KR20180122447A - Thermal cell with encapsulated phase change material - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a thermal cell having an enclosure (2) for receiving a bundle (3) comprising a tube (3 ') of an encapsulated phase change material, wherein the bundle (3) Wherein the banks comprise tubes 3 'arranged parallel to each other and connected by bracing and support bars 5, the bars 5 being formed by at least one of the faces , Each housing separated from one another by sidewalls, each housing receiving one tube (3 ').

Description

Thermal cell with encapsulated phase change material

The present invention relates to the field of thermal batteries and more precisely to the field of thermal cells comprising phase change materials.

Generally, thermal cells are used to heat passenger compartments, particularly in electric and hybrid vehicles, or to preheat heat transfer fluids in thermal management circuits. The thermal battery may also be used to preheat engine oil or automatic transmission oil of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine.

Thermal cells with phase change materials typically include an enclosure forming a reservoir, in which the phase change material is typically disposed in the form of an enclosed form, particularly a tube forming a bundle. The performance of a thermal cell depends on the amount of phase change material that is acceptable, i.e., the number of tubes present in the bundle, as well as the surface area of contact between the tube and the fluid passing through the thermal cell. Therefore, the tube must be maintained at a predetermined distance from each other so that the fluid passing through the thermal battery can circulate. However, in order to make the battery efficient, the tubes must also be very close to each other so as to include the greatest possible amount of phase change material in the thermal cell.

There is a known way of keeping the phase change material tubes at a distance from each other, for example, by braces, or by porous foamed material through which fluids can pass. However, such a solution is usually difficult and expensive to be included in industrial processes, or may cause a large pressure drop in the fluid, resulting in a decrease in the efficiency of the thermal cell.

Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is to overcome at least some of the shortcomings of the prior art and to propose an improved heat cell.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a thermal cell comprising an enclosure containing a fluid inlet and an outlet, the enclosure containing a bundle comprising a tube of an encapsulated phase change material, wherein the bundle is in the form of a laminate of a bank of tubes The banks comprising a tube arranged parallel to one another and connected by a bracing and supporting bar, the bar comprising, on at least one of its faces, an individual housing separated by a side wall, Each of the housings being capable of receiving a single tube.

The bar permits a high degree of modularization in the design of the thermal cell, while also reducing the production cost. Also, the use of such a bar can limit the pressure drop of the fluid through the bundle, allowing the tubes to be accurately supported and arranged relative to each other to form a bundle.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the spacing between the tubes in one bank is defined by the width of the sidewalls between the two housings.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the housing has a shape complementary to the shape of the tube and has an insertion opening smaller than the diameter of the tube so that the tube can be clipped into the housing.

According to another aspect of the invention, the bars of successive banks are arranged in a quincuncial arrangement on a plane parallel to and perpendicular to the tube.

Thus, the bars between two successive banks do not lie on top of each other, causing the fluid to flow between the tubes without excessive pressure drop.

According to another aspect of the invention, the bars of successive banks are grouped on two parallel planes and separated by a distance at least greater than the width of the bars.

According to another aspect of the invention, the bundle is received within a frame.

According to another aspect of the invention, the frame comprises a flange surrounding the bundle and an outer brace connecting the flange.

According to another aspect of the invention, the flange includes a groove into which the bar is inserted.

According to another aspect of the invention, the bank comprises an inner brace between the bars.

According to another aspect of the invention, the bank is flat.

According to another aspect of the invention, the bundle is cylindrical and the bank is curved and concentric.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a bar includes a housing to support two overlapping banks on two of its opposing surfaces, wherein the gap between the banks comprises a housing located on both sides of the bar Is limited by the thickness of the wall of the bar to be separated.

According to another aspect of the invention, the housing on one side of the bar and the housing on the other side of the bar are arranged in a staggered arrangement.

According to another aspect of the invention, the bar includes a housing on only one of its faces.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the tubes of two successive banks are arranged in a staggered arrangement, the tubes of the upper bank are seated on the side walls of the bars of the lower bank, Is limited by height.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the reading of the following description provided by way of illustration and not of limitation, and from the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a thermal battery,
Figure 2 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the thermal cell of Figure 1,
Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a stack of banks,
Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a tube bundle,
5 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a tube bundle,
6 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of a bar according to the first embodiment,
Figures 7A and 7B are schematic cross-sectional and longitudinal sectional views, respectively, showing the overlap of the bar and bank of Figure 6;
8 is a schematic perspective view showing an assembly of a flange and a tube bundle,
Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of a bar according to a second embodiment,
10A and 10B are schematic cross-sectional and longitudinal sectional views, respectively, showing the stack of bars and banks of FIG. 9,
11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a stack of banks in accordance with an alternative embodiment.

In the various figures, like elements have like reference numerals.

The following examples are illustrative. In the description, one or more embodiments are referred to, but this does not necessarily mean that each mention is related to the same embodiment, or that the characteristic is applicable only to a single embodiment. The simple features of the different embodiments may also be combined to provide alternative embodiments.

Figures 1 and 2 show a schematic view of a thermal cell 1 in which fluid comprises an enclosure 2 flowing between a fluid inlet 2a and an outlet 2b. The thermal cell 1 comprises a bundle 3 of tubes 3 'of phase change material in an enclosure 2. The tubes 3 'of the bundle 3 are positioned parallel to each other. The bundle 3 can be inserted into the enclosure 2, for example, through the opening 2c. The opening 2c is closed by the cover 2d after the bundle 3 is inserted.

The bundle (3) is positioned parallel to the circulating flow of the fluid in the enclosure (2). Each of the tubes 3 'of the phase change material comprises a tubular wall, preferably made of a plastic material, for example polycarbonate, in which the phase change material is located. The tubular wall is closed in a sealing manner at the end of the tube 3 '.

As shown in more detail in Figures 3 and 4, the bundle 3 is formed by a laminate of the banks 4 of the tube 3 '. These banks 4 comprise a tube 3 'arranged parallel to one another and connected by means of a bracing and supporting bar 5.

The bar 5 may be straight as shown in Fig. In this case, the banks 4 are flat and can be stacked on each other. The length L of the bar 5 of the bank 4 determines the width of the bank 4 so that the shape of the bundle 3 depends on the length L of the bar 5 and, By varying the widths of the first and second electrodes. Thus, examples of bundles 3 of generally cylindrical shape are shown in Figs. 1-5. However, another shape of the bundle 3, for example, a parallelepiped, is possible and can be envisaged.

The bar 5 is shown in more detail in Figures 6 to 7B. The bar (5) comprises a separate housing (50) separated from one another by side walls (51) on at least one of its faces. Each of the housings 50 is intended to receive the tube 3 'to form the bank 4. The spacing between the tubes 3 'in the bank 4 is particularly defined by the width Lp of the side walls 51 between the two housings 50.

To accurately support the tube 3 ', the housing 50 may have a shape complementary to the shape of the tube 3' and may have an insertion opening 52 smaller than the diameter of the tube 3 ' , And the tube 3 'can be clip-coupled into the housing 50. In this case, the sidewalls 51 are resilient, deformable and move away from each other, allowing the tube 3 'to be inserted into the housing 50. When the tube 3 'is inserted, the sidewall 51 returns to its initial position and partially grips the tube 3' to lock the tube 3 '.

It will also be feasible that the bar 5 includes a closed housing 50 into which the tube 3 'fits. The bar 5 may be overmolded, for example around the tube 3 ', to form the bank 4.

The bar 5 is preferably made of a plastic material and can be made of long strips cut to a desired length L depending on the shape and size of the thermal cell 1. [

Thus, the bar 5 permits a high degree of modularization in the design of the thermal cell, while also reducing the production cost. Also, the use of such bar 5 can limit the pressure drop of the fluid through the bundle, allowing the tubes 3 'to be precisely supported and arranged relative to each other to form bundles 3.

According to the first embodiment shown in Figs. 6 to 7B, the bar 5 may comprise a housing 50 on two of its opposing surfaces. Thus, one bar 5 can support the tubes 3 'of two overlapping banks 4, one on each of its faces. The spacing between the banks 4 is then defined by the thickness E of the walls of the bar 5 separating the housing 50 located on both sides of the bar 5. [ Preferably, a housing 50 on one side of the bar 5 and a housing (not shown) on the other side of the bar 5 are provided, in order to facilitate the flow of fluid and also to optimize the number of tubes 3 ' 50 are arranged in a quincuncial arrangement.

In this case, and in the remainder of the present patent application, the term " arranged in a quincuncial arrangement " means that one of every two rows has a predetermined amount for the rows before and after it, It is considered to mean a repeating array of elements in rows that are offset by half.

The bars 5 of successive banks 4 are preferably arranged in a baffle arrangement on a plane which is parallel to one another and perpendicular to the tube 3 ', as shown in Fig. 7b. Thus, the bars 5 between the two successive banks 4 do not lie on top of each other, causing the fluid to circulate between the tubes 3 'without excessive pressure drop (the flow of fluid is indicated by two black arrows has exist).

Since one bar 5 supports the two stacked banks 4, all of the banks 4 are supported together so that the cohesion and shape of the bundle 3 can be maintained.

The bars 5 of successive banks 4 are grouped on two parallel planes and separated by a distance D which is at least greater than the width Lb of the bar 5. In the cross section of the bundle 3, So that the bar 5 is not adjacent, causing the fluid to flow as shown in FIG. 7B. The bar (5) then forms the support assembly (6). Over that length, the bundle 3 may comprise a plurality of support assemblies 6. These support assemblies 6 can also be seen in Figures 2 and 5.

According to the second embodiment shown in Figs. 8 to 10B, the bar 5 may include the housing 50 on only one side of its faces. In contrast to the first embodiment, the bar 5 can only support the tube 3 'of a single bank 4. Preferably, in this second embodiment, the tubes 3 'of two consecutive banks 4 are arranged in the same direction as the tubes 3' in Fig. 10A to facilitate the flow of fluid and also to optimize the number of tubes 3 ' As shown in Fig. Thus, the tube 3 'of the upper bank 4 can be seated on the side wall 51 of the bar 5 of the lower bank 4. The spacing between the tubes 3 'of the bank 4 is then defined by the height Hp of the side wall 51 corresponding to the distance between the end of the side wall 51 and the base.

As in the first embodiment, the bars 5 of successive banks 4 are preferably arranged in a baffle arrangement on a plane which is parallel to one another and perpendicular to the tube 3 ' . Thus, the bars 5 between the two successive banks 4 do not lie on top of each other, causing the fluid to circulate between the tubes 3 'without excessive pressure drop (the flow of fluid is indicated by two black arrows has exist). Similarly, in the cross-section of the bundle 3, the bars 5 may be grouped on two parallel planes and separated by a distance D that is at least greater than the width Lb of the bar 5, 5 are not adjacent to each other, allowing fluid to flow as shown in FIG. 10B. The bar (5) then forms the support assembly (6). Over that length, the bundle 3 may comprise a plurality of support assemblies 6. This support assembly 6 can also be seen in FIGS. 2 and 5. FIG.

Preferably, the bundle 3 comprises at least one support assembly 6 at each end, and at least one intermediate support assembly 6 between the ends. This permits a constant separation of the banks 4 from each other, thus allowing a constant spacing of the tubes 3 'over the entire length of the bundle 3. In the example shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 6, the bundle 3 includes a total of four support assemblies 6.

The bundle 3 may also include, in the bank 4, an internal brace 41 as seen in Figures 4 and 5. These inner braces 41 may be solid rigid tubes, more particularly made of plastic or metal, and in particular in place of the tube 3 'in the bank 4, the housing 50 of the bar 5 ). ≪ / RTI > This inner brace 41 makes it possible to maintain the bar 5 at a predetermined distance from each other while reinforcing the bank 4. [ This inner brace 41 also makes it possible to maintain the cohesive force of the support assembly 6 and to maintain the spacing therebetween. At the position of the bar 5, the inner brace 41 may have a groove 42 corresponding to a reduction in cross-section of the inner brace 41. These grooves 42 are inserted into the housing 50 of the bar 5. Thus, any translational movement of the bar 5 relative to each other along the tube 3 'is prevented.

The bundle 3 is preferably received in the frame 7 as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5. Such a frame 7 makes it possible, in particular, to strengthen the shape of the bundle 3 and to reinforce its strength. In addition, the frame 7 makes it possible to provide stiffness to the bundle 3. The frame 7 may in particular comprise a flange 70 which laterally surrounds the bundle 3 and an outer brace 71 which connects the flange 70. The flange 70 and the outer brace 71 may be made of metal and / or plastic.

8, the flange 70 may also include a groove 701 into which the bar 5 is inserted. More specifically, independent of the fact that the bar 5 can be clipped onto the tube 3 'and independently of the possibility of the presence of the inner brace 41, these grooves 701 are formed in the bar 5 So that the bar (5) is connected to the frame (7). When the bank 4 is flat, it is the end of the different bar 5 that is inserted into the groove 701. [ The flange 70 may then include at least two parallel grooves 701 and may be disposed at the location of the support assembly 6.

In order to facilitate the assembly and manufacture of the bundle 3, the bundles 3 may be assembled into two half-bundles arranged adjacent to each other. The half-bundle can be assembled and fastened together, for example, by a male / female fastening device present at the location of the flange 70, for example.

Instead of being flat, as shown in Fig. 11, the bank 4 may be curved and laminated concentrically to form a cylindrical bundle 3. However, it is preferable to form the bundle 3 by laminating the flat banks 4 in order to limit the stress on the bar 5, in particular the stress due to the radius of curvature.

The use of the frame 7 makes it possible to keep the curvature of the bank 4, as well as the cylindrical shape of the bundle 3, particularly if the bank 4 is curved and concentric. In this example, the insertion into the groove 701 of the flange 70, when the bar 5 has the housing 50 on only one side of its faces, That is, the portion that does not have the housing 50.

Obviously, by forming the braces between the tubes 3 'by using the bar 5 and by arranging the tubes 3' into the banks 4, (3) can be easily assembled.

Claims (15)

A thermal battery (1) having an enclosure (2) containing a fluid inlet (2a) and an outlet (2b) and containing a bundle (3) comprising a tube (3 ') of an encapsulated phase change material,
The bundle 3 is formed by a laminate of the banks 4 of the tubes 3 'and the banks 4 are arranged in parallel with one another and are connected to the tubes 3' by bracing and support bars 5, , The bar (5) comprising a separate housing (50) separated from each other by a side wall (51) on at least one of its faces, each housing (50) RTI ID = 0.0 > (3 ') < / RTI >
Thermal battery. The method according to claim 1,
The distance between the tubes 3 'in one bank 4 is defined by the width Lp of the side walls 51 between the two housings 50
Thermal battery. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
The housing 50 has a shape complementary to the shape of the tube 3 'and has an insertion opening 52 smaller than the diameter of the tube 3' so that the tube 3 '≪ RTI ID = 0.0 >
Thermal battery. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Characterized in that the bars (5) of the successive banks (4) are arranged in a baffle arrangement on a plane which is parallel to one another and perpendicular to the tube (3)
Thermal battery. 5. The method of claim 4,
Characterized in that the bars (5) of the successive banks (4) are grouped on two parallel planes and separated by a distance (D) which is at least greater than the width (Lb) of the bars
Thermal battery. 6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
Characterized in that said bundle (3) is received in a frame (7)
Thermal battery. The method according to claim 6,
Characterized in that the frame (7) comprises a flange (70) surrounding the bundle (3) and an outer brace (71) connecting the flange
Thermal battery. 8. The method of claim 7,
Characterized in that the flange (70) comprises a groove (701) into which the bar (5) is inserted
Thermal battery. 9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
Characterized in that the bank (4) comprises an inner brace (41) between the bars (5)
Thermal battery. 10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
Characterized in that the bank (4) is flat
Thermal battery. 10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
Characterized in that the bundle (3) is cylindrical and the bank (4) is curved and concentric
Thermal battery. 12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
The bar (5) includes a housing (50) to support two overlapping banks (4) on two of its opposing surfaces, the spacing between the banks (4) Is defined by the thickness (E) of the wall of the bar (5) separating the housing (50) located on both sides of the bar
Thermal battery. 13. The method of claim 12,
Characterized in that the housing (50) on one side of the bar (5) and the housing (50) on the other side of the bar (5) are arranged in a staggered arrangement
Thermal battery. 12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
Characterized in that the bar (5) comprises a housing (50) only on one of its faces
Thermal battery. 15. The method of claim 14,
The tubes 3'of the two banks 4 are arranged in a staggered arrangement and the tubes 3'of the upper bank 4 are arranged on the side walls 51 of the bar 5 of the lower bank 4 , And the interval between the tubes (3 ') of the bank (4) is limited by the height of the side wall (51)
Thermal battery.

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