US20140245777A1 - Heat exchanger - Google Patents
Heat exchanger Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20140245777A1 US20140245777A1 US14/009,262 US201214009262A US2014245777A1 US 20140245777 A1 US20140245777 A1 US 20140245777A1 US 201214009262 A US201214009262 A US 201214009262A US 2014245777 A1 US2014245777 A1 US 2014245777A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- tubes
- heat exchange
- upstream
- fluid
- downstream
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B39/00—Evaporators; Condensers
- F25B39/02—Evaporators
- F25B39/028—Evaporators having distributing means
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
- F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
- F28D1/04—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits
- F28D1/0408—Multi-circuit heat exchangers, e.g. integrating different heat exchange sections in the same unit or heat exchangers for more than two fluids
- F28D1/0426—Multi-circuit heat exchangers, e.g. integrating different heat exchange sections in the same unit or heat exchangers for more than two fluids with units having particular arrangement relative to the large body of fluid, e.g. with interleaved units or with adjacent heat exchange units in common air flow or with units extending at an angle to each other or with units arranged around a central element
- F28D1/0435—Combination of units extending one behind the other
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
- F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
- F28D1/04—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
- B60H1/00—Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices
- B60H1/32—Cooling devices
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
- F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
- F28D1/04—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits
- F28D1/0408—Multi-circuit heat exchangers, e.g. integrating different heat exchange sections in the same unit or heat exchangers for more than two fluids
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
- F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
- F28D1/04—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits
- F28D1/053—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits the conduits being straight
- F28D1/0535—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits the conduits being straight the conduits having a non-circular cross-section
- F28D1/05366—Assemblies of conduits connected to common headers, e.g. core type radiators
- F28D1/05391—Assemblies of conduits connected to common headers, e.g. core type radiators with multiple rows of conduits or with multi-channel conduits combined with a particular flow pattern, e.g. multi-row multi-stage radiators
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F1/00—Tubular elements; Assemblies of tubular elements
- F28F1/10—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses
- F28F1/12—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses the means being only outside the tubular element
- F28F1/24—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses the means being only outside the tubular element and extending transversely
- F28F1/32—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses the means being only outside the tubular element and extending transversely the means having portions engaging further tubular elements
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F9/00—Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings
- F28F9/02—Header boxes; End plates
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F9/00—Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings
- F28F9/02—Header boxes; End plates
- F28F9/0202—Header boxes having their inner space divided by partitions
- F28F9/0204—Header boxes having their inner space divided by partitions for elongated header box, e.g. with transversal and longitudinal partitions
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F9/00—Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings
- F28F9/02—Header boxes; End plates
- F28F9/0229—Double end plates; Single end plates with hollow spaces
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F9/00—Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings
- F28F9/02—Header boxes; End plates
- F28F9/026—Header boxes; End plates with static flow control means, e.g. with means for uniformly distributing heat exchange media into conduits
- F28F9/0278—Header boxes; End plates with static flow control means, e.g. with means for uniformly distributing heat exchange media into conduits in the form of stacked distribution plates or perforated plates arranged over end plates
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60K1/00—Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units
- B60K2001/003—Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units with means for cooling the electrical propulsion units
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
- F28D2021/0019—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
- F28D2021/008—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for vehicles
- F28D2021/0084—Condensers
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
- F28D2021/0019—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
- F28D2021/008—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for vehicles
- F28D2021/0085—Evaporators
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
- F28D2021/0019—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
- F28D2021/008—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for vehicles
- F28D2021/0091—Radiators
- F28D2021/0094—Radiators for recooling the engine coolant
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
- F28D2021/0019—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
- F28D2021/008—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for vehicles
- F28D2021/0091—Radiators
- F28D2021/0096—Radiators for space heating
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F9/00—Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings
- F28F9/02—Header boxes; End plates
- F28F2009/0285—Other particular headers or end plates
- F28F2009/0287—Other particular headers or end plates having passages for different heat exchange media
Definitions
- the present disclosure relates to a combined heat exchanger configured such that three kinds of fluids are capable of exchanging heat thereamong.
- a combined heat exchanger which is configured such that three kinds of fluids are capable of exchanging heat thereamong.
- a heat exchanger disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a combined heat exchanger that is configured such that refrigerant of a refrigeration cycle and external air (outside air) are capable of exchanging heat therebetween and coolant which cools an engine and the outside air are capable of exchanging heat therebetween.
- the heat exchanger of Patent Document 1 includes multiple tubes that have multiple fluid passages therein, and a pair of header tanks arranged on both end portions of the multiple tubes to communicate with the multiple tubes.
- the header tank has a partition plate which separates an inner space of the header tank into two spaces. Refrigerant flows in one of the two spaces, and coolant flows in the other one of the two spaces.
- the multiple fluid passages in the tubes are separated into refrigerant passages, through which the refrigerant flows, and coolant passages, through which the coolant flows, due to the partition plate in the header tank.
- multiple fluid passages are formed in a single tube. Coolant flows through one (coolant passage) of the multiple fluid passages, which is arranged on an upstream side in an air flow direction. Refrigerant flows through one (refrigerant passage) of the multiple fluid passages, which is arranged on a downstream side in the air flow direction. Although heat of the coolant flowing through the coolant passage can be transferred to the refrigerant passage adjacent to the coolant passage, the heat of the coolant cannot be transferred to whole area of refrigerant passages.
- Such insufficient heat transfer may cause the heat of the coolant to be unable to be utilized effectively for melting frost generated due to heat-absorption effect of the refrigerant when the refrigerant passages of the tubes are used as an evaporator of a refrigeration cycle, for example.
- JP Patent Application No. 2010-145011 JP Patent Application No. 2010-145011
- refrigerant tubes through which refrigerant flows
- coolant tubes through which coolant for an exterior heat source flows
- the heat exchanger has outside air passages through which outside air flows, each of which is provided between a refrigerant tube and a coolant tube that are adjacent to each other.
- Outer fins are arranged in the outside air passages to be capable of transferring heat between the refrigerant tube and the coolant tube. Accordingly, not only heat exchange between the refrigerant and blown air and heat exchange between the coolant and the blown air but also heat exchange between the refrigerant and the coolant can be performed.
- the refrigerant tubes and the coolant tubes are stacked and arranged alternately.
- the heat of the coolant may exceed a necessary heat amount for the defrosting simply by arranging the refrigerant tubes and the coolant tubes alternately.
- increase of the number of the coolant tubes causes reduction of the number of the refrigerant tubes in the whole of the heat exchanger.
- the increase of the number of the coolant tubes causes reduction of area where heat exchange is performed between the refrigerant and the blown air, and the increase of the number of the coolant tubes becomes a factor for failing in securement of a heat exchange amount between the refrigerant and the blown air.
- enlargement of the heat exchanger in size for securing a necessary heat-absorption capacity may be required.
- a heat exchanger includes first tubes through which a first fluid flows, second tubes through which a second fluid flows, and a heat exchange portion in which at least tubes of the first tubes or the second tubes are stacked. At least one of the first fluid and the second fluid exchanges heat with a third fluid in the heat exchange portion. Spaces between tubes, which are selected from among the first tubes and the second tubes and are adjacent to each other, form third fluid passages through which the third fluid flows.
- the heat exchange portion includes an upstream heat exchange portion positioned on an upstream side in a flow direction of the third fluid, and a downstream heat exchange portion positioned downstream of the upstream heat exchange portion in the flow direction of the third fluid.
- a stacking arrangement order of the first tubes and the second tubes in the upstream heat exchange portion is different from a stacking arrangement order of the first tubes and the second tubes in the downstream heat exchange portion.
- heat exchange amounts among the three kinds of fluids can be adjusted in the heat exchanger as a whole by changing the stacking arrangement order of the first tubes and the second tubes in the upstream heat exchange portion from the stacking arrangement order of the first tubes and the second tubes in the downstream heat exchange portion. Therefore, the heat exchanger capable of adjusting appropriately the heat exchange amounts among the three kinds of fluids can be provided.
- a heat exchanger includes first tubes through which a first fluid flows, second tubes through which a second fluid flows, and a heat exchange portion in which at least tubes of the first tubes or the second tubes are stacked. At least the first fluid or the second fluid exchanges heat with a third fluid in the heat exchange portion. Spaces between tubes, which are selected from among the first tubes and the second tubes and are adjacent to each other, form third fluid passages through which the third fluid flows.
- the heat exchange portion includes an upstream heat exchange portion positioned on an upstream side in a flow direction of the third fluid, and a downstream heat exchange portion positioned downstream of the upstream heat exchange portion in the flow direction of the third fluid.
- the same type of two tubes one of which is selected from among the first tubes and the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion and the other one of which is selected from among the first tubes and the second tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion, are overlapped with each other in the flow direction of the third fluid.
- Different types of two tubes one of which is selected from among the first tubes and the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion and the other one of which is selected from among the first tubes and the second tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion, are overlapped with each other in the flow direction of the third fluid.
- heat exchange amounts among the three kinds of fluids can be adjusted in the heat exchanger as a whole by making the first tubes and the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion and the first tubes and the second tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion have the portion in which same types of two tubes are overlapped with each other in the flow direction of the third fluid, and the portion in which different types of two tubes are overlapped with each other in the flow direction of the third fluid. Therefore, the heat exchanger capable of adjusting appropriately the heat exchange amounts among the three kinds of fluids can be provided.
- a heat exchanger includes first tubes through which a first fluid flows, second tubes through which a second fluid flows, and a heat exchange portion in which at least tubes of the first tubes or the second tubes are stacked. At least the first fluid or the second fluid exchanges heat with a third fluid in the heat exchange portion. Spaces between tubes, which are selected from among the first tubes and the second tubes and are adjacent to each other, form third fluid passages through which the third fluid flows.
- the heat exchange portion includes an upstream heat exchange portion positioned on an upstream side in a flow direction of the third fluid, and a downstream heat exchange portion positioned downstream of the upstream heat exchange portion in the flow direction of the third fluid.
- a ratio of the number of the first tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion to the total number of the first tubes and the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion is different from a ratio of the number of the first tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion to the total number of the first tubes and the second tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion.
- heat exchange amounts among the three kinds of fluids can be adjusted in the heat exchanger as a whole by changing the ratio of the number of the first tubes to the total number of the first tubes and the second tubes in the upstream heat exchange portion and by changing the ratio of the number of the first tubes to the total number of the first tubes and the second tubes in the downstream heat exchange portion. Therefore, the heat exchanger capable of adjusting appropriately the heat exchange amounts among the three kinds of fluids can be provided.
- a ratio of the number of the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion to the total number of the first tubes and the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion may be higher than a ratio of the number of the second tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion to the total number of the first tubes and the second tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion.
- most of the second tubes can be located on an upstream side in the flow direction of the third fluid by setting the ratio of the number of the second tubes in the upstream heat exchange portion higher than the ratio of the number of the second tubes in the downstream heat exchange portion. Since the second fluid is capable of exchanging heat with the third fluid before the third fluid exchanges heat with another fluid, the heat exchange between the second fluid and the third fluid can be performed effectively.
- the upstream heat exchange portion may include both the first tubes and the second tubes, and the downstream heat exchange portion may include the first tubes.
- a heat exchanger may include an outer fin located in the third fluid passage.
- the outer fin may promote heat exchange between the first fluid and the third fluid and heat exchange between the second fluid and the third fluid, and the outer fin may be capable of conveying heat between the first fluid flowing through the first tube and the second fluid flowing through the second tube.
- heat exchange can be performed appropriately between the first fluid and the third fluid via the first tubes and the outer fin.
- Heat exchange can be performed appropriately between the second fluid and the third fluid via the second tubes and the outer fin.
- heat exchange can be performed appropriately between the first fluid and the second fluid via the outer fin. Therefore, heat exchanges can be performed appropriately among the three kinds of fluids.
- the upstream heat exchange portion may include both the first tubes and the second tubes, and the downstream heat exchange portion may include the first tubes.
- the heat exchanger may further include an upstream tank portion extending in a stacking direction of the first tubes and the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion.
- the upstream tank portion may have an upstream second fluid space which collects or distributes the second fluid that flows through the second tubes.
- the heat exchanger may further include a downstream tank portion extending in a stacking direction of the first tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion.
- the downstream tank portion may have a downstream first fluid space which collects or distributes the first fluid that flows through the first tubes.
- the heat exchanger may further include a communication passage through which the first tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion communicate with the downstream first fluid space.
- a configuration in which the ratio of the number of the first tubes to the total number of the first tubes and the second tubes in the upstream heat exchange portion is different from the ratio of the number of the first tubes to the total number of the first tubes and the second tubes in the downstream heat exchange portion, can be provided easily and certainly in the heat exchanger having the upstream heat exchange portion, which includes both the first tubes and the second tubes, and the downstream heat exchange portion, which includes the first tubes.
- the upstream heat exchange portion may include both the first tubes and the second tubes, and the downstream heat exchange portion may include the first tubes.
- the heat exchanger may further include an upstream tank portion extending in a stacking direction of the first tubes and the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion, and a downstream tank portion extending in a stacking direction of the first tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion.
- the upstream tank portion may have an upstream first fluid space which collects or distributes the first fluid that flows through the first tubes, and the downstream tank portion may have a downstream second fluid space which collects or distributes the second fluid that flows through the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion.
- the heat exchanger may further include a first communication passage through which the first tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion communicate with the upstream first fluid space, and a second communication passage through which the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion communicate with the downstream second fluid space.
- an amount of the first fluid supplied to the first tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion can be increased in the heat exchanger having the upstream heat exchange portion, which includes the first tubes and the second tubes, and the downstream heat exchange portion, which includes the first tubes.
- the upstream heat exchange portion may include both the first tubes and the second tubes, and the downstream heat exchange portion may include the first tubes.
- the heat exchanger may further include an upstream tank portion extending in a stacking direction of the first tubes and the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion, and a downstream tank portion extending in a stacking direction of the first tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion.
- the upstream tank portion may have an upstream first fluid space which collects or distributes the first fluid that flows through the first tubes, and a downstream second fluid space which collects or distributes the second fluid that flows through the second tubes.
- the downstream tank portion may have a downstream first fluid space which collects or distributes the first fluid that flows through the first tubes.
- the heat exchanger may further include a communication passage through which the upstream first fluid space communicates with the downstream first fluid space.
- a configuration in which the ratio of the number of the first tubes to the total number of the first tubes and the second tubes in the upstream heat exchange portion is different from the ratio of the number of the first tubes to the total number of the first tubes and the second tubes in the downstream heat exchange portion, can be provided easily and certainly in the heat exchanger having the upstream heat exchange portion, which includes both the first tubes and the second tubes, and the downstream heat exchange portion, which includes the first tubes.
- the communication passage may be integrated with the upstream tank portion and the downstream tank portion.
- the communication passage may be separated from the upstream tank portion and the downstream tank portion.
- the communication passage may be separated from the upstream tank portion and the downstream tank portion, and the communication passage may be located at a position nearer to the heat exchange portion than positions of the upstream tank portion and the downstream tank portion.
- the communication passage may extend in a direction to connect an end portion of a first tube of the upstream heat exchange portion and an end portion of a first tube of the downstream heat exchange portion which are overlapped with each other in the flow direction of the third fluid. Accordingly, it can be limited that a structure of the heat exchanger becomes large.
- the direction to connect the end portions of the first tubes overlapped with each other means a direction including a component of the flow direction of the third fluid.
- the communication passage may communicate with another first tube that is adjacent in the stacking direction of the first tubes to the two first tubes which are overlapped with each other in the flow direction of the third fluid.
- a flow rate of the first fluid in the first tube (hereinafter, referred to as a downstream first tube) of the downstream heat exchange portion, which is overlapped with the first tube of the upstream heat exchange portion in the flow direction of the third fluid, and a flow rate of another first tube (hereinafter, referred to as a downstream adjacent first tube), which is adjacent to the downstream first tube in the stacking direction of the first tubes, can be well-balanced.
- the first fluid can be made to flow into the downstream adjacent first tube through the communication passage. Accordingly, pressure loss of the first fluid can be reduced as compared to a case where the first fluid is made to flow into the adjacent first tube through an inner space of the tank portion.
- a flow rate of the first fluid in the downstream first tube and a flow rate of the first fluid in the downstream adjacent first tube can be made to approach each other.
- a flow direction of the first fluid may be the same as a flow direction of the second fluid in a pair of the first tube and the second tube overlapped with each other in the flow direction of the third fluid, and a flow direction of the first fluid may be opposite from a flow direction of the second fluid in another pair of the first tube and the second tube overlapped with each other in the flow direction of the third fluid.
- heat amounts exchanged among the three kinds of fluids can be adjusted easily in the heat exchanger as a whole by providing the pair of the first tube and the second tube in which the flow direction of the first fluid is the same as the flow direction of the second fluid and the pair of the first tube and the second tube in which the flow direction of the first fluid is opposite from the flow direction of the second fluid.
- the upstream heat exchange portion may include both the first tubes and the second tubes, and the downstream heat exchange portion may include the first tubes. All of the first fluid inflowing from an exterior of the heat exchanger may pass through the upstream heat exchange portion without branching to the downstream heat exchange portion.
- the first fluid inflowing from the exterior passes through the upstream heat exchange portion without branching to the downstream heat exchange portion, the first fluid can be certainly made to flow into the upstream heat exchange. Therefore, in the upstream heat exchange portion, heat exchange between the first fluid and the third fluid can be performed certainly.
- the upstream heat exchange portion may include both the first tubes and the second tubes, and the downstream heat exchange portion may include the first tubes.
- the first fluid inflowing from an exterior of the heat exchanger may branch to the upstream heat exchange portion and to the downstream heat exchange portion before flowing into the first tubes. All of the first fluid branched to the upstream heat exchange portion before flowing into the first tubes may pass through the upstream heat exchange portion without further branching to the downstream heat exchange portion. All of the first fluid branched to the downstream heat exchange portion before flowing into the first tubes may pass through the downstream heat exchange portion without further branching to the upstream heat exchange portion.
- a flow direction of the first fluid flowing through the first tubes immediately after the inflow of the first fluid from the exterior may be the same as a flow direction of the second fluid flowing through the second tubes immediately after inflow of the second fluid from the exterior. Accordingly, a performance of the heat exchanger can be improved.
- a flow direction of the first fluid flowing through the first tubes immediately before outflow of the first fluid to the exterior may be the same as a flow direction of the second fluid flowing through the second tubes immediately before outflow of the second fluid to the exterior.
- the heat exchanger may include outer fins located in the third fluid passages.
- the outer fins may promote heat exchange between the first fluid and the third fluid and heat exchange between the second fluid and the third fluid, and the outer fins may be capable of conveying heat between the first fluid flowing through the first tubes and the second fluid flowing through the second tubes.
- Each of the outer fins may have louvers formed by cutting and raising parts of the surface of the outer fin.
- the louvers of the outer fin located between two adjacent tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion may be different in shape from the louvers of the outer fin located between two adjacent tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion.
- heat amounts exchanged among the three kinds of fluids can be adjusted easily in the heat exchanger as a whole by changing the shape of the louver formed in a position between two adjacent tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion from the shape of the louver formed in a position between two adjacent tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion.
- the upstream heat exchange portion may include both the first tubes and the second tubes, and the downstream heat exchange portion may include the first tubes.
- the heat exchanger may include an upstream tank portion extending in a stacking direction of the first tubes and the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion, and a downstream tank portion extending in a stacking direction of the first tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion.
- the upstream tank portion may have an upstream first fluid space which collects or distributes the first fluid that flows through the first tubes, and an upstream second fluid space which collects or distributes the second fluid that flows through the second tubes.
- the downstream tank portion may have a downstream first fluid space which collects or distributes the first fluid that flows through the first tubes.
- the heat exchanger may further include a connector portion that includes a single piping connection port connected to a first fluid pipe through which the first fluid flows, an upstream heat exchange portion connection port that is connected to the upstream tank portion and communicates with the upstream first fluid space, and a downstream heat exchange portion connection port that is connected to the downstream tank portion and communicates with the downstream first fluid space.
- a flow of the first fluid is branched or two flows of the first fluid are gathered together inside the connector portion.
- the communication passage can be omitted. Therefore, inner structures of the upstream tank portion and the downstream tank portion can be simplified.
- a distance from the piping connection port to the upstream heat exchange portion connection port may be different from a distance from the piping connection port to the downstream heat exchange portion connection port in the connector portion.
- an opening area of the upstream heat exchange portion connection port may be different from an opening area of the downstream heat exchange portion connection port in the connector portion.
- the above-described heat exchanger may be used as an evaporator of a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle to evaporate refrigerant, or may be used as a radiator of a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle to radiate heat of refrigerant discharged from a compressor.
- the first fluid is refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle
- the second fluid is a heat medium that has absorbed heat of an external heat source
- the third fluid is air.
- FIG. 1 is a general configuration diagram showing, for example, refrigerant passages in an air heating operation of a heat pump cycle according to a first embodiment.
- FIG. 2 is a general configuration diagram showing, for example, refrigerant passages in a defrosting operation of the heat pump cycle according to the first embodiment.
- FIG. 3 is a general configuration diagram showing, for example, refrigerant passages in an air cooling operation of the heat pump cycle according to the first embodiment.
- FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing a heat exchanger according to the first embodiment.
- FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the heat exchanger according to the first embodiment.
- FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective diagram illustrating flows of refrigerant and coolant in the heat exchanger according to the first embodiment.
- FIGS. 7 ( a )-( d ) are schematic sectional diagrams illustrating, for example, flows of refrigerant in the heat exchanger according to the first embodiment.
- FIGS. 8 ( a )-( d ) are schematic sectional diagrams illustrating, for example, flows of coolant in the heat exchanger according to the first embodiment.
- FIG. 9 is a sectional diagram taken along a line E-E of FIG. 7 ( b ).
- FIG. 10 is a sectional diagram taken along a line F-F of FIG. 7 ( c ).
- FIG. 11 is a perspective sectional diagram showing a heat exchanger according to a second embodiment.
- FIG. 12 is a perspective sectional diagram showing a heat exchanger according to a third embodiment.
- FIG. 13 is a general configuration diagram showing, for example, refrigerant passages in an air heating operation of a heat pump cycle according to a fourth embodiment.
- FIG. 14 is a general configuration diagram showing, for example, refrigerant passages in a warm-up operation of the heat pump cycle according to the fourth embodiment.
- FIG. 15 is a general configuration diagram showing, for example, refrigerant passages in an air cooling operation of the heat pump cycle according to the fourth embodiment.
- FIG. 16 is a schematic top view showing a first plate-like member of a heat exchanger according to a fifth embodiment.
- FIG. 17 is a schematic top view showing a second plate-like member of a heat exchanger according to the fifth embodiment.
- FIG. 18 is a schematic top view showing a first plate-like member of a heat exchanger according to a sixth embodiment.
- FIG. 19 is a schematic top view showing a second plate-like member of a heat exchanger according to the sixth embodiment.
- FIG. 20 is a schematic perspective diagram illustrating flows of refrigerant and coolant in a heat exchanger according to a seventh embodiment.
- FIG. 21 is a schematic perspective diagram illustrating flows of refrigerant and coolant in a heat exchanger according to an eighth embodiment.
- FIG. 22 is a schematic sectional diagram showing a heat exchange portion of a heat exchanger in a longitudinal direction of the heat exchange portion, according to a ninth embodiment.
- FIG. 23 is a sectional diagram showing a part in which a refrigerant tube of an upstream heat exchange portion and a refrigerant tube of a downstream heat exchange portion are overlapped in a flow direction of outside air, according to a tenth embodiment.
- FIG. 24 is a sectional diagram showing a part in which a coolant tube of the upstream heat exchange portion and a refrigerant tube of the downstream heat exchange portion are overlapped in the flow direction of outside air, according to the tenth embodiment.
- FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing a first communication-space forming plate according to the tenth embodiment.
- FIG. 26 is an external perspective view showing a heat exchanger according to an eleventh embodiment.
- FIG. 27 is a schematic perspective diagram illustrating flows of refrigerant and coolant in the heat exchanger according to the eleventh embodiment.
- FIG. 28 is an external perspective view showing a connector attached to the heat exchanger according to the eleventh embodiment.
- FIG. 29 is a perspective sectional diagram showing the heat exchanger according to the eleventh embodiment.
- FIG. 30 is an external perspective diagram showing a connector attached to a heat exchanger according to a twelfth embodiment.
- FIG. 31 is a top view showing the connector of FIG. 30 .
- FIG. 32 is a front view showing a connector attached to a heat exchanger according to a thirteenth embodiment.
- FIG. 33 is a schematic perspective diagram illustrating flows of refrigerant and coolant in a heat exchanger according to another embodiment.
- FIG. 34 is a schematic perspective diagram illustrating flows of refrigerant and coolant in a heat exchanger according to another embodiment.
- FIG. 35 is a schematic perspective diagram illustrating flows of refrigerant and coolant in a heat exchanger according to another embodiment.
- FIG. 36 is a schematic perspective diagram illustrating flows of refrigerant and coolant in a heat exchanger according to another embodiment.
- FIGS. 1 to 10 A first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 .
- a heat exchanger 70 of the present disclosure is used for a heat pump cycle 10 of a vehicle air conditioner 1 that conditions a temperature of air blown in to a vehicle compartment.
- FIGS. 1 to 3 are general configuration diagrams showing the vehicle air conditioner 1 of the present first embodiment.
- the vehicle air conditioner 1 is used for a hybrid vehicle that obtains a driving force for vehicle-running from an internal combustion engine (engine) and from a running electric motor MG.
- the hybrid vehicle operates or stops the engine depending on a running load of the vehicle.
- the hybrid vehicle is capable of switching its running state, for example, between a running state, in which the driving force is obtained from both the engine and the running electric motor MG, and a running state, in which the engine is stopped and the driving force is obtained only from the running electric motor MG. Accordingly, fuel efficiency can be increased in the hybrid vehicle as compared to a general vehicle that obtains a driving force for vehicle running only from an engine.
- the heat pump cycle 10 of the vehicle air conditioner 1 is a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle which functions to heat or cool air blown into the vehicle compartment that is an air-conditioning target space.
- the heat pump cycle 10 is capable of performing an air heating operation (heating operation), in which the vehicle compartment is heated by heating of air that is to be blown into the vehicle compartment, and an air cooling operation (cooling operation), in which the vehicle compartment is cooled by cooling of the air that is to be blown into the vehicle compartment, by switching a refrigerant passage.
- the air that is to be blown into the vehicle compartment is a heat-exchange target fluid.
- the heat pump cycle 10 is capable of performing a defrosting operation to melt and remove frost attached to a later-described exterior heat exchange portion 16 of the combined heat exchanger 70 .
- the exterior heat exchange portion 16 functions as an evaporator in which refrigerant evaporates in the air heating operation. Flows of refrigerant in the heat pump cycle 10 in the respective operations are shown by solid arrows in the general configuration diagrams of FIGS. 1 to 3 .
- a general fluorocarbon refrigerant is used as refrigerant
- the heat pump cycle 10 is a subcritical refrigeration cycle in which a higher-pressure-side refrigerant pressure does not exceed a critical pressure of the refrigerant.
- Refrigerant oil is contained in the refrigerant to lubricant a compressor 11 , and a part of the refrigerant oil circulates in the cycle with the refrigerant.
- the compressor 11 is arranged in an engine compartment, and draws refrigerant in the heat pump cycle 10 to compress and discharge the refrigerant.
- the compressor 11 is an electric compressor in which a fixed-displacement compressor 11 a having a fixed discharge capacity is driven by an electric motor 11 b .
- a variety of compressor mechanisms such as a scroll compressor or a vane compressor can be used as the fixed-displacement compressor 11 a.
- An operation (rotation rate) of the electric motor 11 b is controlled by a control signal outputted from an air conditioning controller described later. Either one of an alternating-current motor or a direct-current motor may be applied to the electric motor 11 b . A refrigerant discharge capacity of the compressor 11 is changed by the control of the rotation rate.
- the electric motor 11 b is used as a discharge capacity changing device of the compressor 11 .
- a refrigerant discharge port of the compressor 11 is connected to a refrigerant inlet side of an interior condenser 12 that is used as a using side heat exchanger.
- the interior condenser 12 is disposed in a casing 31 of an interior air conditioning unit 30 of the vehicle air conditioner 1 .
- the interior condenser 12 is a heating heat exchanger in which high-pressure and high-temperature refrigerant flowing therein exchanges heat with blown air that has passed through an interior evaporator 20 .
- a detailed configuration of the interior air conditioning unit 31 will be described later.
- a refrigerant outlet side of the interior condenser 12 is connected to a heating fixed throttle 13 that is used as a depressurizing device for the air heating operation.
- the heating fixed throttle 13 depressurizes and expands refrigerant flowing out of the interior condenser 12 in the air heating operation.
- an orifice or a capillary tube can be used as the heating fixed throttle 13 .
- An outlet side of the heating fixed throttle 13 is connected to a refrigerant inlet side of the exterior heat exchange portion 16 of the combined heat exchanger 70 .
- the refrigerant outlet side of the interior condenser 12 is further connected to a fixed-throttle bypass passage 14 through which refrigerant flowing out of the interior condenser 12 bypasses the heating fixed throttle 13 and is guided toward the exterior heat exchange portion 16 .
- An open-close valve 15 a is arranged in the fixed-throttle bypass passage 14 , and opens or closes the fixed-throttle bypass passage 14 .
- the open-close valve 15 a is an electromagnetic valve in which its open-close operation is controlled by a control voltage outputted from the air conditioning controller.
- a pressure loss generated when refrigerant passes through the open-close valve 15 a is extremely small as compared to a pressure loss generated when refrigerant passes through the fixed throttle 13 .
- refrigerant flowing out of the interior condenser 12 flows into the exterior heat exchange portion 16 through the fixed-throttle bypass passage 14 when the open-close valve 15 a is open.
- the refrigerant flowing out of the interior condenser 12 flows into the exterior heat exchange portion 16 through the heating fixed throttle 13 when the open-close valve 15 a is closed.
- the open-close valve 15 a is capable of switching the refrigerant passage of the heat pump cycle 10 .
- the open-close valve 15 a of the present embodiment functions as a refrigerant passage switching device.
- an electric three-way valve may be used as such refrigerant passage switching device.
- the electric three-way valve switches between a refrigerant passage connecting from the outlet side of the interior condenser 12 to the inlet side of the heating fixed throttle 13 and a refrigerant passage connecting from the outlet side of the interior condenser 12 to the inlet side of fixed-throttle bypass passage 14 .
- the exterior heat exchange portion 16 is a heat exchange portion in which refrigerant flowing in the heat exchanger 70 exchanges heat with outside air blown by a blast fan 17 .
- the exterior heat exchange portion 16 is disposed in the engine compartment.
- the exterior heat exchange portion 16 functions as an evaporation heat exchange portion (evaporator), in which low pressure refrigerant evaporates and exerts its heat absorption effect, in the air heating operation.
- the exterior heat exchange portion 16 functions as a radiation heat exchange portion (radiator), in which high pressure refrigerant radiates heat, in the air cooling operation.
- the blast fan 17 is an electric blower in which an operating rate, i.e., a rotation rate (air blowing amount) is controlled by a control voltage outputted from the air conditioning controller.
- the above-described exterior heat exchange portion 16 and a radiator portion 43 are integrated with each other.
- coolant for cooling the running electric motor MG exchanges heat with outside air blown by the blast fan 17 .
- the blast fan 17 of the present embodiment is used as an exterior air blowing device that blows outside air toward both the exterior heat exchange portion 16 and the radiator portion 43 .
- a detailed configuration of the combined heat exchanger 70 in which the exterior heat exchange portion 16 and the radiator portion 43 are integrated with each other will be described later.
- An outlet side of the exterior heat exchange portion 16 is connected to an electric three-way valve 15 b .
- An operation of the three-way valve 15 b is controlled by a control voltage outputted from the air conditioning controller.
- the three-way valve 15 b is used as the refrigerant passage switching device together with the above-described open-close valve 15 a.
- the three-way valve 15 b selects a refrigerant passage connecting the outlet side of the exterior heat exchange portion 16 and an inlet side of an accumulator 18 described later.
- the three-way valve 15 b selects a refrigerant passage connecting the outlet side of the exterior heat exchange portion 16 and an inlet side of a cooling fixed throttle 19 .
- the cooling fixed throttle 19 is a depressurizing device for the air cooling operation, and depressurizes and expands refrigerant flowing out of the exterior heat exchange portion 16 in the air cooling operation.
- a basic structure of the cooling fixed throttle 19 is similar to that of the heating fixed throttle 13 .
- An outlet side of the cooling fixed throttle 19 is connected to a refrigerant inlet side of the interior evaporator 20 .
- the interior evaporator 20 is located upstream of the interior condenser 12 in an air flow direction inside the casing 31 of the interior air conditioning unit 30 .
- the interior evaporator 20 is a cooling heat exchanger in which air that is to be blown into the vehicle compartment is cooled by heat exchange between refrigerant flowing in the interior evaporator 20 and air blown into the vehicle compartment.
- a refrigerant outlet side of the interior evaporator 20 is connected to the inlet side of the accumulator 18 .
- the accumulator 18 separates refrigerant flowing therein into gas and liquid.
- the accumulator 18 is a gas-liquid separator for lower-pressure-side refrigerant and accumulates surplus refrigerant of the cycle.
- a gas-refrigerant outlet of the accumulator 18 is connected to a suction side of the compressor 11 .
- the accumulator 18 restricts drawing of liquid refrigerant into the compressor 11 and functions to prevent liquid-compression of the compressor 11 .
- a temperature of coolant flowing out of the radiator portion 43 of the heat exchanger 70 is lower than a temperature of refrigerant flowing out of the exterior heat exchange portion 16 of the heat exchanger 70 .
- the exterior heat exchange portion 16 functions in the air cooling operation as the radiation heat exchange portion in which high pressure refrigerant radiates heat. Since a supercooling degree of the refrigerant flowing out of the exterior heat exchange portion 16 can be increased in the air cooing operation, cycle efficiency can be improved.
- a temperature of coolant flowing out of the radiator portion 43 of the heat exchanger 70 is higher than a temperature of refrigerant flowing out of the exterior heat exchange portion 16 of the heat exchanger 70 .
- the exterior heat exchange portion 16 functions in the air heating operation as the evaporation heat exchange portion in which low pressure refrigerant evaporates and exerts a heat absorption effect. Since the refrigerant is heated by absorbing heat from the coolant in the air heating operation, evaporation of the refrigerant is promoted.
- the interior air conditioning unit 30 is disposed inside a dashboard (instrumental panel) in a most front part of the vehicle compartment.
- a blower 32 the above-described interior condenser 12 and the interior evaporator 20 are accommodated in the casing 31 that forms an outer shell of the interior air conditioning unit 30 .
- the casing 31 forms an air passage for air that is to be blown into the vehicle compartment.
- the casing 31 is formed of resin (e.g., polypropylene) that has a certain level of elasticity and is superior in strength.
- An inside-outside air switching device 33 is located in a most upstream part of the casing 31 in the flow direction of air blown into the vehicle compartment. The inside-outside air switching device 33 selectively introduce air (inside air) inside the vehicle compartment and the outside air.
- the inside-outside air switching device 33 has an inside air port, through which the inside air is introduced into the casing 31 , and an outside air port, through which the outside air is introduced into the casing 31 .
- An inside-outside air switching door is disposed inside the inside-outside air switching device 33 .
- the inside-outside air switching door continuously adjusts open areas of the inside air port and the outside air port to change a ratio between a flow rate of the inside air and a flow rate of the outside air.
- the blower 32 is located downstream of the inside-outside air switching device 33 in the air flow direction, and blows air drawn from the inside-outside air switching device 33 toward the vehicle compartment.
- the blower 32 is an electric fan in which a centrifugal multi-blade fan (sirocco fan) is driven by an electric motor.
- a rotation rate (air blowing amount) of the blower 32 is controlled by a control voltage outputted from the air conditioning controller.
- the interior evaporator 20 and the interior condenser 12 are arranged in this order downstream of the blower 32 in the air flow direction. In other words, the interior evaporator 20 is located upstream of the interior condenser 12 in the air flow direction.
- an air mix door 34 is arranged downstream of the interior evaporator 20 and upstream of the interior condenser 12 in the air flow direction.
- the air mix door 34 adjusts a ratio of a flow rate of air passing through the interior condenser 12 to a flow rate of air that has passed through the interior evaporator 20 .
- a mixing space 35 is provided downstream of the interior condenser 12 in the air flow direction. In the mixing space 35 , air that has heated in the interior condenser 12 by heat exchange with refrigerant is mixed with air that has not been heated by bypassing the interior condenser 12 .
- a most downstream part of the casing 31 in the air flow direction has air outlets through which conditioned air mixed in the mixing space 35 is blown to the vehicle compartment that is a cooling target space.
- the air outlets include a face air outlet through which the conditioned air is blown toward an upper part of a passenger in the vehicle compartment, a foot air outlet through which the conditioned air is blown toward a foot area of the passenger, and a defroster air outlet through which the conditioned air is blown toward an inner surface of a windshield of the vehicle (neither one of the air outlets is shown).
- the air mix door 34 adjusts the ratio of the flow rate of air passing through the interior condenser 12 , thereby adjusting a temperature of the conditioned air mixed in the mixing space 35 . Consequently, a temperature of the conditioned air blown out of the respective air outlets is adjusted.
- the air mix door 34 is used as a temperature adjustment device which adjusts a temperature of conditioned air blown into the vehicle compartment.
- the air mix door 34 functions as a heat exchange amount adjustment device which adjusts a heat exchange amount between refrigerant discharged by the compressor 11 and air blown into the vehicle compartment in the interior condenser 12 that is used as the using side heat exchanger.
- the air mix door 34 is driven by a non-shown servomotor, and an operation of the servomotor is controlled by a control signal outputted from the air conditioning controller.
- a face door, a foot door and a defroster door are arranged upstream of the face air outlet, the foot air outlet and the defroster air outlet, respectively, in the air flow direction (the doors are not shown).
- the face door adjusts an open area of the face air outlet.
- the foot door adjusts an open area of the foot air outlet.
- the defroster door adjusts an open area of the defroster air outlet.
- These face door, foot door and defroster door are used as an air outlet mode switching device which switches an air outlet mode.
- These doors are driven by a non-shown servomotor via a link mechanism or the like, and an operation of the servomotor is controlled by a control signal outputted from the air conditioning controller.
- the coolant circulation circuit 40 cools the above-described running electric motor MG by circulating coolant (e.g., ethylene glycol aqueous solution) as a cooling medium (heat medium) in a coolant passage provided inside the running electric motor MG.
- coolant e.g., ethylene glycol aqueous solution
- the running electric motor MG is one of an in-vehicle device which generates heat during operation.
- a coolant pump 41 , an electric three-way valve 42 , the radiator portion 43 of the combined heat exchanger 70 , and a bypass passage 44 through which coolant bypasses the radiator portion 43 are arranged in the coolant circulation circuit 40 .
- the coolant pump 41 is an electric pump which pumps coolant to the coolant passage provided inside the running electric motor MG in the coolant circulation circuit 40 .
- a rotation rate (discharge rate) of the coolant pump 41 is controlled by a control signal outputted from the air conditioning controller.
- the coolant pump 41 functions as a cooling capacity adjustment device which adjusts a cooling capacity by changing a flow rate of the coolant cooling the running electric motor MG.
- the three-way valve 42 switches between a coolant circuit, in which an inlet side of the coolant pump 41 is connected to an outlet side of the radiator portion 43 such that coolant flows into the radiator portion 43 , and a coolant circuit, in which the inlet side of the coolant pump 41 is connected to an outlet side of the bypass passage 44 such that coolant bypasses the radiator portion 43 .
- An operation of the three-way valve 42 is controlled by a control voltage outputted from the air conditioning controller.
- the three-way valve 42 is used as a circuit switching device which switches the coolant circuit.
- the three-way valve 42 functions also as a coolant inflow amount control device which controls an inflow amount of coolant into the radiator portion 43 by switching the coolant circuit.
- the coolant circulation circuit 40 of the present embodiment is capable of switching between the coolant circuit in which coolant circulates in this order: the coolant pump 41 ⁇ the running electric motor MG ⁇ the radiator portion 43 ⁇ the coolant pump 41 , and the coolant circuit in which coolant circulates in this order: the coolant pump 41 —the running electric motor MG ⁇ the bypass passage 44 ⁇ the coolant pump 41 .
- a temperature of coolant flowing out of the radiator portion 43 of the heat exchanger 70 is lower than or equal to a predetermined standard temperature (65° C. in the present embodiment). Accordingly, an inverter of the running electric motor MG can be protected from high heat.
- the exterior heat exchange portion 16 is disposed in the engine compartment and functions as a radiation heat exchange portion in which coolant exchanges heat with outside air blown by the blast fan 17 .
- the radiator portion 43 constitutes the combined heat exchanger 70 together with the exterior heat exchange portion 16 .
- FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the heat exchanger 70 of the first embodiment
- FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the heat exchanger 70 .
- FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective diagram for explanation of a refrigerant flow and a coolant flow in the heat exchanger 70 .
- the refrigerant flow in the heat pump cycle 10 is shown by solid arrows
- the coolant flow in the coolant circulation circuit 40 is shown by dashed arrows.
- FIG. 7 ( a ) and FIG. 8 ( a ) are sectional diagrams taken along A-A of FIG. 6 .
- FIG. 7 ( b ) and FIG. 8 ( b ) are sectional diagrams taken along B-B of FIG. 6 .
- FIG. 7 ( c ) and FIG. 8 ( c ) are sectional diagrams taken along C-C of FIG. 6 .
- FIG. 7 ( d ) and FIG. 8 ( d ) are sectional diagrams taken along D-D of FIG. 6 .
- Dashed arrows in FIGS. 7 ( a )-( d ) show refrigerant flows
- dashed arrows in FIGS. 8 ( a )-( d ) show coolant flows.
- FIG. 9 is a sectional diagram taken along E-E of FIG. 7 ( b )
- FIG. 10 is a sectional diagram taken along F-F of FIG. 7 ( c ).
- the combined heat exchanger 70 includes multiple tubes through which refrigerant or coolant flows, and a pair of collection-distribution tanks arranged on both end sides of the multiple tubes.
- the pair of collection-distribution tanks collects or distributes refrigerant or coolant that flows through the respective tubes.
- the combined heat exchanger 70 has a tank-and-tube heat exchanger structure.
- the combined heat exchanger 70 includes refrigerant tubes 16 a through which refrigerant flows as a first fluid, and coolant tubes 43 a through which coolant flows as a second fluid.
- the combined heat exchanger 70 includes an upstream heat exchange portion 71 in which the refrigerant tubes 16 a and the coolant tubes 43 a are stacked and arranged alternately.
- refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant tubes 16 a exchanges heat with air (outside air blown by the blast fan 17 ) flowing near the refrigerant tubes 16 a as a third fluid
- coolant flowing through the coolant tubes 43 a exchanges heat with air (outside air blown by the blast fan 17 ) flowing near the coolant tubes 43 a.
- a downstream heat exchange portion 72 is provided downstream of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 in a flow direction of outside air, and the refrigerant tubes 16 a are stacked and arranged in the downstream heat exchange portion 72 .
- refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant tubes 16 a exchanges heat with air (outside air blown by the blast fan 17 ) flowing near the refrigerant tubes 16 a.
- a flattened tube having a flattened shape in a sectional surface perpendicular to its longitudinal direction is used for the refrigerant tube 16 a and the coolant tube 43 a . More specifically, a tube formed to have a flattened shape and multiple holes in cross-section by extruding is used for the refrigerant tube 16 a . A tube formed to have a flattened shape and two holes in cross-section by bending a single plate member is used as the coolant tube 43 a.
- the refrigerant tubes 16 a and the coolant tubes 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 are stacked and arranged alternately at predetermined intervals such that flat sides of outer surfaces of the refrigerant tube 16 a and the coolant tube 43 a are opposed and parallel to each other.
- the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 are stacked and arranged at predetermined intervals.
- the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 is interposed between two of the coolant tubes 43 a , and the coolant tubes 43 a is interposed between two of the refrigerant tubes 16 a .
- the refrigerant tube 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 is arranged to be overlapped with the refrigerant tube 16 a or the coolant tube 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 in a flow direction of outside air blown by the blast fan 17 .
- the refrigerant tubes 16 a and the coolant tubes 43 a are arranged alternately.
- the number of the refrigerant tubes 16 a is equal to the number of the coolant tubes 43 a . Therefore, a ratio (hereinafter, referred to as an upstream number ratio) of the number of the refrigerant tubes 16 a to the total number of the refrigerant tubes 16 a and the coolant tubes 43 a in the upstream heat exchange portion 71 is 0.5.
- the tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 consist only of the refrigerant tubes 16 a . Therefore, a ratio (hereinafter, referred to as a downstream number ratio) of the number of the refrigerant tubes 16 a to the total number of the refrigerant tubes 16 a and the coolant tubes 43 a in the downstream heat exchange portion 72 is 1.
- the upstream number ratio is smaller than the downstream number ratio.
- Outer fins 50 are arranged in the outside air passages 70 a .
- the outer fins 50 promote heat exchanges between refrigerant and outside air and between coolant and outside air. Heat can be transferred through the outer fins 50 between refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 and coolant flowing through the coolant tubes 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 . Heat can be transferred through the outer fins 50 between refrigerants flowing through adjacent two of the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 .
- a corrugated fin formed by bending a metallic thin plate superior in heat-conductivity into a corrugated shape is used for the outer fin 50 .
- the outer fin 50 is bonded to both the refrigerant tube 16 a and the coolant tube 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 , and the outer fin 50 is thus capable of transferring heat therethrough between the refrigerant tube 16 a and the coolant tube 43 a .
- the outer fin 50 is bonded to adjacent two of the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 , and the outer fin 50 is hence capable of transferring heat therethrough between the adjacent two of the refrigerant tubes 16 a.
- the stacked heat exchanger 70 includes the upstream tank portion 73 extending in a stacking direction of the refrigerant tubes 16 a and the coolant tubes 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 , and the downstream tank portion 74 extending in a stacking direction of the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 .
- the upstream tank portion 73 has an upstream coolant space 731 which collects or distributes coolant that flows through the coolant tubes 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 .
- the downstream tank portion 74 has a downstream refrigerant space 741 which collects or distributes refrigerant that flows through the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 .
- the upstream tank portion 73 and the downstream tank portion 74 are formed integrally with each other.
- the one in which the upstream tank portion 73 and the downstream tank portion 74 are integrated with each other will be referred to as a header tank 75 .
- the header tank 75 includes a header plate 751 to which the refrigerant tubes 16 a and the coolant tubes 43 a arranged into two rows in the flow direction of outside air are fixed, a middle plate member 752 fixed to the header plate 751 , and a tank forming member 753 .
- the tank forming member 753 is fixed to the header plate 751 and the middle plate member 752 such that the upstream coolant space 731 and the downstream refrigerant space 741 are provided inside the tank forming member 753 .
- the tank forming member 753 is formed by pressing a flat metal plate and has a two peaks shape (W-shape) when the tank forming member 753 is viewed in its longitudinal direction.
- a center portion 753 c of the two peaks shape of the tank forming member 753 is bonded to the middle plate member 752 . Accordingly, the upstream coolant space 731 and the downstream refrigerant space 741 are partitioned.
- the middle plate member 752 has multiple recessed portions 752 a . As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 , the multiple recessed portions 752 a and the header plate 751 form therebetween multiple communication spaces 76 communicating with the coolant tubes 43 a by fixing the middle plate member 752 to the header plate 751 .
- the recessed portion 752 a has a first through hole 752 b extending through the recessed portion 752 a from its one side to the other side on a downstream part in the flow direction of outside air, in other words, in a region corresponding to the downstream refrigerant space 741 of the downstream tank portion 74 . Accordingly, the communication spaces 76 communicate with the downstream refrigerant space 741 of the downstream tank portion 74 .
- the communication spaces 76 function as communication passages through which the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 communicates with the downstream refrigerant space 741 of the downstream tank portion 74 .
- the communication space 76 extends in a direction to connect an end portion of the refrigerant tube 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 and an end portion of the refrigerant tube 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 which are arranged to be overlapped with each other in the flow direction of outside air. More specifically, the communication space 76 extends in the flow direction of the outside air on the end portion of the refrigerant tube 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 and on the end portion of the refrigerant tube 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 .
- the middle plate member 752 has second through holes 752 c extending through the middle plate member 752 from its one side to the other side at positions corresponding to the coolant tubes 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 .
- the coolant tubes 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 extend through the second through holes 752 c . Accordingly, the coolant tubes 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 communicates with the upstream coolant space 731 provided in the tank forming member 753 .
- the coolant tubes 43 a protrude toward the header tank 75 more than the refrigerant tubes 16 a on an end portion of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 .
- end portions of the refrigerant tubes 16 a and end portions of the coolant tubes 43 a are positioned unevenly near the header tank 75 .
- the middle plate member 752 further has third through holes 752 d extending through the middle plate member 752 from its one side to the other side.
- the third through holes 752 d are located at positions corresponding to the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 , which do not communicate with the communication spaces 76 .
- the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 which do not communicate with the communication spaces 76 , extend through the third through hole 752 d . Accordingly, the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 75 , which do not communicate with the communication spaces 76 , communicate with the downstream refrigerant space 741 provided in the tank forming member 753 .
- the refrigerant tubes 16 a which do not communicate with the communication spaces 76 , protrude toward the header tank 75 more than the refrigerant tubes 16 a , which communicate with the communication spaces 76 , on an end portion of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 .
- end portions of adjacent two of the refrigerant tubes 16 a are positioned unevenly.
- the center portion 753 c of the tank forming member 753 is formed into a shape fitting the recessed portions 752 a of the middle plate member 752 .
- the upstream coolant space 731 and the downstream refrigerant space 741 are separated from each other such that coolant or refrigerant therein is prevented from leaking through the joint part between the header plate 751 and the middle plate member 752 .
- a coolant inflow pipe 434 through which coolant flows into the upstream coolant space 731 is connected to one end side (left side on the paper of the drawing) of the upstream tank portion 73 in a longitudinal direction of the upstream tank portion 73 .
- the upstream tank portion 73 connected to the coolant inflow pipe 434 is located on one end side (upper side on the paper of the drawing) of the coolant tubes 43 a in a longitudinal direction of the coolant tubes 43 a .
- a coolant outflow pipe 435 through which coolant flows out of the upstream coolant space 731 is connected to the other side (right side on the paper of the drawing) of the upstream tank portion 73 in the longitudinal direction of the upstream tank portion 73 .
- the upstream tank portion 73 connected to the coolant outflow pipe 435 is located on the one end side of the coolant tubes 43 a in the longitudinal direction of the coolant tubes 43 a . Both end sides of the upstream tank portion 73 in its longitudinal direction, which is located on the other end side (lower side on the paper of the drawing) of the coolant tubes 43 a in the longitudinal direction of the coolant tubes 43 a , are closed by closing members.
- a refrigerant outflow pipe 165 through which refrigerant flows out of the downstream refrigerant space 741 is connected to one end side (left side on the paper of the drawing) of the downstream tank portion 74 in a longitudinal direction of the downstream tank portion 74 .
- the downstream tank portion 74 connected to the refrigerant outflow pipe is located on one end side (upper side on the paper of the drawing) of the refrigerant tubes 16 a in a longitudinal direction of the refrigerant tubes 16 a .
- a refrigerant inflow pipe 164 through which refrigerant flows into the downstream refrigerant space 741 is connected to the other side (right side on the paper of the drawing) of the downstream tank portion 74 in the longitudinal direction of the downstream tank portion 74 .
- the downstream tank portion 74 connected to the refrigerant inflow pipe 164 is located on the one end side of the refrigerant tubes 16 a . Both end sides of the downstream tank portion 74 in its longitudinal direction, which is located on the other end side (lower side on the paper of the drawing) of the refrigerant tubes 16 a in the longitudinal direction of the refrigerant tubes 16 a , are closed by closing members.
- an upstream partition member 732 is disposed in the upstream tank portion 73 (hereinafter, referred to as a first upstream tank portion 730 a ) located on the one end side (upper side of the paper of FIG. 4 ) of the coolant tubes 43 a in the longitudinal direction of the coolant tubes 43 a .
- the upstream partition member 732 partitions the upstream coolant space 731 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the first upstream tank portion 730 a.
- first upstream coolant space 731 a One of the two spaces of the upstream coolant space 731 partitioned by the upstream partition member 732 , which communicates with the coolant inflow pipe 434 , is referred to as a first upstream coolant space 731 a .
- second upstream coolant space 731 b The upstream tank portion 73 located on the other end side (lower side of the paper of FIG. 4 ) of the coolant tubes 43 a in their longitudinal direction is referred to as a second upstream tank portion 730 b.
- a downstream partition member 742 is disposed in the downstream tank portion 74 (hereinafter, referred to as a first downstream tank portion 740 a ) located on the one end side (upper side of the paper of FIG. 4 ) of the refrigerant tubes 16 a in their longitudinal direction.
- the downstream partition member 742 partitions the downstream refrigerant space 741 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the first downstream tank portion 740 a.
- first downstream refrigerant space 741 a One of the two spaces of the downstream refrigerant space 741 partitioned by the downstream partition member 742 , which communicates with the refrigerant inflow pipe 164 , is referred to as a first downstream refrigerant space 741 a .
- second downstream refrigerant space 741 b The downstream tank portion 74 located on the other end side (lower side of the paper of FIG. 4 ) of the refrigerant tubes 16 a in their longitudinal direction is referred to as a second downstream tank portion 740 b.
- refrigerant flows into the first downstream refrigerant space 741 a of the first downstream tank portion 740 a through the refrigerant inflow pipe 164 .
- a part of the refrigerant in the first downstream refrigerant space 741 a flows into the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 and passes through the refrigerant tubes 16 a from the upper side to the lower side of the drawing.
- Another part of the refrigerant in the first downstream refrigerant space 741 a of the first downstream tank portion 740 a flows into the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 through the communication spaces 76 provided between the header plate 751 and the middle plate member 752 .
- the refrigerant flowing into the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 passes through the refrigerant tubes 16 a from the upper side to the lower side of the drawing.
- the refrigerants flowing out of the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 gather together in the downstream refrigerant space 741 of the second downstream tank portion 740 b . Also the refrigerants flowing out of the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 gather together in the downstream refrigerant space 741 of the second downstream tank portion 740 b through the communication spaces 76 provided between the header plate 751 and the middle plate member 752 .
- the refrigerant collected in the downstream refrigerant space 741 of the second downstream tank portion 740 b flows from the right side to the left side of the drawing. Subsequently, a part of the refrigerant collected in the downstream refrigerant space 741 of the second downstream tank portion 740 b flows into the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 and passes through the refrigerant tubes 16 a from the lower side to the upper side of the drawing. Another part of the refrigerant collected in the downstream refrigerant space 741 of the second downstream tank portion 740 b flows into the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 through the communication spaces 76 provided between the header plate 751 and the middle plate member 752 . The refrigerant flows through the refrigerant tubes 16 a from the lower side to the upper side of the drawing.
- the refrigerants flowing out of the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 gather together in the second downstream refrigerant space 741 b of the first downstream tank portion 740 a . Also the refrigerants flowing out of the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 gather together in the second downstream refrigerant space 741 b of the first downstream tank portion 740 a through the communication spaces 76 provided between the header plate 751 and the middle plate member 752 .
- the refrigerant collected in the second downstream refrigerant space 741 b of the first downstream tank portion 740 a flows from the right side to the left side of the drawing and flows out through the refrigerant outflow pipe 165 .
- coolant flows into the first upstream coolant space 731 a of the first upstream tank portion 730 a through the coolant inflow pipe 434 .
- the coolant in the first upstream coolant space 731 a flows into the coolant tubes 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 and passes through the coolant tubes 43 a from the upper side to the lower side of the drawing.
- the coolants flowing out of the coolant tubes 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 gather together in the upstream coolant space 731 of the second upstream tank portion 730 b .
- the coolant flows from the left side to the right side of the drawing in the upstream coolant space 731 of the second upstream tank portion 730 b.
- the coolant collected in the upstream coolant space 731 of the second upstream tank portion 730 b flows into the coolant tubes 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 and passes through the coolant tubes 43 a from the lower side to the upper side of the drawing.
- the coolants flowing out of the coolant tubes 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 gather together in the second upstream coolant space 731 b of the first upstream tank portion 730 a.
- the coolant collected in the second upstream coolant space 731 b of the first upstream tank portion 730 a flows from the left side to the right side of the drawing and flows out through the coolant outflow pipe 435 .
- both the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 and the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 are used for the exterior heat exchange portion 16 .
- the coolant tubes 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 are used for the radiator portion 43 .
- the refrigerant tubes 16 a , the coolant tubes 43 a , the respective components of the header tank 75 and the outer fins 50 in the above-described heat exchanger 70 are made of the same metal material (aluminum alloy in the present embodiment).
- the header plate 751 and the tank forming member 753 are fixed to each other by crimping in a state where the middle plate member 752 is interposed between the header plate 751 and the tank forming member 753 .
- the heat exchanger 70 fixed by the crimping is thrown into a heating furnace.
- the heat exchanger 70 is heated, and brazing filler metal coating surfaces of the respective components is melted.
- the respective components are brazed integrally. Accordingly, the exterior heat exchange portion 16 and the radiator portion 43 are integrated with each other.
- refrigerant of the present embodiment corresponds to the first fluid described in claims, and coolant corresponds to the second fluid.
- Air exterior air
- the refrigerant tubes 16 a correspond to first tubes.
- the coolant tubes 43 a correspond to second tubes, and the communication spaces 76 correspond to a communication passage described in claims.
- the air conditioning controller includes a known microcomputer and its peripheral circuit, and the microcomputer includes a CPU, a ROM and a RAM.
- the air conditioning controller performs a variety of calculations and executes processing based on an air conditioning control program stored in the ROM.
- the air conditioning controller controls operations of various air conditioning control devices 11 , 15 a , 15 b , 17 , 41 and 42 which are connected to an output side of the air conditioning controller.
- An input side of the air conditioning controller is connected to various sensors for air conditioning control.
- the various sensors include an inside air sensor which detects a temperature inside the vehicle compartment, an outside air sensor which detects an outside temperature, a solar sensor which detects an amount of solar radiation in the vehicle compartment, an evaporator temperature sensor which detects a temperature (evaporator temperature) of air blown out of the interior evaporator 20 , a discharged refrigerant temperature sensor which detects a temperature of refrigerant discharged from the compressor 11 , an outlet refrigerant temperature sensor 51 which detects a temperature Te of refrigerant on the outlet side of the exterior heat exchange portion 16 , and a coolant temperature sensor 52 as a coolant temperature detection device which detects a temperature Tw of coolant flowing into the running electric motor MG.
- the coolant temperature sensor 52 detects the temperature Tw of coolant pumped by the coolant pump 41 , but may detect a temperature Tw of coolant drawn into the coolant pump 41 .
- the inlet side of the air conditioning controller is connected to a non-shown operation panel located near the dashboard in the front part of the vehicle compartment. Operation signals are input into the air conditioning controller from various control switches provided in the operation panel.
- the various control switches include an activation switch of the vehicle air conditioner, a vehicle-compartment temperature setting switch by which a temperature of the vehicle compartment is set, and a selecting switch of operation modes.
- the air conditioning controller integrally includes control devices that control operations of the electric motor 11 b of the compressor 11 and the open-close valve 15 a , for example.
- a unit (hardware and software) of the air conditioning controller which controls an operation of the compressor 11 , is used as a refrigerant discharge capacity control portion.
- a unit of the air conditioning controller which controls operations of various devices 15 a and 15 b used as the refrigerant passage switching device, is used as a refrigerant passage control portion.
- a unit of the air conditioning controller, which controls an operation of the three-way valve 42 used as the coolant circuit switching device, is used as a coolant circuit control portion.
- the air conditioning controller of the present embodiment further includes a unit (frosting determination portion) which determine whether the exterior heat exchange portion 16 is frosted based on detection signals from the above-described air conditioning sensors. Specifically, the frosting determination portion of the present embodiment determines that the exterior heat exchange portion 16 is frosted, when a speed of the vehicle is lower than or equal to a predetermined speed (20 km/h in the present embodiment), and when the refrigerant temperature Te on the outlet side of the exterior heat exchange portion 16 is lower than or equal to 0° C.
- a unit which determine whether the exterior heat exchange portion 16 is frosted based on detection signals from the above-described air conditioning sensors. Specifically, the frosting determination portion of the present embodiment determines that the exterior heat exchange portion 16 is frosted, when a speed of the vehicle is lower than or equal to a predetermined speed (20 km/h in the present embodiment), and when the refrigerant temperature Te on the outlet side of the exterior heat exchange portion 16 is lower than or equal to 0° C.
- the vehicle air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment is capable of performing the air heating operation, in which the vehicle compartment is heated, and the air cooling operation, in which the vehicle compartment is cooled. Additionally, the vehicle air conditioner 1 is capable of performing the defrosting operation during the air heating operation. Behaviors of the vehicle air conditioner 1 in the respective operations will be described below.
- the air heating operation is started when an air heating mode is selected by using the selecting switch in a state where the activation switch of the operation panel is turned on (ON).
- the frosting determination portion determines that the exterior heat exchange portion 16 is frosted during the air heating operation, the defrosting operation is performed.
- the air conditioning controller closes the open-close valve 15 a and switches the three-way valve 15 b to select the refrigerant passage connecting the outlet side of the exterior heat exchange portion 16 and the inlet side of the accumulator 18 . Additionally, the air conditioning controller operates the coolant pump 41 such that the coolant pump 41 pumps coolant at a predetermined flow rate. The air conditioning controller switches the three-way valve 42 of the coolant circulation circuit 40 to select the coolant circuit in which the coolant flows with bypassing the radiator portion 43 .
- the heat pump cycle 10 is switched to the refrigerant passage in which refrigerant flows as shown by the solid arrows of FIG. 1
- the coolant circulation circuit 40 is switched to the coolant circuit in which coolant flows as shown by the dashed arrows of FIG. 1 .
- the air conditioning controller reads detection signals of the above-described air conditioning sensors and operation signals of the operation panel.
- the air conditioning controller calculates a target outlet air temperature TAO based on values of the detection signals and the operation signals.
- the target outlet air temperature TAO is a target temperature of air blown into the vehicle compartment.
- the air conditioning controller determines operation states of the various air conditioning control devices connected to the output side of the air conditioning controller based on the calculated target outlet air temperature TAO and the detection signals of the sensors.
- a refrigerant discharge capacity of the compressor 11 and a control signal outputted to the electric motor of the compressor 11 are determined as below.
- a target evaporator outlet air temperature TEO of the interior evaporator 20 is determined based on the target outlet air temperature TAO with reference to a control map stored beforehand in the air conditioning controller.
- the control signal outputted to the electric motor of the compressor 11 is determined based on a difference between the target evaporator outlet air temperature TEO and a temperature of air blown out of the interior evaporator 20 so that the temperature of air blown out of the interior evaporator 20 approaches the target evaporator outlet air temperature TEO by a feedback control method.
- the temperature of air blown out of the interior evaporator 20 is detected by the evaporator temperature sensor.
- a control signal outputted to the servomotor of the air mix door 34 is determined by using the target air outlet temperature TAO, the temperature of air blown out of the interior evaporator 20 , and a temperature of refrigerant discharged from the compressor 11 so that a temperature of air blown into the vehicle compartment becomes a temperature desired by a passenger.
- the temperature of refrigerant discharged from the compressor 11 is detected by the discharged refrigerant temperature sensor, and the temperature desired by the passenger is set by the passenger with the vehicle-compartment temperature setting switch.
- an open degree of the air mix door 34 may be controlled such that all air volume blown by the blower 32 passes through the interior condenser 12 .
- control signals determined as described above are outputted to the various air conditioning control devices. Subsequently, a control routine: reading of detection signals and operation signals ⁇ calculation of the target outlet air temperature TAO ⁇ determination of operational states of the various air conditioning control devices ⁇ outputting of control voltages and control signals, is repeatedly performed with a predetermined control period until an operational stop of the vehicle air conditioner is requested via the operation panel.
- the high pressure refrigerant from the interior condenser 12 flows into the heating fixed throttle 13 because the open-close valve 15 a is closed.
- the high pressure refrigerant flowing into the heating fixed throttle 13 is depressurized and expanded to be changed into low pressure refrigerant.
- the low pressure refrigerant flows into the exterior heat exchange portion 16 .
- the low pressure refrigerant in the exterior heat exchange portion 16 evaporates by absorbing heat from outside air blown by the blast fan 17 .
- Coolant circulates in the coolant circulation circuit 40 without radiating heat to refrigerant flowing through the exterior heat exchange portion 16 or without absorbing heat from the refrigerant flowing through the exterior heat exchange portion 16 because the coolant circuit is switched such that the coolant bypasses the radiator portion 43 . In other words, the coolant exerts no thermal influence on the refrigerant flowing through the exterior heat exchange portion 16 .
- the refrigerant from the exterior heat exchange portion 16 flows into the accumulator 18 to be separated into gas and liquid because the three-way valve 15 b is switched to select the refrigerant passage connecting the outlet side of the exterior heat exchange portion 16 and the inlet side of the accumulator 18 .
- Gas refrigerant separated by the accumulator 18 is drawn into the compressor 11 and is compressed.
- air that is to be blown into the vehicle compartment is heated in the interior condenser 12 by heat of refrigerant discharged from the compressor 11 , and air heating of the vehicle compartment can be thus performed.
- the exterior heat exchange portion 16 may be frosted when an evaporation temperature of refrigerant in the exterior heat exchange portion 16 is lower than or equal to a frost formation temperature (specifically, 0° C.).
- the defrosting operation is performed when the frosting determination portion determines that the exterior heat exchange portion 16 is frosted during the air heating operation.
- the air conditioning controller stops operation of the compressor 11 and stops operation of the blast fan 17 .
- a flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the exterior heat exchange portion 16 in the defrosting operation is lower than that in the general air heating operation.
- a flow rate of outside air flowing into the outside air passages 70 a in the defrosting operation is lower than that in the general air heating operation.
- the air conditioning controller switches the three-way valve 42 of the coolant circulation circuit 40 to select the coolant circuit in which coolant flows into the radiator portion 43 , as shown by the dashed arrows in FIG. 2 . Accordingly, refrigerant does not circulate in the heat pump cycle 10 , and the coolant circulation circuit 40 is switched to the coolant circuit in which refrigerant flows as shown by the dashed arrows of FIG. 2 .
- the air cooling operation is started when an air cooling mode is selected by using the selecting switch in a state where the operation panel is turned on (ON).
- the air conditioning controller opens the open-close valve 15 a , and switches the three-way valve 15 b to select the refrigerant passage connecting the outlet side of the exterior heat exchange portion 16 and the inlet side of the cooling fixed throttle 19 . Accordingly, the heat pump cycle 10 is switched to the refrigerant passage in which refrigerant flows as shown by the solid arrows of FIG. 3 .
- the three-way valve 42 of the coolant circulation circuit 40 is switched to a coolant circuit in which coolant flows into the radiator portion 43 .
- the three-way valve 42 of the coolant circulation circuit 40 is switched to a coolant circuit in which coolant bypasses the radiator portion 43 .
- a flow of coolant when the coolant temperature Tw is higher than or equal to the reference temperature is shown by the dashed arrows.
- high pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 11 flows into the interior condenser 12 and radiates heat by heat exchange with air that has been blown by the blower 32 and has passed through the interior evaporator 20 .
- the high pressure refrigerant from the interior condenser 12 flows into the exterior heat exchange portion 16 through the fixed-throttle bypass passage 14 because the open-close valve 15 a is open.
- the refrigerant flowing in the exterior heat exchange portion 16 further radiates heat to outside air blown by the blast fan 17 .
- the refrigerant flowing out of the heat exchange portion 16 is depressurized and expanded by the cooling fixed throttle 19 because the three-way valve 15 b is switched to select the refrigerant passage connecting the outlet side of the exterior heat exchange portion 16 and the inlet side of the cooling fixed throttle 19 .
- the refrigerant flows from the cooling fixed throttle 19 into the interior evaporator 20 and evaporates in the interior evaporator 20 by absorbing heat from air blown by the blower 32 . Accordingly, the air that is to be blown into the vehicle compartment is cooled.
- the refrigerant flows out of the interior evaporator 20 into the accumulator 18 to be separated into gas and liquid.
- Gas refrigerant separated in the accumulator 18 is drawn into the compressor 11 to be compressed newly.
- low pressure refrigerant evaporates in the interior evaporator 20 by absorbing heat from air that is to be blown into the vehicle compartment, the air is cooled in the air cooling operation. Therefore, air cooling in the vehicle compartment can be performed.
- various operations of the vehicle air conditioner 1 can be performed by switching the refrigerant passage of the heat pump cycle 10 and the coolant circuit of the coolant circulation circuit 40 as described above. Further, in the present embodiment, since the heat exchanger 70 having the above-described features is used, heat exchange amounts among three kinds of fluids: refrigerant, coolant and air, can be adjusted suitably.
- the upstream number ratio which is a ratio of the number of the refrigerant tubes 16 a to the total number of the refrigerant tubes 16 a and the coolant tubes 43 a in the upstream heat exchange portion 71 , is lower than the downstream number ratio that is a ratio of the number of the refrigerant tubes 16 a to the total number of the refrigerant tubes 16 a and the coolant tubes 43 a in the downstream heat exchange portion 72 .
- the refrigerant tubes 16 a and the coolant tubes 43 a are arranged alternately in the upstream heat exchange portion 71 . Accordingly, heat of coolant can be transferred to the refrigerant tubes 16 a through the outer fins 50 in the defrosting operation. Therefore, waste heat of the running electric motor MG can be effectively utilized for defrosting of the refrigerant tubes 16 a.
- the tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 consist only of the refrigerant tubes 16 a .
- a heat exchange amount between refrigerant and outside air can be ensured sufficiently. Therefore, a heat exchange amount between refrigerant and outside air can be ensured appropriately in the heat exchanger 70 as a whole.
- the refrigerant tubes 16 a and the coolant tubes 43 a are arranged alternately in the upstream heat exchange portion 71 that is easier to be frosted than the downstream heat exchange portion 72 . Therefore, defrosting of the refrigerant tubes 16 a can be performed efficiently, and the heat exchange amount between refrigerant and outside air can be ensured suitably in the heat exchanger 70 as a whole.
- the outer fins 50 are located in the outside air passages 70 a provided between the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the exterior heat exchange portion 16 and the coolant tubes 43 a of the radiator portion 43 . Transfer of heat between the refrigerant tubes 16 a and the coolant tubes 43 a is made to be possible by the outer fins 50 .
- heat of coolant can be transferred to the refrigerant tubes 16 a through the outer fins 50 more certainly.
- waste heat of the running electric motor MG can be utilized for defrosting of the refrigerant tubes 16 a more effectively.
- the communication spaces 76 extend in a direction to connect an end portion of a refrigerant tube 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 and an end portion of a refrigerant tube 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 , which are arranged to be overlapped with each other in the flow direction of outside air.
- the communication spaces 76 extend in the flow direction of outside air. Therefore, enlargement of the heat exchange 70 in size can be limited.
- FIG. 11 is a perspective sectional diagram showing a heat exchanger 70 of the second embodiment.
- a header tank 75 of the heat exchanger 70 includes a header plate 751 to which both refrigerant tubes 16 a and coolant tubes 43 a are fixed, and a tank forming member 753 .
- An upstream refrigerant space 733 , an upstream coolant space 731 and a downstream refrigerant space 741 are formed inside the tank forming member 753 by fixing the tank forming member 753 to the header plate 751 .
- the upstream refrigerant space 733 and the upstream coolant space 731 are formed in an upstream tank portion 73 .
- the upstream refrigerant space 733 collects or distributes refrigerant that flows through refrigerant tubes 16 a of an upstream heat exchange portion 71 .
- the upstream coolant space 731 collects or distributes coolant that flows through the coolant tubes 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 .
- the downstream refrigerant space 741 is formed in a downstream tank portion 74 , and collects or distributes refrigerant that flows through refrigerant tubes 16 a of a downstream heat exchange portion 72 .
- a partition member 734 is provided inside the upstream tank portion 73 , and the partition member 734 separates an inside space of the upstream tank portion 73 into two spaces that align in a flow direction of outside air. Accordingly, the upstream coolant space 731 is provided on an upstream side of the partition member 734 in the flow direction of outside air, and the upstream refrigerant space 733 is provided on a downstream side of the partition member 734 in the flow direction of outside air.
- a middle member 737 is provided inside the upstream tank portion 73 .
- the middle member 737 includes a first communication hole 735 through which the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 communicate with the upstream refrigerant space 733 , and a second communication hole 736 through which the coolant tubes 43 a communicate with the upstream coolant space 731 .
- the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 communicates with the upstream refrigerant space 733 through the first communication hole 735 .
- the coolant tubes 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 communicates with the upstream coolant space 731 through the second communication hole 736 .
- the middle plate member 737 is integrated with the partition member 734 .
- the middle plate member 737 is fixed to the header plate 751 .
- a communication space 76 is provided in the header tank 75 and functions as a communication passage through which the upstream refrigerant space 733 communicates with the downstream refrigerant space 741 .
- the communication space 76 is formed between a center portion 753 c and the header plate 751 .
- refrigerant and coolant can be made to flow in the heat exchanger 70 of the present embodiment, similarly to FIG. 6 of the first embodiment.
- the other configurations and operations of a heat pump cycle 10 (vehicle air conditioner 1 ) are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, even when the vehicle air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment is operated, similar effects to the first embodiment can be obtained.
- FIG. 12 is a perspective sectional diagram showing a heat exchanger 70 of the third embodiment.
- a tank forming member 753 of a header tank 75 of the present embodiment is formed by extrusion molding.
- An upstream coolant space 731 , an upstream refrigerant space 733 and a downstream refrigerant space 741 are provided inside the tank forming member 753 .
- a communication space 76 is provided between the tank forming member 753 and a header plate 751 , and refrigerant tubes 16 a of an upstream heat exchange portion 71 communicates with refrigerant tubes 16 a of a downstream heat exchange portion 72 through the communication space 76 .
- the tank forming member 753 includes a first communication hole 753 a through which the upstream refrigerant space 733 communicates with the communication space 76 .
- the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 communicates with the upstream refrigerant space 733 through the communication space 76 and the first communication hole 753 a.
- the tank forming member 753 includes a second communication hole 753 b through which the upstream coolant space 731 communicates with coolant tubes 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 .
- the coolant tubes 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 communicates with the upstream coolant space 731 through the second communication hole 753 b.
- the tank forming member 753 includes a third communication hole 753 d through which the downstream refrigerant space 741 communicates with the communication space 76 .
- the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 communicates with the downstream refrigerant space 741 through the communication space 76 and the third communication hole 753 d.
- the tank forming member 753 includes the first communication hole 753 a through which the upstream refrigerant space 733 communicates with the communication space 76 , and the third communication hole 753 d through which the downstream refrigerant space 741 communicates with the communication space 76 .
- the upstream refrigerant space 733 and the downstream refrigerant space 741 communicate with each other through the communication hole 76 .
- the communication hole 76 functions as a communication passage through which the upstream refrigerant space 733 and the downstream refrigerant space 741 communicate with each other.
- refrigerant and coolant can be made to be flow in the heat exchanger 70 of the present embodiment similarly to FIG. 6 of the first embodiment.
- the other configurations and operations of a heat pump cycle 10 (vehicle air conditioner 1 ) are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, even when the vehicle air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment is operated, similar effects to the first embodiment can be obtained.
- the upstream coolant space 731 , the upstream refrigerant space 733 and the downstream refrigerant space 741 are provided inside the tank forming member 753 .
- the communication space 76 through which the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 communicates with the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 , is provided between the tank forming member 753 and the header plate 751 .
- a middle plate member for forming the upstream coolant space 731 , the upstream refrigerant space 733 , the downstream refrigerant space 741 and the communication space 76 can be omitted. Therefore, an upstream tank portion 73 and a downstream tank portion 74 can be formed easily at low cost.
- FIGS. 13 to 15 an example shown in general configuration diagrams of FIGS. 13 to 15 will be described, in which configurations of a coolant circulation circuit 40 and a heat pump cycle 10 are changed from the first embodiment.
- a refrigerant flow in the heat pump cycle 10 is shown by solid lines, and a coolant flow in the coolant circulation circuit 40 is shown by dashed arrows.
- the coolant circulation circuit 40 of the present embodiment cools an engine EG by circulating coolant as a cooling medium (heat medium) in a coolant passage formed inside the engine EG.
- the engine EG is one of an in-vehicle device that generates heat during its operation time.
- the running electric motor MG of the first embodiment is omitted, and the engine EG is provided alternatively.
- the interior condenser 12 of the first embodiment is omitted, and the combined heat exchanger 70 of the first embodiment is disposed inside the casing 31 of the interior air conditioning unit 30 .
- the exterior heat exchange portion 16 of the heat exchanger 70 of the first embodiment is used as the interior condenser 12 .
- the portion of the heat exchanger 70 which is used as the interior condenser 12 , is referred to as an interior condenser portion.
- the radiator portion 43 of the heat exchanger 70 of the first embodiment is used as a heat-recovery heat exchange portion 45 which heats coolant by using heat of refrigerant. Accordingly, in the heat pump cycle 10 of the present embodiment, a warm-up operation can be performed. In the warm-up operation, coolant is heated by heat of refrigerant to warm the engine EG up.
- the heat-recovery heat exchange portion 45 is located in a bypass passage 44 of the coolant circulation circuit 40 .
- An exterior heat exchange portion 16 is a single heat exchanger in which refrigerant flowing therein exchanges heat with outside air blown by a blast fan 17 .
- a radiator portion 43 is a single heat exchanger in which coolant flowing therein exchanges heat with outside air blown by a blast fan 46 .
- the other configurations are similar to the first embodiment.
- the warm-up operation is performed instead of the defrosting operation, the other operations are similar to the first embodiment.
- a temperature of coolant is preferably kept lower than or equal to a predetermined upper limit temperature in order to restrict overheat of the engine EG.
- the temperature of coolant is preferably kept higher than or equal to a predetermined lower limit temperature in order to reduce friction loss caused by viscosity increase of lubricant oil enclosed in the engine EG.
- the warm-up operation is performed when a coolant temperature Tw becomes lower than or equal to a predetermined reference temperature during an air heating operation.
- a three-way valve 15 b of the heat pump cycle 10 is operated similarly to the general air heating operation.
- a three-way valve 42 of the coolant circulation circuit 40 is operated such that coolant bypasses the radiator 43 as shown by the dashed arrows of FIG. 14 .
- a coolant circuit in which coolant flows into the heat-recovery heat exchange portion 45 , is selected.
- high pressure refrigerant discharged from a compressor 11 flows into the interior condenser portion 12 , similarly to the general air heating operation.
- Heat of the high-pressure and high-temperature refrigerant flowing in the interior condenser portion 12 is transferred to air blown by a blower 32 and to coolant through outer fins 50 because the three-way valve 42 selects the coolant circuit in which coolant flows into the heat-recovery heat exchange portion 45 .
- the other operations are similar to the general air heating operation.
- the heat exchanger 70 of the second embodiment or the third embodiment may be used for the heat pump cycle 10 of the present embodiment.
- the fifth embodiment is different from the above-described first embodiment in that a communication passage (communication space), through which refrigerant tubes 16 a of an upstream heat exchange portion 71 communicates with a downstream refrigerant space 741 of a downstream tank portion 74 , is provided separately from an upstream tank portion 73 and the downstream tank portion 74 .
- a communication passage communication space
- a heat exchanger 70 of the present embodiment has a so-called drawn cup heat exchanger structure in which multiple plate members are stacked and arranged with outer fins 50 interposed therebetween.
- the plate member is formed by joining a pair of plate-like members with each other to have a space therebetween, and, as a result, a tube and a tank portion communicating with the tube are formed in the plate member.
- the tank portions of the plate members are made to communicate with one another, and structures corresponding to the upstream tank portion 73 and the downstream tank portion 74 of the above-described embodiments can be thereby formed.
- a pair of first plate-like members 81 shown in FIG. 16 is joined with each other to having spaces therebetween.
- different kinds of tubes a refrigerant tube 16 a and a coolant tube 43 a
- a pair of second plate-like members 82 shown in FIG. 17 is joined with each other to having spaces therebetween.
- the same kind of tubes refrigerant tubes 16 a
- the same kind of tubes are overlapped with each other in a flow direction of outside air.
- the first plate-like member 81 includes a coolant passage groove 811 for forming the coolant tube 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 , and a refrigerant passage groove 812 for forming the refrigerant tube 16 a of a downstream heat exchange portion 72 .
- a coolant inner fin 813 is provided inside the coolant passage groove 811 and promotes heat exchange between coolant flowing in the coolant passage groove 811 and outside air.
- a refrigerant inner fin 814 is provided inside the refrigerant passage groove 812 and promotes heat exchange between refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant passage groove 812 and outside air.
- the first plate-like member 81 includes a coolant through hole 815 on both sides of the coolant passage groove 811 in its extending direction, and the coolant through hole 815 is used for forming the upstream coolant space 731 of the upstream tank portion 71 .
- the first plate-like member 81 includes a refrigerant through hole 816 on both sides of the refrigerant passage groove 812 in its extending direction, and the refrigerant through hole 816 is used for forming the downstream refrigerant space 741 of the downstream tank portion 74 .
- the second plate-like member 82 includes an upstream refrigerant passage groove 821 for forming the refrigerant tube 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 , and a downstream refrigerant passage groove 822 for forming the refrigerant tube 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 .
- a coolant inner fin 814 is provided inside the upstream refrigerant passage groove 821 and promotes heat exchange between refrigerant flowing in the upstream refrigerant passage groove 821 and outside air.
- a coolant inner fin 814 is provided inside the downstream refrigerant passage groove 822 and promotes heat exchange between refrigerant flowing in the downstream refrigerant passage groove 822 and outside air.
- the second plate-like member 82 includes a coolant through hole 815 and a refrigerant through hole 816 .
- the second plate-like member 82 includes a first communication passage groove 823 connecting one end portion (end portion on the upper side of the drawing) of the upstream refrigerant passage groove 821 in its longitudinal direction and one end portion (end portion on the upper side of the drawing) of the downstream refrigerant passage groove 822 in its longitudinal direction.
- the second plate-like member 82 further includes a second communication passage groove 824 connecting the other end portion (end portion on the lower side of the drawing) of the upstream refrigerant passage groove 821 in its longitudinal direction and the other end portion (end portion on the lower side of the drawing) of the downstream refrigerant passage groove 822 in its longitudinal direction.
- the first communication passage groove 823 and the second communication passage groove 824 are connected to the coolant through holes 816 , respectively.
- a space formed between the first communication passage grooves 823 and a space formed between the second communication passage grooves 824 function as communication passages through which the refrigerant tube 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 communicates with the downstream refrigerant space 741 .
- the refrigerant tubes 16 a , the coolant tubes 43 a , the upstream tank portion 73 , the downstream tank portion 74 and the communication spaces 76 are formed by joining a pair of the first plate-like members 81 and by joining a pair of the second plate-like members 82 . Therefore, the so-called drawn cup heat exchanger structure is used in the present embodiment.
- the refrigerant tubes 16 a , the coolant tubes 43 a , the upstream tank portion 73 , the downstream tank portion 74 and the communication spaces 76 can be formed by the plate-like members 81 and 82 without using other members. Therefore, the heat exchanger 70 can be formed easily at low cost.
- the sixth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a communication passage (communication space), through which refrigerant tubes 16 a of an upstream heat exchange portion 71 communicates with a downstream refrigerant space 741 of a downstream tank portion 74 , is provided separately from an upstream tank portion 73 and the downstream tank portion 74 .
- the sixth embodiment is different from the first embodiment also in that the communication passage is located nearer to tubes 16 a and 24 a more than the tank portions 73 and 74 .
- a so-called plate tube is used for refrigerant tube 16 a and coolant tubes 43 a .
- the plate tube is formed by joining a pair of plate-like members having a convex-concave portion on its surface so as to have a space between the plate-like members.
- the plate-like member 83 is formed of metal (aluminum alloy in the present embodiment) superior in heat conductivity.
- a pair of the first plate-like members 83 shown in FIG. 18 is joined with each other to have spaces therebetween.
- a portion, in which different kinds of tubes (refrigerant tube 16 a and coolant tube 43 a ) are overlapped with each other in a flow direction of outside air is provided.
- a pair of second plate-like members 84 shown in FIG. 19 is joined with each other to have spaces therebetween.
- a portion, in which the same kind of tubes (refrigerant tubes 16 a ) are overlapped with each other in the flow direction of outside air is provided.
- the first plate member 83 includes a coolant passage groove 831 for forming the coolant tube 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 , and a refrigerant passage groove 832 for forming the refrigerant tube 16 a of a downstream heat exchange portion 72 .
- Both ends of the coolant passage groove 831 in its longitudinal direction are open and communicate with upstream coolant spaces 731 of the upstream tank portions 73 .
- Both ends of the refrigerant passage groove 832 in its longitudinal direction are open and communicate with the downstream refrigerant spaces 741 of the downstream tank portions 74 .
- the second plate-like member 84 includes an upstream refrigerant passage groove 841 for forming the refrigerant tube 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 , and a downstream refrigerant passage groove 842 for forming the refrigerant tube 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 .
- Both ends of the upstream refrigerant passage groove 841 in its longitudinal direction are not open so as not to communicate with the upstream coolant space 731 of the upstream tank portion 73 .
- both ends of the downstream refrigerant passage groove 842 in its longitudinal direction are open so as to communicate with the downstream refrigerant space 741 of the downstream tank portion 74 .
- Communication passage grooves 845 are provided near both ends of the upstream refrigerant passage groove 841 and both ends of the downstream refrigerant passage groove 842 .
- the upstream refrigerant passage groove 841 and the downstream refrigerant passage groove 842 are connected with each other through the communication passage groove 845 .
- a space formed by the communication passage grooves 845 functions as a communication passage through which the refrigerant tube 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 communicates with the downstream refrigerant space 741 of the downstream tank portion 74 .
- the refrigerant tubes 16 a and the coolant tubes 43 a are formed by joining a pair of the first plate-like members 83 and by joining a pair of the second plate-like members 84 . Accordingly, the refrigerant tubes 16 a , the coolant tubes 43 a and the communication spaces 76 can be formed by using the plate-like members 83 and 84 without using other members. Therefore, the heat exchanger 70 can be formed easily at low cost.
- the communication space 76 is provided separately from the tank portions 73 and 74 , and the communication space 76 is provided in portions of the tubes 16 a and 43 a . Accordingly, a length of passage through which refrigerant flows can be shortened in the heat exchanger 70 as a whole, as compared with a case in which the communication space 76 is provided inside the tank portions 73 and 74 . Consequently, pressure loss of refrigerant can be reduced, and a performance of the heat exchanger 70 can be thereby improved.
- the seventh embodiment is different from the above-described second embodiment in coolant flow and refrigerant flow in the heat exchanger 70 .
- an upstream partition member 732 a is located in a second upstream tank portion 730 b .
- the upstream partition member 732 a separates an upstream coolant space 731 into two spaces that align in a longitudinal direction of the second upstream tank portion 730 b .
- the upstream partition member 732 a separates an upstream refrigerant space 733 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the second upstream tank portion 730 b.
- first upstream coolant space one of the two spaces of the upstream coolant space 731 , which are partitioned by the upstream partition member 732 a , is referred to as a first upstream coolant space.
- second upstream coolant space The other of the two spaces of the upstream coolant space 731 is referred to as a second upstream coolant space.
- the first upstream coolant space is located on one side (right side of the drawing) in the longitudinal direction of the second upstream tank portion 730 b .
- the second upstream coolant space is located on the other side (left side of the drawing) in the longitudinal direction of the second upstream tank portion 730 b.
- first upstream refrigerant space One of the two spaces of the upstream refrigerant space 733 , which are partitioned by the upstream partition member 732 a , is referred to as a first upstream refrigerant space.
- second upstream refrigerant space The other of the two spaces of the upstream refrigerant space 733 is referred to as a second upstream refrigerant space.
- the first upstream refrigerant space is located on one side (right side of the drawing) in the longitudinal direction of the second upstream tank portion 730 b .
- the second upstream refrigerant space is located on the other side (left side of the drawing) in the longitudinal direction of the second upstream tank portion 730 b.
- first downstream refrigerant space One of two spaces of a downstream refrigerant space 741 , which are partitioned by a downstream partition member 742 a , is referred to as a first downstream refrigerant space.
- the other of the two spaces of the downstream refrigerant space 741 is referred to as a second downstream refrigerant space.
- the first downstream refrigerant space is located on one side (right side of the drawing) in a longitudinal direction of the second downstream tank portion 740 b .
- the second downstream refrigerant space is located on the other side (left side of the drawing) in the longitudinal direction of the second downstream tank portion 740 b.
- the first upstream coolant space communicates with a coolant inflow pipe 434
- the second upstream coolant space communicates with a coolant outflow pipe 435
- the first upstream refrigerant space communicates with a refrigerant inflow pipe 164
- the second upstream refrigerant space communicates with a refrigerant outflow pipe 165 .
- the coolant inflow pipe 434 , the coolant outflow pipe 435 , the refrigerant inflow pipe 164 and the refrigerant outflow pipe 165 are connected to a surface of the second upstream tank portion 730 b on an upstream side of the second upstream tank portion 730 b in the flow direction of outside air.
- Refrigerant flowing out of the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 collects in an upstream refrigerant space 733 of a first upstream tank portion 730 a and flows in the upstream refrigerant space 733 from the right side to the left side of the drawing. Subsequently, the refrigerant collecting in the upstream refrigerant space 733 of the first upstream tank portion 730 a flows into refrigerant tubes 16 a of the first upstream heat exchange portion 71 , and flows through the refrigerant tubes 16 a from the upper side to the lower side of the drawing.
- refrigerant flowing out of the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 collects in the second upstream refrigerant space of the second upstream tank portion 730 b , and subsequently flows into the first downstream refrigerant space of the second downstream tank portion 740 b through a communication space 76 .
- the refrigerant in the first downstream refrigerant space of the second downstream tank portion 740 b flows through refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 from the lower side to the upper side of the drawing.
- the refrigerant flowing out of the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 collects in a downstream refrigerant space 741 of a first downstream tank portion 740 a and flows from the left side to the right side of the drawing.
- the refrigerant in the downstream refrigerant space 741 of the first downstream tank portion 740 a flows into refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 and flows through the refrigerant tubes 16 a from the upper side to the lower side of the drawing.
- Refrigerant flowing out of the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 collects in the second downstream refrigerant space of the second downstream tank portion 740 b , and then flows out of the second downstream refrigerant space through the refrigerant outflow pipe 165 .
- coolant flows into the first upstream coolant space of the second upstream tank portion 730 b through the coolant inflow pipe 434 .
- the coolant in the first coolant space of the second upstream tank portion 730 b flows into coolant tubes 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 and flows through the coolant tubes 43 a from the lower side to the upper side of the drawing.
- Coolant flowing out of the coolant tubes 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 collects in an upstream coolant space 731 of the first upstream tank portion 730 a .
- the coolant flows from the right side to the left side of the drawing in the upstream coolant space 731 of the first upstream tank portion 730 a.
- the coolant in the upstream coolant space 731 of the first upstream tank portion 730 a flows into coolant tubes 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 and flows through the coolant tubes 43 a from the upper side to the lower side of the drawing. Coolant flowing out of the coolant tubes 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 collects in the second upstream coolant space of the second upstream tank portion 730 b , and then flows out of the second upstream coolant space through the coolant outflow pipe 435 .
- all refrigerant flowing into the second upstream tank portion 730 b through the refrigerant inflow pipe 164 passes through the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 without flowing into the refrigerant tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 . Accordingly, refrigerant can be made to flow surely into the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 . Therefore, heat exchange between refrigerant and outside air can be performed certainly in the upstream heat exchange portion 71 .
- a flow direction of refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant tubes 16 a immediately after inflow of the refrigerant from an exterior of the heat exchanger 70 through the refrigerant inflow pipe 164 is the same as a flow direction of coolant flowing in the coolant tubes 43 a immediately after inflow of the coolant from an exterior of the heat exchanger 70 through the coolant inflow pipe 434 . Therefore, a performance of the heat exchanger 70 can be improved.
- the eighth embodiment is different from the above-described seventh embodiment in refrigerant flow in the heat exchanger 70 .
- a first upstream partition member 732 b is located in a first upstream tank portion 730 a , and separates an upstream refrigerant space 733 into two spaces that align in a longitudinal direction of the first upstream tank portion 730 a.
- Two second upstream partition members 732 c are located in a second upstream tank portion 730 b , and separate an upstream refrigerant space 733 into three spaces that align in a longitudinal direction of the second upstream tank portion 730 b .
- the two second upstream partition members 732 c are arranged to be distant from each other.
- a third upstream partition member 732 d is located in the second upstream tank portion 730 b , and separates an upstream coolant space 731 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the second upstream tank portion 730 b.
- a first downstream partition member 742 b is located in a first downstream tank portion 740 a , and separates a downstream refrigerant space 741 into two spaces that align in a longitudinal direction of the first downstream tank portion 740 a.
- Two second downstream partition members 742 c are located in a second downstream tank portion 740 b , and separates a downstream refrigerant space 741 into three spaces that align in a longitudinal direction of the second downstream tank portion 740 b .
- the two second downstream partition members 742 c are arranged to be distant from each other.
- Another of the three spaces of the upstream coolant space 731 which is located on the other end side (right side of the drawing) of the second upstream tank portion 730 b in the longitudinal direction of the second upstream tank portion 730 b , is referred to as a second upstream coolant space.
- the three spaces of the upstream refrigerant space 733 which are partitioned by the second upstream partition members 732 c , are referred to as a first upstream refrigerant space, a second upstream refrigerant space and a third upstream refrigerant space in order from one end side (left side of the drawing) in the longitudinal direction of the second upstream tank portion 730 b.
- the three spaces of the downstream refrigerant space 741 which are partitioned by the second downstream partition members 742 c , are referred to as a first downstream refrigerant space, a second downstream refrigerant space and a third downstream refrigerant space in order from one end side (left side of the drawing) in the longitudinal direction of the second downstream tank portion 740 b.
- the first upstream coolant space communicates with a coolant inflow pipe 434
- the second upstream coolant space communicates with a coolant outflow pipe 435
- the first upstream refrigerant space communicates with a refrigerant inflow pipe 164
- the third upstream refrigerant space communicates with a refrigerant outflow pipe 165 .
- refrigerant flows into the first upstream refrigerant space of the second upstream tank portion 730 b through the refrigerant inflow pipe 164 .
- a part of the refrigerant in the first upstream refrigerant space of the second upstream tank portion 730 b flows into refrigerant tubes 16 a of an upstream heat exchange portion 71 .
- the refrigerant flows in the upstream heat exchange portion 71 along an approximately M-shape, and collects in the third upstream refrigerant space of the second upstream tank portion 730 b.
- the refrigerant flows in the downstream heat exchange portion 72 along an approximately M-shape, and collects in the third downstream refrigerant space of the second downstream tank portion 740 b .
- the refrigerant in the third upstream refrigerant space of the second upstream tank portion 730 b flows out through the refrigerant outflow pipe 165 .
- refrigerant flowing in the upstream heat exchange portion 71 may include liquid refrigerant more than gas refrigerant
- refrigerant flowing in the downstream heat exchange portion 72 may include gas refrigerant more than liquid refrigerant.
- the liquid-rich refrigerant in the upstream heat exchange portion 71 and the gas-rich refrigerant in the downstream heat exchange portion 72 are mixed with each other in the middle of the heat exchange portions 71 and 72 , the liquid-rich refrigerant and the gas-rich refrigerant may not mixed with each other homogeneously.
- the inhomogeneous mixture may thereby flow into the heat exchange portions 71 and 72 .
- a performance of the heat exchanger 70 may possibly decrease.
- refrigerant flowing into the first upstream refrigerant space of the second upstream tank portion 730 b through the refrigerant inflow pipe 164 branches into two flows that are a refrigerant flow in the upstream heat exchange portion 71 and a refrigerant flow in the downstream heat exchange portion 72 .
- the branched two refrigerant flows meet in the third downstream refrigerant space of the second downstream tank portion 740 b without joining together in the heat exchange portions 71 and 72 .
- the refrigerant joined in the third downstream refrigerant space flows out through the refrigerant outflow pipe 165 .
- the refrigerant flow in the upstream heat exchange portion 71 and the refrigerant flow in the downstream heat exchange portion 72 which are branched in a most upstream portion in a refrigerant flow direction, can be prevented from joining together in the middle of the heat exchange portions 71 and 72 . Accordingly, decrease in performance of the heat exchanger 70 , due to the joining of the refrigerant flows of the heat exchange portions 71 and 72 in the middle of the heat exchange portions 71 and 72 , can be prevented.
- a flow direction of refrigerant immediately before flowing out of the refrigerant tubes 16 a through the refrigerant outflow pipe 165 to an exterior of the heat exchanger 70 is the same as a flow direction of coolant immediately before flowing out of the coolant tubes 43 a through the coolant outflow pipe 435 to an exterior of the heat exchanger 70 . Therefore, a performance of the heat exchanger 70 can be improved.
- FIG. 22 a ninth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 22 .
- the present embodiment is different from the above-described first embodiment in that louvers are formed in the outer fins.
- refrigerant tubes 16 a are shown by dot hatching
- coolant tubes 43 a are shown by cross hatching, for clarification of the drawing.
- louvers 500 having louver-window shapes are formed on a surface of an outer fin 50 and arranged in a flow direction of outside air.
- the louvers 500 are formed by cutting and raising a part of the surface of the outer fin 50 .
- the outer fin 50 includes louvers 500 (hereinafter, referred to as upstream louvers 501 ) formed in a portion located between a refrigerant tube 16 a of an upstream heat exchange portion 71 and a coolant tube 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 that are adjacent to each other, and louvers 500 (hereinafter, referred to as downstream louvers 502 ) formed in a position located between adjacent two refrigerant tubes 16 a of a downstream heat exchange portion 72 .
- the upstream louvers 501 are different from the downstream louvers 502 in shape.
- the shapes of the louvers 500 are different means that the upstream louvers 501 are different from the downstream louvers 502 in various points, such as an angle and a length of the louver 500 cut and raised, or louver pitch. Specifically, in the present embodiment, lengths of the upstream louvers 501 are shorter than lengths of the downstream louvers 502 , and the number of the upstream louvers 501 is smaller than the number of the downstream louvers.
- the outer fin 50 in which the upstream louvers 501 are different in shape from the downstream louvers 502 , is used.
- heat exchange amounts among three kinds of fluids: refrigerant, coolant and outside air can be adjusted easily in the heat exchanger 70 as a whole.
- the lengths of the upstream louvers 501 are shorter than the lengths of the downstream louvers 502 , and the number of the upstream louvers 501 is smaller than the number of the downstream louvers. Therefore, the portion of the outer fine 50 located between the refrigerant tube 16 a and the coolant tube 43 a that are adjacent to each other can be enhanced in stiffness. Accordingly, the breakage of the outer fins 50 can be limited.
- the middle plate member 752 of the above-described first embodiment is changed to have a stacked structure of multiple plate members.
- an upstream tank portion 73 includes an upstream refrigerant space 738 which collects or distributes refrigerant that flows through refrigerant tubes 16 a .
- a downstream tank portion 74 includes a downstream coolant space 748 which collects or distributes coolant that flows through coolant tubes 43 a of a upstream heat exchange portion 71 .
- a middle plate member 752 is formed by stacking two plate members that are a first communication-space forming plate member 851 and a second communication-space forming plate member 852 .
- the first communication-space forming plate member 851 includes a through hole 851 a communicating with both the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 and refrigerant tubes 16 a of a downstream heat exchange portion 72 .
- a part of the through hole 851 a of the first communication-space forming plate member 851 which corresponds to positions of the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 , extends in a tube stacking direction.
- the through hole 851 a connects adjacent two of the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 .
- the through hole 851 a of the first communication-space forming plate member 851 communicates in total with three refrigerant tubes 16 a that includes one of the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 and adjacent two of the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 .
- the second communication-space forming plate member 852 includes a through hole 852 a at a position corresponding to the upstream refrigerant space 738 .
- the through hole 852 a extends through the second communication-space forming plate member 852 from its one side to the other side.
- the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 and the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 communicate with the upstream refrigerant space 738 through the through hole 851 a of the first communication-space forming plate member 851 and the through hole 852 a of the second communication-space forming plate member 852 .
- the through hole 851 a of the first communication-space forming plate member 851 and the through hole 852 a of the second communication-space forming plate member 852 provide a refrigerant communication space 761 (corresponding to a first communication passage) through which the refrigerant tubes 16 a communicate with the upstream refrigerant space 738 .
- the first communication-space forming plate member 851 includes a through hole 851 c communicating with the coolant tube 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 .
- the second communication-space forming plate member 852 includes a through hole 852 c extending through the second communication-space forming plate member 852 from its one side to the other side.
- the through hole 852 c communicates with both the through hole 851 c of the first communication-space forming plate member 851 and the downstream coolant space 748 .
- the coolant tube 43 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 communicates with the downstream coolant space 748 through the through hole 851 c of the first communication-space forming plate member 851 and the through hole 852 c of the second communication-space forming plate member 852 .
- the through hole 851 c of the first communication-space forming plate member 851 and the through hole 852 c of the second communication-space forming plate member 852 provide a coolant communication space 762 (corresponding to a second communication passage) through which the coolant tube 43 a communicates with the downstream coolant space 748 .
- the through holes 851 a and 851 c of the first communication-space forming plate member 851 and the through holes 852 a and 852 c of the second communication-space forming plate member 852 can be formed by simple hole drilling. Therefore, manufacturing is easy as compared to a case in which the recessed portion 752 a is formed in the middle plate member 752 as in the above-described first embodiment.
- the through hole 851 a of the first communication-space forming plate member 851 is formed such that a refrigerant tube 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 , which is overlapped with a refrigerant tube 16 a in the flow direction of outside air, communicates with a refrigerant tube 16 a (hereinafter, referred to as an adjacent refrigerant tube 16 a ) that is adjacent to the refrigerant tube 16 a of the downstream heat exchanged portion 72 in the tube stacking direction.
- an adjacent refrigerant tube 16 a a refrigerant tube 16 a
- a pressure loss of refrigerant decreases as compared to a case in which refrigerant flows to the adjacent refrigerant tube 16 a through an inside space of the tank portion 73 or 74 .
- a flow rate of refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant tube 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 which is overlapped with a refrigerant tube 16 a in the flow direction of outside air, can be made to approach a flow rate of refrigerant flowing in the adjacent refrigerant tube 16 a.
- the eleventh embodiment is different from the above-described first embodiment in that a connector 80 connecting a heat exchanger 70 and a refrigerant pipe is provided.
- the connector 80 corresponds to a connector portion described in the scope of claims.
- FIG. 26 is an external perspective view showing a heat exchanger 70 according to the eleventh embodiment
- FIG. 27 is a schematic perspective diagram illustrating flows of refrigerant and coolant in the heat exchanger 70
- FIG. 28 is an external perspective view of the connector 80
- FIG. 29 is a perspective sectional diagram of the heat exchanger 70
- the flow of refrigerant is shown by solid arrows
- the flow of coolant is shown by dashed arrows.
- the connector 80 is provided on a refrigerant inlet side and a refrigerant outlet side of a header tank 75 .
- the connector 80 is a connection part connecting from an upstream heat exchange portion 71 and a downstream heat exchange portion 72 of the heat exchanger 70 to the refrigerant pipe.
- the connector 80 is made of the same metallic material as that of the header tank 75 , and is integrated with the heat exchanger 70 by brazing.
- the connector 80 on the refrigerant inlet side of the header tank 75 located on the right side of FIG. 26 , branches a refrigerant flow from a single refrigerant pipe inside the connector 80 , and distributes the refrigerant to an upstream tank portion 73 and a downstream tank portion 74 .
- the connector 80 on the refrigerant outlet side of the header tank 75 located on the left side of FIG. 26 , collects refrigerants flowing out of the upstream tank portion 73 and the downstream tank portion 74 inside the connector 80 , and conveys the refrigerant to a single refrigerant pipe.
- refrigerant in the upstream tank portion 73 and refrigerant in the downstream tank portion 74 flow in the upstream heat exchange portion 71 and the downstream heat exchange portion 72 , respectively, as shown by the solid arrows of FIG. 27 .
- the connector 80 has an upstream heat exchange portion connection port 82 and a downstream heat exchange portion connection port 83 with respect to a single pipe connection port 81 .
- the pipe connection port 81 is a connection port connected to the refrigerant pipe, and is an opening portion provided in a connector main body portion 80 a .
- the pipe connection port 81 is an inside space of a pipe side cylindrical portion 81 a connected to the connector main body portion 80 a.
- the upstream heat exchange portion connection port 82 is a connection port connected to the upstream tank portion 73 .
- the upstream heat exchange portion connection port 82 is an opening portion provided in the connector main body portion 80 a , and is an inside space of a heat exchanger side cylindrical portion 82 a connected to the connector main body portion 80 a.
- the downstream heat exchange portion connection port 83 is a connection port connected to the downstream tank portion 74 .
- the downstream heat exchange portion connection port 83 is an opening portion provided in the connector main body portion 80 a , and is an inside space of a heat exchanger side cylindrical portion 83 a connected to the connector main body portion 80 a.
- the structure of the heat exchanger 70 other than the connector 80 is, as shown in FIG. 29 , different from the header tank 75 of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 12 in that the communication space 76 is omitted and the other parts are the same.
- the communication space 76 since the communication space 76 is omitted, an upstream coolant space 731 , an upstream refrigerant space 733 and a downstream refrigerant space 741 that are formed inside the header tank 75 are larger than those of the heat exchanger 70 of FIG. 12 .
- the upstream refrigerant space 733 formed in the upstream tank portion 73 communicates with the upstream heat exchange portion connection port 82 of the connector 80
- the downstream refrigerant space 774 formed in the downstream tank portion 74 communicates with the downstream heat exchange portion connection port 83 of the connector 80
- the communication space 76 is formed inside the header tank 75 such that refrigerant flows between the upstream heat exchange portion 71 and the downstream heat exchange potion 72 .
- refrigerant is branched inside the connector 80 on the refrigerant inlet side, and the branched refrigerants flow in the upstream tank portion 73 and the downstream tank portion 74 , respectively. Additionally, refrigerants flows out of the upstream tank portion 73 and the downstream tank portion 74 , respectively, and the refrigerants gather together inside the connector 80 on the refrigerant outlet side. Therefore, refrigerant need not flow between the upstream heat exchange portion 71 and the downstream heat exchange portion 72 , and the above-described communication space 76 can be omitted.
- two refrigerant pipes may be connected to the upstream tank portion 73 or the downstream tank portion 74 , and the two refrigerant pipes may be connected to a single refrigerant pipe via a connection portion. Also in this case, the above-described refrigerant flow can be provided. However, according to the present embodiment, two refrigerant pipes need not be connected to the header tank 75 because the connector 80 is directly connected to the header tank 75 .
- FIG. 30 is an external perspective diagram showing a connector 80 according to the twelfth embodiment
- FIG. 31 is a top view of the connector 80 .
- the connector 80 of the present embodiment has a piping connection port 81 on a face of a connector main body portion 80 a which is opposite from its another face on that an upstream heat exchange portion connection port 82 and a downstream heat exchange portion connection port 83 are provided.
- the piping connection pipe 81 is located at a position where a distance L1 from the piping connection pipe 81 to the upstream heat exchange portion connection port 82 is shorter than a distance L2 from the piping connection pipe 81 to the downstream heat exchange portion connection port 83 .
- the lengths L1 and L2 are lengths of refrigerant passages inside the connector main body portion 80 a.
- a flow rate of refrigerant flowing out through the upstream heat exchange portion connection port 82 can be made to be higher than a flow rate of refrigerant flowing out through the downstream heat exchange portion connection port 83 .
- a flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the upstream heat exchange portion 71 is higher than a flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the downstream heat exchange portion 72 .
- the piping connection pipe 81 may be located at a position where the distance L1 from the piping connection pipe 81 to the upstream heat exchange portion connection port 82 is longer than the distance L2 from the piping connection pipe 81 to the downstream heat exchange portion connection port 83 . Accordingly, when refrigerant flows into the connector 80 through the piping connection port 81 , a flow rate of refrigerant flowing out of the connector 80 through the upstream heat exchange portion connection port 82 can be made to be higher than a flow rate of refrigerant flowing out of the connector 80 through the downstream heat exchange portion connection port 83 .
- FIG. 32 is a front view of a connector 80 of the present embodiment on its side attached to a heat exchanger 70 .
- the wavy lines regions S1 and S2 indicate opening regions of upstream and downstream heat exchange portion connection ports 82 and 83 , respectively.
- the opening area S1 of the upstream heat exchange portion connection port 82 is larger than the opening area S2 of the downstream heat exchange portion connection port 83 .
- a flow rate of refrigerant flowing out through the upstream heat exchange portion connection port 82 can be made to be higher than a flow rate of refrigerant flowing out through the downstream heat exchange portion connection port 83 .
- the piping connection port 81 needs to be located near the upstream heat exchange portion 71 in order to set the flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the upstream heat exchange portion 71 higher than the flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the downstream heat exchange portion 72 . Necessarily, the position of the refrigerant pipe becomes near to the coolant pipe.
- a flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the upstream heat exchange portion 71 is higher than a flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the downstream heat exchange portion 71 while the refrigerant pipe is kept away from the coolant pipe.
- the opening area S1 of the upstream heat exchange portion connection port 82 may be smaller than the opening area S2 of the downstream heat exchange portion connection port 83 . Accordingly, when refrigerant flows into the connector 80 through the piping connection port 81 , a flow rate of refrigerant flowing out of the connector 80 through the upstream heat exchange portion connection port 82 can be made to be higher than a flow rate of refrigerant flowing out of the connector 80 through the downstream heat exchange portion connection port 83 .
- a flow rate of refrigerant flowing out of the connector 80 through the upstream heat exchange portion connection port 82 can be differentiated from a flow rate of refrigerant flowing out of the connector 80 through the downstream heat exchange portion connection port 83 by differentiating the length L1 and L2 from the piping connection port 81 to the upstream and downstream heat exchange portion connection ports 82 and 83 and by differentiating the opening areas S1 and S2 of the upstream and downstream heat exchange portion connection ports 82 and 83 .
- the heat exchangers 70 of the present embodiment and the eleventh and twelfth embodiments may be applied to the heat pump cycle 10 of the fourteenth embodiment.
- the upstream number ratio that is a ratio of the number of the refrigerant tubes 16 a to the total number of the refrigerant tubes 16 a and the coolant tubes 43 a in the upstream heat exchange portion 71 is made to be smaller than the downstream number ratio that is a ratio of the number of the refrigerant tubes 16 a to the total number of the refrigerant tubes 16 a and the coolant tubes 43 a in the downstream heat exchange portion 72 .
- the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the upstream number ratio may be made to be higher than the downstream number ratio.
- the coolant tube 43 a may be arranged between every second and third coolant tubes 16 a .
- two refrigerant tubes 16 a may be arranged between adjacent two coolant tubes 43 a.
- the upstream number ratio that is a ratio of the number of the refrigerant tubes 16 a to the total number of the refrigerant tubes 16 a and the coolant tubes 43 a in the upstream heat exchange portion 71 can be increased. Therefore, in the upstream heat exchange portion 71 , a heat exchange amount between refrigerant and outside air can be ensured more certainly.
- the first fluid refrigerant of the heat pump cycle 10
- coolant of the coolant circulation circuit 40 is used as the second fluid
- outside air blown by the blast fan 17 is used as the third fluid.
- the first to third fluids are not limited to these.
- air that is to be blown into the vehicle compartment may be used as the third fluid.
- the third fluid may be coolant.
- the first fluid may be high pressure refrigerant or low pressure refrigerant in the heat pump cycle 10 .
- the second fluid may be coolant which cools electric devices such as an inverter that supplies electric power to the engine or the running electric motor MG.
- an oil for cooling may be used as the second fluid, and the second heat exchange portion may function as an oil cooler.
- a heat storage material or a cooling storage material may be used as the second fluid.
- the second fluid may be coolant which cools an electric motor, other electric devices or the engine used as a drive source of the compressor of the heat pump cycle 10 .
- the heat exchanger 70 of the present disclosure is used for a heat pump cycle (refrigeration cycle).
- usage of the heat exchanger 70 is not limited to this. That is, the heat exchanger 70 can be widely used for a device that performs heat exchanges among three kinds of fluids.
- the heat exchanger 70 can be applied to a heat exchanger used for a vehicle cooling system.
- the first fluid may be a heat medium that has absorbed heat from a first in-vehicle device which generates heat during its operation.
- the second fluid may be a heat medium that has absorbed heat from a second in-vehicle device which generates heat during its operation.
- the third fluid may be outside air.
- the first in-vehicle device may be an engine EG, and the first fluid may be coolant of the engine EG.
- the second in-vehicle device may be a running electric motor, and the second fluid may be coolant of the running electric motor.
- heat generation amounts of these in-vehicle devices changes depending on a running state (running load) of the vehicle, also a temperature of coolant of the engine EG and a temperature of coolant of the vehicle-running electric vehicle change depending on the running state of the vehicle. Therefore, in this example, a heat amount generated by an in-vehicle device having a high capacity in heat generation can be radiated not only to air but also to an in-vehicle device having a low capacity in heat generation.
- an exhaust-gas recirculation device a turbocharger, a power steering device or a battery may be used as the first in-vehicle device or the second in-vehicle device.
- the heat exchange portion may function as an EGR cooler, an intercooler or an oil cooler that is for cooling power steering oil.
- the electric three-way valve 42 is used as the circuit switching device that switches the cooling medium circuit of the coolant circulation circuit 40 .
- the circuit switching device is not limited to this.
- a thermostat valve may be used as the circuit switching device.
- the thermostat valve is a cooling-medium temperature reaction valve having a mechanical mechanism which opens or closes a cooling medium passage by displacing a valve element with using a thermowax (temperature sensitive member) that changes its volume depending on its temperature.
- thermowax temperature sensitive member
- the heat pump cycle 10 may configure a subcritical refrigeration cycle in which a pressure of refrigerant discharged from the compressor 11 is higher than or equal to a critical pressure of the refrigerant.
- a flow direction of refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant tubes 16 a immediately after inflow of the refrigerant from an exterior of the heat exchanger 70 through the refrigerant inflow pipe 164 is the same as a flow direction of coolant flowing in the coolant tubes 43 a immediately after inflow of the coolant from an exterior of the heat exchanger 70 through the coolant inflow pipe 434 .
- flow directions of refrigerant and coolant are not limited to this.
- the coolant inflow pipe 434 and the coolant outflow pipe 435 may be connected to the first upstream tank portion 740 a , and coolant may flow in the upstream heat exchange potion 71 along an approximately U shape.
- a first upstream partition member 732 e is arranged in the first upstream tank portion 730 a and separates the upstream coolant space 731 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the first upstream tank portion 730 a .
- a second upstream partition member 732 f is arranged in the second upstream tank portion 730 b and separates the upstream refrigerant space 733 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the second upstream tank portion 730 b.
- One of the two spaces of the upstream coolant space 731 partitioned by the first upstream partition member 732 e communicates with the coolant inflow pipe 434 .
- the other of the two spaces of the upstream coolant space 731 partitioned by the first upstream partition member 732 e communicates with the coolant outflow pipe 435 .
- all refrigerant inflowing through the refrigerant inflow pipe 164 may flow into refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 which are located in a region on one side (right side of the paper surface) in the longitudinal direction of the upstream tank portion 73 .
- the refrigerant may flow into the refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstream heat exchange portion 72 .
- the refrigerant may flow into refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstream heat exchange portion 71 which are located in a region on the other side (left side of the paper surface) in the longitudinal direction of the upstream tank portion 73 .
- a first upstream partition member 732 a is arranged in a second upstream tank portion 730 b .
- the first upstream partition member 732 a separates the upstream coolant space 731 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the second upstream tank portion 730 b .
- the first upstream partition member 732 a separates the upstream refrigerant space 733 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the second upstream tank portion 730 b .
- a second upstream partition member 732 g is arranged in the first upstream tank portion 730 a and separates the upstream refrigerant space 733 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the first upstream tank portion 730 a .
- a downstream partition member 742 g is arranged in the first downstream tank portion 740 a and separates the downstream refrigerant space 741 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the first downstream tank portion 740 a.
- a flow direction of refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant tubes 16 a immediately after inflow of the refrigerant from an exterior of the heat exchanger 70 through the refrigerant inflow pipe 164 can be made to be the same as a flow direction of coolant flowing in the coolant tubes 43 a immediately after inflow of the coolant from an exterior of the heat exchanger 70 through the coolant inflow pipe 434 .
- a performance of the heat exchanger 70 can be improved.
- FIG. 35 Another example, in which a coolant flow in the heat exchange 70 shown in FIG. 34 is modified, is shown in FIG. 35 .
- the coolant inflow pipe 434 and the coolant outflow pipe 435 are connected to the first upstream tank portion 730 a , and coolant flows in the upstream heat exchange portion 71 along an approximately U shape.
- a first upstream partition member 732 h is arranged in the first upstream tank portion 730 a .
- the first upstream partition member 732 h separates the upstream coolant space 731 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the first upstream tank portion 730 a .
- the first upstream partition member 732 h separates the upstream refrigerant space 733 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the first upstream tank portion 730 a .
- a second upstream partition member 732 i is arranged in the second upstream tank portion 730 b and separates the upstream refrigerant space 733 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the second upstream tank portion 730 b.
- a flow direction of refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant tubes 16 a immediately before outflow of the refrigerant to an exterior of the heat exchanger 70 through the refrigerant outflow pipe 165 is the same as a flow direction of coolant flowing in the coolant tubes 43 a immediately before outflow of the coolant to an exterior of the heat exchanger 70 through the coolant outflow pipe 435 .
- flow directions of refrigerant and coolant are not limited to this.
- the coolant inflow pipe 434 and the coolant outflow pipe 435 may be connected to the first upstream tank portion 730 a , and coolant may flow in the upstream heat exchange portion 71 along an approximately U shape.
- a first upstream partition member 732 j is arranged in the first upstream tank portion 730 a .
- the first upstream partition member 732 j separates the upstream coolant space 731 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the first upstream tank portion 730 a .
- the first upstream partition member 732 j separates the upstream refrigerant space 733 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the first upstream tank portion 730 a .
- One of the two spaces of the upstream coolant space 731 partitioned by the first upstream partition member 732 j communicates with the coolant inflow pipe 434 .
- the other of the two spaces of the upstream coolant space 731 partitioned by the first upstream partition member 732 j communicates with the coolant outflow pipe 435 .
- the header plate 751 , the tank forming member 753 , the first communication-space forming plate member 851 and the second communication-space forming plate member 852 are separately provided.
- these are not limited to this, and these members 751 , 753 , 851 and 852 may be integrated.
Abstract
A heat exchanger includes a heat exchange portion in which at least tubes of refrigerant tubes or coolant tubes are stacked and at least one of refrigerant or coolant exchanges heat with air. An air passage is formed in a space formed between tubes of the refrigerant tubes and the coolant tubes which are adjacent to each other. An upstream heat exchange portion located on an upstream side in a flow direction of air and a downstream heat exchange portion located downstream of the upstream heat exchange portion in the flow direction of air are provided as the heat exchange portion. A ratio of the number of the refrigerant tubes to the total number of tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion is different from a ratio of the number of the refrigerant tubes to the total number of tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion.
Description
- This application is based on and incorporates herein by reference Japanese Patent Applications No. 2011-82759 filed on 4 Apr. 2011, No. 2012-13061 filed on 25 Jan. 2012, and No. 2012-62935 filed on 20 Mar. 2012.
- The present disclosure relates to a combined heat exchanger configured such that three kinds of fluids are capable of exchanging heat thereamong.
- Conventionally, a combined heat exchanger is known, which is configured such that three kinds of fluids are capable of exchanging heat thereamong. For example, a heat exchanger disclosed in
Patent Document 1 is a combined heat exchanger that is configured such that refrigerant of a refrigeration cycle and external air (outside air) are capable of exchanging heat therebetween and coolant which cools an engine and the outside air are capable of exchanging heat therebetween. - Specifically, the heat exchanger of
Patent Document 1 includes multiple tubes that have multiple fluid passages therein, and a pair of header tanks arranged on both end portions of the multiple tubes to communicate with the multiple tubes. The header tank has a partition plate which separates an inner space of the header tank into two spaces. Refrigerant flows in one of the two spaces, and coolant flows in the other one of the two spaces. The multiple fluid passages in the tubes are separated into refrigerant passages, through which the refrigerant flows, and coolant passages, through which the coolant flows, due to the partition plate in the header tank. -
- Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 4239121
- In the heat exchanger described in above-described
Patent Document 1, multiple fluid passages are formed in a single tube. Coolant flows through one (coolant passage) of the multiple fluid passages, which is arranged on an upstream side in an air flow direction. Refrigerant flows through one (refrigerant passage) of the multiple fluid passages, which is arranged on a downstream side in the air flow direction. Although heat of the coolant flowing through the coolant passage can be transferred to the refrigerant passage adjacent to the coolant passage, the heat of the coolant cannot be transferred to whole area of refrigerant passages. - Such insufficient heat transfer may cause the heat of the coolant to be unable to be utilized effectively for melting frost generated due to heat-absorption effect of the refrigerant when the refrigerant passages of the tubes are used as an evaporator of a refrigeration cycle, for example.
- Hence, the present applicants have suggested a heat exchanger in JP Patent Application No. 2010-145011 (hereinafter, referred to as a comparative example). In the heat exchanger, refrigerant tubes, through which refrigerant flows, and coolant tubes, through which coolant for an exterior heat source flows, are stacked and arranged alternately. The heat exchanger has outside air passages through which outside air flows, each of which is provided between a refrigerant tube and a coolant tube that are adjacent to each other. Outer fins are arranged in the outside air passages to be capable of transferring heat between the refrigerant tube and the coolant tube. Accordingly, not only heat exchange between the refrigerant and blown air and heat exchange between the coolant and the blown air but also heat exchange between the refrigerant and the coolant can be performed.
- Thus, for example, in defrosting time when frost attached to the refrigerant tubes is removed, heat of the coolant can be transferred to whole area of the refrigerant tubes. Therefore, the heat of the coolant can be utilized effectively.
- In the comparative example, it is disclosed as an example that the refrigerant tubes and the coolant tubes are stacked and arranged alternately. However, the heat of the coolant may exceed a necessary heat amount for the defrosting simply by arranging the refrigerant tubes and the coolant tubes alternately.
- Moreover, increase of the number of the coolant tubes causes reduction of the number of the refrigerant tubes in the whole of the heat exchanger. Thus, in the whole of the heat exchanger, the increase of the number of the coolant tubes causes reduction of area where heat exchange is performed between the refrigerant and the blown air, and the increase of the number of the coolant tubes becomes a factor for failing in securement of a heat exchange amount between the refrigerant and the blown air. As a result, enlargement of the heat exchanger in size for securing a necessary heat-absorption capacity may be required.
- In consideration of the above-described points, it is an objective of the present disclosure to provide a heat exchanger capable of appropriately adjusting a heat amount exchanged among three kinds of fluids.
- A heat exchanger according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes first tubes through which a first fluid flows, second tubes through which a second fluid flows, and a heat exchange portion in which at least tubes of the first tubes or the second tubes are stacked. At least one of the first fluid and the second fluid exchanges heat with a third fluid in the heat exchange portion. Spaces between tubes, which are selected from among the first tubes and the second tubes and are adjacent to each other, form third fluid passages through which the third fluid flows. The heat exchange portion includes an upstream heat exchange portion positioned on an upstream side in a flow direction of the third fluid, and a downstream heat exchange portion positioned downstream of the upstream heat exchange portion in the flow direction of the third fluid. A stacking arrangement order of the first tubes and the second tubes in the upstream heat exchange portion is different from a stacking arrangement order of the first tubes and the second tubes in the downstream heat exchange portion.
- Accordingly, heat exchange amounts among the three kinds of fluids can be adjusted in the heat exchanger as a whole by changing the stacking arrangement order of the first tubes and the second tubes in the upstream heat exchange portion from the stacking arrangement order of the first tubes and the second tubes in the downstream heat exchange portion. Therefore, the heat exchanger capable of adjusting appropriately the heat exchange amounts among the three kinds of fluids can be provided.
- A heat exchanger according to a second aspect of the present disclosure includes first tubes through which a first fluid flows, second tubes through which a second fluid flows, and a heat exchange portion in which at least tubes of the first tubes or the second tubes are stacked. At least the first fluid or the second fluid exchanges heat with a third fluid in the heat exchange portion. Spaces between tubes, which are selected from among the first tubes and the second tubes and are adjacent to each other, form third fluid passages through which the third fluid flows. The heat exchange portion includes an upstream heat exchange portion positioned on an upstream side in a flow direction of the third fluid, and a downstream heat exchange portion positioned downstream of the upstream heat exchange portion in the flow direction of the third fluid. The same type of two tubes, one of which is selected from among the first tubes and the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion and the other one of which is selected from among the first tubes and the second tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion, are overlapped with each other in the flow direction of the third fluid. Different types of two tubes, one of which is selected from among the first tubes and the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion and the other one of which is selected from among the first tubes and the second tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion, are overlapped with each other in the flow direction of the third fluid.
- Accordingly, heat exchange amounts among the three kinds of fluids can be adjusted in the heat exchanger as a whole by making the first tubes and the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion and the first tubes and the second tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion have the portion in which same types of two tubes are overlapped with each other in the flow direction of the third fluid, and the portion in which different types of two tubes are overlapped with each other in the flow direction of the third fluid. Therefore, the heat exchanger capable of adjusting appropriately the heat exchange amounts among the three kinds of fluids can be provided.
- A heat exchanger according to a third aspect of the present disclosure includes first tubes through which a first fluid flows, second tubes through which a second fluid flows, and a heat exchange portion in which at least tubes of the first tubes or the second tubes are stacked. At least the first fluid or the second fluid exchanges heat with a third fluid in the heat exchange portion. Spaces between tubes, which are selected from among the first tubes and the second tubes and are adjacent to each other, form third fluid passages through which the third fluid flows. The heat exchange portion includes an upstream heat exchange portion positioned on an upstream side in a flow direction of the third fluid, and a downstream heat exchange portion positioned downstream of the upstream heat exchange portion in the flow direction of the third fluid. A ratio of the number of the first tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion to the total number of the first tubes and the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion is different from a ratio of the number of the first tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion to the total number of the first tubes and the second tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion.
- Accordingly, heat exchange amounts among the three kinds of fluids can be adjusted in the heat exchanger as a whole by changing the ratio of the number of the first tubes to the total number of the first tubes and the second tubes in the upstream heat exchange portion and by changing the ratio of the number of the first tubes to the total number of the first tubes and the second tubes in the downstream heat exchange portion. Therefore, the heat exchanger capable of adjusting appropriately the heat exchange amounts among the three kinds of fluids can be provided.
- In a heat exchanger according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a ratio of the number of the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion to the total number of the first tubes and the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion may be higher than a ratio of the number of the second tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion to the total number of the first tubes and the second tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion.
- According to this, most of the second tubes can be located on an upstream side in the flow direction of the third fluid by setting the ratio of the number of the second tubes in the upstream heat exchange portion higher than the ratio of the number of the second tubes in the downstream heat exchange portion. Since the second fluid is capable of exchanging heat with the third fluid before the third fluid exchanges heat with another fluid, the heat exchange between the second fluid and the third fluid can be performed effectively.
- In a heat exchanger according to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, the upstream heat exchange portion may include both the first tubes and the second tubes, and the downstream heat exchange portion may include the first tubes.
- A heat exchanger according to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure may include an outer fin located in the third fluid passage. The outer fin may promote heat exchange between the first fluid and the third fluid and heat exchange between the second fluid and the third fluid, and the outer fin may be capable of conveying heat between the first fluid flowing through the first tube and the second fluid flowing through the second tube.
- According to this, heat exchange can be performed appropriately between the first fluid and the third fluid via the first tubes and the outer fin. Heat exchange can be performed appropriately between the second fluid and the third fluid via the second tubes and the outer fin. Additionally, heat exchange can be performed appropriately between the first fluid and the second fluid via the outer fin. Therefore, heat exchanges can be performed appropriately among the three kinds of fluids.
- In a heat exchanger according to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, the upstream heat exchange portion may include both the first tubes and the second tubes, and the downstream heat exchange portion may include the first tubes. The heat exchanger may further include an upstream tank portion extending in a stacking direction of the first tubes and the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion. The upstream tank portion may have an upstream second fluid space which collects or distributes the second fluid that flows through the second tubes. The heat exchanger may further include a downstream tank portion extending in a stacking direction of the first tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion. The downstream tank portion may have a downstream first fluid space which collects or distributes the first fluid that flows through the first tubes. The heat exchanger may further include a communication passage through which the first tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion communicate with the downstream first fluid space.
- According to this, a configuration, in which the ratio of the number of the first tubes to the total number of the first tubes and the second tubes in the upstream heat exchange portion is different from the ratio of the number of the first tubes to the total number of the first tubes and the second tubes in the downstream heat exchange portion, can be provided easily and certainly in the heat exchanger having the upstream heat exchange portion, which includes both the first tubes and the second tubes, and the downstream heat exchange portion, which includes the first tubes.
- In a heat exchanger according to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, the upstream heat exchange portion may include both the first tubes and the second tubes, and the downstream heat exchange portion may include the first tubes. The heat exchanger may further include an upstream tank portion extending in a stacking direction of the first tubes and the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion, and a downstream tank portion extending in a stacking direction of the first tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion.
- The upstream tank portion may have an upstream first fluid space which collects or distributes the first fluid that flows through the first tubes, and the downstream tank portion may have a downstream second fluid space which collects or distributes the second fluid that flows through the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion. The heat exchanger may further include a first communication passage through which the first tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion communicate with the upstream first fluid space, and a second communication passage through which the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion communicate with the downstream second fluid space.
- According to this, an amount of the first fluid supplied to the first tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion can be increased in the heat exchanger having the upstream heat exchange portion, which includes the first tubes and the second tubes, and the downstream heat exchange portion, which includes the first tubes.
- In a heat exchanger according to a ninth aspect of the present disclosure, the upstream heat exchange portion may include both the first tubes and the second tubes, and the downstream heat exchange portion may include the first tubes. The heat exchanger may further include an upstream tank portion extending in a stacking direction of the first tubes and the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion, and a downstream tank portion extending in a stacking direction of the first tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion. The upstream tank portion may have an upstream first fluid space which collects or distributes the first fluid that flows through the first tubes, and a downstream second fluid space which collects or distributes the second fluid that flows through the second tubes. The downstream tank portion may have a downstream first fluid space which collects or distributes the first fluid that flows through the first tubes. The heat exchanger may further include a communication passage through which the upstream first fluid space communicates with the downstream first fluid space.
- According to this, a configuration, in which the ratio of the number of the first tubes to the total number of the first tubes and the second tubes in the upstream heat exchange portion is different from the ratio of the number of the first tubes to the total number of the first tubes and the second tubes in the downstream heat exchange portion, can be provided easily and certainly in the heat exchanger having the upstream heat exchange portion, which includes both the first tubes and the second tubes, and the downstream heat exchange portion, which includes the first tubes.
- In a heat exchanger according to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure, the communication passage may be integrated with the upstream tank portion and the downstream tank portion.
- In a heat exchanger according to an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, the communication passage may be separated from the upstream tank portion and the downstream tank portion.
- In a heat exchanger according to a twelfth aspect of the present disclosure, the communication passage may be separated from the upstream tank portion and the downstream tank portion, and the communication passage may be located at a position nearer to the heat exchange portion than positions of the upstream tank portion and the downstream tank portion.
- In a heat exchanger according to a thirteenth aspect of the present disclosure, the communication passage may extend in a direction to connect an end portion of a first tube of the upstream heat exchange portion and an end portion of a first tube of the downstream heat exchange portion which are overlapped with each other in the flow direction of the third fluid. Accordingly, it can be limited that a structure of the heat exchanger becomes large.
- “The direction to connect the end portions of the first tubes overlapped with each other” in the present disclosure means a direction including a component of the flow direction of the third fluid.
- In a heat exchanger according to a fourteenth aspect of the present disclosure, the communication passage may communicate with another first tube that is adjacent in the stacking direction of the first tubes to the two first tubes which are overlapped with each other in the flow direction of the third fluid.
- According to this, a flow rate of the first fluid in the first tube (hereinafter, referred to as a downstream first tube) of the downstream heat exchange portion, which is overlapped with the first tube of the upstream heat exchange portion in the flow direction of the third fluid, and a flow rate of another first tube (hereinafter, referred to as a downstream adjacent first tube), which is adjacent to the downstream first tube in the stacking direction of the first tubes, can be well-balanced.
- In other words, since the communication passage communicates with the downstream adjacent first tube, the first fluid can be made to flow into the downstream adjacent first tube through the communication passage. Accordingly, pressure loss of the first fluid can be reduced as compared to a case where the first fluid is made to flow into the adjacent first tube through an inner space of the tank portion. Thus, as a result, a flow rate of the first fluid in the downstream first tube and a flow rate of the first fluid in the downstream adjacent first tube can be made to approach each other.
- In a heat exchanger according to a fifteenth aspect of the present disclosure, a flow direction of the first fluid may be the same as a flow direction of the second fluid in a pair of the first tube and the second tube overlapped with each other in the flow direction of the third fluid, and a flow direction of the first fluid may be opposite from a flow direction of the second fluid in another pair of the first tube and the second tube overlapped with each other in the flow direction of the third fluid.
- According to this, heat amounts exchanged among the three kinds of fluids can be adjusted easily in the heat exchanger as a whole by providing the pair of the first tube and the second tube in which the flow direction of the first fluid is the same as the flow direction of the second fluid and the pair of the first tube and the second tube in which the flow direction of the first fluid is opposite from the flow direction of the second fluid.
- In a heat exchanger according to a sixteenth aspect of the present disclosure, the upstream heat exchange portion may include both the first tubes and the second tubes, and the downstream heat exchange portion may include the first tubes. All of the first fluid inflowing from an exterior of the heat exchanger may pass through the upstream heat exchange portion without branching to the downstream heat exchange portion.
- According to this, since all of the first fluid inflowing from the exterior passes through the upstream heat exchange portion without branching to the downstream heat exchange portion, the first fluid can be certainly made to flow into the upstream heat exchange. Therefore, in the upstream heat exchange portion, heat exchange between the first fluid and the third fluid can be performed certainly.
- In a heat exchanger according to a seventeenth aspect of the present disclosure, the upstream heat exchange portion may include both the first tubes and the second tubes, and the downstream heat exchange portion may include the first tubes. The first fluid inflowing from an exterior of the heat exchanger may branch to the upstream heat exchange portion and to the downstream heat exchange portion before flowing into the first tubes. All of the first fluid branched to the upstream heat exchange portion before flowing into the first tubes may pass through the upstream heat exchange portion without further branching to the downstream heat exchange portion. All of the first fluid branched to the downstream heat exchange portion before flowing into the first tubes may pass through the downstream heat exchange portion without further branching to the upstream heat exchange portion.
- According to this, all of the first fluid branched to the upstream heat exchange portion passes through the upstream heat exchange portion without further branching to the downstream heat exchange portion, and all of the first fluid branched to the downstream heat exchange portion passes through the downstream heat exchange portion without further branching to the upstream heat exchange portion. Hence, two flows of the first fluid, which are branched to the upstream heat exchange portion and the downstream heat exchange portion at a most upstream portion in a refrigerant flow direction, can be prevented from gathering together in the heat exchange portions. Therefore, decrease of a performance of the heat exchanger, which is caused by the fact that the two flows of the first fluid branched to the upstream heat exchange portion and the downstream heat exchange portion at the most upstream portion in the refrigerant flow direction gather together in the heat exchange portions, can be prevented.
- In a heat exchanger according to an eighteenth aspect of the present disclosure, a flow direction of the first fluid flowing through the first tubes immediately after the inflow of the first fluid from the exterior may be the same as a flow direction of the second fluid flowing through the second tubes immediately after inflow of the second fluid from the exterior. Accordingly, a performance of the heat exchanger can be improved.
- In a heat exchanger according to a nineteenth aspect of the present disclosure, a flow direction of the first fluid flowing through the first tubes immediately before outflow of the first fluid to the exterior may be the same as a flow direction of the second fluid flowing through the second tubes immediately before outflow of the second fluid to the exterior.
- In a heat exchanger according to a twentieth aspect of the present disclosure, the heat exchanger may include outer fins located in the third fluid passages. The outer fins may promote heat exchange between the first fluid and the third fluid and heat exchange between the second fluid and the third fluid, and the outer fins may be capable of conveying heat between the first fluid flowing through the first tubes and the second fluid flowing through the second tubes. Each of the outer fins may have louvers formed by cutting and raising parts of the surface of the outer fin. The louvers of the outer fin located between two adjacent tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion may be different in shape from the louvers of the outer fin located between two adjacent tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion.
- According to this, heat amounts exchanged among the three kinds of fluids can be adjusted easily in the heat exchanger as a whole by changing the shape of the louver formed in a position between two adjacent tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion from the shape of the louver formed in a position between two adjacent tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion.
- In a heat exchanger according to a twenty-first aspect of the present disclosure, the upstream heat exchange portion may include both the first tubes and the second tubes, and the downstream heat exchange portion may include the first tubes. The heat exchanger may include an upstream tank portion extending in a stacking direction of the first tubes and the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion, and a downstream tank portion extending in a stacking direction of the first tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion. The upstream tank portion may have an upstream first fluid space which collects or distributes the first fluid that flows through the first tubes, and an upstream second fluid space which collects or distributes the second fluid that flows through the second tubes. The downstream tank portion may have a downstream first fluid space which collects or distributes the first fluid that flows through the first tubes. The heat exchanger may further include a connector portion that includes a single piping connection port connected to a first fluid pipe through which the first fluid flows, an upstream heat exchange portion connection port that is connected to the upstream tank portion and communicates with the upstream first fluid space, and a downstream heat exchange portion connection port that is connected to the downstream tank portion and communicates with the downstream first fluid space.
- According to this, a flow of the first fluid is branched or two flows of the first fluid are gathered together inside the connector portion. Thus, as compared to a case in which a communication passage is provided inside the upstream tank portion and the downstream tank portion such that the first fluid flows between the upstream heat exchange portion and the downstream heat exchange portion, the communication passage can be omitted. Therefore, inner structures of the upstream tank portion and the downstream tank portion can be simplified.
- In a heat exchanger according to a twenty-first aspect of the present disclosure, a distance from the piping connection port to the upstream heat exchange portion connection port may be different from a distance from the piping connection port to the downstream heat exchange portion connection port in the connector portion. Alternatively, an opening area of the upstream heat exchange portion connection port may be different from an opening area of the downstream heat exchange portion connection port in the connector portion.
- The above-described heat exchanger may be used as an evaporator of a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle to evaporate refrigerant, or may be used as a radiator of a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle to radiate heat of refrigerant discharged from a compressor. In these cases, the first fluid is refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle, the second fluid is a heat medium that has absorbed heat of an external heat source, and the third fluid is air.
-
FIG. 1 is a general configuration diagram showing, for example, refrigerant passages in an air heating operation of a heat pump cycle according to a first embodiment. -
FIG. 2 is a general configuration diagram showing, for example, refrigerant passages in a defrosting operation of the heat pump cycle according to the first embodiment. -
FIG. 3 is a general configuration diagram showing, for example, refrigerant passages in an air cooling operation of the heat pump cycle according to the first embodiment. -
FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing a heat exchanger according to the first embodiment. -
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the heat exchanger according to the first embodiment. -
FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective diagram illustrating flows of refrigerant and coolant in the heat exchanger according to the first embodiment. -
FIGS. 7 (a)-(d) are schematic sectional diagrams illustrating, for example, flows of refrigerant in the heat exchanger according to the first embodiment. -
FIGS. 8 (a)-(d) are schematic sectional diagrams illustrating, for example, flows of coolant in the heat exchanger according to the first embodiment. -
FIG. 9 is a sectional diagram taken along a line E-E ofFIG. 7 (b). -
FIG. 10 is a sectional diagram taken along a line F-F ofFIG. 7 (c). -
FIG. 11 is a perspective sectional diagram showing a heat exchanger according to a second embodiment. -
FIG. 12 is a perspective sectional diagram showing a heat exchanger according to a third embodiment. -
FIG. 13 is a general configuration diagram showing, for example, refrigerant passages in an air heating operation of a heat pump cycle according to a fourth embodiment. -
FIG. 14 is a general configuration diagram showing, for example, refrigerant passages in a warm-up operation of the heat pump cycle according to the fourth embodiment. -
FIG. 15 is a general configuration diagram showing, for example, refrigerant passages in an air cooling operation of the heat pump cycle according to the fourth embodiment. -
FIG. 16 is a schematic top view showing a first plate-like member of a heat exchanger according to a fifth embodiment. -
FIG. 17 is a schematic top view showing a second plate-like member of a heat exchanger according to the fifth embodiment. -
FIG. 18 is a schematic top view showing a first plate-like member of a heat exchanger according to a sixth embodiment. -
FIG. 19 is a schematic top view showing a second plate-like member of a heat exchanger according to the sixth embodiment. -
FIG. 20 is a schematic perspective diagram illustrating flows of refrigerant and coolant in a heat exchanger according to a seventh embodiment. -
FIG. 21 is a schematic perspective diagram illustrating flows of refrigerant and coolant in a heat exchanger according to an eighth embodiment. -
FIG. 22 is a schematic sectional diagram showing a heat exchange portion of a heat exchanger in a longitudinal direction of the heat exchange portion, according to a ninth embodiment. -
FIG. 23 is a sectional diagram showing a part in which a refrigerant tube of an upstream heat exchange portion and a refrigerant tube of a downstream heat exchange portion are overlapped in a flow direction of outside air, according to a tenth embodiment. -
FIG. 24 is a sectional diagram showing a part in which a coolant tube of the upstream heat exchange portion and a refrigerant tube of the downstream heat exchange portion are overlapped in the flow direction of outside air, according to the tenth embodiment. -
FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing a first communication-space forming plate according to the tenth embodiment. -
FIG. 26 is an external perspective view showing a heat exchanger according to an eleventh embodiment. -
FIG. 27 is a schematic perspective diagram illustrating flows of refrigerant and coolant in the heat exchanger according to the eleventh embodiment. -
FIG. 28 is an external perspective view showing a connector attached to the heat exchanger according to the eleventh embodiment. -
FIG. 29 is a perspective sectional diagram showing the heat exchanger according to the eleventh embodiment. -
FIG. 30 is an external perspective diagram showing a connector attached to a heat exchanger according to a twelfth embodiment. -
FIG. 31 is a top view showing the connector ofFIG. 30 . -
FIG. 32 is a front view showing a connector attached to a heat exchanger according to a thirteenth embodiment. -
FIG. 33 is a schematic perspective diagram illustrating flows of refrigerant and coolant in a heat exchanger according to another embodiment. -
FIG. 34 is a schematic perspective diagram illustrating flows of refrigerant and coolant in a heat exchanger according to another embodiment. -
FIG. 35 is a schematic perspective diagram illustrating flows of refrigerant and coolant in a heat exchanger according to another embodiment. -
FIG. 36 is a schematic perspective diagram illustrating flows of refrigerant and coolant in a heat exchanger according to another embodiment. - Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described referring to drawings. In the respective following embodiments, parts that are equivalent or similar to each other are assigned the same numeral in the drawings.
- A first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to
FIGS. 1 to 10 . In the present embodiment, aheat exchanger 70 of the present disclosure is used for aheat pump cycle 10 of avehicle air conditioner 1 that conditions a temperature of air blown in to a vehicle compartment.FIGS. 1 to 3 are general configuration diagrams showing thevehicle air conditioner 1 of the present first embodiment. - The
vehicle air conditioner 1 is used for a hybrid vehicle that obtains a driving force for vehicle-running from an internal combustion engine (engine) and from a running electric motor MG. - The hybrid vehicle operates or stops the engine depending on a running load of the vehicle. The hybrid vehicle is capable of switching its running state, for example, between a running state, in which the driving force is obtained from both the engine and the running electric motor MG, and a running state, in which the engine is stopped and the driving force is obtained only from the running electric motor MG. Accordingly, fuel efficiency can be increased in the hybrid vehicle as compared to a general vehicle that obtains a driving force for vehicle running only from an engine.
- The
heat pump cycle 10 of thevehicle air conditioner 1 is a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle which functions to heat or cool air blown into the vehicle compartment that is an air-conditioning target space. Hence, theheat pump cycle 10 is capable of performing an air heating operation (heating operation), in which the vehicle compartment is heated by heating of air that is to be blown into the vehicle compartment, and an air cooling operation (cooling operation), in which the vehicle compartment is cooled by cooling of the air that is to be blown into the vehicle compartment, by switching a refrigerant passage. The air that is to be blown into the vehicle compartment is a heat-exchange target fluid. - Additionally, the
heat pump cycle 10 is capable of performing a defrosting operation to melt and remove frost attached to a later-described exteriorheat exchange portion 16 of the combinedheat exchanger 70. The exteriorheat exchange portion 16 functions as an evaporator in which refrigerant evaporates in the air heating operation. Flows of refrigerant in theheat pump cycle 10 in the respective operations are shown by solid arrows in the general configuration diagrams ofFIGS. 1 to 3 . - In the
heat pump cycle 10 of the present embodiment, a general fluorocarbon refrigerant is used as refrigerant, and theheat pump cycle 10 is a subcritical refrigeration cycle in which a higher-pressure-side refrigerant pressure does not exceed a critical pressure of the refrigerant. Refrigerant oil is contained in the refrigerant to lubricant acompressor 11, and a part of the refrigerant oil circulates in the cycle with the refrigerant. - The
compressor 11 is arranged in an engine compartment, and draws refrigerant in theheat pump cycle 10 to compress and discharge the refrigerant. Thecompressor 11 is an electric compressor in which a fixed-displacement compressor 11 a having a fixed discharge capacity is driven by anelectric motor 11 b. For example, a variety of compressor mechanisms such as a scroll compressor or a vane compressor can be used as the fixed-displacement compressor 11 a. - An operation (rotation rate) of the
electric motor 11 b is controlled by a control signal outputted from an air conditioning controller described later. Either one of an alternating-current motor or a direct-current motor may be applied to theelectric motor 11 b. A refrigerant discharge capacity of thecompressor 11 is changed by the control of the rotation rate. Thus, in the present embodiment, theelectric motor 11 b is used as a discharge capacity changing device of thecompressor 11. - A refrigerant discharge port of the
compressor 11 is connected to a refrigerant inlet side of aninterior condenser 12 that is used as a using side heat exchanger. Theinterior condenser 12 is disposed in acasing 31 of an interiorair conditioning unit 30 of thevehicle air conditioner 1. Theinterior condenser 12 is a heating heat exchanger in which high-pressure and high-temperature refrigerant flowing therein exchanges heat with blown air that has passed through aninterior evaporator 20. A detailed configuration of the interiorair conditioning unit 31 will be described later. - A refrigerant outlet side of the
interior condenser 12 is connected to a heating fixedthrottle 13 that is used as a depressurizing device for the air heating operation. The heating fixedthrottle 13 depressurizes and expands refrigerant flowing out of theinterior condenser 12 in the air heating operation. For example, an orifice or a capillary tube can be used as the heating fixedthrottle 13. An outlet side of the heating fixedthrottle 13 is connected to a refrigerant inlet side of the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 of the combinedheat exchanger 70. - The refrigerant outlet side of the
interior condenser 12 is further connected to a fixed-throttle bypass passage 14 through which refrigerant flowing out of theinterior condenser 12 bypasses the heating fixedthrottle 13 and is guided toward the exteriorheat exchange portion 16. An open-close valve 15 a is arranged in the fixed-throttle bypass passage 14, and opens or closes the fixed-throttle bypass passage 14. The open-close valve 15 a is an electromagnetic valve in which its open-close operation is controlled by a control voltage outputted from the air conditioning controller. - A pressure loss generated when refrigerant passes through the open-
close valve 15 a is extremely small as compared to a pressure loss generated when refrigerant passes through the fixedthrottle 13. Hence, refrigerant flowing out of theinterior condenser 12 flows into the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 through the fixed-throttle bypass passage 14 when the open-close valve 15 a is open. The refrigerant flowing out of theinterior condenser 12 flows into the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 through the heating fixedthrottle 13 when the open-close valve 15 a is closed. - Accordingly, the open-
close valve 15 a is capable of switching the refrigerant passage of theheat pump cycle 10. Thus, the open-close valve 15 a of the present embodiment functions as a refrigerant passage switching device. For example, an electric three-way valve may be used as such refrigerant passage switching device. In this case, the electric three-way valve switches between a refrigerant passage connecting from the outlet side of theinterior condenser 12 to the inlet side of the heating fixedthrottle 13 and a refrigerant passage connecting from the outlet side of theinterior condenser 12 to the inlet side of fixed-throttle bypass passage 14. - The exterior
heat exchange portion 16 is a heat exchange portion in which refrigerant flowing in theheat exchanger 70 exchanges heat with outside air blown by ablast fan 17. The exteriorheat exchange portion 16 is disposed in the engine compartment. The exteriorheat exchange portion 16 functions as an evaporation heat exchange portion (evaporator), in which low pressure refrigerant evaporates and exerts its heat absorption effect, in the air heating operation. The exteriorheat exchange portion 16 functions as a radiation heat exchange portion (radiator), in which high pressure refrigerant radiates heat, in the air cooling operation. - The
blast fan 17 is an electric blower in which an operating rate, i.e., a rotation rate (air blowing amount) is controlled by a control voltage outputted from the air conditioning controller. - In the
heat exchanger 70 of the present embodiment, the above-described exteriorheat exchange portion 16 and aradiator portion 43 are integrated with each other. In theradiator portion 43, coolant for cooling the running electric motor MG exchanges heat with outside air blown by theblast fan 17. - Thus, the
blast fan 17 of the present embodiment is used as an exterior air blowing device that blows outside air toward both the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 and theradiator portion 43. A detailed configuration of the combinedheat exchanger 70 in which the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 and theradiator portion 43 are integrated with each other will be described later. - An outlet side of the exterior
heat exchange portion 16 is connected to an electric three-way valve 15 b. An operation of the three-way valve 15 b is controlled by a control voltage outputted from the air conditioning controller. The three-way valve 15 b is used as the refrigerant passage switching device together with the above-described open-close valve 15 a. - More specifically, in the air heating operation, the three-
way valve 15 b selects a refrigerant passage connecting the outlet side of the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 and an inlet side of anaccumulator 18 described later. In the air cooling operation, the three-way valve 15 b selects a refrigerant passage connecting the outlet side of the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 and an inlet side of a cooling fixedthrottle 19. - The cooling fixed
throttle 19 is a depressurizing device for the air cooling operation, and depressurizes and expands refrigerant flowing out of the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 in the air cooling operation. A basic structure of the cooling fixedthrottle 19 is similar to that of the heating fixedthrottle 13. An outlet side of the cooling fixedthrottle 19 is connected to a refrigerant inlet side of theinterior evaporator 20. - The
interior evaporator 20 is located upstream of theinterior condenser 12 in an air flow direction inside thecasing 31 of the interiorair conditioning unit 30. Theinterior evaporator 20 is a cooling heat exchanger in which air that is to be blown into the vehicle compartment is cooled by heat exchange between refrigerant flowing in theinterior evaporator 20 and air blown into the vehicle compartment. A refrigerant outlet side of theinterior evaporator 20 is connected to the inlet side of theaccumulator 18. - The
accumulator 18 separates refrigerant flowing therein into gas and liquid. Theaccumulator 18 is a gas-liquid separator for lower-pressure-side refrigerant and accumulates surplus refrigerant of the cycle. A gas-refrigerant outlet of theaccumulator 18 is connected to a suction side of thecompressor 11. Hence, theaccumulator 18 restricts drawing of liquid refrigerant into thecompressor 11 and functions to prevent liquid-compression of thecompressor 11. - In the air cooling operation of the
heat pump cycle 10 of the present embodiment, a temperature of coolant flowing out of theradiator portion 43 of theheat exchanger 70 is lower than a temperature of refrigerant flowing out of the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 of theheat exchanger 70. The exteriorheat exchange portion 16 functions in the air cooling operation as the radiation heat exchange portion in which high pressure refrigerant radiates heat. Since a supercooling degree of the refrigerant flowing out of the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 can be increased in the air cooing operation, cycle efficiency can be improved. - On the other hand, in the air heating operation of the
heat pump cycle 10 of the present embodiment, a temperature of coolant flowing out of theradiator portion 43 of theheat exchanger 70 is higher than a temperature of refrigerant flowing out of the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 of theheat exchanger 70. The exteriorheat exchange portion 16 functions in the air heating operation as the evaporation heat exchange portion in which low pressure refrigerant evaporates and exerts a heat absorption effect. Since the refrigerant is heated by absorbing heat from the coolant in the air heating operation, evaporation of the refrigerant is promoted. - Next, the interior
air conditioning unit 30 will be described. The interiorair conditioning unit 30 is disposed inside a dashboard (instrumental panel) in a most front part of the vehicle compartment. For example, ablower 32, the above-describedinterior condenser 12 and theinterior evaporator 20 are accommodated in thecasing 31 that forms an outer shell of the interiorair conditioning unit 30. - The
casing 31 forms an air passage for air that is to be blown into the vehicle compartment. Thecasing 31 is formed of resin (e.g., polypropylene) that has a certain level of elasticity and is superior in strength. An inside-outsideair switching device 33 is located in a most upstream part of thecasing 31 in the flow direction of air blown into the vehicle compartment. The inside-outsideair switching device 33 selectively introduce air (inside air) inside the vehicle compartment and the outside air. - The inside-outside
air switching device 33 has an inside air port, through which the inside air is introduced into thecasing 31, and an outside air port, through which the outside air is introduced into thecasing 31. An inside-outside air switching door is disposed inside the inside-outsideair switching device 33. The inside-outside air switching door continuously adjusts open areas of the inside air port and the outside air port to change a ratio between a flow rate of the inside air and a flow rate of the outside air. - The
blower 32 is located downstream of the inside-outsideair switching device 33 in the air flow direction, and blows air drawn from the inside-outsideair switching device 33 toward the vehicle compartment. Theblower 32 is an electric fan in which a centrifugal multi-blade fan (sirocco fan) is driven by an electric motor. A rotation rate (air blowing amount) of theblower 32 is controlled by a control voltage outputted from the air conditioning controller. - The
interior evaporator 20 and theinterior condenser 12 are arranged in this order downstream of theblower 32 in the air flow direction. In other words, theinterior evaporator 20 is located upstream of theinterior condenser 12 in the air flow direction. - Additionally, an
air mix door 34 is arranged downstream of theinterior evaporator 20 and upstream of theinterior condenser 12 in the air flow direction. Theair mix door 34 adjusts a ratio of a flow rate of air passing through theinterior condenser 12 to a flow rate of air that has passed through theinterior evaporator 20. Furthermore, a mixingspace 35 is provided downstream of theinterior condenser 12 in the air flow direction. In the mixingspace 35, air that has heated in theinterior condenser 12 by heat exchange with refrigerant is mixed with air that has not been heated by bypassing theinterior condenser 12. - A most downstream part of the
casing 31 in the air flow direction has air outlets through which conditioned air mixed in the mixingspace 35 is blown to the vehicle compartment that is a cooling target space. For example, the air outlets include a face air outlet through which the conditioned air is blown toward an upper part of a passenger in the vehicle compartment, a foot air outlet through which the conditioned air is blown toward a foot area of the passenger, and a defroster air outlet through which the conditioned air is blown toward an inner surface of a windshield of the vehicle (neither one of the air outlets is shown). - The
air mix door 34 adjusts the ratio of the flow rate of air passing through theinterior condenser 12, thereby adjusting a temperature of the conditioned air mixed in the mixingspace 35. Consequently, a temperature of the conditioned air blown out of the respective air outlets is adjusted. Theair mix door 34 is used as a temperature adjustment device which adjusts a temperature of conditioned air blown into the vehicle compartment. - In other words, the
air mix door 34 functions as a heat exchange amount adjustment device which adjusts a heat exchange amount between refrigerant discharged by thecompressor 11 and air blown into the vehicle compartment in theinterior condenser 12 that is used as the using side heat exchanger. Theair mix door 34 is driven by a non-shown servomotor, and an operation of the servomotor is controlled by a control signal outputted from the air conditioning controller. - A face door, a foot door and a defroster door are arranged upstream of the face air outlet, the foot air outlet and the defroster air outlet, respectively, in the air flow direction (the doors are not shown). The face door adjusts an open area of the face air outlet. The foot door adjusts an open area of the foot air outlet. The defroster door adjusts an open area of the defroster air outlet.
- These face door, foot door and defroster door are used as an air outlet mode switching device which switches an air outlet mode. These doors are driven by a non-shown servomotor via a link mechanism or the like, and an operation of the servomotor is controlled by a control signal outputted from the air conditioning controller.
- Next, a
coolant circulation circuit 40 will be described. Thecoolant circulation circuit 40 cools the above-described running electric motor MG by circulating coolant (e.g., ethylene glycol aqueous solution) as a cooling medium (heat medium) in a coolant passage provided inside the running electric motor MG. The running electric motor MG is one of an in-vehicle device which generates heat during operation. - For example, a
coolant pump 41, an electric three-way valve 42, theradiator portion 43 of the combinedheat exchanger 70, and abypass passage 44 through which coolant bypasses theradiator portion 43 are arranged in thecoolant circulation circuit 40. - The
coolant pump 41 is an electric pump which pumps coolant to the coolant passage provided inside the running electric motor MG in thecoolant circulation circuit 40. A rotation rate (discharge rate) of thecoolant pump 41 is controlled by a control signal outputted from the air conditioning controller. Thus, thecoolant pump 41 functions as a cooling capacity adjustment device which adjusts a cooling capacity by changing a flow rate of the coolant cooling the running electric motor MG. - The three-
way valve 42 switches between a coolant circuit, in which an inlet side of thecoolant pump 41 is connected to an outlet side of theradiator portion 43 such that coolant flows into theradiator portion 43, and a coolant circuit, in which the inlet side of thecoolant pump 41 is connected to an outlet side of thebypass passage 44 such that coolant bypasses theradiator portion 43. An operation of the three-way valve 42 is controlled by a control voltage outputted from the air conditioning controller. The three-way valve 42 is used as a circuit switching device which switches the coolant circuit. The three-way valve 42 functions also as a coolant inflow amount control device which controls an inflow amount of coolant into theradiator portion 43 by switching the coolant circuit. - The
coolant circulation circuit 40 of the present embodiment, as shown by dashed arrows inFIG. 1 for example, is capable of switching between the coolant circuit in which coolant circulates in this order: thecoolant pump 41→the running electric motor MG→theradiator portion 43→thecoolant pump 41, and the coolant circuit in which coolant circulates in this order: thecoolant pump 41—the running electric motor MG→thebypass passage 44→thecoolant pump 41. - When the three-
way valve 42 switches the coolant circuit during operation of the running electric motor MG such that the coolant bypasses theradiator portion 43, a temperature of the coolant increases without radiating heat in theradiator portion 43. In other words, when the three-way valve 42 switches the coolant circuit such that the coolant bypasses theradiator portion 43, heat (radiated heat) of the running electric motor MG is accumulated in the coolant. - In the
coolant circulation circuit 40 of the present embodiment, a temperature of coolant flowing out of theradiator portion 43 of theheat exchanger 70 is lower than or equal to a predetermined standard temperature (65° C. in the present embodiment). Accordingly, an inverter of the running electric motor MG can be protected from high heat. - The exterior
heat exchange portion 16 is disposed in the engine compartment and functions as a radiation heat exchange portion in which coolant exchanges heat with outside air blown by theblast fan 17. As described above, theradiator portion 43 constitutes the combinedheat exchanger 70 together with the exteriorheat exchange portion 16. - A detailed configuration of the combined
heat exchanger 70 of the present embodiment will be described referring toFIGS. 4 to 10 .FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of theheat exchanger 70 of the first embodiment, andFIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of theheat exchanger 70. -
FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective diagram for explanation of a refrigerant flow and a coolant flow in theheat exchanger 70. InFIG. 6 , the refrigerant flow in theheat pump cycle 10 is shown by solid arrows, and the coolant flow in thecoolant circulation circuit 40 is shown by dashed arrows. -
FIG. 7 (a) andFIG. 8 (a) are sectional diagrams taken along A-A ofFIG. 6 .FIG. 7 (b) andFIG. 8 (b) are sectional diagrams taken along B-B ofFIG. 6 .FIG. 7 (c) andFIG. 8 (c) are sectional diagrams taken along C-C ofFIG. 6 .FIG. 7 (d) andFIG. 8 (d) are sectional diagrams taken along D-D ofFIG. 6 . Dashed arrows inFIGS. 7 (a)-(d) show refrigerant flows, and dashed arrows inFIGS. 8 (a)-(d) show coolant flows.FIG. 9 is a sectional diagram taken along E-E ofFIG. 7 (b), andFIG. 10 is a sectional diagram taken along F-F ofFIG. 7 (c). - As shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6 , the combinedheat exchanger 70 includes multiple tubes through which refrigerant or coolant flows, and a pair of collection-distribution tanks arranged on both end sides of the multiple tubes. The pair of collection-distribution tanks collects or distributes refrigerant or coolant that flows through the respective tubes. The combinedheat exchanger 70 has a tank-and-tube heat exchanger structure. - More specifically, the combined
heat exchanger 70 includesrefrigerant tubes 16 a through which refrigerant flows as a first fluid, andcoolant tubes 43 a through which coolant flows as a second fluid. - The combined
heat exchanger 70 includes an upstreamheat exchange portion 71 in which therefrigerant tubes 16 a and thecoolant tubes 43 a are stacked and arranged alternately. In the upstreamheat exchange portion 71, refrigerant flowing through therefrigerant tubes 16 a exchanges heat with air (outside air blown by the blast fan 17) flowing near therefrigerant tubes 16 a as a third fluid, and coolant flowing through thecoolant tubes 43 a exchanges heat with air (outside air blown by the blast fan 17) flowing near thecoolant tubes 43 a. - A downstream
heat exchange portion 72 is provided downstream of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 in a flow direction of outside air, and therefrigerant tubes 16 a are stacked and arranged in the downstreamheat exchange portion 72. In the downstreamheat exchange portion 72, refrigerant flowing through therefrigerant tubes 16 a exchanges heat with air (outside air blown by the blast fan 17) flowing near therefrigerant tubes 16 a. - A flattened tube having a flattened shape in a sectional surface perpendicular to its longitudinal direction is used for the
refrigerant tube 16 a and thecoolant tube 43 a. More specifically, a tube formed to have a flattened shape and multiple holes in cross-section by extruding is used for therefrigerant tube 16 a. A tube formed to have a flattened shape and two holes in cross-section by bending a single plate member is used as thecoolant tube 43 a. - The
refrigerant tubes 16 a and thecoolant tubes 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 are stacked and arranged alternately at predetermined intervals such that flat sides of outer surfaces of therefrigerant tube 16 a and thecoolant tube 43 a are opposed and parallel to each other. Similarly, therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72 are stacked and arranged at predetermined intervals. - The
refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 is interposed between two of thecoolant tubes 43 a, and thecoolant tubes 43 a is interposed between two of therefrigerant tubes 16 a. Therefrigerant tube 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72 is arranged to be overlapped with therefrigerant tube 16 a or thecoolant tube 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 in a flow direction of outside air blown by theblast fan 17. - In the upstream
heat exchange portion 71, therefrigerant tubes 16 a and thecoolant tubes 43 a are arranged alternately. Thus, the number of therefrigerant tubes 16 a is equal to the number of thecoolant tubes 43 a. Therefore, a ratio (hereinafter, referred to as an upstream number ratio) of the number of therefrigerant tubes 16 a to the total number of therefrigerant tubes 16 a and thecoolant tubes 43 a in the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 is 0.5. - On the other hand, the tubes of the downstream
heat exchange portion 72 consist only of therefrigerant tubes 16 a. Therefore, a ratio (hereinafter, referred to as a downstream number ratio) of the number of therefrigerant tubes 16 a to the total number of therefrigerant tubes 16 a and thecoolant tubes 43 a in the downstreamheat exchange portion 72 is 1. - In the combined
heat exchanger 70 of the present embodiment, the upstream number ratio is smaller than the downstream number ratio. - In the
heat exchanger 70, spaces between therefrigerant tubes 16 a and thecoolant tubes 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 and spaces between adjacent two of therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72 form outsideair passages 70 a (third fluid passages) through which outside air blown by theblast fan 17 flows. -
Outer fins 50 are arranged in theoutside air passages 70 a. Theouter fins 50 promote heat exchanges between refrigerant and outside air and between coolant and outside air. Heat can be transferred through theouter fins 50 between refrigerant flowing through therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 and coolant flowing through thecoolant tubes 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71. Heat can be transferred through theouter fins 50 between refrigerants flowing through adjacent two of therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72. - A corrugated fin formed by bending a metallic thin plate superior in heat-conductivity into a corrugated shape is used for the
outer fin 50. In the present embodiment, theouter fin 50 is bonded to both therefrigerant tube 16 a and thecoolant tube 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71, and theouter fin 50 is thus capable of transferring heat therethrough between therefrigerant tube 16 a and thecoolant tube 43 a. Additionally, theouter fin 50 is bonded to adjacent two of therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72, and theouter fin 50 is hence capable of transferring heat therethrough between the adjacent two of therefrigerant tubes 16 a. - Next, an
upstream tank portion 73 and adownstream tank portion 74 will be described. Thestacked heat exchanger 70 includes theupstream tank portion 73 extending in a stacking direction of therefrigerant tubes 16 a and thecoolant tubes 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71, and thedownstream tank portion 74 extending in a stacking direction of therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72. - The
upstream tank portion 73 has anupstream coolant space 731 which collects or distributes coolant that flows through thecoolant tubes 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71. Thedownstream tank portion 74 has a downstreamrefrigerant space 741 which collects or distributes refrigerant that flows through therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72. - The
upstream tank portion 73 and thedownstream tank portion 74 are formed integrally with each other. Hereinafter, the one in which theupstream tank portion 73 and thedownstream tank portion 74 are integrated with each other will be referred to as aheader tank 75. - The
header tank 75 includes aheader plate 751 to which therefrigerant tubes 16 a and thecoolant tubes 43 a arranged into two rows in the flow direction of outside air are fixed, amiddle plate member 752 fixed to theheader plate 751, and atank forming member 753. - The
tank forming member 753 is fixed to theheader plate 751 and themiddle plate member 752 such that theupstream coolant space 731 and the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 are provided inside thetank forming member 753. Specifically, thetank forming member 753 is formed by pressing a flat metal plate and has a two peaks shape (W-shape) when thetank forming member 753 is viewed in its longitudinal direction. - A
center portion 753 c of the two peaks shape of thetank forming member 753 is bonded to themiddle plate member 752. Accordingly, theupstream coolant space 731 and the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 are partitioned. - The
middle plate member 752 has multiple recessedportions 752 a. As shown inFIGS. 9 and 10 , the multiple recessedportions 752 a and theheader plate 751 form therebetweenmultiple communication spaces 76 communicating with thecoolant tubes 43 a by fixing themiddle plate member 752 to theheader plate 751. - The recessed
portion 752 a has a first throughhole 752 b extending through the recessedportion 752 a from its one side to the other side on a downstream part in the flow direction of outside air, in other words, in a region corresponding to the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 of thedownstream tank portion 74. Accordingly, thecommunication spaces 76 communicate with the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 of thedownstream tank portion 74. - Thus, refrigerant flows into the
communication spaces 76 from therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 and flows out from thecommunication spaces 76 through the first throughhole 752 b to the downstreamrefrigerant space 741. Therefore, thecommunication spaces 76 function as communication passages through which therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 communicates with the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 of thedownstream tank portion 74. - The
communication space 76 extends in a direction to connect an end portion of therefrigerant tube 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 and an end portion of therefrigerant tube 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72 which are arranged to be overlapped with each other in the flow direction of outside air. More specifically, thecommunication space 76 extends in the flow direction of the outside air on the end portion of therefrigerant tube 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 and on the end portion of therefrigerant tube 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72. - The
middle plate member 752 has second throughholes 752 c extending through themiddle plate member 752 from its one side to the other side at positions corresponding to thecoolant tubes 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71. Thecoolant tubes 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 extend through the second throughholes 752 c. Accordingly, thecoolant tubes 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 communicates with theupstream coolant space 731 provided in thetank forming member 753. - As shown in
FIG. 5 , thecoolant tubes 43 a protrude toward theheader tank 75 more than therefrigerant tubes 16 a on an end portion of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71. In other words, end portions of therefrigerant tubes 16 a and end portions of thecoolant tubes 43 a are positioned unevenly near theheader tank 75. - The
middle plate member 752 further has third throughholes 752 d extending through themiddle plate member 752 from its one side to the other side. The third throughholes 752 d are located at positions corresponding to therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72, which do not communicate with thecommunication spaces 76. Therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72, which do not communicate with thecommunication spaces 76, extend through the third throughhole 752 d. Accordingly, therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 75, which do not communicate with thecommunication spaces 76, communicate with the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 provided in thetank forming member 753. - As shown in
FIG. 5 , therefrigerant tubes 16 a, which do not communicate with thecommunication spaces 76, protrude toward theheader tank 75 more than therefrigerant tubes 16 a, which communicate with thecommunication spaces 76, on an end portion of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72. In other words, end portions of adjacent two of therefrigerant tubes 16 a are positioned unevenly. - The
center portion 753 c of thetank forming member 753 is formed into a shape fitting the recessedportions 752 a of themiddle plate member 752. Theupstream coolant space 731 and the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 are separated from each other such that coolant or refrigerant therein is prevented from leaking through the joint part between theheader plate 751 and themiddle plate member 752. - As shown in
FIG. 4 , acoolant inflow pipe 434 through which coolant flows into theupstream coolant space 731 is connected to one end side (left side on the paper of the drawing) of theupstream tank portion 73 in a longitudinal direction of theupstream tank portion 73. Theupstream tank portion 73 connected to thecoolant inflow pipe 434 is located on one end side (upper side on the paper of the drawing) of thecoolant tubes 43 a in a longitudinal direction of thecoolant tubes 43 a. Acoolant outflow pipe 435 through which coolant flows out of theupstream coolant space 731 is connected to the other side (right side on the paper of the drawing) of theupstream tank portion 73 in the longitudinal direction of theupstream tank portion 73. Theupstream tank portion 73 connected to thecoolant outflow pipe 435 is located on the one end side of thecoolant tubes 43 a in the longitudinal direction of thecoolant tubes 43 a. Both end sides of theupstream tank portion 73 in its longitudinal direction, which is located on the other end side (lower side on the paper of the drawing) of thecoolant tubes 43 a in the longitudinal direction of thecoolant tubes 43 a, are closed by closing members. - A
refrigerant outflow pipe 165 through which refrigerant flows out of the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 is connected to one end side (left side on the paper of the drawing) of thedownstream tank portion 74 in a longitudinal direction of thedownstream tank portion 74. Thedownstream tank portion 74 connected to the refrigerant outflow pipe is located on one end side (upper side on the paper of the drawing) of therefrigerant tubes 16 a in a longitudinal direction of therefrigerant tubes 16 a. Arefrigerant inflow pipe 164 through which refrigerant flows into the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 is connected to the other side (right side on the paper of the drawing) of thedownstream tank portion 74 in the longitudinal direction of thedownstream tank portion 74. Thedownstream tank portion 74 connected to therefrigerant inflow pipe 164 is located on the one end side of therefrigerant tubes 16 a. Both end sides of thedownstream tank portion 74 in its longitudinal direction, which is located on the other end side (lower side on the paper of the drawing) of therefrigerant tubes 16 a in the longitudinal direction of therefrigerant tubes 16 a, are closed by closing members. - As shown in the schematic sectional diagrams of
FIGS. 7 (a)-(d) andFIGS. 8 (a)-(d), anupstream partition member 732 is disposed in the upstream tank portion 73 (hereinafter, referred to as a firstupstream tank portion 730 a) located on the one end side (upper side of the paper ofFIG. 4 ) of thecoolant tubes 43 a in the longitudinal direction of thecoolant tubes 43 a. Theupstream partition member 732 partitions theupstream coolant space 731 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the firstupstream tank portion 730 a. - One of the two spaces of the
upstream coolant space 731 partitioned by theupstream partition member 732, which communicates with thecoolant inflow pipe 434, is referred to as a firstupstream coolant space 731 a. The other one of the two spaces of theupstream coolant space 731 partitioned by theupstream partition member 732, which communicates with thecoolant outflow pipe 435, is referred to as a secondupstream coolant space 731 b. Theupstream tank portion 73 located on the other end side (lower side of the paper ofFIG. 4 ) of thecoolant tubes 43 a in their longitudinal direction is referred to as a secondupstream tank portion 730 b. - A
downstream partition member 742 is disposed in the downstream tank portion 74 (hereinafter, referred to as a firstdownstream tank portion 740 a) located on the one end side (upper side of the paper ofFIG. 4 ) of therefrigerant tubes 16 a in their longitudinal direction. Thedownstream partition member 742 partitions the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the firstdownstream tank portion 740 a. - One of the two spaces of the downstream
refrigerant space 741 partitioned by thedownstream partition member 742, which communicates with therefrigerant inflow pipe 164, is referred to as a first downstreamrefrigerant space 741 a. The other one of the two spaces of the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 partitioned by thedownstream partition member 742, which communicates with therefrigerant outflow pipe 165, is referred to as a second downstreamrefrigerant space 741 b. Thedownstream tank portion 74 located on the other end side (lower side of the paper ofFIG. 4 ) of therefrigerant tubes 16 a in their longitudinal direction is referred to as a seconddownstream tank portion 740 b. - In the
heat exchanger 70 of the present embodiment, as shown in the schematic perspective diagram ofFIG. 6 and in the schematic sectional diagrams ofFIGS. 7 (a)-(d), refrigerant flows into the first downstreamrefrigerant space 741 a of the firstdownstream tank portion 740 a through therefrigerant inflow pipe 164. A part of the refrigerant in the first downstreamrefrigerant space 741 a flows into therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72 and passes through therefrigerant tubes 16 a from the upper side to the lower side of the drawing. Another part of the refrigerant in the first downstreamrefrigerant space 741 a of the firstdownstream tank portion 740 a flows into therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 through thecommunication spaces 76 provided between theheader plate 751 and themiddle plate member 752. The refrigerant flowing into therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 passes through therefrigerant tubes 16 a from the upper side to the lower side of the drawing. - The refrigerants flowing out of the
refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72 gather together in the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 of the seconddownstream tank portion 740 b. Also the refrigerants flowing out of therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 gather together in the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 of the seconddownstream tank portion 740 b through thecommunication spaces 76 provided between theheader plate 751 and themiddle plate member 752. - The refrigerant collected in the downstream
refrigerant space 741 of the seconddownstream tank portion 740 b flows from the right side to the left side of the drawing. Subsequently, a part of the refrigerant collected in the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 of the seconddownstream tank portion 740 b flows into therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72 and passes through therefrigerant tubes 16 a from the lower side to the upper side of the drawing. Another part of the refrigerant collected in the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 of the seconddownstream tank portion 740 b flows into therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72 through thecommunication spaces 76 provided between theheader plate 751 and themiddle plate member 752. The refrigerant flows through therefrigerant tubes 16 a from the lower side to the upper side of the drawing. - The refrigerants flowing out of the
refrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72 gather together in the second downstreamrefrigerant space 741 b of the firstdownstream tank portion 740 a. Also the refrigerants flowing out of therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 gather together in the second downstreamrefrigerant space 741 b of the firstdownstream tank portion 740 a through thecommunication spaces 76 provided between theheader plate 751 and themiddle plate member 752. - The refrigerant collected in the second downstream
refrigerant space 741 b of the firstdownstream tank portion 740 a flows from the right side to the left side of the drawing and flows out through therefrigerant outflow pipe 165. - In the
heat exchanger 70 of the present embodiment, as shown in the schematic perspective diagram ofFIG. 6 and in the schematic sectional diagrams ofFIGS. 8 (a)-(d), coolant flows into the firstupstream coolant space 731 a of the firstupstream tank portion 730 a through thecoolant inflow pipe 434. The coolant in the firstupstream coolant space 731 a flows into thecoolant tubes 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 and passes through thecoolant tubes 43 a from the upper side to the lower side of the drawing. - The coolants flowing out of the
coolant tubes 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 gather together in theupstream coolant space 731 of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b. The coolant flows from the left side to the right side of the drawing in theupstream coolant space 731 of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b. - Subsequently, the coolant collected in the
upstream coolant space 731 of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b flows into thecoolant tubes 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 and passes through thecoolant tubes 43 a from the lower side to the upper side of the drawing. The coolants flowing out of thecoolant tubes 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 gather together in the secondupstream coolant space 731 b of the firstupstream tank portion 730 a. - The coolant collected in the second
upstream coolant space 731 b of the firstupstream tank portion 730 a flows from the left side to the right side of the drawing and flows out through thecoolant outflow pipe 435. - In the above-described
heat exchanger 70, both therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 and therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72 are used for the exteriorheat exchange portion 16. Thecoolant tubes 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 are used for theradiator portion 43. - The
refrigerant tubes 16 a, thecoolant tubes 43 a, the respective components of theheader tank 75 and theouter fins 50 in the above-describedheat exchanger 70 are made of the same metal material (aluminum alloy in the present embodiment). Theheader plate 751 and thetank forming member 753 are fixed to each other by crimping in a state where themiddle plate member 752 is interposed between theheader plate 751 and thetank forming member 753. - Additionally, the
heat exchanger 70 fixed by the crimping is thrown into a heating furnace. Theheat exchanger 70 is heated, and brazing filler metal coating surfaces of the respective components is melted. By cooling and solidifying the brazing filler metal, the respective components are brazed integrally. Accordingly, the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 and theradiator portion 43 are integrated with each other. - As is clear from the above-described explanation, refrigerant of the present embodiment corresponds to the first fluid described in claims, and coolant corresponds to the second fluid. Air (outside air) corresponds to the third fluid, and the
refrigerant tubes 16 a correspond to first tubes. Thecoolant tubes 43 a correspond to second tubes, and thecommunication spaces 76 correspond to a communication passage described in claims. - Next, an electric control portion of the present embodiment will be described. The air conditioning controller includes a known microcomputer and its peripheral circuit, and the microcomputer includes a CPU, a ROM and a RAM. The air conditioning controller performs a variety of calculations and executes processing based on an air conditioning control program stored in the ROM. The air conditioning controller controls operations of various air
conditioning control devices - An input side of the air conditioning controller is connected to various sensors for air conditioning control. The various sensors include an inside air sensor which detects a temperature inside the vehicle compartment, an outside air sensor which detects an outside temperature, a solar sensor which detects an amount of solar radiation in the vehicle compartment, an evaporator temperature sensor which detects a temperature (evaporator temperature) of air blown out of the
interior evaporator 20, a discharged refrigerant temperature sensor which detects a temperature of refrigerant discharged from thecompressor 11, an outletrefrigerant temperature sensor 51 which detects a temperature Te of refrigerant on the outlet side of the exteriorheat exchange portion 16, and acoolant temperature sensor 52 as a coolant temperature detection device which detects a temperature Tw of coolant flowing into the running electric motor MG. - In the present embodiment, the
coolant temperature sensor 52 detects the temperature Tw of coolant pumped by thecoolant pump 41, but may detect a temperature Tw of coolant drawn into thecoolant pump 41. - The inlet side of the air conditioning controller is connected to a non-shown operation panel located near the dashboard in the front part of the vehicle compartment. Operation signals are input into the air conditioning controller from various control switches provided in the operation panel. The various control switches include an activation switch of the vehicle air conditioner, a vehicle-compartment temperature setting switch by which a temperature of the vehicle compartment is set, and a selecting switch of operation modes.
- The air conditioning controller integrally includes control devices that control operations of the
electric motor 11 b of thecompressor 11 and the open-close valve 15 a, for example. In the present embodiment, a unit (hardware and software) of the air conditioning controller, which controls an operation of thecompressor 11, is used as a refrigerant discharge capacity control portion. A unit of the air conditioning controller, which controls operations ofvarious devices way valve 42 used as the coolant circuit switching device, is used as a coolant circuit control portion. - The air conditioning controller of the present embodiment further includes a unit (frosting determination portion) which determine whether the exterior
heat exchange portion 16 is frosted based on detection signals from the above-described air conditioning sensors. Specifically, the frosting determination portion of the present embodiment determines that the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 is frosted, when a speed of the vehicle is lower than or equal to a predetermined speed (20 km/h in the present embodiment), and when the refrigerant temperature Te on the outlet side of the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 is lower than or equal to 0° C. - Next, operations of the
vehicle air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment, which has the above-described configuration, will be described. Thevehicle air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment is capable of performing the air heating operation, in which the vehicle compartment is heated, and the air cooling operation, in which the vehicle compartment is cooled. Additionally, thevehicle air conditioner 1 is capable of performing the defrosting operation during the air heating operation. Behaviors of thevehicle air conditioner 1 in the respective operations will be described below. - The air heating operation is started when an air heating mode is selected by using the selecting switch in a state where the activation switch of the operation panel is turned on (ON). When the frosting determination portion determines that the exterior
heat exchange portion 16 is frosted during the air heating operation, the defrosting operation is performed. - In the general air heating operation, the air conditioning controller closes the open-
close valve 15 a and switches the three-way valve 15 b to select the refrigerant passage connecting the outlet side of the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 and the inlet side of theaccumulator 18. Additionally, the air conditioning controller operates thecoolant pump 41 such that thecoolant pump 41 pumps coolant at a predetermined flow rate. The air conditioning controller switches the three-way valve 42 of thecoolant circulation circuit 40 to select the coolant circuit in which the coolant flows with bypassing theradiator portion 43. - Accordingly, the
heat pump cycle 10 is switched to the refrigerant passage in which refrigerant flows as shown by the solid arrows ofFIG. 1 , and thecoolant circulation circuit 40 is switched to the coolant circuit in which coolant flows as shown by the dashed arrows ofFIG. 1 . - In these configurations of the refrigerant passage and the coolant circuit, the air conditioning controller reads detection signals of the above-described air conditioning sensors and operation signals of the operation panel. The air conditioning controller calculates a target outlet air temperature TAO based on values of the detection signals and the operation signals. The target outlet air temperature TAO is a target temperature of air blown into the vehicle compartment.
- The air conditioning controller determines operation states of the various air conditioning control devices connected to the output side of the air conditioning controller based on the calculated target outlet air temperature TAO and the detection signals of the sensors.
- For example, a refrigerant discharge capacity of the
compressor 11 and a control signal outputted to the electric motor of thecompressor 11 are determined as below. Firstly, a target evaporator outlet air temperature TEO of theinterior evaporator 20 is determined based on the target outlet air temperature TAO with reference to a control map stored beforehand in the air conditioning controller. - Then, the control signal outputted to the electric motor of the
compressor 11 is determined based on a difference between the target evaporator outlet air temperature TEO and a temperature of air blown out of theinterior evaporator 20 so that the temperature of air blown out of theinterior evaporator 20 approaches the target evaporator outlet air temperature TEO by a feedback control method. The temperature of air blown out of theinterior evaporator 20 is detected by the evaporator temperature sensor. - A control signal outputted to the servomotor of the
air mix door 34 is determined by using the target air outlet temperature TAO, the temperature of air blown out of theinterior evaporator 20, and a temperature of refrigerant discharged from thecompressor 11 so that a temperature of air blown into the vehicle compartment becomes a temperature desired by a passenger. The temperature of refrigerant discharged from thecompressor 11 is detected by the discharged refrigerant temperature sensor, and the temperature desired by the passenger is set by the passenger with the vehicle-compartment temperature setting switch. - In the general air heating operation and the defrosting operation, an open degree of the
air mix door 34 may be controlled such that all air volume blown by theblower 32 passes through theinterior condenser 12. - The control signals determined as described above are outputted to the various air conditioning control devices. Subsequently, a control routine: reading of detection signals and operation signals→calculation of the target outlet air temperature TAO→determination of operational states of the various air conditioning control devices→outputting of control voltages and control signals, is repeatedly performed with a predetermined control period until an operational stop of the vehicle air conditioner is requested via the operation panel.
- Such repetition of the control routine is performed basically and similarly in the other operations.
- In the general air heating operation, high pressure refrigerant discharged from the
compressor 11 flows into theinterior condenser 12 in theheat pump cycle 10. The refrigerant flowing into theinterior condenser 12 radiates heat by heat exchange with air that has been blown by theblower 32 and has passed through theinterior evaporator 20. Accordingly, air that is to be blown into the vehicle compartment is heated. - The high pressure refrigerant from the
interior condenser 12 flows into the heating fixedthrottle 13 because the open-close valve 15 a is closed. The high pressure refrigerant flowing into the heating fixedthrottle 13 is depressurized and expanded to be changed into low pressure refrigerant. The low pressure refrigerant flows into the exteriorheat exchange portion 16. The low pressure refrigerant in the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 evaporates by absorbing heat from outside air blown by theblast fan 17. - Coolant circulates in the
coolant circulation circuit 40 without radiating heat to refrigerant flowing through the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 or without absorbing heat from the refrigerant flowing through the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 because the coolant circuit is switched such that the coolant bypasses theradiator portion 43. In other words, the coolant exerts no thermal influence on the refrigerant flowing through the exteriorheat exchange portion 16. - The refrigerant from the exterior
heat exchange portion 16 flows into theaccumulator 18 to be separated into gas and liquid because the three-way valve 15 b is switched to select the refrigerant passage connecting the outlet side of the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 and the inlet side of theaccumulator 18. Gas refrigerant separated by theaccumulator 18 is drawn into thecompressor 11 and is compressed. - As described above, in the general air heating operation, air that is to be blown into the vehicle compartment is heated in the
interior condenser 12 by heat of refrigerant discharged from thecompressor 11, and air heating of the vehicle compartment can be thus performed. - Next, the defrosting operation will be described. In a refrigeration cycle device in which refrigerant evaporates by heat exchange with outside air in the exterior
heat exchange portion 16 as in theheat pump cycle 10 of the present embodiment, the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 may be frosted when an evaporation temperature of refrigerant in the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 is lower than or equal to a frost formation temperature (specifically, 0° C.). - When such frost formation occurs, the
outside air passages 70 a of theheat exchanger 70 is clogged with frost, and a heat exchange capacity of the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 decreases dramatically. In theheat pump cycle 10 of the present embodiment, the defrosting operation is performed when the frosting determination portion determines that the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 is frosted during the air heating operation. - In the defrosting operation, the air conditioning controller stops operation of the
compressor 11 and stops operation of theblast fan 17. Hence, a flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 in the defrosting operation is lower than that in the general air heating operation. A flow rate of outside air flowing into theoutside air passages 70 a in the defrosting operation is lower than that in the general air heating operation. - Moreover, the air conditioning controller switches the three-
way valve 42 of thecoolant circulation circuit 40 to select the coolant circuit in which coolant flows into theradiator portion 43, as shown by the dashed arrows inFIG. 2 . Accordingly, refrigerant does not circulate in theheat pump cycle 10, and thecoolant circulation circuit 40 is switched to the coolant circuit in which refrigerant flows as shown by the dashed arrows ofFIG. 2 . - Therefore, heat of coolant flowing through the
coolant tubes 43 a of theradiator portion 43 is transferred to the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 through theouter fins 50, and the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 is defrosted. In other words, defrosting is achieved with utilizing waste heat of running electric motor MG effectively. - The air cooling operation is started when an air cooling mode is selected by using the selecting switch in a state where the operation panel is turned on (ON). In the air cooling operation, the air conditioning controller opens the open-
close valve 15 a, and switches the three-way valve 15 b to select the refrigerant passage connecting the outlet side of the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 and the inlet side of the cooling fixedthrottle 19. Accordingly, theheat pump cycle 10 is switched to the refrigerant passage in which refrigerant flows as shown by the solid arrows ofFIG. 3 . - In this case, when the coolant temperature Tw is higher than or equal to a predetermined reference temperature, the three-
way valve 42 of thecoolant circulation circuit 40 is switched to a coolant circuit in which coolant flows into theradiator portion 43. When the coolant temperature Tw is lower than the predetermined reference temperature, the three-way valve 42 of thecoolant circulation circuit 40 is switched to a coolant circuit in which coolant bypasses theradiator portion 43. InFIG. 3 , a flow of coolant when the coolant temperature Tw is higher than or equal to the reference temperature is shown by the dashed arrows. - In the
heat pump cycle 10 of the air cooling operation, high pressure refrigerant discharged from thecompressor 11 flows into theinterior condenser 12 and radiates heat by heat exchange with air that has been blown by theblower 32 and has passed through theinterior evaporator 20. The high pressure refrigerant from theinterior condenser 12 flows into the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 through the fixed-throttle bypass passage 14 because the open-close valve 15 a is open. The refrigerant flowing in the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 further radiates heat to outside air blown by theblast fan 17. - The refrigerant flowing out of the
heat exchange portion 16 is depressurized and expanded by the cooling fixedthrottle 19 because the three-way valve 15 b is switched to select the refrigerant passage connecting the outlet side of the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 and the inlet side of the cooling fixedthrottle 19. The refrigerant flows from the cooling fixedthrottle 19 into theinterior evaporator 20 and evaporates in theinterior evaporator 20 by absorbing heat from air blown by theblower 32. Accordingly, the air that is to be blown into the vehicle compartment is cooled. - The refrigerant flows out of the
interior evaporator 20 into theaccumulator 18 to be separated into gas and liquid. Gas refrigerant separated in theaccumulator 18 is drawn into thecompressor 11 to be compressed newly. As above, since low pressure refrigerant evaporates in theinterior evaporator 20 by absorbing heat from air that is to be blown into the vehicle compartment, the air is cooled in the air cooling operation. Therefore, air cooling in the vehicle compartment can be performed. - In the
vehicle air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment, various operations of thevehicle air conditioner 1 can be performed by switching the refrigerant passage of theheat pump cycle 10 and the coolant circuit of thecoolant circulation circuit 40 as described above. Further, in the present embodiment, since theheat exchanger 70 having the above-described features is used, heat exchange amounts among three kinds of fluids: refrigerant, coolant and air, can be adjusted suitably. - In the
heat exchanger 70 of the present embodiment, the upstream number ratio, which is a ratio of the number of therefrigerant tubes 16 a to the total number of therefrigerant tubes 16 a and thecoolant tubes 43 a in the upstreamheat exchange portion 71, is lower than the downstream number ratio that is a ratio of the number of therefrigerant tubes 16 a to the total number of therefrigerant tubes 16 a and thecoolant tubes 43 a in the downstreamheat exchange portion 72. - Specifically, the
refrigerant tubes 16 a and thecoolant tubes 43 a are arranged alternately in the upstreamheat exchange portion 71. Accordingly, heat of coolant can be transferred to therefrigerant tubes 16 a through theouter fins 50 in the defrosting operation. Therefore, waste heat of the running electric motor MG can be effectively utilized for defrosting of therefrigerant tubes 16 a. - On the other hand, the tubes of the downstream
heat exchange portion 72 consist only of therefrigerant tubes 16 a. Hence, a heat exchange amount between refrigerant and outside air can be ensured sufficiently. Therefore, a heat exchange amount between refrigerant and outside air can be ensured appropriately in theheat exchanger 70 as a whole. - The
refrigerant tubes 16 a and thecoolant tubes 43 a are arranged alternately in the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 that is easier to be frosted than the downstreamheat exchange portion 72. Therefore, defrosting of therefrigerant tubes 16 a can be performed efficiently, and the heat exchange amount between refrigerant and outside air can be ensured suitably in theheat exchanger 70 as a whole. - Moreover, in the
heat exchanger 70 of the present embodiment, theouter fins 50 are located in theoutside air passages 70 a provided between therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the exteriorheat exchange portion 16 and thecoolant tubes 43 a of theradiator portion 43. Transfer of heat between therefrigerant tubes 16 a and thecoolant tubes 43 a is made to be possible by theouter fins 50. - Accordingly, in the defrosting operation, heat of coolant can be transferred to the
refrigerant tubes 16 a through theouter fins 50 more certainly. Thus, waste heat of the running electric motor MG can be utilized for defrosting of therefrigerant tubes 16 a more effectively. - Furthermore, in the
heat exchanger 70 of the present embodiment, thecommunication spaces 76 extend in a direction to connect an end portion of arefrigerant tube 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 and an end portion of arefrigerant tube 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72, which are arranged to be overlapped with each other in the flow direction of outside air. In other words, thecommunication spaces 76 extend in the flow direction of outside air. Therefore, enlargement of theheat exchange 70 in size can be limited. - Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in reference to
FIG. 11 . The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in shape ofheader tank 75.FIG. 11 is a perspective sectional diagram showing aheat exchanger 70 of the second embodiment. - As shown in
FIG. 11 , aheader tank 75 of theheat exchanger 70 includes aheader plate 751 to which bothrefrigerant tubes 16 a andcoolant tubes 43 a are fixed, and atank forming member 753. An upstreamrefrigerant space 733, anupstream coolant space 731 and a downstreamrefrigerant space 741 are formed inside thetank forming member 753 by fixing thetank forming member 753 to theheader plate 751. - The upstream
refrigerant space 733 and theupstream coolant space 731 are formed in anupstream tank portion 73. The upstreamrefrigerant space 733 collects or distributes refrigerant that flows throughrefrigerant tubes 16 a of an upstreamheat exchange portion 71. Theupstream coolant space 731 collects or distributes coolant that flows through thecoolant tubes 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71. The downstreamrefrigerant space 741 is formed in adownstream tank portion 74, and collects or distributes refrigerant that flows throughrefrigerant tubes 16 a of a downstreamheat exchange portion 72. - A
partition member 734 is provided inside theupstream tank portion 73, and thepartition member 734 separates an inside space of theupstream tank portion 73 into two spaces that align in a flow direction of outside air. Accordingly, theupstream coolant space 731 is provided on an upstream side of thepartition member 734 in the flow direction of outside air, and the upstreamrefrigerant space 733 is provided on a downstream side of thepartition member 734 in the flow direction of outside air. - A
middle member 737 is provided inside theupstream tank portion 73. Themiddle member 737 includes afirst communication hole 735 through which therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 communicate with the upstreamrefrigerant space 733, and asecond communication hole 736 through which thecoolant tubes 43 a communicate with theupstream coolant space 731. - Hence, the
refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 communicates with the upstreamrefrigerant space 733 through thefirst communication hole 735. Thecoolant tubes 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 communicates with theupstream coolant space 731 through thesecond communication hole 736. - In the present embodiment, the
middle plate member 737 is integrated with thepartition member 734. Themiddle plate member 737 is fixed to theheader plate 751. - A
communication space 76 is provided in theheader tank 75 and functions as a communication passage through which the upstreamrefrigerant space 733 communicates with the downstreamrefrigerant space 741. In the present embodiment, thecommunication space 76 is formed between acenter portion 753 c and theheader plate 751. - Accordingly, refrigerant and coolant can be made to flow in the
heat exchanger 70 of the present embodiment, similarly toFIG. 6 of the first embodiment. The other configurations and operations of a heat pump cycle 10 (vehicle air conditioner 1) are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, even when thevehicle air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment is operated, similar effects to the first embodiment can be obtained. - Next, a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to
FIG. 12 . The third embodiment is different from the second embodiment in shape ofheader tank 75.FIG. 12 is a perspective sectional diagram showing aheat exchanger 70 of the third embodiment. - As shown in
FIG. 12 , atank forming member 753 of aheader tank 75 of the present embodiment is formed by extrusion molding. Anupstream coolant space 731, an upstreamrefrigerant space 733 and a downstreamrefrigerant space 741 are provided inside thetank forming member 753. Acommunication space 76 is provided between thetank forming member 753 and aheader plate 751, andrefrigerant tubes 16 a of an upstreamheat exchange portion 71 communicates withrefrigerant tubes 16 a of a downstreamheat exchange portion 72 through thecommunication space 76. - The
tank forming member 753 includes afirst communication hole 753 a through which the upstreamrefrigerant space 733 communicates with thecommunication space 76. Hence, therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 communicates with the upstreamrefrigerant space 733 through thecommunication space 76 and thefirst communication hole 753 a. - The
tank forming member 753 includes asecond communication hole 753 b through which theupstream coolant space 731 communicates withcoolant tubes 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71. Hence, thecoolant tubes 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 communicates with theupstream coolant space 731 through thesecond communication hole 753 b. - The
tank forming member 753 includes athird communication hole 753 d through which the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 communicates with thecommunication space 76. Hence, therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72 communicates with the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 through thecommunication space 76 and thethird communication hole 753 d. - As described above, the
tank forming member 753 includes thefirst communication hole 753 a through which the upstreamrefrigerant space 733 communicates with thecommunication space 76, and thethird communication hole 753 d through which the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 communicates with thecommunication space 76. Thus, the upstreamrefrigerant space 733 and the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 communicate with each other through thecommunication hole 76. In other words, thecommunication hole 76 functions as a communication passage through which the upstreamrefrigerant space 733 and the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 communicate with each other. - Accordingly, refrigerant and coolant can be made to be flow in the
heat exchanger 70 of the present embodiment similarly toFIG. 6 of the first embodiment. The other configurations and operations of a heat pump cycle 10 (vehicle air conditioner 1) are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, even when thevehicle air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment is operated, similar effects to the first embodiment can be obtained. - Additionally, in the present embodiment, the
upstream coolant space 731, the upstreamrefrigerant space 733 and the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 are provided inside thetank forming member 753. Thecommunication space 76, through which therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 communicates with therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72, is provided between thetank forming member 753 and theheader plate 751. - Accordingly, a middle plate member for forming the
upstream coolant space 731, the upstreamrefrigerant space 733, the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 and thecommunication space 76 can be omitted. Therefore, anupstream tank portion 73 and adownstream tank portion 74 can be formed easily at low cost. - Next, a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to
FIGS. 13 to 15 . In the present embodiment, an example shown in general configuration diagrams ofFIGS. 13 to 15 will be described, in which configurations of acoolant circulation circuit 40 and aheat pump cycle 10 are changed from the first embodiment. InFIGS. 13 to 15 , a refrigerant flow in theheat pump cycle 10 is shown by solid lines, and a coolant flow in thecoolant circulation circuit 40 is shown by dashed arrows. - Specifically, the
coolant circulation circuit 40 of the present embodiment cools an engine EG by circulating coolant as a cooling medium (heat medium) in a coolant passage formed inside the engine EG. The engine EG is one of an in-vehicle device that generates heat during its operation time. In the present embodiment, the running electric motor MG of the first embodiment is omitted, and the engine EG is provided alternatively. - Additionally, in the present embodiment, the
interior condenser 12 of the first embodiment is omitted, and the combinedheat exchanger 70 of the first embodiment is disposed inside thecasing 31 of the interiorair conditioning unit 30. The exteriorheat exchange portion 16 of theheat exchanger 70 of the first embodiment is used as theinterior condenser 12. Hereinafter, the portion of theheat exchanger 70, which is used as theinterior condenser 12, is referred to as an interior condenser portion. - The
radiator portion 43 of theheat exchanger 70 of the first embodiment is used as a heat-recoveryheat exchange portion 45 which heats coolant by using heat of refrigerant. Accordingly, in theheat pump cycle 10 of the present embodiment, a warm-up operation can be performed. In the warm-up operation, coolant is heated by heat of refrigerant to warm the engine EG up. The heat-recoveryheat exchange portion 45 is located in abypass passage 44 of thecoolant circulation circuit 40. - An exterior
heat exchange portion 16 is a single heat exchanger in which refrigerant flowing therein exchanges heat with outside air blown by ablast fan 17. Similarly, aradiator portion 43 is a single heat exchanger in which coolant flowing therein exchanges heat with outside air blown by ablast fan 46. - The other configurations are similar to the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, though the warm-up operation is performed instead of the defrosting operation, the other operations are similar to the first embodiment.
- The warm-up operation will be described below. A temperature of coolant is preferably kept lower than or equal to a predetermined upper limit temperature in order to restrict overheat of the engine EG. The temperature of coolant is preferably kept higher than or equal to a predetermined lower limit temperature in order to reduce friction loss caused by viscosity increase of lubricant oil enclosed in the engine EG.
- In the
heat pump cycle 10 of the present embodiment, the warm-up operation is performed when a coolant temperature Tw becomes lower than or equal to a predetermined reference temperature during an air heating operation. In the warm-up operation, a three-way valve 15 b of theheat pump cycle 10 is operated similarly to the general air heating operation. A three-way valve 42 of thecoolant circulation circuit 40 is operated such that coolant bypasses theradiator 43 as shown by the dashed arrows ofFIG. 14 . In other words, a coolant circuit, in which coolant flows into the heat-recoveryheat exchange portion 45, is selected. - Therefore, as shown by the solid arrows of
FIG. 14 , high pressure refrigerant discharged from acompressor 11 flows into theinterior condenser portion 12, similarly to the general air heating operation. Heat of the high-pressure and high-temperature refrigerant flowing in theinterior condenser portion 12 is transferred to air blown by ablower 32 and to coolant throughouter fins 50 because the three-way valve 42 selects the coolant circuit in which coolant flows into the heat-recoveryheat exchange portion 45. The other operations are similar to the general air heating operation. - As above, in the warm-up operation, air that is to be blown into the vehicle compartment is heated in the
interior condenser 12 by heat of refrigerant discharged from thecompressor 11, and air heating of the vehicle compartment can be thereby performed. The heat of refrigerant discharged from thecompressor 11 is transferred to coolant through theouter fins 50 in theinterior condenser 12, and the temperature of the coolant thus increases. Therefore, warm-up of the engine EG can be achieved by using heat of refrigerant. - The
heat exchanger 70 of the second embodiment or the third embodiment may be used for theheat pump cycle 10 of the present embodiment. - Next, a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to
FIGS. 16 and 17 . The fifth embodiment is different from the above-described first embodiment in that a communication passage (communication space), through whichrefrigerant tubes 16 a of an upstreamheat exchange portion 71 communicates with a downstreamrefrigerant space 741 of adownstream tank portion 74, is provided separately from anupstream tank portion 73 and thedownstream tank portion 74. - A
heat exchanger 70 of the present embodiment has a so-called drawn cup heat exchanger structure in which multiple plate members are stacked and arranged withouter fins 50 interposed therebetween. The plate member is formed by joining a pair of plate-like members with each other to have a space therebetween, and, as a result, a tube and a tank portion communicating with the tube are formed in the plate member. In such kind of the drawn cup heat exchanger structure, the tank portions of the plate members are made to communicate with one another, and structures corresponding to theupstream tank portion 73 and thedownstream tank portion 74 of the above-described embodiments can be thereby formed. - Specifically, a pair of first plate-
like members 81 shown inFIG. 16 is joined with each other to having spaces therebetween. By the joining of the pair of first plate-like members 81, different kinds of tubes (arefrigerant tube 16 a and acoolant tube 43 a) are overlapped with each other in a flow direction of outside air. A pair of second plate-like members 82 shown inFIG. 17 is joined with each other to having spaces therebetween. By the joining of the pair of second plate-like members 82, the same kind of tubes (refrigerant tubes 16 a) are overlapped with each other in a flow direction of outside air. - As shown in
FIG. 16 , the first plate-like member 81 includes acoolant passage groove 811 for forming thecoolant tube 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71, and arefrigerant passage groove 812 for forming therefrigerant tube 16 a of a downstreamheat exchange portion 72. A coolantinner fin 813 is provided inside thecoolant passage groove 811 and promotes heat exchange between coolant flowing in thecoolant passage groove 811 and outside air. A refrigerantinner fin 814 is provided inside therefrigerant passage groove 812 and promotes heat exchange between refrigerant flowing in therefrigerant passage groove 812 and outside air. - The first plate-
like member 81 includes a coolant throughhole 815 on both sides of thecoolant passage groove 811 in its extending direction, and the coolant throughhole 815 is used for forming theupstream coolant space 731 of theupstream tank portion 71. The first plate-like member 81 includes a refrigerant throughhole 816 on both sides of therefrigerant passage groove 812 in its extending direction, and the refrigerant throughhole 816 is used for forming the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 of thedownstream tank portion 74. - As shown in
FIG. 17 , the second plate-like member 82 includes an upstreamrefrigerant passage groove 821 for forming therefrigerant tube 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71, and a downstreamrefrigerant passage groove 822 for forming therefrigerant tube 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72. A coolantinner fin 814 is provided inside the upstreamrefrigerant passage groove 821 and promotes heat exchange between refrigerant flowing in the upstreamrefrigerant passage groove 821 and outside air. A coolantinner fin 814 is provided inside the downstreamrefrigerant passage groove 822 and promotes heat exchange between refrigerant flowing in the downstreamrefrigerant passage groove 822 and outside air. Similarly to the first plate-like member 81, the second plate-like member 82 includes a coolant throughhole 815 and a refrigerant throughhole 816. - The second plate-
like member 82 includes a firstcommunication passage groove 823 connecting one end portion (end portion on the upper side of the drawing) of the upstreamrefrigerant passage groove 821 in its longitudinal direction and one end portion (end portion on the upper side of the drawing) of the downstreamrefrigerant passage groove 822 in its longitudinal direction. The second plate-like member 82 further includes a secondcommunication passage groove 824 connecting the other end portion (end portion on the lower side of the drawing) of the upstreamrefrigerant passage groove 821 in its longitudinal direction and the other end portion (end portion on the lower side of the drawing) of the downstreamrefrigerant passage groove 822 in its longitudinal direction. The firstcommunication passage groove 823 and the secondcommunication passage groove 824 are connected to the coolant throughholes 816, respectively. - When a pair of the second plate-
like members 82 is joined with each other to have spaces therebetween, a space formed between the firstcommunication passage grooves 823 and a space formed between the secondcommunication passage grooves 824 function as communication passages through which therefrigerant tube 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 communicates with the downstreamrefrigerant space 741. - In the present embodiment, the
refrigerant tubes 16 a, thecoolant tubes 43 a, theupstream tank portion 73, thedownstream tank portion 74 and thecommunication spaces 76 are formed by joining a pair of the first plate-like members 81 and by joining a pair of the second plate-like members 82. Therefore, the so-called drawn cup heat exchanger structure is used in the present embodiment. - Accordingly, the
refrigerant tubes 16 a, thecoolant tubes 43 a, theupstream tank portion 73, thedownstream tank portion 74 and thecommunication spaces 76 can be formed by the plate-like members heat exchanger 70 can be formed easily at low cost. - Next, a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to
FIGS. 18 and 19 . The sixth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a communication passage (communication space), through whichrefrigerant tubes 16 a of an upstreamheat exchange portion 71 communicates with a downstreamrefrigerant space 741 of adownstream tank portion 74, is provided separately from anupstream tank portion 73 and thedownstream tank portion 74. The sixth embodiment is different from the first embodiment also in that the communication passage is located nearer totubes 16 a and 24 a more than thetank portions - In the present embodiment, a so-called plate tube is used for
refrigerant tube 16 a andcoolant tubes 43 a. The plate tube is formed by joining a pair of plate-like members having a convex-concave portion on its surface so as to have a space between the plate-like members. The plate-like member 83 is formed of metal (aluminum alloy in the present embodiment) superior in heat conductivity. - Specifically, a pair of the first plate-
like members 83 shown inFIG. 18 is joined with each other to have spaces therebetween. By joining of the first plate-like members 83, a portion, in which different kinds of tubes (refrigerant tube 16 a andcoolant tube 43 a) are overlapped with each other in a flow direction of outside air, is provided. A pair of second plate-like members 84 shown inFIG. 19 is joined with each other to have spaces therebetween. By joining of the second plate-like members 84, a portion, in which the same kind of tubes (refrigerant tubes 16 a) are overlapped with each other in the flow direction of outside air, is provided. - As shown in
FIG. 18 , thefirst plate member 83 includes acoolant passage groove 831 for forming thecoolant tube 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71, and arefrigerant passage groove 832 for forming therefrigerant tube 16 a of a downstreamheat exchange portion 72. - Both ends of the
coolant passage groove 831 in its longitudinal direction are open and communicate withupstream coolant spaces 731 of theupstream tank portions 73. Both ends of therefrigerant passage groove 832 in its longitudinal direction are open and communicate with the downstreamrefrigerant spaces 741 of thedownstream tank portions 74. - As shown in
FIG. 19 , the second plate-like member 84 includes an upstreamrefrigerant passage groove 841 for forming therefrigerant tube 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71, and a downstreamrefrigerant passage groove 842 for forming therefrigerant tube 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72. - Both ends of the upstream
refrigerant passage groove 841 in its longitudinal direction are not open so as not to communicate with theupstream coolant space 731 of theupstream tank portion 73. In contrast, both ends of the downstreamrefrigerant passage groove 842 in its longitudinal direction are open so as to communicate with the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 of thedownstream tank portion 74. -
Communication passage grooves 845 are provided near both ends of the upstreamrefrigerant passage groove 841 and both ends of the downstreamrefrigerant passage groove 842. The upstreamrefrigerant passage groove 841 and the downstreamrefrigerant passage groove 842 are connected with each other through thecommunication passage groove 845. Hence, when a pair of the second plate-like members 82 are joined to have spaces therebetween, a space formed by thecommunication passage grooves 845 functions as a communication passage through which therefrigerant tube 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 communicates with the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 of thedownstream tank portion 74. - In the present embodiment, the
refrigerant tubes 16 a and thecoolant tubes 43 a are formed by joining a pair of the first plate-like members 83 and by joining a pair of the second plate-like members 84. Accordingly, therefrigerant tubes 16 a, thecoolant tubes 43 a and thecommunication spaces 76 can be formed by using the plate-like members heat exchanger 70 can be formed easily at low cost. - In the present embodiment, the
communication space 76 is provided separately from thetank portions communication space 76 is provided in portions of thetubes heat exchanger 70 as a whole, as compared with a case in which thecommunication space 76 is provided inside thetank portions heat exchanger 70 can be thereby improved. - Next, a seventh embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to
FIG. 20 . The seventh embodiment is different from the above-described second embodiment in coolant flow and refrigerant flow in theheat exchanger 70. - As shown in
FIG. 20 , anupstream partition member 732 a is located in a secondupstream tank portion 730 b. Theupstream partition member 732 a separates anupstream coolant space 731 into two spaces that align in a longitudinal direction of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b. Theupstream partition member 732 a separates an upstreamrefrigerant space 733 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b. - Hereinafter, one of the two spaces of the
upstream coolant space 731, which are partitioned by theupstream partition member 732 a, is referred to as a first upstream coolant space. The other of the two spaces of theupstream coolant space 731 is referred to as a second upstream coolant space. The first upstream coolant space is located on one side (right side of the drawing) in the longitudinal direction of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b. The second upstream coolant space is located on the other side (left side of the drawing) in the longitudinal direction of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b. - One of the two spaces of the upstream
refrigerant space 733, which are partitioned by theupstream partition member 732 a, is referred to as a first upstream refrigerant space. The other of the two spaces of the upstreamrefrigerant space 733 is referred to as a second upstream refrigerant space. The first upstream refrigerant space is located on one side (right side of the drawing) in the longitudinal direction of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b. The second upstream refrigerant space is located on the other side (left side of the drawing) in the longitudinal direction of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b. - One of two spaces of a downstream
refrigerant space 741, which are partitioned by adownstream partition member 742 a, is referred to as a first downstream refrigerant space. The other of the two spaces of the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 is referred to as a second downstream refrigerant space. The first downstream refrigerant space is located on one side (right side of the drawing) in a longitudinal direction of the seconddownstream tank portion 740 b. The second downstream refrigerant space is located on the other side (left side of the drawing) in the longitudinal direction of the seconddownstream tank portion 740 b. - The first upstream coolant space communicates with a
coolant inflow pipe 434, and the second upstream coolant space communicates with acoolant outflow pipe 435. The first upstream refrigerant space communicates with arefrigerant inflow pipe 164, and the second upstream refrigerant space communicates with arefrigerant outflow pipe 165. - The
coolant inflow pipe 434, thecoolant outflow pipe 435, therefrigerant inflow pipe 164 and therefrigerant outflow pipe 165 are connected to a surface of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b on an upstream side of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b in the flow direction of outside air. - Thus, in the
heat exchanger 70 of the present embodiment, as shown in the schematic perspective diagram ofFIG. 20 , all refrigerant flowing into the first upstream refrigerant space of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b through therefrigerant inflow pipe 164 flows inrefrigerant tubes 16 a of an upstreamheat exchange portion 71 from the lower side to the upper side of the drawing without flowing intorefrigerant tubes 16 a of a downstreamheat exchange portion 72. - Refrigerant flowing out of the
refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 collects in an upstreamrefrigerant space 733 of a firstupstream tank portion 730 a and flows in the upstreamrefrigerant space 733 from the right side to the left side of the drawing. Subsequently, the refrigerant collecting in the upstreamrefrigerant space 733 of the firstupstream tank portion 730 a flows intorefrigerant tubes 16 a of the first upstreamheat exchange portion 71, and flows through therefrigerant tubes 16 a from the upper side to the lower side of the drawing. - Then, refrigerant flowing out of the
refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 collects in the second upstream refrigerant space of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b, and subsequently flows into the first downstream refrigerant space of the seconddownstream tank portion 740 b through acommunication space 76. - The refrigerant in the first downstream refrigerant space of the second
downstream tank portion 740 b flows throughrefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72 from the lower side to the upper side of the drawing. The refrigerant flowing out of therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72 collects in a downstreamrefrigerant space 741 of a firstdownstream tank portion 740 a and flows from the left side to the right side of the drawing. - The refrigerant in the downstream
refrigerant space 741 of the firstdownstream tank portion 740 a flows intorefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72 and flows through therefrigerant tubes 16 a from the upper side to the lower side of the drawing. Refrigerant flowing out of therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72 collects in the second downstream refrigerant space of the seconddownstream tank portion 740 b, and then flows out of the second downstream refrigerant space through therefrigerant outflow pipe 165. - In the
heat exchanger 70 of the present embodiment, as shown in the schematic perspective diagram ofFIG. 20 , coolant flows into the first upstream coolant space of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b through thecoolant inflow pipe 434. The coolant in the first coolant space of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b flows intocoolant tubes 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 and flows through thecoolant tubes 43 a from the lower side to the upper side of the drawing. - Coolant flowing out of the
coolant tubes 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 collects in anupstream coolant space 731 of the firstupstream tank portion 730 a. The coolant flows from the right side to the left side of the drawing in theupstream coolant space 731 of the firstupstream tank portion 730 a. - The coolant in the
upstream coolant space 731 of the firstupstream tank portion 730 a flows intocoolant tubes 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 and flows through thecoolant tubes 43 a from the upper side to the lower side of the drawing. Coolant flowing out of thecoolant tubes 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 collects in the second upstream coolant space of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b, and then flows out of the second upstream coolant space through thecoolant outflow pipe 435. - In the present embodiment, all refrigerant flowing into the second
upstream tank portion 730 b through therefrigerant inflow pipe 164 passes through therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 without flowing into the refrigerant tubes of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72. Accordingly, refrigerant can be made to flow surely into therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71. Therefore, heat exchange between refrigerant and outside air can be performed certainly in the upstreamheat exchange portion 71. - In case of a
heat exchanger 70 in which refrigerant from therefrigerant inflow pipe 164 branches into therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 and therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72, flow rates of refrigerant distributed to therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 and therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72 are fixed because of influence of heat of coolant flowing in thecoolant tubes 43 a. - Thus, when a heat exchange amount between refrigerant flowing in the
refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 and outside air becomes small, devolatilization of refrigerant becomes difficult in therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71, and pressure loss of refrigerant in therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 becomes large. Accordingly, most refrigerant may flows into therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72. - In contrast, in a case where all refrigerant from the
refrigerant inflow pipe 164 flows into therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 without flowing into therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72 as in theheat exchanger 70 of the present embodiment, it can be restricted that most refrigerant flows into therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72. - Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a flow direction of refrigerant flowing in the
refrigerant tubes 16 a immediately after inflow of the refrigerant from an exterior of theheat exchanger 70 through therefrigerant inflow pipe 164 is the same as a flow direction of coolant flowing in thecoolant tubes 43 a immediately after inflow of the coolant from an exterior of theheat exchanger 70 through thecoolant inflow pipe 434. Therefore, a performance of theheat exchanger 70 can be improved. - Next, an eighth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to
FIG. 21 . The eighth embodiment is different from the above-described seventh embodiment in refrigerant flow in theheat exchanger 70. - As shown in
FIG. 21 , a firstupstream partition member 732 b is located in a firstupstream tank portion 730 a, and separates an upstreamrefrigerant space 733 into two spaces that align in a longitudinal direction of the firstupstream tank portion 730 a. - Two second
upstream partition members 732 c are located in a secondupstream tank portion 730 b, and separate an upstreamrefrigerant space 733 into three spaces that align in a longitudinal direction of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b. The two secondupstream partition members 732 c are arranged to be distant from each other. A thirdupstream partition member 732 d is located in the secondupstream tank portion 730 b, and separates anupstream coolant space 731 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b. - A first
downstream partition member 742 b is located in a firstdownstream tank portion 740 a, and separates a downstreamrefrigerant space 741 into two spaces that align in a longitudinal direction of the firstdownstream tank portion 740 a. - Two second
downstream partition members 742 c are located in a seconddownstream tank portion 740 b, and separates a downstreamrefrigerant space 741 into three spaces that align in a longitudinal direction of the seconddownstream tank portion 740 b. The two seconddownstream partition members 742 c are arranged to be distant from each other. - One of the three spaces of the
upstream coolant space 731 partitioned by the thirdupstream partition members 732 d, which is located on one end side (left side of the drawing) of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b in the longitudinal direction of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b, is referred to as a first upstream coolant space. Another of the three spaces of theupstream coolant space 731, which is located on the other end side (right side of the drawing) of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b in the longitudinal direction of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b, is referred to as a second upstream coolant space. - The three spaces of the upstream
refrigerant space 733, which are partitioned by the secondupstream partition members 732 c, are referred to as a first upstream refrigerant space, a second upstream refrigerant space and a third upstream refrigerant space in order from one end side (left side of the drawing) in the longitudinal direction of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b. - The three spaces of the downstream
refrigerant space 741, which are partitioned by the seconddownstream partition members 742 c, are referred to as a first downstream refrigerant space, a second downstream refrigerant space and a third downstream refrigerant space in order from one end side (left side of the drawing) in the longitudinal direction of the seconddownstream tank portion 740 b. - The first upstream coolant space communicates with a
coolant inflow pipe 434, and the second upstream coolant space communicates with acoolant outflow pipe 435. The first upstream refrigerant space communicates with arefrigerant inflow pipe 164, and the third upstream refrigerant space communicates with arefrigerant outflow pipe 165. - Thus, in the
heat exchanger 70 of the present embodiment, as shown in the schematic perspective diagram ofFIG. 21 , refrigerant flows into the first upstream refrigerant space of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b through therefrigerant inflow pipe 164. A part of the refrigerant in the first upstream refrigerant space of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b flows intorefrigerant tubes 16 a of an upstreamheat exchange portion 71. The refrigerant flows in the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 along an approximately M-shape, and collects in the third upstream refrigerant space of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b. - The other part of the refrigerant flowing into the first upstream refrigerant space of the second
upstream tank portion 730 b through therefrigerant inflow pipe 164 flows into the first downstream refrigerant space of the seconddownstream tank portion 740 b through acommunication space 76. The refrigerant in the first downstream refrigerant space of the seconddownstream tank portion 740 b flows intorefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72. The refrigerant flows in the downstreamheat exchange portion 72 along an approximately M-shape, and collects in the third downstream refrigerant space of the seconddownstream tank portion 740 b. The refrigerant in the third downstream refrigerant space of the seconddownstream tank portion 740 b flows into the third upstream refrigerant space of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b through acommunication space 76. - The refrigerant in the third upstream refrigerant space of the second
upstream tank portion 730 b flows out through therefrigerant outflow pipe 165. - If the upstream
heat exchange portion 71 is different from the downstreamheat exchange portion 72 in heat exchange amount, refrigerant flowing in the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 may include liquid refrigerant more than gas refrigerant, and refrigerant flowing in the downstreamheat exchange portion 72 may include gas refrigerant more than liquid refrigerant. In this case, if the liquid-rich refrigerant in the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 and the gas-rich refrigerant in the downstreamheat exchange portion 72 are mixed with each other in the middle of theheat exchange portions heat exchange portions heat exchanger 70 may possibly decrease. - In contrast, in the present embodiment, refrigerant flowing into the first upstream refrigerant space of the second
upstream tank portion 730 b through therefrigerant inflow pipe 164 branches into two flows that are a refrigerant flow in the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 and a refrigerant flow in the downstreamheat exchange portion 72. The branched two refrigerant flows meet in the third downstream refrigerant space of the seconddownstream tank portion 740 b without joining together in theheat exchange portions refrigerant outflow pipe 165. - Hence, the refrigerant flow in the upstream
heat exchange portion 71 and the refrigerant flow in the downstreamheat exchange portion 72, which are branched in a most upstream portion in a refrigerant flow direction, can be prevented from joining together in the middle of theheat exchange portions heat exchanger 70, due to the joining of the refrigerant flows of theheat exchange portions heat exchange portions - In the present embodiment, a flow direction of refrigerant immediately before flowing out of the
refrigerant tubes 16 a through therefrigerant outflow pipe 165 to an exterior of theheat exchanger 70 is the same as a flow direction of coolant immediately before flowing out of thecoolant tubes 43 a through thecoolant outflow pipe 435 to an exterior of theheat exchanger 70. Therefore, a performance of theheat exchanger 70 can be improved. - Next, a ninth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to
FIG. 22 . The present embodiment is different from the above-described first embodiment in that louvers are formed in the outer fins. InFIG. 22 ,refrigerant tubes 16 a are shown by dot hatching, andcoolant tubes 43 a are shown by cross hatching, for clarification of the drawing. - As shown in
FIG. 22 ,multiple louvers 500 having louver-window shapes are formed on a surface of anouter fin 50 and arranged in a flow direction of outside air. Thelouvers 500 are formed by cutting and raising a part of the surface of theouter fin 50. Theouter fin 50 includes louvers 500 (hereinafter, referred to as upstream louvers 501) formed in a portion located between arefrigerant tube 16 a of an upstreamheat exchange portion 71 and acoolant tube 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 that are adjacent to each other, and louvers 500 (hereinafter, referred to as downstream louvers 502) formed in a position located between adjacent tworefrigerant tubes 16 a of a downstreamheat exchange portion 72. Theupstream louvers 501 are different from thedownstream louvers 502 in shape. - “The shapes of the
louvers 500 are different” means that theupstream louvers 501 are different from thedownstream louvers 502 in various points, such as an angle and a length of thelouver 500 cut and raised, or louver pitch. Specifically, in the present embodiment, lengths of theupstream louvers 501 are shorter than lengths of thedownstream louvers 502, and the number of theupstream louvers 501 is smaller than the number of the downstream louvers. - In the present embodiment, the
outer fin 50, in which theupstream louvers 501 are different in shape from thedownstream louvers 502, is used. Thus, heat exchange amounts among three kinds of fluids: refrigerant, coolant and outside air can be adjusted easily in theheat exchanger 70 as a whole. - Two kinds of tubes that are the
refrigerant tubes 16 a and thecoolant tubes 43 a are connected to the upstreamheat exchange portion 71. Hence, heat strain may be generated in theouter fins 50 due to a temperature difference between refrigerant flowing in therefrigerant tubes 16 a and coolant flowing in thecoolant tubes 43 a. Accordingly, theouter fins 50 may be broken. - In the
heat exchanger 70 of the present embodiment, the lengths of theupstream louvers 501 are shorter than the lengths of thedownstream louvers 502, and the number of theupstream louvers 501 is smaller than the number of the downstream louvers. Therefore, the portion of theouter fine 50 located between therefrigerant tube 16 a and thecoolant tube 43 a that are adjacent to each other can be enhanced in stiffness. Accordingly, the breakage of theouter fins 50 can be limited. - Next, a tenth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to
FIGS. 23 to 25 . In the tenth embodiment, themiddle plate member 752 of the above-described first embodiment is changed to have a stacked structure of multiple plate members. - As shown in
FIGS. 23 and 24 , anupstream tank portion 73 includes an upstreamrefrigerant space 738 which collects or distributes refrigerant that flows throughrefrigerant tubes 16 a. Adownstream tank portion 74 includes adownstream coolant space 748 which collects or distributes coolant that flows throughcoolant tubes 43 a of a upstreamheat exchange portion 71. - A
middle plate member 752 is formed by stacking two plate members that are a first communication-space formingplate member 851 and a second communication-space formingplate member 852. - In the cross-sectional surface in
FIG. 23 , the first communication-space formingplate member 851 includes a throughhole 851 a communicating with both therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 andrefrigerant tubes 16 a of a downstreamheat exchange portion 72. - As shown in
FIG. 25 , a part of the throughhole 851 a of the first communication-space formingplate member 851, which corresponds to positions of therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72, extends in a tube stacking direction. The throughhole 851 a connects adjacent two of therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72. In other words, the throughhole 851 a of the first communication-space formingplate member 851 communicates in total with threerefrigerant tubes 16 a that includes one of therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 and adjacent two of therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72. - In the cross-sectional surface in
FIG. 23 , the second communication-space formingplate member 852 includes a throughhole 852 a at a position corresponding to the upstreamrefrigerant space 738. The throughhole 852 a extends through the second communication-space formingplate member 852 from its one side to the other side. - Accordingly, the
refrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 and therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72 communicate with the upstreamrefrigerant space 738 through the throughhole 851 a of the first communication-space formingplate member 851 and the throughhole 852 a of the second communication-space formingplate member 852. In other words, the throughhole 851 a of the first communication-space formingplate member 851 and the throughhole 852 a of the second communication-space formingplate member 852 provide a refrigerant communication space 761 (corresponding to a first communication passage) through which therefrigerant tubes 16 a communicate with the upstreamrefrigerant space 738. - In the cross-sectional surface in
FIG. 24 , the first communication-space formingplate member 851 includes a throughhole 851 c communicating with thecoolant tube 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71. The second communication-space formingplate member 852 includes a throughhole 852 c extending through the second communication-space formingplate member 852 from its one side to the other side. The throughhole 852 c communicates with both the throughhole 851 c of the first communication-space formingplate member 851 and thedownstream coolant space 748. - Accordingly, the
coolant tube 43 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 communicates with thedownstream coolant space 748 through the throughhole 851 c of the first communication-space formingplate member 851 and the throughhole 852 c of the second communication-space formingplate member 852. In other words, the throughhole 851 c of the first communication-space formingplate member 851 and the throughhole 852 c of the second communication-space formingplate member 852 provide a coolant communication space 762 (corresponding to a second communication passage) through which thecoolant tube 43 a communicates with thedownstream coolant space 748. - According to the present embodiment, the through
holes plate member 851 and the throughholes plate member 852 can be formed by simple hole drilling. Therefore, manufacturing is easy as compared to a case in which the recessedportion 752 a is formed in themiddle plate member 752 as in the above-described first embodiment. - Additionally, in the present embodiment, the through
hole 851 a of the first communication-space formingplate member 851 is formed such that arefrigerant tube 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72, which is overlapped with arefrigerant tube 16 a in the flow direction of outside air, communicates with arefrigerant tube 16 a (hereinafter, referred to as an adjacentrefrigerant tube 16 a) that is adjacent to therefrigerant tube 16 a of the downstream heat exchangedportion 72 in the tube stacking direction. According to this, a pressure loss of refrigerant decreases as compared to a case in which refrigerant flows to the adjacentrefrigerant tube 16 a through an inside space of thetank portion refrigerant tube 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72, which is overlapped with arefrigerant tube 16 a in the flow direction of outside air, can be made to approach a flow rate of refrigerant flowing in the adjacentrefrigerant tube 16 a. - Next, an eleventh embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to
FIGS. 26 to 29 . The eleventh embodiment is different from the above-described first embodiment in that aconnector 80 connecting aheat exchanger 70 and a refrigerant pipe is provided. Theconnector 80 corresponds to a connector portion described in the scope of claims. -
FIG. 26 is an external perspective view showing aheat exchanger 70 according to the eleventh embodiment, andFIG. 27 is a schematic perspective diagram illustrating flows of refrigerant and coolant in theheat exchanger 70.FIG. 28 is an external perspective view of theconnector 80, andFIG. 29 is a perspective sectional diagram of theheat exchanger 70. InFIG. 27 , the flow of refrigerant is shown by solid arrows, and the flow of coolant is shown by dashed arrows. - As shown in
FIG. 26 , theconnector 80 is provided on a refrigerant inlet side and a refrigerant outlet side of aheader tank 75. Theconnector 80 is a connection part connecting from an upstreamheat exchange portion 71 and a downstreamheat exchange portion 72 of theheat exchanger 70 to the refrigerant pipe. Theconnector 80 is made of the same metallic material as that of theheader tank 75, and is integrated with theheat exchanger 70 by brazing. - The
connector 80 on the refrigerant inlet side of theheader tank 75, located on the right side ofFIG. 26 , branches a refrigerant flow from a single refrigerant pipe inside theconnector 80, and distributes the refrigerant to anupstream tank portion 73 and adownstream tank portion 74. - The
connector 80 on the refrigerant outlet side of theheader tank 75, located on the left side ofFIG. 26 , collects refrigerants flowing out of theupstream tank portion 73 and thedownstream tank portion 74 inside theconnector 80, and conveys the refrigerant to a single refrigerant pipe. - In the present embodiment, refrigerant in the
upstream tank portion 73 and refrigerant in thedownstream tank portion 74 flow in the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 and the downstreamheat exchange portion 72, respectively, as shown by the solid arrows ofFIG. 27 . - As shown in
FIG. 28 , theconnector 80 has an upstream heat exchangeportion connection port 82 and a downstream heat exchangeportion connection port 83 with respect to a singlepipe connection port 81. - The
pipe connection port 81 is a connection port connected to the refrigerant pipe, and is an opening portion provided in a connectormain body portion 80 a. Thepipe connection port 81 is an inside space of a pipe sidecylindrical portion 81 a connected to the connectormain body portion 80 a. - The upstream heat exchange
portion connection port 82 is a connection port connected to theupstream tank portion 73. The upstream heat exchangeportion connection port 82 is an opening portion provided in the connectormain body portion 80 a, and is an inside space of a heat exchanger sidecylindrical portion 82 a connected to the connectormain body portion 80 a. - The downstream heat exchange
portion connection port 83 is a connection port connected to thedownstream tank portion 74. The downstream heat exchangeportion connection port 83 is an opening portion provided in the connectormain body portion 80 a, and is an inside space of a heat exchanger sidecylindrical portion 83 a connected to the connectormain body portion 80 a. - A flow passage, not shown in the drawing, extending from the
pipe connection port 81 to the upstream heat exchangeportion connection port 82 and the downstream heat exchangeportion connection port 83 is formed inside the connectormain body portion 80 a. - The structure of the
heat exchanger 70 other than theconnector 80 is, as shown inFIG. 29 , different from theheader tank 75 of the third embodiment shown inFIG. 12 in that thecommunication space 76 is omitted and the other parts are the same. In the example shown inFIG. 29 , since thecommunication space 76 is omitted, anupstream coolant space 731, an upstreamrefrigerant space 733 and a downstreamrefrigerant space 741 that are formed inside theheader tank 75 are larger than those of theheat exchanger 70 ofFIG. 12 . - Since the
connector 80 is connected to theupstream tank portion 73, the upstreamrefrigerant space 733 formed in theupstream tank portion 73 communicates with the upstream heat exchangeportion connection port 82 of theconnector 80, and the downstream refrigerant space 774 formed in thedownstream tank portion 74 communicates with the downstream heat exchangeportion connection port 83 of theconnector 80 - In the second and third embodiments, as shown in
FIGS. 11 and 12 , thecommunication space 76 is formed inside theheader tank 75 such that refrigerant flows between the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 and the downstreamheat exchange potion 72. - In contrast, in the present embodiment, refrigerant is branched inside the
connector 80 on the refrigerant inlet side, and the branched refrigerants flow in theupstream tank portion 73 and thedownstream tank portion 74, respectively. Additionally, refrigerants flows out of theupstream tank portion 73 and thedownstream tank portion 74, respectively, and the refrigerants gather together inside theconnector 80 on the refrigerant outlet side. Therefore, refrigerant need not flow between the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 and the downstreamheat exchange portion 72, and the above-describedcommunication space 76 can be omitted. - As a result, according to the present embodiment, internal structures of the
upstream tank portion 73 and thedownstream tank portion 74 can be simplified as compared to the second and third embodiments. - Unlike the present embodiment, two refrigerant pipes may be connected to the
upstream tank portion 73 or thedownstream tank portion 74, and the two refrigerant pipes may be connected to a single refrigerant pipe via a connection portion. Also in this case, the above-described refrigerant flow can be provided. However, according to the present embodiment, two refrigerant pipes need not be connected to theheader tank 75 because theconnector 80 is directly connected to theheader tank 75. - Next, a twelfth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to
FIGS. 30 and 31 . The twelfth embodiment is different from the above-described eleventh embodiment in shape ofconnector 80.FIG. 30 is an external perspective diagram showing aconnector 80 according to the twelfth embodiment, andFIG. 31 is a top view of theconnector 80. - As shown in
FIGS. 30 and 31 , theconnector 80 of the present embodiment has apiping connection port 81 on a face of a connectormain body portion 80 a which is opposite from its another face on that an upstream heat exchangeportion connection port 82 and a downstream heat exchangeportion connection port 83 are provided. - The
piping connection pipe 81 is located at a position where a distance L1 from thepiping connection pipe 81 to the upstream heat exchangeportion connection port 82 is shorter than a distance L2 from thepiping connection pipe 81 to the downstream heat exchangeportion connection port 83. The lengths L1 and L2 are lengths of refrigerant passages inside the connectormain body portion 80 a. - Accordingly, in the
connector 80, when refrigerant flows into theconnector 80 through thepiping connection port 81, a flow rate of refrigerant flowing out through the upstream heat exchangeportion connection port 82 can be made to be higher than a flow rate of refrigerant flowing out through the downstream heat exchangeportion connection port 83. - According to experimental results of the inventors, it is known that a performance of the
heat exchanger 70 is improved by setting a flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 higher than a flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the downstreamheat exchange portion 72. - By using the
connector 80 of the present embodiment, it can be easily achieved that a flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 is higher than a flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the downstreamheat exchange portion 72. - Contrary to the present embodiment, the
piping connection pipe 81 may be located at a position where the distance L1 from thepiping connection pipe 81 to the upstream heat exchangeportion connection port 82 is longer than the distance L2 from thepiping connection pipe 81 to the downstream heat exchangeportion connection port 83. Accordingly, when refrigerant flows into theconnector 80 through thepiping connection port 81, a flow rate of refrigerant flowing out of theconnector 80 through the upstream heat exchangeportion connection port 82 can be made to be higher than a flow rate of refrigerant flowing out of theconnector 80 through the downstream heat exchangeportion connection port 83. - Since the distances L1 and L2 from the
piping connection port 81 to the upstream and downstream heat exchangeportion connection ports connector 80, flow rates of refrigerant distributed to the upstream and downstreamheat exchange portion - Next, thirteenth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described referring to
FIG. 32 . The thirteenth embodiment is different from the above-described eleventh embodiment in shape ofconnector 80.FIG. 32 is a front view of aconnector 80 of the present embodiment on its side attached to aheat exchanger 70. The wavy lines regions S1 and S2 indicate opening regions of upstream and downstream heat exchangeportion connection ports - As shown in
FIG. 32 , in theconnector 80 of the present embodiment, the opening area S1 of the upstream heat exchangeportion connection port 82 is larger than the opening area S2 of the downstream heat exchangeportion connection port 83. - Accordingly, in the
connector 80, when refrigerant flows into theconnector 80 through apiping connection port 81, a flow rate of refrigerant flowing out through the upstream heat exchangeportion connection port 82 can be made to be higher than a flow rate of refrigerant flowing out through the downstream heat exchangeportion connection port 83. - In the
connector 80 of the twelfth embodiment, thepiping connection port 81 needs to be located near the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 in order to set the flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 higher than the flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the downstreamheat exchange portion 72. Necessarily, the position of the refrigerant pipe becomes near to the coolant pipe. - When the refrigerant pipe is desired to be kept away from the coolant pipe, it can be achieved by using the
connector 80 of the present embodiment that a flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 is higher than a flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the downstreamheat exchange portion 71 while the refrigerant pipe is kept away from the coolant pipe. - Contrary to the present embodiment, the opening area S1 of the upstream heat exchange
portion connection port 82 may be smaller than the opening area S2 of the downstream heat exchangeportion connection port 83. Accordingly, when refrigerant flows into theconnector 80 through thepiping connection port 81, a flow rate of refrigerant flowing out of theconnector 80 through the upstream heat exchangeportion connection port 82 can be made to be higher than a flow rate of refrigerant flowing out of theconnector 80 through the downstream heat exchangeportion connection port 83. - Since the opening areas S1 and S2 of the upstream and downstream heat exchange
portion connection ports connector 80, flow rates of refrigerant distributed to the upstream and downstreamheat exchange portion - The present embodiment and the twelfth embodiment can be combined. That is, in the
connector 80, a flow rate of refrigerant flowing out of theconnector 80 through the upstream heat exchangeportion connection port 82 can be differentiated from a flow rate of refrigerant flowing out of theconnector 80 through the downstream heat exchangeportion connection port 83 by differentiating the length L1 and L2 from thepiping connection port 81 to the upstream and downstream heat exchangeportion connection ports portion connection ports - The
heat exchangers 70 of the present embodiment and the eleventh and twelfth embodiments may be applied to theheat pump cycle 10 of the fourteenth embodiment. - The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be modified variedly without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as described below.
- (1) In the above-described embodiments, an example is described, in which the upstream number ratio that is a ratio of the number of the
refrigerant tubes 16 a to the total number of therefrigerant tubes 16 a and thecoolant tubes 43 a in the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 is made to be smaller than the downstream number ratio that is a ratio of the number of therefrigerant tubes 16 a to the total number of therefrigerant tubes 16 a and thecoolant tubes 43 a in the downstreamheat exchange portion 72. The present disclosure is not limited to this, and the upstream number ratio may be made to be higher than the downstream number ratio. - (2) In the above-described embodiments, an example is described, in which the
refrigerant tubes 16 a and thecoolant tubes 43 a are arranged alternately in the upstreamheat exchange portion 71, but arrangement of therefrigerant tubes 16 a and thecoolant tubes 43 a is not limited. - For example, in the upstream
heat exchange portion 71, thecoolant tube 43 a may be arranged between every second andthird coolant tubes 16 a. In other words, in the upstreamheat exchange portion 71, tworefrigerant tubes 16 a may be arranged between adjacent twocoolant tubes 43 a. - According to this, the upstream number ratio that is a ratio of the number of the
refrigerant tubes 16 a to the total number of therefrigerant tubes 16 a and thecoolant tubes 43 a in the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 can be increased. Therefore, in the upstreamheat exchange portion 71, a heat exchange amount between refrigerant and outside air can be ensured more certainly. - (3) In the above-described first embodiment, an example is described, in which refrigerant of the
heat pump cycle 10 is used as the first fluid, coolant of thecoolant circulation circuit 40 is used as the second fluid, and outside air blown by theblast fan 17 is used as the third fluid. The first to third fluids are not limited to these. For example, as in the third embodiment, air that is to be blown into the vehicle compartment may be used as the third fluid. Alternatively, the third fluid may be coolant. - For example, the first fluid may be high pressure refrigerant or low pressure refrigerant in the
heat pump cycle 10. - For example, the second fluid may be coolant which cools electric devices such as an inverter that supplies electric power to the engine or the running electric motor MG. Alternatively, an oil for cooling may be used as the second fluid, and the second heat exchange portion may function as an oil cooler. A heat storage material or a cooling storage material may be used as the second fluid.
- Moreover, for example, when the
heat pump cycle 10, for which theheat exchanger 70 of the present disclosure is used, is used for a stationary air conditioner, a cool storage or a cooling-heating device for an automatic vending machine, the second fluid may be coolant which cools an electric motor, other electric devices or the engine used as a drive source of the compressor of theheat pump cycle 10. - In the above-described embodiments, an example is described, in which the
heat exchanger 70 of the present disclosure is used for a heat pump cycle (refrigeration cycle). But, usage of theheat exchanger 70 is not limited to this. That is, theheat exchanger 70 can be widely used for a device that performs heat exchanges among three kinds of fluids. - For example, the
heat exchanger 70 can be applied to a heat exchanger used for a vehicle cooling system. The first fluid may be a heat medium that has absorbed heat from a first in-vehicle device which generates heat during its operation. The second fluid may be a heat medium that has absorbed heat from a second in-vehicle device which generates heat during its operation. The third fluid may be outside air. - More specifically, when the
heat exchanger 70 is used for a hybrid vehicle, the first in-vehicle device may be an engine EG, and the first fluid may be coolant of the engine EG. Additionally, the second in-vehicle device may be a running electric motor, and the second fluid may be coolant of the running electric motor. - Since heat generation amounts of these in-vehicle devices changes depending on a running state (running load) of the vehicle, also a temperature of coolant of the engine EG and a temperature of coolant of the vehicle-running electric vehicle change depending on the running state of the vehicle. Therefore, in this example, a heat amount generated by an in-vehicle device having a high capacity in heat generation can be radiated not only to air but also to an in-vehicle device having a low capacity in heat generation.
- For example, an exhaust-gas recirculation device, a turbocharger, a power steering device or a battery may be used as the first in-vehicle device or the second in-vehicle device. The heat exchange portion may function as an EGR cooler, an intercooler or an oil cooler that is for cooling power steering oil.
- (4) In the above-described embodiments, an example is described, in which the electric three-
way valve 42 is used as the circuit switching device that switches the cooling medium circuit of thecoolant circulation circuit 40. However, the circuit switching device is not limited to this. For example, a thermostat valve may be used as the circuit switching device. The thermostat valve is a cooling-medium temperature reaction valve having a mechanical mechanism which opens or closes a cooling medium passage by displacing a valve element with using a thermowax (temperature sensitive member) that changes its volume depending on its temperature. Hence, by using the thermostat valve, thecoolant temperature sensor 52 can be omitted. - In the above-described embodiments, an example is described, in which a general fluorocarbon refrigerant is used as refrigerant, but the type of refrigerant is not limited to this. A natural refrigerant such as carbon dioxide or a hydrocarbon refrigerant may be used. Additionally, the
heat pump cycle 10 may configure a subcritical refrigeration cycle in which a pressure of refrigerant discharged from thecompressor 11 is higher than or equal to a critical pressure of the refrigerant. - (6) In the above-described seventh embodiment, an example is described, in which a flow direction of refrigerant flowing in the
refrigerant tubes 16 a immediately after inflow of the refrigerant from an exterior of theheat exchanger 70 through therefrigerant inflow pipe 164 is the same as a flow direction of coolant flowing in thecoolant tubes 43 a immediately after inflow of the coolant from an exterior of theheat exchanger 70 through thecoolant inflow pipe 434. However, flow directions of refrigerant and coolant are not limited to this. - For example, as shown in
FIG. 33 , thecoolant inflow pipe 434 and thecoolant outflow pipe 435 may be connected to the firstupstream tank portion 740 a, and coolant may flow in the upstreamheat exchange potion 71 along an approximately U shape. - Specifically, a first
upstream partition member 732 e is arranged in the firstupstream tank portion 730 a and separates theupstream coolant space 731 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the firstupstream tank portion 730 a. A secondupstream partition member 732 f is arranged in the secondupstream tank portion 730 b and separates the upstreamrefrigerant space 733 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b. - One of the two spaces of the
upstream coolant space 731 partitioned by the firstupstream partition member 732 e communicates with thecoolant inflow pipe 434. The other of the two spaces of theupstream coolant space 731 partitioned by the firstupstream partition member 732 e communicates with thecoolant outflow pipe 435. - (7) In the above-described seventh embodiment, an example is described, all refrigerant inflowing through the
refrigerant inflow pipe 164 flows into therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71. Subsequently, the refrigerant flows into therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72. However, the flow of refrigerant is not limited to this. - For example, as shown in
FIG. 34 , all refrigerant inflowing through therefrigerant inflow pipe 164 may flow intorefrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 which are located in a region on one side (right side of the paper surface) in the longitudinal direction of theupstream tank portion 73. The refrigerant may flow into therefrigerant tubes 16 a of the downstreamheat exchange portion 72. Subsequently, the refrigerant may flow intorefrigerant tubes 16 a of the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 which are located in a region on the other side (left side of the paper surface) in the longitudinal direction of theupstream tank portion 73. - Specifically, a first
upstream partition member 732 a is arranged in a secondupstream tank portion 730 b. The firstupstream partition member 732 a separates theupstream coolant space 731 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b. The firstupstream partition member 732 a separates the upstreamrefrigerant space 733 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b. A secondupstream partition member 732 g is arranged in the firstupstream tank portion 730 a and separates the upstreamrefrigerant space 733 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the firstupstream tank portion 730 a. Adownstream partition member 742 g is arranged in the firstdownstream tank portion 740 a and separates the downstreamrefrigerant space 741 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the firstdownstream tank portion 740 a. - One of the two spaces of the upstream
refrigerant space 733 partitioned by the firstupstream partition member 732 a communicates with therefrigerant inflow pipe 164. The other of the two spaces of the upstreamrefrigerant space 733 partitioned by the firstupstream partition member 732 a communicates with therefrigerant outflow pipe 165. - According to the
heat exchanger 70 shown inFIG. 27 , a flow direction of refrigerant flowing in therefrigerant tubes 16 a immediately after inflow of the refrigerant from an exterior of theheat exchanger 70 through therefrigerant inflow pipe 164 can be made to be the same as a flow direction of coolant flowing in thecoolant tubes 43 a immediately after inflow of the coolant from an exterior of theheat exchanger 70 through thecoolant inflow pipe 434. Thus, a performance of theheat exchanger 70 can be improved. - Another example, in which a coolant flow in the
heat exchange 70 shown inFIG. 34 is modified, is shown inFIG. 35 . - In the
heat exchanger 70 shown inFIG. 35 , thecoolant inflow pipe 434 and thecoolant outflow pipe 435 are connected to the firstupstream tank portion 730 a, and coolant flows in the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 along an approximately U shape. - Specifically, a first
upstream partition member 732 h is arranged in the firstupstream tank portion 730 a. The firstupstream partition member 732 h separates theupstream coolant space 731 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the firstupstream tank portion 730 a. The firstupstream partition member 732 h separates the upstreamrefrigerant space 733 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the firstupstream tank portion 730 a. A secondupstream partition member 732 i is arranged in the secondupstream tank portion 730 b and separates the upstreamrefrigerant space 733 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the secondupstream tank portion 730 b. - One of the two spaces of the
upstream coolant space 731 partitioned by the firstupstream partition member 732 h communicates with thecoolant inflow pipe 434. The other of the two spaces of theupstream coolant space 731 partitioned by the firstupstream partition member 732 h communicates with thecoolant outflow pipe 435. - (8) In the above-described eighth embodiment, an example is described, in which a flow direction of refrigerant flowing in the
refrigerant tubes 16 a immediately before outflow of the refrigerant to an exterior of theheat exchanger 70 through therefrigerant outflow pipe 165 is the same as a flow direction of coolant flowing in thecoolant tubes 43 a immediately before outflow of the coolant to an exterior of theheat exchanger 70 through thecoolant outflow pipe 435. However, flow directions of refrigerant and coolant are not limited to this. - For example, as shown in
FIG. 36 , thecoolant inflow pipe 434 and thecoolant outflow pipe 435 may be connected to the firstupstream tank portion 730 a, and coolant may flow in the upstreamheat exchange portion 71 along an approximately U shape. - Specifically, a first
upstream partition member 732 j is arranged in the firstupstream tank portion 730 a. The firstupstream partition member 732 j separates theupstream coolant space 731 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the firstupstream tank portion 730 a. The firstupstream partition member 732 j separates the upstreamrefrigerant space 733 into two spaces that align in the longitudinal direction of the firstupstream tank portion 730 a. One of the two spaces of theupstream coolant space 731 partitioned by the firstupstream partition member 732 j communicates with thecoolant inflow pipe 434. The other of the two spaces of theupstream coolant space 731 partitioned by the firstupstream partition member 732 j communicates with thecoolant outflow pipe 435. - In the above-described tenth embodiment, an example is described, in which the
header plate 751, thetank forming member 753, the first communication-space formingplate member 851 and the second communication-space formingplate member 852 are separately provided. However, these are not limited to this, and thesemembers
Claims (25)
1. A heat exchanger comprising:
first tubes through which a first fluid flows;
second tubes through which a second fluid flows; and
a heat exchange portion in which tubes including at least the first tubes or the second tubes are stacked, wherein
at least one of the first fluid and the second fluid exchanges heat with a third fluid in the heat exchange portion,
spaces between tubes, which are selected from among the first tubes and the second tubes and are adjacent to each other, form third fluid passages through which the third fluid flows,
the heat exchange portion includes an upstream heat exchange portion positioned on an upstream side in a flow direction of the third fluid, and a downstream heat exchange portion positioned downstream of the upstream heat exchange portion in the flow direction of the third fluid, and
a stacking arrangement state of the tubes in the upstream heat exchange portion is different from a stacking arrangement state of the tubes in the downstream heat exchange portion.
2. A heat exchanger comprising:
first tubes through which a first fluid flows;
second tubes through which a second fluid flows; and
a heat exchange portion in which tubes including at least the first tubes or the second tubes are stacked, wherein
at least one of the first fluid and the second fluid exchanges heat with a third fluid in the heat exchange portion,
spaces between tubes, which are selected from among the first tubes and the second tubes and are adjacent to each other, form third fluid passages through which the third fluid flows,
the heat exchange portion includes an upstream heat exchange portion positioned on an upstream side in a flow direction of the third fluid, and a downstream heat exchange portion positioned downstream of the upstream heat exchange portion in the flow direction of the third fluid, and
the first tubes and the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion and the first tubes and the second tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion include a first portion in which the same type of two tubes are overlapped with each other in the flow direction of the third fluid, and a second portion in which different types of two tubes are overlapped with each other in the flow direction of the third fluid.
3. A heat exchanger comprising:
first tubes through which a first fluid flows;
second tubes through which a second fluid flows; and
a heat exchange portion in which tubes including at least the first tubes or the second tubes are stacked, wherein
at least one of the first fluid and the second fluid exchanges heat with a third fluid in the heat exchange portion,
spaces between tubes, which are selected from among the first tubes and the second tubes and are adjacent to each other, form third fluid passages through which the third fluid flows,
the heat exchange portion includes an upstream heat exchange portion positioned on an upstream side in a flow direction of the third fluid, and a downstream heat exchange portion positioned downstream of the upstream heat exchange portion in the flow direction of the third fluid, and
a ratio of the number of the first tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion to the total number of the first tubes and the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion is different from a ratio of the number of the first tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion to the total number of the first tubes and the second tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion.
4. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the number of the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion to the total number of the first tubes and the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion is higher than a ratio of the number of the second tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion to the total number of the first tubes and the second tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion.
5. The heat exchanger according to claim 4 , wherein
the tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion consist of both the first tubes and the second tubes, and
the tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion consist of the first tubes.
6. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , further comprising an outer fin located in the third fluid passage, wherein
the outer fin promotes heat exchange between the first fluid and the third fluid and heat exchange between the second fluid and the third fluid, and
the outer fin is capable of conveying heat between the first fluid flowing through the first tube and the second fluid flowing through the second tube.
7. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein
the tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion consist of both the first tubes and the second tubes, and
the tubes the downstream heat exchange portion consist of the first tubes,
the heat exchanger further comprising:
an upstream tank portion extending in a stacking direction of the first tubes and the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion, the upstream tank portion having an upstream second fluid space which collects or distributes the second fluid that flows through the second tubes;
a downstream tank portion extending in a stacking direction of the first tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion, the downstream tank portion having a downstream first fluid space which collects or distributes the first fluid that flows through the first tubes; and
a communication passage through which the first tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion communicate with the downstream first fluid space.
8. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein
the tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion consist of both the first tubes and the second tubes, and
the tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion consist of the first tubes,
the heat exchanger further comprising:
an upstream tank portion extending in a stacking direction of the first tubes and the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion, the upstream tank portion having an upstream first fluid space which collects or distributes the first fluid that flows through the first tubes;
a downstream tank portion extending in a stacking direction of the first tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion, the downstream tank portion having a downstream second fluid space which collects or distributes the second fluid that flows through the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion;
a first communication passage through which the first tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion communicate with the upstream first fluid space; and
a second communication passage through which the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion communicate with the downstream second fluid space.
9. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein
the tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion consist of both the first tubes and the second tubes, and
the tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion consist of the first tubes,
the heat exchanger further comprising:
an upstream tank portion extending in a stacking direction of the first tubes and the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion, the upstream tank portion having an upstream first fluid space which collects or distributes the first fluid that flows through the first tubes, and a downstream second fluid space which collects or distributes the second fluid that flows through the second tubes;
a downstream tank portion extending in a stacking direction of the first tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion, the downstream tank portion having a downstream first fluid space which collects or distributes the first fluid that flows through the first tubes; and
a communication passage through which the upstream first fluid space communicates with the downstream first fluid space.
10. The heat exchanger according to claim 7 , wherein the communication passage is integrated with the upstream tank portion and the downstream tank portion.
11. The heat exchanger according to claim 7 , wherein the communication passage is separated from the upstream tank portion and the downstream tank portion.
12. The heat exchanger according to claim 7 , wherein
the communication passage is separated from the upstream tank portion and the downstream tank portion, and
the communication passage is located at a position nearer to the heat exchange portion than positions of the upstream tank portion and the downstream tank portion.
13. The heat exchanger according to claim 7 , wherein the communication passage extends in a direction to connect an end portion of a first tube of the upstream heat exchange portion and an end portion of a first tube of the downstream heat exchange portion which are overlapped with each other in the flow direction of the third fluid.
14. The heat exchanger according to claim 13 , wherein the communication passage communicates with another first tube that is adjacent in the stacking direction of the first tubes to the two first tubes which are overlapped with each other in the flow direction of the third fluid.
15. The heat exchanger according to claim 7 , wherein
a flow direction of the first fluid is the same as a flow direction of the second fluid in a pair of the first tube and the second tube overlapped with each other in the flow direction of the third fluid, and
a flow direction of the first fluid is opposite from a flow direction of the second fluid in another pair of the first tube and the second tube overlapped with each other in the flow direction of the third fluid.
16. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein
the tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion consist of both the first tubes and the second tubes,
the tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion consist of the first tubes, and
all of the first fluid inflowing from an exterior of the heat exchanger passes through the upstream heat exchange portion without branching to the downstream heat exchange portion.
17. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein
the tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion consist of both the first tubes and the second tubes,
the tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion consist of the first tubes,
the first fluid inflowing from an exterior of the heat exchanger branches to the upstream heat exchange portion and to the downstream heat exchange portion before flowing into the first tubes,
all of the first fluid branched to the upstream heat exchange portion before flowing into the first tubes passes through the upstream heat exchange portion without further branching to the downstream heat exchange portion, and
all of the first fluid branched to the downstream heat exchange portion before flowing into the first tubes passes through the downstream heat exchange portion without further branching to the upstream heat exchange portion.
18. The heat exchanger according to claim 16 , wherein a flow direction of the first fluid flowing through the first tubes immediately after the inflow of the first fluid from the exterior is the same as a flow direction of the second fluid flowing through the second tubes immediately after inflow of the second fluid from the exterior.
19. The heat exchanger according to claim 16 , wherein a flow direction of the first fluid flowing through the first tubes immediately before outflow of the first fluid to the exterior is the same as a flow direction of the second fluid flowing through the second tubes immediately before outflow of the second fluid to the exterior.
20. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , further comprising outer fins located in the third fluid passages, wherein
the outer fins promote heat exchange between the first fluid and the third fluid and heat exchange between the second fluid and the third fluid,
the outer fins are capable of conveying heat between the first fluid flowing through the first tubes and the second fluid flowing through the second tubes,
each of the outer fins has louvers formed by cutting and raising parts of the surface of the outer fin, and
the louvers of the outer fin located between two adjacent tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion are different in shape from the louvers of the outer fin located between two adjacent tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion.
21. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein
the tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion consist of both the first tubes and the second tubes, and
the tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion consist of the first tubes,
the heat exchanger further comprising:
an upstream tank portion extending in a stacking direction of the first tubes and the second tubes of the upstream heat exchange portion, the upstream tank portion having an upstream first fluid space which collects or distributes the first fluid that flows through the first tubes and an upstream second fluid space which collects or distributes the second fluid that flows through the second tubes;
a downstream tank portion extending in a stacking direction of the first tubes of the downstream heat exchange portion, the downstream tank portion having a downstream first fluid space which collects or distributes the first fluid that flows through the first tubes; and
a connector portion including a single piping connection port connected to a first fluid pipe through which the first fluid flows, an upstream heat exchange portion connection port that is connected to the upstream tank portion and communicates with the upstream first fluid space, and a downstream heat exchange portion connection port that is connected to the downstream tank portion and communicates with the downstream first fluid space.
22. The heat exchanger according to claim 21 , wherein a distance from the piping connection port to the upstream heat exchange portion connection port is different from a distance from the piping connection port to the downstream heat exchange portion connection port in the connector portion.
23. The heat exchanger according to claim 21 , wherein an opening area of the upstream heat exchange portion connection port is different from an opening area of the downstream heat exchange portion connection port in the connector portion.
24. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein
the heat exchanger is used as an evaporator of a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle to evaporate refrigerant,
the first fluid is refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle,
the second fluid is a heat medium that has absorbed heat of an exterior heat source, and
the third fluid is air.
25. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein
the heat exchanger is used as a radiator of a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle to radiate heat of refrigerant discharged from a compressor,
the first fluid is refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle,
the second fluid is a heat medium that has absorbed heat of an exterior heat source, and
the third fluid is air.
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JP2011082759 | 2011-04-04 | ||
JP2011-082759 | 2011-04-04 | ||
JP2012013061A JP2012225634A (en) | 2011-04-04 | 2012-01-25 | Heat exchanger |
JP2012-013061 | 2012-01-25 | ||
JP2012062935A JP5772672B2 (en) | 2011-04-04 | 2012-03-20 | Heat exchanger |
JP2012-062935 | 2012-03-20 | ||
PCT/JP2012/002323 WO2012137487A1 (en) | 2011-04-04 | 2012-04-03 | Heat exchanger |
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US14/009,262 Abandoned US20140245777A1 (en) | 2011-04-04 | 2012-04-03 | Heat exchanger |
Country Status (6)
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US (1) | US20140245777A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2696158B1 (en) |
JP (2) | JP2012225634A (en) |
KR (1) | KR101518356B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN103459968B (en) |
WO (1) | WO2012137487A1 (en) |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
KR101518356B1 (en) | 2015-05-08 |
EP2696158A1 (en) | 2014-02-12 |
EP2696158B1 (en) | 2021-09-29 |
CN103459968B (en) | 2015-12-09 |
CN103459968A (en) | 2013-12-18 |
JP2012225634A (en) | 2012-11-15 |
KR20140002774A (en) | 2014-01-08 |
JP5772672B2 (en) | 2015-09-02 |
WO2012137487A1 (en) | 2012-10-11 |
EP2696158A4 (en) | 2015-03-25 |
JP2012225638A (en) | 2012-11-15 |
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