HEAT EXCHANGER

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a mounting section on which heat-exchanged object is mounted, and a circulation section in which a plurality of flow paths through which a heating medium flows are formed, wherein the plurality of flow paths include first flow paths in which a flow path width in a third direction vary according to advance in a first direction at a side closer to a first end portion and at a side closer to a second end portion of the first flow path in a second direction, the flow path width of the first flow path at the side closer to the first end portion varies with a decrease tendency according to advance in the first direction, and the flow path width of the first flow path at the side closer to the second end portion varies with an increase tendency according to advance in the first direction.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-134917, filed Jul. 18, 2018, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a heat exchanger.

Description of Related Art

In the related art, a heat exchanger including fins for heat transfer in a coolant flow path is known (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. H04-018232 and Japanese Patent No. 5387436). The fins for a heat exchanger are formed of a plate-shaped member provided parallel to a flow direction of a coolant. In these fins, a shape of a cross section perpendicular to the flow direction of the coolant is a rectangular waved shape. These fins are so-called offset fins, and neighboring waved-shaped portions in the flow direction of the coolant are offset in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the coolant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Incidentally, in the above-mentioned heat exchanger, since the coolant flows in a direction parallel to a plate-shaped member that forms the fins, movement of the coolant in a height direction of the fins is minimized. For this reason, when a radiating surface with respect to a heat source (i.e., an object to be heat-exchanged) is provided on end portions (for example, base end portions or tip portions) of the fins in the height direction, a temperature of the coolant flowing close to the radiating surface is easily maintained relatively high, and a temperature of the coolant flowing far side from the radiating surface is easily maintained relatively low. When a state in which a temperature difference is large is maintained without promoting homogenization of a temperature distribution of the coolant depending on a position in the flow path in this way, a problem that heat exchange effectiveness cannot be improved occurs.

An aspect of the present invention is directed to providing a heat exchanger capable of promoting efficient heat exchange.

The present invention employs the following aspects.

(1) A heat exchanger according to an aspect of the present invention includes a mounting section on which an object to be heat-exchanged is mounted; and a circulation section in which a plurality of flow paths through which a heating medium flows are formed, wherein, provided that a first direction is a flow direction of the heating medium, a second direction is perpendicular to the mounting section and a third direction is perpendicular to the first and second directions, the plurality of flow paths include first flow paths in which a flow path width in the third direction vary according to advance in the first direction at a side closer to a first end portion of the first flow path in the second direction and at a side closer to a second end portion of the first flow path in the second direction, the flow path width of the first flow path at the side closer to the first end portion varies with a decrease tendency according to advance in the first direction, and the flow path width of the first flow path at the side closer to the second end portion varies with an increase tendency according to advance in the first direction.

(2) In the heat exchanger according to the above-mentioned (1), the plurality of flow paths may include second flow paths which are disposed next to the first flow paths in the third direction and in which flow path widths in the third direction vary according to advance in the first direction at a side closer to the first end portion of the first flow path in the second direction and at a side closer to the second end portion of the first flow path in the second direction, the flow path width of the second flow path at the side closer to the first end portion may vary with an increase tendency according to advance in the first direction, and the flow path width of the second flow path at the side closer to the second end portion may vary with a decrease tendency according to advance in the first direction.

(3) In the heat exchanger according to the above-mentioned (1) or (2), a cross-sectional area on an upstream side and a cross-sectional area on a downstream side in the first direction at each of the plurality of flow paths may be formed to be the same as each other.

(4) In the heat exchanger according to any one of the above-mentioned (1) to (3), the circulation section may include a plurality of flow path rows disposed to be arranged in the first direction, each of the plurality of flow path rows may be configured such that the plurality of flow paths are disposed to be arranged in the third direction, and, among the plurality of flow path rows, an upstream-side flow path and a downstream-side flow path next to each other may be disposed to be shifted in the third direction.

(5) In the heat exchanger according to the above-mentioned (4), among the plurality of flow path rows, the upstream-side flow path and the downstream-side flow path that are next to each other may be disposed such that at least parts thereof are integrally connected with each other while being shifted at 1/N pitch in the third direction by an arbitrary natural number N larger than 1.

According to the above-mentioned (1), the heating medium flowing through the first flow path in the first direction is guided to flow from the first end portion side toward the second end portion in the second direction according to a decrease in the flow path width at the side closer to the first end portion in the second direction and an increase in the flow path width at the side closer to the second end portion in the second direction. Accordingly, the heating medium flowing through a side close to the object to be heat-exchanged and the heating medium flowing through a side far from the object to be heat-exchanged can be stirred so as to be mixed. Even in a case a temperature difference is increased in a state in which there is no mixing between the heating medium flowing through the side close to the object to be heat-exchanged and the heating medium flowing through the side far from the object to be heat-exchanged, efficient heat exchange can be performed by stirring the heating medium and promoting uniformization of the temperature distribution.

In the case of the above-mentioned (2), in the second flow path next to the first flow path, the heating medium can be stirred by an action opposite to that of the first flow path. That is, the heating medium flowing through the second flow path in the first direction is guided to flow from the second end portion side toward the first end portion in the second direction according to the increase in flow path width at the side closer to the first end portion of the first flow path in the second direction and the decrease in the flow path width at the side closer to the second end portion of the first flow path in the second direction. Accordingly, the heating medium flowing through the side close to the object to be heat-exchanged and the heating medium flowing through the side far from the object to be heat-exchanged can be stirred so as to be mixed.

Further uniformization of the temperature distribution can be further promoted and heat exchange efficiency can be improved by stirring the heating media using actions reverse to each other in the first flow path and the second flow path.

In the case of the above-mentioned (3), since the constant cross-sectional area of the flow path in the flow direction of the heating medium is formed, occurrence of an excessive pressure increase or pressure drop in a part of the flow path can be minimized.

In the case of the above-mentioned (4), in comparison with the case in which the upstream-side flow path and the downstream-side flow path having the same shape are not shifted in the third direction, heat exchange efficiency can be improved.

In the case of the above-mentioned (5), the plurality of flow paths can be formed by pressing, for example, cutting and bending or the like, of one plate member, the plurality of flow paths can be formed to be integrally connected to each other without being separated from each other, and manufacturing efficiency can be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a configuration of a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a flow path forming member of a heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of a flow path forming member of the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the flow path forming member of the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention in a direction inclined with respect to a Z-axis direction.

FIG. 5 is a view showing the flow path forming member of the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention in a Y-axis direction.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the flow path forming member of the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention in a Z-axis direction.

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view taken along an X-Z plane at a position on line A-A shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along the X-Z plane at a position on line B-B shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view taken along the X-Z plane at a position on line C-C shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7D is a cross-sectional view taken along the X-Z plane at a position on line D-D shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7E is a cross-sectional view taken along the X-Z plane at a position on line E-E shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a heat exchanger of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a configuration of a heat exchanger 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a flow path forming member 21 of the heat exchanger 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of the flow path forming member 21 of the heat exchanger 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the flow path forming member 21 of the heat exchanger 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention in a direction inclined with respect to a Z-axis direction. FIG. 5 is a view showing the flow path forming member 21 of the heat exchanger 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention in a Y-axis direction. FIG. 6 is a view showing the flow path forming member 21 of the heat exchanger 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention in a Z-axis direction. FIG. 7A to FIG. 7E are cross-sectional views taken along an X-Z plane at positions on lines A-A, B-B, C-C, D-D, and E-E shown in FIG. 6. Further, hereinafter, axial directions of an X axis, a Y axis and a Z axis that are perpendicular to each other in a 3-dimensional space are directions parallel to the axes.

As shown in FIG. 1, the heat exchanger 10 includes a heat radiation case 11, and a heat radiation plate 13 mounted on the heat radiation case 11.

An external form of the heat radiation case 11 is, for example, a rectangular box shape. The heat radiation plate 13 closes an opening end of the heat radiation case 11 to liquid-tightly seal the inside of the heat radiation case 11.

A supply port 13a and a discharge port 13b for a heating medium (for example, a coolant) R are formed in the heat radiation plate 13. The supply port 13a and the discharge port 13b are formed in, for example, two non-adjacent corner sections among four corner sections of the heat radiation plate 13. The heating medium R entering the heat radiation case 11 from the supply port 13a flows through the heat radiation case 11 and flows to the outside of the heat radiation case 11 from the discharge port 13b.

An outer surface of the heat radiation case 11 (for example, an outer surface of a bottom section 11a) includes a mounting section (for example, a mounting surface) 15 on which an object to be heat-exchanged (for example, a heat source) P is mounted. The heat radiation case 11 includes a circulation section 19 in which a plurality of flow paths 17 through which the heating medium R flows are formed.

For example, a thickness direction of the heat radiation case 11 is a direction perpendicular to the mounting section 15, and parallel to the Z-axis direction. A positive direction of the circulation section 19 in the Z-axis direction is a direction getting away from the object to be heat-exchanged P on the mounting section 15. A flow direction of the heating medium R in the heat radiation case 11 is a direction parallel to the mounting section 15 and parallel to the Y-axis direction. A positive direction of the circulation section 19 in the Y-axis direction is a direction along a flow direction of the heating medium R. The X-axis direction is perpendicular to the Z-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the circulation section 19 includes the flow path forming member 21 that forms the plurality of flow paths 17. An external form of the flow path forming member 21 in a cross section (i.e., a Z-X plane) perpendicular to a flow direction of the heating medium R is, for example, a trapezoidal wave form. The flow path forming member 21 is formed by pressing, for example, cutting and bending or the like, one plate member. The flow path forming member 21 includes a first bottom section 23, a second bottom section 25, and a first wall section 27 and a second wall section 29 configured to connect the first bottom section 23 and the second bottom section 25.

External forms of the first bottom section 23 and the second bottom section 25 are, for example, the same isosceles trapezoidal plate shapes. A symmetrical axis in an isosceles trapezoidal shape of the first bottom section 23 and the second bottom section 25 is parallel to the Y-axis direction, i.e., the flow direction of the heating medium R. In the isosceles trapezoidal shape of the first bottom section 23 and the second bottom section 25, an upper base on a downstream side in the flow direction of the heating medium R is formed to be shorter than a lower base on an upstream side in the flow direction of the heating medium R. That is, a width of each of the first bottom section 23 and the second bottom section 25 in the X-axis direction varies with a decrease tendency according to advance in a positive direction of the Y-axis direction in the flow direction of the heating medium R.

An external form of the first wall section 27 and the second wall section 29 is formed in, for example, a plate shape in which each of them is connected to mutual legs in the isosceles trapezoidal shape of the first bottom section 23 and the second bottom section 25.

The plurality of flow paths 17 include a plurality of first flow paths 31 and second flow paths 32.

The first flow paths 31 are formed by the first bottom section 23, the first wall section 27, the second wall section 29, and the bottom section 11a of the heat radiation case 11. As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7A to FIG. 7E, a flow path width of the first flow paths 31 in the X-axis direction on a side in the positive direction of the Z-axis direction, i.e., on the side closer to first end portions 31a, varies with a decrease tendency according to advance in the positive direction of the Y-axis direction in the flow direction of the heating medium R. A flow path width of the first flow paths 31 in the X-axis direction on a side in the negative direction of the Z-axis direction, i.e., on the side closer to second end portions 31b, varies with an increase tendency according to advance in the positive direction of the Y-axis direction in the flow direction of the heating medium R.

For example, flow path widths W1a1, W1a2, W1a3, W1a4 and W1a5 on the side closer to the first end portions 31a that vary according to advance in the positive direction of the Y-axis direction have a relation of W1a1>W1a2>W1a3>W1a4>W1a5. Flow path widths W1b1, W1b2, W1b3, W1b4 and W1b5 on the side closer to the second end portions 31b that vary according to advance in the positive direction of the Y-axis direction have a relation of W1b1<W1b2<W1b3<W1b4<W1b5.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the heating medium R flowing through the first flow paths 31 in the positive direction of the Y-axis direction is guided to flow from the first end portions 31a side toward the second end portions 31b side according to a decrease in the flow path width on the side closer to the first end portions 31a and an increase in the flow path width on the side closer to the second end portions 31b.

The second flow paths 32 are formed by the second bottom section 25, the first wall section 27, the second wall section 29, and the heat radiation plate 13. As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7A to FIG. 7E, a flow path width of the second flow paths 32 in the X-axis direction on the side in the positive direction of Z-axis direction, i.e., on the side closer to first end portions 32a, varies with an increase tendency according to advance in the positive direction of the Y-axis direction in the flow direction of the heating medium R. A flow path width of the second flow paths 32 in the X-axis direction on the side in the negative direction of the Z-axis direction, i.e., on the side closer to second end portions 32b, varies with a decrease tendency according to advance in the positive direction of the Y-axis direction in the flow direction of the heating medium R.

For example, flow path widths W2a1, W2a2, W2a3, W2a4 and W2a5 on the side closer to the first end portions 32a that vary according to advance in the positive direction of the Y-axis direction have a relation of W2a1<W2a2<W2a3<W2a4<W2a5. Flow path widths W2b1, W2b2, W2b3, W2b4 and W2b5 on the side closer to the second end portions 32b that vary according to advance in the positive direction of the Y-axis direction have a relation of W2b1>W2b2>W2b3>W2b4>W2b5.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the heating medium R flowing through the second flow paths 32 in the positive direction of the Y-axis direction is guided to flow from the second end portions 32b side toward the first end portions 32a side according to an increase in the flow path width on the side closer to the first end portions 32a and a decrease in the flow path width on the side closer to the second end portions 32b.

In each of the first flow paths 31 and the second flow paths 32, a cross-sectional area in the Y-axis direction is formed to be constant within a predetermined error range. That is, in each of the first flow paths 31 and the second flow paths 32, a cross-sectional area on an upstream side and a cross-sectional area on a downstream side in the Y-axis direction along the flow direction of the heating medium R are formed to be the same within the predetermined error range.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the plurality of first flow paths 31 and the plurality of second flow paths 32 are disposed in, for example, a zigzag manner. In the X-axis direction, the plurality of first flow paths 31 and the plurality of second flow paths 32 are alternately arranged and integrally next to each other. In the Y-axis direction, the plurality of first flow paths 31 are arranged to be sequentially shifted in the X-axis direction, and the plurality of second flow paths 32 are arranged to be sequentially shifted in the X-axis direction.

For example, the circulation section 19 includes a plurality of flow path rows 40 disposed integrally to be arranged in the Y-axis direction. Each of the flow path rows 40 is configured to be disposed integrally such that the plurality of first flow paths 31 and the plurality of second flow paths 32 are alternately arranged in the X-axis direction. Among the plurality of flow path rows 40, the flow path row 40 on the upstream side and the flow path row 40 on the downstream side, which are next to each other, are disposed to be shifted in the X-axis direction. That is, in the plurality of flow path rows 40, the first flow path 31 on the upstream side and the first flow path 31 on the downstream side, which are next to each other, are disposed to be shifted in the X-axis direction, and the second flow path 32 on the upstream side and the second flow path 32 on the downstream side are disposed to be shifted in the X-axis direction.

Two arbitrary first flow paths 31 arranged in the Y-axis direction and two arbitrary second flow paths 32 arranged in the Y-axis direction are disposed to be shifted at 1/N pitch (=L/N) in the X-axis direction. Further, 1 pitch is a distance L between the two first flow paths 31 neighboring in the X-axis direction or a distance L between the two second flow paths 32 neighboring in the X-axis direction. In addition, N is an arbitrary natural number larger than 1, for example, N=4. The two arbitrary first flow paths 31 and the two arbitrary second flow paths 32, which are arranged in the Y-axis direction, are disposed such that at least parts thereof are integrally connected to each other.

That is, the flow path forming member 21 forms a so-called offset fin. In the offset fin, for example, one flow path group is formed by the plurality of first flow paths 31 and second flow paths 32 alternately arranged in the X-axis direction, and the plurality of flow path groups are disposed to be arranged in the Y-axis direction while being sequentially shifted at 1/N pitch in the X-axis direction.

As described above, according to the heat exchanger 10 of the embodiment, in the first flow paths 31 and the second flow paths 32, the heating medium R flowing in the positive direction of the Y-axis direction is stirred in the Z-axis direction. Accordingly, the heating medium R flowing through a side close to the object to be heat-exchanged P and having a relatively high temperature and the heating medium R flowing through a side far from the object to be heat-exchanged P and having a relatively low temperature are suppressed from becoming a laminar flow, and mixing thereof can be promoted. Efficient heat exchange can be performed by stirring the heating medium R having a variation in temperature that increases according to a distance from the object to be heat-exchanged P and promoting uniformization of a temperature distribution of the heating medium R depending on positions in the flow paths 31 and 32.

In addition, in each of the first flow paths 31 and the second flow paths 32, since a cross-sectional area in the Y-axis direction along the flow direction of the heating medium R is formed to be constant, occurrence of an excessive pressure increase or pressure drop in parts of the flow paths 31 and 32 can be suppressed.

In addition, since the two arbitrary first flow paths 31 arranged in the Y-axis direction and the two arbitrary second flow paths 32 arranged in the Y-axis direction are disposed to be shifted at 1/N pitch in the X-axis direction, for example, heat exchange efficiency can be improved in comparison with the case in which the paths are not shifted in the X-axis direction.

In addition, the flow path forming member 21 can form the plurality of flow paths 17 through pressing of one plate member, the plurality of flow paths 17 can be formed to be integrally connected without being separated, manufacturing efficiency can be improved, and an increase in cost required for manufacturing of the compact heat exchanger 10 can be minimized.

Hereinafter, a variant of the embodiment will be described.

While the object to be heat-exchanged P is a heat source, i.e., a cooling target, and the heating medium R is a coolant in the above-mentioned embodiment, there is no limitation thereto. The object to be heat-exchanged P may be a heating target or the heating medium R may be a heat medium.

In addition, while the circulation section 19 includes the plurality of flow path rows 40 disposed integrally to be arranged next to each other in the Y-axis direction in the above-mentioned embodiment, there is no limitation thereto. For example, in the plurality of flow path rows 40 arranged in the Y-axis direction, a predetermined interval may be provided between the neighboring flow path rows 40, and the neighboring flow path rows 40 may be separated from each other without being integrally connected to each other.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as being limited by the foregoing description, and is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger comprising: a mounting section on which an object to be heat-exchanged is mounted; anda circulation section in which a plurality of flow paths through which a heating medium flows are formed,wherein, provided that a first direction is a flow direction of the heating medium, a second direction is perpendicular to the mounting section and a third direction is perpendicular to the first and second directions, the plurality of flow paths comprise first flow paths in which a flow path width in the third direction vary according to advance in the first direction at a side closer to a first end portion of the first flow path in the second direction and at a side closer to a second end portion of the first flow path in the second direction,the flow path width of the first flow path at the side closer to the first end portion varies with a decrease tendency according to advance in the first direction, andthe flow path width of the first flow path at the side closer to the second end portion varies with an increase tendency according to advance in the first direction.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of flow paths comprise second flow paths which are disposed next to the first flow paths in the third direction and in which flow path widths in the third direction vary according to advance in the first direction at a side closer to the first end portion of the first flow path in the second direction and at a side closer to the second end portion of the first flow path in the second direction,the flow path width of the second flow path at the side closer to the first end portion varies with an increase tendency according to advance in the first direction, andthe flow path width of the second flow path at the side closer to the second end portion varies with a decrease tendency according to advance in the first direction.

3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area on an upstream side and a cross-sectional area on a downstream side in the first direction at each of the plurality of flow paths are formed to be the same as each other.

4. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the circulation section comprises a plurality of flow path rows disposed to be arranged in the first direction,each of the plurality of flow path rows is configured such that the plurality of flow paths are disposed to be arranged in the third direction, andamong the plurality of flow path rows, an upstream-side flow path and a downstream-side flow path next to each other are disposed to be shifted in the third direction.

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein, among the plurality of flow path rows, the upstream-side flow path and the downstream-side flow path that are next to each other are disposed such that at least parts thereof are integrally connected to each other while being shifted at 1/N pitch in the third direction by an arbitrary natural number N larger than 1.