Heat exchanger and refrigerant module of integrated thermal management system for vehicle including same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12097746-B2
Application number	US-202217969861-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 20, 2022
Priority date	Dec 15, 2021
Publication date	Sep 24, 2024
Grant date	Sep 24, 2024

Abstract

An embodiment heat exchanger includes a first flow path through which a refrigerant discharged from a condenser and drawn into an expansion valve flows and a second flow path through which the refrigerant discharged from a vapor-liquid separator and drawn into a compressor flows, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to perform a heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing through the first flow path and the refrigerant flowing through the second flow path.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heat exchanger comprising:
a first flow path through which a refrigerant discharged from a condenser and drawn into an expansion valve flows;
a second flow path through which the refrigerant discharged from a vapor-liquid separator and drawn into a compressor flows, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to perform a heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing through the first flow path and the refrigerant flowing through the second flow path;
a first inlet through which the refrigerant is introduced to the first flow path, the first inlet being open upward;
a first outlet through which the refrigerant is discharged from the first flow path, the first outlet being open upward;
a second inlet through which the refrigerant is introduced to the second flow path, the second inlet being open downward;
a second outlet through which the refrigerant is discharged from the second flow path, the second outlet being open downward; and
a first body and a second body in which each of the first flow path and the second flow path is halved in flowing directions of the refrigerant;
wherein the first inlet and the second outlet are formed in a first side of the first body;
wherein a first flange connected to the second body is formed on a second side of the first body;
wherein a second flange coupled to the first flange of the first body is formed on a first side of the second body; and
wherein the second inlet and the first outlet are formed in a second side of the second body.

2. The heat exchanger of claim 1 , further comprising a heat exchange region provided between the first flow path and the second flow path to directly face the first flow path and the second flow path, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to perform the heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing through the first flow path and the refrigerant flowing through the second flow path in the heat exchange region.

3. The heat exchanger of claim 2 , wherein the heat exchange region comprises one or more protruding fins protruding in a direction of the first flow path or a direction of the second flow path.

4. The heat exchanger of claim 3 , wherein each of the protruding fins has a cross-section constant in a direction in which the refrigerant flows.

5. The heat exchanger of claim 4 , wherein the protruding fins on either side of the heat exchange region are spaced apart from each other in a top-bottom direction.

6. A refrigerant module for an integrated thermal management system for a vehicle, the refrigerant module comprising:
a compressor comprising a first refrigerant intake port through which a refrigerant is drawn and a first refrigerant discharge port through which the refrigerant is discharged after being compressed;
a condenser comprising a second refrigerant intake port through which the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is drawn and a second refrigerant discharge port through which the refrigerant is discharged after being heat-exchanged;
an expansion valve comprising a third refrigerant intake port through which the refrigerant discharged from the condenser is drawn and a third refrigerant discharge port through which the refrigerant is discharged after being expanded;
an evaporator comprising a fourth refrigerant intake port through which the refrigerant discharged from the expansion valve and a fourth refrigerant discharge port through which the refrigerant is discharged after being heat-exchanged;
a vapor-liquid separator comprising a fifth refrigerant intake port through which the refrigerant discharged from the evaporator is drawn and a fifth refrigerant discharge port through which a liquid refrigerant and a vapor refrigerant separated from the refrigerant are discharged;
a heat exchanger configured to perform a heat exchange between the refrigerant discharged from the condenser and drawn into the expansion valve and the refrigerant discharged from the vapor-liquid separator and drawn into the compressor, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a first flow path through which the refrigerant discharged from the condenser and drawn into the expansion valve flows and a second flow path through which the refrigerant discharged from the vapor-liquid separator and drawn into the compressor flows, and wherein the heat exchanger is configured to perform the heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing through the first flow path and the refrigerant flowing through the second flow path;
a first inlet through which the refrigerant is introduced to the first flow path, the first inlet being open upward;
a first outlet through which the refrigerant is discharged from the first flow path, the first outlet being open upward;
a second inlet through which the refrigerant is introduced to the second flow path, the second inlet being open downward;
a second outlet through which the refrigerant is discharged from the second flow path, the second outlet being open downward; and
a first body and a second body in which each of the first flow path and the second flow path is halved in flowing directions of the refrigerant;
wherein the first inlet and the second outlet are formed in a first side of the first body;
wherein a first flange connected to the second body is formed on a second side of the first body;
wherein a second flange coupled to the first flange of the first body is formed on a first side of the second body; and
wherein the second inlet and the first outlet are formed in a second side of the second body.

7. The refrigerant module of claim 6 , wherein:
the first refrigerant discharge port of the compressor and the second refrigerant intake port of the condenser are directly connected;
the second refrigerant discharge port of the condenser and the third refrigerant intake port of the expansion valve are indirectly connected through the heat exchanger;
the third refrigerant discharge port of the expansion valve and the fourth refrigerant intake port of the evaporator are directly connected;
the fourth refrigerant discharge port of the evaporator and the fifth refrigerant intake port of the vapor-liquid separator are directly connected; and
the fifth refrigerant discharge port of the vapor-liquid separator and the first refrigerant intake port of the compressor are indirectly connected through the heat exchanger.

8. The refrigerant module of claim 7 , wherein the the first flow path and the second flow path are formed on both sides of a heat exchange region such that the heat exchanger is configured to perform the heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing through the first flow path and the refrigerant flowing through the second flow path in the heat exchange region.

9. The refrigerant module of claim 8 , wherein:
the second refrigerant discharge port is formed downward in a bottom end of the condenser;
the third refrigerant intake port is formed downward in a bottom end of the expansion valve;
the first inlet of the heat exchanger is disposed directly below the second refrigerant discharge port provided in the condenser such that the second refrigerant discharge port and the first inlet are directly connected to and communicate with each other; and
the third refrigerant intake port of the expansion valve is disposed directly above the first outlet provided in the heat exchanger such that the first outlet and the third refrigerant intake port are directly connected to and communicate with each other.

10. The refrigerant module of claim 8 , wherein:
the fifth refrigerant discharge port is formed upward in a top portion of the vapor-liquid separator;
the first refrigerant intake port is formed upward in a top portion of the compressor;
the second inlet of the heat exchan

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp
• Hyundai Wia Corp

Inventors

• Lee Sang Shin
• Kim Ki Mok
• Oh Man Ju
• Kim Man Hee
• Lee Se Min
• Park Bong Jun

Classifications

• B60H1/32284 Primary

  comprising two or more secondary circuits, e.g. at evaporator and condenser side · CPC title

• B60H2001/3291

  Locations with heat exchange within the refrigerant circuit itself · CPC title

• B60Y2306/01

  Reducing damages in case of crash, e.g. by improving battery protection · CPC title

• F28D2021/008

  for vehicles · CPC title

• F25B2400/054

  between the suction tube of the compressor and another part of the cycle · CPC title