BRPI0902365A2 - forced airflow module for a heat exchanger and heat exchanger - Google Patents

Abstract

Forced airflow module for a heat exchanger and heat exchanger; The present invention relates to a forced air flow module (10) for a heat exchanger (1) which comprises within it a plurality of parallel air flow channels (106), module (10) ) further defined by a pair of parallel sidewalls (103) and (104) and a pair of parallel horizontal walls (101) and (102), the channels (106) being defined by a plurality of parallel walls (105) to the walls. sides (103) and (104); The invention also relates to a heat exchanger (1) having at least two parallel refrigerant circulation tube assemblies (11), wherein between the two refrigerant circulation assemblies (11) there is arranged at least one forced air flow module (10); The purpose of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger that enables a better thermal exchange between refrigerants and air, allows to increase the mechanical resistance of the heat exchanger, as well as facilitating its welding on the refrigerant pipes and which enables a reduction in the heat exchanger. energy consumption.

Description

Report of the Invention Patent for "Forced Airflow Module for a Heat Exchanger and Heat Exchanger".

The present invention relates to a forced airflow module for heat exchangers which makes it possible, through its unprecedented configuration, that the flow of air from a propeller to efficiently exchange heat with the coolant of a heat exchanger of heat.

The above module enables better weldability with the heat exchanger, has a simplified construction, increases the mechanical resistance of the heat exchanger and allows a reduction of energy consumption.

Description of the prior art

Heat exchangers are devices used to exchange heat between atmospheric air and another substance (usually a liquid) contained in a closed system. There are many types of heat exchangers that can be classified according to various criteria, and what satisfies the object of this application are cross-current, dry exchange surface or indirect contact processes such as condensers, evaporators and chillers.

The cross-current, heat exchanger surface or indirect contact process heat exchanger is characterized by having spaced and parallel refrigerant pipes or channels interconnected by their ends through headboards and also having fins arranged perpendicularly to the pipes and between the same.

This arrangement allows the heat exchanger to cool the coolant flowing through the pipes through indirect contact between the cross or cross air flow and the pipes. The cross air flow comes from a propeller external to the system, which combined with the characteristics described above allow the heat exchanger a faster and more efficient exchange.

Several heat exchangers similar to those mentioned above will be described in the prior art, for example in US 2008/0184732, which discloses a vehicle air-conditioning evaporator which comprises in one of its preferred embodiments a evaporator consisting of adjacent flat tubes, rectangular tubes, preferably arranged over flat tubes, headers and further corrugated fins.

In addition, the document describes that the rectangular tubes are connected to a refrigerant circuit to cool the liquid and guide it to the evaporator.

Additionally, the document discloses that the rectangular tubes carry a mixture of water and coolant, and further that said rectangular tubes can partially or completely replace the corrugated fins.

However, the main drawback of the solution proposed in this document is that rectangular tubes use a liquid medium to exchange heat with the fluid, in addition to the need to use a refrigerant circuit.

A flat tube with two end passages and a plurality of intermediate passages is described in U.S. Patent 6,000,467, which further defines that the end passages of the unit have a circular inner surface, which may still be elliptical in shape and yet another. any, such as rectangular, triangular or trapezoidal. The patent further discloses that the tube has high strike resistance and high heat exchange performance.

Additionally, US 6,000,467 discloses that this type of tube is preferably used in condenser-type heat exchangers for vehicular air conditioning. In this preferred embodiment, corrugated fins arranged between the flat tubes are used, forming a 90 degree angle therethrough for the passage of cooled air and consequent heat exchange with the refrigerant.

US 2006/0086490 discloses a steam generator condenser having a central tube and a plurality of parallel fins formed from the central tube. This document further mentions that the central tube has an oval or elongated shape and the fins are individual and connected to the tubocentral by welding or brazing.

Additionally, the US document describes that the flow of steam flowing through the inner portion of the condenser center tube meets the cooled air that passes through the fins and cools and condenses the steam.

The object described in this document, however, uses many welds to join the fins to the central tube, does not use liquid refrigerant, and does not allow flow between the cooled air and steam at 90 degrees.

U.S. Patent No. 6,079,487 discloses a forced air flow fin-type heat exchanger comprising heat-shrink tubing and a plurality of flat vanes provided with openings and baffles.

The patent further discloses that the fins are disposed perpendicular to the tubes, spaced from each other and that the forced air flow travels in the same direction as the tubes.

This patent has some disadvantages, such as the need for a larger airflow to exchange heat with the pipes, since the pipes have a large inner section and do not allow full contact of the forced airflow with the pipe, thereby reducing its thermal efficiency.

Throughout the foregoing, it is noted that a forced airflow module has not yet been developed for a heat exchanger which enables the flow of air from a heat exchanger to efficiently cool with a refrigerant. heat exchanger, also featuring improved weldability with the heat exchanger, simplified construction, as well as increasing the mechanical strength of the heat exchanger and reducing energy consumption.

Objectives of the Invention

The present invention aims to provide a forced air flow module for a heat exchanger which, due to its particular construction, enables a better thermal exchange between refrigerants and air.

The present invention also aims to provide a forced air flow module for a heat exchanger which, due to its construction, allows to increase the mechanical resistance of the heat exchanger, besides facilitating its welding between the refrigerant pipes.

The present invention further aims to provide a heat exchanger which, due to the forced air flow modules, enables a better thermal exchange between refrigerants and air and thereby a reduction in energy consumption.

Brief Description of the Invention

The objects of the present invention are achieved by a forced air flow module for a heat exchanger which comprises within itself a plurality of parallel air flow channels, where the module is defined by a pair of parallel side walls and a pair of parallel horizontal walls, the channels being defined by a multiplicity of walls parallel to the side walls.

The above-mentioned features, in addition to other aspects of the present invention, will be better understood by way of the examples and detailed description of the following figures.

Brief Description of the Figures

The present invention will hereinafter be described in more detail based on an exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, which show:

Fig. 1A is a cross-sectional view of an evaporator of the technical state;

Fig. 1B is a cross-sectional view of another prior art evaporator;

Figure 2 is a front view of a preferred heat exchanger embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view C-C of the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the multi-tipped refrigerant pipes, multiport forced air flow pipes of the present invention, and the end pipes;

Fig. 5 is a front view of the multi-port forced air flow tube of the present invention; and

Figure 6 is a further front view of the multiport forced air flow tube of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Figures

Figure 1A illustrates a prior art evaporator having cooling elements 80, corrugated fins 82 and multiport refrigerant tubes 81, wherein cooling elements 80 are disposed on corrugated fins 82 and between refrigerant tubes. multi-port 81 forming a 90 degree angle therethrough, with cooling elements 80 arranged in the same direction as the cooling pipes 81.

Figure 1B illustrates another prior art evaporator embodiment where the cooling elements 80 are disposed between the multiport refrigerant pipes 81 and in the same direction thereof, but without the use of corrugated fins 82.

The drawback of the proposed solution in the technical state of Figure 1A is the increased number of welds in the evaporator as well as the need for combined use of corrugated fins82 and cooling element 80 to help improve the thermal efficiency of the heat exchanger. heat.

Additionally, it can be seen that in both the evaporator of Figure 1A and the evaporator of Figure 1B the cooling elements 80 are arranged in the same direction as the multiport refrigerant pipes 81 and are not arranged perpendicularly.

In addition, the cooling elements 80 are used to transport a mixture of water and coolant, where cooling of this mixture requires the use of an external cooler circuit.

It is also noteworthy that the aforementioned drawbacks cause the thermal efficiency achieved by the evaporator to not be aideal, that is, it is necessary to use more energy to effect the trochanter.

Figure 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprising a heat exchanger 1 having a plurality of forced air flow modules 10, a plurality of refrigerant circulation assemblies 11 and two end tubes or headboards 12.

More specifically as shown in Figure 2, heat exchanger 1 comprises eight refrigerant circulation assemblies 11, where in each region 2 comprised between the assemblies 11, five forced air flow pipes 10 are arranged in parallel. With the present invention, the heat exchanger may comprise any number of refrigerant circulation assemblies 11 and forced air flow pipes 10.

Figure 3 illustrates a portion of a heat exchanger 1 where it is possible to verify the arrangement of the forced air flow modules 10 in a region 2 between the refrigerant circulation tubes 11.

Still from Figure 3, it is possible to identify that the forced air flow modules 10 are arranged perpendicularly to the refrigerant circulation tubes 11 and longitudinally between the extremity tubes 12, allowing, through this configuration, a better thermal efficiency, especially compared to with the embodiment of the technical state illustrated in figures 1A and 1B.

The end tube or head 12 is shown in Figure 4 together with the forced air flow modules 10 and the refrigerant circulation tubes 11.

In heat exchangers, the headers 12 serve to interconnect refrigerant circulation tubes 11, allowing the refrigerant to travel through the circulation tubes 11 in a ten-zigzag motion therebetween. During this movement, the coolant crosses the forced air flow modules 10 perpendicularly, allowing heat exchange with air passing through the channels 106 of the modules 10.

Figure 5, in turn, illustrates the front view of the forced air flow module 10, defined by a pair of parallel horizontal walls 101 and 102 and a pair of parallel vertical walls 103 and 104 having channels 106 defined by a plurality of walls. internal walls 105 parallel them to the vertical walls 103 and 104.

As can be seen from Fig. 6, the channels 106 of the forced airflow module 10 may have a first width d1, i.e. a distance between the parallel walls 105 of between 0.8 and 1.0 millimeter. Further, channels 106 may comprise a first height h1, i.e. a distance between horizontal walls 101 and 102 comprised between 8 and 10 millimeters.

Additionally, the parallel walls 105 may have a first thickness e1 comprised between 0.3 and 0.4 millimeters and further, the parallel horizontal walls 101 and 102 and the parallel side walls 103 and 104 may have a second thickness and 2 comprised between 0.4 and 0 µm. 6 millimeters.

Further, it can be seen from Figure 6 that the forced airflow module 10 may comprise a second height h2 comprised between 9 and 11 millimeters and a second width d2 comprised between 31 and 33 millimeters.

The forced air flow module 10 is disposed between the refrigerant flow tubes 11, thereby forming an angle of 90 degrees. Modules 10 are assembled by soldering into the refrigerant flow circulation pipes, either by brazing welding or other similar methods. Module 10 is positioned facing a propeller (not shown) to receive air flow and exchange heat with the coolant.

For this embodiment, channels 106 assume the function of fins and based on this function modules 10 can be manufactured in various variations related to the number of walls over a given distance. By increasing or reducing the number of walls it is possible to control the latent heat extracted from the heat exchanger 1.

Due to their construction, the forced air flow modules 10 allow the construction of a heat exchanger 1 that uses a smaller amount of welds and replaces the usual corrugated fins, resulting in a product of better thermal efficiency and mechanical resistance.

Having described an example preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the scope of the present invention encompasses other possible variations and is limited only by the content of the appended claims, including the possible equivalents thereof.

Claims (4)

1. Forced airflow module (10) for a heat exchanger (1), characterized in that it comprises within it a plurality of parallel airflow channels (106). Module (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is defined by a pair of parallel sidewalls (103) and (104) and a pair of parallel horizontal walls (101) and (102), the two being channels (106) defined by a plurality of parallel walls (105) to the side walls (103) and (104). 3. Heat exchanger (1) equipped with at least two parallel refrigerant circulation tube assemblies (11), characterized in that at least one forced air flow module is arranged between two refrigerant circulation assemblies (11). (10) as defined in claim 1 or 2. Heat exchanger (1) according to Claim 3, characterized in that a plurality of forced air flow modules (2) are arranged in parallel (2). 10).