Heat exchanger for vehicle air conditioning system, vehicle air conditioning system and vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12459337-B2
Application number	US-202318453150-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 21, 2023
Priority date	Dec 27, 2021
Publication date	Nov 4, 2025
Grant date	Nov 4, 2025

Abstract

A heat exchanger for a vehicular air conditioning system is disclosed. The heat changer includes a heat exchanger body, a water storage tank, and a condensate water circulating device. The heat exchanger body is provided with an air-inlet side and an air-outlet side. The air-inlet side is configured to enable an external air flow to enter the heat exchanger body, so that the air flow conducts heat exchange with a refrigerant in the heat exchanger body. The air-outlet side is configured to exhaust the air flow completing heat exchange with the refrigerant. The water storage tank is arranged below the heat exchanger body and is configured to store condensate water formed on the heat exchanger body. The condensate water circulating device is configured to transport cold water in the water storage tank to the air-inlet side of the heat exchanger body for heat exchange with the heat exchanger body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A heat exchanger for a vehicle air conditioning system, comprising:
a heat exchanger body, provided with an air-inlet side and an air-outlet side, wherein the air-inlet side is configured to enable an external air flow to enter the heat exchanger body, so that the air flow conducts heat exchange with a refrigerant in the heat exchanger body, and the air-outlet side is configured to exhaust the air flow to a passage compartment of the vehicle, completing heat exchange with the refrigerant; a water storage tank, arranged below the heat exchanger body and configured to store condensate water formed on the heat exchanger body; and a condensate water circulating device;
wherein the condensate water circulating device comprises:
a water cooler arranged on the air-inlet side of the heat exchanger body, configured to cool the air flow using the condensate water before the air flow entering the heat exchange body; and
a water pump configured to transport the condensate water stored in the water storage tank to the water cooler;
wherein the heat exchanger further comprises a liquid level sensor and a controller, the liquid level sensor and the water pump both are electrically connected to the controller, the liquid level sensor is arranged in the water storage tank and is configured to detect a liquid level height of the condensate water in the water storage tank, and the controller is configured to start the water pump in a case where the liquid level height of the condensate water in the water storage tank reaches a preset value;
wherein the heat exchanger further comprises a catchment tray, and the catchment tray is arranged at a bottom of the heat exchanger body, is configured to collect the condensate water formed on the heat exchanger body, and is communicated with an internal space of the water storage tank; and
wherein the catchment tray is further located at the bottom of the water cooler and is further configured to collect the condensate water formed on the water cooler.

2 . The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein
the heat exchanger further comprises a reversing valve arranged on the water storage tank, a water outlet of the water cooler is connected to the reversing valve, the water storage tank is further provided with a drain outlet and a humidifying connector, the drain outlet is configured to drain away the condensate water, and the humidifying connector is configured to be connected to an external sprayer; the reversing valve has a first state and a second state capable of being switched; in a case where the reversing valve is in the first state, the water outlet of the water cooler is connected to the drain outlet, and the water outlet of the water cooler is disconnected to the humidifying connector; and in a case where the reversing valve is in the second state, the water outlet of the water cooler is connected to the humidifying connector, and the water outlet of the water cooler is disconnected to the drain outlet.

3 . The heat exchanger according to claim 2 , wherein the heat exchanger further comprises a switching valve arranged on the water storage tank, the switching valve is connected to the water outlet of the water cooler, the water storage tank is further provided with a water connector, the water connector is configured to provide a user with domestic water, and the water connector is connected to the water outlet of the water cooler through the switching valve.

4 . The heat exchanger according to claim 3 , wherein the reversing valve further has a third state, and in a case where the reversing valve is in the third state, the water outlet of the water cooler is disconnected to both the drain outlet and the humidifying connector.

5 . The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger body is internally provided with a refrigerant channel, and the heat exchanger body is provided with a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet.

6 . A vehicle air conditioning system, comprising the heat exchanger according to claim 1 .

7 . The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 6 , wherein
the heat exchanger further comprises a reversing valve arranged on the water storage tank, the water outlet of the water cooler is connected to the reversing valve, the water storage tank is further provided with a drain outlet and a humidifying connector, and the drain outlet is configured to drain away the condensate water; the reversing valve has a first state and a second state capable of being switched; in a case where the reversing valve is in the first state, the water outlet of the water cooler is connected to the drain outlet, and the water outlet of the water cooler is disconnected to the humidifying connector; in a case where the reversing valve is in the second state, the water outlet of the water cooler is connected to the humidifying connector, and the water outlet of the water cooler is disconnected to the drain outlet; and the vehicle air conditioning system further comprises a sprayer connected to the humidifying connector.

8 . The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 7 , wherein
the heat exchanger further comprises the controller, and the vehicle air conditioning system further comprises a humidity sensor; the humidity sensor is configured to detect a humidity of a passenger compartment; and the controller is configured to control the reversing valve to be switched to the second state in a case where the humidity of the passenger compartment is lower than a preset value.

9 . The vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 6 , wherein the vehicle air conditioning system further comprises a compressor, a second heat exchanger and an expansion valve, and the compressor, the second heat exchanger, the expansion valve and the heat exchanger form a refrigerant circulation loop.

10 . A vehicle, comprising the vehicle air conditioning system according to claim 6 .

Assignees

• Contemporary Amperex Technology Hong Kong Ltd

Inventors

• Liu Yao
• Zhao Yu
• Zhou Zhengzhu
• Jiang Liwen
• Wu Kai

Classifications

• F28D1/05383

  with multiple rows of conduits or with multi-channel conduits (F28D1/05391 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F28D1/0435

  Combination of units extending one behind the other (F28D1/0452 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F28F2265/06

  by using means for draining heat exchange media from heat exchangers · CPC title

• F28F2265/22

  for draining · CPC title

• F28F17/005 Primary

  Means for draining condensates from heat exchangers, e.g. from evaporators (F28B9/08 takes precedence) · CPC title