DEVICE FOR COOLING, HEATING OR TRANSFERRING HEAT

Abstract

The invention relates to a device, comprising at least one flow chamber (20) having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, said flow chamber being provided for the flow of a medium therethrough. The flow chamber (20) is arranged in a single-piece block element (2) and is at least partly delimited by a diathermal wall in order to effect absorption or release of thermal energy through the wall by means of the medium. The at least one flow chamber (20) is formed in the block element (2) from a plurality of first channels (22) spaced apart from each other, which extend straight and parallel to each other, and a plurality of second channels (23) spaced apart from each other, which extend straight and parallel to each other, the first and the second channels (22, 23) each having two ends and being closed at least at one (27) of the two ends. The second channels (23) are arranged at an angle to the first channels (22), the first channels and the second channels thus crossing. Support pillars (21) having a parallelogram-shaped cross-section are present within each flow chamber (20) between the crossing points of two adjacent first channels (22) and two adjacent second channels (23). A turbulent flow of the medium can be produced very effectively in the device according to the invention.

Claims

1. Device (1) comprising at least one flow chamber (20, 20) which has an inlet opening (3, 5) and an outlet opening (4, 6) and which is provided to allow the flow of a medium therethrough, wherein the flow chamber (20, 20) is arranged in a single-piece block element (2) and is defined at least partially by a diathermal wall in order to absorb or release thermal energy through the wall taking place through the medium, characterised in that the at least one flow chamber (20, 20) is formed in the block element (2) from a plurality of first mutually spaced apart channels (22) which extend straight and in parallel with one another, and a plurality of second mutually spaced apart channels (23) which extend straight and in parallel with one another, wherein the first and the second channels (22, 23) each have two ends and are closed at least at one (27) of the two ends, and in that the second channels (23) are arranged at an angle to the first channels (22) such that the first and the second channels cross, wherein support pillars (21) which have a parallelogram-shaped cross-section are located within the respective flow chamber (20, 20) between the crossing points of two adjacent first and two adjacent second channels (22, 23).

2. Device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the first and the second channels (22, 23) each have a uniform cross-section between regions of their two ends.

3. Device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that first and second channels (22, 23) have, in pairs at each one of their two ends, a common channel opening (12, 12) which is arranged in a side wall (13) of the block element (2) as a side wall opening, and in that the device (1) has at least one closure means (15) for closing the side wall openings in a sealing manner.

4. Device (1) as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the side wall openings (12, 12) have a thread which serves to receive a plug screw (16) as said closure means.

5. Device (1) as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the first and second channels (22, 23) have a circular cross-section.

6. Device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the first and second channels (22, 23) cross at an angle of less than 90 degrees, preferably at an angle of 45 to 75 degrees, more preferably at an angle of 55 to 65 degrees.

7. Device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the first and second channels (22, 23) form angles of the same value with a side wall (13, 13) of the block element (2).

8. Device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that it has at least one said flow chamber (20) which is provided to allow the flow of a heat-releasing medium therethrough, and has at least one said flow chamber (20) which is provided to allow the flow of a heat-absorbing medium therethrough, wherein the respective diathermal wall of the flow chambers (20, 20) is a common wall which separates the two flow chambers (20, 20) from one another.

9. Device (1) as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that the two flow chambers (20, 20) are arranged such that in each case a support pillar (21) of one flow chamber (20) is arranged congruently above a support pillar (21) of the other flow chamber (20).

10. Device (1) as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that all of the common channel openings (12) of the at least one flow chamber (20) for a heat-releasing medium are arranged in the same side wall (13) of the block element (2) and all of the common channel openings (12) of the at least one flow chamber (20) for a heat-absorbing medium are arranged in an opposite side wall (13) of the block element (2).

11. Device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that flow chambers (20, 20), when compared with one another, have channels (22, 23) with different diameters.

12. Method for producing a device (1) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first and second channels (22, 23) are produced by boring into the block element (2).

13. Device (1) as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that first and second channels (22, 23) have, in pairs at each one of their two ends, a common channel opening (12, 12) which is arranged in a side wall (13) of the block element (2) as a side wall opening, and in that the device (1) has at least one closure means (15) for closing the side wall openings in a sealing manner.

14. Device (1) as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that the side wall openings (12, 12) have a thread which serves to receive a plug screw (16) as said closure means.

15. Device (1) as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that it has at least one said flow chamber (20) which is provided to allow the flow of a heat-releasing medium therethrough, and has at least one said flow chamber (20) which is provided to allow the flow of a heat-absorbing medium therethrough, wherein the respective diathermal wall of the flow chambers (20, 20) is a common wall which separates the two flow chambers (20, 20) from one another.

16. Device (1) as claimed in claim 15, characterised in that the two flow chambers (20, 20) are arranged such that in each case a support pillar (21) of one flow chamber (20) is arranged congruently above a support pillar (21) of the other flow chamber (20).

17. Device (1) as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that all of the common channel openings (12) of the at least one flow chamber (20) for a heat-releasing medium are arranged in the same side wall (13) of the block element (2) and all of the common channel openings (12) of the at least one flow chamber (20) for a heat-absorbing medium are arranged in an opposite side wall (13) of the block element (2).

18. Device (1) as claimed in claim 16, characterised in that all of the common channel openings (12) of the at least one flow chamber (20) for a heat-releasing medium are arranged in the same side wall (13) of the block element (2) and all of the common channel openings (12) of the at least one flow chamber (20) for a heat-absorbing medium are arranged in an opposite side wall (13) of the block element (2).

19. Device (1) as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that flow chambers (20, 20), when compared with one another, have channels (22, 23) with different diameters.

20. Method for producing a device (1) as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first and second channels (22, 23) are produced by boring into the block element (2).

Description

[0032] The invention will be explained in greater detail hereinafter with reference to an exemplified embodiment, wherein reference is made to the figures. In the figures:

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a device in accordance with the invention which is a heat exchanger,

[0034] FIG. 2a shows a cross-sectional surface of a flow chamber of the heat exchanger of FIG. 1,

[0035] FIG. 2b shows a side view of the flow chamber of FIG. 2a before common channel openings have been provided with threads,

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a detail of the cross-sectional surface of FIG. 2a,

[0037] FIG. 4a shows a right side view of a single-piece block element of the heat exchanger of FIG. 1,

[0038] FIG. 4b shows a left side view of a single-piece block element of the heat exchanger of FIG. 1,

[0039] FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the block element of FIG. 1, wherein the arrangement of the flow chambers is illustrated,

[0040] FIG. 6 shows a sectional view along the sectional line VI-VI in FIG. 5,

[0041] FIG. 7 shows a sectional view along the sectional line VII-VII of FIG. 5,

[0042] FIG. 8 shows a partial region C of FIG. 5.

[0043] In the figures, like features are designated in part by like reference signs. The heat exchanger is designated by the reference sign 1 and has a single-piece aluminium block element 2 which is produced preferably from AlMgSi1 and has good conductivity. The block element 2 has an inlet opening 3 and an outlet opening 4 for a first medium, and furthermore has an inlet opening 5 and an outlet opening 6 for a second medium. The media can be in particular a liquid or a gas. Furthermore, the heat exchanger 1 has four screw-in fittings 8 which are screwed by means of a thread 7 into the openings 3 to 6, which have a corresponding internal thread 9, using a seal (not shown). Furthermore, the screw-in fittings 8 have an external thread 10 in order to connect hoses for the media.

[0044] The block element 2 has a total of six flow chambers 20 and 20 arranged one above the other and of which three are provided to allow the flow of the first medium therethrough and three are provided to allow the flow of the second medium therethrough. The flow chambers 20, 20 are arranged in an alternating manner and so in each case one flow chamber 20 for the first medium and one flow chamber 20 for the second medium are separated from one another by a common wall.

[0045] Each flow chamber 20 has a plurality of channel openings 12 and each flow chamber 20 has a plurality of channel openings 12 which are each located in one of the two side walls 13 and 13 of the block element 2. Since the flow chambers 20, 20 are arranged in parallel with a surface 14 of the block element 2, a horizontal row of channel openings 12, 12 belongs in each case to one of the flow chambers 20, 20.

[0046] In FIG. 4a, all of the channel openings 12 can be seen in the right side wall 13 and in FIG. 4b all of the channel openings 12 can be seen in the left side wall 13. The channel openings 12 belong to the flow chambers 20 of the first medium and the channel openings 12 belong to the flow chambers 20 of the second medium. In FIG. 1, all apart from three of the channel openings 12 are closed by means of plug screws which have an O-ring as a seal and a hexagon socket head. For this purpose, each channel opening 12, 12 has a thread.

[0047] At both end sides, the block element 2 has a connecting thread 17 for fastening the heat exchanger 1 within an assembly. FIGS. 2a and 2b show a flow chamber 20 of the second medium. A detail of this cross-sectional surface is illustrated in FIG. 3. A multiplicity of support pillars 21 having a diamond-shaped cross-section can be seen. The support pillars 21 are formed by a multiplicity of circular bores which constitute first channels 22, and by a multiplicity of circular bores which constitute second channels 23. In FIG. 3, the channels 22 are illustrated by broken lines which extend along the channel longitudinal direction. By reason of the circular cross-section of the respective channel 22, the lowest-lying extension of the channel 22 extends along the broken line, wherein the same applies to the second channels 23. The first channels 22 have a positive setting angle 25 with the side wall 13 and the second channels 23 have a negative setting angle 25 with the side wall 13 of the same value. The arrows 26 designate the width of a first channel 22.

[0048] The first and second channels 22, 23 have channel openings 12 which can be seen in FIG. 2b and which are common channel openings apart from two outer channel openings. The plan view according to FIG. 2b shows in the centre a support pillar 21 which has a diamond-shaped cross-section. The opposite ends 27 of the channels 22, 23 are closed. In FIG. 2b, the channel openings 12 are still in a state before they have been bored into a circular shape and provided with a thread, and thus still have a somewhat elliptical shape.

[0049] Accordingly, a flow chamber 20 for the first medium is structured, wherein it is arranged, rotated through 180 degrees in terms of the arrangement, underneath the flow chamber 20 and between two flow chambers 20. The respective support pillars 21 lie congruently one on top of the other.

[0050] In FIG. 6, all six flow chambers 20, 20 can be seen in section, wherein likewise support pillars 21, of which one is designated by way of example by the reference sign 21, are located between slightly elliptical sections through the channels 22 or 23, through which support pillars 21 can be seen. Channel openings 12 can be seen in the inlet opening 5 and the outlet opening 6. The second medium flows via the inlet opening 5 into all three flow chambers 20 and then flows from said chambers via the outlet opening 6 out of the block element 2. The same applies to the inlet opening 3 and the outlet opening 4 with regard to the first medium, wherein the flow-related connection between the flow chambers 20 and the outlet opening 6 and between the flow chambers 20 and the inlet opening 3 can be seen in particular in FIG. 7.

[0051] In FIG. 8, the line 28 indicates a milled-out portion which serves to connect the central flow chamber 20 to the outlet opening 6 in terms of flow.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference signs 1 heat exchanger 2 block element 3 inlet opening 4 outlet opening 5 inlet opening 6 outlet opening 7 thread 8 screw-in fitting 9 internal thread 10 external thread 12, 12 channel openings 13, 13 side walls 14 surface of 2 15 plug screws 16 hexagon socket head 17 connecting thread 20, 20 flow chambers 21 support pillars 22 first channels 23 second channels 25, 25 setting angle 26 arrows 27 closed ends of 22, 23 28 line