THERMAL ENERGY EXCHANGER FOR A HEATING, VENTILATING, AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM

• US 20130105126A1
• Filed: 10/28/2011
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hanon Systems (Hahn & Co. Auto Holdings Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Goenka, Lakhi Nandlal
• Granted Patent: US 9,242,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/157
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/005 Regenerative cooling means, e.g. cold accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/05391 with multiple rows of conduits or with multi-channel conduits combined with a particular flow pattern, e.g. multi-row multi-stage radiators
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/0034 using liquid heat storage material
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/02 using latent heat
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/021 the latent heat storage material and the heat-exchanging means being enclosed in one container F28D20/023 - F28D20/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2020/0008 the heat storage material being enclosed in plate-like or laminated elements, e.g. in plates having internal compartments
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2020/0013 the heat storage material being enclosed in elements attached to or integral with heat exchange conduits
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2020/0078 Heat exchanger arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0085 Evaporators
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 7/16 the conduits being arranged in parallel spaced relation F28D7/0008 - F28D7/0058 take precedence; F28D7/02 - F28D7/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2009/0287 having passages for different heat exchange media
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/02 Header boxes; End plates
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

A thermal energy exchanger for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system is disclosed, the thermal energy exchanger includes a plurality of first tubes for receiving a fluid therein interleaved with a plurality of second tubes, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the second tubes includes a phase change material disposed therein.

Claims

1. A thermal energy exchanger for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system comprising:

a main housing having a hollow interior;

a plurality of first tubes disposed in the housing forming open areas therebetween, wherein at least one of the first tubes receives a first fluid therein; and

a plurality of second tubes disposed in the housing, the second tubes interleaved with the first tubes, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the second tubes includes a phase change material disposed therein.

2. The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid is provided from a source of cooled fluid.

3. The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of a first manifold and a second manifold in fluid communication with at least one of the first tubes.

4. The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 3, wherein the at least one of the first manifold and the second manifold is a diffuser.

5. The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of a first manifold and a second manifold in fluid communication with at least one of the second tubes.

6. The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 5, wherein the at least one of the first manifold and the second manifold includes the phase change material disposed therein.

7. The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the open areas receive a second fluid from a heat exchanger of the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system therein.

8. The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the phase change material is cooled and solidified by the first fluid.

9. The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 1, wherein each of the second tubes surrounds alternating first tubes forming a space therebetween.

10. The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 9, wherein the phase change material is disposed in the space formed between the first tubes and the second tubes.

11. A thermal energy exchanger for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system comprising:

a hollow main housing including a first inlet and a first outlet, wherein the first inlet and the first outlet are in fluid communication with a source of cooled fluid, the housing further including a second inlet and a second outlet, wherein the second inlet and the second outlet are in fluid communication with a heat exchanger disposed in a control module of a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system;

a plurality of first tubes disposed in the housing forming open areas therebetween, wherein at least one of the first tubes receives a first fluid from the source of cooled fluid therein and the open areas receive a second fluid from the heat exchanger therein; and

a plurality of second tubes disposed in the housing, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the second tubes includes a phase change material disposed therein.

12. The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 11, wherein the first tubes are interleaved with the second tubes.

13. The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 11, further comprising at least one of a first manifold and a second manifold in fluid communication with at least one of the first inlet, the first outlet, and at least one of the first tubes.

14. The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 13, wherein the at least one of the first manifold and the second manifold is a diffuser.

15. The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 11, further comprising at least one of a first manifold and a second manifold in fluid communication with at least one of the second inlet, the second outlet, and at least one of the second tubes.

16. The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 15, wherein the at least one of the first manifold and the second manifold includes the phase change material disposed therein.

17. The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 11, wherein each of the second tubes surrounds alternating first tubes forming a space therebetween, wherein the space includes the phase change material disposed therein.

18. A thermal energy exchanger for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system comprising:

a hollow main housing including a first inlet and a first outlet, wherein the first inlet and the first outlet are in fluid communication with a source of cooled fluid, the housing further including a second inlet and a second outlet, wherein the second inlet and the second outlet are in fluid communication with a heat exchanger disposed in a control module of the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system;

a plurality of first tubes disposed in the housing fluidly connecting the first inlet and the first outlet, wherein the first tubes form open areas therebetween, the open areas fluidly connecting the second inlet and the second outlet, wherein at least one of the first tubes receives a first fluid from the source of cooled fluid therein and the open areas receive a second fluid from the heat exchanger therein; and

a plurality of second tubes disposed in the housing, wherein at least one of the second tubes surrounds alternating first tubes forming a space therebetween, wherein the space includes a phase change material disposed therein.

19. The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 18, further comprising at least one of a first manifold and a second manifold in fluid communication with at least one of the first inlet, the first outlet, and at least one of the first tubes.

20. The thermal energy exchanger according to claim 18, further comprising at least one of a first manifold and a second manifold in fluid communication with at least one of the second inlet, the second outlet, and at least one of the second tubes.