Stacked Plate Heat Exchanger, Assembly for a Thermal Management System, and Thermal Management System with at Least One Such Assembly

Abstract

A stacked plate heat exchanger for a thermal management system is provided, which has a stack of numerous heat exchanger plates that are brazed or glued together along the direction of the stack, which delimit a first fluid path and second fluid path, which are separated from one another in the stack, and adjacent to one another such that thermal energy can be transferred from a fluid in the first path to a fluid in the second path, or vice versa. The the stacked plate heat exchanger has a first plastic reinforcing plate on the first end of the stack. An assembly for a thermal management system and in particular to a thermal management system that contains such an assembly is provided.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A stacked plate heat exchanger for a thermal management system, comprising a stack of a plurality of heat exchanger plates, the plurality of heat exchanger plates are brazed or glued together along a direction of the stack, the plurality of heat exchanger plates delimit a first fluid path and a second fluid path, which are separated from one another in the stack, and adjacent to one another, such that the plurality of heat exchanger plates are configured to transfer thermal energy from a fluid in the first path to a fluid in the second path, or vice versa, further comprising a first reinforcing plate disposed on a first end of the stack, the first reinforcing plate is made from plastic. 
     
     
         17 . The stacked plate heat exchanger according to  claim 16 , further comprising a second reinforcing plate, the second reinforcing plate is made from plastic, the second reinforcing plate is positioned upon a second end of the stack opposite from the first end of the stack. 
     
     
         18 . The stacked plate heat exchanger according to  claim 17 , wherein the plastic from which the first reinforcing plate and/or second reinforcing plate is one of the following:
 thermoplastic   polyamide 66,   polyamide 66 GF30.   
     
     
         19 . The stacked plate heat exchanger according to  claim 17 , wherein the first reinforcing plate is sprayed onto the first end in an injection molding process, or glued thereto, and/or
 the second reinforcing plate is sprayed onto the second end in an injection molding process, or glued thereto.   
     
     
         20 . The stacked plate heat exchanger according to  claim 17 , wherein the first reinforcing plate and/or second reinforcing plate are produced in an injection molding process or through thermal molding. 
     
     
         21 . The stacked plate heat exchanger according to  claim 17 , wherein the first reinforcing plate comprises at least one hole connected to the first or second fluid path, such that fluid can enter or exit the first or second fluid path, and/or
 the second reinforcing plate comprises at least one hole connected to the first or second fluid path, such that fluid can enter or exit the first or second fluid path.   
     
     
         22 . The stacked plate heat exchanger according to  claim 21 , wherein the stacked plate heat exchanger comprises at least one nozzle through which fluid can flow, and through the least one hole in the first reinforcing plate,
 wherein the first reinforcing plate and at least one nozzle are a monolithic component, or   the at least one nozzle is made of plastic and bonded to the first reinforcing plate.   
     
     
         23 . The stacked plate heat exchanger according to  claim 22 , wherein the reinforcing plate comprises ribs, webs, or fins upon the first reinforcing plate further comprises the at least one nozzle. 
     
     
         24 . The stacked plate heat exchanger according to  claim 21 , wherein
 the stacked plate heat exchanger comprises at least one lid for the at least one hole in the first reinforcing plate,   wherein the first reinforcing plate and at least one lid form a monolithic component, and   the at least one lid is made of plastic and is bonded to the first reinforcing plate.   
     
     
         25 . The stacked plate heat exchanger according to  claim 21 , wherein the first reinforcing plate and/or second reinforcing plate comprises at least one fastener configured for attaching a component to the stacked plate heat exchanger,
 wherein the at least one fastener and the reinforcing plate form a monolithic component, and/or   the at least one fastener and the second reinforcing plate form a monolithic component.   
     
     
         26 . The stacked plate heat exchanger according to  claim 21 , wherein
 the first reinforcing plate has a thickness in a stacking direction,   the second reinforcing plate has a thickness in the stacking direction, and   the heat exchanger plates each have a thickness in the stacking direction,   wherein the thickness of the first reinforcing plate and/or second reinforcing plate is greater than the thickness of the heat exchanger plates.   
     
     
         27 . The stacked plate heat exchanger according to  claim 21 , wherein the heat exchanger plates are made of the same aluminum material. 
     
     
         28 . An assembly for a thermal management system in a vehicle, which has
 at least one stacked plate heat exchanger according to  claim 16 ,   further comprising a flange on the at least one stacked plate heat exchanger.   
     
     
         29 . The assembly according to  claim 28 , wherein
 the at least one first stacked plate heat exchanger is configured as a coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger, wherein either thermal energy from a refrigerant flowing through the first fluid path in the stacked plate heat exchanger, is configured to be transferred to a coolant flowing through the second fluid path in the first stacked plate heat exchanger, or   thermal energy from a coolant flowing through the first fluid path in the stacked plate heat exchanger, is configured to be transferred to a refrigerant flowing through the second fluid path in the first stacked plate heat exchanger   further comprising a second stacked plate heat exchanger that is configured as an internal heat exchanger, the second stacked plate heat exchanger comprises a first fluid path and a second fluid path, wherein either thermal energy from a liquid refrigerant flowing through the first fluid path in the second stacked plate heat exchanger, is configured to be transferred to a gaseous refrigerant fluid flowing through the second fluid path in the second stacked plate heat exchanger, or   thermal energy from a gaseous refrigerant flowing through the first fluid path in the second stacked plate heat exchanger, is configured to be transferred to a liquid refrigerant fluid flowing through the second fluid path in the second stacked plate heat exchanger.   
     
     
         30 . An assembly for a thermal management system in a vehicle, comprising first and second stacked plate heat exchangers according to  claim 16 , wherein the first and second stacked plate heat exchangers are the same as each other or are different from each other,
 further comprising a flange on the first stacked plate heat exchanger, wherein the first and second stacked plate heat exchangers are mechanically connected to one another for fluid exchange.   
     
     
         31 . A thermal management system for a vehicle that has at least one assembly according to  claim 28 . 
     
     
         32 . The stacked plate heat exchanger according to  claim 27 , wherein the heat exchanger plates are made from an aluminum alloy from the 5000 series that cannot be brazed.