Heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger, in particular a heat exchanger for a motor vehicle, which is constructed from modular heat exchanger components can include the following types of heat exchanger components: a plurality of tubes, in particular flat tubes, a plurality of plates and at least one connecting piece having an inlet opening for introducing a fluid and/or an outlet opening for discharging the fluid, the outer contour of the heat exchanger being at least partially formed by the outer contours of the heat exchanger components, the reliable arrangement of the same type of heat exchanger component in the designated location within the heat exchanger is reliably guaranteed. Thus, the heat exchanger components of the same type have different outer contours which form an outer contour of the heat exchanger so that heat exchanger components of the same type but having different functions may be distinguished from each other on the basis of their different outer contours.

1 . A heat exchanger formed of modular heat exchanger components, comprising:
 a plurality of tubes;   a plurality of plates; and   at least one connecting piece having an inlet opening configured to introduce a fluid and/or an outlet opening configured to discharge the fluid, an outer contour of the heat exchanger being at least partially formed by outer contours of the heat exchanger components,   wherein the modular heat exchanger components of the same type have different outer contours that form the outer contour of the heat exchanger such that heat exchanger components of the same type are distinguished from each other based on their different outer contours.   
   
   
       2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger components of the same type, but having different outer contours, are configured to function differently. 
   
   
       3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the plates are configured with or without openings. 
   
   
       4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the different outer contours are formed by at least one projection and/or at least one recess. 
   
   
       5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one projection and/or the at least one recess have/has a rectangular cross section. 
   
   
       6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein a recess is provided in an area of one end of the tubes. 
   
   
       7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 6 , wherein a partial section of the tubes is arranged between the plates in the area of the end of the tubes, and wherein the openings in the plates at least partially cover the recesses in the flat tubes such that the openings and the recesses form a manifold. 
   
   
       8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein turbulence inserts are provided in the tubes and/or ends of the tubes are closed by an insert part. 
   
   
       9 . A method for manufacturing a heat exchanger from heat exchanger components in a modular design, the method comprising:
 providing heat exchanger components having tubes, plates and at least one connecting piece;   arranging the heat exchanger components into a structural unit; and   establishing a fluid-tight connection between the heat exchanger components contained in the structural unit,   wherein the heat exchanger components of the same type have different outer contours that form an outer contour of the heat exchanger such that when the different types of heat exchanger components are arranged into a structural unit a test component distinguishes between heat exchanger components of the same type that have different functions based on the different outer contours to avoid incorrect arrangement of heat exchanger components of the same type having different functions.   
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein a plate is arranged between two tubes in an area of an end of the tubes. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein two plates are placed on one tube. 
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein corresponding sections of the test component have a shape that is complementary to the outer contour of the type of heat exchanger component designated for this location so that when a type of heat exchanger component not designated for this position is arranged therein, the non-designated type of heat exchanger component assumes a different position than the designated heat exchanger component. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the positions of the different types of heat exchanger components are detected by a monitoring sensor when the heat exchanger components are arranged, and if a type of heat exchanger component assumes a non-designated position during arrangement, an error message occurs and/or the manufacturing method is terminated and/or the non-designated type of heat exchanger component is replaced by the designated type of heat exchanger component. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the positions of the different types of heat exchanger components are detected visually by an operator when the heat exchanger components are arranged, and if a type of heat exchanger component assumes a non-designated position, the manufacturing method is terminated and/or the non-designated type of heat exchanger component is replaced by the designated type of heat exchanger component. 
   
   
       15 . A motor vehicle air conditioning system or a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle air conditioning system or motor vehicle includes a heat exchanger according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       16 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is a motor vehicle heat exchanger. 
   
   
       17 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubes are configured as flat tubes.