HEAT EXCHANGER

Abstract

A heat exchanger (1) for thermally coupling a first fluid to a second fluid so as to transfer heat and in a fluidically separate manner includes a securing assembly (8) of two cover parts (9) and at least one, preferably a plurality of guide parts (11), through which duct tubes (5) of the heat exchanger (1) pass. The duct tubes (5) extend inside a housing tube (2) along the longitudinal axis of the housing tube (2). The first fluid passes through the housing tube (2) outside of the duct tubes (5), and the second fluid passes through the duct tubes (5). The duct tubes (5) may have circular or flattened cross-sections.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger for thermally coupling a first fluid to a second fluid so as to transfer heat and in a fluidically separate manner, the heat exchanger comprising: a housing tube (2) having a longitudinal central axis (3), through which a first flow path (4) for the first fluid extends, a plurality of duct tubes (5), which each have a longitudinal axis (6) and defining a second flow path (7) for the second fluid, the plurality of duct tubes extending through the first flow path (4) for the first fluid, to allow the first fluid to flow around the duct tubes outside of the duct tubes and to allow the second fluid to flow through the duct tubes (5) inside the duct tubes, wherein the duct tubes (5) are arranged completely inside the housing tube (2) and are each secured to the housing tube (2) by a securing assembly (8) arranged between the housing tube (2) and the duct tubes (5), wherein the securing assembly (8) has two cover parts (9) near opposite ends of the housing tube, respectively, through which duct tubes (5) pass, wherein each of the duct tubes (5) has open ends longitudinally outward from the cover parts (9), respectively, thereby forming duct openings (10), and wherein the securing assembly (8) has at least one guide part (11), which is arranged longitudinally between the two cover parts (9) at a distance from the cover parts, and completely penetrated by the duct tubes (5), for guiding the first fluid.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger (1) has at least one cross-section (12) centered around the longitudinal central axis (3) of the housing tube and in which the longitudinal central axis (3) of the housing tube defines a housing center (13), wherein at least two imaginary cross-sectional circles (14, 14′) are arranged between the housing center (13) and the housing tube (2), wherein at least two duct tube pairs (31) of two duct tubes (5) located radially opposite one another are arranged between the two cross-sectional circles (14, 14′) so as to be distributed around the housing center (13) in a circumferential direction. (24).

3. The heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein one of the at least two imaginary cross-sectional circles is an outer cross-sectional circle and another one of the at least two imaginary cross-sectional circles is an inner cross-sectional circle, wherein a duct tube-free annular area (32) is defined between the outer cross-sectional circle (14′) and the housing tube (2), and wherein a duct tube-free circular area (33) is defined between the inner cross-sectional circle (14) and the housing center (13).

4. The heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the at least two cross-sectional circles (14, 14′) is arranged centrically with respect to the housing center (13), wherein the cross-sectional circles (14, 14′) have cross-sectional circle diameters, which differ from one another.

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, further comprising flow guide plates (17) for guiding the first fluid between the duct tubes (5) in the first flow path (4).

6. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger (1) has at least one cross-section (12) transverse to the longitudinal central axis (3) of the housing tube and in which the longitudinal central axis (3) of the housing tube defines a housing center (13), wherein at least two imaginary cross-sectional circles (14, 14′) are arranged between the housing center (13) and the housing tube (2), wherein duct tube pairs (31) of two duct tubes (5) located radially opposite one another are arranged between an inner imaginary cross-sectional circle and an outer imaginary cross-sectional circle of the at least two imaginary cross-sectional circles (14, 14′) so as to be distributed around the housing center (13) in a circumferential direction (24), wherein first duct tubes (20) are circumferentially distributed on the inner cross-sectional circle (14) around the housing center (13) and second duct tubes (21) are circumferentially distributed on the outer cross-sectional circle (14′) around the housing center (13), wherein flow guide plates (17) for guiding the first fluid are arranged between the first duct tubes (20) and the second duct tubes (21), wherein at least one flow guide plate (17) is soldered to at least one of the first duct tubes (20) and to at least one of the second duct tubes (21).

7. The heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein exactly one of the second duct tubes (21) is respectively assigned to each first duct tube (20).

8. The heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein an inner cross-section of the first duct tubes (20) is smaller than an inner cross-section of the second duct tubes (21).

9. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the duct tubes (5) are soldered to the cover parts (9) and to the at least one guide part (11).

10. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger (1) has at least one cross-section (12), in which the longitudinal central axis (3) of the housing tube defines a housing center (13), wherein two concentric imaginary cross-sectional circles (14, 14′) are arranged between the housing center (13) and the housing tube (2), wherein duct tube pairs (31) respectively consisting of two duct tubes (5) located radially opposite one another are arranged between the two imaginary cross-sectional circles (14, 14′) so as to be distributed around the housing center (13) in a circumferential direction (24), wherein each of the duct tubes (5) is configured as a flat tube (34) and has a rectangular cross-sectional area, which is constant along the longitudinal axis (6) of the duct tube and which comprises rounded cross-sectional areas of duct tube corners, wherein each flat tube (34) has two long sides (22) located opposite one another with respect to the longitudinal axis (6) of the duct tube, and two short sides (23) located opposite one another, which connect the long sides (22) to one another.

11. The heat exchanger according to claim 10, wherein, the flat tubes (34) are arranged between the cross-sectional circles (14, 14′) in such a way that each of the short sides (23) of each of the flat tubes (34) faces the short side (23) of a circumferentially adjacent flat tube (34).

12. The heat exchanger according to claim 10, wherein the flat tubes (34) are arranged between the respective cross-sectional circles (14, 14′) in such a way that the long sides (22) of the flat tubes extend tangentially with respect to the housing center (13).

13. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the housing tube (2), the duct tubes (5), the two cover parts (9), and the at least one guide part (11) are all made of an aluminum material.

14. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the housing tube (2), the duct tubes (5), the two cover parts (9), and the guide parts (11) are all made of an aluminum material and are soldered to one another in a firmly bonded manner as part of a soldering process performed under controlled atmospheric conditions.

15. A heat exchanger for thermally coupling a first fluid to a second fluid so as to transfer heat and in a fluidically separate manner, comprising: a housing tube (2) having a longitudinal central axis (3), through which a first flow path (4) for the first fluid extends, and a plurality of duct tubes (5), each of which has a longitudinal axis (6) of the duct tube and through which a second flow path (7) for the second fluid leads, the duct tubes extending through the first flow path (4) for the first fluid for allowing the first fluid to flow around the duct tubes (5) and the second fluid to flow through the duct tubes (5), wherein the duct tubes (5) are arranged completely inside the housing tube (2) and are secured to the housing tube (2) by a securing assembly (8) arranged between the housing tube (2) and the duct tubes (5), wherein the securing assembly (8) has two opposite cover parts (9), through which duct tubes (5) pass, wherein the duct tubes have openings longitudinally outward from the respective cover parts (9), thereby forming duct openings (10), wherein the securing assembly (8) has a plurality of guide parts (11), which are arranged between the two cover parts (9) so as to be distributed along the longitudinal central axis (3) of the housing tube and at a distance from one another, wherein the duct tubes extend completely through the guide parts for guiding the first fluid, wherein the duct tubes (5) are arranged parallel to one another and distributed around the longitudinal central axis (3) of the housing tube inside an imaginary cylinder tube arranged inside the housing tube (2) in a circumferential direction (24).

16. A heat exchanger for thermally coupling a first fluid to a second fluid so as to transfer heat and in a fluidically separate manner, comprising a housing tube (2) having a longitudinal central axis (3) of the housing tube, through which a first flow path (4) for the first fluid extends, comprising a plurality of duct tubes (5), each of which has a longitudinal axis (6) of the duct tube, the duct tubes defining a second flow path (7) for the second fluid, the duct tubes extending through the first flow path (4) for the first fluid, to enable the first fluid to flow around the duct tubes (5) and the second fluid to flow through the duct tubes (5), wherein the duct tubes (5) are arranged completely inside the housing tube (2) and are secured to the housing tube (2) by a securing assembly (8) arranged between the housing tube (2) and the duct tubes (5), wherein the securing assembly (8) has two opposite cover parts (9), through which duct tubes (5) pass, wherein the duct tubes (5) have openings longitudinally outward from the cover parts (9), thereby forming duct openings (10), and wherein the securing assembly (8) has at least one guide part (11) arranged longitudinally between the two cover parts (9) at a distance from the cover plates and completely penetrated by the duct tubes (5) for guiding the first fluid, wherein the duct tubes (5) in each case are realized as flat tubes (34), wherein wherein the flat tubes (34) in each case comprising two oppositely oriented short sides (23) and two oppositely oriented long sides (22), wherein the flat tubes (34) in each case are aligned parallel to each other and parallel to the longitudinal central axis (3), wherein the flat tubes (34) form at least one tube row (41), wherein the flat tubes (34) of each tube row (41) are arranged so that their long sides (22) face each other.

17. The heat exchanger according to claim 16, wherein the flat tubes (34) of at least two tube rows (41) are arranged so that half of the short sides (23) of one of the tube rows are adjacent to half of the short sides of another one of the tube rows.

18. The heat exchanger according to claim 16, wherein the flat tubes (34) forming two tube rows (41) of three flat tubes (34) each, wherein one of the short sides (23) of each flat tube (34) of one tube row (41) is arranged to face one of the short sides (23) of one of the flat tubes (34) of the other tube row (41), wherein the two tube rows (41) are flanked by two individual flat tubes (34′) so that one long side (22) of each of the individual tubes (34′) faces respective long sides (22) of two flat tubes (34) of different ones of the two tube rows (41).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] In the drawings,

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a preferred exemplary embodiment of a heat exchanger;

[0029] FIG. 2 shows the side view according to FIG. 1, but a housing tube of the heat exchanger is illustrated in a cut manner, so as to reveal a view into the interior of the heat exchanger;

[0030] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the heat exchanger from FIG. 1 according to the sectional line illustrated therein by means of dashes, with view in the direction of an illustrated arrow III;

[0031] FIG. 4 shows a front view onto a guide part of the heat exchanger from FIG. 1;

[0032] FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of the heat exchanger from FIG. 1 according to a sectional line V-V illustrated therein by means of dashes; and

[0033] FIG. 6 shows in a sectional side view of a further preferred embodiment of a heat exchanger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] FIGS. 1 to 5 show a preferred exemplary embodiment of a heat exchanger, which is labeled as a whole with reference numeral 1, which serves to exchanger or transfer, respectively, thermal energy between a first fluid and second fluid. Heat exchangers 1 of this type can be used, for example, in commercial applications, for example in vehicle application or private applications, for example in the domestic area.

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a preferred heat exchanger 1 in a side view, which has a housing tube 2, which defines a longitudinal central axis 3 of the housing tube 2 in the direction of its main expansion direction. The housing tube 2 is configured to be hollow on the inside and annularly cylindrical in an exemplary manner, so that it defines a clear flow cross-section, through which fluid can flow. On two opposite free housing tube ends, which are not identified in detail, the housing tube 2 has housing tube openings, which are not identified in more detail, which are each closed in a fluid-tight manner by means of housing tube covers 25, which are embodied in a dome-shaped manner according to FIG. 1. Nozzles 26, 27, which each extend axially along the longitudinal central axis 3 of the housing tube 2, are arranged on the two housing covers 25 in an exemplary manner, namely a cover inlet nozzle 26 on the one housing tube cover 25, and a cover outlet nozzle identified with reference numeral 27 on the other housing tube cover 25. A tube inlet nozzle 28 and a tube outlet nozzle 29, which are each aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis 3 of the housing tube 2, are furthermore arranged on the housing tube 2.

[0036] Two flow paths 4, 7, which each extend through the housing tube 2 and which are suggested by means of dotted or dash-dotted lines, respectively, can be seen according to FIG. 2. In the shown example, the first flow path 4 illustrates the flow path of the first fluid, and the second flow path 7 illustrates the flow path of the second fluid. The first fluid flows through the tube inlet nozzle 28 into the housing tube 2, along the flow path 4 through the housing tube 2, and lastly through the tube outlet nozzle 29 out of the housing tube 2. In an exemplary manner, the first fluid can flow into the housing tube 2 on the tube inlet nozzle 28 with a relatively low temperature, and, after a transfer of thermal energy between the fluids, can flow out downstream through the tube outlet nozzle 29 with a relatively high temperature. The second fluid can flow through the cover inlet nozzle 26 into the housing tube 2, along the flow path 7 in the direction of the longitudinal central axis 3 of the housing tube 2 through the housing tube 2, and can flow through the cover outlet nozzle 27 out of the housing tube 2. In the shown example, the second fluid can flow into the housing tube 2 on the cover inlet nozzle 26 with a relatively high temperature, and, after a transfer of thermal energy between the fluids, can flow out downstream through the cover outlet nozzle 27 with a relatively low temperature. In the shown example, the first and second fluid can each be a refrigerant. In one example, the fluids may flow through the housing 2 in the same direction along the flow paths 4, 7. In the present case, however, it is illustrated that the fluids flow through the housing 2 in opposite directions.

[0037] To functionally attain in the case of the present heat exchanger 1 that thermal energy is transferred from the first fluid to the second fluid, or vice versa, without the fluids mixing with one another, it is provided that the first fluid and the second fluid are thermally coupled to one another so as to transfer heat and in a separate manner. This is attained in that a plurality of duct tubes 5, which each define a longitudinal axis of the duct tube 6, are arranged in the interior of the housing tube 2, wherein the second flow path 7 for the second fluid in each case advantageously leads through the duct tubes 5 on the inside, while the first flow path 4 for the first fluid leads around the duct tubes 5 on the outside. It is thus ensured that the first fluid can flow around and the second fluid can flow through the duct tubes 5. The fluids are thus coupled in a separate manner. During operation of the heat exchanger 1, the advantage is thus attained that thermal energy can be transferred or exchanged between the fluids.

[0038] It can further be seen from FIG. 2 that the duct tubes 5, which are arranged in the interior of the housing tube 2, are each secured to the housing tube 2 by means of a securing assembly 8 arranged between the housing tube 2 and the duct tubes 5. In an exemplary manner, the securing assembly 8 has two cover parts 9, which are spaced apart from one another in the direction of the longitudinal central axis 3 of the housing tube 2 and which are illustrated in an exemplary manner in FIG. 3. The duct tubes 5 in each case pass through the cover parts 9 completely. The duct tubes 5 each open out on the respective cover part 9 by forming a duct opening 10. The duct openings 10 of the one cover part 9 and the duct openings 10 of the other cover part 9 are aligned opposite one another in the direction of the longitudinal central axis 3 of the housing tube 2, see FIG. 3. In addition to the two over parts 9, the securing assembly 8 has at least one, preferably a plurality of, guide parts 11, which are arranged between the two cover parts 9 so as to be aligned in the direction of the longitudinal central axis 3 of the housing tube 2 and so as to be spaced apart from one another in each case, see FIGS. 2 and 3. In an exemplary manner, the duct tubes 5 each penetrate completely through the guide parts 11, that is, the duct tubes 5 pass completely through the guide parts 11 in each case. The guide parts 11 have the purpose of guiding the fluid flowing through the housing tube 2, for example the first fluid, in a flow-efficient manner, which is suggested in FIG. 2 by means of a wave-shaped course of the flow path 4.

[0039] A sectional view of the heat exchanger 1 from FIG. 1 is illustrated in FIG. 3, wherein flow guide plates 17 for flow-efficiently guiding the first fluid can in particular be seen between the duct tubes 5, which are arranged in the housing 2, inside the first flow path 4. By means of flow-efficiently guiding the first fluid, the flow guide plates 17 can advantageously promote the transfer of thermal energy from the first fluid to the second fluid or from the second fluid to the first fluid. In an exemplary manner, the flow guide plates 17 can thereby be arranged between the duct tubes 5 in the shape of a zig-zag. In an exemplary manner, the flow guide plates 17 can be secured to the duct tubes 5 by means of soldering.

[0040] In an exemplary manner, FIG. 4 shows one of the described guide parts 11 of the securing assembly 8 in a front view, so as to show that the guide part 11 has duct tube passages 30 at the locations, where it is penetrated by duct tubes 5. The duct tube passages 30 pass through the guide part 11 completely. In an exemplary manner, a cross-sectional area of a duct tube passage 30 is virtually identical to a cross-sectional area 15 of the duct tube of a duct tube 5, which will be described in more detail below. The duct tubes 5 can thereby each protrude through the duct tube passages 30 of the respective guide part 11 without play. In the installed state, the guide part 11 limits only a predetermined or predeterminable portion, for example 66%, of the clear flow cross-section of the housing tube 2 in an exemplary manner.

[0041] In FIG. 4 one can also see, even if it is not explicitly shown, that the duct tubes 5 in each case are realized as flat tubes 34. The flat tubes 34 in each case comprising two oppositely oriented short sides 23 and two oppositely oriented long sides 22, wherein the flat tubes 34 in each case are aligned parallel to each other and parallel to the longitudinal central axis 3. The flat tubes 34 thereby forming two tube rows 41 each consisting of three flat tubes 34. The flat tubes 34 of each tube row 41 are arranged so that their respective long sides 22 congruently facing each other. Furthermore the flat tubes 34 of both tube rows 41 are arranged so that their respective short sides 23 are in each case arranged congruently opposite each other. Moreover, the two tube rows 41 being flanked by two individual flat tubes 34′ so that one long side 22 of one individual tube 34′ facing two long sides 22 of two flat tubes 34 of the two tube rows 41 at one tube row end. Also a long side 22 of the other individual tube 34′ facing two long sides 22 of two other flat tubes 34 of the two tube rows 41 at the other tube row end.

[0042] A cross-section 12 of the heat exchanger 1 from FIG. 1 is illustrated in FIG. 5 according to a sectional line V-V, which is illustrated therein by means of dashes. The cross-section 12 has a housing center 13, which is defined by the longitudinal central axis 3 of the housing tube 2 and which is suggested in an exemplary manner in FIG. 5 by means of a circle. Two imaginary cross-sectional circles 14, 14′, which are aligned centrically with respect to the housing center 13, are arranged between the housing center 13 and the housing tube 2, wherein the radially inner first cross-sectional circle 14 with respect to the housing center 13 has a smaller diameter than the radially outer second cross-sectional circle 14′ with respect to the housing center 13. The two cross-sectional circles 14, 14′ are each suggested by means of a dashed line, so that a duct tube-free annular area 32, which is arranged between the outer cross-sectional circle 14′ and the housing tube 2, and a duct tube-free circular area 33, which is arranged between the other inner cross-sectional circle 14 and the housing center 13, can also be seen. The annular area 32 is basically a cross-sectional area of a duct tube-free annular area, which extends through the entire housing tube 2. Fluid can flow from the duct tubes 5 in an unhindered manner here. Analogous to the annular area 32, the circular area 33 is basically a cross-sectional area of a duct tube-free circular cylindrical area, which extends through the entire housing tube 2. Fluid can flow from the duct tubes 5 in an unhindered manner here.

[0043] Between or in the area of the two cross-sectional circles 14, 14′, a plurality of duct tube pairs 31 are arranged so as to be distributed around the housing center 13 in a circumferential direction 24. The duct tube pairs 31 are spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction 24. The duct tube pairs 31 each have two duct tubes 5 located radially opposite one another, namely a radially inner first duct tube 20 with respect to the housing center 13, as well as a radially outer second duct tube 21 with respect to the housing center 13. This has the advantage that a flow of the first fluid around the duct tubes 5 is ensured here.

[0044] It can also be seen in FIG. 5 that the duct tubes 5, 20, 21 are each configured as flat tubes 34, which can each have a constant cross-sectional area 15 of the duct tube, which is planar along the respective longitudinal axis of the duct tube 6. Each cross-sectional area 15 of the duct tube is preferably configured to be rectangular and is configured with rounded cross-sectional area of the duct tube corners. Each cross-sectional area 15 of the duct tube advantageously defines a cross-section, which can be flown through. In an exemplary manner, the cross-section of the first duct tubes 20, which can be flown through, can have a smaller surface area than the cross-section of the second outer duct tubes 21, which can be flown through. It can also be seen in FIG. 5 that the flat tubes 34 of the duct tubes 5, 21, 22 each have two long sides 22 located opposite one another with respect to the respective longitudinal axis of the duct tube 6, and two short sides 23 located opposite one another. The long sides 22 are thereby basically connected to one another via the short sides 23. The long sides 22 or the short sides 23 of all duct tubes 5, 20, 21 can be aligned parallel or angular to one another. The flat tubes 34 can furthermore be aligned in such a way that their long sides 22 run perpendicular to the radial direction, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis 3 of the housing tube 2. The short sides 23 of each flat tube 34 are thereby each located opposite a short side 23 of a flat tube 34, which is adjacent in the circumferential direction 24. In the alternative, all long sides 22 of the flat tubes 34 can be aligned parallel to one another, as it is suggested in FIG. 5 by means of dotted cross-sectional area of the duct tubes 15.

[0045] It can furthermore be seen in FIG. 5 that flow guide plates 17 for guiding the first fluid in a flow-efficient manner are arranged between the first and second duct tubes 5, 20, 21. The flow guide plates 17 can advantageously promote the transfer of thermal energy from the first fluid to the second fluid or from the second fluid to the first fluid. In an exemplary manner, the flow guide plates 17 can preferably be arranged between the duct tubes 5, 20, 21 of a duct tube pair 31 in the shape of a zig-zag. In the alternative, the flow guide plates 17 can preferably be arranged between the duct tubes 5, 20, 21 of a plurality of duct tube pairs 31 in the shape of a zig-zag.

[0046] FIG. 6 shows a sectional side view of a further preferred embodiment of a heat exchanger, which is also labeled with reference numeral 1. Also this heat exchanger 1 is preferred to be used, for example, in commercial applications, for example in vehicle application or private applications, for example in the domestic area.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 6, two flow paths 4, 7, which each extend through the housing tube 2 of this heat exchanger 1, are indicated by dotted or dash-dotted lines. The first flow path 4 for the first fluid leads around the duct tubes 5. The second flow path 7 for the second fluid leads through the duct tubes 5. By this, it is ensured that the first fluid flows outside of and the second fluid flows inside the duct tubes 5. In contrast to the previous embodiment the first fluid flows in from the top of the heat exchanger 1, relative to gravity, and is for example directed to an outer area 40 of the housing tube 2 by only one guide part 11. The first fluid thereby traveling through flow guide plates 17 attached to the duct tubes 5. This guide part 11 is realized as a partial-width mid-guide part 11a, which acts like a deflector plate. The mid-guide part 11a is exemplarily placed exactly in the longitudinal center of the housing tube 2, so that it defines two halves. Furthermore, the mid-guide part 11a is supported by the duct tubes 5, for example the mid-guide part 11a is soldered to the duct tubes 5. As one can see, the mid-guide part 11a is located centrally regarding the longitudinal central axis 3. The mid-guide part 11a can also be spaced from the housing tube 2 all around, so that the mid-guide part 11a is carried exclusively by the duct tubes 5. Between the duct tubes 5, offset strip centers are stacked. At the bottom of the heat exchanger 1, relative to gravity, the first fluid flow must go back to an inner area of the housing tube 2 to exit. The first fluid thereby traveling through flow guide plates 17 again.

[0048] While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope and fair meaning of the accompanying claims.