U.S. patent application number 13/988031 was filed with the patent office on 2014-04-10 for brazable component and heat exchanger comprising same.
The applicant listed for this patent is Georges De Pelsemaeker, Jose Garcia Zaldivar, Emmanuel Henon. Invention is credited to Georges De Pelsemaeker, Jose Garcia Zaldivar, Emmanuel Henon.
Application Number | 20140096943 13/988031 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44358120 |
Filed Date | 2014-04-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140096943 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
De Pelsemaeker; Georges ; et
al. |
April 10, 2014 |
Brazable Component And Heat Exchanger Comprising Same
Abstract
The brazable component for the circulation of a fluid in a heat
exchanger, in particular for a motor vehicle, according to the
invention, comprises an aluminum alloy core 4. It further comprises
a pure aluminum protective layer 8 placed against the core 4.
Inventors: |
De Pelsemaeker; Georges;
(Poigny-La-Foret, FR) ; Henon; Emmanuel; (Paris,
FR) ; Garcia Zaldivar; Jose; (Anthony, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
De Pelsemaeker; Georges
Henon; Emmanuel
Garcia Zaldivar; Jose |
Poigny-La-Foret
Paris
Anthony |
|
FR
FR
FR |
|
|
Family ID: |
44358120 |
Appl. No.: |
13/988031 |
Filed: |
November 18, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
November 18, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP11/70434 |
371 Date: |
December 16, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/134.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 21/0003 20130101;
F28F 21/084 20130101; F28F 2275/04 20130101; F28F 21/089 20130101;
F28F 19/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/134.1 |
International
Class: |
F28F 21/08 20060101
F28F021/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 19, 2010 |
FR |
1059515 |
Claims
1. A brazable component for the circulation of a fluid in a heat
exchanger for a motor vehicle, the brazable component comprising an
aluminum alloy core, wherein the brazable component further
comprises a pure aluminum protective layer placed against the
core.
2. The component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protective
layer comprises an aluminum weight percentage which is greater than
or equal to 99.5%.
3. The component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the core has a
first surface on which the protective layer extends evenly.
4. The component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the core has a
second surface, opposite the first surface, and wherein the
component comprises a second pure aluminum protective layer which
is placed against the second surface.
5. The component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two protective
layers have the same composition.
6. The component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product of the
mechanical strength after brazing of the component by the component
thickness is greater than or equal to 46800 MPa..mu.m.
7. The component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component has a
thickness of between 200 .mu.m and 530 .mu.m.
8. The component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thickness of
the protective layer is between 25 .mu.m and 80 .mu.m.
9. The component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protective
layer is placed between the core and a layer of solder for the
assembly by brazing of the component to another component, the
ratio between the thickness of the layer of solder and the
thickness of the protective layer being between 0.3 and 1.
10. The component as claimed in claim 9, wherein the thickness of
the layer of solder is between 4% and 10% of the total
thickness.
11. The component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component is a
tube.
12. The component as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component is a
plate.
13. A heat exchanger for motor vehicles, for the exchange of heat
between a first fluid circulating in a first circuit and a second
fluid circulating in a second circuit that is separate from the
first circuit, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a plurality of
components as claimed in claim 1, the surface of at least one of
the plurality of components comprising the protective layer
belonging to the first circuit.
14. The exchanger as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first fluid
comprises recirculated exhaust gases.
15. The exchanger as claimed in claim 13, wherein, after brazing,
the product of the mechanical strength of the component by the
thickness of the core of the component is greater than or equal to
46800 MPa..mu.m.
16. The exchanger as claimed in claim 13, wherein the components
are stacked plates.
17. The exchanger as claimed in claim 13, wherein the components
are tubes placed in parallel.
18. The exchanger as claimed in claim 17, wherein the tubes are
separated by dividers.
19. The exchanger as claimed in claim 17, wherein disturbing
elements are placed inside the tubes.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of heat
exchangers for motor vehicles which are intended to exchange heat
between two fluids, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to
aluminum alloy heat exchangers used to cool the exhaust gases of
the heat engines of these vehicles.
[0002] Circuits for recirculating exhaust gas of the heat engine of
a motor vehicle (called EGR for "Exhaust Gas Recirculation") are
known. The exhaust gases are recirculated therein to the intake of
the engine where they are completely burned.
[0003] The recirculation circuit extends between the exhaust
circuit of the heat engine and the intake circuit and generally
includes a heat exchanger for cooling the exhaust gases since they
are at an extremely high maximum temperature (400.degree.
C.-900.degree. C.). It also includes an uncooled by-pass channel, a
by-pass valve for selectively directing the gas stream into the
heat exchanger or into the by-pass conduit and a control valve for
controlling the throughput of the gas stream in the recirculation
circuit.
[0004] These exhaust gases are particularly acidic and condense
into acidic liquid in particular when the engine of the vehicle is
cold. Since this acidic liquid particularly contains sulfates,
nitrates, organic acids, chlorides and/or hydrocarbons, these cause
a large amount of damage to the heat exchangers through corrosion.
It is therefore common to note condensates of a pH less than 2 with
chloride values of 50 ppm. On some vehicles, even pH 0.8 and
chlorides at 200 ppm are noted.
[0005] Furthermore, the assembly of the various components of these
exchangers is by means of brazing such that these elements are
previously covered with a layer of solder. During brazing,
diffusion of the silicon of the layer of solder towards the core of
the elements is observed. This modification of the composition of
the core makes the elements all the more vulnerable to
corrosion.
[0006] There is hence a need for exchanger components that are
corrosion-resistant.
[0007] Document WO 2006034876 is known, which proposes forming a
hydrophobic layer on the surface of the exchange circuits such as
to remove as quickly as possible the condensation of acid water
without it having the time to attack the exchanger but this
solution is not satisfactory as it does not completely prevent
corrosion and significantly reduces the heat exchange capacities of
the exchanger.
[0008] The aim of the invention is to propose components for such
exchangers, which can be resistant to corrosion, for example, due
to condensation of theses gases and which are particularly simple
and economic to manufacture.
[0009] To this end, the invention proposes a brazable component for
the circulation of a fluid in a heat exchanger, in particular for a
motor vehicle, which comprises an aluminum alloy core,
characterized in that it further comprises a pure aluminum
protective layer placed against the core.
[0010] Therefore, after brazing, the pure aluminum layer is in
contact with the corrosive gases and not the core of the component.
The aluminum layer has a better resistance to corrosion than the
core of the component and the presence thereof prevents the
diffusion of the silicon of the solder towards the core. The
component is resistant to corrosion whether due to the circulation
of the exhaust gases, of a liquid such as glycol water or of
another fluid.
[0011] According to embodiment features that are particularly
simple and convenient, both at manufacture and use: [0012] the
protective layer comprises an aluminum weight percentage which is
greater than or equal to 99.5%; [0013] the core has a first surface
on which the protective layer extends evenly; [0014] the core has a
second surface, opposite the first surface, and the component
comprises a second pure aluminum protective layer which is placed
against the second surface; [0015] the two protective layers have
the same composition; [0016] the product of the mechanical strength
after brazing of the component by the component thickness is
greater than or equal to 46800 MPa..mu.m; [0017] the component has
a thickness of between 200 .mu.m and 530 .mu.m; [0018] the
thickness of the protective layer is between 25 .mu.m and 80 .mu.m;
[0019] the protective layer is placed between the core and a layer
of solder for the assembly by brazing of the component to another
component, the ratio between the thickness of the layer of solder
and the thickness of the protective layer being between 0.3 and 1;
[0020] the thickness of the layer of solder is between 4% and 10%
of the total thickness; [0021] this component is a tube or a
plate.
[0022] The invention also relates to an exchanger, in particular
for motor vehicles, for the exchange of heat between a first fluid
circulating in a first circuit and a second fluid circulating in a
second circuit that is separate from the first circuit,
characterized in that it further comprises a plurality of
components as previously disclosed, the surface of the component
comprising the protective layer belonging to the first circuit.
[0023] According to embodiment features that are particularly
simple and convenient, both at manufacture and use: [0024] the
first fluid comprises recirculated exhaust gases; [0025] after
brazing, the product of the mechanical strength of the component by
the thickness of the core of the component is greater than or equal
to 46800 MPa..mu.m; [0026] the components are stacked plates or
tubes placed in parallel.
[0027] The features and advantages of the invention will emerge
from the following description, given by way of preferred example,
but which is in no way limiting, with reference to the appended
drawings, wherein:
[0028] FIGS. 1a and 1b are a pair of cross-sectional partial views
of a tube according to the invention with a layer of pure aluminum
on the outer surface only, before and after brazing;
[0029] FIGS. 2a and 2b are a pair similar to that of FIG. 1 wherein
a layer of pure aluminum and a layer of solder are placed on the
inner surface and on the outer surface of the tube;
[0030] FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view of an exchanger
according to the invention;
[0031] FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3, the exchanger
being assembled;
[0032] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a plate before brazing
according to the invention with a layer of aluminum and a layer of
solder placed on the inner surface and on the outer surface of the
plate;
[0033] FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5, after
brazing;
[0034] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a plate according to the
invention with a layer of pure aluminum on one surface only of the
plate and a layer of solder on each side, before brazing.
[0035] A component according to the invention is described with
reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In this case, it is a flat tube 1
intended to be part of a heat exchange bundle 2 as shown in FIG. 3.
The tube 1 comprises a wall wherein the section transverse to the
longitudinal axis thereof is oblong with two flat portions
alternating with two rounded portions, for example semi-circle
shaped. The rounded portions have not been shown in the figures.
Two parallel segments 3 of the flat walls are seen in the
figures.
[0036] The thickness of the wall of the tube 1, i.e. the thickness
of the segments 3 is between 200 .mu.m and 530 .mu.m.
[0037] The wall of the tube 1 comprises a core 4 which is made of
3000 series aluminum alloy.
[0038] The inside 5 of the tube 1 is, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the space
extending between the two segments 3. Each segment 3 has an inside
face 6 which faces the inside 5 of the tube 1 and an outside face 7
opposite the inside face 6.
[0039] On the side of the outside face 7, the core 4 comprises a
first surface against which a protective layer 8 of pure aluminum
extends. Pure aluminum is taken to mean an aluminum alloy having an
extremely high content of aluminum, a content which is greater than
a given value of 99%. In this case, this is a 1000 series aluminum
alloy. The layer 8 has a thickness of 40 .mu.m and in this case an
aluminum percentage of 99.5%.
[0040] Prior to brazing the tube 1, the protective layer 8 extends
between the core 4 and a layer of solder 10. The thickness of the
layer 10 is 30 .mu.m. The solder is used for brazing the tube 1 to
another component of the bundle 2, for example dividers placed
between the tubes 1 or the collector plates of the bundle 2. As
brazing is well known and is not the subject matter of the
invention, no detailed description will be given in this case for
brazing or for the composition of the solder, given that the solder
has a melting temperature less that that of the components of the
exchanger in order to allow the various components to be fixed to
one another.
[0041] On the inside face 6 side, the core 4 comprises, prior to
brazing, against the surface thereof, another layer 10 of solder.
This layer 10 is used for brazing the tube 1 with disturbing
elements (not shown) placed inside the tube 1.
[0042] Generally, the thickness of the component, i.e. the
thickness of the wall of the tube 1, the thickness of the layer 8
and the thickness of the layer of solder 10 are chosen in the
ranges and with the relationships as follows: [0043] the ratio
between the thickness of the layer of solder 10 and the thickness
of the layer of aluminum 8 is between 0.3 and 1 for preventing the
solder from migrating towards the core 4; [0044] the thickness of
the layer of solder 10 is between 4% and 10% of the thickness of
the wall of the tube 1; [0045] the thickness of the protective
layer 8 is between 25 .mu.m and 80 .mu.m; [0046] the thickness of
the wall of the tube 1 is between 200 .mu.m and 530 .mu.m.
[0047] Following brazing of the exchanger 11 (FIGS. 3 and 4), the
metal of the layer of solder 10 has migrated towards the areas to
be brazed such that outside of these areas, the protective layer 8
is exposed.
[0048] The layer 8 forms a coating intended to be in contact with
the fluid and to act like a sacrificial protective layer.
Therefore, even if this layer 8 starts to be corroded, the core 4
of the wall of the tube 1 is not attacked.
[0049] On the tube 1 in FIGS. 1a and 1b, there is therefore a
protective layer 8 on the outside of the tube 1 so as to protect
the tube 1 against corrosion on the outside which could occur under
the effect of a fluid passing by.
[0050] On the tube 1 in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the second surface of the
core on the side of the inside face 6 of the tube 1 is coated with
a second protective layer 8. This second layer 8 extends between
the core 4 and another layer of solder 10. Brazing takes place on
the outside of the tube and on the inside of the tube, for example
with disturbing elements between the tubes and inside the tubes.
Thanks to the presence of the protective layers 8 on the outside
and on the inside of the tube 1, the latter is protected against
corrosion which can occur under the effect of fluid passing between
the tubes and in the tubes.
[0051] Following brazing, the mechanical strength of the wall of
the tube 1 multiplied by the thickness of the core 4 is greater
than 46800 MPa..mu.m.
[0052] An example for use of the tubes of FIGS. 2a and 2b is
illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The illustrated exchanger 11
comprises two rows of flat tubes 1. The bundle is placed in a
housing 12.
[0053] The exchanger 11 includes a circuit for the circulation of
the EGR gases with exchange of heat with a coolant.
[0054] The housing 12, which has a substantially rectangular
section and is closed at one of the ends thereof, houses on the
inside thereof the bundle 2 of tubes 1 which, in the present case,
is U-shaped, i.e. the inlet 13 and outlet 14 of the tubes 1 are
placed on the same side at the open end 15 of the housing 12.
[0055] The end of the bundle of tubes 1 is fixed to a support plate
16. The support plate 16 has a plurality of openings 17 for the
installation of the respective tubes 1.
[0056] The housing 12 has an inlet channel 18 and an outlet channel
(not shown) for the EGR coolant, in this case the glycol water of
the engine cooling circuit.
[0057] The EGR gases enter the exchanger 11 through the inlet 13,
circulate in the tubes 1 where they are cooled, then go back out
through the outlet 15. The glycol water enters through the inlet
channel 18, bathes the bundle 2 and exits through the outlet
channel. An exchange takes place between the EGR gases and the
glycol water so as to allow cooling of the EGR gases.
[0058] The acidity of the EGR gases can be around pH 2 and can, in
certain circumstances, reach a pH of 0.8 and contain up to 200 ppm
of chlorides. With possible condensation in the course of the
circulation in the exchanger, the inside of the tubes is subjected
to corrosive conditions against which they are protected through
the presence of the protective layers 8.
[0059] The glycol water also acts corrosively and the outside of
the tubes is protected against this thanks to the protective layers
8 located on the outside.
[0060] According to an alternative embodiment corresponding to
FIGS. 1a and 1b, only the fluid circulating outside the tubes acts
corrosively such that only the outside of the tubes is protected by
a protective layer 8.
[0061] According to another alternative, protective layers are
provided only on the inside of the tubes with layers of solder only
on the outside of the tubes. Generally, a protective layer is
provided on at least one of the inside or outside surfaces of the
tubes.
[0062] According to another alternative, no solder is provided
inside the tube.
[0063] As regards the manufacture of the tubes 1, firstly the core
4 is obtained in the form of a 3000 series aluminum alloy strip.
Then, the 1000 series aluminum layer 8 is evenly sprayed on the
outside (FIG. 1a) or on the outside and inside (FIG. 1b). Finally,
a layer of solder is deposited on the outside and on the outside,
for example, by steeping the tube 1 in a bath of solder. The solder
can also be injected to form the layer inside the tube 1. The tube
1 is formed by closing the two edges of the flat core onto
themselves. The tubes 1 are made watertight during brazing of the
exchanger 11.
[0064] According to an alternative embodiment, the core 4 of the
tube 1 is produced by extrusion. Then, the 1000 series aluminum
layer 8 is evenly sprayed onto the outside of the tube 1 or onto
the outside and inside. Finally, a layer of solder is deposited on
the outside and inside of the tube 1.
[0065] In both cases, disturbing elements or turbulators can be
placed inside the tubes 1, which disturb the circulation of the
fluid in the tubes in order to improve the transfer of heat.
Another embodiment will be described now with reference to FIGS.
5-8. For similar elements, the same numbering, increased by 100,
will be used. The component according to the invention is, in this
case, a plate 101 which comprises a core 104, the two faces of
which are coated with a protective layer 108 (FIGS. 5 and 6).
According to an alternative, only one surface of the plate 101 is
coated with a protective layer (FIG. 7).
[0066] As with the previous embodiment, a layer of solder 110 is
placed on the protective layer(s) 108.
[0067] Following brazing (FIG. 6), the protective layers 108 are
exposed.
[0068] The exchanger 111 is a plate exchanger. The plates 101 are
stacked, one above the other, such as to create two fluid circuits,
for example an EGR gas circuit and a coolant circuit circulating
glycol water of the cooling circuit of the engine. In this case,
these are the plates 101 of FIGS. 5 and 6 which comprise protective
layers on each side.
[0069] The stack of the plates 101 allows a circuit to be created
for the EGR gases and a circuit to be created for the glycol water.
As in the previously described embodiment, there are high-risk
conditions in terms of corrosion such that the protective layers
108 play a role in the protection against corrosion.
[0070] According to an alternative embodiment (FIG. 7), the plates
108 only comprise one protective plate 108 on one side. In this
case, the plates 108 are positioned such that the protective layers
108 of two successive plates face one another. This creates
therefore a fluid circuit wherein the faces have protective layers
alternating with a circuit wherein the faces do not have any
specific protection. This layout is suitable for an exchange of
heat between a corrosive fluid and a fluid which is only slightly
corrosive or not corrosive at all.
[0071] As regards the manufacture of the plates 101, firstly the
core 104 is obtained in the form of a 3000 series aluminum alloy
strip. Then the 1000 series aluminum layer 108 is sprayed. Finally,
a layer of solder 110 is deposited. Optionally, relief is created
on the plate 101 in particular to create circulation channels (not
shown) and bosses 120 or dimples in order to increase the exchange
surface.
[0072] By way of example, a component with a thickness of 480 .mu.m
comprises a core of aluminum alloy 3916 having a thickness of 360
.mu.m, a protective layer of aluminum alloy 1050 having a thickness
of 48 .mu.m and two layers of solder 4343 (one per face) having a
thickness of 36 .mu.m (i.e. by percentage, 75% for the core, 10%
for the protective layer and 7.5% for each layer of solder). The
mechanical strength of the component is 130 MPa.
[0073] Another example is a component with a thickness of 400 .mu.m
which comprises a core of aluminum alloy having a thickness of 300
.mu.m, a protective layer of aluminum alloy 1050 having a thickness
of 40 .mu.m and two layers of solder 4343 (one per face) having a
thickness of 30 .mu.m (i.e. by percentage, 75% for the core, 10%
for the protective layer and 7.5% for each layer of solder). The
mechanical strength of the component is 156 MPa.
[0074] A third example is a component with a thickness of 400 .mu.m
which comprises a core of aluminum alloy having a thickness of 260
.mu.m, two protective layers of aluminum alloy 1050 having a
thickness of 40 .mu.m (one per face) and two layers of solder 4343
(one per face) having a thickness of 30 .mu.m (i.e. by percentage,
65% for the core, 10% for each protective layer and 7.5% for each
layer of solder). The mechanical strength of the component is 180
MPa.
[0075] For each example, the product of the mechanical strength by
the thickness of the core after brazing is 46800 MPa..mu.m.
[0076] As an alternative to the described embodiments, the
component, tube or plate, can be obtained in the form of a rolled
multi-layer sandwich.
[0077] Alternative embodiments cover the various combinations that
can be obtained by providing a protective layer on one face only, a
protective layer on each face, a layer of solder on one face only,
and a layer of solder on each face.
[0078] The optional presence of a layer of solder is particularly
linked to the need arising from the optional presence of dividers
between the tubes or of turbulators in the tubes.
[0079] According to another embodiment, the claimed component (tube
or plate) comprises the protective layer(s) while it is the
dividers or disturbing elements placed between the tubes or the
plates (or turbulators placed inside the tubes) which have the
layers of solder.
[0080] According to another embodiment, the component according to
the invention is a collector plate comprising an aluminum alloy
core assembled by brazing with tubes for example. This collector
plate comprises a pure aluminum protective layer placed on the
surface of the core on the side of the tubes.
[0081] According to an alternative, the component is the support
plate 16 of the exchanger 11. The tubes 1 and the plate 16 then
comprise protective layers.
[0082] According to another embodiment, the heat exchanger
according to the invention comprises a first circuit wherein there
circulates a first fluid to be cooled, for example glycol water, by
means of a second fluid fluid, for example air. The tubes or the
plates of the exchanger comprise protective layers only on the
surfaces which are part of the first circuit.
[0083] The present invention is not limited to the described and
illustrated embodiment but covers any alternative embodiment.
* * * * *