HEAT EXCHANGER

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a multi-pass heat exchanger in which a plurality of heat exchange plates may be stacked to form a plurality of flow paths through which a heat exchange medium flows, and an inlet, through which the heat exchange medium is introduced, and an outlet, through which the heat exchange medium is discharged, may be positioned at the same side.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, with an increasing global interest in the worldwide environment and energy in vehicle industries, research has been conducted to improve fuel economy, and research has been continuously conducted to reduce the weight and size and improve the functionality in order to meet the needs of various consumers.

In particular, in the case of an air conditioning system for a vehicle, it is often difficult to ensure a sufficient space in an engine room. Therefore, components, such as a heat exchanger, constituting the air conditioning system for a vehicle are required to have a small scale and perform a function of improving efficiency.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a heat exchanger in the related art may include a core part 10 having a plurality of stacked plates and flow paths formed by stacking the plurality of plates and configured to allow a heat exchange medium to flow therethrough, an inlet part 20 formed on one surface of the core part 10 and configured to allow the heat exchange medium to be introduced therethrough, and an outlet part 30 formed on one surface of the core part 10 and configured to allow the heat exchange medium to be discharged therethrough. Further, the flow path through which the heat exchange medium flows from the inlet part 20 toward the outlet part 30 through the inside of the core part 10 is formed as a single pass. That is, in the heat exchanger having the single pass, the inlet part 20 and the outlet part 30 for the heat exchange medium may be disposed at the same side.

However, as illustrated in FIG. 2, in a multi-pass heat exchanger having a plurality of flow paths for a heat exchange medium formed by disposing baffle plates 40 in the core part 10 in order to improve heat exchange performance, the inlet part 20 and the outlet part 30 for the heat exchange medium are disposed at different sides. The inlet part and the outlet part of the heat exchanger need to be disposed at one side together in case that a manifold or the like is applied and connected to the inlet part and the outlet part for the heat exchange medium to implement modularization or in case that valves, sensors, or the like are integrated into the inlet part and the outlet part to advance the technology. However, there is a problem in that an additional bypass flow path needs to be formed to dispose the inlet part and the outlet part of the heat exchanger at one side.

DOCUMENT OF RELATED ART

Patent Document

KR 10-2021-0025314 A (Mar. 9, 2021)

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

The present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a multi-pass heat exchanger, in which a plurality of heat exchange plates may be stacked to form a plurality of flow paths through which a heat exchange medium flows, and an inlet part, through which the heat exchange medium is introduced, and an outlet part, through which the heat exchange medium is discharged, may be positioned at the same side.

Technical Solution

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a heat exchanger including: a core part in which flow paths, through which a heat exchange medium flows, are formed between heat exchange plates by stacking a plurality of heat exchange plates, and an inflow part, through which the heat exchange medium is introduced, and an outflow part, through which the heat exchange medium is discharged, are formed; and an isolation flow part disposed in the inflow part or the outflow part of the core part and configured to divide an internal space of the inflow part or the outflow part of the core part to form a separate flow path through the heat exchange medium flows, in which an inlet, through which the heat exchange medium is introduced into the inflow part, and an outlet, through which the heat exchange medium is discharged from the outflow part, are disposed at one side of the core part.

In addition, the heat exchanger may further include: a partition part disposed in the inflow part or the outflow part of the core part and configured to divide the internal space, in which a plurality of passes is formed when a flow of the heat exchange medium passing through the heat exchange medium flow path in a direction toward one side or the other side is a pass.

In addition, the heat exchange medium introduced into the core part may flow through the isolation flow part and then be introduced into a first pass region.

In addition, the passes may be formed as three passes.

In addition, the inlet, through which the heat exchange medium is introduced into the inflow part, and the outlet, through which the heat exchange medium is discharged from the outflow part, may be disposed at the same side in a direction in which the plurality of heat exchange plates of the core part is stacked.

In addition, the partition part may be formed to intersect a longitudinal direction in which the heat exchange medium flows along the inside of the inflow part or the outflow part, and the internal space of the inflow part or the outflow part may be divided by the partition part.

In addition, the isolation flow part may be formed to correspond to a longitudinal direction in which the heat exchange medium flows along the inside of the inflow part or the outflow part, and the internal space of the inflow part or the outflow part may be divided by the isolation flow part.

In addition, the isolation flow part may divide a partial region of the inflow part or the outflow part in the longitudinal direction in which the heat exchange medium flows along the inside of the inflow part or the outflow part.

In addition, the partition part may include: a blocking part configured to block a part of the inside of the inflow part; and a baffle part disposed at a position spaced apart from the blocking part in a longitudinal direction and configured to divide and block the inside of the outflow part.

In addition, the isolation flow part may include an internal pipe inserted into the inflow part and having one longitudinal side inserted and coupled into the inlet of the inflow part, and the other longitudinal side inserted and coupled into the blocking part.

In addition, the heat exchanger may further include: an inlet flange coupled to the inlet side of the inflow part of the core part and having a communication flow path into which one side of the internal pipe is inserted and coupled to communicate with the communication flow path.

In addition, a catching groove may be concavely formed in an inner peripheral surface of the communication flow path of the inlet flange, a catching protrusion may protrude from an outer peripheral surface of one side of the internal pipe, and the catching protrusion may be inserted and coupled into the catching groove.

In addition, the blocking part may include: a first extension portion extending in a radial direction from the inside of the inflow part toward the internal pipe; and a second extension portion extending from an end of the first extension portion in a direction in which the internal pipe is inserted.

In addition, a portion where the first extension portion and the second extension portion of the blocking part are connected may be formed in a rounded shape.

In addition, a swaged pipe portion may be formed at the other side of the internal pipe inserted into the blocking part, and the swaged pipe portion may be formed in a shape having an outer diameter that decreases toward an end thereof.

In addition, the plurality of heat exchange plates of the core part may have cup portions protruding, in a direction in which the heat exchange plates are stacked, from peripheries of through-holes penetrating two opposite surfaces of each of the plurality of heat exchange plates and configured to allow the heat exchange medium to flow therethrough, and the blocking part integrally may extend from an end of the cup portion of the heat exchange plate.

In addition, the plurality of heat exchange plates of the core part may have through-holes penetrating two opposite surfaces of each of the plurality of heat exchange plates and configured to allow the heat exchange medium to flow therethrough, and the baffle part may be integrally formed in a shape in which a portion corresponding to the through-hole of the heat exchange plate is blocked.

In addition, the core part may have flow paths through which a plurality of heat exchange media flows between the heat exchange plates by stacking the plurality of heat exchange plates, and have the inflow parts and the outflow parts through which the plurality of heat exchange media is introduced and discharged, and the partition part and the isolation flow part may be formed in the inflow part or the outflow part through which any one of the plurality of heat exchange media flows.

In addition, the core part may be formed by stacking a plurality of first heat exchange plates and a plurality of second heat exchange plates, the partition part may include: a blocking part configured to block a part of the inside of the inflow part; and a baffle part disposed at a position spaced apart from the blocking part in a longitudinal direction and configured to divide and block the inside of the outflow part, the blocking part may be integrated with the first heat exchange plate at a corresponding position, and the baffle part may be integrated with the first heat exchange plate and the adjacent second heat exchange plate at a corresponding position.

Advantageous Effects

The heat exchanger of the present invention is configured as the multi-pass heat exchanger in which the plurality of heat exchange plates may be stacked, and the inlet part and the outlet part for the heat exchange medium may be disposed at the same side, such that mountability with modularized components such as manifolds may be improved.

In addition, because the inlet part and the outlet part for the heat exchange medium are disposed at the same side, costs and weight may be reduced and workability or the like may be improved during a process of manufacturing the heat exchanger.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are conceptual views illustrating arrangements of inlet parts and outlet parts according to a flow path configuration of a heat exchanger with stacked plates in the related art.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual view illustrating a heat exchanger of the present invention.

FIGS. 4 to 6 are an assembled perspective view, an exploded perspective view, and a front cross-sectional view illustrating a heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front cross-sectional view illustrating configurations of flow paths and passes for a refrigerant in the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are cross-sectional views illustrating one side portion and the other side portion of an internal pipe through which the refrigerant is introduced in the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a baffle part and an outlet side, through which the refrigerant is discharged, in the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE

Hereinafter, a heat exchanger of the present invention configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual view illustrating a heat exchanger of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 3, the heat exchanger of the present invention may broadly include a core part 100 and an isolation flow part. An inlet, through which a heat exchange medium is introduced, and an outlet, through which the heat exchange medium is discharged, may be disposed at one side of the core part 100. Further, the heat exchanger of the present invention may further include a partition part, and flows of the heat exchange medium may be defined by a plurality of passes. The partition part may include a blocking part 120 and a baffle part 130. The isolation flow part may include an internal pipe 400.

The core part 100 may be formed in a shape in which a plurality of heat exchange plates is stacked. In the core part 100, heat exchange flow paths, through which the heat exchange medium flows, may be formed between the heat exchange plates by stacking the plurality of heat exchange plates. Further, in the core part 100, an inflow part 104, through which the heat exchange medium is introduced and flows, and an outflow part 105, through which the heat exchange medium is discharged, may be formed at two opposite sides of the heat exchange plates while penetrating the heat exchange plates in the direction in which the heat exchange plates are stacked.

For example, the partition part may include the blocking part 120 and the baffle part 130. The blocking part 120 is disposed in the inflow part 104 of the core part 100 and formed to intersect a direction in which the heat exchange medium flows along the inside of the inflow part 104, such that an internal space of the inflow part 104 may be divided by the blocking part 120. The baffle part 130 is disposed in the outflow part 105 and formed to intersect a direction in which the heat exchange medium flows along the outflow part 105, such that an internal space of the outflow part 105 may be divided by the baffle part 130.

For example, the isolation flow part may include the internal pipe 400. The internal pipe 400 may be disposed in the inflow part 104 of the core part 100, and the internal pipe 400 may be formed in a shape parallel to the inflow part 104 while corresponding to the direction in which the heat exchange medium flows along the inside of the inflow part 104. Further, one side of the internal pipe 400 is inserted and coupled into an inlet of the inflow part 104, such that a portion between the outside of the internal pipe 400 and the inlet of the inflow part 104 is blocked. The other side of the internal pipe 400 is penetratively inserted and coupled into the blocking part 120, such that a portion between the outside of the internal pipe 400 and the blocking part 120 may be blocked. That is, the internal pipe 400 may divide a partial region of the inflow part 104, such that a separate flow path may be formed in the inflow part 104.

Therefore, assuming that a flow of the heat exchange medium passing through the heat exchange medium flow path between the inflow part 104 and the outflow part 105 in a direction toward one side or the other side is a pass, the core part 100 may have a plurality of passes by the blocking part 120, the baffle part 130, and the internal pipe 400. For example, a first pass P1, a second pass P2, and a third pass P3 may be formed. Further, an inlet, through which the heat exchange medium is introduced into the inflow part 104, and an outlet, through which the heat exchange medium is discharged from the outflow part 105, may be disposed at one side of the core part 100. In this case, the heat exchange medium introduced into the core part 100 may flow through the internal pipe 400 and be introduced into a region of the inflow part 104 adjacent to the first pass P1 that is a first pass. Thereafter, the heat exchange medium may pass through the outflow part 105 via the first pass P1, pass through a portion between the inflow part 105 and the internal pipe 400 via the second pass P2, and then be discharged to the outside of the core part 100 through the outflow part 105 via the third pass P3.

As described above, the heat exchanger of the present invention may be configured as a multi-pass heat exchanger in which the plurality of heat exchange plates is stacked to form the plurality of flow paths for the heat exchange medium through which the heat exchange medium flow path passes, such that the heat exchange performance may be improved. Further, the inlet part and the outlet part for the heat exchange medium may be disposed at the same side, such that mountability with modularized components such as manifolds may be improved. In addition, because the inlet part and the outlet part for the heat exchange medium may be disposed at the same side, costs and weight may be reduced and workability or the like may be improved during a process of manufacturing the heat exchanger.

FIGS. 4 to 6 are an assembled perspective view, an exploded perspective view, and a front cross-sectional view illustrating a heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated, the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention may broadly include the core part 100, the partition part, and the isolation flow part, the flows of the heat exchange medium are formed as the plurality of passes, and the inlet, through which the heat exchange medium is introduced, and the outlet, through which the heat exchange medium is discharged, may be disposed at one side of the core part. Further, the core part 100 may include a plurality of first heat exchange plates 101a and a plurality of second heat exchange plates 101b. The partition part may include a first baffle plate 101 integrated with the blocking part 120, a second baffle plate 102 integrated with the baffle part 130, and a third baffle plate 103 disposed adjacent to the second plate 102 and integrated with the baffle part 130. In addition, the isolation flow part may include the internal pipe 400. In addition, the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include an inlet flange coupled to the internal pipe 400.

The core part 100 may be formed in a shape in which the plurality of first heat exchange plates 101a and the plurality of second heat exchange plates 101b are alternately stacked. An overall shape of the core part 100 may be an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape. Further, because the first heat exchange plates 101a and the second heat exchange plates 101b of the core part 100 are alternately stacked, refrigerant flow paths C1 and coolant flow paths C2, through which a refrigerant, which is a first heat exchange medium, and a coolant, which is a second heat exchange medium, may flow without being mixed with each other, may be alternately formed in the core part 100. In addition, through-holes, which penetrate two opposite surfaces of each of the first heat exchange plates 101a and the second heat exchange plates 101b in the stacking direction, may be formed in the core part 100, and cup portions 110 are formed in the through-holes and have shapes protruding in the direction toward one side or the other side in the stacking direction. The cup portions 110 adjacent to one another are coupled and connected, such that the refrigerant flow paths C1 may communicate with one another, and the coolant flow paths C2 may communicate with one another. In addition, the inflow part 104, through which the refrigerant is introduced, and the outflow part 105, through which the refrigerant is discharged, may be formed by the cup portions 110.

The partition part may include the first baffle plate 101 integrated with the blocking part 120, the second baffle plate 102 integrated with the baffle part 130, and the third baffle plate 103 disposed adjacent to the second plate 102 and integrated with the baffle part 130. The first baffle plate 101 may be formed in a shape in which the blocking part 120 integrally extends from the cup portion 110 of the first heat exchange plate 101a, and the first baffle plate 101 may be formed such that the blocking part 120 is disposed in the inflow part 104. The second baffle plate 102 may be integrally formed in a shape in which a portion corresponding to the through-hole of the first heat exchange plate 101a is blocked by the baffle part 130. The third baffle plate 103 may be disposed adjacent to the second baffle plate 102, and the third baffle plate 103 may be integrally formed in a shape in which a portion corresponding to the through-hole of the second heat exchange plate 101b is blocked by the baffle part 130. Further, the baffle part 130 of the second baffle plate 102 and the baffle part 130 of the third baffle plate 103 may be disposed at positions corresponding to each other, disposed in the outflow part 105, and configured to divide and block the inside of the outflow part 105. In addition, the second baffle plate 102 and the third baffle plate 103 may divide the internal space of the outflow part 105 without mixing the refrigerant and the coolant.

In addition, the isolation flow part may include the internal pipe 400. The heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include a refrigerant inlet flange 310 coupled to the internal pipe 400. The most part including the other side of the internal pipe 400 may be inserted into the inflow part 104 of the core part 100, and one side of the internal pipe 400 may be withdrawn to the outside of the core part 100. The refrigerant inlet flange 310 may be coupled to an outer side of the core part 100, the refrigerant inlet flange 310 may have a communication flow path through which the refrigerant is introduced, and one side of the internal pipe 400 is inserted and coupled into the communication flow path, such that the portion between the outside of the internal pipe 400 and the inlet of the inflow part 104 may be blocked. Further, the other side of the internal pipe 400 is inserted and coupled into the blocking part 120 of the first baffle plate 101, such that the portion between the outside of the internal pipe 400 and the blocking part 120 may be blocked. That is, the internal pipe 400 may divide a partial region of the inflow part 104, such that a separate flow path may be formed in the inflow part 104.

FIG. 7 is a front cross-sectional view illustrating configurations of the flow paths and the passes for the refrigerant in the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated, assuming that the flow of the heat exchange medium passing through the refrigerant flow path C1 between the inflow part 104 and the outflow part 105 in the direction toward one side or the other side is a pass P, the core part 100 may have a plurality of passes P by the blocking part 120, the baffle part 130, and the internal pipe 400. For example, the first pass P1, the second pass P2, and the third pass P3 may be formed. Further, the inlet, through which the heat exchange medium is introduced into the inflow part 104, and the outlet, through which the heat exchange medium is discharged from the outflow part 105, may be disposed at the same side of the core part 100 in the direction in which the plurality of heat exchange plates is stacked.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are cross-sectional views illustrating one side portion and the other side portion of the internal pipe through which the refrigerant is introduced in the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 8, a catching groove 311 is concavely formed in an inner peripheral surface of the communication flow path of the refrigerant inlet flange 310, and a catching protrusion 410 protrudes from an outer peripheral surface of one side of the internal pipe 400, such that the catching protrusion 410 may be securely inserted and coupled into the catching groove 311 when the internal pipe 400 is inserted and assembled into the communication flow path of the refrigerant inlet flange 310. Further, a gradient 312 is formed on the communication flow path at the side at which the internal pipe 400 is inserted into the refrigerant inlet flange 310, such that the internal pipe 400 may be easily inserted into the refrigerant inlet flange 310.

With reference to FIG. 9, the blocking part 120 may include a first extension portion 121 and a second extension portion 122. The first extension portion 121 may extend in a radial direction toward the internal pipe 400 from an end of the cup portion 110 of the first heat exchange plate 101a constituting the inflow part 104 through which the refrigerant is introduced. The second extension portion 122 may extend from an end of the first extension portion 121 in a direction in which the internal pipe 400 is inserted into the inflow part 104. Further, the portion where the first extension portion 121 and the second extension portion 122 are connected is formed in a shape gently rounded in an outward direction of a bent shape, such that the internal pipe 400 may be easily inserted into the blocking part 120.

In addition, a swaged pipe portion 420 is formed at the other side of the internal pipe 400, which is inserted into the blocking part 120, and the swaged pipe portion 420 has a shape having an outer diameter that decreases toward the end, such that the internal pipe 400 may be more easily inserted into the blocking part 120.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the baffle part and the outlet side, through which the refrigerant is discharged, in the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 10, the baffle part 130 of the second baffle plate 102 and the baffle part 130 of the third baffle plate 103 may each have a structure in which a panel-shaped plate is blocked without the cup portion 110. Further, a refrigerant outlet flange 320 may be connected to the outlet side through which the refrigerant is discharged from the outflow part 105 of the core part 100, and the refrigerant outlet flange 320 may be coupled to the outer side of the core part 100.

In addition, a coolant inlet pipe 210 and a coolant outlet pipe 220 may be coupled to the outer side of the core part 100, the coolant inlet pipe 210 may be connected to a coolant inflow part through which the coolant flows, and the coolant outlet pipe 220 may be connected to a coolant outflow part through which the coolant is discharged.

In addition, the heat exchanger of the present invention may further include a first reinforcement plate 500 or a second reinforcement plate 600, the first reinforcement plate 500 may be stacked on and coupled to one side of the core part 100, and the second reinforcement plate 600 may be stacked on and coupled to the other side of the core part 100, thereby reinforcing the structural rigidity of the core part 100.

In addition, the constituent elements, which constitute the heat exchanger of the present invention, may be stacked and assembled and then joined and coupled by brazing. Further, among the surfaces joined to one another by brazing, a clad layer may be formed on the surfaces at least facing each other, such that the surfaces may be easily joined.

In addition, in the heat exchanger of the present invention, the heat exchange media may be the refrigerant and the coolant, and the heat exchanger may be a water-cooled condenser. Further, in the core part 100, the refrigerant may be condensed as the refrigerant and the coolant exchange heat with each other. A gas-liquid separator (receiver dryer), which is applied to a water-cooled condenser in the related art, may be disposed outside the core part and connected to the refrigerant side.

In addition, the refrigerant inlet flange 310 and the outlet flange 320, which are formed at one side of the core part of the heat exchanger of the present invention, may be coupled (brazed) to the integrated structure such as a refrigerant manifold or a coolant manifold that may be disposed at one side of the core part 100.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and the scope of application is diverse. Of course, various modifications and implementations made by any person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from the subject matter of the present invention claimed in the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

• • 100: Core part, 101a: First heat exchange plate
  • 101b: Second heat exchange plate, 101: First baffle plate
  • 102: Second baffle plate, 103: Third baffle plate
  • 110: Cup portion, 120: Blocking part, 121: First extension portion
  • 122: Second extension portion, 130: Baffle part, 210: Coolant inlet pipe
  • 220: Coolant outlet pipe, 310: Refrigerant inlet flange
  • 320: Refrigerant outlet flange, 311: Catching groove, 312: Gradient
  • 400: Internal pipe, 410: Catching protrusion, 420: Swaged pipe portion
  • 500: First reinforcement plate, 600: Second reinforcement plate
  • C1: Refrigerant flow path, C2: Coolant flow path
  • P1: First pass, P2: Second pass, P3: Third pass