Heat exchanger for a thermal coupling

Abstract

A heat exchanger, particularly for a thermal coupling of a glycol/water cooling system circuit and a refrigerant circuit in a motor vehicle includes a plurality of first plates having first flow channels for refrigerant and a first reservoir in fluid communication with the first flow channels integrally formed therein, a plurality of second flow plates having second flow channels for a glycol/water mixture, and a second reservoir mounted to a side of said heat exchanger and in fluid communication with the second flow plates.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A heat exchanger, particularly for a thermal coupling of a glycol/water cooling system circuit and a refrigerant circuit in a motor vehicle comprising: 
 a plurality of first plates having first flow channels for refrigerant and a first reservoir in fluid communication with said first flow channels integrally formed therein;    a plurality of second flow plates having second flow channels for a glycol/water mixture;    a second reservoir mounted to a side of said heat exchanger and in fluid communication with said second flow plates.    
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein said second reservoir is mounted onto said heat exchanger such that said second reservoir is aligned within the same plane as said first reservoirs.  
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein said second reservoir is mounted onto said heat exchanger such that said second reservoir is offset from said first reservoirs by 90 degrees.  
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein said first and second flow channels are single flow channels.  
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein said first and second flow channels are multi-flow channels.  
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein each of said first flow channels has a hydraulic diameter that is between about 0.1 millimeters and about 4 millimeters.  
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein each of said second flow channels has a hydraulic diameter that is between about 1 millimeter and about 6 millimeters.  
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the shape of said first collectors are one of either circular, oval, elliptical, rectangular, or as an elongated hole.  
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein each of said first and second plates have a wall thickness that is between about 0.2 millimeters and about 5 millimeters.  
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein the shape of said first and second flow channels are one of either circular, semicircular, wedge-shaped, ribbed, or non-ribbed.  
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein said first flow channels and said second flow channels are arranged such that flow of the refrigerant through said heat exchanger is either countercurrent flow, cross flow, or parallel flow relative to flow of the glycol/water mixture.  
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1  wherein said second reservoir includes a plurality of separators to divide the second collectors into different chambers.  
     
     
         13 . A heat exchanger, particularly for a thermal coupling of a glycol/water cooling system circuit and a refrigerant circuit in a motor vehicle comprising: 
 a plurality of first plates having first flow channels for refrigerant and a first reservoir in fluid communication with said first flow channels integrally formed therein, said first flow channels having a hydraulic diameter that is between about 0.1 millimeters and about 4 millimeters;    a plurality of second flow plates having second flow channels for a glycol/water mixture, said second flow channels having a hydraulic diameter that is between about 1 millimeter and about 6 millimeters;    a second reservoir mounted to a side of said heat exchanger and in fluid communication with said second flow plates and including a plurality of separators to divide the second reservoir into different chambers;    each of said first and second plates having a wall thickness that is between about 0.2 millimeters and about 5 millimeters.    
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 13  wherein said second reservoir is mounted onto said heat exchanger such that said second reservoir is aligned within the same plane as said first reservoirs.  
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 13  wherein said second reservoir is mounted onto said heat exchanger such that said second reservoir is offset from said first reservoirs by 90 degrees.  
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 13  wherein said first and second flow channels are single flow channels.  
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 13  wherein said first and second flow channels are multi-flow channels.  
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger of  claim 13  wherein the shape of said first collectors are one of either circular, oval, elliptical, rectangular, or as an elongated hole.  
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger of  claim 13  wherein the shape of said first and second flow channels are one of either circular, semicircular, wedge-shaped, ribbed, or non-ribbed.  
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger of  claim 13  wherein said first flow channels and said second flow channels are arranged such that flow of the refrigerant through said heat exchanger is either countercurrent flow, cross flow, or parallel flow relative to flow of the glycol/water mixture.