U.S. patent application number 15/152070 was filed with the patent office on 2016-11-17 for motor vehicle heat exchanger system.
This patent application is currently assigned to BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBH. The applicant listed for this patent is BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBH. Invention is credited to TOBIAS DUPMEIER, SVEN PRZYBYLSKI, FELIX RUBITSCHEK.
Application Number | 20160334148 15/152070 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55968951 |
Filed Date | 2016-11-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160334148 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
RUBITSCHEK; FELIX ; et
al. |
November 17, 2016 |
MOTOR VEHICLE HEAT EXCHANGER SYSTEM
Abstract
A motor vehicle heat exchanger system with a closed circuit for
an operating medium is disclosed, which includes an evaporator for
evaporating the operating medium and a condenser for condensing the
vaporous operating medium. Between the condenser and the evaporator
a compensation container for receiving the operating medium is
integrated. The compensation container is arranged in the cooling
fluid stream and can be cooled by the cooling fluid stream.
Inventors: |
RUBITSCHEK; FELIX;
(Paderborn, DE) ; PRZYBYLSKI; SVEN; (Paderborn,
DE) ; DUPMEIER; TOBIAS; (Paderborn, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBH |
Paderborn |
|
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK
GMBH
Paderborn
DE
|
Family ID: |
55968951 |
Appl. No.: |
15/152070 |
Filed: |
May 11, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02E 20/30 20130101;
F25B 2400/16 20130101; F02G 5/02 20130101; F28D 15/0266 20130101;
F25B 2339/044 20130101; Y02T 10/16 20130101; F22B 1/1807 20130101;
F28D 15/043 20130101; Y02E 20/363 20130101; F25B 39/04 20130101;
F01N 5/02 20130101; Y02T 10/12 20130101; Y02T 10/166 20130101; F25B
43/006 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25B 39/04 20060101
F25B039/04; F25B 43/00 20060101 F25B043/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 12, 2015 |
DE |
10 2015 107 473.7 |
Claims
What is claimed is: A motor vehicle heat exchanger system with a
closed circuit for circulating an operating medium, said heat
exchanger system comprising: an evaporator for evaporating the
operating medium; a condenser for condensing the operating medium
from a vaporous state, said condenser being integrated in a cooling
fluid stream; and a compensation container for receiving the
operating medium, said compensation container provided between the
condenser and the evaporator, and being coolable by the cooling
fluid stream.
2. The motor vehicle heat exchanger system of claim 1, wherein the
compensation container is arranged in the cooling fluid stream
upstream of the condenser.
3. The motor vehicle heat exchanger system of claim 1, wherein the
compensation container is arranged in the cooling fluid stream
downstream of the condenser.
4. The motor vehicle heat exchanger system of claim 1, wherein the
compensation container is integrated in the condenser.
5. The motor vehicle heat exchanger system of claim 1, wherein the
condenser and the compensation container together form a structural
unit.
6. The motor vehicle heat exchanger system of claim 1, wherein the
compensation container is arranged below the condenser.
7. The motor vehicle heat exchanger system of claim 1, wherein the
evaporator includes multiple evaporator modules.
8. The motor vehicle heat exchanger system of claim 1, further
comprising means for a pressure compensation between the evaporator
and the compensation container. The motor vehicle heat exchanger
system of claim 7, wherein the evaporator or the evaporator modules
have a housing and a capillary structure arranged in the
housing.
10. The motor vehicle heat exchanger system of claim 9, wherein the
capillary structure is formed by a porous plate body made of a
sintered material.
11. The motor vehicle heat exchanger system of claim 1, wherein the
evaporator is integrated in the exhaust gas stream of the internal
combustion engine.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority of German Patent
Application, Serial No. 10 2015 107 473.7, filed May 12, 2015,
pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), the content of which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if fully set
forth herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a The invention relates to
a motor vehicle heat exchanger system.
[0003] The following discussion of related art is provided to
assist the reader in understanding the advantages of the invention,
and is not to be construed as an admission that this related art is
prior art to this invention.
[0004] The use of lost thermal energy in the exhaust gas of the
internal combustion engines of motor vehicles offers several
possibilities to increase the efficiency of motor vehicles. In this
connection the use of waste heat for heating the passenger
compartment offers the possibility to dispense with additional
heating measures thereby reducing fuel consumption. In addition the
waste heat can be used for shortening the warm-up phase of drive
components of a motor vehicle. Hereby mechanical power loss and
with this motor load and motor consumption during the warm-up phase
can be reduced.
[0005] The recovery of waste heat generated during combustion
processes of the motor thus offers a great potential for saving
fuel and can contribute to increasing the comfort of driving or
using a motor vehicle.
[0006] EP 0 832 411 B1 or DE 696 06 296 T2 disclose a method for
transporting liquids in a micro-fluid circuit system with a
capillary pump for transporting heat. In the circuit at least one
evaporator and a condenser and a container for receiving a heat
transmitting fluid or operating medium is provided. The evaporator
has an outlet, which is connected with the inlet of the condenser
via an evaporator line. An outlet of the condenser is connected
with the compensation container. The evaporator contains an
evaporator body with a permeable material in order to evaporate the
operating medium by heat absorption and to generate a capillary
pump pressure in the circuit. The reservoir and the evaporator are
thermally isolated against each other and are connected with each
other by a line. Hereby the container is constructed so as to kept
at a lower temperature than the evaporator. This is intended to
enable a heat exchange with a minimal temperature difference
between the heat source and the condenser.
[0007] The state of the art also includes a heat transport device
that relies on a capillary pumping action as disclosed in the
reference WO 2013/037784 A1 by using a two-phase operating medium.
This heat exchanger system includes an evaporator with a
micro-porous body, a condenser and a compensation container with an
inlet and an outlet. The compensation container has multiple
regions that are separated from each other but are in fluid
communication with each other. This is intended to avoid
disadvantageous influences that occur during mixing of the
operating medium and may lead to a pressure decrease.
[0008] A similar heat transport device is disclosed in WO
2013/037785 A1, wherein between the compensation container and the
micro-porous body of the evaporator a check valve is provided, in
order to prevent a backflow of the operating medium from the
evaporator into the compensation container. This is intended to
prevent the evaporator from drying out.
[0009] It would therefore be advantageous and desirable to provide
a motor vehicle heat exchanger system which is improved regarding
the required mounting space and its use and to increase its
efficiency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, a motor
vehicle heat exchanger system with a closed circuit for circulating
an operating medium, said heat exchanger system including an
evaporator for evaporating the operating medium; a condenser for
condensing the operating medium from a vaporous state, wherein the
condenser is integrated in a cooling fluid stream; and a
compensation container for receiving the operating medium, wherein
the compensation container is provided between the condenser and
the evaporator, and is coolable by the cooling fluid stream.
[0011] In the condenser of the motor vehicle heat exchanger system
the vaporous operating medium originating from the evaporator is
condensed. For this the condenser is integrated in a cooling fluid
stream and is impinged with cooling fluid, wherein the cooling
fluid flows against the condenser or flows around or through the
condenser. The cooling fluid can be a gas, in particular air, or a
liquid for example oil.
[0012] The motor vehicle heat exchanger system according to the
invention is advantageous regarding mounting space and in terms of
application. The integration of the compensation container in the
zone of influence of the cooling fluid makes it possible to
maintain a low pressure level in the circuit. This leads to an
increased efficiency and is advantageous regarding application. As
a result of the integration o of the compensation container in the
zone of influence of the cooling fluid stream the available
mounting space in the motor vehicle can also be used effectively.
The same applies to complex valve arrangements and check
valves.
[0013] The motor vehicle heat exchanger system according to the
invention is characterized in particular by a high heat transfer
density which increases the efficiency of the motor vehicle heat
exchanger system.
[0014] According to another advantageous feature of the invention,
the compensation container can be cooled by the cooling fluid
stream. This results in an additional heat source. This additional
heat source can be used for heating purposes in the motor vehicle
for example for heating the interior or for heating drive
components such as the transmission or the motor oil.
[0015] A further important advantage of the motor vehicle heat
exchanger system according to the invention is the high
spontaneity, i.e., the response characteristics and in particular
that the transport of the operating medium in the circuit is
ensured by the heat input itself. This means that no other
auxiliary users such as a pump are required. This increases the
efficiency of the motor vehicle heat exchanger system and lowers
the costs of the system.
[0016] The compensation container in the motor vehicle heat
exchanger system according to the invention has essentially two
functions, i.e., generation a reserve of operating medium and on
the other hand receiving the portion of the operating medium that
was displaced by the vapor and to maintain the pressure in the
system on a lowest possible level.
[0017] An important aspect of the invention is that the cooling of
the compensation container and the condenser are combined. As a
result the cooling air stream for cooling the compensation
container and the condenser is used and the obtained heat is used
in the motor vehicle for heating purposes, for example with the air
stream for the heating the interior compartment.
[0018] According to another advantageous feature of the invention,
the compensation container can be arranged in the cooling fluid
stream upstream of the condenser.
[0019] According to another advantageous feature of the invention,
the compensation container can be arranged in the cooling fluid
stream downstream of the condenser.
[0020] An aspect which has proven advantageous in praxis is that
the compensation container is integrated in the condenser. In
particular the condenser and the compensation container form a
constructive unit. It is also advantageous when the compensation
container is arranged below the condenser. In particular the
compensation container is arranged directly below the condenser and
is directly connected to the condenser outlet of the condenser.
[0021] Geometrically the compensation container is adjusted to the
particular application at hand and the arrangement in the cooling
air stream. Hereby a compensation container, for example a round or
square compensation container, can be arranged below the actual
condenser. Further a tubular compensation container can be
integrated in the cooling air stream. In addition it is possible to
integrated the compensation container in the cooling fluid stream
so that the compensation container is apart of the cooling fluid
channel though which the cooling fluid is conducted. Hereby the
compensation container can for example be integrated in the
sidewall of the cooling fluid channel in the manner of a water
pocket.
[0022] The efficiency of the motor vehicle heat exchanger system
according to the invention can further be increased by providing
for a pressure compensation between the evaporator and the
compensation container. For this purpose means for the pressure
compensation between the evaporator and the compensation container
are provided. In particular the evaporator and the compensation
container are connected with each other via a pressure compensation
line. This ensures a low pressure level in the circuit. As a result
of the pressure compensation between the evaporator and the
compensation container, the operating direction of the circuit can
be influenced in particular regarding startup behavior. This also
enables stabilizing the temperature in the startup phase, which is
advantageous regarding efficiency or performance of the system. In
particular a high temperature difference between the vapor line and
the condenser line is archived, which is advantageous for the
system.
[0023] The evaporator is in heat conducting contact with a heat
source of the motor vehicle. Particular advantageously the
evaporator is integrated in the exhaust gas stream of the internal
combustion engine of the motor vehicle. This makes it possible to
use the waste heat of the hot exhaust gas.
[0024] According to another advantageous feature of the invention,
the evaporator of the motor vehicle heat exchanger system includes
multiple evaporator modules. The evaporator modules are preferably
combined with each other so that a passage is formed between them
for the hot exhaust gas stream that originates from the internal
combustion engine.
[0025] In this connection it is also advantageous that the
evaporator or one or each evaporator module has a housing and a
capillary structure arranged in the housing. The housing is
preferably made of a material with good heat conducting properties
in particular a metal, preferably steel, in particular a stainless
steel. It is also possible to use a housing made of copper or
aluminum. The housing can also be made of ceramic materials. The
capillary structure in the interior of the housing is in particular
formed by a porous plate body made of a sintered material. In
particular the capillary structure is metal based.
[0026] A motor vehicle heat exchanger system with an evaporator or
evaporator module and integrated capillary structure is
particularly advantageous within the framework of the invention.
The compensation container has the function to generate a reserve
of operating medium so that the capillary structure is fully
saturated under all operating conditions. Moreover, the
compensation container ensures that the portion of the operating
medium that was displaced by vapor from the capillary structure is
received and the pressure in the system is kept to a lowest
possible level.
[0027] The motor vehicle heat exchanger system according to the
invention renders the recovery of waste heat generated in the
combustion process more efficient and with this contributes to
saving fuel or reducing fuel consumption.
[0028] As mentioned above, in the motor vehicle heat exchanger
system an additional heat source is created by the cooling of the
compensation container. This available additional heat source can
be used for heating purposes in the motor vehicle for example for
heating the interior of the motor vehicle.
[0029] Advantageous in praxis is the integration of the
compensation container into the cooling fluid stream, in particular
the cooling fluid stream of the air conditioning module of a motor
vehicle. This creates a usable heat sink for the cooling of the
compensation container and at the same time the dissipated heat can
additionally be used in the motor vehicle for heating purposes, for
example heating of the interior of the motor vehicle.
[0030] In particular the motor vehicle heat exchanger system is
characterized by the stable start-up behavior in the circuit. A
particular advantage results from maintaining a low pressure level
of the vapor circuit or the circuit of the operating medium in the
startup phase. In the system a significantly low pressure level is
present at efficient performance.
[0031] The motor vehicle heat exchanger system particularly
efficiently uses the waste heat originating from the exhaust gas.
The exhaust gas temperature is reduced by the heat withdrawal via
the evaporator.
[0032] The compact construction of the system or of components of
the system, in particular the combination of the compensation
container with the condenser further results in advantages
regarding mounting space and enables saving additional system
components such as valves and potentially complex gaskets.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0033] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
be more readily apparent upon reading the following description of
currently preferred exemplified embodiments of the invention with
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
[0034] FIG. 1 shows a technically simplified illustration of a
first embodiment of a motor vehicle heat exchanger system according
to the invention,
[0035] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a motor vehicle heat
exchanger system with the schematic representation of the circuit
for the operating medium and
[0036] FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of a motor vehicle heat
exchanger system with a schematic representation of the circuit for
the operating medium
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0037] Throughout all the Figures, same or corresponding elements
may generally be indicated by same reference numerals. These
depicted embodiments are to be understood as illustrative of the
invention and not as limiting in any way. It should also be
understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that
the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols,
phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views.
In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an
understanding of the present invention or which render other
details difficult to perceive may have been omitted.
[0038] FIGS. 1 to 3 show respectively technically simplified
illustrations of a motor vehicle heat exchanger system A, B, C.
[0039] Each motor vehicle heat exchanger system A, B, C has a
closed circuit for an operating medium OM and includes an
evaporator 1 for evaporating the operating medium and condenser 2
for condensing the vaporous operating medium OM. Between the
condenser 2 and the evaporator 1 a compensation container 3 is
provided. The evaporator 1 is integrated in the exhaust gas stream
EG of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The
condenser 2 is integrated in a cooling fluid stream CS. The cooling
fluid CF can be a gas, in particular air, or a liquid, for example
oil. The condenser 2 is impinged in the cooling fluid stream CS
with cooling fluid CF wherein hereby cooling flood CF flows against
or around or through the condenser 2. The cooling fluid stream CS
is herby indicated by a schematically shown channel 4.
[0040] The evaporator 1 includes preferably multiple evaporator
modules 5, 6. The evaporator modules 5, 6 are configured
cassette-like with a housing 7 made of a housing shell and a cover.
In the housing 7 of each of the evaporator modules 5, 6 a capillary
structure 8 is arranged. The capillary structure 8 is formed by a
porous plate body made of a sintered material, in particular on
metal basis. The evaporator 1 or the evaporator modules 5, 6 are in
direct contact with the hot exhaust gas EG originating from the
internal combustion engine. In an advantageous embodiment the
evaporator modules 5, 6 are connected so that the exhaust gas EG is
conducted through the evaporator 1 through a passage (not shown)
formed between the evaporator modules 5, 6.
[0041] As a result of the heat on the exhaust gas stream EG the
operating medium OM is evaporated in the evaporator 1. The vaporous
operating medium OM is received in a vapor collection chamber 9 of
the evaporator 1 and form there conducted via a vapor line 10 into
the condenser 2. In the condenser 2 a heat exchange with the
cooling fluid CF takes place. This causes the operating medium OM
to be cooled and to condense. From the condenser 2 the operating
medium OM reaches the compensation container 3 and from the
compensation container 3 is conducted via a condensate line 11 to
the inlet 12 of the evaporator 1.
[0042] The compensation container 3 is integrated in the motor
vehicle heat exchanger system A, B, C in the cooling fluid stream
CS and can be impinged with cooling fluid CF. As a result the
compensation container 3 is cooled by the cooling fluid stream CS.
The system pressure essentially depends on the temperature of the
operating medium OM in the compensation container 3. As a result of
the cooling of the compensation container 3 in the cooling fluid
stream CS the pressure level in the circuit can be kept low.
Moreover, the cooling of the operating medium OM in the
compensation container 3 also enables stabilizing the temperature
in the circuit and with this a control of the direction of flow of
the operating medium OM in the circuit. As a result of the
temperature difference between the condensate line 11 or at the
inlet of the evaporator 1 and the outlet 13 of the evaporator 1 and
the vapor line 10, the operating medium. OM flows in the circuit
without requiring an additional externally driven circulating
device, for example a pump. The direction of flow of the operating
medium OM is indicated by the arrowheads on the condensate line 11
and the vapor line 10.
[0043] In the motor vehicle heat exchanger system A, as shown in
FIG. 1, the compensation container 3 is arranged directly
downstream of the condenser 2 and in particular integrated in a
common housing 14 together with the condenser 2. The condenser 2
and the compensation container 3 form a constructive unit in which
the compensation container 3 is arranged below the condenser 2.
Between the evaporator 1 and the compensation container 3 a means
15 for pressure compensation is provided. The means 15 for pressure
compensation include a pressure compensation line 16, which
connects the compensation container 3 and the evaporator. Via the
pressure compensation line 16 a pressure compensation takes place
between the evaporator 1 and the compensation container 3. This
allows vapor bubbles, which form in the region of the inlet 12 on
the liquid side of the evaporator 1 to escape.
[0044] In the motor vehicle heat exchanger system B, as shown in
FIG. 2, the compensation container 3 is arranged in the cooling
fluid stream CS downstream of the condenser 2 and the cooling fluid
stream CS flows against or around the condenser 2. Also in this
case the compensation container 3 and the evaporator 1 are
connected by a means 15 for pressure compensation in the form of a
pressure compensation line 16.
[0045] The motor vehicle heat exchanger system C shown in FIG. 3 is
generally constructed similarly. In the motor vehicle heat
exchanger system C the compensation container 3 is arranged in the
cooling fluid stream CS upstream of the condenser 2 and cooling
fluid CF directly flows against the compensation container 3 before
the cooling fluid CF comes into heat exchanging contact with the
condenser 2. A pressure compensation between the compensation
container 3 and the evaporator 1 is again accomplished via means 15
for pressure compensation in the form of a pressure compensation
line 16.
* * * * *