JP2009259925A - Heat exchanger - Google Patents

Abstract

A heat exchanger having a new structure for efficiently cooling a heating element is provided.
A plurality of fins 11 formed in a straight line are arranged in parallel in a direction intersecting with a refrigerant flow, and a gap between the adjacent fins 11 becomes a flow path through which the refrigerant flows. Thus, a plurality of fin groups 10 are formed by dividing the fins 11 in the direction in which the refrigerant flows, and the fin groups 10a and 10b positioned back and forth in the direction in which the refrigerant flows are such that the fins 11 are inclined in the opposite direction. The heat exchanger 1 formed in this way.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a heat exchanger in which a flow path is formed by a plurality of linear fins arranged in parallel at intervals, and heat is dissipated from the heating element by flowing a coolant through the flow path. The present invention relates to a heat exchanger having a flow path for generating a refrigerant flow that enhances a heat dissipation effect.

  A hybrid vehicle or the like uses a semiconductor element for an inverter that drives a motor, and employs a water-cooled heat exchanger that cools the semiconductor element. Inverters equipped with semiconductor elements are required to have higher output, while demands for miniaturization and weight reduction have become stricter. Therefore, a heat exchanger having an excellent heat dissipation effect is required. The following Patent Document 1 describes a conventional heat exchanger with improved cooling performance. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the heat exchanger described in the document as seen in the plane direction.

  In the heat exchanger 100, a refrigerant flow path that flows from the supply port 102 to the discharge port 103 is formed in a case 101 in which a supply port 102 and a discharge port 103 are formed. In this heat exchanger 100, a flow path is formed by a plurality of fins 111, and the flow path is further divided into first, second, and third fin groups 201, 202, and 203 that are divided into three in the linear direction. In each of the fin groups 201 to 203, a plurality of fins 111 are arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction, and the fin groups 201 to 203 are arranged on the same straight line so that a straight flow path is formed. A plurality are formed. However, the straight flow path is interrupted between the fin groups 201 to 203, and the joining portions 105 and 106 are formed.

Further, in the heat exchanger 100, isolation fins 112, 112 are provided between a plurality of fins 111 arranged side by side, and a flow path 107 wider than the fins 111 is formed. In the third fin group 203, adjacent separation fins 112 are connected to each other to close the flow path. In such a heat exchanger 100, semiconductor elements 300 as heating elements are respectively arranged in nine sections separated by the separation flow paths 107 formed by the merge portions 105 and 106 and the separation fins 112. In such a heat exchanger 100, the refrigerant flowing in from the supply port 102 flows through the straight flow path by the fins 111, and mixes at the merging portions 105 and 106 to make the flow distribution uniform, and further flows downstream.
JP 2007-335588 A

  By the way, when the flow path constituted by the fins is a straight line like the heat exchanger 100, the flow of the refrigerant becomes a laminar flow. Then, while the flow becomes faster in the central portion of the flow path, the flow becomes slower in the portion in contact with the fin 111, and there is a problem that the heat of the heating element transmitted through the fin is hardly dissipated and the cooling performance is not improved. In this regard, it is considered effective to disturb the flow of the refrigerant in order for the refrigerant to efficiently dissipate the heat from the fins. However, the transverse flow path by the junctions 105 and 106 as in the heat exchanger 100 is not sufficient. There wasn't.

  Therefore, in recent years, the heat generation density has increased due to the miniaturization of semiconductor elements, and improvement in cooling performance has been demanded for heat exchangers used in inverters and the like. The exchanger did not provide sufficient cooling capacity.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger having a new structure that efficiently cools a heating element in order to solve such a problem.

  In the heat exchanger according to the present invention, a plurality of fins formed in a straight line are arranged in parallel in the direction intersecting with the refrigerant flow, and a gap between adjacent fins becomes a flow path through which the refrigerant flows. A plurality of fin groups are formed by dividing the fins in the direction in which the refrigerant flows, and the fin groups that are positioned back and forth in the direction in which the refrigerant flows are formed such that the fins incline in opposite directions. It is characterized by being.

Further, in the heat exchanger according to the present invention, the fin group is formed by a fin member in which a plurality of fins protrudes from a flat plate-like base, and moves back and forth in the flow direction of the refrigerant in a frame through which the refrigerant flows. It is preferable that the fin members having opposite fin inclination directions are alternately installed.
In the heat exchanger of the present invention, it is preferable that all of the plurality of fin members have the same shape, and the ones that move back and forth in the direction in which the refrigerant flows are installed in opposite directions.
In the heat exchanger of the present invention, the fin member is preferably formed by extrusion.

Therefore, according to the present invention, since the fins of the fin groups are inclined in the opposite direction, the refrigerant collides with the fins on the downstream side and agitates and flows, so that the refrigerant that has taken heat from the fins stagnates. It flows smoothly downstream. Therefore, even if the heat generation density is increased by a small heating element, the refrigerant efficiently takes heat from the fins and flows, so that it is possible to cope with the cooling ability that is significantly improved compared to the conventional case.
Further, according to the present invention, the fin member is used to reverse the inclination of the fin for each fin group, the fin member having the same shape is used, and the fin member is formed by extrusion molding. As a result, it is possible to provide a heat exchanger at a low cost while reducing processing costs.

Next, an embodiment of a heat exchanger according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a heat exchanger according to the present embodiment.
In the heat exchanger 1, a plurality of fin members 10 are inserted into the frame 2, and a plurality of flow paths through which refrigerant flows are formed by the plurality of fins 11 constituting the fin members 10. The frame 2 forming the main body of the heat exchanger 1 has a cylindrical shape penetrating in the Y direction in the drawing from the inflow side opening 2a to the discharge side opening 2b, for example, from the direction indicated by the arrow Q. It is a thing. And the cross section of the flame | frame 2 orthogonal to the Q direction through which the refrigerant | coolant flows is formed in the rectangular flat shape long in the drawing X direction.

  In addition, although the illustrated heat exchanger 1 is shown in which the inflow side opening 2a and the discharge side opening 2b are largely opened in the frame 2, each is not shown in the closed state when used. Connected to the refrigerant supply pipe or the refrigerant discharge pipe. The refrigerant supply pipe is connected to a supply pump for sending the refrigerant to the heat exchanger 1 at a constant pressure, and the refrigerant discharge pipe is connected to a tank for collecting the refrigerant discharged from the heat exchanger 1. The

  Here, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the heat exchanger 1 shown from below in FIG. 3A is a side view showing the fin member 10a as viewed in the direction of arrows AA in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B shows the fin member 10b as seen in the direction of arrows BB in FIG. FIG. In the heat exchanger 1, such fin members 10a and 10b are alternately arranged. However, the plurality of fin members 10 (10a, 10b) constituting the heat exchanger 1 are all the same, and are merely arranged with their directions reversed as illustrated.

  The fin member 10 is formed by projecting a plurality of fins 11 on a base 12 made of a strip-shaped flat plate, the fins 11 being arranged in parallel with a certain interval, and all inclined at a certain angle in the same direction. Has been. The height from the bottom surface of the base 12 to the tip of the fin 11 (Z direction in FIG. 3) and the length of the base 12 (X direction in FIG. 3) are the dimensions of the internal cross section of the frame 2 (Z in FIG. 1). , X dimension), and the fin member 10 is inserted and incorporated in the frame 2 as shown in FIGS.

  Next, FIG. 4 is the figure which showed the inflow port side opening part 2a of the heat exchanger 1 shown in FIG. 1 from Q direction. The fin members 10a and 10b are arranged so that the fins 11 having different inclinations intersect from the direction of the arrow Q in FIG. Here, the fin 11a of the fin member 10a located in front of the drawing is inclined to the left from the base 12, and the fin 11b of the fin member 10b located behind is inclined to the right. As described above, the heat exchanger 1 is configured so that the flow is switched stepwise in the direction in which the refrigerant flows by the fin groups distinguished by the fin members 10a and 10b.

  At that time, the flow path constituted by the fins 11a of the fin member 10a located on the near side is partially blocked by the fins 11b of the fin member 10b arranged on the downstream side thereof. Similarly, the flow path constituted by the fins 11b of the fin member 10b is partially blocked by the fins 11a of the fin member 10a disposed further downstream. Such a relationship is repeated by the alternately arranged fin members 10a and 10b. Therefore, in the heat exchanger 1 of the present embodiment, the refrigerant flowing through the flow path flows while being disturbed by hitting the rear fins 11 whose inclination is reversed.

Then, the fin member 10 which comprises the flow path of the heat exchanger 1 is formed as shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a partial processing step of the fin member.
The fin member 10 is made of aluminum having a good heat transfer coefficient, and the melted material is extruded from a mold that forms a plurality of fins 11 and a base 12 to form, for example, a long fin member 10L having a length of several meters. Is done. Thus, the long long fin member 10L is first formed, and then the fin member 10 cut to a certain width is formed.

  The long fin member 10L is conveyed to the cutting process shown in FIG. 5 as it is after the extrusion molding, but the long fin member 10L is still in a soft state with heat immediately after such extrusion molding. The long fin member 10L is transported in the pushing direction F as illustrated with the long fin 11L tilted upward with the long base 12L down, and the press device 50 is configured at the transport destination. The press device 50 is provided with a lower mold (not shown) that supports the long base 12L below, and a plate-shaped cutting press mold 51 that is arranged perpendicular to the extrusion direction F and is lowered toward the lower mold.

  The press device 50 cuts the long fins 11L and the long base 12L with a constant width by driving the cutting press die 51 to the lower die. However, at that time, fin restraining jigs 53 and 53 are prepared so that the long fin 11L inclined by the pressing force of the cutting press die 51 does not fall down. The fin holding jigs 53, 53 are formed with a plurality of plate-like support protrusions 55 so as to enter between the plurality of long fins 11L, and the pressing force of the cutting press die 51 applied to each of the long fins 11L is inclined. It is intended to be supported from the back side. The press device 50 is for vertically lowering the cutting press die 51. For example, the pressing device 50 is moved along the inclination of the long fin 11L, and the tip of the cutting press die is formed in a mountain shape so as to be orthogonal to each fin. Etc.

  Therefore, in the cutting step, the extruded long fin member 10L is conveyed in the extrusion direction F, and is temporarily stopped at a predetermined interval to perform a cutting process. Fin restraining jigs 53, 53 are applied to the stopped long fin member 10L, and the support protrusion 55 enters between the long fins 11L to support the inclined back side. In this state, the cutting press die 51 is lowered and pressed against the lower die, so that the long fin 11L and the long base 12L are cut as shown in the drawing so that the material is crushed. Will be created.

  The fin member 10 formed in this manner is reversely oriented as shown in FIG. 3 and inserted alternately into the frame 2 as shown in FIGS. The fin members 10a and 10b that are moved back and forth in the direction in which the refrigerant flows are arranged so as to be in contact with each other, and are integrated with the frame 2 by a fastener (not shown). In the heat exchanger 1, as shown in FIG. 6, a heat spreader 6 for heat diffusion is attached to the frame 2, and a plurality of semiconductor elements 7, which are heating elements, are attached in an orderly manner.

  Therefore, when the semiconductor element 7 used in the inverter or the like generates heat, the heat is transmitted to the heat spreader 6 and diffused, and further transmitted from the frame 2 to the fin 11 of the fin member 10 installed inside. The refrigerant is supplied from the inflow side opening 2a into the frame 2 and flows to the opposite discharge side opening 2b. Accordingly, the heat transferred to the fin 11 is taken away by the refrigerant flowing while in contact with the fin 11. Although the refrigerant flows as a flow path between the fins 11, the refrigerant flows while colliding with the fins 11 by the fin members 10 a and 10 b that are alternately arranged in the traveling direction. Therefore, the refrigerant always flows while being stirred, and the refrigerant that has deprived of heat efficiently flows downstream.

  In this regard, in the case of the flow path composed of vertically raised fins as shown in FIG. 7, the refrigerant flows in a laminar flow and the refrigerant in contact with the fins deprived of heat stagnates. Since the refrigerant collides with the fins 11 and is stirred, the refrigerant that has taken heat from the fins 11 smoothly flows downstream without stagnation. Therefore, according to the heat exchanger 1 of the present embodiment, even if the semiconductor element 7 is downsized and the heat generation density is increased, the refrigerant efficiently draws heat from the fins 11 and flows, so that the cooling capacity is higher than the conventional one. It becomes possible to cope with the improvement.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the fin member 10 obtained by cutting from the extruded long fin member 10L can reduce the processing cost and can be mass-produced by reducing the processing time. Furthermore, since it is configured by the same fin members 10a and 10b, it is possible to provide the heat exchanger 1 at a low cost by suppressing the cost even with a small number of parts.
Moreover, since the fin member 10 is formed by extrusion molding, the fin 11 can be finely processed, and the heat exchanger 1 having a cooling performance corresponding to a small heating element can be provided.

As mentioned above, although one Embodiment about the heat exchanger which concerns on this invention was described, this invention is not limited to this, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the meaning.
For example, in the fin member 10 according to the embodiment, the number, inclination, or interval of the fins 11 can be appropriately changed depending on a target heating element.
Further, in the heat exchanger 1, all the flow paths in the frame 2 are constituted by the fin members 10, but some of them are fin members 10 and other portions are used in combination with vertically raised fins as in the conventional example. It may be configured as follows.
Further, in the heat exchanger 1, the fins 11 of the fin members 10 are arranged so as to be in contact with the direction in which the refrigerant flows. However, a gap such as the junction 105 shown in FIG. May be.

It is the perspective view which showed one Embodiment of the heat exchanger. It is sectional drawing which showed the heat exchanger of the figure from the downward direction. It is the side view (a) which showed the fin member by the AA arrow of FIG. 2, and the side view (b) shown by the BB arrow of FIG. It is the figure which showed the inflow port side opening part of the heat exchanger shown in FIG. 1 from Q direction. It is the conceptual diagram which showed the partial process process of the fin member. It is the perspective view which showed the use condition of this embodiment. It is sectional drawing seen from the plane direction about the conventional heat exchanger.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heat exchanger 2 Frame 6 Heat spreader 7 Semiconductor element 10 (10a, 10b) Fin member 11 Fin 12 Base

Claims (4)

In the heat exchanger in which a plurality of fins formed in a straight line are arranged in parallel in the direction intersecting with the refrigerant flow, and the gap between the adjacent fins becomes a flow path through which the refrigerant flows.
A plurality of fin groups are formed by dividing the fins in the direction in which the refrigerant flows, and the fin groups positioned back and forth in the direction in which the refrigerant flows are formed by inclining each other in the opposite direction. A heat exchanger characterized by that. The heat exchanger according to claim 1,
The fin group is formed by a fin member in which a plurality of fins protrudes from a flat plate-shaped base, and in the frame in which the refrigerant flows, the fins are inclined in opposite directions in the direction in which the refrigerant flows. A heat exchanger in which fin members are alternately installed. The heat exchanger according to claim 2,
All of the plurality of fin members have the same shape, and the heat exchangers are arranged in such a manner that the ones that move back and forth in the refrigerant flow direction are reversed. In the heat exchanger according to claim 2 or claim 3,
The heat exchanger, wherein the fin member is formed by extrusion molding.

Images