Heat Exchanger Device for a Motor Vehicle, Method for Operating a Heat Exchanger Device and Method for Producing a Heat Exchanger Device

Abstract

A heat exchanger device for a motor vehicle includes a main body, through which a temperature-control medium can flow, and a media-conveying device which passes through the main body and by which a medium to be temperature-controlled can be conveyed through the main body. As a result, the temperature of the medium to be temperature-controlled can be controlled by heat exchange with the temperature-control medium. The main body is produced in an integral injection molding process, as a result of which the main body is closed on the periphery and open-pored in the interior.

Claims

1.-7. (canceled)

8. A heat exchanger device for a motor vehicle, comprising: a main body through which a temperature control medium is flowable; and a media-conveying device passing through the main body, by which a medium which is to be temperature-controlled is conveyable through the main body, whereby the medium which is to be temperature-controlled can have its temperature controlled by heat exchange with the temperature control medium, wherein the main body is an integral injection molded main body which is closed on a periphery and has open pores in an interior.

9. The heat exchanger device according to claim 8, wherein by way of the media-conveying device, air as a medium which is to be temperature-controlled is conveyed through the main body and into an interior of the motor vehicle.

10. The heat exchanger device according to claim 9, wherein the interior of the motor vehicle is ventilatable indirectly by the air via the media-conveying device.

11. The heat exchanger device according to claim 8, further comprising: a connection device, via which the temperature control medium flows into the main body and/or via which the temperature control medium is removed from the main body.

12. A method for operating a heat exchanger device for a motor vehicle, the heat exchange device comprising a main body and a media-conveying device passing through the main body, wherein the main body is an integral injection molded main body which is closed on a periphery and has open pores in an interior, the method comprising: conveying temperature control medium into the integral injection molded main body, which is peripherally closed and has the open pores in the interior; and conveying a medium which is to be temperature-controlled through the main body via at least one channel by way of the media-conveying device.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein a temperature control fluid is conveyed into the main body as the temperature control medium and/or air is conveyed by way of the media-conveying device as the medium which is to be temperature-controlled.

14. A method for providing a heat exchanger device for a motor vehicle, comprising: producing a main body in an integral injection molding process which is closed peripherally and has an open-pored interior, as a result of which a temperature control medium is flowable through the main body; and providing at least one channel of a media-conveying device passing through the main body, by which a medium to be temperature-controlled is conveyable through the main body via the at least one channel by way of the media-conveying device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal section of a heat exchanger device for a motor vehicle having a main body produced in the integral injection molding process, through which a temperature control medium flows, and having a media-conveying device, by means of which air can be conveyed into an interior of the motor vehicle via channels passing through the main body; and

[0019] FIG. 2 is a cross section of the heat exchanger device, wherein the temperature control medium flows into the main body via a connection device and, within the main body, flows around the channels of the media-conveying device, as a result of which air carried in the channels is temperature-controlled.

[0020] The same or functionally identical elements are provided with the same designations in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] A heat exchanger device 1 for a motor vehicle, in particular for an automobile, is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 in a longitudinal section and in a cross section, respectively. The heat exchanger device 1 comprises a main body 3, by means of which air 8 which is to be temperature-controlled is to be supplied to an interior of the automobile. The heat exchanger 1 is shown partly longitudinally sectioned in FIG. 1 and transversely sectioned in FIG. 2. The heat exchanger device 1 comprises a main body 3 and a connection device 4. Via the connection device 4, a cooling medium, in particular a cooling fluid, in particular water with antifreeze, can be caused to flow into the main body 3 and removed from the main body 3. The main body 3 is peripherally or circumferentially closed and has open pores in the interior. This means that the main body 3 has a closed outer surface, which delimits an open-pored internal volume that is permeable to the temperature control medium. The temperature control medium 5 flowing into the main body 3 via the connection device 4 can flow through the open-pored volume of the main body 3, wherein turbulent flow in the temperature control medium can result from the open-pored nature.

[0022] In order to be able to produce the main body 3 particularly simply with the closed outer surface and the open-pored volume, the invention provides for the main body to be produced in an integral injection molding process.

[0023] The heat exchanger device 1 further comprises a media-conveying device 6, which is set up to convey a medium which is to be temperature-controlled, air 8 in the present case. In the following, the functioning of the heat exchanger device 1 will be described by using the example of air 8 as a medium which is to be temperature-controlled. In particular, air can be conveyed to the main body 3 of the heat exchanger 2 by means of the media-conveying device 6, can be conveyed through the main body 3 via a multiplicity of channels 7 and, after passing through the main body 3, can be conveyed via the channels 7 into an interior of the motor vehicle. For this purpose, the channels 7 are designed to be open toward the interior of the motor vehicle. The channels 7 pass through the main body 3, the channels 7 being designed to be circumferentially closed. Because of the circumferentially closed formation of the channels 7, mixing of the temperature control medium with the air 8 is prevented. The temperature of the air 8 can be controlled at least as it flows through the channels 7. In particular, as it flows through the respective channels 7, the air 8 can absorb heat from the main body 3 or dissipate heat to the main body 3. Following the control of the temperature of the air 8 as it flows through the channels 7, the air 8 is released into the interior of the motor vehicle.

[0024] In the present case, the heat exchanger device 1 is part of an instrument panel of the motor vehicle, wherein the heat exchanger device 1 provides an outer surface of the instrument panel. Given a uniform arrangement of a multiplicity of channels 7 over an outer surface of the main body 3, the heat exchanger device 1 permits uniform indirect ventilation of the interior of the motor vehicle.

[0025] During the operation of the heat exchanger device 1, the temperature control medium 5 flows through the open-pored structure of the main body 3. Via the respective channels 7, the air 8 which is to be temperature-controlled can flow from a first side of the main body to a second side of the main body 3 that is opposite the first side of the main body, as a result of which the air 8 flows through the main body 3. Because of interactions between the air 8 and the temperature control medium 5 in the open-pored main body 3, the temperature of the air flowing past is matched to a temperature of the temperature control medium 5. The main body 3 is thus used for heat exchange between the temperature control medium 5 and the air 8. In particular, water can be flushed through the open-pored main body 3 as temperature control medium 5. The air 8 is conveyed to the respective channels 7 via a feed channel 9 of the media-conveying device 6. Via nozzles, not illustrated in the figures, arranged on an outer side of the main body 3, the air 8 can be blown out of the channels 7 into the interior of the motor vehicle. As an alternative or in addition to the nozzles, the air 8 from the channels 7 can flow into the interior of the motor vehicle via a permeable top material, in particular made of cloth or perforated leather. As it flows through the channels 7, the air 8 at least substantially assumes the temperature of the main support 3.

[0026] The heat exchanger device 1 can be used at an extremely wide range of locations in the interior of the motor vehicle. In particular, the heat exchanger device 1 can be integrated in the instrument panel of the motor vehicle. Here, the instrument panel and the main body 3 can be cooled directly by means of the temperature control medium 5. At the same time, the main body 3 makes it possible for the air 8 to be cooled by means of the temperature control medium 5. In this way, an evaporator and/or heat exchanger which, according to the current prior art, are installed in an air-conditioning system to control the temperature of the air, can be omitted or reduced. By means of the heat exchanger device 1, large surface diffusers with their own temperature control can be provided. Here, temperature control for the air 8 which is to be temperature-controlled can be adjusted via a temperature of the temperature control medium 5 and/or via a flow velocity of the air 8.

[0027] Overall, the invention shows how a main body 3 produced in the integral injection molding process can be used as a heat exchanger.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0028] 1 Heat exchanger device [0029] 3 Main body [0030] 4 Connection device [0031] 8 Temperature control medium [0032] 6 Media-conveying device [0033] 7 Channel [0034] 8 Air [0035] 9 Feed channel