Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
  • F24H4/00—Fluid heaters characterised by the use of heat pumps
  • F24H4/02—Water heaters
  • F24H4/04—Storage heaters
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
  • F24H9/00—Details
  • F24H9/14—Arrangements for connecting different sections, e.g. in water heaters 
  • F24H9/146—Connecting elements of a heat exchanger

Definitions

• the invention relates to the assembly of a thermodynamic machine.
• the invention finds particular utility in a thermodynamic water heater.
• This type of water heater can be implemented to produce domestic hot water especially in the individual habitat.
• This type of water heater can achieve significant energy savings especially compared to an electric water heater.
• thermodynamic water heater around a thermodynamic machine taking heat from the ambient air to heat water located in a heat-insulated flask.
• the heated water is used directly as domestic hot water.
• the water heater generally comprises two compartments, one of which is formed around an evaporator often called compartment or cold stage and the other is formed around a condenser often called compartment or hot stage.
• the condenser heats the water of the flask and the ambient air is cooled while circulating in the evaporator.
• the transfer of heat between air and water is carried out by means of a refrigerant circulating in a closed circuit. Specifically, the refrigerant flows in the low pressure evaporator.
• a compressor compresses the fluid that circulates at high pressure in the condenser.
• the fluid cools and condenses before passing through a pressure reducer to lower its pressure.
• the fluid enters the evaporator again to evaporate and reheat. The heat energy is largely exchanged by the fluid through phase changes by the latent energy of transformation associated with these phase changes.
• the cold stage naturally includes the evaporator and can be placed other components of the thermodynamic machine such as the compressor and the expander.
• the cold stage may also include a fan for forcing a flow of air through the evaporator.
• the assembly of the different components of the cold stage is done by means of mechanical parts each ensuring a function in the assembly.
• mechanical parts each ensuring a function in the assembly.
• the assembly of the various components and associated mechanical parts requires fastening accessories such as screws, flanges or clamps.
• the number of mechanical parts and accessories and the necessary assembly time tends to increase the cost of a thermodynamic machine. Moreover, the more the number of components and accessories increases and the overall reliability of the machine is degraded.
• the invention aims to simplify the assembly of a thermodynamic machine by reducing the number of mechanical parts required.
• the invention also aims to simplify the production of the mechanical parts used in the assembly of the thermodynamic machine.
• the invention is more particularly concerned with the assembly of the cold stage of the thermodynamic machine.
• the subject of the invention is a thermodynamic machine comprising a cold stage, comprising several components including an evaporator through which an air flow is established during operation of the machine, characterized in that it also comprises a base and a cap each forming a single piece, in that components of the cold stage are supported between the base and the cap, in that the air flow is guided between the base and the cap and in that the base and the cap together provide a seal of the air flow.
• FIG. 1 schematically shows a thermodynamic water heater in which the invention can be implemented
• Figure 2 shows an exploded view of a cold stage of the water heater of Figure 1;
• Figures 3 and 4 show in perspective two mechanical parts forming an enclosure of the cold stage
• Fig. 5 shows the cold stage in plan view
• Figures 6, 7 and 8 show sectional views of the cold stage, views defined in Figure 5.
• FIG. 1 schematically shows a thermodynamic water heater 10 for producing domestic hot water.
• the water heater implements a thermodynamic machine or air-water heat pump.
• the cold source is constituted by the ambient air and the hot source is constituted by a water tank whose content is directly usable as domestic hot water.
• the cold source may for example be water taken from a well or circulating in a coil buried in the ground.
• the hot source can be the ambient air located inside a dwelling.
• the final use is the sanitary water forming the hot source of the thermodynamic machine. Note that it is possible to implement the invention in a thermodynamic machine whose purpose is to cool the air for example for air conditioning.
• the thermodynamic water heater 10 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a hot stage 11 and a cold stage 12.
• a thermodynamic circuit circulates between the two stages. More specifically, the hot stage 1 1 essentially comprises a condenser 13 and the cold stage 12 essentially comprises an evaporator 14.
• the thermodynamic machine further comprises in its circuit a compressor 15 and a pressure reducer 16.
• a heat transfer fluid circulates in a closed circuit in the thermodynamic circuit. The heat transfer fluid circulates in the evaporator 14 at low pressure.
• the compressor 15 compresses the fluid which, at the outlet of the compressor 15, flows in the condenser 13 before passing through the expander 16 which lowers its pressure before returning to the evaporator 14.
• the condenser 13 is disposed in or around a water reservoir 17.
• the condenser 13 is an exchanger that allows the water in the reservoir 17 to be heated in contact with the coolant passing through the condenser 13. even the evaporator 14 is traversed by an air flow represented by the arrows 18 and 19.
• the evaporator 14 is an exchanger which takes heat energy in the air flow to heat the heat transfer fluid through the evaporator 14.
• the fan 20 is disposed downstream of the evaporator 14 in the air circulation because of the lower air mass volume. Alternatively, it would be possible to place the fan upstream of the evaporator 14.
• the water heater 10 can be tilted to obtain a substantially cylindrical outer shape.
• the water heater 10 can be tilted to obtain a substantially cylindrical outer shape. In the example shown in the figure
• the water heater 10 extends along a vertical axis 23.
• the hot stage 1 1 above which is located the cold stage 12.
• the compressor 15 and the expander 16 are arranged in the cold stage 12. These two components also form the junction between a low pressure part of the thermodynamic circuit essentially formed by the evaporator 14 and a high pressure part essentially formed by the condenser 13.
• the compressor 15 and the expander 16 may alternatively be arranged in the hot stage 1 1.
• the invention makes it possible to improve the assembly of a thermodynamic machine and more precisely of its cold stage 12.
• the invention optimizes the assembly of components located in the cold stage 12.
• the maximum number of components is placed in the cold stage 12, hence the presence of the compressor 15 and the expander 16 in the cold stage 12. It is understood that if for other reasons it is desired to place the compressor 15 and / or the regulator 16 in the warm stage
• the invention is already of interest.
• FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the cold stage 12 of the water heater 10 which comprises a base 25 and a cap 26 each forming a part piece.
• the components of the cold stage 12 are supported between the base 25 and the cap 26.
• these components are the evaporator 14, the compressor 15, the expander 16 and the fan 20.
• Other components may belong to the cold stage 12 such as, for example, an anti-liquid bottle 28.
• the bottle 28 can be placed between the evaporator 14 and the compressor 15 to protect the compressor 15 from a possible fluid inlet at the same time. This liquid inlet in the compressor 15 would cause irreversible damage.
• the bottle 28 makes it possible to trap the liquid still contained in the circuit at the outlet of the evaporator 14.
• the bottle 28 can also allow the evaporation of the trapped liquid to allow admission into the gas phase in the compressor 15.
• the base 25 and the cap 26 form an enclosure in which are located the components of the cold stage 12.
• the cap 26 covers the base 25. It has been seen previously that the water heater 10 may have a substantially cylindrical outer shape . After placing the cap 26 on the base 25, the chamber participates in this cylindrical shape along the axis 23.
• the components of the cold stage 12 are arranged in an internal volume formed between the base 25 and the cap 26.
• the two orifices 21 and 22 are formed in the cap 26 to allow the flow of air through the evaporator 14
• the base 25 is traversed by channels of the thermodynamic circuit to reach the condenser 13 disposed in the hot stage 1 1.
• Electrical cables pass through the enclosure to supply the compressor 15 and the fan 20 and possibly to connect sensors useful to the operation of the thermodynamic machine. It may be temperature sensors of the heat transfer fluid or of the air passing through the evaporator 14 and of the heat transfer fluid pressure sensors.
• the cables, not shown in Figure 2 can pass through the base 25 to reach a connection box of the water heater 10 for example disposed in the hot stage 1 1.
• the enclosure formed by the base 25 and the cap 26, provides an acoustic attenuation of sound waves emitted by the compressor 15.
• This attenuation is obtained by the materials chosen to produce the base 25 and the cap 26 as well as by the reduced number of orifices made in the enclosure.
• the base 25 and / or the cap 26 are made of a material having larger porosities internally than on the surface.
• the internal porosity contributes to improving the acoustic attenuation and the reduction of the surface porosity makes it possible to maintain a good seal of the internal air flow in the cold stage 12 relative to the outside.
• This characteristic can be obtained with certain expanded plastic materials obtained by molding.
• the expanded structure ensures porosities and the realization in a mold smooths the surface of the mechanical parts thus obtained and thus reduces the porosity of the skin parts.
• the number of orifices is reduced to the functional requirements of the thermodynamic machine, namely the airflow inlets and outlets for the hot source, the channels of the thermodynamic circuit to the hot stage and the electric cables.
• the junction between the cap 26 and the base 25 is also adapted to prevent any acoustic leakage. For example, a slightly tight fit can be made between a cylindrical portion 29 made in the base 25 and a bore 30 made in the cap 26. This adjustment also serves to maintain the position of the cap 26 on the base 25 in position.
• Figure 3 shows in perspective the base 25 alone without the components that take place there.
• Figure 4 shows in perspective the cap 26 without component.
• the base 25 and the cap 26 are single-piece pieces, for example obtained by molding, which makes it possible to produce complex shapes. Other production methods are also possible such as machining.
• the advantage of the molding is that the cost of producing complex shapes occurs essentially during the production of the mold. In series production, complex shapes are no longer involved except in the case of the necessary drawer in the mold.
• the definition of the base 25 and the cap 26 can be made to avoid any drawer, or at least to limit the number.
• the base 25 and the cap 26 comprise shapes for accommodating different components of the cold stage 12. These forms open in a common direction, direction carried by the axis 23. In other words, the base 25 and the cap 26 are defined so that their plane of joint is perpendicular to the axis 23.
• the joint plane can of course be broken and include areas inclined relative to a plane strictly perpendicular to the axis 23. Nevertheless the shapes of the base 25 and the cap have sections widening towards the joint plane to allow the opening of the molds used only in the direction 23 without additional mechanism to open in a direction distinct from the direction 23 before opening the mold. It is recalled that this type of mechanism is called "drawer" in the field of molding.
• FIG. 3 there are several recessed shapes made in the base 25 and for accommodating the components of the cold stage 12.
• a shape 31 allows to position the compressor 15.
• the shape 31 is for example substantially triangular. In the vicinity of each vertex of the triangle it is possible to place fastening accessories for the compressor 15, for example screws or rivets.
• the compressor 15 is mounted by a translational movement parallel to the axis 23.
• Forms 32, 33 and 34 make it possible respectively to position the evaporator 14, the fan 20 and the bottle 28.
• the shapes 31 to 34 are complementary shapes of the associated components to allow the positioning of each component after engaging the component in the form dedicated to it.
• the shapes of the base 25 are defined so that the engagement of the component is advantageously by a translational movement thereof along the axis 23.
• the placing the cap 26 on the base 25 is done by a displacement of the cap 26 in translation along the axis 23. The displacement is done until full engagement of the bore 30 of the cap 26 on the cylindrical portion 29 of the base 25.
• This relative position of the cap 26 relative to the base 25 is the operational position of the water heater 10. In this position, several components of the cold stage 12 are held in position by the base 25 and the cap 26.
• the base 25 comprises forms for positioning components of the cold stage 12 during an assembly phase of the thermodynamic machine.
• the cap 26 comprises shapes which, associated with said shapes of the base 25, ensure, during operation of the machine, the maintenance of the components of the cold stage 12 positioned during the assembly phase.
• the air flow in the evaporator 14 is guided between the base
• Figure 5 shows the cold stage 12 in plan view. The figure
• FIGS. 6 to 8 show the cold stage 12 in section A-A, Figure 7 in section B-B and Figure 8 in broken section C-C.
• the different sections of FIGS. 6 to 8 make it possible to visualize the shapes used for guiding the air flow.
• the air Upstream of the evaporator 14, the air enters the cold stage 12 through the orifice 21 in a zone 40 delimited by the base 25, the cap 26 and the evaporator 14. In the zone 40, the air is not strictly speaking guided. Air can circulate freely around the various components in this area.
• the compressor 15 is advantageously in the zone 40 which is located upstream of the evaporator 14 in the air flow. This position of the compressor 15 has a double advantage. Firstly, during its operation, the compressor 15 heats up and the air circulating in the zone 40, which makes it possible to cool the compressor 15. Next, the air heated in contact with the compressor 15 circulates in the evaporator 14 This improves the heat exchange achieved by the evaporator 14. In other words, the heat energy lost by the compressor 15 is recovered by the thermodynamic circuit.
• the evaporator 14 has a substantially rectangular air passage section and the fan 20 has an inlet port 41 of substantially circular section.
• a curved connection surface 42 makes it possible to connect the evaporator 14 to the orifice 41.
• the surface 42 is made in two parts 43 and 44.
• the part 43 is made in the base 25 and the portion 44 is formed in the cap 26.
• the surface 42 is continuous at the junction between the base 25 and the cap 26
• the surface 42 is based on smooth connection curves without sharp angles so as to limit the appearance of turbulence in the air circulation between the evaporator 14 and the fan 20.
• the intersection between the parts 43 and 44 is located in a horizontal plane of Figure 6 locally forming a joint plane when the base 25 and the cap 26 are made by molding.
• the parts 43 and 44 are defined so that sections of these parts, parallel to their horizontal intersections, close again as they move away. of the intersection.
• the release of the base 25 and the cap 26 being effected by a translation movement in a direction carried by the axis 23, the demolding is done without any drawer to achieve the parts 43 and 44.
• Several types of fans can be put in place. It can for example implement a fan whose air flow follows the same direction in and out. This type of fan is very simple design.
• the heater water 10 comprises an air inlet opening 21 in the cold stage 12 and an air outlet orifice 22 of the cold stage 12.
• the air inlet and outlet ports 21 and 22 are made in the cap 26 and open in the common direction carried by the axis 23.
• the air flow has a horizontal direction in Figure 8. Downstream of the fan 20, the air flow follows a vertical direction in Figure 8, direction along the axis 45. To achieve a change of direction of the air flow between the upstream and downstream of the fan 20 causing the flow of air, the fan 20 is advantageously centrifugal. A volute 47, guiding the downstream air of the fan 20 is formed partly in the base 25 and partly in the cap 26.
• the volute 47 is made in two parts 48 and 49.
• the portion 49 is made in the base 25 and the portion 48 is formed in the cap 26.
• the volute 47 is continuous at the junction between the base 25 and the cap 26 The volute 47 opens gradually to the vicinity of the outlet orifice 22.
• the intersection between the parts 48 and 49 is located in a horizontal plane of Figure 7 forming a joint plane when the base 25 and the cap 26 are made by molding.
• the parts 48 and 49 are defined so that sections of these parts, parallel to the intersection between the parts 48 and 49, close again as they move away. of the intersection to avoid any drawer in the realization of parts 48 and 49.
• the air flow can be guided by a diverging 50 opening from the portion 48 to the orifice 22.
• the base 25 and the cap 26 together provide a seal of the air flow.
• This tightness is ensured at the level of the tight fit between the cap 26 and the base 25, in particular to ensure that the penetration of the air into the cold stage 12 takes place via the orifice 21 and that the exit of the air is made through the orifice 22.
• the base 25 and the cap 26 each have a surface, respectively 29 and 30, the two surfaces 29, 30 being intended to come into contact with each other to ensure an airtightness of the cold stage 12.
• the base 25 and / or the cap 26 are made of a shape memory material. Metal materials, in their elastic domain, have a shape memory to maintain the clamping of the cap 26 on the base 25. Some plastic materials also have this characteristic and prevents creep that would affect the seal.
• the cold stage 12 comprises electrical cables and advantageously the base 25 and / or the cap 26 provide a mechanical hold of the cables. Specific shapes made in the base 25 and in the cap 26 ensure the mechanical maintenance of the cables. This holding is for example performed by a groove 52 formed in the base 25 and for guiding and holding by clamping an electric cable supplying the fan 20. This groove holding means is advantageous because it can be made by molding.
• the shape of the groove does not require a drawer during its manufacture. It is of course possible to hold the cable by other means than jumpers attached to the base 25 or hooks made in the base 25 behind which the cables are held. Such hooks can also be made by molding without a drawer.
• these two mechanical parts are made of a material whose density is less than 70 kg / m 3 . This feature also reduces overall water heater 10.
• the base 25 and / or the cap 26 are made of a material resistant to a temperature greater than 100 ° C. This characteristic allows these two parts to resist mechanically to the appearance of hot spots, for example in the vicinity of the compressor 15 or in the vicinity of the electric motor of the fan 20.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)

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Cited By (4)

Citations (3)

• 2013
  • 2013-07-11 FR FR1356816A patent/FR3008483A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
• 2014
  • 2014-07-08 WO PCT/EP2014/064538 patent/WO2015004101A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2014-07-08 EP EP14736799.9A patent/EP3019796B1/de active Active

Patent Citations (3)

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