MULTI-CORE RADIATOR WITH INTERMEDIATE TANK

• US 20200132380A1
• Filed: 10/26/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: STEPHENS, Daniel Mark
• Granted Patent: US 10,976,107 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/31 Air-cooled heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 26/32 Liquid-cooled heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/0341 with U-flow or serpentine-flow inside the conduits
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/0417 with particular circuits for the same heat exchange medium, e.g. with the heat exchange medium flowing through sections having different heat exchange capacities or for heating/cooling the heat exchange medium at different temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/0443 Combination of units extending one beside or one above the other F28D1/0452 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/053 the conduits being straight
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 1/05366 Assemblies of conduits connected to common headers, e.g. core type radiators
• 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 2021/0084 Condensers
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0089 Oil coolers
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2021/0091 Radiators
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 27/00 Control arrangements or safety devices specially adapted for heat-exchange or heat-transfer apparatus control arrangements in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/08 Elements constructed for building-up into stacks, e.g. capable of being taken apart for cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/02 Header boxes; End plates
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0202 Header boxes having their inner space divided by partitions
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0246 Arrangements for connecting header boxes with flow lines
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0253 with multiple channels, e.g. with combined inflow and outflow channels
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/026 with static flow control means, e.g. with means for uniformly distributing heat exchange media into conduits
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0265 by using guiding means or impingement means inside the header box
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0268 in the form of multiple deflectors for channeling the heat exchange medium

Abstract

A heat exchanger for several applications such as a vehicle is described herein. The heat exchanger includes an inlet header tank configured to receive a fluid, an outlet header tank configured to output the fluid, and an intermediate tank between the inlet header tank and the outlet header tank. A first heat exchanger is between the inlet header tank and the intermediate tank, and a second heat exchanger is between the intermediate tank and the outlet header tank. The intermediate tank has an interior region having a plurality of protuberances disposed therein. The protuberances are configured to facilitate mixing of the fluid within the intermediate tank. The mixing of the fluid with the protuberances provides a more uniform heat distribution within the intermediate tank before entering the second heat exchanger.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger for an automotive vehicle, the heat exchanger comprising:

an inlet header tank;

a first heat exchanger core fluidly and mechanically coupled to the inlet header tank;

an outlet header tank;

a second heat exchanger core fluidly and mechanically coupled to the outlet header tank; and

an intermediate tank fluidly and mechanically coupled to and between the first heat exchanger core and the second heat exchanger core to transfer fluid therebetween, the intermediate tank having an interior surface with protuberances integrally formed therewith, wherein the protuberances are configured to cause mixing of the fluid as the fluid transfers from the first heat exchanger core to the second heat exchanger core.

2. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the intermediate tank has front and rear surfaces, and the protuberances extend therebetween.

3. The heat exchanger of claim 2, wherein the protrusions are cylindrical.

4. The heat exchanger of claim 2, wherein the intermediate tank has a top and bottom surface, and the protuberances are arranged in staggered columns from the top surface toward the bottom surface of the intermediate tank.

5. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the protuberances are oriented such that a first pair of protuberances are angled toward one another and a second pair of protuberances are angled away from one another.

6. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the protuberances include a first pair of protuberances that form a restrictive flow path, and a second pair of protuberances that form an expansive flow path.

7. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the protuberances include valves configured to move between an open position and a closed position.

8. The heat exchanger of claim 7, wherein the valves when in the closed position only partially inhibit the transfer of fluid from the first heat exchanger core to the second heat exchanger core.

9. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the first heat exchanger includes a first plurality of tubes configured to transfer the fluid from the inlet header tank to the intermediate tank, and the second heat exchanger includes a second plurality of tubes configured to transfer the fluid from the intermediate tank to the outlet header tank.

10. A heat exchanger comprising:

an inlet header tank;

a first heat exchanger core having a first plurality of tubes coupled to the inlet header tank;

an intermediate tank coupled to the first plurality of tubes;

a second heat exchanger core having a second plurality of tubes coupled to the intermediate tank; and

an outlet header tank coupled to the second plurality of tubes;

wherein the intermediate tank includes protuberances configured to facilitate mixing of fluid within the intermediate tank as the fluid transfers from the first heat exchanger core to the second heat exchanger core.

11. The heat exchanger of claim 10, wherein the protuberances are integrally-formed with an interior surface of the intermediate tank.

12. The heat exchanger of claim 10, wherein the protuberances include a plurality of protrusions extending across the intermediate tank from a font side of the intermediate tank to a rear side of the intermediate tank.

13. The heat exchanger of claim 12, wherein the plurality of protrusions are arranged in a staggered orientation.

14. The heat exchanger of claim 10, wherein the protuberances includes a first pair of protuberances configured to increase a speed of a first portion of the fluid as it flows through the intermediate tank, and a second pair of protuberances configured to decrease the speed of a second portion of the fluid as it flows through the intermediate tank.

15. The heat exchanger of claim 10, wherein the protuberances are moveable within the intermediate tank.

16. The heat exchanger of claim 15, wherein the protuberances are valves configured to move between an open position and a closed position.

17. A heat exchanger comprising:

an inlet header tank configured to receive a fluid;

an outlet header tank configured to output the fluid; and

an intermediate tank between the inlet header tank and the outlet header tank, the intermediate tank having an interior region having a plurality of protuberances disposed therein, wherein the protuberances are configured to facilitate mixing of the fluid within the intermediate tank.

18. The heat exchanger of claim 17, wherein the protuberances extend across the intermediate tank from a front side of the intermediate tank toward a rear side of the intermediate tank.

19. The heat exchanger of claim 17, wherein the protuberances are moveable within the intermediate tank.

20. The heat exchanger of claim 17, further comprising a first heat exchanger core having a first plurality of tubes configured to transfer the fluid from the inlet header tank to the intermediate tank whereupon the fluid is mixed, and a second heat exchanger core having a second plurality of tubes configured to transfer the mixed fluid from the intermediate tank to the outlet header tank.