Abstract:
A heat exchange and heat transfer device comprises an evaporating/absorbing arrangement connected to a binary mixture flow circuit containing a first refrigerant fluid and a second absorbing fluid. The refrigerant fluid is evaporated in the evaporator part of the arrangement and subsequently absorbed in the absorber part by an absorbing fluid-enriched mixture. The evaporating/absorbing arrangement comprises at least two oppositely disposed reference surfaces defining evaporation and absorption components, respectively, an evaporator mass for supplying the liquid refrigerant fluid to the reference surface of the evaporation component and an absorber mass for supplying the absorbing fluid-enriched mixture to the reference surface of the absorption component.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     In the prior art, in particular according to WO 01/18463, a heat exchange and heat transfer device is already known that includes an evaporator/absorber assembly connected to a binary mixture flow circuit comprising a first so-called refrigerant fluid and a second so-called absorbing fluid, the liquid refrigerant fluid being evaporated in an evaporator portion of the assembly, then absorbed in an absorber portion of the assembly by the absorbing fluid-enriched mixture. 
     A heat exchange and heat transfer device of the aforesaid type makes it possible, in particular, to produce cold by using a heat source the temperature of which may be relatively low. 
     The binary mixture may contain water and lithium bromide, in which case the water forms the refrigerant fluid, or the mixture may contain ammonia and water, in which case the ammonia forms the refrigerant fluid. 
     In addition to the evaporator/absorber assembly, a heat exchange and heat transfer device of the aforesaid type usually includes a generator/condenser assembly. 
     The generator portion, also called the desorber portion, separates the refrigerant fluid from the absorbing fluid. As a matter of fact, the binary mixture is heated in the generator portion so as to cause vaporization of a portion of the refrigerant fluid, which is dissolved therein (desorption of the refrigerant fluid). Thus, refrigerant fluid vapor and a refrigerant fluid-depleted (absorbing fluid-enriched) liquid mixture is obtained at the output of the generator portion. This refrigerant fluid is condensed in the condenser portion. 
     In the evaporator/absorber assembly, the liquid refrigerant fluid coming from the condenser portion is vaporized in the evaporator portion, and then dissolved in the refrigerant fluid-depleted mixture (liquid) in the absorber portion. 
     In a conventional evaporator/absorber assembly, the means for conducting the vaporized refrigerant fluid from the evaporator portion to the absorber portion generally produces an increase in the pressure of the vaporized refrigerant fluid, limiting the performance levels of the heat exchange and heat transfer device. 
     In the evaporator portion, it is known to vaporize the liquid refrigerant fluid coming from the condenser portion by means of at least one first nozzle. In addition, in the absorber portion, it is known to vaporize the refrigerant fluid-depleted mixture by means of at least one second nozzle. The nozzles form droplets which increase the contact surfaces of the fluids and promote absorption of the refrigerant fluid-depleted (thus absorbent fluid-enriched) mixture. 
     Thus, an evaporator/absorber assembly conventionally includes nozzles intended to vaporize the liquid refrigerant fluid and the refrigerant fluid-depleted liquid mixture. 
     However, in a heat exchange and heat transfer device equipped with a nozzle-type evaporator/absorber assembly, the performance/volume ratio is very low. 
     Furthermore, if a heat exchange and heat transfer device equipped with a nozzle-type evaporator/absorber assembly is installed on a vehicle, the fluid jets issuing forth from these nozzles are susceptible to disruption by the acceleration or tilting of the vehicle, at least when this acceleration occurs in certain directions, at the risk of causing an untimely mixture of the refrigerant fluid and the refrigerant fluid-depleted mixture. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In particular, the object of the invention is to propose a heat exchange and heat transfer device of the aforesaid type, capable of being installed on a motor vehicle, and including a reliable evaporator/absorber assembly having a vaporized refrigerant fluid flow that is not very sensitive to increases in pressure, and operation that is not very sensitive to the acceleration and tilting of the vehicle. 
     For this purpose, the object of the invention is a heat exchange and heat transfer device of the aforesaid type, wherein the evaporator/absorber assembly includes: 
     at least two opposing reference surfaces delimiting two evaporator and absorber units, respectively, 
     means for supplying the liquid refrigerant fluid to the reference surface of the evaporator unit, and 
     means for supplying the absorbing fluid-enriched mixture to the reference surface of the absorber unit. 
     Owing to this arrangement, the transfer speed of the vaporized refrigerant fluid between the reference surfaces of the evaporator and absorber units is relatively slow, with the result being that the pressure of the vaporized refrigerant flow does not increase detrimentally during the course of this transfer. Furthermore, the flow of liquid refrigerant fluid as well as the flow of refrigerant fluid-depleted mixture are relatively insensitive to the acceleration and tilting of the vehicle. 
     Furthermore, the invention makes it possible to produce a nozzleless heat exchange and heat transfer device, thus having a relatively high performance/volume ratio. 
     According to other optional characteristics of this temperature control device: 
     the opposing reference surfaces are substantially planar and parallel to each other; 
     the device includes means for returning the absorbing fluid-enriched mixture to the reference surface of the absorber unit, these return means being inserted between the reference surfaces; 
     the return means include at least one return wall oriented so as to promote the gravity flow of the absorbing fluid-enriched mixture towards the reference surface of the absorber unit; 
     the evaporator/absorber assembly includes several units, e.g., numbering five, forming alternately arranged evaporator and absorber units; 
     at least one of the reference surfaces delimits a mass of material having a texture that promotes distribution of the liquid refrigerant fluid or absorbing fluid-enriched mixture over the reference surface delimited by this mass, in particular a porous material containing fibers or open-cell foam, for example; 
     the reference surface of the evaporator unit delimits a porous evaporator mass forming the means for supplying the liquid refrigerant fluid; 
     the reference surface of the absorber unit delimits a porous absorber mass forming the means for supplying the absorbing fluid-enriched mixture; 
     at least one of the reference surfaces delimits a mass made of metal or ceramic, in particular, having a thermal conductivity greater than or equal to 10 W/mK; 
     at least one of the reference surfaces has a geometric characteristic, in particular a corrugated or crenellated shape, that maximizes its surface area; 
     at least one of the reference surfaces, also known as the hydrophilic surface, has a geometric characteristic, in particular a hollow or protruding relief surface or pattern, that promotes distribution of the liquid refrigerant fluid or absorbing fluid-enriched mixture over this hydrophilic surface; 
     the evaporator/absorber assembly includes means for selectively recovering the liquid refrigerant fluid exiting the evaporator unit and the absorbing fluid-enriched mixture exiting the absorber unit; 
     the evaporator unit is thermally coupled with a heat transfer fluid circuit, also known as a control fluid, which is intended to extract calories, i.e., heat, from the evaporator unit; 
     the evaporator unit includes an evaporator mass wherein channels are arranged for the passage of the control fluid extracting calories; 
     the absorber unit is thermally coupled with a heat transfer fluid circuit, also known as a control fluid, which is intended to extract calories from the absorber unit; 
     the absorber unit includes an absorber mass wherein channels are arranged for the passage of the control fluid extracting calories; 
     the control fluid is a fluid circulating inside a motor vehicle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES 
       The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given for illustrative purposes only, and with reference to the appended drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic elevation of an evaporator/absorber assembly of a heat exchange and heat transfer device according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic top view of the evaporator/absorber assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a view of the evaporator/absorber assembly along line  3  of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the figures, the heat exchange and heat transfer device of the invention is designated by the general reference  10 . In the described example, temperature control device  10  is intended to be installed in a motor vehicle. 
     The temperature control device  10  includes a conventional known flow circuit for a binary mixture. This binary mixture comprises a first so-called refrigerant fluid and a second so-called absorbing fluid. 
     The temperature control device  10  includes a conventional generator/condenser assembly (not shown) and an evaporator/absorber assembly  12  shown in the figures. These two assemblies are connected in a known manner to the binary mixture flow circuit. 
     According to conventional operation, the refrigerant fluid exits in liquid form from the condenser portion of the generator/condenser assembly, and the refrigerant fluid-depleted (thus absorbing fluid-enriched) liquid supplies the absorber portion of the evaporator/absorber assembly  12 . 
     The liquid refrigerant fluid exiting from the condenser portion is evaporated in the evaporator portion of the evaporator/absorber assembly  12 . Next, the vaporized refrigerant fluid is absorbed by the absorbing fluid-enriched mixture in the absorber portion of the evaporator/absorber assembly  12 . 
     Referring to the figures, it is seen that the evaporator portion of the assembly  12  includes at least one evaporator unit  14  equipped with an evaporator mass  16  and that the absorber portion of the assembly  12  includes at least one absorber unit  18  equipped with an absorber mass  20 . 
     The evaporator/absorber assembly  12  includes two opposing surfaces E, A delimiting the evaporator and absorber masses  16 ,  20 , respectively. 
     The evaporator mass  16  is also delimited by a surface E′ that is opposite the preceding surface E. 
     In the same way, the absorber mass  20  is also delimited by a surface A′ that is opposite the preceding surface A. 
     Preferably, the opposing surfaces E, A are substantially planar and parallel to each other, as are the surfaces E′ and A′. The distance between the opposing surfaces E, E′ or A, A′ corresponds to the thickness of the masses  16 ,  20 , i.e., the thickness of the units  14 ,  18  in the example described. 
     The average distance between the opposing surfaces E, A shall be determined by those skilled in the art such that the liquid refrigerant fluid coming from the condenser portion and the absorbing fluid-enriched mixture are prevented from mixing together as much as possible. 
     The surface areas of the opposing surfaces shall be determined by those skilled in the art such that the transfer rate of the vaporized refrigerant fluid between the opposing surfaces E, A is clearly lower than the compressibility rates of the gases (Mach 0.8). 
     Preferably, the evaporator mass  16  forms means for supplying the liquid refrigerant fluid (first liquid) to the surface E of the evaporator unit  14 , and the absorber mass  20  forms means for supplying the absorbing fluid-enriched mixture (second liquid) to the surface A of the absorber unit  18 . 
     For this purpose, each mass  16 ,  20  is made of a material having a texture that promotes distribution of the liquid-refrigerant fluid or absorbing fluid-enriched mixture over the surface E, A. 
     In the example described, the evaporator and absorber masses  16 ,  20  are porous and preferably contain fibers or open-cell foam. 
     In this way, each evaporator and absorber unit  14 ,  18  is delimited by two opposing porous surfaces corresponding to the surfaces E, E′, A, A′, so that these units are permeable to the refrigerant fluid in vapor form, particularly in the direction of their thickness. 
     The spreading and even distribution of the liquids over the opposing surfaces E, A can also be promoted by providing hollow or protruding relief surfaces or patterns on these surfaces E, A. 
     In this way, advantageous use is made of the porosity of the masses  16 ,  20  and the presence of relief surfaces or patterns, in order to optimize the hydrophilic property of the opposing surfaces E, A. 
     Each surface E, A may possibly have a geometric characteristic that maximizes its surface area. Thus, the surface areas of surfaces E, A can be maximized by selecting surfaces E, A that have overall corrugated or crenellated shapes. 
     The material of each mass  16 ,  20  preferably has a thermal conductivity greater than or equal to 10 W/mK. A material such as this may be made of metal or ceramic. 
     The evaporator unit  14  is preferably thermally coupled with a first heat transfer fluid circuit circulating inside the motor vehicle, also known as the external control fluid. This external control fluid is intended to extract calories from the evaporator unit  14 , e.g., in order to cool a space or a device of the vehicle. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , channels  22  are arranged in the evaporator mass  16  for passage of the external control fluid. 
     The absorber unit  18  is also preferably thermally coupled with a second heat transfer fluid circuit circulating inside the motor vehicle, also known as the internal control fluid. This internal control fluid is intended to extract calories from the absorber unit  18 , in particular in order to optimize the operation of the evaporator/absorber assembly  12 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , channels  24  are arranged in the absorber mass  20  for passage of the internal control fluid. 
     It shall be noted that the evaporator/absorber assembly  12  includes means  26 ,  28  that include, for example, reservoirs or channels for selectively recovering, by means of gravity in particular, liquid refrigerant fluid exiting from the evaporator unit  14 , on the one hand, and, on the other hand, absorbing fluid-enriched mixture exiting from the absorber unit  18 . The means  26 ,  28  thereby prevent untimely mixing of the liquid refrigerant fluid with the absorbing fluid-enriched mixture. 
     Where applicable, the evaporator/absorber assembly  12  may include several units  14 ,  18 , e.g., numbering five, forming alternately arranged evaporator  14  and absorber  18  units. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , means  30  for returning the absorbing fluid-enriched mixture to the surface A of the absorber unit  18  are preferably inserted between the reference surfaces E, A. 
     In the example described, the return means  30  include return walls  32  oriented so as to promote the gravity flow of the absorbing fluid-enriched mixture towards the reference surface A of the absorber unit  18 . These walls  32  are held by the absorber mass  20  or another support of the device  10 . 
     In the example described, it shall be noted that the return walls  32  are substantially parallel to each other and inclined in a downwardly sloping direction from the evaporator surface E towards the absorber surface A. 
     Some of the operating features of the temperature control device  10  that are related to the invention will be described below. 
     In  FIG. 1 , a pipe  30  has been shown, which forms means for supplying the porous evaporator mass  16  with liquid refrigerant fluid coming from the condenser portion of the generator/condenser assembly. This pipe  30  is arranged in relation to the porous evaporator mass  16  so as to enable the liquid refrigerant fluid to flow through this porous mass  16 . 
     The refrigerant fluid is brought by capillary attraction over the entire surface E of the evaporator unit  14 . 
     Supply means similar to those for the liquid refrigerant fluid enable the absorbing fluid-enriched mixture to flow through this porous absorber mass  20 . 
     In this way, the absorbing fluid-enriched mixture is brought by capillary attraction over the entire surface A of the absorber unit  18 . 
     It shall be noted that the porosity of the masses  16 ,  20  makes it possible to draw advantage from relatively large active surfaces. 
     It shall be further noted that the two opposing porous surfaces E, E′, A, A′ of each evaporator  14  and/or absorber  18  unit promote circulation of the refrigerant fluid in vapor form. This circulation of refrigerant fluid in vapor form is in fact more efficient when the surfaces E′, A′ are porous rather than sealed by possible plates, which are intended, for example, to form supports for the porous masses. 
     As an alternative, other means for supplying the masses  16 ,  20  with liquids may be provided, in particular, means making it possible to wet the active surfaces of these masses  16 ,  20 . 
     The liquid refrigerant fluid flowing over the surface E evaporates so as to create a flow of refrigerant fluid vapor between the opposing surfaces E, A of the evaporator  14  and absorber  18  units. 
     The evaporation of the refrigerant fluid produces calories in the evaporator portion, which can be withdrawn by the external control fluid in order to cool a space or device of the vehicle. 
     When the refrigerant fluid in vapor form reaches the surface A of the absorber unit  18 , it is absorbed by the absorbing fluid-enriched mixture. 
     The absorption of the refrigerant fluid vapor by the absorbing fluid-enriched mixture produces calories in the absorber portion, which are capable of being extracted by the internal control fluid, in order to optimize operation of the evaporator/absorber assembly  12 . 
     It shall be noted that, since the opposing surfaces E, A of the evaporator and absorber units are relatively large and close to each other, the transfer speeds of the refrigerant fluid between these surfaces are relatively low, steady, or even unidirectional, so that pressure drops are negligible during the course of this transfer. 
     Finally, it shall be noted that the use of several evaporator and absorber units arranged alternately in series makes it possible to produce a relatively compact evaporator/absorber assembly.