JP7241290B2 - Heat exchanger - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to heat exchangers.

BACKGROUND ART In recent years, efforts have been made to reduce the size and weight of heat exchangers used in air conditioners and the like. For example, a metal plate laminated structure is adopted in which metal plates forming a plurality of coolant flow paths are bonded together and laminated (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

It has become mainstream to use aluminum or an aluminum alloy with good thermal conductivity for the metal plates to be laminated.

Japanese Patent No. 4122578

The metal plates in the above prior art are very thin and aluminum is very soft. Therefore, when the pressure of the coolant flowing through the coolant channel increases, the expansion deformation of the metal plate in the stacking direction of the metal plate increases due to the channel expansion.

In particular, communication holes that form coolant flow paths are formed at the ends of the metal plate, and expansion deformation is large at portions where the communication holes are provided.

In some cases, a large number of metal plates must be stacked in order to ensure the performance of the heat exchanger at a specified size. There is a problem that it will not be established as

The present disclosure is intended to solve such conventional problems, and even if the pressure of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow path increases, the expansion deformation of the peripheral portion of the communication hole is suppressed, and the rigidity against expansion deformation is high. It is an object to provide a heat exchanger comprising

In order to achieve the above object, a heat exchanger according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a laminated plate in which a plurality of metal plates are laminated, and a flow path portion through which a refrigerant flows is formed between the metal plates; A pair of end plates provided on both end faces in the direction and having communication holes communicating with the flow channel, and a reinforcement provided around the communication holes so as to penetrate the laminated plate and the pair of end plates in the lamination direction. and a member.

According to the heat exchanger of the present disclosure, even if the pressure of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant passage increases, the expansion deformation of the peripheral portion of the communication hole is suppressed, and a heat exchanger having high rigidity against expansion deformation is provided. can do.

1 is a perspective view showing an example of a channel plate according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 1. A view showing a part of the AA line cross section of the joint of the channel plate shown in FIG. A perspective view showing an example of a heat exchanger according to this embodiment. An enlarged schematic diagram showing a reinforcing member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Schematic diagram showing arrangement of reinforcing members in Example 1 Schematic diagram showing arrangement of reinforcing members in Example 2 Schematic diagram showing arrangement of reinforcing members in Example 3 Schematic diagram showing arrangement of reinforcing members in Comparative Example 2 Schematic diagram showing arrangement of reinforcing members in Comparative Example 3

Hereinafter, heat exchangers according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In general, heat exchangers have the function of exchanging thermal energy between two fluids having a temperature difference, and are used in air conditioners, various refrigeration equipment, and the like.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a channel plate 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a view showing a part of the cross section of the joint portion of the channel plate 1 shown in FIG. 1 taken along the line AA. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the heat exchanger 10 according to this embodiment.

The channel plate 1 is constructed by bonding two metal plates 4 each having a plurality of grooves 7 extending parallel to each other so that the grooves 7 face each other.

The channel plate 1 has a channel portion 2 , a communication hole 3 and a header portion 5 . As shown in FIG. 2, the flow path portion 2 is a portion that serves as a flow path for the coolant formed by the grooves 7 facing each other.

The communication holes 3 are formed at both ends of the metal plate 4 in the longitudinal direction, and communicate with the channel portions 2 respectively, whereby the coolant moves between the communication holes 3 and the channel portions 2 .

3 is configured by stacking the flow path plates 1, the communication holes 3 of the flow path plates 1 communicate with each other, and the coolant flows through the communication holes 3. can pass through.

The header portion 5 is annularly formed so as to protrude from the metal plate 4 so as to surround the communication hole 3 . Since the header portion 5 protrudes from the metal plate 4 , when the flow path plates 1 are stacked, it is possible to provide a gap through which air flows between the flow path plates 1 .

Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the joints 6 are portions joined by, for example, brazing on both sides of the grooves 7 of the metal plates 4 facing each other. FIG. 2 shows a braze 8 used for brazing.

As shown in FIG. 3, this heat exchanger 10 has a laminated plate 11 in which the flow path plates 1 are laminated, and a pair of end plates 12 that sandwich and cover the laminated plate 11 from both sides in the lamination direction.

Each end plate 12 has, for example, a rectangular shape, and is joined to the laminated plate 11 by, for example, brazing. Each end plate 12 is provided to keep the heat exchanger 10 rigid.

Each end plate 12 has a pair of connecting portions 13 at both ends in the longitudinal direction opposite to the side to which the laminated plate 11 is joined.

The connecting portion 13 is a portion to which a pipe for passing a refrigerant is connected. Each connecting portion 13 protrudes to the side opposite to the side to which the laminated plate 11 is joined. Each connecting portion 13 has, for example, a rectangular shape. Matches the perimeter edge.

A communication hole 14 is formed in each connecting portion 13 and communicates with the communication hole 3 of the flow channel plate 1 shown in FIG. 1 to form a flow channel through which the coolant passes.

Further, each connecting portion 13 includes a reinforcing member 16 in a member placement region 15 around the communicating hole 14 and inside the outer periphery of each communicating portion 13 .

The reinforcing member 16 has a U-shape. Further, the reinforcing member 16 is provided around the communication hole 14 so as to penetrate the laminated plate 11 and the pair of end plates 12 in the lamination direction of the metal plates 4 .

Structural steel, for example, is used for the reinforcing member 16 . Further, the reinforcing member 16 is preferably joined to the connecting portion 13 by friction stir welding.

Friction stir welding can join at a temperature significantly lower than the melting point of the brazing material, so that the joining strength can be increased without remelting the brazed portion.

Furthermore, since the friction stir welding can directly join the reinforcing member 16 and the connecting portion 13 without using a fixing jig or the like, the size of the heat exchanger 10 can be increased both in the stacking direction and the longitudinal direction of the metal plates 4. I have nothing to do.

In this case, an opening for inserting the reinforcing member 16 is provided in the connecting portion 13 (end plate 12) and the laminated plate 11, and the reinforcing member 16 is inserted into the opening. Then, the upper surface (surface) of the reinforcing member 16 and the upper surface (surface) of the connecting portion 13 are friction stir welded. The welding tool for friction stir welding creates a recess across the upper surfaces of both. The concave portion has a wavy slice shape. Note that the interior of the connecting portion 13 and the reinforcing member 16 are not joined.

Although the upper surface of the reinforcing member 16 and the upper surface of the connecting portion 13 are joined in the above, it is preferable to joint the lower surface in the same manner.

In addition, by arranging the reinforcing member 16 around the communication hole 14 as described above, even if the pressure when the refrigerant flows through the flow path including the communication hole 14 increases, the peripheral portions of the connection holes 3 and 14 expansion deformation can be suppressed.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic diagram showing the reinforcing member 16 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. A cross section of the reinforcing member 16 cut along a plane perpendicular to the stacking direction of the metal plates 4 preferably has an area of 25% or more of the area of the member arrangement region 15 .

If the cross-section of the reinforcing member 16 has an area of 25% or more of the area of the member arrangement region 15, expansion deformation of the peripheral portions of the connecting holes 3 and 14 can be sufficiently suppressed.

Further, the shape of the reinforcing member 16 is not limited to the U-shape. However, the reinforcing member 16 has a shape that is symmetrical with respect to a line 17 that passes through the center point P of the communicating hole 14 and is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the end plate 12 and a line 18 that is parallel to the lateral direction of the end plate 12. preferably.

When the reinforcing member 16 has such a shape, the high pressure applied around the communication holes 3 and 14 can be evenly distributed.

Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the embodiments are not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications may be made without departing from the gist of the above embodiments. Good, of course.

Next, the effects of the examples of the present disclosure will be described by comparing the examples of the present disclosure with comparative examples. Examples of the present disclosure will be described below based on simulation results, but the examples of the present disclosure are not limited to these.

Further, in conducting the simulations of Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3, the dimensions and material properties of the constituent members other than the reinforcing member 16 were all the same.

5A to 5C are schematic diagrams showing the arrangement of reinforcing members 16 of Examples 1 to 3, respectively. 5D and 5E are schematic diagrams showing the arrangement of reinforcing members 16 of Comparative Examples 2 and 3. FIG.

In Comparative Example 1, the reinforcing member 16 is not arranged, so it is not illustrated. Values obtained by simulation are shown in Table 1, which will be described later.

(Example 1)
The reinforcing member 16 of Example 1 is structural steel with an elastic modulus of 200 GPa. As shown in FIG. 5A, a pair of reinforcing members 16 are arranged on both sides of the connecting portion 13 across the communicating hole 14 .

Specifically, the reinforcing member 16 has a U-shaped configuration, and is arranged such that the U-shaped concave portions face each other. The connecting portion 13 has a length of 25 mm, a width of 20 mm, and a thickness of 4 mm. Also, the diameter of the communication hole 14 is 10 mm.

Aluminum having a modulus of elasticity of 71 GPa is used for the connecting portion 13 . The cross-sectional area of the reinforcing member 16 taken along a plane perpendicular to the lamination direction of the metal plates 4 occupies 67% of the area of the member arrangement region 15 .

In such a structure of the heat exchanger 10, the maximum deformation amount of the connecting portion 13, which is the peripheral portion of the communicating hole 14 when the refrigerant applies pressure to the communicating hole 14, is subjected to linear structural analysis by the finite element method. Calculated.

In addition, in order to simply clarify the effect of suppressing the expansion deformation of the communication hole 14 by the reinforcing member 16, only one connecting portion 13 including a part of the end plate 12 and the reinforcing member 16 were modeled in the simulation. Similar modeling was performed in the simulations of Example 2, Example 3, and Comparative Examples 1 to 3.

(Example 2)
The reinforcing member 16 of Example 2 is also structural steel with an elastic modulus of 200 GPa. Moreover, the shape of the reinforcing member 16 of Example 2 is circular, as shown in FIG. 5B. Four reinforcing members 16 are arranged around the communication hole 14 .

The total area of the cross sections of the four reinforcing members 16 taken along a plane perpendicular to the stacking direction of the metal plates 4 occupies 67% of the area of the member placement region 15 . In such a structure of the heat exchanger 10, the maximum amount of deformation of the connecting portion 13 when the refrigerant applies pressure to the communication hole 14 was determined.

(Example 3)
The reinforcing member 16 of Example 3 is also structural steel with an elastic modulus of 200 GPa. Further, the shape of the reinforcing member 16 of Example 3 is fan-shaped as shown in FIG. 5C. Two reinforcing members 16 are arranged around the communication hole 14 .

The two reinforcing members 16 are arranged so that the center sides of the fans face each other. Also, the total area of the cross sections of the two reinforcing members 16 taken along a plane perpendicular to the stacking direction of the metal plates 4 occupies 67% of the area of the member placement region 15 . In the structure of the heat exchanger 10, the maximum amount of deformation of the connecting portion 13 when the refrigerant applies pressure to the communication hole 14 was determined.

(Comparative example 1)
The heat exchanger 10 of Comparative Example 1 does not include the reinforcing member 16 . In the structure of the heat exchanger 10, the maximum amount of deformation of the connecting portion 13 when the refrigerant applies pressure to the communication hole 14 was obtained.

(Comparative example 2)
The reinforcing member 16 of Comparative Example 2 is also structural steel with an elastic modulus of 200 GPa. Further, the shape of the reinforcing member 16 of Comparative Example 2 is arcuate as shown in FIG. 5D. Two reinforcing members 16 are arranged around the communication hole 14 .

The two reinforcing members 16 are arranged so that the center sides of the arcs face each other. The total area of the cross sections of the two reinforcing members 16 taken along a plane perpendicular to the stacking direction of the metal plates 4 occupies 23% of the area of the member placement region 15 . In the structure of the heat exchanger 10, the maximum amount of deformation of the connecting portion 13 when the refrigerant applies pressure to the communication hole 14 was obtained.

(Comparative Example 3)
The reinforcing member 16 of Comparative Example 3 is also structural steel with an elastic modulus of 200 GPa. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 5E, one of the two reinforcing members 16 of Comparative Example 3 is L-shaped and the other is inverted L-shaped. Two reinforcing members 16 are arranged around the communicating hole 14 .

The two reinforcing members 16 are arranged such that the shorter side of the L-shape or inverted L-shape extends inward. Also, the total area of the cross sections of the two reinforcing members 16 taken along a plane perpendicular to the stacking direction of the metal plates 4 occupies 67% of the area of the member placement region 15 . In the structure of the heat exchanger 10, the maximum amount of deformation of the connecting portion 13 when the refrigerant applies pressure to the communication hole 14 was determined.

(evaluation)
Table 1 shows the simulation results of Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3.

Table 1 shows the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the reinforcing member 16 to the area of the member arrangement region 15, the maximum deformation amount of the connecting portion 13, and the reduction rate of the maximum deformation amount relative to Comparative Example 1. In Comparative Example 1, since the reinforcing member 16 is not arranged, the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the reinforcing member 16 to the area of the member arrangement region 15 is not described.

In Examples 1 to 3, the reduction rate of the maximum deformation amount compared to Comparative Example 1 is 93 to 94%.

In order to make the heat exchanger 10 a specified size, the maximum amount of deformation of the connecting portion 13 is required to be 0.200 mm or less. All of Examples 1 to 3 satisfy the condition that the maximum deformation amount is 0.200 mm or less.

Therefore, it can be seen that the reinforcing member 16 of Examples 1 to 3 can suppress expansion deformation of the connecting portion 13 .

Also in Comparative Example 2, the maximum deformation amount is reduced by about 94% as compared with Comparative Example 1. However, since the maximum amount of deformation is 0.208 mm, the heat exchanger 10 cannot be of the specified size. Therefore, the reinforcement member 16 of Comparative Example 2 is not suitable for use in the heat exchanger 10 .

In Comparative Example 3, the maximum deformation amount is as small as 0.116 mm, which is reduced by about 96% compared to Comparative Example 1. However, the simulation results show that the stress applied to the peripheral portion of the communication hole 14 is locally increased, and there is a possibility that the connecting portion 13 made of aluminum is plastically deformed. Therefore, the reinforcement member 16 of Comparative Example 2 is not suitable for use in the heat exchanger 10 .

In the reinforcing member 16 of Comparative Example 3, the reinforcing member 16 passes through the center point P of the communicating hole 14 and is symmetrical with respect to a line 17 parallel to the longitudinal direction of the end plate 12 and a line 18 parallel to the lateral direction of the end plate 12. It is considered that the high pressure applied to the communication hole 14 could not be evenly distributed because the shape does not have a shape that satisfies the requirement.

Although the simulation result of the expansion deformation of the connecting portion 13 is shown here, the expansion deformation is also suppressed in the portion of the metal plate 4 around the communicating hole 3 shown in FIG.

The heat exchanger of the present disclosure can be used for heat exchangers such as air conditioners.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 flow path plate 2 flow path section 3 communication hole 4 metal plate 5 header section 6 joint section 7 groove section 8 row 10 heat exchanger 11 laminated plate 12 end plate 13 connection section 14 communication hole 15 member arrangement area 16 reinforcing member 17 end plate A line parallel to the longitudinal direction of 18 A line parallel to the lateral direction of the end plate P Center point

Claims (5)

a laminated plate in which a plurality of metal plates are laminated, and a channel portion for flowing a coolant is formed between the metal plates;
a pair of end plates provided on both end surfaces of the metal plate in the stacking direction and having communication holes communicating with the flow channel;
a reinforcing member provided around the communication hole so as to penetrate the lamination plate and the pair of end plates in the lamination direction;
with
The pair of end plates has a rectangular shape, and includes connecting portions protruding in the stacking direction at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the pair of end plates, and the connecting portions are formed with the communicating holes. and
A pair of the reinforcing members are arranged on both sides of the communicating hole of the connecting portion,
A heat exchanger in which the reinforcing member has a U-shaped shape and is arranged so that the concave portions of the U-shape face each other, or has a fan shape and is arranged so that the center sides of the fan face each other. . The connecting portion has a rectangular shape, and in a plan view, sides of the connecting portion at both ends of the connecting portion other than the opposing sides coincide with the outer peripheral sides of the body portions of the pair of end plates. Item 1. The heat exchanger according to item 1 . The reinforcing member is provided in a region around the communicating hole in the connecting portion, and the cross section of the reinforcing member taken along a plane perpendicular to the stacking direction has an area of 25% or more of the area of the surrounding region. 3. The heat exchanger of claim 2 , comprising: 4. The reinforcing member according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the reinforcing member has a shape symmetrical with respect to a line parallel to the longitudinal direction of the pair of end plates and a line parallel to the lateral direction of the pair of end plates. A heat exchanger as described. The heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the surface of the reinforcing member and the surface of the pair of end plates provided with the reinforcing member are joined by friction stir welding .

Images