JPH10157447A - Heat exchanger - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the efficiency of heat exchange by making the flow rate of a heat-exchanging fluid in a heat exchanger uniform as a whole, to reduce the number of part items, and to enhance time rigidity of a tank. SOLUTION: A tank part 16 in a heat exchanger 11 is partitioned into a front tank part 16f, a rear tank 16r, and a straightening chamber S with which an inlet pipe 20 communicates, by partitioning the inside of a cylindrical member by a partition member 18 in the direction perpendicular to the flow direction of air, the cylindrical member being closed at both ends; a fluid passing part whose opening area gets smaller from the side near the outlet of the inlet pipe 20 to the far side is formed in the partition member 18 separating the straightening chamber S from the front tank part 16.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heat exchanger used in an air conditioner for a vehicle, and more particularly to an improvement of an evaporator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a heat exchanger used for a vehicle or an air conditioner for a vehicle includes a radiator, a condenser, an evaporator, and the like. For example, a conventional evaporator shown in FIG. is there. The evaporator 1 includes an evaporator main body 2 formed by laminating a large number of flat liquid tube elements having a U-turn passage formed therein by a partition wall 3 provided at a central portion via heat transfer fins (not shown). The air flows along the flat surface of the liquid pipe element (A direction), and the refrigerant flows in the liquid pipe element in a U-turn so as to flow in a direction opposite to the flow direction A of the air. It has become. In the lower part of the evaporator body 2, along the air flow direction A,
A front tank 4 and a rear tank 5 are provided.
The outlet pipe 6 is connected to the rear tank 5 and the inlet pipe 7 is connected to the rear tank 5 on the same side.

Therefore, the flow of the refrigerant in the evaporator 1 flows through the inlet pipe 7 → the rear tank 5 → the rear evaporator 9 which is the upstream side of the refrigerant → the front evaporator 8 which is the downstream side of the refrigerant → the outlet via the front tank 4. It will lead to tube 6.

In the evaporator 1, since the tanks 4 and 5 are each formed in a rectangular shape which is long in the left-right direction obtained by dividing the front-rear direction of the evaporator body 2 into two parts, the refrigerant flowing into the rear tank 5 has a rectangular shape. It is not uniformly distributed in the longitudinal direction, and in front of and behind the tank part where the refrigerant flows,
There is a possibility that the refrigerant amounts may be uneven.

For this reason, conventionally, so-called tuning has been performed in order to make the refrigerant uniformly dispersed and flow throughout the evaporator.

[0006] As a tuning method, the front tank 4
And a partition plate called a divide is provided in the rear tank 5 so that the refrigerant flows meandering in a complicated manner from front to back, left and right,
A method of exchanging heat between a refrigerant and air (Japanese Utility Model No. 7-49240)
And a header provided with a large number of liquid tubes connected to each other so that the inlet tube and the liquid tubes do not directly communicate with each other. And the like (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-96784).

[0007]

However, in the former method, since a divide must be attached, the number of parts is increased and the cost is high. In the latter method, it is difficult to completely prevent the refrigerant flowing from the inlet pipe from flowing into the liquid pipe with a mere perforated plate. In addition, the diameter of this perforated plate is changed to prevent drifting (see Shokai 62
However, there is a problem that even if a hole having a different diameter is simply provided in the plate, even if a good result is obtained for tuning, the strength becomes insufficient or the production becomes troublesome. There is also.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and improves the heat exchange efficiency by improving the tank portion of the heat exchanger body to prevent the drift of the heat exchange fluid, thereby reducing the number of parts. It is another object of the present invention to dramatically improve the rigidity of the tank and the strength of the heat exchanger.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a flat liquid pipe element having a U-turn passage formed therein by a partition wall is laminated via heat transfer fins. Comprising a heat exchanger body comprising: a front tank portion provided at a lower front portion in a flow direction of air flowing along a flat surface of the liquid pipe element; and a rear tank portion provided at a lower rear portion in the same direction. And an outlet pipe and an inlet pipe for the heat exchange fluid are connected to the same side of the tank, and the heat exchange fluid flowing from the inlet pipe is guided from the rear tank to the front tank through the U-turn passage. ,
In the heat exchanger configured to flow out from the outlet pipe, the tank portion is partitioned by a partition member along a direction orthogonal to the air flow direction with a partition member inside a single cylindrical member having both ends closed. A front tank, a rear tank and a rectifying chamber communicating with the inlet pipe.
A fluid passage portion having an opening area gradually reduced from a side closer to the outlet of the inlet pipe to a side farther from the outlet of the inlet pipe is formed in the partition member that partitions the rectifying chamber and the rear tank portion.

In this way, when the heat exchange fluid that has entered the rectifying chamber from the inlet pipe passes through the fluid passage from the rectifying chamber and enters the rear tank, the heat exchange fluid generally tends to be small in front of the rectifying chamber and large in the back. However, if the partition member for partitioning the rectifying chamber and the rear tank portion is formed with a fluid passage portion in which the opening area gradually increases from the side closer to the outlet of the inlet pipe to the side farther from the outlet, the tendency is corrected. The flow is equalized from the straightening chamber to the rear tank. In addition, the rectified heat exchange fluids are mixed with each other in the rear tank portion, thereby also forming a uniform flow, entering the rear tank, and uniformly flowing into each liquid pipe element. Therefore, even if the flow in the heat exchanger is not complicatedly flowed by the divide, the flow is uniformly distributed as a whole, and the heat exchange efficiency is improved.

Further, since the inside of one cylindrical member having both ends closed is partitioned by a partition member to form a front tank, a rear tank and a rectifying chamber, the number of parts in tank production is reduced, and the tank itself is reduced. The rigidity of the heat exchanger body attached to the tank is also improved.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the partition member is formed by a member whose cross section perpendicular to the axis is substantially U-shaped.

In this case, not only the number of parts is reduced and production is facilitated, but also the rigidity of the partition member itself is improved, thereby improving the rigidity of the tank.

The invention according to a third aspect is characterized in that the partition member is formed of a cylindrical cross section perpendicular to the axis.

[0015] By doing so, the rigidity of the partition member itself is further improved, and thereby the rigidity of the tank is also improved.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a laminated evaporator schematically showing an embodiment of a heat exchanger according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a liquid tube element and heat transfer fins, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a tank portion, FIG. 4 is a front view showing one of the partitioning members of the laminated evaporator, FIG. 5 is a flow distribution diagram of the refrigerant flowing into the rectifying chamber, and FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the partitioning member. FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing a flow state of a refrigerant in the laminated evaporator, and FIGS. 8 and 9 are cross-sectional views showing a tank part showing still another embodiment of a partition member of the laminated evaporator. is there.

The laminated evaporator 11 of the present embodiment
As shown in FIG. 1, the heat exchanger body 12, the tank 1
6, an outlet pipe 19 and an inlet pipe 20, wherein the refrigerant and the air (open arrows) flowing in from the inlet pipe 20 and flowing out of the outlet pipe 19 through the heat exchanger body 12 are heat-exchanged. .

The heat exchanger body 12 is, as shown in FIG.
It is constructed by laminating a number of flat liquid tube elements e via heat transfer fins f. In this liquid pipe element e, a U-turn passage t is formed internally by aligning a pair of plates p1 and p2.
Each plate p1 or p2 has a bead b for forming a partition wall 13 at the center and a bent portion c for forming a refrigerant inlet / outlet at the lower end.

The tank portion 16 is composed of a single cylindrical member 17 having a large number of through holes formed on the upper surface and closed at both ends. The refrigerant inlet / outlet portion of the liquid pipe element e is fitted into the through hole. It is fixed by attaching. A partition member 18 is provided inside the tubular member 17 so as to extend along a direction orthogonal to the air flow direction A, and partitions the inside of the tubular member 17 into three chambers. As shown in FIG. 3, each of these chambers is provided with a front tank 16 from the front.
f, a rectifying chamber S and a rear tank 16r. The inlet pipe 20 through which the refrigerant flows into the rectifying chamber S is
The outlet pipes 19 communicate with the same side of the tubular member 17 at f. As shown in FIG. 4, one of the partition members 18 that separates the rectifying chamber S from the rear tank 16r has a fluid passage portion whose opening area gradually decreases from a side closer to the outlet of the inlet pipe 20 to a side farther from the outlet. O is formed, and the refrigerant flowing from the inlet pipe 20 is configured to flow from the rectifying chamber S through the fluid passage portion O to the rear tank 16r.

Here, when the fluid passage portion O is formed in the partition member 18, the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing into the rear tank 16r from the rectifying chamber S side is relatively small near the inlet side as shown in FIG. , More on the back side. Therefore, the opening area of the refrigerant passage portion O, that is, the diameter, is such that the refrigerant in the rectification chamber S is more likely to flow into the rear tank 16r so that the refrigerant flowing in the rectification chamber S flows evenly into the rear tank 16r. It is made small and the vicinity of the outlet of the inlet pipe 20 is made large. As a result, the refrigerant flowing out of the inlet pipe 20, changing its direction, and flowing into the rear tank 16r is rectified and flows almost uniformly into the rear tank 16r. In opening the refrigerant passage O, not only the diameter is not necessarily changed, but also the hole pitch of a uniform diameter may be adjusted, or the number of openings may be adjusted. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a rectangular refrigerant passage portion O may be provided, and the opening area thereof may be changed.

Next, the operation of the evaporator 11 will be described. First, when manufacturing this laminated evaporator, for example, a plate having a large number of through holes is formed into a cylindrical shape by pressing or bending. Next, after joining the side surfaces by welding or the like, the partition member 18 is inserted inside and joined. Then, the outlet pipe 19 and the inlet pipe 20 are joined to one end, and the other end is closed by an end plate. The liquid pipe element e formed in advance is attached to the tank section 16 thus formed, and the heat exchanger is formed by interposing the heat transfer fin f between the liquid pipe elements e. In the heat exchanger configured as described above, the inside of one tubular member 17 having both ends closed is partitioned by the partition member 18, and the front tank 1 is closed.
6f, the rear tank 16r and the rectifying chamber S are formed, so that the rectified refrigerant can be circulated in the heat exchanger body 12 without providing a plurality of divides, and the number of parts in the tank portion is reduced. Moreover, since the tank portion 16 is formed by one cylindrical member 17, the rigidity of the tank itself is also improved. As a result, the rigidity of the heat exchanger body 12 attached to the tank 16 is also improved.

The refrigerant flowing into the rectification chamber S from the inlet pipe 20 of the heat exchanger thus formed flows along the axis of the rectification chamber S as shown in FIG. It collides with the wall, the flow velocity is weakened, and passes through the fluid passage O of the partition member 18. In this case, the opening area of the fluid passage portion O is large near the outlet of the inlet pipe 20 and small on the far side, so that the refrigerant flowing into the rear tank 16r from the rectification chamber S flows in the axial direction of the rear tank 16r. Therefore, the air is rectified to some extent and flows into the rear tank 16r. Further, the refrigerant flowing into the rear tank 16r is temporarily stored in the rear tank 16r, so that the flow velocity of the refrigerant becomes substantially equal over the entire area of the rear tank 16r.

As a result, the refrigerant flows evenly into each of the many liquid pipe elements e and flows toward the front side of the evaporator main body 12 through the U-shaped passage t. It is evenly distributed throughout, the heat exchange state is made uniform, and the heat exchange efficiency is enhanced. Then, such refrigerant is collected in the front tank 16f and flows out from the outlet pipe 19.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified within the scope of the claims. For example, the partition member 18 divides the inside of the cylindrical member 17 into three chambers using a pair of plates, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. A partition member 18 having a substantially U-shaped cross section may be used. This not only reduces the number of components, but also increases the rigidity of the partition member itself, thereby improving the rigidity of the tank.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a partition member 18 having a cylindrical section perpendicular to the axis may be used. By doing so, the rigidity of the partition member 18 itself is further improved than that shown in FIG. 8, and the rigidity of the tank is also improved.

[0026]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when passing through the fluid passage from the rectifying chamber and entering the rear tank, the rectifying action of the partition member or the like is provided.
It flows into each liquid pipe element uniformly, the heat exchange efficiency in the heat exchanger body is enhanced, and the inside of one tubular member whose both ends are closed is partitioned by a partition member, a front tank, a rear tank and Since the rectifying chamber is formed, the number of parts in tank production is reduced, the rigidity of the tank itself is improved, and the rigidity of the heat exchanger body attached to the tank is also improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the partition member has a U-shaped cross section perpendicular to the axis, not only the number of parts is reduced and production is facilitated, but also the rigidity of the partition member itself is improved. The rigidity of the tank is also improved.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the partition member has a tubular shape in a cross section perpendicular to the axis, the rigidity of the partition member itself is further improved, and thereby the rigidity of the tank is also improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a liquid tube element and heat transfer fins.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a tank portion of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing one of the partition members of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow distribution diagram of a refrigerant flowing in a rectification chamber.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing another embodiment of the partition member.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing a flow state of a refrigerant according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a tank portion according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a tank portion according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing a conventional laminated evaporator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Heat exchanger, 12 ... Heat exchanger main body, 13 ... Partition wall, 16 ... Tank part, 16f ... Front tank part, 16r ... Back tank part, 17 ... Cylindrical member, 18 ... Partition member, 19 ... Outlet pipe , 20 ... inlet pipe, O ... refrigerant passage, S ... rectification chamber.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A flat liquid pipe element (e) having a U-turn passage formed therein by a partition wall (13).
(f) and a front tank section (16f) provided at the lower front in the flow direction of air flowing along the flat surface of the liquid pipe element (e). ) And a rear tank part (16r) provided at the rear lower part in the same direction, and a heat exchange fluid outlet pipe (19) and an inlet pipe (20) in the tank part (16), respectively. Connected on the same side,
The heat exchange fluid flowing from the inlet pipe (20) is transferred to the rear tank
(16r) through the U-turn passage to the front tank part (16r
In the heat exchanger (11) which is led to f) and flows out from the outlet pipe (19), the tank part (16) is connected to a single cylindrical member (17) having both ends closed.
Is partitioned by a partitioning member (18) in a direction perpendicular to the air flow direction, whereby the front tank portion (1
6f) a rectifying chamber (S) in which the rear tank (16r) and the inlet pipe (20) communicate with each other, and the partition member for separating the rectifying chamber (S) from the front tank portion (16). The heat exchanger according to (18), wherein a fluid passage portion (O) whose opening area gradually decreases from a side closer to the outlet of the inlet pipe (20) to a side farther from the outlet. 2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the partition member has a substantially U-shaped cross section perpendicular to the axis. 3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the partitioning member (18) has a cylindrical cross section perpendicular to the axis.