U.S. patent application number 13/529810 was filed with the patent office on 2013-06-13 for heat exchanger for lpi vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to Hyundai Motor Company. The applicant listed for this patent is Wan Je Cho, Jae Yeon Kim, Myeong Hwan Kim. Invention is credited to Wan Je Cho, Jae Yeon Kim, Myeong Hwan Kim.
Application Number | 20130146246 13/529810 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48464728 |
Filed Date | 2013-06-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130146246 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Jae Yeon ; et
al. |
June 13, 2013 |
HEAT EXCHANGER FOR LPI VEHICLE
Abstract
The heat exchanger may include: a heat radiating portion
provided with first, second, and third connecting lines formed by
stacking a plurality of plates, and adapted to receive first,
second, and third operating fluids respectively into the first,
second, and third connecting lines, the first, second, and third
operating fluids exchanging heat with each other during passing
through the first, second, and third connecting lines and the
first, second, and third operating fluids supplied to the first,
second, and third connecting lines not being mixed with each other
and being circulated; first, second, and third inlets connected
respectively to the first, second, and third connecting lines so as
to supply the first, second, and third operating fluids
respectively to the first, second, and third connecting lines; and
first, second, and third outlets connected respectively to the
first, second, and third connecting lines.
Inventors: |
Kim; Jae Yeon; (Hwaseong-si,
KR) ; Cho; Wan Je; (Hwaseong-si, KR) ; Kim;
Myeong Hwan; (Hwaseong-si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kim; Jae Yeon
Cho; Wan Je
Kim; Myeong Hwan |
Hwaseong-si
Hwaseong-si
Hwaseong-si |
|
KR
KR
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Hyundai Motor Company
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
48464728 |
Appl. No.: |
13/529810 |
Filed: |
June 21, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/41 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02T 10/32 20130101;
F28D 9/005 20130101; F02M 21/0212 20130101; Y02T 10/12 20130101;
Y02T 10/126 20130101; Y02T 10/30 20130101; F02M 31/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/41 |
International
Class: |
F28F 3/08 20060101
F28F003/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 7, 2011 |
KR |
10-2011-0130580 |
Claims
1. A heat exchanger apparatus for an LPI vehicle that is adapted to
cool an LPG fuel returned from an engine in the LPI vehicle using
the LPG fuel, the heat exchanger comprising: a heat radiating
portion provided with first, second, and third connecting lines
formed by stacking a plurality of plates, and receiving first,
second, and third operating fluids respectively into the first,
second, and third connecting lines, the first, second, and third
operating fluids exchanging heat with each other during passing
through the first, second, and third connecting lines and the
first, second, and third operating fluids supplied to the first,
second, and third connecting lines not being mixed with each other
and being circulated; first, second, and third inlets formed at a
surface of the heat radiating portion, and connected respectively
to the first, second, and third connecting lines so as to supply
the first, second, and third operating fluids respectively to the
first, second, and third connecting lines; and first, second, and
third outlets formed at the other surface of the heat radiating
portion corresponding respectively to the first, second, and third
inlets, and connected respectively to the first, second, and third
connecting lines so as to exhaust the first, second, and third
operating fluids respectively from the first, second, and third
connecting lines.
2. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first
operating fluid is the LPG fuel returned from the engine, the
second operating fluid is a liquid refrigerant supplied from a
condenser of an air conditioning, and the third operating fluid is
a gas refrigerant supplied from an evaporator.
3. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first inlet
is formed at a corner portion on the surface of the heat radiating
portion, and the first outlet is formed at a corner portion
diagonally facing the first inlet on the other surface of the heat
radiating portion.
4. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second
inlet is formed at a corner portion opposite to the first inlet in
a length direction on the surface of the heat radiating portion,
and the second outlet is formed at a corner portion opposite to the
second inlet in a width direction on the other surface of the heat
radiating portion.
5. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third inlet
is formed apart from the first inlet in a length direction on the
surface of the heat radiating portion, and the third outlet is
formed at a position opposite to the third inlet in a width
direction on the other surface of the heat radiating portion.
6. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 1, wherein the LPG fuel
circulates through the first inlet, the first connecting line, and
the first outlet, the gas refrigerant circulates through the second
inlet, the second connecting line, and the second outlet, and the
liquid refrigerant circulates through the third inlet, the third
connecting line, and the third outlet.
7. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first
connecting line is positioned at a center portion in the heat
radiating portion, the second connecting line is positioned
adjacent to the first connecting line at an upper portion of the
heat radiating portion and is positioned apart from the first
connecting line at a lower portion of the heat radiating portion,
and fluid-communicates therebetween via a first intermediate hole
formed in the plurality of plates, and the third connecting line is
positioned above the second connecting line at the upper portion of
the heat radiating portion and is positioned between the first
connecting line and the second connecting line at the lower portion
of the heat radiating portion and fluid-communicates therebetween
via a second intermediate hole formed in the plurality of
plates.
8. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first,
second and third connecting lines are aligned as the third, the
second, the first, the third, and the second connecting lines from
the upper portion to the lower portion of the heat radiating
portion in sequence.
9. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 6, wherein the gas
refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant flow in opposite directions
in the second connecting line and the third connecting line,
respectively.
10. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first
inlet is connected to the engine, the second inlet is connected to
the condenser of the air conditioning, and the third inlet is
connected to the evaporator of the air conditioning.
11. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first
outlet is connected to a bombe which the LPG fuel is returned to
and is stored in, the second outlet is connected to a compressor of
the air conditioning, and the third outlet is connected to an
expansion valve of the air conditioning.
12. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat
radiating portion is a heat radiating portion of plate type where
the plurality of plates is stacked.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority to Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2011-0130580 filed in the Korean Intellectual
Property Office on Dec. 07, 2011, the entire contents of which is
incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a heat exchanger for an LPI
vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a heat
exchanger for an LPI vehicle that is adapted for an LPG fuel to
exchange heat with a refrigerant circulating through the air
conditioning so as to cool the LPG fuel.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Generally, an LPI (Liquefied Petroleum Injection: an
apparatus for injecting LPG fuel in a liquid state) engine,
different from mechanical injection type of LPG fuel depending on a
pressure of a bombe, is provided with a fuel pump mounted in the
bombe. The LPG fuel is pressurized to a high pressure (5 to 15 bar)
and is liquefied by the fuel pump. The liquefied fuel is injected
to a cylinder by using an injector so as to drive the engine.
[0006] Since the LPI engine is adapted to inject liquefied fuel,
components such as a vaporizer and a mixer are not necessary.
Instead, a high-pressure injector, a fuel pump mounted in the
bombe, a fuel supply line, electric control apparatus (ECU) for the
LPI engine, and a regulator unit for controlling fuel pressure are
additionally necessary.
[0007] The electric control apparatus of the LPI engine receives
input signals from various sensors so as to determine a condition
of the engine, and controls the fuel pump, the injector, and an
ignition coil so as to achieve optimal air/fuel ratio and to
improve engine performance.
[0008] In addition, the electric control apparatus controls the
fuel pump according to fuel amount demanded by the engine so as to
supply the liquefied fuel to the engine, and the LPI injector
sequentially injects the fuel into the cylinders so as to achieve
the optimal air/fuel ratio.
[0009] Since high-temperature fuel returned from the engine is
returned to the bombe according to a vehicle to which a
conventional LPI system is applied, however, a temperature of the
LPG fuel in the bombe is raised and accordingly an internal
pressure of the bombe is also heightened. Particularly, in a case
that the internal pressure of the bombe is higher than a charging
pressure of an LPG station, LPG fuel cannot be charged in the
bombe.
[0010] Since an additional fuel cooling apparatus should be mounted
on a return line so as to lower a temperature of the fuel returned
from the engine, manufacturing and installing cost may increase and
the LPI engine may be hard to be installed in a small engine
compartment.
[0011] The information disclosed in this Background of the
Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the
general background of the invention and should not be taken as an
acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information
forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the
art.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0012] Various aspects of the present invention are directed to
providing a heat exchanger for an LPI vehicle having advantages of
flowing an LPG fuel into a bombe after a temperature thereof is
lowered and preventing an internal pressure of the bombe from
increasing by causing the LPG fuel returned from an engine to the
bombe to exchange heat with a refrigerant circulating through the
air conditioning.
[0013] In addition, Various aspects of the present invention are
directed to providing a heat exchanger for an LPI vehicle having
further advantages of improving cooling efficiency of a refrigerant
by using overcool effect as a consequence of heat-exchange between
the refrigerant and the LPG fuel and heat-exchange between a liquid
refrigerant of moderate temperature and high pressure supplied from
a condenser and a gas refrigerant of low temperature and low
pressure supplied from an evaporator.
[0014] Therefore, performance deterioration of an air conditioning
may be prevented and cooling performance may be improved.
[0015] A heat exchanger for an LPI vehicle according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention is adapted to cool an
LPG fuel of high temperature returned from an engine in the LPI
vehicle using the LPG fuel.
[0016] In an aspect of the present invention, a heat exchanger
apparatus for an LPI vehicle that is adapted to cool an LPG fuel
returned from an engine in the LPI vehicle using the LPG fuel, may
include a heat radiating portion provided with first, second, and
third connecting lines formed by stacking a plurality of plates,
and receiving first, second, and third operating fluids
respectively into the first, second, and third connecting lines,
the first, second, and third operating fluids exchanging heat with
each other during passing through the first, second, and third
connecting lines and the first, second, and third operating fluids
supplied to the first, second, and third connecting lines not being
mixed with each other and being circulated, first, second, and
third inlets formed at a surface of the heat radiating portion, and
connected respectively to the first, second, and third connecting
lines so as to supply the first, second, and third operating fluids
respectively to the first, second, and third connecting lines, and
first, second, and third outlets formed at the other surface of the
heat radiating portion corresponding respectively to the first,
second, and third inlets, and connected respectively to the first,
second, and third connecting lines so as to exhaust the first,
second, and third operating fluids respectively from the first,
second, and third connecting lines.
[0017] The first operating fluid is the LPG fuel returned from the
engine, the second operating fluid is a liquid refrigerant supplied
from a condenser of an air conditioning, and the third operating
fluid is a gas refrigerant supplied from an evaporator.
[0018] The first inlet is formed at a corner portion on the surface
of the heat radiating portion, and the first outlet is formed at a
corner portion diagonally facing the first inlet on the other
surface of the heat radiating portion.
[0019] The second inlet is formed at a corner portion opposite to
the first inlet in a length direction on the surface of the heat
radiating portion, and the second outlet is formed at a corner
portion opposite to the second inlet in a width direction on the
other surface of the heat radiating portion.
[0020] The third inlet is formed apart from the first inlet in a
length direction on the surface of the heat radiating portion, and
the third outlet is formed at a position opposite to the third
inlet in a width direction on the other surface of the heat
radiating portion.
[0021] The LPG fuel circulates through the first inlet, the first
connecting line, and the first outlet, the gas refrigerant
circulates through the second inlet, the second connecting line,
and the second outlet, and the liquid refrigerant circulates
through the third inlet, the third connecting line, and the third
outlet.
[0022] The first connecting line is positioned at a center portion
in the heat radiating portion, the second connecting line is
positioned adjacent to the first connecting line at an upper
portion of the heat radiating portion and is positioned apart from
the first connecting line at a lower portion of the heat radiating
portion, and fluid-communicates therebetween via a first
intermediate hole formed in the plurality of plates, and the third
connecting line is positioned above the second connecting line at
the upper portion of the heat radiating portion and is positioned
between the first connecting line and the second connecting line at
the lower portion of the heat radiating portion and
fluid-communicates therebetween via a second intermediate hole
formed in the plurality of plates.
[0023] The first, second and third connecting lines are aligned as
the third, the second, the first, the third, and the second
connecting lines from the upper portion to the lower portion of the
heat radiating portion in sequence.
[0024] The gas refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant flow in
opposite directions in the second connecting line and the third
connecting line, respectively.
[0025] The first inlet is connected to the engine, the second inlet
is connected to the condenser of the air conditioning, and the
third inlet is connected to the evaporator of the air
conditioning.
[0026] The first outlet is connected to a bombe which the LPG fuel
is returned to and is stored in, the second outlet is connected to
a compressor of the air conditioning, and the third outlet is
connected to an expansion valve of the air conditioning.
[0027] The heat radiating portion is a heat radiating portion of
plate type where the plurality of plates is stacked.
[0028] The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have
other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are
set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are
incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which
together serve to explain certain principles of the present
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioning to
which a heat exchanger for an LPI vehicle according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention is applied.
[0030] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a heat exchanger for
an LPI vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0031] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a heat exchanger for an
LPI vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0032] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in
FIG. 2.
[0033] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in
FIG. 2.
[0034] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in
FIG. 2.
[0035] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view for showing operation of a
heat exchanger for an LPI vehicle according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0036] It should be understood that the appended drawings are not
necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified
representation of various features illustrative of the basic
principles of the invention. The specific design features of the
present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example,
specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be
determined in part by the particular intended application and use
environment.
[0037] In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or
equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several
figures of the drawing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments
of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in
the accompanying drawings and described below. While the
invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary
embodiments, it will be understood that the present description is
not intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary
embodiments. On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to
cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various
alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments,
which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention
as defined by the appended claims.
[0039] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will
hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0040] Exemplary embodiments described in this specification and
drawings are just exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
It is to be understood that there can be various modifications and
equivalents included in the spirit of the present invention at the
filing of this application.
[0041] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioning to
which a heat exchanger for an LPI vehicle according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a front
perspective view of a heat exchanger for an LPI vehicle according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a
rear perspective view of a heat exchanger for an LPI vehicle
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 2,
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG.
2, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in
FIG. 2.
[0042] Referring to the drawings, a heat exchanger 100 for an LPI
vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention is adapted to cause a refrigerant circulating through an
air conditioning and an LPG fuel returned from an engine 3 to a
bombe 5 to exchange heat with each other such that the LPG fuel,
after a temperature thereof being lowered, is flowed into the
bombe. Therefore, the heat exchanger 100 is adapted to prevent an
internal pressure of the bombe from increasing.
[0043] In addition, the refrigerant and the LPG fuel exchange heat
with each other, and a liquid refrigerant of moderate temperature
and high pressure supplied from a condenser 20 and a gas
refrigerant of low temperature and low pressure supplied from an
evaporator 40 exchange heat with each other. Therefore, cooling
efficiency of the refrigerant may be improved by using overcool
effect. Therefore, the heat exchanger 100 is adapted to prevent
performance deterioration of the air conditioning and improve
cooling performance.
[0044] Herein, the heat exchanger 100 for the LPI vehicle according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
FIG. 1, is used for the air conditioning including a compressor 10
for compressing the refrigerant, the condenser 20 for receiving the
compressed refrigerant from the compressor 10 and condensing the
refrigerant, an expansion valve 30 for expanding the liquid
refrigerant condensed by the condenser 20, and the evaporator 40
for evaporating the refrigerant expanded by the expansion valve 30
through heat-exchange with air.
[0045] The heat exchanger 100 is adapted to cool the LPG fuel of
high temperature returned from the engine 3 in the LPI vehicle
using the LPG fuel through heat-exchange with the refrigerant.
[0046] For this purpose, the heat exchanger 100 for the LPI vehicle
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as
shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, includes a heat radiating portion 110,
a plurality of inlets 120, and a plurality of outlets 130, and each
constituent element will be described in detail.
[0047] The heat radiating portion 110 is formed by stacking a
plurality of plates 111, and a plurality of connecting lines is
formed between the neighboring plates 111. In addition, a plurality
of operating fluids exchanges heat with each other when passing
through the plurality of connecting lines.
[0048] The heat radiating portion 110 is a heat radiating portion
of plate type (or disk type) where the plurality of plates 111 is
stacked.
[0049] Herein, the plurality of operating fluids may include the
LPG fuel returned from the engine 3, the liquid refrigerant of
moderate temperature and high pressure supplied from the condenser
20 of the air conditioning, and the gas refrigerant of low
temperature and low pressure supplied from the evaporator 40.
[0050] According to the present exemplary embodiment, the plurality
of inlets 120 is formed at a surface of the heat radiating portion
110 and the plurality of operating fluids flows into the heat
radiating portion 110 through the plurality of inlets 120. The
plurality of inlets 120 is connected to the plurality of connecting
lines.
[0051] In addition, the plurality of outlets 130 corresponds to the
plurality of inlets 120 and is formed at the other surface of the
heat radiating portion 110. The plurality of operating fluids
flowing in the heat radiating portion 110 is exhausted through the
plurality of outlets 130. The plurality of outlets 130 is connected
to the plurality of connecting lines.
[0052] Herein, the plurality of inlets 120 includes first, second,
and third inlets 121, 123, and 125 that are formed at a surface of
the heat radiating portion 110 and are disposed apart from each
other in a length direction.
[0053] In addition, the plurality of outlets 130 includes first,
second, and third outlets 131, 133, and 135 corresponding
respectively to the first, second, and third inlets 121, 123, and
125, formed at the other surface of the heat radiating portion 110,
and disposed apart from each other. The first, second, and third
outlets 131, 133, and 135 are connected respectively to the first,
second, and third inlets 121, 123, and 125 through the plurality of
connecting lines 141, 143 and 145.
[0054] According to the present exemplary embodiment, the first
inlet 121 is formed at a corner portion on the surface of the heat
radiating portion 110, and the first outlet 131 is formed at a
corner portion diagonally facing the first inlet 121 on the other
surface of the heat radiating portion 110.
[0055] In addition, the second inlet 123 is formed at a corner
portion opposite to the first inlet 121 in the length direction on
the surface of the heat radiating portion 110, and the second
outlet 133 is formed at a corner portion opposite to the second
inlet 123 in a width direction on the other surface of the heat
radiating portion 110.
[0056] In addition, the third inlet 125 is formed apart from the
first inlet 121 in the length direction on the surface of the heat
radiating portion 110, and the third outlet 135 is formed at a
position opposite to the third inlet 125 in the width direction on
the other surface of the heat radiating portion 110.
[0057] Herein, the LPG fuel circulates through the first inlet 121
and the first outlet 131, the gas refrigerant of low temperature
and low pressure circulates through the second inlet 123 and the
second outlet 133, and the liquid refrigerant of moderate
temperature and high pressure circulates through the third inlet
125 and the third outlet 135.
[0058] That is, the first outlet 131 is connected to the bombe 5
which the LPG fuel is return to and is stored in, the second outlet
133 is connected to the compressor 10 of the air conditioning so as
to supply the gas refrigerant of low temperature and low pressure
passing through the heat radiating portion 110 to the compressor
10.
[0059] In addition, the third outlet 135 is connected to the
expansion valve 30 of the air conditioning so as to supply the
liquid refrigerant of moderate temperature and high pressure
passing through the heat radiating portion 110 to the expansion
valve 30.
[0060] Meanwhile, connecting ports may be mounted respectively at
the inlet 120 and the outlet 130 and are connected to the air
conditioning, the engine 3 and the bombe 5 through connecting hoses
connected to the connecting ports.
[0061] According to the present exemplary embodiment, the plurality
of connecting lines includes first, second, and third connecting
lines 141, 143, and 145 and will be described in detail.
[0062] The first connecting line 141, as shown in FIG. 4, is
adapted for the LPG fuel flowing through the first inlet 121 to
flow therein, and is disposed at a center portion in the heat
radiating portion 110.
[0063] According to the present exemplary embodiment, the second
connecting line 143, as shown in FIG. 5, is disposed close to the
first connecting line 141 at an upper portion of the heat radiating
portion 110 and is formed apart from the first connecting line 141
at a lower portion of the heat radiating portion 110. The second
connecting line 143 at the upper portion of the heat radiating
portion 110 and the second connecting line 143 at the lower portion
of the heat radiating portion 110 are connected to each other
through an intermediate hole 151 in the heat radiating portion 110
such that the gas refrigerant of low temperature and low pressure
supplied through the second inlet 123 flows in the second
connecting line 143.
[0064] That is, the LPG fuel passing through the first connecting
line 141 exchanges heat with the gas refrigerant of low temperature
and low pressure passing through the second connecting line 143
disposed above and close to the first connecting line 141 and is
cooled.
[0065] In addition, the third connecting line 145, as shown in FIG.
6, is disposed above the second connecting line 143 at the upper
portion of the heat radiating portion 110 and is formed between the
first connecting line 141 and the second connecting line 143 at the
lower portion of the heat radiating portion 110. The third
connecting line 145 at the upper portion of the heat radiating
portion 110 and the third connecting line 145 at the lower portion
of the heat radiating portion 110 are connected to each other
through an intermediate hole 153 in the heat radiating portion 110
such that the liquid refrigerant of moderate temperature and high
pressure supplied through the third inlet 125 flows in the third
connecting line 145.
[0066] That is, the third connecting line 145 is adapted to connect
the third connecting line 145 positioned above the first connecting
line 141 with the third connecting line 145 positioned at the lower
portion of the heat radiating portion 110 in the heat radiating
portion 110.
[0067] Therefore, the gas refrigerant of low temperature and low
pressure passing through the second connecting line 143 exchanges
heat with the LPG fuel passing through the first connecting line
141 at the upper portion of the heat radiating portion 110 and with
the liquid refrigerant of moderate temperature and high pressure
passing through the third connecting line 145 at the lower portion
of the heat radiating portion 110.
[0068] Therefore, the LPG fuel and the liquid refrigerant of
moderate temperature and high pressure are cooled by heat-exchange
with the gas refrigerant of low temperature and low pressure.
[0069] Since the second inlet 123 and the third inlet 125 are
formed at opposite sides on the surface of the heat radiating
portion 110, the gas refrigerant of low temperature and low
pressure and the liquid refrigerant of moderate temperature and
high pressure are adapted to flow in the second connecting line 143
and the third connecting line 145 to opposite directions.
[0070] Therefore, heat-exchange efficiency of the gas refrigerant
of low temperature and low pressure and the liquid refrigerant of
moderate temperature and high pressure may be improved.
[0071] In addition, non-condensed gas refrigerant contained in the
liquid refrigerant of moderate temperature and high pressure
passing through the third connecting line 145 is condensed by
heat-exchange with the gas refrigerant of low temperature and low
pressure passing through the second connecting line 143. Therefore,
efficiency deterioration of the air conditioning due to the
non-condensed gas refrigerant may be prevented and expansion
efficiency of the expansion valve 30 may be enhanced.
[0072] Hereinafter, operation and function of the heat exchanger
100 for an LPI vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention will be described in detail.
[0073] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view for showing operation of a
heat exchanger for an LPI vehicle according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0074] The LPG fuel of high temperature returned from the engine 3,
as shown in (S1) of FIG. 7, flows in through the first inlet 121,
passes through the first connecting line 141, and is exhausted to
the bombe 5 through the first outlet 131.
[0075] The gas refrigerant of low temperature and low pressure
supplied from the evaporator 40, as shown in (S2) of FIG. 7, flows
in through the second inlet 123, passes through the second
connecting line 143, and is exhausted to the compressor 10 through
the second outlet 133.
[0076] Herein, the LNG fuel flows in the first connecting line 141,
and the gas refrigerant of low temperature and low pressure flows
in the second connecting line 143 positioned above the first
connecting line 141 at the upper portion of the heat radiating
portion 110. Therefore, the LNG fuel is cooled through
heat-exchange with the gas refrigerant of low temperature and low
pressure.
[0077] In addition, the liquid refrigerant of moderate temperature
and high pressure supplied from the condenser 20, as shown in (S3)
of FIG. 7, flows in through the third inlet 125, passes through the
third connecting line 145, and is exhausted to the expansion valve
30 through the third outlet 135.
[0078] At this time, the gas refrigerant of low temperature and low
pressure flows in the second connecting line 143, and the liquid
refrigerant of moderate temperature and high pressure flows in the
third connecting line 145 positioned above the second connecting
line 143 at the upper portion of the heat radiating portion 110. In
addition, the gas refrigerant of low temperature and low pressure
and the liquid refrigerant of moderate temperature and high
pressure flows to the opposite directions. Therefore, the liquid
refrigerant of moderate temperature and high pressure exchanges
heat with the gas refrigerant of low temperature and low
pressure.
[0079] Since the liquid refrigerant of moderate temperature and
high pressure passes through the third connecting line 145
positioned above the second connecting line 143 at the upper
portion of the heat radiating portion 110, the liquid refrigerant
of moderate temperature and high pressure prevents heat in an
engine compartment from being directly transferred to the gas
refrigerant of low temperature and low pressure and prevents
temperature rise of the gas refrigerant.
[0080] Therefore, deterioration of cooling performance of the air
conditioning due to temperature rise of the gas refrigerant may be
prevented in advance.
[0081] In addition, the liquid refrigerant of moderate temperature
and high pressure passes through the third connecting line 145
disposed under the first connecting line 141 at the lower portion
of the heat radiating portion 110. Therefore, the LPG fuel passing
through the first connecting line 141 is prevented from being
overcooled when exchanging heat with the gas refrigerant of low
temperature and low pressure and the LPG fuel is cooled to a
desirable temperature.
[0082] As described above, the LPG fuel cooled to the desirable
temperature is supplied to the bombe 5 through the first outlet
131.
[0083] Therefore, the heat exchanger 100 is adapted to cause the
LPG fuel of high temperature returned from the engine 3 to exchange
heat with the gas refrigerant of low temperature and low pressure
and the liquid refrigerant of moderate temperature and high
pressure so as to cool the LPG fuel to the desirable temperature.
After that, the heat exchanger 100 supplies the LPG fuel to the
bombe 5. Therefore, increase of the internal pressure in the bombe
5 due to inflow of the high-temperature LPG fuel is prevented.
[0084] Meanwhile, the non-condensed gas refrigerant contained in
the liquid refrigerant of moderate temperature and high pressure
passing through the third connecting line 145 is condensed by
heat-exchange with the gas refrigerant of low temperature and low
pressure passing through the second connecting line 143. Therefore,
efficiency deterioration of the air conditioning due to the
non-condensed gas refrigerant may be prevented and expansion
efficiency of the expansion valve 30 may be enhanced.
[0085] Therefore, the heat exchanger 100 for the LPI vehicle
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is
adapted to flow the LPG fuel into the bombe 5 after the temperature
of the LPG fuel is lowered through heat-exchange between the
refrigerant circulating through the air conditioning and the LPG
fuel returned to the bombe 5. Therefore, increase of the internal
pressure in the bombe 5 may be prevented.
[0086] In addition, since increase of the internal pressure in the
bombe 5 is prevented, supply of the fuel may be smoothly performed
and marketability may be improved.
[0087] In addition, the heat exchanger 100 for the LPI vehicle
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is
adapted to perform heat-exchange of the liquid refrigerant of
moderate temperature and high pressure supplied from the condenser
20 and the gas refrigerant of low temperature and low pressure
supplied from the evaporator 40. In this case, cooling efficiency
of the refrigerant may be improved by overcool effect of the
refrigerant, performance deterioration of the air conditioning may
be prevented, and cooling performance may be improved.
[0088] In addition, since overcool of the refrigerant and cooling
of the LPG fuel are simultaneously performed in the small engine
compartment, space utilization may be improved and layout may be
simplified.
[0089] For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in
the appended claims, the terms "upper", "lower", "inner" and
"outer" are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments
with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in
the figures.
[0090] The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments
of the present invention have been presented for purposes of
illustration and description. They are not intended to be
exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms
disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are
possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments
were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of
the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable
others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary
embodiments of the present invention, as well as various
alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the
scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and
their equivalents.
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