Heat exchange apparatus

Abstract

A heat exchange apparatus comprises an evaporation unit 1 for exchanging heat between a working fluid and a high-temperature fluid to thereby evaporate the working fluid, a condenser unit for exchanging heat between the working fluid and a low-temperature fluid to thereby condense the working fluid, an evaporation-side communication unit 5 a for leading the working fluid evaporated in the evaporation unit 1 to the condenser unit 2, and a condenser-side communication unit 5 b for leading the working fluid condensed in the condenser unit 2 to the evaporation unit 1. The high-temperature fluid is prevented by condenser-side shield plates 101, 102 from flowing to the condenser-side communication unit 5 b . As a result, the heating and evaporation of the working fluid in the condenser-side communication unit 5 b by the high-temperature fluid is prevented or reduced thereby preventing a dry-out phenomenon.

1 . A heat exchange apparatus comprising: 
 a first housing with a high-temperature fluid flowing therein;    a second housing with a low-temperature fluid flowing therein;    an evaporation unit arranged in the first housing for exchanging heat between an evaporable and condensable working fluid sealed therein and the high-temperature fluid thereby to evaporate the working fluid;    a condenser unit arranged in the second housing for exchanging heat between the working fluid evaporated in the evaporation unit and the low-temperature fluid thereby to condense the working fluid;    an evaporation-side communication unit for leading the working fluid evaporated in the evaporation unit to the condenser unit; and    a condenser-side communication unit for leading the working fluid condensed in the condenser unit to the evaporation unit;    wherein the evaporation unit includes a plurality of heat pipes arranged in such a manner that the working fluid flows in a non-horizontal direction and a plurality of outer fins for increasing the area of heat transmission between the heat pipes and the high-temperature fluid;    wherein the working fluid is circulated between the evaporation unit and the condenser unit; and    wherein the high-temperature fluid is prevented from flowing to the condenser-side communication unit.    
   
   
       2 . The heat exchange apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of condenser-side shield plates for preventing the high-temperature fluid from flowing to the condenser-side communication unit  
   
   
       3 . The heat exchange apparatus according to  claim 2 , 
 wherein the condenser-side shield plates are arranged integrally with the first housing.    
   
   
       4 . The heat exchange apparatus according to  claim 2 , 
 wherein the condenser-side shield plates are arranged integrally with the evaporation unit.    
   
   
       5 . The heat exchange apparatus according to  claim 2 , 
 wherein the condenser-side shield plates are arranged upstream of the condenser-side communication unit in the flow of the high-temperature fluid.    
   
   
       6 . The heat exchange apparatus according to  claim 2 , 
 wherein the condenser-side shield plates are arranged both upstream and downstream of the condenser-side communication unit in the flow of the high-temperature fluid.    
   
   
       7 . The heat exchange apparatus according to  claim 6 , 
 wherein the condenser-side shield plate arranged upstream of the condenser-side communication unit in the flow of the high-temperature fluid is configured to reduce the area of the path in the first housing continuously toward the evaporation unit from the upstream side of the high-temperature fluid flow.    
   
   
       8 . The heat exchange apparatus according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the first housing includes an enlarged portion having an enlarged path area and the condenser-side communication unit is arranged in the enlarged portion.    
   
   
       9 . The heat exchange apparatus according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the high-temperature fluid generates the condensed water by exchanging heat with the working fluid, and a condensed water path is formed to remove the condensed water staying around the condenser-side communication unit downstream of the condenser-side communication unit in the flow of the high-temperature fluid.    
   
   
       10 . The heat exchange apparatus according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the high-temperature fluid generates the condensed water by exchanging heat with the working fluid, and a condensed water path is formed to discharge the condensed water staying around the condenser-side communication unit outside of the first housing.    
   
   
       11 . The heat exchange apparatus according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the condenser-side communication unit is projected out from the first housing.    
   
   
       12 . The heat exchange apparatus according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the high-temperature fluid is prevented from flowing through the gaps between the outer peripheral surfaces of the evaporation unit, the evaporation-side communication unit and the condenser-side communication unit on the one hand and the inner peripheral surface of the first housing on the other hand.    
   
   
       13 . The heat exchange apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a condenser-side shield plate for preventing the high-temperature fluid from flowing through the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the condenser-side communication unit and the inner peripheral surface of the first housing; and    an evaporation-side shield plate for preventing the high-temperature fluid from flowing through the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the evaporation-side communication unit and the inner peripheral surface of the first housing.    
   
   
       14 . The heat exchange apparatus according to claim  13 , 
 wherein the condenser-side shield plate and the evaporation-side shield plate are arranged upstream of the condenser-side communication unit in the flow of the high-temperature fluid, and the area of the path in the first housing is continuously decreased toward the evaporation unit from the upstream side of the high-temperature fluid flow.    
   
   
       15 . The heat exchange apparatus according to  claim 13 , 
 wherein the condenser-side shield plate and the evaporation-side shield plate are arranged downstream of the condenser-side communication unit in the flow of the high-temperature fluid, and the area of the path in the first housing is continuously increased from the evaporation unit toward the downstream side of the high-temperature fluid flow.    
   
   
       16 . The heat exchange apparatus according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the working fluid is water.    
   
   
       17 . The heat exchange apparatus according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the high-temperature fluid is the exhaust gas discharged from the water-cooled internal combustion engine, and the low-temperature fluid is the cooling water for the water-cooled internal combustion engine.    
   
   
       18 . A heat exchange apparatus comprising: 
 an evaporation unit arranged in a high-temperature fluid path with a high-temperature fluid flowing therein for exchanging heat between an evaporable and condensable working fluid sealed in the evaporation unit and the high-temperature fluid thereby to evaporate the working fluid;    a condenser unit arranged in a low-temperature fluid path with a low-temperature fluid flowing therein for exchanging heat between the working fluid evaporated in the evaporation unit and the low-temperature fluid thereby to condense the working fluid;    an evaporation-side communication unit for leading the working fluid evaporated in the evaporation unit to the condenser unit; and    a condenser-side communication unit for leading the working fluid condensed in the condenser unit to the evaporation unit;    wherein the evaporation unit includes a plurality of heat pipes arranged in such a manner that the working fluid flows in a non-horizontal direction and outer fins for increasing the area of heat transmission between the heat pipes and the high-temperature fluid; and    wherein the working fluid is circulated through the evaporation unit and the condenser unit;    the apparatus further comprising condenser-side shield plates for preventing the high-temperature fluid from flowing to the condenser-side communication unit.