HEAT EXCHANGE DEVICE COMPRISING EXTERNAL PLATES HAVING AT LEAST ONE HOLLOW, AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM AND VEHICLE

Abstract

A heat-exchange device includes a flow enclosure defined by two external plates, a first inlet and a first outlet for a first heat-transfer fluid, a second inlet and a second outlet for a second heat-transfer fluid, and an exchanger block with plates disposed in the flow enclosure so as to be in fluid communication with the inlets and outlets in order to permit the flow of the first fluid and of the second fluid into and through this exchanger block and the transfer of calories therebetween. Each external plate has at least one hollow. An air-conditioning system may include such device and an aircraft, in turn, can include such air-conditioning system.

Claims

1. A heat-exchange device comprising: a flow enclosure defined by at least two external plates, a first inlet for a first heat-transfer fluid into the flow enclosure, a first outlet for said first heat-transfer fluid out of the flow enclosure, a second inlet for a second heat-transfer fluid into the flow enclosure, a second outlet for said second heat-transfer fluid out of the flow enclosure, an exchanger block with plates disposed in the flow enclosure so as to be in fluid communication with the inlets and the outlets in order to permit the flow of the first heat-transfer fluid and of the second heat-transfer fluid into and through this exchanger block and the transfer of calories therebetween, said exchanger block comprising a plurality of internal plates disposed substantially parallel with respect to each other, characterized in that each external plate has at least one hollow.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one core band arranged to form at least one edge of the exchanger block, each core band having a plurality of protruding elements configured to be able to be in contact with at least one of said first heat-transfer fluid and second heat-transfer fluid.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second heat-transfer fluid corresponds to the heat-transfer fluid which is at a temperature greater than the temperature of said first heat-transfer fluid.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one box, referred to as supply box, forming a solid peripheral wall between an orifice and said flow enclosure, each supply box comprising an internal surface having a plurality of protruding elements, said protruding elements being configured to be able to be in contact with said first heat-transfer fluid and/or said second heat-transfer fluid.

5. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said protruding elements are at least partially in the form of ribs.

6. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said protruding elements are at least partially in the form of studs.

7. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said protruding elements of a core band and said core band are formed as one piece.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one core band arranged to form at least one edge of the exchanger block, each core band having at least one hollow.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one flow guide disposed between each internal plate of said exchanger block, each flow guide being adapted to form a plurality of channels which are substantially parallel to each other.

10. An air-conditioning system comprising: at least one heat-exchange device comprising: a flow enclosure defined by at least two external plates, a first inlet for a first heat-transfer fluid into the flow enclosure, a first outlet for said first heat-transfer fluid out of the flow enclosure, a second inlet for a second heat-transfer fluid into the flow enclosure, a second outlet for said second heat-transfer fluid out of the flow enclosure, an exchanger block with plates disposed in the flow enclosure so as to be in fluid communication with the inlets and the outlets in order to permit the flow of the first heat-transfer fluid and of the second heat-transfer fluid into and through this exchanger block and the transfer of calories therebetween, said exchanger block comprising a plurality of internal plates disposed substantially parallel with respect to each other, characterized in that each external plate has at least one hollow.

11. An aircraft comprising: an air-conditioning system, the air-conditioning system comprising at least one heat-exchange device comprising: a flow enclosure defined by at least two external plates, a first inlet for a first heat-transfer fluid into the flow enclosure, a first outlet for said first heat-transfer fluid out of the flow enclosure, a second inlet for a second heat-transfer fluid into the flow enclosure, a second outlet for said second heat-transfer fluid out of the flow enclosure, an exchanger block with plates disposed in the flow enclosure so as to be in fluid communication with the inlets and the outlets in order to permit the flow of the first heat-transfer fluid and of the second heat-transfer fluid into and through this exchanger block and the transfer of calories therebetween, said exchanger block comprising a plurality of internal plates disposed substantially parallel with respect to each other, characterized in that each external plate has at least one hollow.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. As well, in the drawings, for the sake of illustration and clarity, scales and proportions have not been strictly respected. Furthermore, identical, similar or analogous elements are designated by the same reference signs in all the figures. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:

[0053] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a heat-exchange device in accordance with the invention,

[0054] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an exchanger block of a heat-exchange device in accordance with the invention,

[0055] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of a heat-exchange device in accordance with the invention,

[0056] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of a heat-exchange device in accordance with the invention,

[0057] FIG. 5 is schematic perspective view of a portion of a supply box of a heat-exchange device in accordance with the invention,

[0058] FIG. 6 is schematic perspective view of a portion of a supply box of a heat-exchange device in accordance with the invention,

[0059] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a core band of a heat-exchange device in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention,

[0060] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a detail of a core band of a heat-exchange device in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention,

[0061] FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a detail of a core band of a heat-exchange device in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0062] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a heat-exchange device in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.

[0063] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an exchanger block 12 of the heat-exchange device in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

[0064] A heat-exchange device of this type comprises a flow enclosure defined by two external plates 14 and 16, the exchanger block comprising internal plates 13, 15, 18 disposed substantially parallel to each other between the external plates 14, 16.

[0065] The heat-exchange device comprises a first inlet 4 and a first outlet 6 for a first heat-transfer fluid in the flow enclosure, as well as a second inlet 8 and a second outlet 10 for a second heat-transfer fluid in the flow enclosure.

[0066] The exchanger block 12 with plates thus makes possible the flow of the first heat-transfer fluid and second heat-transfer fluid in and through this exchanger block and the transfer of calories therebetween.

[0067] The first heat-transfer fluid, referred to as “cold” fluid, flows in regions of flow of the first heat-transfer fluid in a main flow direction of the first fluid between the first inlet 4 and the first outlet 6. The second heat-transfer fluid, referred to as “hot” fluid, flows in regions of flow of the second heat-transfer fluid, which are distinct from the regions of flow of the first heat-transfer fluid, between the second inlet 8 and the second outlet 10.

[0068] As shown by FIGS. 1 and 2, the external plate 14 has at least one hollow 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the external plate 14 has four hollows 20, three of which are oblong openings. Each hollow 20 is a through-opening localized within the thickness of the external plate. The openings (or holes) are provided so as not to extend to the borders and to the corners of the external plates. The openings are preferably localized within a substantially central region of each plate. As shown in FIG. 1, an internal plate of the exchanger block is placed next to each external plate 14, 16 (on the interior side of the exchanger block) preventing any leakage of the first heat-transfer fluid or of the second heat-transfer fluid through the openings. Each internal plate has a thickness smaller than the thickness of an external plate. Thus the heat from the inside of the exchanger block can be evacuated through each hollow 20 towards the outside of the exchanger block, each opening being provided in a central portion of each external plate, not comprising the borders of each external plate, no opening being provided directly in the proximity of the borders of the external plates. This makes it possible to limit the temperature differences within such a heat-exchange device as well as the resulting stresses.

[0069] The heat exchange device further comprises four core bands 80, each core band 80 being arranged to form an edge of the exchanger block. As shown in FIG. 1, the core band 80 comprises a hollow 82, 83 on each main face which can be seen from the outside of the heat-exchange device, in the manner of the hollows 20 provided in the external plate 14 of the exchanger block 12. Each hollow 82, 83 makes it possible to facilitate the conduction of the heat from the inside of the exchanger block to the outside thereof via the regions of these hollows through the thickness of the walls of the core band 80.

[0070] The heat-exchange device shown in FIG. 1 also comprises: [0071] a first supply box 23 forming a solid peripheral wall between an orifice 24, forming an inlet mouth for the first heat-transfer fluid, and the first inlet 4 of the exchanger block 12, [0072] a second supply box 26 forming a solid peripheral wall between an orifice 26, forming an outlet mouth for the first heat-transfer fluid, and the first outlet 6 of the exchanger block 12, [0073] a third supply box 27 forming a solid peripheral wall between an orifice 28, forming an inlet mouth for the second heat-transfer fluid, and the second inlet 8 of the exchanger block 12, [0074] a fourth supply box 22 forming a solid peripheral wall between an orifice, forming an outlet mouth for the second heat-transfer fluid, and the second outlet 10 of the exchanger block 12.

[0075] Furthermore, each orifice of each mouth can be connected to a conduit for letting in or evacuating the first heat-transfer fluid or the second heat-transfer fluid.

[0076] Protruding elements forming applied material additions can be provided on various surfaces of the components of the heat-exchange device so as to be in contact with the first heat-transfer fluid (preferably at its outlet, i.e. after it has been heated by the second heat-transfer fluid) or the second heat-transfer fluid (at the inlet and/or outlet of the flow enclosure of the exchanger block 12). Such protruding elements store the heat of the heat-transfer fluid with which they are in contact and promote the increase in the temperature of the adjacent or peripheral elements of the exchanger block, which also contributes to a reduction in the temperature gradients experienced by the exchanger block. Such protruding elements can e.g. be provided on the core bands and/or the inside of the supply boxes.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 3, the surface of the core band 80 located in contact with the second heat-transfer fluid (at the “hot” inlet 8) is provided with protruding elements 88 forming oblique ribs.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 4, the surface of the core band 80 located in contact with the first heat-transfer fluid (at the “cold” outlet 6) is provided with protruding elements 89 (in the form of inverted V's).

[0079] FIG. 5 shows the supply box 27 of the heat-exchange device, a portion of the internal surface 30 of which is provided with studs 110, being in this case in the form of six rows of studs 110 each comprising between 20 and 25 studs from one edge to the other of the supply box 27.

[0080] FIG. 6 shows the supply box 22 of the heat-exchange device, a portion of the internal surface 32 of which is provided with three ribs 120 which are substantially parallel to each other.

[0081] The protruding elements 88, 89 in contact with the first heat-transfer fluid (at its outlet 6) and of the second heat-transfer fluid (“hot” fluid) store the heat of this fluid and thus promote and accelerate the increase in the temperature of the adjacent or peripheral elements of the exchanger block.

[0082] FIGS. 7 to 9 show two other embodiments of the core bands 90, 100. Each core band illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9 has protruding elements 92, 102 configured to be able to be in contact with the first or the second heat-transfer fluid. This makes it possible for the protruding elements 92, 102 in contact with the second heat-transfer fluid (“hot” fluid) to store the heat of this fluid and thus promote and accelerate the increase in the temperature of the adjacent or peripheral elements of the exchanger block. The protruding elements 92, 102 thus make it possible to recover the heat by convection and to transfer it by conduction into the adjacent parts, the temperature of which is lower than the temperature of said protruding elements.

[0083] The protruding elements 92, 102 are disposed on end portions of each core band 90, 100, a planar region, with no such protruding elements, being provided between these two end portions.

[0084] In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9, each core band 90, 100 is in the form of a straight profile having a T-shaped transverse cross-section (not symmetrical in this case). The protruding elements 92, 102 can be disposed on the same surface of each T-shaped core band 90, 100. In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9, each core band 90, 100 has a free wall 94, 104, substantially orthogonal to the surface provided with protruding elements 92, 102, one face of which can be fixed to an edge of the exchanger block, the opposing face of the wall 94, 104 being able to be used to attach thereto an outlet and/or supply box of the second heat-transfer fluid.

[0085] The protruding elements can be of various forms, e.g. of the fin, rib, tongue, boss, stud, tooth or even spike type.

[0086] In a first embodiment variant of a heat-exchange device in accordance with the invention illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the protruding elements are in the form of ribs 92. For example, three ribs 92 are provided in this case at each end of each core band 90 in the embodiment variant illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0087] In a second embodiment variant of a heat-exchange device in accordance with the invention illustrated in FIG. 9, the protruding elements are in the form of studs 102. For example, six studs 102 are provided in this case at each end of each core band 100 in the embodiment variant illustrated in FIG. 9.

[0088] In a third embodiment variant of a heat-exchange device in accordance with the invention (not illustrated), the protruding elements are in the form of conduit portions or flow guides.

[0089] The protruding elements 92, 102 of a core band 90, 100 can be molded simultaneously with the core band during manufacture thereof, or even welded or soldered on the surface thereof so as to form only a single piece (of a distinct or non-distinct material).

[0090] On the other hand, in the illustrated embodiment, each internal layer of the exchanger block 12 is provided with a flow guide 50 forming a plurality of channels which are substantially parallel with each other. The spaces between the internal plates 13, 15, 18 are formed laterally by closure bars 60, 62. The internal plates 13, 15, 18 are disposed parallel to each other and parallel to the external plates 2.

[0091] In the variants illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 9, the course of the first and of the second stream of heat-transfer fluid within the exchanger block is substantially straight (not taking into consideration possible sinuosities in the presence of some flow guides). Of course, it is also possible to use any other type of exchanger block with plates, e.g. in which the stream of one and/or the other of the first or of the second heat-transfer fluid follows a U-shaped or even an S-shaped course.

[0092] In the illustrated embodiments, flow guides 50 extend through all the internal layers of the exchanger block 12.

[0093] A heat-exchange device in accordance with the invention thus effectively makes it possible to effectively limit the temperature gradients likely to damage the exchanger block.

[0094] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described. In particular, there is nothing to prevent the provision of protruding elements of different shapes on each core band.

[0095] Of note, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes”, and/or “including,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0096] As well, the corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.