Heat exchangers the core of which is produced from a three-dimensional hollow laminated panel

Abstract

The Invention relates to an exchanger comprising a network of channels extending between two parallel faces, in order to allow the circulation of a heat transfer fluid in the channels and the heat exchange between this heat transfer fluid and the outside through at least one of the faces. The network of channels is formed by a three-dimensional hollow laminated panel based on fibres hardened by the impregnation of a resin, comprising two two-dimensional woven layers which are impervious and stiff forming the parallel faces, and a stiff weaving of orthogonal fibres, connecting the two layers together by providing a hollow intercalated space by forming rows of parallel walls between them defining the channels.

1 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a network of channels ( 18 ) extending between two parallel faces ( 10 ,  12 ), in order to allow the circulation of a heat transfer fluid in the channels and the heat exchange between this heat transfer fluid and the outside through at least one of said faces;   the network of channels being formed by a three-dimensional hollow laminated panel ( 30 ) based on fibres hardened by the impregnation of a resin, comprising two two-dimensional woven layers which are impervious and stiff forming said parallel faces ( 10 ,  12 ), and a stiff weaving of orthogonal fibres ( 14 ), connecting the two layers together by providing a hollow intercalated space ( 16 ) while forming rows of parallel walls ( 20 ), between them defining the channels ( 18 );   means for the distribution of fluid, arranged between a fluid inlet ( 42 ) and one of the ends of each of the channels of the network; and   means for the collection of fluid, arranged between a fluid outlet ( 44 ) and the opposite end of each of the channels of the network;   this exchanger being characterized in that it does not have attached elements forming manifolds for the distribution of fluid,   and in that the means for the distribution, respectively the collection, of fluid are means incorporated into the hollow laminated panel, comprising a longitudinal recess ( 38 ) produced in the laminated panel along a longitudinal edge of the latter forming an angle with the direction of the channels, this recess (i) opening onto the inner side of the longitudinal edge on said channels, (ii) being closed on the outer side of this same edge, and (iii) being in fluidic communication with said inlet, respectively said outlet, of fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , in which the recess ( 38 ) is defined by a gap blocked out between the longitudinal edge of the laminated panel and an outer covering ( 34 ) extending over one of the faces of the laminated panel and opening onto the longitudinal edges of the latter. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , in which the recess ( 38 ) is formed by removing material in a region of one of the faces of the laminated panel along the longitudinal edge of the latter, so as to define a U-section groove directed perpendicularly to the plane of the faces and opening onto said face. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , in which the outlet of the U-section groove is closed by an outer covering ( 36 ) of the panel, extending over the face where the recess is formed. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , in which the recess ( 38 ) is defined by removing material from the sheared edge of the laminated panel along the longitudinal border of the latter, so as to define a U-section groove directed parallel to the plane of the faces and opening towards the outside of the sheared edge. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , in which the outlet of the U-section groove is closed by an edging profile ( 46 ) arranged along the sheared edge of the laminated panel. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , comprising moreover an insert ( 48 ) for guiding fluid and/or creating turbulence, housed in the longitudinal recess ( 38 ). 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , in which said insert ( 48 ) is a twisted tape with a helical configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , in which the laminated panel ( 30 ) has a non-rectangular shape of a parallelogram, this panel being arranged vertically with the means of distribution and collection of fluid inclined with respect to the horizontal, and with the fluid inlet ( 42 ) placed in a low position and the fluid outlet ( 44 ) placed in high position, so as to allow a natural circulation of the heat transfer fluid in the exchanger by the thermosiphon effect. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of triangular or trapezoid panels assembled in roof panels, these panels being arranged with the channels oriented in a vertical plane, the recesses forming means for the distribution of fluid and the fluid inlet ( 42 ) being situated in the lower part of the panel, the recesses forming means for the collection of fluid and the fluid outlet ( 44 ) being situated in the upper part of the panel and along the crests of said roof, so as to allow a natural circulation of the heat transfer fluid in the panels by the thermosiphon effect.