WO2007104667A1

WO2007104667A1 - Improved collector box for multiple-chamber exchanger and corresponding heat exchanger

Info

Publication number: WO2007104667A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/052065
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian Riondet; Jean-Marc Lesueur; Jean-Michel Haincourt; Eddie Sausset; Thierry Camus; Yann Pichenot
Original assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
Priority date: 2006-03-15
Filing date: 2007-03-06
Publication date: 2007-09-20
Also published as: EP1994353A1; FR2898669B1; FR2898669A1; EP1994353B1

Abstract

A collector box for a heat exchanger is of the type comprising at least a first chamber (C1) and at least a second chamber (C2) for the circulation of respective fluids and which are separated by separating means (56). A wall (52, 54) of the collector box has a first local deformation (60, 62), which first deformation (60, 62) collaborates with part (62, 60) of an opposite wall (54, 52) to form the said separating means (56). A heat exchanger accepts heat exchange tubes in such a collector box. Application to motor vehicles.

Description

Improved collector box for multi-chamber exchanger and corresponding heat exchanger

The invention relates to a collector box for a heat exchanger, of the type comprising a first chamber and a second chamber for the circulation of respective fluids and separated by separation means.

Multi-chamber heat exchangers are known which are used to circulate in a first compartment a first fluid at a relatively low temperature and in a second compartment a second fluid at a relatively high temperature. These heat exchangers are in particular radiators that are subject to various problems.

Among the problems encountered in producing such heat exchangers is the difficulty of achieving a reliable and resistant separation of the two compartments. Another problem encountered in the production of such heat exchangers is the resistance of the portion separating the two compartments as well as the general resistance of the radiator, which is subjected to significant stresses due to the difference in temperature between the fluids flowing through the two compartments. .

No. 6,942,014 discloses a heat exchanger in which a double partition wall is introduced into a collection box to define two chambers which in turn define two compartments with tubes associated therewith. Such a design presents problems of reliability of the separation between the two chambers as well as mechanical failure problems due to the temperature gradient around this room.

EP 0 789 213 discloses a heat exchanger in which two partition walls are introduced into the header, some tubes being connected to the space of the manifold contained between its two walls and being inactive. This solution is expensive and impractical to implement both in terms of design and industrialization.

The invention aims to improve the situation.

For this purpose, the invention proposes a manifold for a heat exchanger of the type comprising a first chamber and a second chamber for the respective fluid circulation and separated by separation means, in which a wall of the manifold has a first local deformation, which first deformation cooperates with a portion of an opposite wall to form said separation means.

Such a manifold makes it possible to achieve separation means inexpensively and easily integrable on a production line, while providing maximum security as to the tightness and mechanical strength of the parts produced.

In one embodiment, the manifold includes a lid and a manifold provided with an opening adapted to receive tubes of a heat exchanger, and said first deformation is located substantially opposite at least some of the tubes. So the tubes next to these openings are inactive and promote a better mechanical strength of the exchanger thus produced. The first deformation can be performed in the lid or in the collector.

In one embodiment, said first deformation is achieved by two shoulders connected by a medial portion substantially parallel to the wall from which it is derived. The medial portion may form an angle between 45 and 90 ° with one of said shoulders and form an angle between 45 and 90 ° with the other shoulder.

In another embodiment, the manifold has a second local deformation on said opposite wall and said deformations cooperate to form said separation means. Said second local deformation can be achieved by two shoulders connected by a medial portion substantially parallel to the wall from which it is derived and form an angle of between 45 and 90 ° with one or the other said shoulders or both. In this embodiment, the distance between the medial portion of the first deformation and the wall from which it is derived may be greater than the distance between the median portion of the second deformation and the opposite wall from which it is derived to accommodate the characteristics of the fluids passing through the exchanger.

In one embodiment, the manifold is made of aluminum and at least one of the lid and the collector is covered with solder, the deformations can be made by stamping or folding. In another embodiment, at least one of the wall and the opposite wall has an opening at the separation means and the first and second chambers may have a different chamber height. In a variant, the first chamber is traversed by a fluid at high temperature and the second chamber is adapted to be traversed by a low temperature fluid and the first chamber has a chamber height greater than the second chamber.

The invention also relates to a heat exchanger which comprises heat exchange tubes adapted to be received in a collecting box as described above, the tubes adapted to be received in openings substantially opposite the separation means being inactive.

The inactive tubes can extend near the openings of the collector box corresponding to them without penetrating it. Inactive tubes can pass through the separation means.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear better on reading the following description of examples given by way of non-limiting illustration from the drawings in which:

- Figure 1 shows a general front view of a heat exchanger according to the state of the art; - Figure 2 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a manifold according to the invention; - Figure 3 shows a schematic sectional view along the axis III-III of Figure 2;

- Figure 4 shows a schematic sectional view of a variant of the manifold of Figure 2; - Figure 5 shows a schematic sectional view of another variant of the manifold of Figure 2; and FIG. 6 shows a schematic sectional view of a third variant of the manifold of FIG. 2.

As can be seen in Figure 1, a conventional heat exchanger comprises a beam 10, composed of a plurality of tubes 12 extending parallel to each other and between which are arranged corrugated inserts 14 forming cooling fins. The ends of the tubes 12 open at one end into a common manifold 16 and at another end into another common manifold 18. These two manifolds are of tubular configuration and extend parallel to each other. All the components of this exchanger, ie the tubes 12, the fins 14 and the manifolds 16 and 18 are metallic and assembled together by brazing.

The beam is divided into two parts, namely a part A forming a cooler of a first fluid and composed of tubes 12a and a part B forming a cooler of a second fluid and composed of tubes 12b. The tubes 12a are adapted to be traversed by a first fluid Fl such as water, water added to antifreeze or engine coolant. The tubes 12b are adapted to be traversed by a second fluid F2 which may be identical or different from the Fl fluid. In one embodiment of the invention, the Fl and F2 fluids are identical and circulate in different cooling loops, one of them may be the cooling loop of the engine. It will be understood that these two fluids circulate in the two different parts of the bundle and are intended to be swept by the same air stream which sweeps the bundle 10.

In order to isolate these two fluids, the manifolds 16 and 18 comprise respective insulating partitions 20 and 22. The partition 20 divides the manifold 16 into a first chamber 24 for the fluid Fl and a second chamber 26 for the fluid F2. Correspondingly, the partition 22 divides the manifold 18 into a first chamber 28 for the fluid Fl and a second chamber for the fluid F2. Fl fluid to be cooled enters the first chamber 24 through an inlet pipe 32, circulates in the tubes 12a by a parallel flow to reach the second chamber 28 it leaves through an outlet pipe 34.

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a header box 50 according to the invention and adapted to be mounted in a heat exchanger similar to that of FIG. 1. The header box 50 is formed of a cover 52 and In the embodiment described here, the cover 52 and the collector 54 are both of aluminum and are soldered together. They could be made with a metal other than aluminum. The manifold 50 comprises a first chamber C1 for the circulation of a first fluid and a second chamber C2 for the circulation of a second fluid, the two chambers being separated by separation means 56 which will be described below. The fluids passing respectively through the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2 are in the example described here identical and correspond to the engine coolant, the fluid passing through the first chamber C1 being at a much higher temperature than the fluid passing through the second chamber. room C2.

It would also be possible to use an identical fluid for the two chambers (ie water or antifreeze for the two chambers C1 and C2), but which would be at different temperatures because of different circuits.

The manifold 54 has a plurality of openings 56 adapted to receive tubes 58, except in the region of the separation means 56, in which the tubes 58 extend near the manifold 54 without penetrating it.

The separation means 56 are made by the collaboration of two local deformations 60 and 62 respectively formed in the cover 52 and the collector 54.

The deformation 60 made in the cover 52 has substantially the shape of a trapezium which would be devoid of its large base. More precisely, this deformation comprises a middle portion 64 and two shoulders 66 and 68 which connect the middle portion 64 on either side to the remainder of the cover 52. The shoulder 66 forms with the median portion 64 an angle referenced α1 whose value can be between 45 and 90 °. The shoulder 68 forms with the middle portion 64 an angle referenced β1 whose value can be between 45 and 90 °.

The deformation 62 made in the manifold 54 is homologous to the deformation 60 made in the cover 52 and thus comprises a middle portion 70 and two shoulders 72 and 74 which connect the median portion 70 on either side to the rest of the manifold 54. Here also, the shoulder 72 forms with the median portion 70 an angle referenced α2 whose value may be between 45 and 90 ° and the shoulder 74 forms with the median portion 70 an angle referenced β2 whose value can be between 45 and 90 °.

The local deformations 60 and 62 are made by stamping the wall from which they are respectively issued, ie the wall of the cover 52 on the one hand and the wall of the collector 54 on the other hand, so that the median portions 64 and 70 are substantially parallel to the walls from which they are derived. The deformations could also be made by folding.

In the example described here, the deformation 60 has a depth H1 which represents the distance between the middle portion 64 and the wall of the cover 52 from which it is derived and is 40 mm. Similarly, the height H2 of the deformation 62, which is the distance between the median portion 70 and the wall of the collector 54 of which it is issue, is worth 40 mm. The stamping made in the cover 52 is therefore the same as that achieved in the manifold 54. However, these heights could be unequal. They could especially be between 0 and 80mm. A particular embodiment of the invention proposes that the total height is 80 mm.

Furthermore, the inner walls of the cover 52 and the collector 54 are coated with a solder. The deformations 60 and 62 are in contact with each other at the middle portions 64 and 70, over the entire width of the box so as to form the two chambers C1 and C2 on either side of the zone. of contact. The brazing of the manifold means that the medial portions 64 and 70 are brazed together and thus constitute sealed means for separating the chambers C1 and C2.

It should be noted that the tubes which are expressed opposite the separation means 56 are not traversed by any fluid. These tubes are called "inactive" or "dead". In the example described here, these tubes are maintained in the exchanger by brazing with the fins which are close to them, and do not penetrate the separation means 56.

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view along the axis III-III of FIG. 2. This view makes it possible to appreciate the embodiment considered of the header box 50. As can be seen in this figure, the cover 52 and the collector 54 are both U-shaped profiles which are brazed to each other along the respective branches of the U. This figure also shows the separation means 56, which are made by brazing the two median portions 64 and 70. FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention, in which tubes 58 of greater length than those previously described are sunk deep into the header box 50. Inactive tubes 58 also penetrate the separation means 56. .

Furthermore, the cover 52 has a through opening 76 at the separation means 56. This opening 76 makes it possible in particular to verify that the brazing of the middle portion 64 and the medial portion 70 has been effective and that there There is no problem of sealing between the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2.

Figure 5 shows yet another embodiment in which the collector 54 is different. The deformation 62 is here replaced by a step 78, and the collector 54 thus has a first flat portion 80 capable of forming the first chamber C1 with a portion of the cover 52, and a second portion 82 plane which is located higher than the portion 80 and is adapted to form the second chamber C2 with another portion of the cover 52.

In this embodiment, the cover 52 is unchanged and the separation means 56 are then made by assembling the deformation 60 with the upper part of the collector 54, at the portion 82. It would also be possible to perform these means with the portion 80. It will also be noted that the separation means 56 have an opening 84 which passes through the cover 52 and the manifold 54. The opening 84 has the same function as the opening 76 described above. By this structure, the first chamber C1 thus has a height, that is to say the distance between the cover 52 and the portion 80, greater than the height of the second chamber C2, which is the distance between the cover 52 and portion 82.

Figure 6 shows a simplified embodiment of a header box according to the invention. In this variant, only the cover 52 locally has a deformation 60 made by stamping the wall of the cover 52.

The deformation 60 comes directly into contact with a collector 54 to form the separation means 56. The collector 54 is in the example described a U-shaped section whose bottom has no deformation.

Inactive tubes 58 penetrate the separating means 56. These tubes could nevertheless be replaced by any other metallic element such as a sheet metal plate.

The invention also relates to a heat exchanger with two collector boxes, one and / or the other of said boxes being a collector box as described above.

In a manner known per se and as already mentioned, said exchanger further comprises a bundle of fluid circulation tubes opening at each end at said collector boxes, heat exchange fins, in particular provided in the form of corrugated insert, being provided between the tubes, the assembly being, for example, consisting of materials based on aluminum and / or aluminum alloy and / or being brazed.

Said exchanger is traversed by at least one fluid of a first and a fluid of a second heat exchange loop, said fluids being, for example, of the same types in the two loops, in particular glycol water.

Said exchanger comprises at least a first portion dedicated to cooling the fluid of the first heat exchange loop and at least a second portion dedicated to cooling the fluid of the second heat exchange loop. The tubes of said first portion open at each end in the first chambers of said manifolds while the tubes of said second portion open into the second chambers of said manifolds, said first portion having an inlet and an outlet for the fluid at the one or said first chambers while said second portion having an inlet and an outlet for the fluid at one or said second chambers.

The respective separation means of the manifolds are positioned so that they face each other. In other words, the respective separation means of the manifolds are symmetrical with respect to an average axis of the heat exchanger.

Thus, according to the exchanger according to the invention, in said first part of the exchanger, the ends of one and the same tube are respectively adjacent to the first local deformation of the first chamber of the manifold located on one side of the beam and the first local deformation of the manifold of the first chamber of the manifold located on the other side of the bundle. Likewise in the second part of the beam.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, inactive tubes, as defined above, are provided at the separation means of each of the boxes and said tubes are identical tubes. In other words, the respective separation means of each manifold are in vis-à-vis the same or inactive tubes or are crossed by the same or inactive tubes.

To achieve a heat exchanger with this type of manifolds, tubes of different lengths can be used for the two separate parts of the exchanger. Said tubes may, for the rest, be identical. They may, for example, be of the same section.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses all the variants that the skilled person will consider, including reading the following claims. Thus, it is not limited to the use of the engine coolant as fluids, and could make use of any other heat transfer fluid.

Claims

claims

A collector box for a heat exchanger, of the type comprising at least a first chamber (C1) and at least a second chamber (C2) for the circulation of respective fluids and separated by separating means (56), characterized in that a wall (52, 54) of the manifold has a first local deformation (60, 62), which first deformation (60, 62) collaborates with a portion (62, 60) of an opposite wall (54, 52); ) to form said separating means (56).

2. header box according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a cover (52) and a manifold (54) provided with openings adapted to receive tubes of a heat exchanger, and in that said first deformation (60, 62) is formed in the cover (52) or in the manifold (54).

3. collector box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first deformation

(60, 62) is formed by two shoulders (66-68, 72-74) connected by a middle portion (64, 70) substantially parallel to the wall (52, 54) from which it is derived.

4. collector box according to claim 3, characterized in that the median portion (64, 70) forms an angle (α1, α2) between 0 and 45 ° with one of said shoulders (66, 72).

5. header box according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the medial portion forms an angle (β1, β2) between 0 and 45 ° with the other of said shoulders (68, 74).

Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a second local deformation (62, 60) on said opposite wall (54, 52), and in that said first and second deformations (60, 62) collaborate to form said separation means (56).

7. collector box according to claim 6, characterized in that the second deformation (62, 60) is formed by two shoulders (72-74, 66-68) connected by a middle portion (70, 64) substantially parallel to the wall opposite (54, 52) from which it comes.

8. collector box according to claim 7, characterized in that the middle portion (70, 64) forms an angle (α2, αl) between 45 and 90 ° with one of said shoulders (72, 66).

9. collector box according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the median portion (70, 64) forms an angle (β2, β1) between 45 and 90 ° with the other of said shoulders (74, 68).

Container according to one of claims 3 to 5 and according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the distance between the middle portion (64, 70) of the first deformation (60, 62) and the wall (52, 54) from which it is derived is greater than the distance between the medial portion (70, 64) of the second deformation (62, 60) and the opposite wall (54, 52) from which it is derived.

11. Collector box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the wall and the opposite wall has a through opening (76) at the separation means (56).

12. collector box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first chamber and the second chamber have a different chamber height.

Container according to claim 12, characterized in that the first chamber is adapted to be traversed by a fluid at high temperature and the second chamber is adapted to be traversed by the same fluid at a lower temperature, and in that the first chamber has a larger chamber height than the second chamber.

14. collector box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made of aluminum alloy or aluminum.

Container according to one of claims 2 to 14, characterized in that at least one of the lid

(52) and the collector (54) is covered with solder.

16. Heat exchanger characterized in that it comprises at least one part dedicated to cooling a fluid of a first heat exchange loop and at least one other part dedicated to the cooling of a fluid of a second heat exchange loop, and in that it comprises collector boxes according to one of the preceding claims, said collector boxes receiving ends of heat exchange tubes.

17. Heat exchanger according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the means of respective separations of each manifold are in vis-à-vis one of the other.

18. Heat exchanger according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the tubes substantially opposite the separation means (56) are inactive.

19. Heat exchanger according to claim 18, characterized in that the inactive tubes extend near the manifold without penetrating it.

20. Heat exchanger according to claim 18, characterized in that the inactive tubes pass through the separation means (56).

21. Heat exchanger according to claim 18 to 20 characterized in that the means of respective separations of each manifold are in vis-à-vis the same tubes or inactive.