Abstract:
An evaporator heat exchanger unit for a heating cooling module for a motor vehicle is disclosed. In one aspect, the evaporator heat exchanger unit includes at least one collector expansion tank for collecting a refrigerant and one evaporator, by which at least a part of the refrigerant can be converted into gaseous form. The evaporator heat exchanger unit also includes a housing enclosing an inner chamber, wherein in the inner chamber, the collector expansion tank, the evaporator, and a cooling medium are arranged, and wherein an expansion organ is arranged on the housing, by which the refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation application, and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §§120 and 365 of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2012/003590, filed on Aug. 24, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference. PCT/EP2012/003590 also claimed priority from German Patent Application No. DE 10 2011 111 964.0 filed on Aug. 31, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The described technology generally relates to an evaporator heat exchanger unit, and in particular to an evaporator heat exchanger unit for a heating cooling module for a motor vehicle. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Technology 
         [0005]    For the standard heating cooling modules for an motor vehicle, a refrigerant passes through a refrigerant circuit, the refrigerant circuit usually includes at least a compressor, a gas cooler, an internal heat exchanger, an expansion element, an evaporator and an collector expansion tank. These components are generally connected in this order via pipes conducting the refrigerant, wherein in the condenser gas cooler heat is removed from the refrigerant and in the evaporator heat is supplied to the refrigerant. By these heat transfers, a temperature control of the interior chamber of a motor vehicle, a battery, a driving motor or an electronic system of the motor vehicle is carried out indirectly. 
         [0006]    Based on typical heating and cooling modules for a motor vehicle such as in EP 1 990 221 A1 proposes a heating-cooling module, in which a condenser/gas cooler, an evaporator, and an internal heat exchanger are integrated in such way that a closed unit is formed. By this lower assembly costs should be realized and the length of the installed cooling medium tube should be reduced. In this case, these components having very different temperatures are integrated into a closed unit. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    One inventive aspect is an improved configuration of a heating cooling module for a motor vehicle, in which suitable components can be combined into one unit. 
         [0008]    At least one of the disclosed embodiments provides the advantage that those parts of a heating cooling module for a motor vehicle, which have similar temperatures, are, in particular at least partially located within a housing surrounded by a housing. Thereby, it is particularly possible to minimize undesirable heat transfers in the refrigerant circuit and the heating cooling module can have smaller dimensions, thereby cost and space advantages arise. 
         [0009]    Another aspect is an evaporator heat exchanger unit for a heating cooling module for a motor vehicle, especially for an electrically driven motor vehicle or a hybrid motor vehicle. However, the disclosed embodiments can also be applied for a heating cooling module of a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine. At least one of the disclosed embodiments can also be applied for heating cooling modules for stationary applications, in particular buildings, or for heating cooling modules in other applications. 
         [0010]    Another aspect is an evaporator heat exchanger unit for a heating-cooling module for a motor vehicle, comprising at least a collector expansion tank for collecting a refrigerant and an evaporator, which transforms at least a part of the refrigerant into a gaseous state. A housing which comprises at least two housing parts and which encloses an inner chamber houses at least the collector expansion tank, the evaporator and a cooling medium, whereby in this housing, an expansion element is arranged, by which the refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator. 
         [0011]    Another aspect is an evaporator heat exchanger unit which is arranged in the refrigerant circuit of a heating cooling module for a motor vehicle. In the refrigerant flow, the evaporator heat exchanger unit is arranged between a gas cooler outlet and the compressor inlet. An evaporator heat exchanger unit can have at least a collector expansion tank, an evaporator, a housing and an expansion element. The housing comprising the at least two housing parts are designed such that it encloses an inner chamber in which the collector expansion tank and the evaporator are arranged and which contains the cooling medium. Between this cooling medium and the refrigerant in the evaporator a heat transfer is performed. Thereby, in particular the functionality of a heat exchanger is realized in the housing. In the expansion element being arranged on the housing, the cooling absorbs in this heat exchanger the heat of refrigerant supplied to the evaporator. After passing through the evaporator, the refrigerant is conducted into the collector expansion tank and is collected within the volume which is separated from the collector expansion tank. 
         [0012]    Another aspect is a heating cooling module for a motor vehicle which can be a refrigerant circuit from which at various, at least two points heat or cold can be taken, in particular to control the temperature of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle by the taking of the cold and/or the heat. The heating cooling module can have a gas cooler for extracting heat from the refrigerant circuit, an evaporator for absorbing heat in the refrigerant circuit, an internal heat exchanger, an expansion element, an collector expansion tank and a compressor and pipes, for example, pipelines for conducting the refrigerant between the several components of the heating cooling module. In addition, a heating cooling module can include a cooling medium circuit, by which the heat can be brought into the refrigerant in the evaporator of the heating cooling module. 
         [0013]    The collector expansion tank can be a container, in which the refrigerant can be collected, which is fed to a volume within the collector expansion tank, wherein the collector expansion tank in particular encloses this volume. In the collector expansion tank, the refrigerant can be in a high proportion in gaseous form and in a low proportion in liquid form. The collector expansion tank is used in the heating cooling module in particular as a reservoir for the refrigerant and thus in particular for regulating the pressure conditions in the heating cooling module at different operating conditions. 
         [0014]    The refrigerant can be a medium which can support heating and cooling transitions of this refrigerant, for example, a cooling medium of the evaporator heat exchanger unit and/or air from the surroundings of the vehicle and/or the inner chamber of the vehicle. In some embodiments, as the refrigerant are provided such cooling media which are suitable for use in heating-cooling modules for a motor vehicle, for example, carbon dioxide (CO2, R 744) or tetrafluoroethane (R 134a). 
         [0015]    The evaporator can be an evaporator heat exchanger unit, by which at least a part the refrigerant supplied to the evaporator is converted from a liquid state to a gaseous state. A relaxing refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator via an expansion element, wherein the evaporator has a refrigerant conducting length, which is several time larger than each of the outer dimensions of the evaporator, whereby it has a large surface area, which is surrounded by a medium, in particular the cooling medium. In some embodiments, the evaporator and/or the refrigerant conducting elements, respectively are surrounded by the cooling medium having a higher temperature than the refrigerant, wherein heat is extracted from the cooling medium and at the same time as energy is transferred to the refrigerant at least a part of the refrigerant is converted into a gaseous state. The refrigerant is cooled in the process, and for example, it is used to cool the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle by taking heat from the air in the passenger compartment by the cooled cooling medium. Likewise, the cooled cooling medium can be used to cool electronic components or engine components or a driving unit comprising a motor and electronics, or a battery of the motor vehicle by removing the heat from each component which has to be cooled by using the cooled cooling medium. 
         [0016]    The cooling medium can be a medium, which can deliver heat to a refrigerant at an evaporator, and which also can remove heat from the air, or from a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, for example, by means of a the heat exchanger suitable for this purpose. In some embodiments, the cooling medium is held in the inner chamber enclosed by the housing of the evaporator heat exchanger unit and surrounds the evaporator. In some embodiments, the cooling medium is a water-containing medium, for example, a water-based medium, such as water, and/or a glycol containing medium, in particular glycol. 
         [0017]    The housing can be a device which houses at least the collector expansion tank and the evaporator of the evaporator heat exchanger unit and a cooling medium. The housing encloses an inner chamber within which the collector expansion tank and the evaporator are disposed. This inner chamber is at least partially, or substantially completely filled with the cooling medium. On the housing, an expansion element is arranged. The expansion element can be arranged in a recess of this housing or in the inner chamber enclosed by the housing with or outside on the housing. 
         [0018]    The expansion element can be a reduction of the cross-section in the refrigerant pipe in which the refrigerant has to pass through and at which the refrigerant flow can expand, wherein the refrigerant has a higher density and a higher pressure before the passage of the expansion element, while it has after passage of the expansion element a lower density and a lower pressure. After passage of the expansion element, the refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator in the evaporator heat exchanger unit. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments, the evaporator is arranged to substantially surround the collector expansion tank. This allows a space saving combined arrangement of the evaporator and the collector expansion tank within the inner chamber enclosed by the at least two housing parts of the housing of the evaporator heat exchanger unit. The arrangement of the evaporator around the collector expansion tank is in particular such that a surface as big as possible of the evaporator is available for flowing around the cooling medium in the housing, for example, by that the length of the refrigerant conducting elements of the evaporator is by several times longer than each of the outer dimensions of the evaporator. 
         [0020]    In some embodiments, the housing cover has at least one inlet recess through which the refrigerant can be guided into the evaporator arranged at the inner space enclosed by the housing, and at least one outlet recess through which the refrigerant can be discharged from the collector expansion tank arranged at the inner space enclosed by the housing. 
         [0021]    This inlet recess and outlet recess can provide the refrigerant ports of the evaporator heat exchanger unit to those components of the heating cooling module for a motor vehicle, which are not elements of the evaporator heat exchanger unit. In some embodiments, the refrigerant passes before entering into the inlet recess or after discharging from the outlet recess a heat exchanger device. Moreover, the refrigerant passes through an expansion element which is located at the inlet recess. The refrigerant is guided from the inlet recess into the evaporator. 
         [0022]    In some embodiments, through the outlet recess, the refrigerant which flows from the collector expansion tank and which passes a heat exchanger unit is discharged such that it passes to the compressor of the cooling heating module. It passes through further refrigerant conductors of the heating-cooling module, for example, the refrigerant pipes, arranged outside of the evaporator heat exchanger unit. 
         [0023]    In some embodiments, the heat exchanger unit is arranged on and outside of the housing, wherein at least two spaced apart channels are arranged in this heat exchanger unit, and wherein in a first channel, a refrigerant flow to the expansion element and in a second channel, a refrigerant flow from the collector expansion tank are guided such that heat can be exchanged between the refrigerant flows. The heat exchanger unit can be integrally formed and for example, arranged on the housing such that the spaced apart channels are adapted to one another at the interface to the housing such, that the first channel is in registration with the inlet recess of the housing cover and that the second channel is in registration with the outlet recess of the housing cover. In this way, heat can be transferred between the refrigerant, which is guided into the evaporator heat exchanger unit, and the refrigerant, which is discharged from the evaporator heat exchanger unit. 
         [0024]    In some embodiments, the housing includes at least one inlet opening, through which the cooling medium can be guided into the inner chamber defined by the housing, and at least one outlet opening, through which the cooling medium can be discharged from the inner chamber defined by the housing, wherein the cooling medium releases heat, in particular to the evaporator, and for example, to the collector expansion tank. Through the inlet opening in the housing, the relatively warmer cooling medium, in particular water or for example, a water-based medium is guided into the inner chamber of the housing for flowing around the evaporator. There, the cooling medium flows around the surface of the evaporator, which absorbs heat from the cooling medium due to the relatively cooler refrigerant guided into the evaporator. Then, it leaves cooled the inner chamber of the housing through the outlet opening of the housing. 
         [0025]    In a further preferred embodiment of the evaporator heat exchanger unit, the collector expansion tank has at least one connection channel, through which the refrigerant can be guided into the collector expansion tank, and at least one discharge channel, through which the refrigerant can be discharged from the collector expansion tank. Through this connection channel, the refrigerant is supplied to the collector expansion tank from the evaporator, wherein the refrigerant is collected in the collector expansion tank. Through the outlet channel, the refrigerant is discharged from the collector expansion tank and, for example, after passage through the heat exchanger unit, it is supplied to the compressor of the cooling heating module. 
         [0026]    In some embodiments, the expansion element is located in the refrigerant flow between the heat exchanger unit and the evaporator, wherein the expansion element is formed in an expansion element recess of one of the housing parts. In particular, the formation of an expansion element recess is provided within the inlet recess of the housing of the evaporator heat exchanger unit. 
         [0027]    The expansion element recess can be a recess which is adapted to receive an expansion element such that the expansion element can cause expansion of the refrigerant in the refrigerant flow between a heat exchanger unit and an evaporator. 
         [0028]    In some embodiments, the expansion element is located in the refrigerant flow between the heat exchanger device and the evaporator, wherein the expansion element is connected with one of the housing parts, in particular tightly and at least, indirectly connected. The expansion element can be arranged such that the refrigerant flow can be supplied through the expansion element directly to the inlet recess of the housing, or that the refrigerant flow can be supplied through the inlet recess of the housing directly to the expansion element. 
         [0029]    In some embodiments, the collector expansion tank comprises a collector expansion tank pot and a collector expansion tank cap. The collector expansion tank pot is especially provided for collecting the refrigerant. The collector expansion tank cap encloses together with the collector expansion tank pot an inner volume of the collector expansion tank. The connecting channel and/or the discharge channel can be arranged on the collector expansion tank cap or on the collector expansion tank pot. 
         [0030]    In some embodiments, the collector expansion tank cap and one of the housing parts are substantially integrally formed as a cover of the evaporator heat exchanger unit. This cover of the evaporator heat exchanger unit is undetachably connected both to the at least one other housing part and to the collector expansion tank pot, in particular connected by soldering or welding, or it is detachably connected, in particular screwed. 
         [0031]    The cover of the evaporator heat exchanger unit can be a cover that together with the at least one other housing part of the housing encloses the inner chamber of the housing and which together with the collector expansion tank pot encloses an inner volume of the collector expansion tank. This inner volume of the collector expansion tank, which is located in the inner chamber of the housing, is delimited from the inner chamber of the housing in a substantially refrigerant proof and cooling medium proof way. 
         [0032]    The connection of the cover of the evaporator heat exchanger unit with the collector expansion tank can be configured as a soldered connection or a welded connection. The connections of the cover of the evaporator heat exchanger unit with the at least one other housing part can be formed as screw connections, in particular as screw connections with a plurality of screws. 
         [0033]    The cover of the evaporator heat exchanger unit can be configured as a distributor plate, wherein in this distribution plate are located at least one inlet recess, an outlet recess, a connecting channel and an discharge channel 
         [0034]    The distributor plate can be a cover of the evaporator heat exchanger unit, which is configured such that it can conduct the refrigerant from heat exchanger device to the expansion element, from the expansion element to the evaporator, from the evaporator to the collector expansion tank and from the collector expansion tank to the heat exchanger device, respectively. 
         [0035]    In some embodiments, the expansion element is located in the inlet recess of the distributor plate. 
         [0036]    In some embodiments, this evaporator is constructed as a bent pipe for conducting the refrigerant. The evaporator can be arranged substantially spirally around a pipe running around the collector expansion tank, in particular it can have a plurality of coils, which are arranged in a single row, double rows or multiple rows. For example, the bent pipe can be constructed such that its complete length exceeds each external dimensions of the evaporator by a several times. By this way, a large surface area of the refrigerant conducting elements of the evaporator is achieved, being in particular advantageous for the heat exchange. 
         [0037]    But it is also possible to build the evaporator as multi-part, with bent pipe-like elements, which are each held to each other or to one or more structural parts. 
         [0038]    In some embodiments, this evaporator is constructed as a pipe made of a good heat conducting material, especially metal. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the evaporator is formed as an extruded profile with longitudinally oriented ribs, wherein besides ribbings arranged on the outside of the profile ribbings can be also provided inside of the profile. The profile is formed from aluminum and the refrigerant is conducted inside. 
         [0039]    In some embodiments, the evaporator is made of a transversely oriented profile with ribbing, wherein the refrigerant is conducted inside this profile which can be formed from aluminum. In another embodiment, this ribbing is substantially formed on the casing, whereby in particular the heat transfer between the evaporator and the cooling medium in the inner chamber of the housing is improved. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0040]    Exemplary embodiments of the evaporator heat exchanger unit according to various embodiments will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the drawings. 
           [0041]      FIG. 1  illustrates an evaporator heat exchanger unit according to embodiments. 
           [0042]      FIG. 2  illustrates a sectional view of the evaporator heat exchanger unit of  FIG. 1  according to embodiments. 
           [0043]      FIG. 3  illustrates a further sectional view of the evaporator heat exchanger unit of  FIG. 1  according to embodiments. 
           [0044]      FIG. 4  illustrates a sectional view in the distributor plate of the evaporator heat exchanger unit of  FIG. 1  according to embodiments. 
           [0045]      FIG. 5  illustrates a three dimensional view of the evaporator heat exchanger unit of  FIG. 1  according to embodiments. 
           [0046]      FIG. 6  illustrates another three dimensional view of the evaporator heat exchanger unit of  FIG. 1  according to embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0047]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of an evaporator heat exchanger unit according to embodiments. In this embodiment, the housing  10  of the evaporator heat exchanger unit  1  comprises a first housing part  15  and a second housing part  17 . Here, the first housing part  15  is constructed as a distributor plate  16  and simultaneously as a collector expansion tank cap  36 . In this embodiment, the first housing part  15  is formed of a metal material. 
         [0048]    In the distributor plate  16  is formed an opening for the connecting channel  31  and the expansion element recess  13 , respectively, wherein the connecting channel  31  and the expansion element recess  13  are pressure-resistant and fluid-tight sealed in relation to the surroundings of the evaporator heat exchanger unit  1  by the gasket  31   a  and by the gasket  13   a , respectively. 
         [0049]    Regarding the longitudinal axis of the evaporator heat exchanger unit  1 , a heat exchanger device  50  is located on the side of the distributor plate  16  which is not connected to the second housing part  17 . This heat exchanger device  50  is constructed as a plate heat exchanger, meaning that it has a packet of a several plates which are soldered together and each of which are having a given contour. The contours of these plates are constructed such that they allow a conduction of the refrigerant in two separate channels, a first channel  51  and a second channel  52  (both not shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0050]    On the side distant from the housing screws of the heat exchanger device  50 , a refrigerant dock  60  is arranged, which has ports for the supply and the discharge of the refrigerant (both not shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0051]    The second housing part  17  has an inlet opening  12   a , which serves as a cooling medium supply  71 , and an outlet port  12   b , which serves as a cooling medium discharge  72 . In this embodiment, the second housing part  17  is formed of a plastic material, but it can also be formed from other materials such as a composite plastic material or a metal material. 
         [0052]    In this embodiment, the first housing part  15  and the second housing part  17  are detachably connected to each other by eight housing screws  81 , but for other embodiments it may be connected in a different manner. 
         [0053]    For the description of the following figures, substantially identically formed elements of the evaporator heat exchanger unit are designated by the same reference numerals as the corresponding elements of the evaporator heat exchanger unit of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 2  shows .a sectional view in the plane B-B of the evaporator heat exchanger unit  1  of  FIG. 1  according to embodiments. In this embodiment, the refrigerant is supplied to the first channel  51  of the heat exchanger device  50  by a refrigerant supply  61  (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) of the refrigerant dock  60 . Thereby, heat is transferred from the refrigerant in the first channel  51  to the refrigerant in the second channel  52  in the heat exchanger device  50  which is formed as a plate heat exchanger in this embodiment. 
         [0055]    The refrigerant of the first channel  51  then flows from the first channel  51  into the expansion element recess  13  (not shown in  FIG. 2 ), which is excluded from the first housing part  15  of the housing  10 , wherein the first housing part  15  is formed as the distributor plate  16  in this embodiment. 
         [0056]    The refrigerant flows from the expansion element recess  13  to the inlet recess  11   a , and then the refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator  20 , where it is conducted in the evaporator coil  21 . The evaporator coil  21  is constructed as a spirally bent pipe, which extends in a plurality of turns around the collector expansion tank  30 , wherein the refrigerant is conducted away from the distributor plate  16  in an outer winding packet then it is conducted back to the distributor plate  16  in an inner winding packet. However, the evaporator coil  21  also has a non-helical bent part, by which the refrigerant is supplied to the connecting channel  31  of the collector expansion tank  30  after passing through the helical part of the evaporator coil  21 . While the refrigerant passes through the evaporator  20 , the proportion of the refrigerant in gaseous form rises, whereas the proportion of the refrigerant in liquid form decreases. 
         [0057]    The energy required for this is supplied to the refrigerant, for example, by a heat transfer from a cooling medium, which flows around the evaporator coil  21  of the evaporator  20 , wherein it flows through the inner chamber  18  of the housing  10 , which means that it is between the walls of the second housing part  17 , the distributor plate  16  and the collector expansion tank pot  35 . The cooling medium supply  71  is performed in this embodiment via the inlet opening  12   a  of the second housing part  17 . After the heat transfer from the cooling medium to the refrigerant in the evaporator  20 , the cooling medium discharge  72  is done via the outlet opening  12   b  of the second housing part  17 , wherein a continuous flow of the cooling medium is provided through the inner chamber  18  of the housing  10 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 3  shows a further sectional view of an evaporator heat exchanger unit  1  of  FIG. 1  according to embodiments in the plane A-A, whose course can be seen also in  FIG. 2 . After the refrigerant has passed through the evaporator  20 , it is transferred via the communication channel  31  into the collector expansion tank  30 , where at least a part of the liquid refrigerant is collected in the collector expansion tank pot  35 . An amount of the refrigerant, the amount being dependent on the operating conditions in the refrigerant circuit of the heating cooling module, is supplied from the collector expansion tank  30  through the outlet channel  32  and the outlet recess  11   b  (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) of the housing  10  into the second channel  52  of the heat exchanger device  50  for receiving heat from the refrigerant in the first channel  51  of the heat exchanger device  50 . 
         [0059]    After passing through this second channel  52  of the heat exchanger device  50 , the refrigerant discharge  62  (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) is done from the refrigerant dock  60  of the evaporator heat exchanger unit  1  to other components of the heating cooling module, in this embodiment to the compressor. 
         [0060]    The inner chamber  18  of the housing  10  is enclosed in this embodiment by the distributor plate  16  and the second housing part  17 , wherein the distributor plate  16  and the second housing part  17  are screwed together using a plurality of housing screws  81 . At the distributor plate  16 , which has the function of the collector expansion tank cover  36  in this embodiment, the collector expansion tank pot  35  is arranged fluid-tight and pressure-tight by a soldering joint. 
         [0061]      FIG. 4  shows a sectional view of the distributor plate  16  of the evaporator heat exchanger unit  1  of  FIG. 1  according to embodiments (section plane D-D). In the inlet recess  11 , the refrigerant is discharged from the expansion element recess  13 . Before it, an expansion element  40  is arranged, which is constructed as a fixed throttle  41 , for example. The expansion element recess  13  is formed as a part of the inlet recess  11   a . The refrigerant expands at the fixed throttle  41 , whereby the pressure of the refrigerant in the refrigerant flow after passing through the expansion element  40  decreases. The temperature of the refrigerant also decreases. 
         [0062]    After passing the fixed throttle  41 , the refrigerant in the inlet recess  11   a  is to a large proportion in liquid form and to a small proportion in gaseous form, and it is supplied through the refrigerant port  33  to the evaporator  20  in the evaporator coil  21 . 
         [0063]    After the refrigerant has passed through the evaporator  20 , it is supplied to the collector expansion tank  30  via the refrigerant port  34  by the connection channel  31 , which it passes through. 
         [0064]    In the distributor plate  16 , the outlet recess  11   b  is additionally arranged with the discharge channel  32 , wherein the refrigerant is supplied from the collector expansion tank  30  to the second channel  52  of heat exchanger device via the discharge channel  32  and the outlet recess  11   b.    
         [0065]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show two different three dimensional sectional views of the evaporator heat exchanger unit  1  of  FIG. 1  according to embodiments. Thus, the arrangement of the individual components to each other is further explained. In particular, the arrangement of the refrigerant supply  61  and the refrigerant discharge  62  on the refrigerant dock  60  is shown, which may not be deduced from the previous figures. 
         [0066]    In addition, the path of the refrigerant is illustrated, starting with the refrigerant supply  61 , through the heat exchanger device  50 , through the expansion element  40 , through the evaporator  20  and through the collector expansion tank  30  to the refrigerant discharge  62 . 
         [0067]    The first channel  51  of the heat exchanger device  50  is arranged to begin at the refrigerant supply  61 . In its further course is formed by a package of several plates being soldered together and punched in each case in a certain contour, wherein a hollow space, which is separated from the second channel  52  and which conducts the refrigerant and in which the refrigerant is supplied to expansion element recess  13 , is formed by these embossed contours. In the second channel  52  being formed analogously the refrigerant is transferred to the refrigerant discharge after passing through the evaporator  20  from the collector expansion tank  30 . By this configuration, a good heat transfer to the refrigerant in the second channel  52  occurs between the refrigerant flows in the first channel  51  and second channel  52 . 
         [0068]    While the above description has pointed out features of various embodiments, the skilled person will understand that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the device or process illustrated may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.