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DE-102024132875-A1 - Heat exchanger arrangement

DE102024132875A1DE 102024132875 A1DE102024132875 A1DE 102024132875A1DE-102024132875-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat exchanger arrangement (1), - with a main air path (2) through which air (L) flows along a main flow direction (H), - with at least one heat exchanger (3) arranged in the main air path (2), which has a plurality of heat exchanger air paths (4) communicating fluidically with the main air path (2) and thus through which the air (L) can flow, as well as a plurality of fluid paths (5) that are fluidically separated from the heat exchanger air paths (4) and through which a fluid (F) can flow for thermal coupling of the fluid (F) with the air (L), - with a fan (6) arranged in the main air path (2) to drive the air (L) in the main air path (2), - with a separating device (8) arranged upstream of the heat exchanger (3) with respect to the main flow direction (H) in the main air path (2), which divides the main air path (2) upstream of the at least one heat exchanger (3) to the heat exchanger (3) into a first air path zone (7a) and into at least one second air path zone (7b-7h) fluidically separated from the first air path zone (7a), so that the air path zones (7a-7f) communicate fluidically separately from each other with the heat exchanger air paths (4).

Inventors

  • Martin Sievers
  • Uwe Förster

Assignees

  • MAHLE INTERNATIONAL GMBH

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241111

Claims (11)

  1. Heat exchanger arrangement (1), - comprising a main air path (2) through which air (L) flows along a main flow direction (H), - comprising at least one heat exchanger (3) arranged in the main air path (2), which has a plurality of heat exchanger air paths (4) communicating fluidically with the main air path (2) and thus through which the air (L) flows, as well as a plurality of fluid paths (5) through which a fluid (F) flows, fluidically separated from the heat exchanger air paths (4), for thermally coupling the fluid (F) with the air (L), - comprising a fan (6) arranged in the main air path (2) for driving the air (L) in the main air path (2), - comprising a separating device (8) arranged upstream of the at least one heat exchanger (3) in the main air path (2) with respect to the main flow direction (H), which separates the main air path (2) upstream of the at least one heat exchanger (3) to the at least one heat exchanger (3) is divided into a first air path zone (7a) and into at least one second air path zone (7b-7h) which is fluidically separated from the first air path zone (7a), so that the air path zones (7a-7f) communicate with the heat exchanger air paths (4) in a fluidically separate manner.
  2. Heat exchanger arrangement according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the first air path zone (7a) communicates fluidically with a first part (4a) of the heat exchanger air paths (4), which is connected to at least a second part (4b) of the heat The air path (4a) is different from the transmitter air path, with which at least one second air path zone (7b-7h) communicates fluidically.
  3. Heat exchanger arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that - the separating device (8) comprises at least one separating element (9a-9f) arranged between the first air path zone (7a) and the at least one second air path zone (7b-7h), - preferably at least one separating element (9a-9f) is designed as a fluid-tight separating wall (10a-10d).
  4. Heat exchanger arrangement according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the separating element (9a-9f) or the partition wall (10a-10f) extends, preferably along the main flow direction (H), from the fan (6) to the at least one heat exchanger (3).
  5. Heat exchanger arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the fan (6) comprises a housing (11) with a housing opening (12) through which the air (L) can flow, in which a rotatable fan wheel is arranged, - the fan wheel is rotatable about an axis of rotation (D) extending along the main flow direction (H), - the fan wheel is rotatable along a circumferential direction (U) extending perpendicular to the main flow direction (H) and rotating about this axis of rotation (D), - in a cross-section perpendicular to the main flow direction (H) and/or in a viewing direction (B) towards the housing opening (12) along the main flow direction (H) at least one separating element (9a-9) or at least one partition wall (10a-10d) is arranged at least sectionally in an extension of the housing opening (12) along the axis of rotation (D).
  6. Heat exchanger arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - at least one separating element (9a-9f) or at least one partition wall (10a-10d) extends along the circumferential direction (U); or/and that - a radial direction (R) extends perpendicularly from the axis of rotation (D) both to the main flow direction (H) and to the circumferential direction (U), and at least one separating element (9a-9f) or at least one partition wall (10a-10d) extends along the radial direction (R).
  7. Heat exchanger arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the fluid paths (7) extend along a longitudinal direction (LR); - at least one separating element (9a, 9b) or at least one partition wall (10a, 10b) extends along the longitudinal direction (LR) and/or orthogonally to the longitudinal direction (LR).
  8. Heat exchanger arrangement according to Claim 7 , characterized in that - a first separating element (9a) extends along the longitudinal direction (LR) and a second separating element (9b) extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L), such that these two separating elements (9a, 9b) divide the main air path (2) into at least four air path zones (7a-7d), - preferably the two separating elements (9a, 9b) intersect at a point (Z) which is particularly preferably arranged on the axis of rotation (D).
  9. Heat exchanger arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the at least one heat exchanger (3), in particular the fluid paths (5), extends perpendicular to the main flow direction (H) along a vertical direction (V) from a lower end (14a) to an upper end (14b), - at least one separating element (9a-9f) or at least one partition wall (10a-10d) is arranged in a lower end section (15) facing the lower end (14a) with respect to the vertical direction (V), which divides the main air path (2) into a first air path zone (7a) facing the lower end (14a) and a second air path zone (7b) facing the upper end (14b).
  10. Heat exchanger arrangement according to Claim 9 , characterized in that the at least one heat exchanger (3) is arranged relative to a direction of gravity (G) such that the vertical direction (V) extends parallel to the direction of gravity (G).
  11. Heat exchanger arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - at least one separating element (9a-9f) or at least one partition wall (10a-10d) is curved and preferably has the geometry of a circular arc.

Description

The present invention relates to a heat exchanger arrangement. Heat exchangers are often used as evaporators in air conditioning systems. In this case, heat is supplied to a refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger, causing the refrigerant to evaporate. The heat of vaporization supplied to the refrigerant is transferred to it by air also flowing through the heat exchanger. This reduces the temperature of the air. This can also occur in a refrigerant chiller, for example, when it absorbs heat from the environment and supplies it to the refrigeration circuit for use in a heat pump system with a chiller (i.e., an indirect evaporator). In practice, it often occurs that the air temperature is below its dew point, allowing the moisture in the air to condense into water in the heat exchanger. However, this water increases the flow resistance of the air passing through the heat exchanger, hindering its flow. Therefore, it is essential to remove any condensation that accumulates in the heat exchanger as quickly and completely as possible. In conventional air conditioning systems, this is usually achieved using a fan to circulate air through the heat exchanger. Such a fan can also be used to blow or extract the water that has accumulated in the heat exchanger, depending on whether the fan is located upstream or downstream of the heat exchanger. A disadvantage of this configuration is that the fan typically removes the condensate from the heat exchanger unevenly. This results in areas within the heat exchanger where airflow is minimal, while other areas remain heavily saturated. Consequently, the fan directs most of the air entering the heat exchanger through these areas. As a result, the remaining condensate in these areas is poorly or not at all removed due to insufficient airflow, thus permanently reducing the heat exchanger's efficiency. It is therefore an object of the present invention to demonstrate new approaches in the development of heat exchanger arrangements comprising a heat exchanger and a fan for conveying air through the heat exchanger. In particular, an improved embodiment of such a heat exchanger arrangement is to be created in which the aforementioned disadvantage is at least partially, and ideally even completely, eliminated. This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Preferred embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent patent claims. The basic idea of the invention is therefore to provide, in a heat exchanger arrangement described above, a separating device with at least one separating element in the air path between the fan and the heat exchanger – this air path is hereinafter also referred to as the “main air path” – which divides the main air path into at least two fluidically separated air path zones. Air conveyed by the fan thus enters one of the existing air path zones and, due to the separating element present there, remains in that air path until it reaches the heat exchanger and, in particular, until it enters the air paths provided in the heat exchanger – these are hereinafter referred to as “heat exchanger air paths”. Once air has entered a specific air path zone, it cannot move to another air path zone before reaching the heat exchanger or its air paths. If condensation has accumulated in a particular area of the heat exchanger, the air moved by the fan cannot simply bypass the water by moving to another air path zone. Instead, due to the existing separation mechanism, it must remain in the selected air path zone and thus inevitably encounters any condensation present, carrying it away from the heat exchanger. As a result, any residual water present in the heat exchanger is captured and carried away by air and thus transported out of the heat exchanger. In this way, effective removal of a large proportion of the condensate that forms in the heat exchanger is ensured, thereby improving the efficiency of the heat exchanger, since the heat transfer Carrier air path can be efficiently kept free of water Furthermore, comparatively little energy and time is required to remove the water from the heat exchanger, and the risk of damaging icing of the heat exchanger by frozen water is reduced. Advantageously, the cycle time at which water needs to be removed again is also increased. Finally, the pressure drop generated by the heat exchanger in the air is reduced. In addition, the air distribution is improved, thus increasing the efficiency of the heat exchanger. The effect described above, which is essential to the invention, can be further enhanced if not just a single separating element, but two or more separating elements and thus a corresponding number of air path zones are created. Following the above inventive concept, a heat exchanger arrangement according to the invention comprises a main air path through which air flows along a main flow direction, and a heat exchanger arranged in the main air path. The heat exchanger has a plurality of