The present invention relates generally to a fluid management system and, more particularly, to a fluid management system for a heat exchanger of a vehicle air conditioning system.
Heat exchangers are commonly known in the art for a transfer of heat from one medium to another. Typically, the heat exchanger is disposed in series with a fluid circulation system for circulating a fluid through a stream of a cooling fluid. Such heat exchangers commonly include an inlet manifold for receiving the fluid from the fluid circulation system, an outlet manifold for returning the fluid to the fluid circulation system, and a conduit core interposed between the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold. The conduit core intercepts the stream of cooling fluid for the transfer of heat from the fluid of the fluid circulation system to the cooling fluid.
Typically, the heat exchangers are available in an assortment of sizes and structural configurations for specific applications. Heat exchangers of the foregoing type are regularly used in connection with a cooling module of a vehicle. Conventional vehicles are generally powered by an internal combustion engine which is cooled by a liquid cooling system including a first heat exchanger of the cooling module, commonly referred to as a radiator. For vehicles equipped with air conditioning, a second heat exchanger of the cooling pack, commonly referred to as a condenser, is affixed to a front side of the radiator. The condenser is utilized to cause a refrigerant of an air conditioning system of the vehicle which has been compressed into a high temperature, high pressure gas to be condensed into a low temperature, high pressure liquid. A fan of the cooling module is disposed on a back side of the radiator to cause the stream of cooling fluid to flow through the condenser and the radiator.
Presently, the condenser is subjected to a significant increase (i.e. 8° C.-30° C.) in average inlet air temperature over the ambient air temperature, especially when the vehicle is at idle, Higher inlet air temperatures affect a performance of the condenser, and consequently increase an operating pressure and power usage of a compressor of the air conditioning system, which can lead to performance and reliability degradation of the air conditioning system. Sources that contribute to the increase of the inlet air temperature are shown in
It is evident that air recirculation is one of the main contributors to the increase in the inlet air temperature of the condenser. Numerous passive means have been proposed in the prior art for minimizing such air recirculation. One such means shown in
It would desirable to produce a fluid management system for use with a heat exchanger of a vehicle air conditioning system, which minimizes an inlet fluid temperature of the heat exchanger.
In concordance and agreement with the present disclosure, a fluid management system for use with a heat exchanger of a vehicle air conditioning system, which minimizes an inlet fluid temperature of the heat exchanger, has surprisingly been discovered.
In one embodiment, a vehicle, comprises: a cooling module configured to receive a flow of a cooling fluid therein and discharge a flow of a heated cooling fluid therefrom; and a fluid management system configured to cause at least one of at least a portion of a flow of a third fluid to redirect at least a portion of a flow of a heated fluid, at least a portion of the flow of the heated cooling fluid to redirect at least a portion of the flow of the heated fluid, and at least a portion of the flow of the heated cooling fluid to be directed out of the vehicle.
In another embodiment, a vehicle, comprises: a cooling module including: a first heat exchanger configured to receive a first fluid therein, a second heat exchanger disposed adjacent the first heat exchanger and configured to receive a second fluid therein, wherein at least one of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger is configured to receive a flow of a cooling fluid therein and discharge a flow of a heated cooling fluid therefrom; and a shroud disposed adjacent the first heat exchanger and configured to control the flow of the cooling fluid through at least one of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; and a fluid management system configured to cause at least one of at least a portion of a flow of a third fluid to redirect at least a portion of a flow of a heated fluid, at least a portion of the flow of the heated cooling fluid to redirect at least a portion of the flow of the heated fluid, and at least a portion of the flow of the heated cooling fluid to be directed out the vehicle.
The invention also relates to a method of fluid management for a cooling module of a vehicle.
The method comprises the steps of; providing a cooling module configured to receive a flow of a cooling fluid therein and discharge a flow of a heated cooling fluid therefrom; providing a system configured to provide fluid management for the cooling module; and causing at least one of at least a portion of a flow of a third fluid to redirect at least a portion of a flow of a heated fluid, at least a portion of the flow of the heated cooling fluid to redirect at least a portion of the flow of the heated fluid, and at least a portion of the flow of the heated cooling fluid to be directed out of the vehicle.
The above, as well as other objects and advantages of the invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from reading of the following detailed description of the invention when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:
The following detailed description and appended drawings describe and illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description and drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner.
As shown, an internal combustion engine 120 and a cooling module 122 are disposed within the engine compartment 112 of the vehicle 101. The engine 120 is cooled by a liquid cooling system. The liquid cooling system includes a circuitous flow path or cooling jacket extending within the engine 120 for receiving a first fluid (e.g. an engine coolant) therein. The first fluid is circulated through the liquid cooling system by a prime mover (not shown) such as a hydraulic or electric pump, for example. After passage through the engine 120, the heated first fluid flows into a first heat exchanger 124, commonly referred to as a radiator, of the cooling module 122. Within the first heat exchanger 124, a temperature of the first fluid is decreased by heat transfer from the first fluid to the cooling fluid A (e.g. the ambient air) flowing therethrough. Once the first fluid is cooled, it flows from the first heat exchanger 124 through the circuitous flow path to the engine 120 to absorb heat therefrom.
The cooling module 122 further includes a second heat exchanger 126, commonly referred to as a condenser, disposed in front of the first heat exchanger 124. The second heat exchanger 126 shown is for use in an air conditioning system of the vehicle 101. The air conditioning system includes a compressor (not shown), the second heat exchanger 126, an expansion device (not shown), and an evaporator (not shown), all fluidly connected by a circuitous flow path. The circuitous flow path is capable of conveying a flow of a high or low-pressure second fluid such as a refrigerant, for example. Commonly, the second fluid used in the air conditioning system is a refrigerant such as R-134a, CO2, and HFO-1234yf, for example. The compressor compresses and facilitates a flow of the second fluid throughout the air conditioning system. The compressor includes a suction side and a discharge side. The suction side is referred to as the low-pressure side and the discharge side is referred to as the high-pressure side.
The evaporator of the air conditioning system is usually disposed in the passenger compartment 110 of the vehicle 101. It is understood that the evaporator of the air conditioning system can be disposed elsewhere within the vehicle 101 if desired. Within the evaporator, a low-pressure two-phase mixture of liquid and vapor of the second fluid boils by absorbing heat from the passenger compartment 110. A cold, low-pressure, vapor form of the second fluid then exits from the evaporator. The cold, low-pressure, vapor form of the second fluid from the evaporator is received in the compressor and compressed thereby into a hot, high-pressure, vapor form of the second fluid. The compressed hot, high-pressure, vapor form of the second fluid is then discharged by the compressor to the second heat exchanger 126. As the hot, high-pressure, vapor form of the second fluid passes through the second heat exchanger 126, the second fluid is condensed to a warm, high-pressure, liquid form of the second fluid as it transfers the heat absorbed from the passenger compartment 110 and from the compression process to the cooling fluid flowing therethrough. Exiting the second heat exchanger 126, the warm, high-pressure, liquid form of the second fluid passes through the expansion device that regulates the flow of the second fluid to the evaporator. A temperature of the low-pressure, vapor form of the second fluid returning to the compressor from the evaporator is typically about 40° F. to about 100° F. lower than a temperature of the high-pressure, liquid form of the second fluid exiting the condenser.
The cooling module 122 may further include a third heat exchanger (not shown) employed for use with an engine oil system or a transmission fluid system, for example. The first heat exchanger 124, the second heat exchanger 126, and optionally, the third heat exchanger, function as an integrated heat transfer device for simultaneously cooling at least the first fluid of the liquid cooling system and the second fluid of the air conditioning system of the vehicle 101. A fluid-moving device 128 is employed in the cooling module 122 to cause the cooling fluid A to flow through the first heat exchanger 124, the second heat exchanger 126, and optionally, the third heat exchanger. The fluid-moving device 128 can be any conventional device as desired such as a fan or a blower, for example.
The flow of the cooling fluid A through the cooling module 122 is controlled by a shroud 130. The shroud 130 includes an end wall 132 having a continuous sidewall 134 extending therefrom. The sidewall 134 terminates with an edge defining an open end 138 adjacent an outlet region of the first heat exchanger 124. One or more outlet openings 140 are formed in the end wall 132 to permit a stream of a heated cooling fluid B, which has absorbed heat from the first fluid and the second fluid, to be discharged from the cooling module 122. The heated cooling fluid B discharged from the cooling module 122 circulates within the engine compartment 112.
As shown, the fluid flow path 142 is formed between the end wall 132 of the shroud 130 and an additional wall 144 having a central opening 146 formed thereon. The additional wall 144 can substantially cover the end wall 132 of the shroud 130, as shown in
In use, the cooling fluid A is caused to flow from outside the vehicle 101 into the engine compartment 112 and through the second heat exchanger 126 and the first heat exchanger 124 of the cooling module 122 to absorb heat therefrom. As the heated cooling fluid B is discharged from the cooling module 122 into the engine compartment 112, the heated fluid C is caused to flow through the fluid flow paths 142 and converge with the stream of the heated cooling fluid B. Since the amount of heated fluid C which flows to the inlet region of the second heat exchanger 126 is minimized by the fluid management system 100, an inlet fluid temperature of the second heat exchanger 126 is also minimized. Accordingly, a performance of the second heat exchanger 126 is maximized, and consequently an operating pressure and power usage of a compressor of the air conditioning system is minimized, which optimizes performance and durability of the air conditioning system.
The fluid management system 100′ includes one or more fluid flow paths 202 configured to minimize an amount of the heated fluid that circulates to an inlet region of the second heat exchanger 126′. The fluid flow paths 202 guide the stream of the heated cooling fluid B′ to at least one region of the engine compartment 112′ where it can be easily vented outside the engine compartment 112′ and/or where it opposes a flow of the heated fluid C′ which may circulate to the inlet region of the second heat exchanger 126′. As illustrated, the fluid flow paths 202 are formed between the end wall 132′ of the shroud 130′ and an additional wall 204 having a central opening 206 formed thereon. The additional wall 204 can substantially cover the end wall 132′ of the shroud 130′, as shown in
While the fluid flow paths 202 shown have openings 208 at an upper region and a lower region of the cooling module 122′, it is understood that the opening 208 of each of the fluid flow paths 202 can be disposed elsewhere downstream of the second heat exchanger 126′ in any location suitable to minimize the amount of the heated fluid C′ that flows to the inlet region of the second heat exchanger 126′. For example, the openings 208 of the fluid flow paths 202 can be disposed adjacent opposing sides of the second heat exchanger 126′ to cause the heated fluid C′ circulating around the cooling module 122′ to converge with the stream of the heated cooling fluid B being discharged from the cooling module 122′, thereby minimizing the amount of heated fluid C′ which flows to the inlet region of the second heat exchanger 126′.
In use, the cooling fluid A is caused to flow from outside the vehicle 101′ into the engine compartment 112′ and through the second heat exchanger 126′ and the first heat exchanger 124′ of the cooling module 122′ to absorb heat therefrom. The heated cooling fluid B′ is then discharged from the cooling module 122′ through the fluid flow paths 202 and is caused to be vented from the engine compartment 112′ and/or be directed in opposition to a flow of the heated fluid C′ which may circulate to the inlet region of the second heat exchanger 126′. Since the amount of heated fluid C′ which flows to the inlet region of the second heat exchanger 126′ is minimized by the fluid management system 100′, an inlet fluid temperature of the second heat exchanger 126′ is also minimized. Accordingly, a performance of the second heat exchanger 126′ is maximized, and consequently an operating pressure and power usage of a compressor of the air conditioning system is minimized, which optimizes a performance and a durability of the air conditioning system.
In
As shown in
In use, the cooling fluid A is caused to flow from outside the vehicle 101″ into the engine compartment 112″ and through the second heat exchanger 126″ and the first heat exchanger 124″ of the cooling module 122″ to absorb heat therefrom. The heated cooling fluid B is discharged from the cooling module 122″ into the engine compartment 112″. Upon activation of the fluid management system 100″, the third fluid D is caused to flow from the source of fluid 302, through the ducting 308 of the fluid flow paths 308, and through the nozzles 306. The nozzles 306 direct the stream of the third fluid D towards the inlet region of the second heat exchanger 126″ to dilute a flow of the heated fluid C″ and/or in opposition to the flow of the heated fluid C″ which may circulate to the inlet region of the second heat exchanger 126″ minimizing an amount of the heated fluid C″ which flows to the inlet region of the second heat exchanger 126″. Since the amount of heated fluid C″ which circulates to the inlet region of the second heat exchanger 126″ is minimized by the fluid management system 100″, an inlet fluid temperature of the second heat exchanger 126″ is also minimized. Accordingly, a performance of the second heat exchanger 126″ is maximized, and consequently an operating pressure and power usage of a compressor of the air conditioning system is minimized, which optimizes performance and durability of the air conditioning system.
In other embodiments, the fluid management systems 100, 100′, 100″ can be used in combination to minimize an inlet fluid temperature of the second heat exchangers 126, 126′, 126″.
In yet other embodiments, the fluid management systems 100, 100′, 100″, alone or in combination, can be used in combination with the prior art passive means for minimizing the amount of the heated fluid C, C′, C″ which flows to the inlet region of the second heat exchanger 126, 126′, 126″.
From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.