Abstract
A heat exchanger assembly for a refrigeration device has a condensation pan for receiving condensed water discharged from a cooling compartment of the refrigeration device. The assembly further includes a heat exchanger with a housing, a refrigerant line assembly arranged in an inlet opening of the housing, a fan which is arranged in an outlet opening of the housing, and a sealing plate which projects from the housing and protrudes into the condensation pan.
Claims
1-10. (canceled)
11. A heat exchanger assembly for a refrigeration appliance, the heat exchanger assembly comprising: a condensation pan for receiving condensate discharged from a refrigerator compartment of the refrigeration appliance; and a heat exchanger with a housing, said housing having an inlet opening and a outlet opening; a refrigerant pipe arrangement arranged in said inlet opening of said housing and a fan arranged in said outlet opening of said housing; and a sealing plate projecting from said housing and protruding into said condensation pan.
12. The heat exchanger assembly according to claim 11, wherein said condensation pan has a bottom and a peripheral wall projecting from the bottom, wherein said sealing plate extends between opposing portions of said peripheral wall, and wherein a bottom gap is formed between said bottom and an end of said sealing plate.
13. The heat exchanger assembly according to claim 12, wherein said bottom gap has a clear width between 1 mm and 10 mm.
14. The heat exchanger assembly according to claim 13, wherein the clear width of said bottom gap, formed by a spacing distance between the end of said sealing plate and said bottom, lies between 2 mm and 3 mm.
15. The heat exchanger assembly according to claim 12, wherein said condensation pan has a sealing rib which projects from said bottom and which extends along said sealing plate between said opposing portions of said peripheral wall.
16. The heat exchanger assembly according to claim 15, wherein said sealing plate and said sealing rib are disposed to form an overlapping gap therebetween, and said overlapping gap between the sealing plate and the sealing rib has a clear width of between 0.2 mm and 10 mm.
17. The heat exchanger assembly according to claim 16, wherein said overlapping gap has a clear width of between 0.3 mm and 5 mm.
18. The heat exchanger assembly according to claim 15, wherein the sealing rib is configured in one piece with said bottom of said condensation pan.
19. The heat exchanger assembly according to claim 11, wherein the sealing plate is configured in one piece with said housing of said heat exchanger.
20. The heat exchanger assembly according to claim 11, wherein said sealing plate is arranged in a region of said outlet opening of said housing of said heat exchanger.
21. A refrigeration appliance, comprising: a refrigerator compartment for storing goods to be refrigerated; a machine compartment; a heat exchanger assembly according to claim 11 disposed in said machine compartment; and a condensation pipe for discharging condensate from the refrigerator compartment and feeding into the condensation pan.
22. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 21, wherein: said condensation pan of said heat exchanger assembly has a bottom and a peripheral wall projecting from the bottom, wherein said sealing plate extends between opposing portions of said peripheral wall, and wherein a bottom gap is formed between said bottom and an end of said sealing plate having a clear width between 1 mm and 10 mm; said condensation pan has a sealing rib which projects from said bottom and which extends along said sealing plate between said opposing portions of said peripheral wall; and a point at which said condensation pipe feeds into said condensation pan and said sealing plate are located on a same side of said sealing rib.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGS.
[0024] The invention is described hereinafter with reference to the figures of the drawings. From the figures:
[0025] FIG. 1 shows a perspective sectional view of a heat exchanger assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;
[0026] FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the region of the heat exchanger assembly shown in FIG. 1 identified by the letter Z;
[0027] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a bottom of a condensation pan of a heat exchanger assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, wherein a sealing plate is shown in section; and
[0028] FIG. 4 shows a simplified schematic sectional view of a refrigeration appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0029] In the figures, the same reference character denote components which are the same or functionally the same, unless specified otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0030] FIG. 1 shows by way of example a sectional view of a heat exchanger assembly 1 for a refrigeration appliance 100, such as for example a refrigerator or a fridge-freezer. As shown by way of example in FIG. 1, the heat exchanger assembly 1 may have, in particular, a condensation pan or evaporation pan 2 and a heat exchanger 3.
[0031] FIG. 4 shows purely schematically a refrigeration appliance 100 in the form of a refrigerator having a refrigerator compartment 110 for storing goods to be refrigerated, such as for example food or beverages, a machine compartment 120 and a heat exchanger assembly 1. The refrigeration appliance 100 has a refrigerant circuit (not fully shown) in order to dissipate heat from the refrigerator compartment 110 by the circulation of a refrigerant and to cool the refrigerator compartment 110 thereby. The heat exchanger assembly 1 is part of the refrigerant circuit and serves to condense gaseous refrigerant compressed by a compressor 140 which may also be arranged in the machine compartment 120. As is also shown schematically in FIG. 4, a condensation pipe 130 may be provided, said condensation pipe connecting the interior of the refrigerator compartment 110 in a fluid-conducting manner to the machine compartment and feeding into the evaporation pan 2 of the heat exchanger assembly 1. Condensation which forms in the refrigerator compartment 110 may thus be discharged by the condensation pipe 130 into the condensation pan or evaporation pan 2.
[0032] As shown by way of example in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, which shows a plan view of the condensation pan 2, the condensation pan 2 may have a bottom 20 and a peripheral wall 21. The bottom 20 may be a flat plate, for example, extending in a planar manner. The peripheral wall 21 extends from the bottom 20 and projects in a vertical direction or height direction V from the bottom 20. The condensation pan 2 may have, for example, a rectangular periphery, optionally with rounded corners, as shown by way of example in FIG. 3. The peripheral wall 21 may be composed, for example, of a first side wall 21A, a second side wall 21B arranged opposite this first side wall, a third side wall 21C extending between the first and the second side wall 21A, 21B, and a fourth side wall 21D which is arranged opposite the third side wall 21C and which extends between the first and the second side wall 21A, 21B, as shown purely by way of example in FIG. 3. Naturally other peripheral shapes or designs of the peripheral wall 21, for example circular, are also conceivable. Generally, the bottom 20 and the peripheral wall 21 define a receiving volume of the condensation pan 2.
[0033] As is shown by way of example in FIGS. 1 to 3, the condensation pan 2 may have an optional sealing rib 24. As may be identified in particular in FIG. 2, the sealing rib 24 projects from the bottom 20 of the condensation pan 2. In particular, the sealing rib 24 projects in the vertical direction V at a height h24 from a surface 20a of the bottom 20. The height h24 may range, for example, between 2 mm and 15 mm. As shown by way of example in FIG. 2, the sealing rib 24 may have a rectangular cross section. However, other cross-sectional shapes are also conceivable. As shown schematically in FIG. 4, the optional sealing rib 24 extends between the first and the second side wall 21A, 21B of the condensation pan 2. Generally, the sealing rib 24 may extend between portions 21A, 21B of the peripheral wall 21 which oppose one another or which are spaced apart along the periphery.
[0034] The condensation pan or evaporation pan 2 may be produced, for example, from a plastic material, for example a thermoplastic material. The optional sealing rib 24 may be configured, for example, in one piece with the bottom 20 of the condensation pan 2.
[0035] As shown by way of example in FIG. 1 the heat exchanger 3 may have a housing 30, a refrigerant pipe arrangement 33 and a fan 34. The housing 30 may be configured, for example, in a tubular or channel-shaped manner and has an inlet opening 31 and an outlet opening 32 located opposite said inlet opening. As shown by way of example in FIG. 1, the inlet opening 31 may have, for example, a rectangular periphery. The outlet opening 32 may have, for example, a circular periphery. The inlet opening 31 and the outlet opening 32 are connected by a housing wall 30A defining the cross section of the housing 30. Thus the housing 30 extends as a whole in a housing longitudinal direction L3. The housing 30 may be composed of a plurality of housing parts or produced in one part as a continuous housing 30. The housing 30 may be formed, for example, from a plastic material.
[0036] The refrigerant pipe arrangement 33 may be produced, for example, as a MCHE unit, as is shown purely by way of example in FIG. 1. “MCHE” in this case is an abbreviation for the expression “Micro Channel Heat Exchanger”. Generally, the refrigerant pipe arrangement 33 may have a plurality of refrigerant channels 35 for conducting the refrigerant. Further optionally, a plurality of cooling plates or cooling ribs 36 which are connected to the refrigerant channels 35 may be provided, in order to increase the surface area of the refrigerant pipe arrangement 33. Intermediate spaces for passing through cool air are provided between the refrigerant channels 35 and between the optional cooling ribs 36. As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerant pipe arrangement 33 may be arranged, in particular, in the inlet opening 31 of the housing 30. As may be identified in FIG. 1, the refrigerant pipe arrangement 33 may be arranged, in particular, in the inlet opening 31 of the housing 30 such that it fills the inlet opening 31. The cross section or the periphery of the inlet opening 31 and the outer periphery of the refrigerant pipe arrangement 33 may be adapted to one another.
[0037] As shown by way of example in FIG. 1, the fan 34 is arranged in the outlet opening 32 of the housing 30. In particular, the fan 34 may be arranged in the outlet opening 32 such that the inlet opening 31 is located on a suction side of the fan 34. Thus the fan 34 may suction air through the inlet opening 31 and blow the air out through the outlet opening 32 of the housing 30. Thus air is suctioned by means of the fan 34 through the intermediate spaces of the refrigerant pipe arrangement 33 in order to cool the refrigerant pipe arrangement 33.
[0038] As also shown in FIG. 1, a sealing plate 4 which projects from the housing 30 of the heat exchanger 3 may be provided. In particular, the sealing plate 4 may project from the housing 30 transversely to the housing longitudinal direction L3. As shown by way of example in FIG. 1, the sealing plate 4 may be configured, in particular, as a flat plate 4. Generally, the sealing plate 4 is produced as a component which extends in a planar manner and which extends between a first end 41 which is located on the housing 30, in particular on the housing wall 30A, and a second end 42 located opposite the first end 41. As may be further identified in FIG. 1, the sealing plate 4 may be arranged, for example, in the region of the outlet opening 32 of the housing 30 of the heat exchanger 3. Optionally, the sealing plate 4 may be configured in one piece with the housing 30 of the heat exchanger 3.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 1, the heat exchanger 3 may be arranged opposite the condensation pan 2, in particular relative to the vertical direction V, such that the sealing plate 4 is located facing the condensation pan 2. As may be identified in FIG. 1, the sealing plate 4 protrudes into the condensation pan 2, whereby a bottom gap 5 is formed between the bottom 20 of the condensation pan 2 and the second end 42 of the sealing plate 4. The bottom gap 5 may have, for example, a clear width d5 of between 1 mm and 10 mm, in particular of between 2 mm and 3 mm. As may be identified in FIGS. 1 and 2, the peripheral wall 21 of the condensation pan 2 and the sealing plate 4 overlap relative to the vertical direction V.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 3, in particular, it may be provided that the sealing plate 21 extends over the entire distance between the opposing side walls 21A, 21B, in particular between the first and the second side wall 21A, 21B. The sealing plate 4 may extend between opposing portions 21A, 21B of the peripheral wall 21 irrespective of the periphery of the evaporation pan or condensation pan 2, which is defined by the peripheral wall 21.
[0041] As also shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the sealing plate 4 and the optional sealing rib 24 may extend, in particular, along one another, optionally parallel to one another. As shown in FIG. 2, in particular, it may be provided that the sealing plate 4 and the sealing rib 24 overlap relative to the vertical direction V. In this case, an end 25 of the sealing rib 24 remote from the surface 20a of the bottom 20 projects further from the surface 20a of the bottom 20 than the distance between the second end 42 of the sealing plate 4 and the surface 20a of the bottom 20. For example, the clear width d5 of the bottom gap 5 may be less than the height h24 of the sealing rib 24.
[0042] As is shown by way of example in FIG. 2, an overlapping gap 6 is formed between the sealing plate 4 and the sealing rib 24 by the relative arrangement of the sealing plate 4 and the sealing rib 24 along one another. The overlapping gap 6 may have, for example, a clear width d6 ranging between 0.2 to 10 mm, preferably between 0.3 mm and 5 mm.
[0043] As shown by way of example and purely schematically in FIG. 4, the heat exchanger assembly 1 may be arranged in the machine compartment 120 of the refrigeration appliance 100. The condensation pipe 130 has a first end 131 which is connected to the interior of the refrigerator compartment 110. A second end 132 of the condensation pipe 130 feeds into the condensation pan 2. Thus condensation produced in the refrigerator compartment 110 is discharged into the condensation pan 2. If the condensation pan 2 has the optional sealing rib 24, the point at which the condensation pipe 130 feeds into the condensation pan 2 and the sealing plate 4 may be located on the same side of the sealing rib 6, as shown by way of example in FIG. 4. For example, it may be provided that the sealing rib 24 divides the receiving volume into two differently sized sub-volumes, as shown by way of example in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. Depending on the structural boundary conditions, the sealing plate 24 may protrude into the larger or smaller sub-volume. In FIGS. 1 to 4 it is shown, for example, that the sealing plate 24 protrudes into the larger sub-volume. Accordingly, in FIG. 4 the condensation pipe 130 also feeds into the larger sub-volume.
[0044] As shown symbolically in FIG. 4 by the arrows S1 and S2, a cool air flow S1 is suctioned by the fan 34 through the inlet opening 31 and conducted via the refrigerant pipe arrangement 33 in order to cool the refrigerant. Since the sealing plate 4 protrudes into the condensation pan 2 filled with condensation K, a seal is improved outside the housing 30 between the inlet opening 31 and the outlet opening 32 of the housing 30. A leakage flow S2 is thus reduced or even entirely blocked, as shown symbolically in FIG. 4.
[0045] Whilst the present invention has been described above by way of example with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto, but may be modified in many different ways. In particular, combinations of the above exemplary embodiments are also conceivable.
LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS
[0046] 1 Heat exchanger assembly
[0047] 2 Condensation pan
[0048] 3 Heat exchanger
[0049] 4 Sealing plate
[0050] 5 Bottom gap
[0051] 6 Overlapping gap
[0052] 20 Bottom of condensation pan
[0053] 21 Peripheral wall of condensation pan
[0054] 21A First portion of peripheral wall/first side wall
[0055] 21B Second portion of peripheral wall/second side wall
[0056] 24 Sealing rib
[0057] 25 End of sealing rib
[0058] 30 Housing of heat exchanger
[0059] 30A Housing wall
[0060] 31 Inlet opening of housing
[0061] 32 Outlet opening of housing
[0062] 33 Refrigerant pipe arrangement
[0063] 34 Fan
[0064] 35 Refrigerant channels
[0065] 36 Cooling ribs
[0066] 41 First end of sealing plate
[0067] 42 Second end of sealing plate
[0068] 100 Refrigeration appliance
[0069] 110 Refrigerator compartment
[0070] 120 Machine compartment
[0071] 130 Condensation pipe
[0072] 131 First end of condensation pipe
[0073] 132 Second end of condensation pipe
[0074] d5 Clear width of bottom gap
[0075] d6 Clear width of overlapping gap
[0076] h24 Height of sealing rib
[0077] K Condensation
[0078] S1 Cool air flow
[0079] S2 Leakage flow
[0080] V Vertical direction
