Heat exchanger for refrigerant loop

Abstract

A heat exchanger for a refrigerant loop is disclosed. The heat exchanger includes a heat exchanger surface, a first refrigerant header, and a second refrigerant header which are positioned respectively at a first longitudinal end of the heat exchange surface and at a second longitudinal end of the heat exchange surface. At least one of the refrigerant headers is divided into a first collecting chamber and a second collecting chamber which are separated by a dividing wall. Each of the collecting chambers respectively includes a fluid inlet portion and a fluid outlet portion. A connecting device associated with the at least one refrigerant header includes a refrigerant inlet duct divided into a first fluid inlet channel and a second fluid inlet channel. The refrigerant header also includes a refrigerant outlet duct making the connection between a first fluid outlet channel and a second fluid outlet channel.

1 . A heat exchanger for a refrigerant loop,
 the heat exchanger comprising a heat-exchange surface, a first refrigerant header and a second refrigerant header which are positioned respectively at a first longitudinal end of the heat-exchange surface and at a second longitudinal end of the heat-exchange surface,   wherein at least one of the refrigerant headers is divided into a first collecting chamber and a second collecting chamber which are separated by a dividing wall,   wherein each of the collecting chambers respectively comprises a fluid inlet portion and a fluid outlet portion, and   wherein a connecting device associated with the at least one refrigerant header comprises:
 a refrigerant inlet duct divided into a first fluid inlet channel coupled to the fluid inlet portion of the first collecting chamber and a second fluid inlet channel coupled to the fluid inlet portion of the second collecting chamber, and 
 a refrigerant outlet duct making the connection between a first fluid outlet channel coupled to the fluid outlet portion of the first collecting chamber and a second fluid outlet channel coupled to the fluid outlet portion of the second collecting chamber. 
   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the connecting device comprises a connection fitting fixed to the at least one refrigerant header, and in which the two fluid inlet channels and the two fluid outlet channels are formed.   
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 2 ,
 wherein the fluid inlet and fluid outlet channels are coupled to one of the collecting chambers via tubular elements able to attach the body of the connection fitting to the at least one refrigerant header.   
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 3 ,
 wherein the tubular elements are arranged in the continuation of a main plane of elongation of the heat-exchange surface.   
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 2 ,
 wherein the two inlet channels formed in the connection fitting extend perpendicular to one another, and/or   wherein the two outlet channels formed in the connection fitting extend perpendicular to one another.   
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the heat-exchange surface comprises tubes configured to channel the refrigerant,   wherein the tubes extend longitudinally between the first refrigerant header and the second refrigerant header,   wherein the tubes are distributed as two sets of tubes,
 wherein the tubes of a first set open into the first collecting chamber of the at least one refrigerant header, and 
 wherein the tubes of a second set open into the second collecting chamber of the at least one refrigerant header. 
   
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 6 ,
 wherein the first collecting chamber and the second collecting chamber of the at least one refrigerant header are aligned in a longitudinal direction,   wherein the first collecting chamber is situated between the heat-exchange surface and the second collecting chamber,   wherein the tubes of the first set have a longitudinal dimension that is less than a longitudinal dimension of the tubes of the second set,   wherein the longitudinal dimensions are measured between a midplane extending perpendicular to the heat-exchange surface and the at least one refrigerant header.   
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 7 ,
 wherein the second refrigerant header is divided into two collecting chambers,   wherein the tubes of the first set open into a first collecting chamber, and   wherein the tubes of the second set open into a second collecting chamber,   wherein the tubes of the first set and the tubes of the second set have different lengths of extension.   
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 7 ,
 wherein the second refrigerant header is divided into two collecting chambers,   wherein the tubes of the first set open into a second collecting chamber, and   wherein the tubes of the second set open into a first collecting chamber,   wherein the tubes of the first set and the tubes of the second set have the same lengths of extension.   
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 8 ,
 the heat exchanger comprising at least a first refrigerant circuit consisting of:
 the first fluid inlet channel of the connecting device, 
 the fluid inlet portion of the first collecting chamber of the first refrigerant header,
 wherein the fluid inlet portion is fluidically connected to the tubes of the first set, 
 
 the tubes of the first set, 
 the first collecting chamber of the second header,
 wherein the first collecting chamber is fluidically connected to the tubes of the first set, 
 
 the fluid outlet portion of the first collecting chamber of the first refrigerant header,
 wherein the fluid outlet portion is fluidically connected to the tubes of the first set and of the first fluid outlet channel, 
 wherein the first fluid inlet channel is configured to be fluidically connected to a first portion of the refrigerant loop, and 
 wherein the first fluid outlet channel is configured to be fluidically connected to a second portion of the refrigerant loop, 
 
   the heat exchanger comprising at least a second refrigerant circuit consisting of:
 the second fluid inlet channel of the connecting device, the fluid inlet portion of the second collecting chamber of the first refrigerant header,
 wherein the fluid inlet portion is fluidically connected to the tubes of the second set, 
 
 the tubes of the second set, 
 the second collecting chamber of the second refrigerant header,
 wherein the second collecting chamber is fluidically connected to the tubes of the second set, 
 
 the fluid outlet portion of the second collecting chamber of the first header,
 wherein the fluid outlet portion is fluidically connected to the tubes of the second set and of the second fluid outlet channel, 
 wherein the second fluid inlet channel is configured to be fluidically connected to the first portion of the refrigerant loop, and 
 wherein the second fluid outlet channel is configured to be fluidically connected to the second portion of the refrigerant loop, 
 
 wherein the tubes of the first set and the tubes of the second set are fluidically distinct from one another. 
   
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 9 , the heat exchanger comprising at least a first refrigerant circuit consisting of:
 the first fluid inlet channel of the connecting device,   the fluid inlet portion of the first collecting chamber of the first refrigerant header,
 wherein the fluid inlet portion is fluidically connected to the tubes of the first set, 
   the tubes of the first set,   the second collecting chamber of the second header,
 wherein the second collecting chamber is fluidically connected to the tubes of the first set, 
   the fluid outlet portion of the first collecting chamber of the first refrigerant header,
 wherein the fluid outlet portion is fluidically connected to the tubes of the first set and of the first fluid outlet channel, 
   wherein the first fluid inlet channel is configured to be fluidically connected to a first portion of the refrigerant loop and the first fluid outlet channel is configured to be fluidically connected to a second portion of the refrigerant loop,   the heat exchanger comprising at least a second refrigerant circuit consisting of:
 the second fluid inlet channel of the connecting device, 
 the fluid inlet portion of the second collecting chamber of the first refrigerant header,
 wherein the fluid inlet portion is fluidically connected to the tubes of the second set, 
 the tubes of the second set, 
 the first collecting chamber of the second refrigerant header,
 wherein the first collecting chamber is fluidically connected to the tubes of the second set, 
 
 the fluid outlet portion of the second collecting chamber of the first header,
 wherein the fluid outlet portion is fluidically connected to the tubes of the second set and of the second fluid outlet channel, 
 
 
   wherein the second fluid inlet channel is configured to be fluidically connected to the first portion of the refrigerant loop and the second fluid outlet channel is configured to be fluidically connected to the second portion of the refrigerant loop,   wherein the tubes of the first set and the tubes of the second set are fluidically distinct from one another.