U.S. patent application number 16/885255 was filed with the patent office on 2020-12-03 for immersion tube for the refrigerant distribution in a chiller.
The applicant listed for this patent is Mahle International GmbH. Invention is credited to Christian Beger, Dominik Behnert, Timo Feldkeller.
Application Number | 20200378685 16/885255 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004873498 |
Filed Date | 2020-12-03 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200378685 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Behnert; Dominik ; et
al. |
December 3, 2020 |
IMMERSION TUBE FOR THE REFRIGERANT DISTRIBUTION IN A CHILLER
Abstract
An immersion tube for the refrigerant distribution in a chiller
may include a tubular shell that at least partially defines an
interior space. The tube may also include at least two radial walls
arranged within the interior space and that subdivide the interior
space into at least two chambers that are separated from one
another in a circumferential direction. The at least two radial
walls may be structured as a single piece with the tubular shell.
The at least two radial walls and the tubular shell may be formed
as a one-piece extruded profile and may be twisted such that the at
least two radial walls form a helix.
Inventors: |
Behnert; Dominik; (Leonberg,
DE) ; Beger; Christian; (Thallwitz, DE) ;
Feldkeller; Timo; (Asperg, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Mahle International GmbH |
Stuttgart |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004873498 |
Appl. No.: |
16/885255 |
Filed: |
May 27, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 15/00 20130101;
F28D 20/0034 20130101; F28D 2020/0078 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F28D 15/00 20060101
F28D015/00; F28D 20/00 20060101 F28D020/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 28, 2019 |
DE |
10 2019 207 799.4 |
Claims
1. An immersion tube for the refrigerant distribution in a chiller,
comprising: a tubular shell that at least partially defines an
interior space; at least two radial walls arranged within the
interior space and that subdivide the interior space into at least
two chambers that are separated from one another in a
circumferential direction; wherein the at least two radial walls
are structured as a single piece with the tubular shell; and
wherein the at least two radial walls and the tubular shell are
formed as a one-piece extruded profile and are twisted such that
the at least two radial walls form a helix.
2. The immersion tube according to claim 13, wherein the helix is
coupled within the tubular shell via at least one of a glued
connection, a clamped connection, a welded connection, and a
soldered connection.
3. The immersion tube according to claim 1, wherein, for each
chamber of the at least two chambers, the tubular shell includes a
shell-side opening of a plurality of shell-side openings.
4. The immersion tube according to claim 3, wherein the plurality
of shell-side openings are disposed in a straight line.
5. The immersion tube according to claim 1, wherein: the at least
two radial walls includes five radial walls; the at least two
chambers includes five chambers; and the five radial walls separate
the five chambers from one another.
6. The immersion tube according to claim 1, wherein the immersion
tube is composed of aluminium.
7. A chiller, comprising: a stacked plate bundle; the immersion
tube according to claim 1; an inlet; and wherein the immersion tube
is arranged within the inlet.
8. A method for producing an immersion tube, comprising: producing
a tubular shell that at least partially defines an interior space
and a plurality of radial walls arranged within the interior space
subdividing the interior space into a plurality of chambers that
are separated from one another in a circumferential direction;
after producing the plurality of radial walls, twisting the
plurality of radial walls such that the plurality of radial walls
form a helix; and wherein one of: producing the tubular shell and
the plurality of radial walls includes forming the tubular shell
and the plurality of radial walls as a one-piece extruded profile,
and twisting the plurality of radial walls includes twisting the
one-piece extruded profile; and producing the tubular shell and the
plurality of radial walls includes forming the tubular shell and
the plurality of radial walls as separate extruded profiles, and
the method further comprises, after twisting the plurality of
radial walls, coupling the helix within the tubular shell.
9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising introducing
a plurality of shell-side openings into the tubular shell, and
wherein a shell-side opening is introduced for each chamber of the
plurality of chambers.
10. The method according to claim 8, wherein producing the tubular
shell and the plurality of radial walls includes producing the
tubular shell and the plurality of radial walls from aluminium.
11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of
radial walls are produced and twisted such that the plurality of
radial walls each have straight longitudinal ends.
12. The method according to claim 9, wherein introducing the
plurality of shell-side openings into the tubular shell includes
drilling the openings into the tubular shell.
13. An immersion tube for the refrigerant distribution in a
chiller, comprising: a tubular shell that at least partially
defines an interior space; at least two radial walls arranged
within the interior space and that subdivide the interior space
into at least two chambers that are separated from one another in a
circumferential direction; wherein the at least two radial walls
are structured separately from the tubular shell; wherein the at
least two radial walls and the tubular shell are formed as separate
extruded profiles and the at least two radial walls are twisted
such that the at least two radial walls form a helix; and wherein
the helix is coupled within the tubular shell.
14. The immersion tube according to claim 13, wherein the plurality
of radial walls each have straight longitudinal ends.
15. The immersion tube according to claim 13, wherein, for each
chamber of the at least two chambers, the tubular shell includes a
shell-side opening of a plurality of shell-side openings.
16. The immersion tube according to claim 15, wherein the plurality
of shell-side openings are disposed in a straight line.
17. The immersion tube according to claim 13, wherein: the at least
two radial walls includes five radial walls; the at least two
chambers includes five chambers; and the five radial walls separate
the five chambers from one another.
18. The immersion tube according to claim 13, wherein the immersion
tube is composed of aluminium.
19. The immersion tube according to claim 13, wherein: the at least
two radial walls includes a plurality of radial walls; and the
plurality of radial walls collectively define a cross section
having a star-like shape.
20. A chiller, comprising: the immersion tube according to claim
13; a stacked plate bundle; an inlet; and wherein the immersion
tube is arranged within the inlet.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to German Patent
Application No. DE 10 2019 207 799.4, filed on May 28, 2019, the
contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to an immersion tube for the
refrigerant distribution in a chiller having a tubular shell and at
least two radial walls located inside. The invention, furthermore,
relates to a chiller having a stacked plate bundle and such an
immersion tube and to a method for producing such an immersion
tube.
BACKGROUND
[0003] From DE 197 19 250 A1 a generic immersion tube having a
tubular shell and altogether five radial walls located inside is
known, which subdivide an interior space of the immersion tube into
five chambers that are separated from one another in the
circumferential direction. Each of the chambers has a shell-side
opening via which refrigerant can exit. In this case, the immersion
tube is formed as an integral die cast part and because of this is
comparatively difficult technically and thus expensive to
produce.
[0004] From DE 10 2012 105 481 A1 a condenser for a motor vehicle
having a first and a second collection line is known, which are
arranged separately from one another. Here, a heat exchanger
section is arranged between the first and the second collection
line and, via the first collection line, connected to a coolant
tank. The coolant tank supplies the coolant to the heat exchanger
section and receives the coolant that has flowed through the heat
exchanger section and the second collection line via the first
collection line. A collector-drier section is connected to the
second collection line in order to carry out a gas/liquid
separation and a dehumidification of the coolant, which has flowed
through the heat exchanger section. An inner space of the coolant
tank is separated into an upper and a lower section by means of a
first separating means, which is arranged between the coolant inlet
and the coolant outlet, wherein on the upper section a helical
groove is formed, which causes the coolant to rotate.
[0005] From US 2006/0102331 A1 a further heat exchanger is
known.
[0006] Generally, stacked plate heat exchangers which discharge
heat from the coolant into evaporating refrigerant are increasingly
employed in the field of the so-called thermal management of
electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles. In particular quick
charging, during which large amounts of heat are generated within a
short time, constitutes a major challenge for such a chiller since
a high cooling output is required. For such a case, large chillers
are employed, which comprises a multiplicity of stacked plates,
over which a two-phase-mixed refrigerant is distributed. In terms
of height, the portion of the gas phase should ideally be present
on each stacked plate identically to the height of the liquid
phase. In the operating state, in which the electric vehicle or the
fuel cell vehicle travels in the so-called coasting mode, only a
very small waste heat is still present so that the chiller runs
only with very low load and a mass flow of the refrigerant drops
and because of this another distribution of the two-phase-mixture
is created than is the case for example during quick charging or
under full load. For this reason it is not possible to date to
supply the same gas/liquid portions of the refrigerant to the
multiplicity of stacked plates for every operating case.
[0007] Such a problem can be solved for example by way of an
immersion tube (without radial walls) in so-called S-flow chillers,
in which the refrigerant is not only conveyed through the chiller
in plate direction and re-exits on the other stacked plate side,
but is additionally diverted in the height on the outlet side,
again returned into the stacked disc plate, diverted once more and
for the last time conducted via the stacked plate to the outlet.
Here, the immersion tube serves for maintaining an inlet and outlet
side on a component top side, which offers an installation space
advantage. In addition, a refrigerant distribution in the plane can
be optimised through suitable shell-side openings. However,
disadvantageous here is the high pressure drop of the refrigerant
which has a direct effect on the cooling output.
SUMMARY
[0008] The present invention therefore deals with the problem of
stating an improved or at least an alternative embodiment for an
immersion tube of the generic type which is characterized by a more
cost-effective production.
[0009] According to the invention, this problem is solved through
the subject matter of the independent claim(s). Advantageous
embodiments are subject of the dependent claim(s).
[0010] The present invention is based on its general idea of
producing an immersion tube as a cost-effective and twisted
extruded component. The immersion tube according to the invention
serves for the refrigerant distribution in a chiller, in particular
in an electric vehicle or in a fuel cell vehicle and comprises a
tubular shell and at least two radial walls located inside, which
subdivide an interior space of the immersion tubes or of the
tubular shell into at least two chambers that are separated from
one another in the circumferential direction. Here, the radial
walls are formed in one piece with the shell or separately from the
same, for example in star-like shape. According to the invention,
the radial walls and the tubular shell are now formed as a
one-piece extruded profile and twisted in such a manner that the
radial walls form a helix running in the axial direction of the
immersion tube. Alternatively to this it is also conceivable that
the radial walls and the tubular shell are formed as separate
extruded profiles or the shell as reshaped punched part and the
radial walls are twisted in such a manner that they form a helix,
wherein the helix in this case is subsequently fixed in the tubular
shell. By forming the immersion tube as a one-piece or multi-part
extruded profile and twisting the radial walls, an immersion tubes
can be created by means of which via suitable shell-side openings a
uniform flow of refrigerant through the chiller can be achieved, as
a result of which the problems in chillers in the stacked plate
form known from the prior art can be minimised. By means of
extruding, the immersion tube according to the invention cannot
only be produced in very high quality but additionally also
cost-effectively, wherein in a case the immersion tube is pressed
through a suitable die stamp comprising both the radial walls and
also the tubular shell. During the extrusion, solid to viscous,
hardenable masses are continuously pressed under pressure out of a
shaping opening, for example a die. The extruded profile created
here has the cross section of the opening and can be produced in
almost any length. By way of subsequent twisting either of the
radial walls alone or of the entire immersion tube, the radial
walls can be reshaped into the helix, wherein through a subsequent
provision of a shell-side opening on each chamber a preferentially
uniform charging of the chiller with refrigerant is possible.
Altogether, such an immersion tube can be produced significantly
more cost-effectively than a comparable immersion tube produced as
a die-cast component.
[0011] In an advantageous further development of the solution
according to the invention according to the second alternative, the
helix in the tubular shell is fixed through a glued connection, a
clamped connection or a soldered connection. Even this
non-conclusive enumeration shows the manifold connecting
possibilities of the helix that are possible in the tubular shell,
wherein in particular a soldering appears advantageous.
[0012] Practically, a shell-side opening for each chamber is
provided in the tubular shell. By way of a shell-side opening
belonging to a respective chamber a uniform expulsion of
refrigerant over the entire length of the immersion tube can be
achieved, as a result of which in turn a uniform charging of the
chiller with refrigerant is made possible. In particular, supplying
the chiller with same gas-liquid portions of the refrigerant in any
operating state can also take place by way of this.
[0013] Practically, the shell-side openings lie on a straight line.
When for example five radial walls are provided, which separate
five chambers from one another in the circumferential direction, at
least five shell-side openings are also introduced, for example
through a punching or drilling later on, which preferentially lie
on a straight line. By way of this, a chiller can be supplied with
refrigerant with the immersion tube according to the invention over
the entire height almost uniformly and irrespective of the
operating state.
[0014] From a further advantageous embodiment of the solution
according to the invention, the immersion tube is produced from
aluminium. Aluminium constitutes a particularly preferred material
with regard to extruding and additionally offers a high heat
conduction coefficient, as a result of which the use of aluminium
is of great advantage in particular in the region of a chiller.
[0015] The present invention, furthermore, is based on the general
idea of equipping a chiller in stacked plate design with an
immersion tube introduced therein on the inlet side. By way of
this, a chiller can be created which by way of the immersion tube
according to the invention, seen over the height and irrespective
of the operating state, i.e. in particular irrespective of load, is
uniformly supplied with refrigerant. By way of this, an almost
identical gas-liquid portion of the refrigerant can also be
achieved in each plate.
[0016] The present invention is based, furthermore, on the general
idea of stating a method for producing a previously described
immersion tube, in which initially a tubular shell with radial
walls arranged therein is produced as a one-piece extruded profile
and subsequently twisted in such a manner that the radial walls
from a helix running in the longitudinal direction of the immersion
tube. Alternatively to this it is conceivable that the radial walls
and the tubular shell are produced as separate extruded profiles or
the shell as reshaped punched part and subsequently only the radial
walls are twisted in such a manner that they form a helix, wherein
the helix thus produced is subsequently fixed, for example glued,
welded, clamped or soldered in the tubular shell, which can also be
produced as a punched part. Both alternatives of the production
method according to the invention have in common that the immersion
tube altogether can be produced cost-effectively and not, as in the
past, as expensive die cast component that is difficult to produce
technically. Obviously, shell-side openings still have to be
introduced following this in order to be able to create outlet
openings for the refrigerant later on. Here, at least one shell
opening is introduced for each chamber, in particular drilled in or
punched. With the method according to the invention, the immersion
tube can thus be produced cost-effectively yet in high quality, in
particular compared with immersion tubes produced or formed as
die-cast components known from the prior art to date.
[0017] Further important features and advantages of the invention
are obtained from the subclaims, from the drawing and from the
associated FIGURE description by way of the drawing.
[0018] It is to be understood that the features mentioned above and
still to be explained in the following cannot only be used in the
respective combination stated but also in other combinations or by
themselves without leaving the scope of the present invention.
[0019] A preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown
in the drawing and is explained in more detail in the following
description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The only FIGURE shows a partly sectioned view through an
immersion tube according to the invention and a chiller according
to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] According to the FIGURE, an immersion tube 1 according to
the invention, which is employed for the refrigerant distribution
in a chiller 2, comprises a tubular shell 3 and at least two radial
walls 4 located inside, here five radial walls 4 located inside,
which subdivide an interior space of the immersion tube 1 into at
least two, here altogether five, chambers 6 separated from one
another in the circumferential direction. Here, the radial walls 4
are formed in one piece with the shell 3 or separately from the
same. According to the FIGURE, only half of the shell 3 is drawn in
order to obtain a better view of the radial walls 4 represented as
helix 7. Here, the chiller 2 comprises a stacked plate bundle and
an immersion tube 1 introduced into an inlet.
[0022] According to the invention, the radial walls 4 and the
tubular shell 3 are formed as a one-piece extruded profile and
twisted in such a manner that the radial walls 4 form the
previously mentioned helix 7. Alternatively it is also conceivable
that the radial walls 4 and the tubular shell 3 are formed as
separated extruded profiles or the shell 3 as reshaped punched part
and the radial walls 4 twisted in such a manner that they form a
helix 7. In this case, the finish-twisted helix 7 would have to be
fixed in the tubular shell 3 later on. The tubular shell 3
according to the FIGURE comprises a collar 8 which can be produced
for example by way of a separate forming process or which, during a
later processing step, connected to the immersion tube 1.
[0023] When the immersion tube according to the invention is
produced according to the second alternative, i.e. with radial
walls 4 separated from the tubular shell 3, the helix 7 formed from
the radial walls 4 is subsequently fixed in the tubular shell 3,
for example by way of a glued connection, a clamped connection or a
soldered connection. Purely theoretically, welding is obviously
also conceivable. In the embodiment of the immersion tube 1
according to the invention shown according to the FIGURE, the same
comprises altogether five radial walls 4 which star-like originate
from a centre point. Obviously, more or fewer, however at least two
radial walls 4 can be provided, which form chambers 6 that are
separated from one another in the circumferential direction. The
number of the radial walls 4 corresponds to the number of the
chambers 6 separated by these.
[0024] Viewing the immersion tube 1 according to the FIGURE further
it is noticeable that for each chamber 6 a shell-side opening 9 is
provided in the tubular shell 3, via which refrigerant can flow
out. By way of this it is possible in particular with a chiller 2,
to evenly supply layers between different stacked plates 10 evenly
and in particular regardless of operating state and load with
refrigerant. By way of this, a uniform gas/liquid mixture can also
be produced in particular.
[0025] According to the FIGURE it is noticeable, furthermore, that
the shell-side openings 9 lie on a straight line, wherein another
arrangement is obviously also conceivable, and wherein via the
arrangement of the shell-side openings 9, influencing in particular
an inflow behaviour of refrigerant via the immersion tube 1 into
the chiller 2 is possible.
[0026] Practically, the immersion tube 1 according to the invention
is produced from aluminium which creates not only a durable
structure. The chiller 2 according to the invention, which is
equipped with the immersion tube 1 according to the invention, can
be employed for example in an electric vehicle 11 or a fuel cell
vehicle 12.
[0027] The immersion tube 1 according to the invention is produced
by means of a production method according to the invention, which
is described in more detail in the following:
[0028] Initially, a tubular shell 3 with radial walls 4 arranged
therein is produced as a one-piece extruded profile, i.e. extruded,
and subsequently twisted, upon which the radial walls 4 assume the
helical shape shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively it is obviously also
conceivable that the radial walls 4 and the tubular shell 3 are
initially produced as separate extruded profiles or the shell
produced as reshaped punched part with introduced openings 9, which
subsequently the radial walls 4, which in the present case have a
star-shaped cross section, are twisted in such a manner that they
form the described helix 7. Again subsequently, this twisted helix
7 is fixed in the tubular shell 3 or clamped, welded, glued or
soldered in the same. Further, the shell-side openings 9 have to be
provided, which can be produced for example in a subsequent process
step, for example by drilling or punching. With the method
according to the invention the immersion tube 1 according to the
invention can be produced in a significantly simpler and thus more
cost-effective manner.
* * * * *