U.S. patent application number 14/901812 was filed with the patent office on 2016-09-22 for device for regulating the circulation of a coolant liquid for a heat exchanger, particularly for a motor vehicle engine charge air cooler.
The applicant listed for this patent is VALEO SYSTEMES THERMIQUES. Invention is credited to Benjamin Ferlay, Jean-Pierre Galland, Denis Grosjean.
Application Number | 20160273854 14/901812 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49322561 |
Filed Date | 2016-09-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160273854 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ferlay; Benjamin ; et
al. |
September 22, 2016 |
DEVICE FOR REGULATING THE CIRCULATION OF A COOLANT LIQUID FOR A
HEAT EXCHANGER, PARTICULARLY FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE ENGINE CHARGE AIR
COOLER
Abstract
The invention relates to a device for regulating the circulation
of a liquid coolant for a heat exchanger, particularly for a motor
vehicle engine charge air cooler, said device comprising a body
configured to be attached to said exchanger, said body defining at
least one liquid circulation chamber, said device further
comprising a means of distributing said liquid in the chamber that
allows the temperature and/or the flow rate of the liquid coolant
in the exchanger to be modified.
Inventors: |
Ferlay; Benjamin; (Cernay La
Ville, FR) ; Grosjean; Denis; (Meudon, FR) ;
Galland; Jean-Pierre; (Les Essarts Le Roi, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
VALEO SYSTEMES THERMIQUES |
Le Mesnil Saint Denis |
|
FR |
|
|
Family ID: |
49322561 |
Appl. No.: |
14/901812 |
Filed: |
July 4, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
July 4, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP14/64372 |
371 Date: |
December 29, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F02M 35/10052 20130101;
F02B 29/0443 20130101; F02B 29/0493 20130101; Y02T 10/12 20130101;
F28F 13/06 20130101; F28F 2250/06 20130101; F02B 29/0412 20130101;
F02M 35/112 20130101; F28D 7/0066 20130101; F02B 29/0475 20130101;
Y02T 10/146 20130101; F01P 2060/02 20130101; F02B 29/0462 20130101;
F28F 27/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F28F 27/02 20060101
F28F027/02; F28F 13/06 20060101 F28F013/06; F28D 7/00 20060101
F28D007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 4, 2013 |
EP |
1356535 |
Claims
1. A device for regulating the circulation of a coolant liquid for
a heat exchanger, in particular the motor vehicle engine charge air
cooler, said device including a body configured so as to be
attached to said exchanger, said body defining at least one chamber
for circulation of the liquid, said device further comprising a
means for distributing said liquid in the chamber giving the
possibility of modulating the temperature and/or the flow rate of
the coolant liquid in the exchanger.
2. The device for regulating the circulation of a coolant liquid
for a heat exchanger according to claim 1, said body comprising at
least one inlet for said liquid in the chamber, a first and second
outlets of said liquid of the chamber, said first outlet being
configured so as to be connected to the inlet of the exchanger,
said device being configured so as to allow the coolant liquid to
by-pass at least partly the exchanger through said second outlet,
said distribution means being configured for carrying out
distribution of the coolant liquid between said first and second
outlets of the chamber.
3. The device for regulating the circulation of a coolant liquid
for a heat exchanger according to claim 2, including a bypass
conduit connected to said second outlet and configured so as to be
connected to the outlet of the exchanger.
4. The device for regulating the circulation of a coolant liquid
for a heat exchanger according to claim 1, comprising an actuator
of said distribution means, bound to a set regulation value of the
flow rate and/or of the temperature of said liquid in the
exchanger.
5. The device for regulating the circulation of a coolant liquid
for a heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein said actuator is
with an electric and/or pneumatic control.
6. The device for regulating the circulation of a coolant liquid
for a heat exchanger according to claim 1, including a pump for
circulating the liquid.
7. The device for regulating the circulation of a coolant liquid
for a heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said body
comprises two inlets for coolant liquids L, L' of different
temperatures in the chamber, said distribution means being
configured so as to carry out in the chamber a mixing of said
liquids L, L' at a determined temperature.
8. A heat exchanger comprising a device for regulating the
circulation of a coolant liquid for a heat exchanger according to
claim 1.
9. The heat exchanger according to claim 8, including a heat
exchange bundle, said bundle being configured so as to allow inflow
and outflow of said coolant liquid on a same side of said
bundle.
10. The heat exchanger according to claim 9, wherein the device is
configured so as to be connected to the exchanger at said same
side.
11. The heat exchanger according to claim 8, including at least two
boxes, one for inflow of the liquid into the exchanger and the
other one for outflow of the liquid from the exchanger, said device
being configured so as to be positioned between said two boxes for
inflow and outflow of liquid in the exchanger.
12. The heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein said device
is configured so as to be integrated to said boxes.
13. The heat exchanger according to claim 11, comprising a lid
configured so as to be assembled to the bundle at said same side,
said lid defining said boxes for inflow and outflow of liquid and
said chamber of the regulation device.
14. The heat exchanger according to claim 8, wherein said
regulation device is dual and includes two of said chambers able to
each contain a coolant liquid at a determined temperature, and the
exchanger is with two stages, each of the chambers being configured
for feeding one of the stages of the exchanger with one of the
coolant liquids at a determined temperature.
15. An air admission module comprising a heat exchanger according
to claim 8.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a device for regulating the
circulation of a coolant liquid for a heat exchanger, in particular
for a motor vehicle engine charge air cooler and to the obtained
heat exchanger.
[0002] In this field, exchangers, so-called charge air coolers are
known, allowing heat exchange between the air charge, intended to
feed the engine of the vehicle, and a coolant liquid. They comprise
a heat exchange bundle defining alternating circulation channels
for the air charge and for the coolant liquid. Such exchangers have
the advantage of being able to be freely positioned under the hood,
notably in proximity to the engine of the vehicle, unlike the
charge air exchangers cooled by means of an outdoor air bundle
which require being positioned in the front face of the vehicle or
at the very least in proximity to an air intake.
[0003] In order to ensure thermal regulation of the air charge,
today it is known how to have the air charge pass either through
the exchanger, or through a by-pass circuit. In this way it is
possible to modify the temperature of the air sent to the engine
depending on the air fraction crossing the exchanger and on the air
fraction passing through the by-pass route.
[0004] Because of the sections required for the air flow, these
solutions are, however, relatively cumbersome.
[0005] The object of the invention is to find a remedy to this
drawback and to propose for this purpose a device for regulating
the circulation of a coolant liquid for a heat exchanger, in
particular a motor vehicle engine charge air cooler, said device
including a body configured so as to be attached to said exchanger,
said body defining at least one chamber for circulation of the
liquid, said device further comprising a means for distributing
said liquid in the chamber giving the possibility of modulating the
temperature and/or the flow rate of the coolant liquid in the
exchanger.
[0006] By carrying out regulation by means of a coolant liquid
circuit, the device of the invention thus gives the possibility, in
a reduced size, of ensuring thermal regulation of the air charge of
the exchanger. The integration of said device to the exchanger
further allows a ready-to-mount module to be available.
[0007] Advantageously, said body comprises at least one inlet for
said liquid in the chamber, first and second outlets of said liquid
of the chamber, said first outlet being configured so as to be
connected to the inlet of the exchanger, said device being
configured for allowing the coolant liquid to by-pass at least
partly the exchanger through said second outlet, said distribution
means being configured so as to carry out a distribution of the
coolant liquid between said first and second outlets of the
chamber.
[0008] The device thus gives the possibility of distributing in
said chamber, the flow of the liquid in circulation at the inlet
between said first and second outlets of the chamber and thereby
regulate the flow rate of the coolant liquid circulating in the
exchanger, and thus, adjust this circulation to the needs for
cooling the air charger in order to either completely cross the
exchanger for cooling it, or partly passing through the exchanger
for partly cooling it, or by-passing the exchanger so as not to
cool it. It further gives the possibility of operating the pump for
circulating the liquid at its rated speed and therefore with
minimum fatigue.
[0009] Other features of the invention which may be taken together
or separately are indicated hereafter: [0010] said regulation
device includes a bypass conduit connected to said second outlet
and configured so as to be connected to the outlet of the
exchanger, [0011] said regulation device includes a pump for
circulating the liquid, and by doing this, gives the possibility of
controlling the circulation of the coolant liquid in the exchanger
as close as possible to the latter, in a fine adjustment, [0012]
said means for distributing said liquid is able to be actuated by
an actuator and to a set regulation value of the flow rate and/or
of the temperature of said liquid in the exchanger, notably
depending on the need for cooling the exchanger. [0013] said device
and/or the distribution means accommodate said actuator and
includes means for kinematic connection between the actuator and
the distribution means, [0014] said actuator has an electric and/or
pneumatic control, [0015] said actuator is rotary, [0016] said
distribution means is a valve, in particular a valve of the rotary
type, [0017] said valve includes a gate allowing said distribution
of the coolant liquid between said first and second chamber
outlets, [0018] said body comprises two inlets for coolant liquids
of different temperatures in the chamber, for example an inlet for
a liquid of a low temperature circuit and an inlet for a liquid of
a high temperature circuit, said distribution means being
configured so as to carry out in the chamber mixing of said liquid
at a determined temperature, for example by subordination to a
temperature sensor for the liquid in the chamber, which allows
regulation of the heat exchange in the heat exchanger according to
the temperature of the coolant liquid. [0019] said body is
configured so as to be connected, notably mechanically, to the
exchanger, for example to a wall of a case or a lid or a bundle of
the exchanger, [0020] said body is in a single piece, for example
from molding, in particular in plastic material.
[0021] The invention also relates to a heat exchanger comprising a
regulation device as described above.
[0022] According to different characteristics which may be assumed
together or separately: [0023] said exchanger includes a heat
exchange bundle, said bundle being configured for allowing inflow
and outflow of said coolant liquid on a same side of said bundle,
[0024] the regulation device is configured so as to be connected to
the exchanger at said same side, [0025] said exchanger includes at
least two boxes, one for inflow of the liquid into the exchanger
and the other for outflow of the liquid from the exchanger, said
regulation device being configured so as to be positioned between
said two boxes for inflow and outflow of liquid in the exchanger,
[0026] said regulation device is configured so as to be integrated
to said boxes, [0027] the exchanger comprises a lid configured so
as to be assembled to the bundle at said same side, said lid
defining said liquid inflow and outflow boxes and said body, in
particular said chamber of the regulation device,
[0028] The invention further relates to a module for admitting air
for the engine of the vehicle comprising a heat exchanger as
described above.
[0029] Other features and advantages of the invention will become
apparent upon reading the description which follows of exemplary
embodiments given as an illustration with reference to the appended
figures. In these figures:
[0030] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an air admission
module for a motor vehicle according to the prior art;
[0031] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of an air admission
module according to the invention;
[0032] FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of an air admission
module according to the invention and having a pump for circulating
the coolant liquid comprised in the module;
[0033] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of an air admission
module according to the invention and having a dual-stage exchanger
and a dual regulation device;
[0034] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate in a perspective view an air
admission module according to the invention, respectively according
to an external view and a view in which the lids of boxes of liquid
of the exchanger are illustrated transparently;
[0035] FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a dual regulation device,
and
[0036] FIG. 8 is a diagram of a regulation device with two coolant
liquid inlets at different temperatures.
[0037] In FIG. 1, an air admission module 1 for a motor vehicle
according to the prior art is illustrated in FIG. 1, comprising a
heat exchanger 3 forming a charge air cooler A of the engine. This
module 1 is here intended to be integrated to the engine in order
to feed it directly, by being added on a cylinder head of the
engine, not shown, so as to distribute the cooled air A towards
admission pipes of the cylinder head through an admission manifold
4 attached to the exchanger.
[0038] The exchanger 3 receives hot compressed air, for example
from a turbo compressor, which enters here into the exchanger
through an air intake manifold 5 of said exchanger. This air is
cooled during its passing in the exchanger 3 and flows out of said
exchanger at said admission manifold 4. The heat exchange takes
place between the air and a coolant liquid L circulating in the
exchanger. More specifically, this cooling of the air is achieved
with a heat exchange bundle 7 of the exchanger, consisting of a
stack of plates 8 determining between them alternating circulation
channels for the air charge and for the coolant liquid. The coolant
liquid L is set into circulation in the exchanger, more
specifically its bundle, by means of an actuated pump 9 at a
distance from the exchanger 3 as this is seen in the Figure.
[0039] An engine admission module 1 according to the invention is
illustrated in FIG. 2. The exchanger 3 is similar to that of FIG.
1.
[0040] According to the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a
device 11 for regulating the circulation of the coolant liquid L in
the heat exchanger 3 is positioned on the circulation path of the
coolant liquid L. This device 11 is mounted on the exchanger 3,
which is here provided, as this is also seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, with
an inlet 13 and an outlet 15 of said coolant liquid L of a same
side of the exchanger. Said device includes a body 17 configured so
as to be attached to said exchanger, said body defining at least
one chamber 19 for circulation of the liquid. Said device further
comprises a means 12 for distributing said liquid in the chamber
giving the possibility of modulating the temperature and/or the
flow rate of the coolant liquid in the exchanger. In this way it is
possible to ensure thermal regulation of the air charge with the
coolant liquid, and this by means of a device integrated to the
exchanger.
[0041] Said body 17 includes here an inlet 21 for said liquid in
the chamber 19, a first outlet 23 and a second outlet 25 of said
liquid from the chamber. Said first outlet 23 is connected to the
inlet 13 of the exchanger, while the device is configured for
allowing the coolant liquid to by-pass at least partly the
exchanger through said second outlet 25, for example through a
bypass conduit 27 of the device connected to the second outlet 25
and to the outlet 15 of the exchanger. The distribution means 12 is
configured here so as to carry out distribution of said liquid in
the chamber, by means of a distribution means 29, between said
first and second outlets 23, 25 of the chamber, so as to distribute
the liquid between the inlet 21 of the exchanger and the bypass
conduit 27.
[0042] Thus, the pump 9 for circulation of the liquid, either
positioned at a distance or not from the device 11, may operate
under its rated conditions, while the device gives the possibility
of regulating the flow rate of the coolant liquid L circulating in
the exchanger 3, as close as possible to the latter in a fine
adjustment, in order to adjust this circulation, according to the
direction of the arrows, to the needs for cooling the air charge A
so as to either completely pass through the exchanger for cooling
it, or partly crossing the exchanger for partly cooling it, or
by-passing the exchanger so as not to cool it. This regulation is
advantageously controlled in correspondence with the need for
cooling the air charge of the engine A.
[0043] Said distribution means in particular comprises a valve 12,
here a three-way valve, including the chamber 19 and said means 29
for distributing said liquid, positioned in the chamber 19. This
distribution means 29 is for example, a gate actuated in a rotary
way in said valve chamber in order to distribute the coolant liquid
L among said first and second outlets of the chamber 23, 25. This
distribution of the liquid is attached to a set regulation value of
the flow rate of said liquid, optionally of the temperature of the
liquid in the exchanger, for example issued by a computing device
of the vehicle.
[0044] Said device may comprise an actuator of said distribution
means, for example provided in a housing of said body, parallel to
said chamber 19. The control of the actuator is notably electric
and/or pneumatic. It may be controlled by said computing device of
the vehicle, in connection with the needs of the engine.
[0045] Said valve 12 is here of the rotary type. It is actuated via
its distribution means 29 by the actuator which may also be rotary,
notably via pinions forming a kinematic connection, which gives the
valve a compact structure, easy to integrate to the regulation
device.
[0046] The regulation device 11, i.e. comprising here the valve 12
and the conduit 27, is advantageously in one piece, for example
from plastic material molding, as this appears in FIG. 5.
[0047] As already mentioned, said exchanger 3 includes here an
inlet 13 and an outlet 15 of said coolant liquid on a same side of
said bundle 7, said device 11 being configured so as to be
connected to the exchanger 3 at said same side. More specifically,
the exchanger includes, as aforementioned, a heat exchanger bundle
7 provided with blades 30 for circulation of said liquid and at
least one column 31 for inflow of said liquid in communication with
said blades, as this is seen in FIG. 6. The valve 12 may be
positioned, at least through the chamber 19, in said inflow column
for the liquid 31 or adjacent to the latter.
[0048] As said exchanger is more specifically in the example of the
type with side inlets, it comprises two boxes 33 of liquid on a
same side of the bundle, these boxes of liquid being housed for
said one column 31 for inflow of the liquid in the bundle, and for
the other a column 35 for outflow of the liquid of the bundle. Said
valve and/or device is then configured so as to be positioned
between both of said columns 31, 35 of liquid in the exchanger
and/or between said boxes 33 of liquid, or even integrated to said
boxes 33.
[0049] More particularly, the exchanger may comprise a lid
configured so as to be assembled to the bundle 7 at said same side,
said lid defining said boxes for inflow and outflow of liquid 33
and said body, notably said chamber 19 for the distribution means
and/or said housing for the actuator.
[0050] The lid is connected to the exchanger, for example to the
bundle 7 of the exchanger like here, to its perimeter, for example
by welding, braising, crimping or other technique, or to a wall of
a case or of a lid of the exchanger (not shown). Optionally, a hood
36 may be mounted, screwed, onto said body 17 as illustrated, which
allows access to the distribution means 29.
[0051] As indicated above, the conduit 27 (FIG. 6) allows the
coolant liquid to by-pass at least partly the exchanger 3 so as to
be brought from the second outlet 25 to the outlet 15 of the
exchanger.
[0052] Said conduit 27 is positioned at the upper portion of the
chamber 19 and is connected to an outlet conduit 37 of the
exchanger. The conduit 27 may further be connected to said box 33
for outflow of the liquid.
[0053] It should be noted that said valve is preferably of the type
with positive safety or "failsafe". In other words, it is
advantageously configured for letting through the coolant liquid in
the exchanger in the case of an operating fault.
[0054] According to the alternative embodiment of FIG. 3, the
device includes a pump 9 for circulating the coolant liquid(s),
which is shown here integrated to said regulation device 11, for
example mounted and secured to the regulation device. In this case,
the regulation device allows modulation of the flow rate of the
coolant liquid in the exchanger, with a reduced response time
relatively to the drive of the pump.
[0055] According to the alternative embodiment of the regulation
device 11 of FIG. 8, the chamber 19 includes two inlets 21, 21' for
the coolant liquid at different temperatures, for example an inlet
21 of a liquid L from a low temperature circuit and an inlet 21' of
a liquid from a high temperature circuit L'. The distribution means
12 then comprises a distribution means 29' of the inlet 21, 21' of
each of said liquids in the chamber 19, this in addition to said
distribution means of the liquid 29 in the chamber between the
first and second outlet 23, 25 of the chamber. It may also comprise
a sensor 39 for the temperature of the liquid in the chamber, so as
to produce in the chamber a mixing of said liquids L, L' at a
determined temperature, which allows additional regulation of the
exchanger according to the temperature of the coolant liquid.
[0056] According to the alternative embodiment illustrated in FIGS.
4 and 7, the regulation device 11 is dual and includes two chambers
19, as described earlier, each containing a coolant liquid at a
determined temperature from the mixing of both liquids L and L',
respectively from a low temperature circuit and from a high
temperature circuit. The exchanger may be with two stages 40, each
of the chambers being configured for feeding one of the stages 40
of the exchanger with one of the coolant liquids at a determined
temperature.
[0057] The invention thus provides a possibility for regulating
accurately and rapidly a heat exchanger, in particular a motor
vehicle engine charge air cooler, in a fine adjustment of the flow
rate and optionally of the temperature of the coolant liquid
circulating in the exchanger.
* * * * *