FIN DEVICE, HEAT EXCHANGER HAVING THE SAME AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A FIN DEVICE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fin device for heat exchangers having corrugated fins, which extend along a main direction and comprise fin walls with louvres and fin folds. With respect to the corrugated fins, fin walls that are adjacent in the main direction are each interconnected via a fin fold, while in addition, fin walls that are adjacent in the main direction each delimit between them a fluid channel. Furthermore, the corrugated fins are lined up one behind the other in a transverse direction extending transversely to the main direction, so that the fluid channels of the corrugated fins lead into one another. It is substantial that corrugated fins that are adjacent in the transverse direction are arranged offset to one another in the main direction by a spacing referred to as fin offset and are fixed to one another in that their adjacent fin folds are directly and in particular integrally connected to one another. The present invention, furthermore, relates to a heat exchanger having fin devices and to a method for manufacturing such a fin device.

Claims

1. A fin device configured to be inserted into a heat exchanger for transferring heat-energy, comprising multiple corrugated fins, which are offset to one another by a spacing referred to as fin offset and fixed to one another in that their fin folds are connected to one another.

2. The fin device according to claim 1, wherein the corrugated fins extend parallel along a main direction, the corrugated fins comprise fin walls with louvres and fin folds, wherein fin walls that are adjacent in the main direction are each interconnected via a fin fold and in the case of which fin walls that are adjacent in the main direction each delimit or form a fluid channel, wherein the corrugated fins are lined up one behind the other in a transverse direction extending transversely to the main direction, so that the fluid channels of the corrugated fins lead into one another, as a result of which the corrugated fins can be flowed about by a fluid stream in the transverse direction, and wherein corrugated fins that are adjacent in the transverse direction are arranged offset to one another in the main direction by the spacing referred to as fin spacing and fixed to one another in that their fin folds that are adjacent in the transverse direction are directly connected to one another.

3. The fin device according to claim 1, wherein the fin device forms an integral unit.

4. The fin device according to claim 1, wherein the said fin offset is defined as a spacing to be defined in the main direction between two adjacent interconnected fin folds of corrugated fins that are adjacent in the transverse direction, wherein the fin offset amounts to at least 25% of a longitudinal spacing to be defined in the main direction between two adjacent fin folds of a corrugated fin of the said adjacent corrugated fins, and/or wherein the fin offset amounts to maximally 50% of a longitudinal spacing to be defined in the main direction between two adjacent fin folds of a corrugated fin of the said adjacent corrugated fins.

5. The fin device according to claim 1, wherein a drainage region for discharging condensate is realized on the adjacent corrugated fins by way of the said fin offset on or in the region of a boundary surface formed between corrugated fins that are adjacent in the transverse direction.

6. The fin device according to claim 1, wherein the interconnected fin folds of corrugated fins that are adjacent in the transverse direction comprise or realize at least one of the following characteristics: the interconnected fin folds they are arranged on a first large side of the fin device, which is defined or formed by a component depth viewed in the transverse direction of the fin device and a component depth of the fin device viewed in the main direction, the interconnected fin folds are additionally arranged on a second large side arranged opposite with respect to the first large side of the fin device, and the interconnected fin folds lie in a common plane, which is optionally parallel to the main direction and further optionally orthogonally to the first large side and to the second large side.

7. The fin device according to claim 1, wherein the fin walls that are adjacent in the transverse direction of corrugated fins that are adjacent in the transverse direction delimit a gap between them.

8. The fin device according to claim 1, wherein the corrugated fins are manufactured from an integral sheet metal material or a layer composite material, in particular from a sheet metal composite layer material manufactured from individual sheet metal layers.

9. The fin device according to claim 1, further comprising an even number of corrugated fins.

10. A heat exchanger for transferring heat-energy between two fluid streams, comprising tubes for fluid arranged between opposite collector boxes (2a, 2b), which are arranged transversely to their tube longitudinal direction (4) spaced apart from one another in a width direction, wherein a first fluid path for a first fluid stream leads through the tubes and round about which a second fluid path for a second fluid stream leads, so that the tubes can be flowed through by the first fluid stream and flowed about by the second fluid stream, further comprising at least one fin device according to claim 1, which is equipped for transferring heat-energy between the first fluid stream and the second fluid stream, wherein the at least one fin device is arranged in the second fluid path and can be flowed about in a depth direction extending transversely with respect to the tube longitudinal direction (4) and the width direction, which is parallel to the transverse direction, wherein the at least one fin device is connected to at least one tube or with its main direction is oriented parallel to the tube longitudinal directions (4), is positioned between two tubes that are adjacent in the width direction and connected to the same.

11. A method for manufacturing a fin device according to claim 1, comprising a roll-forming step and/or a stamping step.

12. The fin device according to claim 1, further comprising an odd number of corrugated fins.

Description

[0032] It shows, in each case schematically

[0033] FIG. 1 in a plan view, a heat exchanger having multiple installed fin devices,

[0034] FIG. 2 a fin device viewed obliquely from above and

[0035] FIG. 3 a sectional view of the fin device from FIG. 2 viewed from below.

[0036] FIGS. 1 to 3 show a preferred embodiment of a heat exchanger marked in totality by the reference number 1, which is equipped with multiple fin devices 9 for transferring heat-energy.

[0037] The heat exchanger 1 comprises two separate collector boxes 2a, 2b located opposite one another, between which tubes 3 are arranged, which are fastened to the collector boxes 2a, 2b transversely to their tube longitudinal direction 4 in a width direction 5 spaced apart from one another. A fluid path 6 for a first fluid stream indicated by arrows in FIG. 1 leads through the tubes 3. Further, a second fluid path 7 for a second fluid stream leads round about the same, which in FIG. 1 is merely indicated by a single corresponding further arrow. The tubes 3, which can be realised in particular by flat tubes, can thus be flowed through by the first fluid stream and flowed about by the second fluid stream, so that heat-energy from the first fluid stream can be transferred to the second fluid stream or vice versa.

[0038] Furthermore, the heat exchanger 1 has multiple fin devices marked with the reference number 9 and each embodied integrally, which are equipped for transferring heat-energy between the first fluid stream and the second fluid stream. The fin devices 9 described in more detail further down below are each arranged in the second fluid path 7 and, in a depth direction 8 extending transversely with respect to the tube longitudinal direction 4 and the width direction 5 can be flowed about by the second fluid stream. In FIG. 1, it is purely exemplarily provided that the fin devices 9, which extend along main directions 10, are each oriented with their main direction 10 parallel to the tube longitudinal direction 4 and are positioned between two tubes 3 that are adjacent in the width direction 5 and are connected to the same tubes 3. Because of this, a heat exchanger 1 that is equipped with multiple fin devices 9 is stated, which makes possible an efficient transfer of heat-energy between the two fluid streams.

[0039] The FIG. 2 shows an extract of a fin device 9 from FIG. 1 viewed obliquely from above, wherein components of the heat exchanger 1 are omitted for better visibility of the fin device 9. The illustrated fin device 9 exemplarily has two corrugated fins 11 that are substantially embodied identically, which extend parallel along a main direction 10. Each of the corrugated fins 11 has flat fin walls 12 with rows of louvres 13 and fin folds 14. With respect to the corrugated fins 11, fin walls 12 that are adjacent in the main direction 10 are ach integrally connected to one another via a fin fold 14. Further, fin walls 12 that are adjacent in the main direction 10 delimit or form with respect to the corrugated fins 11 a fluid channel 15 each. Furthermore, it is visible that the two corrugated fins 11 are lined up one behind the other in a transverse direction 16 extending transversely to the main direction 10, so that they are located opposite one another in the transverse direction 16 and so that their fluid channels 15 lead into one another, as a result of which the corrugated fins 11 can be flowed about by the second fluid stream in the transverse direction 16. In FIG. 2, a portion of the second fluid path 7 for the said second fluid stream is exemplarily drawn in.

[0040] Furthermore, it is evident in FIG. 2 that the two corrugated fins 11 that are adjacent in the transverse direction 16 are arranged offset to one another in the main direction 10 by a spacing referred to as fin offset 17 and are fixed to one another, in which exclusively their fin folds 14 that are adjacent in the transverse direction 16 are directly connected to one another. The fin offset 17 is a spacing to be defined or determined in the main direction between 2 interconnected fin folds 14 that are adjacent in the transverse direction 16 of the corrugated fins 11 that are adjacent in the transverse direction 16. For example, the fin offset 17 can be determined in that the spacing in the main direction 10 is measured between a fold centre of a respective fin fold 14 of a first corrugated fin 11 of the two corrugated fins 11, for example in FIG. 2 the front corrugated fin 11, to a fold centre of a respective fin fold 14 of a second corrugated fin 11 of these two corrugated fins 11, for example in FIG. 2 the rear corrugated fin 1. The same is drawn in in FIG. 2. Practically, the fin offset 17 amounts to at least 25% and maximally 50% of a longitudinal spacing 27 to be likewise defined or determined in the main direction 10 between two adjacent fin folds 14 of a corrugated fin 11, i.e. either the first corrugated fin 11 or the second corrugated fin 11 of the two adjacent corrugated fins 11. Because of this, an altogether integral, mechanically stable fin device for heat exchangers is provided, which because of the realised fin offset between adjacent corrugated fins, from a flow-mechanical point of view, can be favourably flowed about by fluid or a fluid stream of fluid.

[0041] The interconnected fin folds 14 that are adjacent in the transverse direction 16 of the two corrugated fins 11 that are adjacent in the transverse direction 16 are configured so that they are arranged on a first large side 21 of the fin device 9, which is defined or formed by a component depth 22 of the fin device 9 viewed in the transverse direction 16 and a component width 23 of the fin device 9 viewed in the main direction 10, and additionally on a second large side 24 of the fin device 9 arranged opposite with respect to the first large side 21. Further, the interconnected fin folds 14 lie in a common plane 25 only illustrated in portions, which exemplarily is parallel to the main direction 10 and orthogonal to the first large side 21 and second large side 24.

[0042] In FIGS. 2 and 3 it is noticeable, furthermore, that by way of the said fin offset 17 on or in the region of a boundary surface 18 formed between the two corrugated fins 11 that are adjacent in the transverse direction 16 on the adjacent corrugated fins 11 a drainage region 19 for discharging condensate is realised, which can precipitate on the fin devices 9 during the operation of the heat exchanger 1. However, it should be mentioned that the fin walls 12 that are directly adjacent in the transverse direction 16 and located opposite one another of the two corrugated fins 11 that are adjacent in the transverse direction 16, each form a gap 26 between them.

[0043] The specification can be best understood with reference to the following Numbered Paragraphs:

[0044] Numbered Paragraph 1. A fin device (9) that can be inserted into a heat exchanger (1) for transferring heat-energy, comprising multiple corrugated fins (11), which are offset to one another by a spacing referred to as fin offset (17) and fixed to one another in that their fin folds (14) are connected to one another.

[0045] Numbered Paragraph 2. The fin device (9) according to Numbered Paragraph 1, characterised in that [0046] the corrugated fins (11) extend parallel along a main direction (10), [0047] the corrugated fins (11) comprise fin walls (12) with louvres (13) and fin folds (14), wherein fin walls (12) that are adjacent in the main direction (10) are each interconnected via a fin fold (14) and in the case of which fin walls (12) that are adjacent in the main direction (10) each delimit or form a fluid channel (15), [0048] wherein the corrugated fins (11) are lined up one behind the other in a transverse direction (16) extending transversely to the main direction (10), so that the fluid channels (15) of the corrugated fins (11) lead into one another, as a result of which the corrugated fins (11) can be flowed about by a fluid stream in the transverse direction (16), [0049] wherein corrugated fins (11) that are adjacent in the transverse direction (16) are arranged offset to one another in the main direction (10) by the spacing referred to as fin spacing (17) and fixed to one another in that their fin folds (14) that are adjacent in the transverse direction (16) are directly connected to one another.

[0050] Numbered Paragraph 3. The fin device (9) according to Numbered Paragraph 1 or 2, characterised in that the fin device (9) forms an integral unit.

[0051] Numbered Paragraph 4. The fin device (9) according to any one of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs, characterised in that [0052] the said fin offset (17) is defined as a spacing to be defined in the main direction (10) between two adjacent interconnected fin folds (14) of corrugated fins (11) that are adjacent in the transverse direction (16), [0053] wherein the fin offset (17) amounts to at least 25% of a longitudinal spacing (27) to be defined in the main direction (10) between two adjacent fin folds (14) of a corrugated fin (11) of the said adjacent corrugated fins (11), and/or [0054] wherein the fin offset (17) amounts to maximally 50% of a longitudinal spacing (27) to be defined in the main direction (10) between two adjacent fin folds (14) of a corrugated fin (11) of the said adjacent corrugated fins (11).

[0055] Numbered Paragraph 5. The fin device (9) according to any one of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs, characterised in that by way of the said fin offset (17) on or in the region of a boundary surface (18) formed between corrugated fins (11) that are adjacent in the transverse direction (16), a drainage region (19) for discharging condensate is realised on the adjacent corrugated fins (11).

[0056] Numbered Paragraph 6. The fin device (9) according to any one of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs,

characterised in that the interconnected fin folds (14) of corrugated fins (11) that are adjacent in the transverse direction (16) comprise or realise at least one of the following characteristics: [0057] they are arranged on a first large side (21) of the fin device (9), which is defined or formed by a component depth (22) viewed in the transverse direction (16) of the fin device (9) and a component depth (23) of the fin device (9) viewed in the main direction (10), [0058] they are additionally arranged on a second large side (24) arranged opposite with respect to the first large side (21) of the fin device (9), [0059] they lie in a common plane (25), which is optionally parallel to the main direction (10) and further optionally orthogonally to the first large side (21) and to the second large side (24).

[0060] Numbered Paragraph 7. The fin device (9) according to any one of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs, characterised in that the fin walls (12) that are adjacent in the transverse direction (16) of corrugated fins (11) that are adjacent in the transverse direction (16) delimit a gap (26) between them.

[0061] Numbered Paragraph 8. The fin device (9) according to any one of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs, characterised in that the corrugated fins (11) are manufactured from an integral sheet metal material or a layer composite material, in particular from a sheet metal composite layer material manufactured from individual sheet metal layers.

[0062] Numbered Paragraph 9. The fin device (9) according to any one of the preceding Numbered Paragraphs, characterised by [0063] an even number of corrugated fins (11), or [0064] an uneven number of corrugated fins (11).

[0065] Numbered Paragraph 10. A heat exchanger (1) for transferring heat-energy between two fluid streams, [0066] having tubes (3) for fluid arranged between opposite collector boxes (2a, 2b), which are arranged transversely to their tube longitudinal direction (4) spaced apart from one another in a width direction (5), [0067] wherein a first fluid path (6) for a first fluid stream leads through the tubes (3) and round about which a second fluid path (7) for a second fluid stream leads, so that the tubes (3) can be flowed through by the first fluid stream and flowed about by the second fluid stream, [0068] having at least one fin device (9) according to the preceding Numbered Paragraphs, which are equipped for transferring heat-energy between the first fluid stream and the second fluid stream, [0069] wherein the at least one fin device (9) is arranged in the second fluid path (7) and can be flowed about in a depth direction (8) extending transversely with respect to the tube longitudinal direction (4) and the width direction (5), which is parallel to the transverse direction (16), [0070] wherein the at least one fin device (9) is connected to at least one tube (3) or with its main direction (10) is oriented parallel to the tube longitudinal directions (4), is positioned between two tubes (3) that are adjacent in the width direction (5) and connected to the same.

[0071] Numbered Paragraph 11. A method for manufacturing a fin device (9) according to the Numbered Paragraphs 1 to 9, comprising a roll-forming step and/or a stamping step.