Heat exchanger with thermal inertia for a heat transfer fluid circuit, particularly of a motor vehicle

Abstract

Heat exchanger with thermal inertia for a heat transfer fluid circuit, particularly of a motor vehicle A heat exchanger for a heat transfer fluid circuit comprising ducts for the circulation of the heat transfer fluid, which are inserted between an inlet and an outlet, is described. Cavities designed to contain a heat storage fluid adjacent to the cooling fluid circulation ducts and associated with heat-exchange surfaces, so that heat storage fluid is capable of exchanging heat with the air flow, if the circulation of the heat transfer fluid is stopped, are also described.

1 - 26 . (canceled)  
   
   
       27 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit comprising: 
 a) a pump or compressor;    b) a heat storage fluid;    c) a heat transfer fluid;    d) a heat exchanger having cavities forming a heat storage fluid reserve, and heat exchange surfaces for exchanging heat between the heat storage fluid or the heat transfer fluid and air from an air flow that sweeps the heat exchange surface; and    e) heat transfer fluid circulating ducts adjacent to the cavities and associated with the heat exchange surfaces;    wherein the heat transfer fluid exchanges heat with the air from the air flow when the pump or compressor is operating, and wherein the heat storage fluid exchanges heat with the air from the air flow when the pump or compressor is stopped.    
   
   
       28 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 27 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises at least one manifold having an inlet and an outlet for the heat transfer fluid.  
   
   
       29 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 28 , wherein the heat transfer circulating ducts are inserted between the outlet and the inlet.  
   
   
       30 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 29 , wherein the heat exchanger has a multiplicity of parallel flat tubes and the heat transfer fluid circulating ducts and the heat storage fluid reserve are formed in large opposing faces of the tubes.  
   
   
       31 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 30 , wherein heat exchange surfaces are located on corrugated inserts arranged between two adjacent tubes of the multiplicity of parallel flat tubes.  
   
   
       32 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 31 , wherein each flat tube is in either one or two parts or plates.  
   
   
       33 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 32 , wherein each of the flat tubes is made up of two plates, the heat transfer fluid circulating ducts are part of one of the two plates and the heat storage fluid reserve cavities are part of the other plate.  
   
   
       34 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 32 , wherein the flat tube is in one part, with the ducts along one face of the part and at least one cavity along the other face of the part.  
   
   
       35 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 32 , wherein the flat tube is in one part, with the heat transfer fluid circulating ducts and heat storage fluid reserve cavities arranged in groups.  
   
   
       36 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 35 , wherein the groups of heat transfer fluid circulating ducts and heat storage fluid reserve cavities are between the faces and the groups of heat transfer fluid circulating ducts alternate with the groups of heat storage fluid cavities.  
   
   
       37 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 29 , wherein the heat exchanger further comprises at least one conduct which communicates with the cavities.  
   
   
       38 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 31 , wherein the heat exchanger further comprises at least one conduct which communicates with the cavities.  
   
   
       39 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 29 , wherein the heat exchanger has a multiplicity of flat tubes in the shape of a hairpin or U.  
   
   
       40 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 39 , wherein the heat transfer circulating ducts and the heat storage fluid reserve cavities are formed in the tubes.  
   
   
       41 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 40 , wherein the heat exchange surfaces are corrugated inserts arranged between two adjacent tubes of the multiplicity of flat tubes.  
   
   
       42 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 41 , wherein each hairpin or U shaped flat tube is of one piece.  
   
   
       43 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 29 , wherein the heat exchanger has a multiplicity of flat tubes in the shape of a coil.  
   
   
       44 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 43 , wherein the coil-shaped flat tube is formed of a multiplicity of U-shaped inner tubes in which the heat transfer circulating ducts are formed.  
   
   
       45 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 44 , wherein the heat storage fluid reserve cavities are formed in a coil-shaped outer tube surrounding the U-shaped tubes.  
   
   
       46 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 31 , wherein the tubes are extruded and formed of an aluminum based material.  
   
   
       47 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 44 , wherein the tubes are extruded and formed an formed an aluminum based material.  
   
   
       48 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 29 , wherein the heat exchanger is an evaporator.  
   
   
       49 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 48 , wherein the heat transfer fluid is a cooling fluid and the heat storage fluid is a phase-change fluid with a melting point of between 0° C. and 10° C.  
   
   
       50 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 49 , wherein the heat transfer fluid is a cooling fluid and the heat storage fluid is a phase-change fluid with a melting point of between 3° C. and 7° C.  
   
   
       51 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 49 , wherein the heat storage fluid is selected from the group consisting of paraffins, hydrated salt and eutectic compounds.  
   
   
       52 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 49 , wherein the heat storage is water.  
   
   
       53 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 29 , wherein the heat exchanger is a heating radiator.  
   
   
       54 . A motor vehicle engine driven air conditioning circuit as in  claim 53 , wherein the heat storage fluid is a phase-change fluid having a melting point of between 60° C. and 90° C.