U.S. patent application number 11/572955 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-28 for one-piece turbulence insert.
This patent application is currently assigned to BEHR GMBH & CO. KG. Invention is credited to Steffen Brunner, Peter Geskes, Rainer Lutz, Ulrich Maucher.
Application Number | 20080202731 11/572955 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35207429 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080202731 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brunner; Steffen ; et
al. |
August 28, 2008 |
One-Piece Turbulence Insert
Abstract
The invention relates to a one-piece turbulence insert for a
heat exchanger (1), particularly for a radiator of a motor vehicle,
comprising an essentially corrugated profile. The turbulence insert
(24) has a number of sections (41-45) with corrugated profiles that
extend in the same direction of the extension of the corrugations
and which, perpendicular to the direction of the extension of the
corrugations, are offset from one another. In order to enable a
better thermodynamic efficiency, the turbulence insert (24) has a
number of sections (27-32, 41, 45) with corrugated profiles
extending in different directions of extension of the
corrugations.
Inventors: |
Brunner; Steffen; (Weissach
im Tal, DE) ; Geskes; Peter; (Ostfildern, DE)
; Lutz; Rainer; (Steinheim, DE) ; Maucher;
Ulrich; (Korntal-Munchingen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FOLEY AND LARDNER LLP;SUITE 500
3000 K STREET NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20007
US
|
Assignee: |
BEHR GMBH & CO. KG
Stuttgart
DE
|
Family ID: |
35207429 |
Appl. No.: |
11/572955 |
Filed: |
August 1, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
August 1, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP05/08307 |
371 Date: |
July 27, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/109.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28F 3/027 20130101;
F28F 13/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/109.1 |
International
Class: |
F28F 13/12 20060101
F28F013/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 30, 2004 |
DE |
10 2004 037 391.4 |
Claims
1. A one-piece turbulence insert for a heat exchanger, in
particular an automotive cooler, which has a substantially
corrugated profile, the turbulence insert comprising a plurality of
sections with corrugation profiles which propagate in the same
direction of propagation and are offset to one another transversely
to the direction of propagation, wherein the turbulence insert
comprises a plurality of sections which have corrugation profiles
propagating in different directions of propagation.
2. The turbulence insert as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
turbulence insert comprises a plurality of rectangular sections
having corrugation profiles propagating in different directions of
propagation.
3. The turbulence insert as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
turbulence insert is formed from a substantially rectangular plate
which comprises a central portion having a plurality of sections
with corrugation profiles propagating transversely to the
longitudinal direction of the plate, and two outer portions having
a plurality of sections with corrugation profiles propagating at an
angle from 0 to 90 degrees with respect to a longitudinal side of
the plate.
4. The turbulence insert as claimed in claim 3, wherein the
corrugation profiles in the sections of the outer portions arranged
closer to the central portion propagate at a larger angle with
respect to a longitudinal side of the plate than in the sections
arranged further towards the outside.
5. The turbulence insert as claimed in claim 4, wherein the angle
with respect to a longitudinal side of the plate at which the
corrugation profiles propagate in the outer portions of the plate
decreases from the central portion towards the outside.
6. The turbulence insert as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
turbulence insert is formed by a substantially rectangular plate
which comprises a central portion having a plurality of sections
with corrugation profiles which propagate transversely to the
longitudinal direction of the plate, and two outer portions having
a plurality of sections with corrugation profiles which propagate
in the longitudinal direction of the plate.
7. The turbulence insert as claimed in claim 6, wherein deflection
sections are formed between the corrugated profile sections which
propagate transversely and longitudinally.
8. The turbulence insert as claimed in claim 7, wherein the
deflection sections are arranged diagonally in the outer portions
of the plate.
9. The turbulence insert as claimed in claim 8, wherein the
direction of propagation of the corrugations changes in the
deflection sections by 70 to 110 degrees, preferably by 85 to 95
degrees, especially preferably by 90 degrees.
10. The turbulence insert as claimed in claim 1, wherein a fluid
can flow successively through the sections which have corrugation
profiles propagating in different directions of propagation.
11. The turbulence insert as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
direction of propagation of the corrugations within a section forms
an acute angle with respect to one, in particular to all,
boundaries of the section.
12. The turbulence insert as claimed in claim 11, wherein the acute
angle changes its sign from a first section to an adjacent second
section.
13. The turbulence insert as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least
one corrugation profile extends across a boundary of two adjacent
sections and, in particular, has curved flanks.
14. An automotive heat exchanger, in particular a charge air
cooler, an exhaust gas cooler or a coolant evaporator or condenser,
having a turbulence insert as claimed in claim 1.
15. The automotive cooler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
turbulence insert is fixed in a flow channel in a form-fitting
manner.
16. The automotive cooler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
turbulence insert is soldered, welded or bonded in a flow
channel.
17. The automotive cooler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flow
channel is formed by a tube or by two plates placed or stacked upon
one another, or between two tubes.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a one-piece turbulence insert for a
heat exchanger, in particular an automotive cooler, having a
substantially corrugated profile, the turbulence insert comprising
a plurality of sections with corrugation profiles which propagate
in the same direction of propagation and are offset to one another
transversely to the direction of propagation.
[0002] Conventional turbulence inserts are produced using rolls. An
oil/coolant cooler consisting of a plurality of plates arranged in
parallel one above the other is known from German patent DE 197 09
601 C2. Each of the plates has on two opposed edges a respective
inlet and outlet opening for a heat exchange medium. The plates
form between them hollow chambers in which corrugated sheet-metal
turbulence panels are provided to increase the heat transfer, each
of the media used for heat transfer flowing through alternate
chambers. The sheet-metal turbulence panels are subdivided into
sections in which the corrugations are oriented differently. The
sections are divided from one another by oblique separation cuts.
The sheet-metal turbulence panels are rolled, the direction of
rolling in adjacent sections being rotated through a predefinable
angle with respect to the direction in the adjacent section. The
respective inlet and outlet openings of each of the heat exchange
media are so arranged in the sections that a flow from the inlet
opening encounters greater resistance directly in the direction of
the outlet opening than in a direction transverse thereto, so that
a uniform distribution of flow in the associated hollow chamber is
produced. The known sheet-metal turbulence panels are composed of a
plurality of rolled parts in order to produce sections having
different directions of propagation of the corrugations. Gate-like
openings are produced transversely to the rolling direction, which
openings have different widths in adjacent rows so that slot-like
openings are formed in known fashion between adjacent gates, making
possible not only a transverse flow through the gates but also a
flow in a direction perpendicular thereto.
[0003] It is the object of the invention to provide a one-piece
turbulence insert for a heat exchanger, in particular an automotive
cooler, having a substantially corrugated profile, which turbulence
insert comprises a plurality of sections having corrugation
profiles that propagate in the same direction of propagation and
are offset to one another transversely to the direction of
propagation, which turbulence insert makes possible improved
thermodynamic efficiency.
[0004] This object is achieved with a one-piece turbulence insert
for a heat exchanger, in particular an automotive cooler, which has
a substantially corrugated profile and comprising a plurality of
sections with corrugation profiles which propagate in the same
direction of propagation and are offset to one other transversely
to the direction of propagation, in that the turbulence insert
comprises a plurality of sections which have corrugation profiles
propagating in different directions of propagation. The turbulence
insert according to the invention makes possible a specified
distribution of a medium within a flow channel and/or a specified
stiffening of a heat exchanger under locally varying load states
according to the local load tensors, and/or optimization of
thermodynamic performance by a suitably formed rib structure in
some or all of the flow channels of a heat exchanger. The
turbulence insert according to the invention is formed either as a
whole or in segments, using a combined punching and deep-drawing
process. The structure of the turbulence insert may also be in the
form of a closed structure. In that case the punching process may
be omitted.
[0005] A preferred embodiment of the turbulence insert is
characterized in that the turbulence insert comprises a plurality
of rectangular sections having corrugation profiles propagating in
different directions of propagation. Flow through a flow channel in
different directions is thereby made possible.
[0006] A further preferred embodiment of the turbulence insert is
characterized in that the turbulence insert is formed from a
substantially rectangular plate which comprises a central portion
having a plurality of sections with corrugation profiles
propagating transversely to the longitudinal direction of the
plate, and two outer portions having a plurality of sections with
corrugation profiles propagating at an angle from 0 to 90 degrees
with respect to a longitudinal side of the plate. The outer
portions are preferably arranged at a medium inlet and a medium
outlet. For this reason the outer portions are also referred to as
inlet and outlet portions. The flow at the inlet and the outlet
preferably takes place transversely to the longitudinal direction
of the plate. The inventive configuration of the inlet and outlet
portions makes possible a flow between the inlet and outlet
portions and the central portion which is optimized fluidically and
thermally.
[0007] A further preferred embodiment of the turbulence insert is
characterized in that the corrugation profiles in the sections of
the outer portions arranged closer to the central portion propagate
at a larger angle with respect to a longitudinal side of the plate
than in the sections arranged further towards the outside. At the
ends of the plate the corrugation profiles are preferably disposed
at an angle from 50 to 80 degrees to the associated longitudinal
side of the plate. In the vicinity of the central portion the
corrugation profiles are preferably disposed at an angle from 10 to
40 degrees to the associated longitudinal side of the plate. This
makes possible a gentle deflection of the flow from the
longitudinal side of the plate towards the central portion.
[0008] A further preferred embodiment of the turbulence insert is
characterized in that the angle with respect to a longitudinal side
of the plate at which the corrugation profiles propagate in the
outer portions of the plate decreases from the central portion
towards the outside. This makes possible a gentle deflection of the
flow from the longitudinal side of the plate towards the central
portion.
[0009] A further preferred embodiment of the turbulence insert is
characterized in that the turbulence insert is formed by a
substantially rectangular plate which comprises a central portion
having a plurality of sections with corrugation profiles which
propagate transversely to the longitudinal direction of the plate,
and two outer portions having a plurality of sections with
corrugation profiles which propagate in the longitudinal direction
of the plate. Gate-like openings which have different widths in
adjacent portions are formed transversely to the longitudinal
orientation of the corrugations, so that slot-like openings are
produced between respective adjacent gates, making possible a flow
which passes not only transversely through the gates but also in a
direction perpendicular thereto.
[0010] A further preferred embodiment of the turbulence insert is
characterized in that deflection sections are formed between the
corrugated profile sections which propagate transversely and
longitudinally. The flow is deflected through 90 degrees in the
deflection sections.
[0011] A further preferred embodiment of the turbulence insert is
characterized in that the deflection sections are arranged
diagonally in the outer portions of the plate. The formation of
dead-water zones is thereby reduced.
[0012] A further preferred embodiment of the turbulence insert is
characterized in that the direction of propagation of the
corrugations changes by 90 degrees in the deflection sections. The
transition zone preferably has a rounded configuration.
[0013] In an automotive cooler, in particular an exhaust gas cooler
of a commercial vehicle, the object specified above is achieved by
the use of a turbulence insert as described hereinbefore.
[0014] Further advantages, features and details of the invention
are apparent from the following description, in which diffferent
embodiments are described in detail with reference to the drawings.
Each of the features mentioned in the claims and in the description
can be essential to the invention in isolation or in any
combination. In the drawings:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exhaust gas cooler of a
commercial vehicle;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a turbulence insert
according to a first embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a view of a section through the turbulence insert
of FIG. 1 at half-height;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a top view of a turbulence insert according to a
further embodiment, and
[0019] FIG. 5 is a view of a section through the turbulence insert
of FIG. 4 at half-height.
[0020] FIG. 1 shows an exhaust gas cooler 1 of a commercial vehicle
in a perspective view. The exhaust gas cooler 1 comprises a cooler
housing 2 which has substantially the shape of an elongated cuboid.
A coolant inlet connecting piece 3 and a coolant outlet connecting
piece 4 are arranged on the upper face of the cooler housing 2. An
exhaust gas inlet connecting piece 6 and an exhaust gas outlet
connecting piece 7 are mounted on the end faces of the cooler
housing 2. Exhaust gas can enter the cooler housing 2 through the
exhaust gas inlet connecting piece 6 and is directed through a
multiplicity of exhaust gas flow channels in the longitudinal
direction of the cooler housing 2 to the exhaust gas outlet
connecting piece 7. A substantially flat oblong coolant flow
channel is arranged between each two substantially flat oblong
exhaust gas flow channels. The disposition of the coolant flow
channels in the cooler housing 2 is indicated by arrows 11 to 14.
The coolant serves to cool the exhaust gas of the commercial
vehicle which is directed through the cooler housing 2. The zone in
which the flow takes place substantially in the longitudinal
direction through the cooler housing 2 is also referred to as the
central zone. The central zone is delimited towards the outside by
an inlet zone and an outlet zone. In the inlet zone the flow must
be deflected through 90 degrees, as indicated by the arrows 18.
Similarly, in the outlet zone the flow must be deflected through 90
degrees, as indicated by the arrows 19. In FIG. 1 there is an
increased danger that dead-water zones will form at two locations
22. Turbulence inserts are arranged in the flow channels in order,
inter alia, to prevent the formation of such dead-water zones.
[0021] FIGS. 2 and 3 show a first embodiment of a turbulence insert
24 according to the invention in perspective and sectional views
respectively. The turbulence insert 24 is formed in one piece from
a rectangular plate in a piece of aluminum sheet. A substantially
triangular inlet portion 25 is formed at one end of the turbulence
insert 24. Six rectangular corrugated profile sections 27 to 32 are
arranged side-by-side in the inlet portion 25. The corrugated
profile sections 34 to 38 are corrugated in the longitudinal
direction of the turbulence insert 24. The corrugated profile
section 27 comprises five corrugation crests 34 to 38 which are
arranged equidistantly from one another. The corrugation profile
section 28 comprises five corrugation crests which are offset with
respect to the corrugation crests of the corrugated profile section
27. The corrugated profile section 29 comprises three, corrugation
crests which are offset with respect to the corrugation crests of
the corrugated profile section 28. The corrugated profile section
30 comprises three corrugation crests which are offset with respect
to the corrugation crests of the corrugated profile section 29. The
corrugated profile sections 31 and 32 each comprise one corrugation
crest which is offset with respect to the adjacent corrugation
crest or crests. The corrugation profiles of the corrugated profile
sections 27 to 32 are open at both sides, so that a flow can pass
through them transversely to the longitudinal direction of the
plate.
[0022] A central portion 40, in which a multiplicity of rectangular
corrugated profile sections 41 to 45 are arranged transversely to
the longitudinal direction of the plate, extends in the middle of
the plate. The corrugation profiles of the corrugated profile
sections 41 to 45 propagate transversely to the longitudinal
direction of the plate and are offset to one another. A cut line 47
indicates that the central portion 40 is significantly larger than
is represented in FIGS. 2 and 3. The central portion 40 has
substantially the shape of an equilateral trapezium.
[0023] A substantially diagonally-disposed deflection portion 50 is
provided between the inlet portion 25 and the central portion 40.
The deflection portion 50 comprises a multiplicity of deflection
sections 52 to 55 in which the flow is deflected through 90 degrees
from the inlet portion 25 to the central portion 40.
[0024] An outlet portion 60, which is configured symmetrically to
the inlet portion 25, is arranged at the end of the turbulence
insert 24 opposite the inlet portion 25. A deflection portion 65,
which comprises a multiplicity of deflection sections 66 to 68 and
is configured symmetrically to the deflection portion 50, is
provided between the outlet portion 60 and the central portion 40.
The associated axis of symmetry is disposed transversely through
the centre of the turbulence insert 24.
[0025] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a turbulence insert 70 in two different
views. The turbulence insert 70 is formed from a piece of aluminum
sheet and is rectangular in shape. The turbulence insert 70 is
subdivided into an inlet portion 71, a central portion 72 and an
outlet portion 73. The inlet portion 71 comprises a multiplicity of
corrugated profile sections 75 to 80 which are rectangular in
shape. The corrugated profile sections 75 to 80 each include two
corrugation crests arranged at a distance 82 from one another. The
corrugations in the corrugated profile section 75 propagate at an
angle of approximately 65 degrees to a longitudinal side of the
turbulence insert 70. The corrugations of the corrugated profile
section 80 propagate at an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the
associated longitudinal side of the turbulence insert 70. Between
them the angle of the direction of propagation of the corrugations
with respect to the longitudinal side of the turbulence insert 70
decreases from the outside towards the central portion 72.
[0026] The central portion 72 comprises three corrugated profile
sections 84 to 86 which are rectangular in shape. The corrugations
in the corrugated profile sections 84 to 86 propagate transversely
with respect to the longitudinal direction of the plate. The
corrugation crests of the corrugated profile sections 84 to 86 are
offset to one another. The turbulence insert 70 has a symmetrical
configuration in relation to an axis of symmetry disposed
transversely through the centre of the turbulence insert 70.
* * * * *