rectangular plate-like body 61, and the bulging portion 62 is provided with a through hole 63. The side plate 60 differs from the spacer 10 and the like in that both ends of the plate-like body 61 extend to the outer end of the bulging portion 62. Therefore, as will be described later, even when a plurality of fluids are allowed to flow from the end face of the heat exchanger, the vicinity of the entrance / exit is airtightly partitioned so that they do not mix.

  Now, as shown in FIG. 7, when the single plate element 20a shown in FIG. 2 (a) is overlaid and adhered on the single plate element 20b shown in FIG. A composite plate-like element 20 having a pattern is completed. In the single plate element 20a and the single plate element 20b alone, as described above, the fluid passages defined by the ribs 22a and 22b are discontinuous from one end to the other, but the fluid passages intersect when overlapped. Therefore, except that the total thickness of the ribs 22a and 22b is equal to the total thickness of the frames 21a and 21b, voids are generated and fluid flow is allowed. Therefore, for example, when a passage such as an arrow in the figure is selected, fluid can flow from one end to the other end. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 21 denotes a frame, 22 denotes a rib, 23 denotes a bulging portion, 24 denotes a through hole, and 25 denotes a concave portion.

  Similarly, as shown in FIG. 8, when the single plate element 30a shown in FIG. 3 (a) is overlaid and adhered on the single plate element 30b shown in FIG. 3 (b), a vertically long hexagon is continuous. A composite plate element 30 having a honeycomb-like pattern in plan view is completed. In the single plate element 30a and the single plate element 30b alone, the fluid passages defined by the ribs 32a and 32b are discontinuous from one side to the other side. Except where the total thickness of 32a and 32b is equal to the total thickness of the frames 31a and 31b, voids are generated and fluid flow is allowed. Therefore, for example, when a passage such as an arrow in the figure is selected, fluid can flow from one side to the other side. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 31 denotes a frame, 32 denotes a rib, 33 denotes a bulging portion, 34 denotes a through hole, and 35 denotes a concave portion.

  Similarly, as shown in FIG. 9, when the single plate element 40a shown in FIG. 4 (a) is overlapped and brought into close contact with the single plate element 40b shown in FIG. 4 (b), a horizontally long hexagon is continuous. A composite plate element 40 having a honeycomb-like pattern in plan view is completed. In the single plate element 40a and the single plate element 40b alone, the fluid passage defined by the ribs 42a and 42b is discontinuous from one end to the other end. , 42b except that the total thickness of the frames 41a and 41b is equal to the total thickness of the frames 41a and 41b. Therefore, for example, when a passage such as an arrow in the figure is selected, fluid can flow from one end to the other end. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 41 denotes a frame, 42 denotes a rib, 43 denotes a bulging portion, 44 denotes a through hole, and 45 denotes a concave portion.

  Similarly, as shown in FIG. 10, when the single plate element 50a shown in FIG. 5 (a) is overlapped and brought into close contact with the single plate element 50b shown in FIG. 5 (b), a vertically long hexagon is continuous. A composite plate element 50 having a honeycomb-like pattern in plan view is completed. In the single plate element 50a and the single plate element 50b alone, the fluid passage defined by the ribs 52a and 52b is discontinuous from one end to the other end. , 52b except that the total thickness of the frames 51a and 51b is equal to the total thickness of the frames 51a and 51b. Therefore, when an appropriate passage is selected, fluid can flow from one end to the other end. At this time, since the ribs 52a and 52b are formed in a step shape that is substantially perpendicular to the fluid flow direction, turbulent flow is likely to occur in the fluid, and the fluid spreads uniformly over the composite plate element 50. , Heat exchange efficiency is improved. In FIG. 10, reference numeral 51 denotes a frame, 52 denotes a rib, 53 denotes a bulging portion, 54 denotes a through hole, and 55 denotes a concave portion.

  A heat exchanger 70 is manufactured from the composite plate-like elements 20, 30, 40, 50, the spacer 10, and the side plate 60 that are superposed as described above, and a cooling fan 92 is further connected to the heat exchanger 70 via a washer 91. To install a radiator.

  First, the side plate 60, the composite plate element 20, the spacer 10, the composite plate element 30, the spacer 10, the composite plate element are aligned with the through holes 13 to 63 provided in the respective bulging portions 12 to 62. 50, spacer 10, composite plate element 30, side plate 60, composite plate element 40, spacer 10, composite plate element 30, spacer 10, composite plate element 50, spacer 10, composite plate element 30, side plate 60 The heat exchanger 70 is formed by stacking and closely bonding in order. A known method such as diffusion bonding or bonding using nickel paste is used for mutual bonding of the composite plate elements 20 and the like. Note that the bulging portions 12 to 62 may be cut after joining the plate-like elements 20 and the like to further reduce the size of the heat exchanger 70.

  As shown in FIG. 11, two openings 71 and 72 are formed on almost the entire end faces of the heat exchanger 70 thus formed, and these are partitioned by the central side plate 60. Two different fluids can flow in and out to the end. A stepped portion 73 is formed in the openings 71 and 72 by stacking the concave portions 14 to 55 described above.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 12, four lids 81, 82, 83, 84 having nozzles 81 a, 82 a, 83 a, 84 a attached to the openings 71, 72 are brought into contact with the stepped portion 73 described above, and are fitted in a known manner. Join in an airtight manner.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the inner surface of one lid 81 on the fluid inlet side has a corrugated shape in which two circular arcs with two fluid inlets 72 a and 72 b having a longitudinal section formed by composite plate-like elements 40 and 50 as a focal point are continuous. Thus, the curved surface 81b that is continuous in the horizontal direction allows the fluid flowing in from the nozzle 81a to efficiently enter the two fluid inlets 72a and 72b, which are the focal points of the respective arcs, by the curved surface 81b having a longitudinal cross section. Will be guided.

  As shown in FIG. 12, openings 74 are formed on almost both sides of the heat exchanger 70. Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the frame is fixed to a washer 91 having a substantially rectangular frame on one side opening 74, and a cooling fan 92 is fixed by a fixing means such as a bolt, and the openings 74 are arranged in parallel so as to close the opening 74 in an airtight manner. When installed, the radiator is complete. At this time, since almost the entire side surface of the heat exchanger 70 is open, a fan 92 having a relatively large diameter compared to the size of the heat exchanger 70 can be attached. Since this fan 92 allows a large amount of air to flow into the heat exchanger 70 at a time, the cooling efficiency of the radiator is very good. Of course, the number of fans 92 is not limited to this embodiment.

  This radiator is used, for example, in a cooler of a personal computer. As the two fluids flowing in and out from the end face, firstly, cooling water for cooling the CPU can be considered. Secondly, in the case where the fuel cell is used as a power source, unreacted hydrogen fuel remaining after reacting with air is conceivable, and it is cooled by a radiator to be reused.

  In this embodiment, the spacer 10 and the single plate elements 20a, 20b, 30a, 30b, 40a, 40b, 50a, and 50b are separated from each other. That is, as shown in FIG. 15, the role of the spacer 10 and the role of the single plate elements 20a to 50b are formed by forming a flow path similar to that of the single plate elements 20a to 50b by etching or the like on the single plate elements 100a and 100b. Can also be combined. In this case, the grooves 101a and 101b on the combined single plate elements 100a and 100b serve as fluid passages, and the flanges 102a and 102b serve as ribs 22a to 52b of the single plate elements 20a to 50b. Then, by overlapping the surfaces on which the grooves 101a and 101b are formed facing each other, as in the case of the composite plate elements 20 to 50, the single plate elements 100a and 100b alone are discontinuous fluid passages, that is, the grooves 101a and 101b. However, fluid communication is allowed from one end to the other end or from one side to the other. Then, by stacking these, each fluid passage is isolated in the thickness direction, and the thickness portion mediates heat exchange between the fluids and plays the same role as the spacer 10. It goes without saying that grooves may be formed on both surfaces of the dual-purpose single plate elements 100a and 100b, and both surfaces may be used as fluid passages.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, although the heat exchanger 70 and the lid | covers 81-84 were made into a different body, it is not limited to this, You may integrate these. That is, as shown in FIG. 16, both ends of the composite plate-like elements 20, 30, 40, 50 and the spacer 10 are closed with the closing ribs 26, 36, 46, 56, 16, and these are stacked to form the heat exchanger 70. When formed, the closure ribs 26 to 56 and 16 are overlapped to form lids 81 to 84 integrated with the heat exchanger 70 on the end face of the heat exchanger 70. A hole is made in the lid formed in this way, and the above-described nozzles 81a to 84a are press-fitted to allow the fluid to flow into and out of the heat exchanger 70. If it does in this way, it is not necessary to prepare lids 81-84 separate from heat exchanger 70.

  Here, the material of the heat exchanger 70 is preferably a metal such as stainless steel, aluminum, copper, or titanium, and among them, the spacer 10 is required to have high thermal conductivity, and is preferably made of metal. Further, the thickness of the spacer 10, the composite plate elements 20, 30, 40, 50 and the side plate 60 is preferably 0.1 mm to 3 mm. In addition, the pattern of the rib which divides a fluid channel | path is not limited to illustration, Various selection is possible.

  According to an experiment conducted by the inventor, the radiator according to the present invention can be downsized to about one-sixth the size of a conventional radiator having the same performance. When used, the personal computer can be significantly reduced in size, and when used as an outdoor unit for an air conditioner, the outdoor unit can be significantly reduced in size.

Top view of spacer (A), (b) is a plan view of a single plate element constituting the first composite plate element (A), (b) is a plan view of a single plate element constituting the second composite plate element (A), (b) is a top view of the single plate element which comprises the 3rd composite plate-shaped element. (A), (b) is a top view of the single plate element which comprises the 4th composite plate-shaped element. Plan view of side plate Perspective view of the first composite plate element Perspective view of the second composite plate element Perspective view of the third composite plate element Perspective view of the fourth composite plate element End view of heat exchanger Attaching the lid to the heat exchanger Expanded longitudinal sectional view of a lid with a curved surface Installation drawing of cooling fan to heat exchanger (a), (b) is a diagram in which dual-purpose single plate elements are opposed to each other Diagram of stacked single plate elements with closed openings

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Spacer 11 Plate-shaped body 12 Bulging part 13 Through-hole 14 Recess 16 Closing rib 20, 30, 40, 50 Composite plate-shaped element 20a, 20b, 30a, 30b, 40a, 40b, 50a, 50b Single plate element 21, 21a , 21b, 31, 31a, 31b Frame 41, 41a, 41b, 51, 51a, 51b Frame 22, 22a, 22b, 32, 32a, 32b Rib 42, 42a, 42b, 52, 52a, 52b Rib 23, 23a, 23b , 33, 33a, 33b bulging part 43, 43a, 43b, 53, 53a, 53b bulging part 24, 24a, 24b, 34, 34a, 34b through hole 44, 44a, 44b, 54, 54a, 54b through hole 25 25a, 25b, 35, 35a, 35b Recess 45, 45a, 45b, 55, 55a, 55b Recess 6, 36, 46, 56 Closing rib 60 Side plate 61 Plate-like body 62 Swelling part 63 Through hole 70 Heat exchanger 71, 72 End face opening 72a, 72b Fluid inlet 73 Step part 74 Side opening 81, 82, 83, 84 Lid 81a, 82a, 83a, 84a Nozzle 81b Curved surface 91 Washer 92 Cooling fan 100a, 100b Single plate element 101a, 101b Groove 102a, 102b 畝

Claims (6)

In a plate heat exchanger in which a plurality of plate elements forming a fluid passage through which a plurality of fluids can flow separately are overlapped and hermetically joined,
One fluid passage is formed from one side of the heat exchanger to the other side, and the other fluid passage is formed from one end surface to the other end surface of the heat exchanger, and approximately one or both of the heat exchanger side surface and the end surface. A plate-shaped heat exchanger characterized in that the entire surface is opened as an inlet / outlet of a fluid passage.   2. The plate heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of ribs defining a fluid passage of at least a pair of plate elements are formed in a step shape substantially perpendicular to the fluid flow direction.   The plate-shaped heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of ribs are arranged in a substantially waveform as a whole.   The plate-shaped heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a step portion is provided on a peripheral edge of one or both of the side opening and the end opening of the entrance / exit.   The radiator which attached the cooling fan to the side surface opening or end surface opening by which the substantially whole surface of the plate-shaped heat exchanger in any one of Claim 1 to 4 was open | released.   When a lid with a fluid inflow nozzle is hermetically covered on the side or end face opening of the heat exchanger, the inner surface of the lid has an arc shape or arc centered on a fluid inlet whose longitudinal section is formed by a plate-like element. The plate-shaped heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 4 or the radiator according to claim 5, wherein the plate-shaped heat exchanger is formed in a wave shape that is linearly continuous.

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