Heat exchanger for an internal combustion engine

A fluid duct apparatus for a heat exchanger having a housing with a housing wall and a housing interior space delimited at least in regions by the housing wall and having a fluid inlet region for introducing a first fluid into the housing interior space and a fluid outlet region for discharging the first fluid from the housing interior space,

• the fluid duct apparatus comprising:
• a fluid duct apparatus wall which is configured to separate the first fluid from a second fluid and, at least in regions, delimits a plurality of fluid ducts of the fluid duct apparatus for conducting the first fluid between the fluid inlet region of the heat exchanger and the fluid outlet region of the heat exchanger, at least one of the fluid ducts having an undulating course at least in regions in the longitudinal extent direction of the fluid duct apparatus;
• at least one supporting element which is arranged between a first fluid duct wall, which has the undulating course at least in regions and delimits, at least in regions, a first outer fluid duct of the plurality of fluid ducts, and the fluid duct apparatus wall, and has a first supporting element region which is supported against the first fluid duct wall and is of complementary shape at least in regions with respect to the undulating course, the at least one supporting element being provided to seal the first outer fluid duct with respect to a passage of the first fluid, and a second supporting element region which is connected to the first supporting element region and is at least substantially in contact with the fluid duct apparatus wall in a manner which seals the first outer fluid duct with respect to a passage of the first fluid through the first outer fluid duct.

A method for producing a fluid duct apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a fluid duct apparatus wall which surrounds an interior space of the fluid duct apparatus, the fluid duct apparatus wall being configured to separate a first fluid from a second fluid and, at least in regions, delimiting a plurality of fluid ducts of the fluid duct apparatus for conducting the first fluid between a fluid inlet region of a heat exchanger and a fluid outlet region of the heat exchanger, at least one of the fluid ducts having an undulating course at least in regions in the longitudinal extent direction of the fluid duct apparatus, wherein at least one supporting element which is arranged between a first fluid duct wall, which has the undulating course at least in regions and delimits, at least in regions, a first outer fluid duct of the plurality of fluid ducts, and the fluid duct apparatus wall, and has a first supporting element region which is supported against the first fluid duct wall and is of complementary shape at least in regions with respect to the undulating course, the at least one supporting element being provided to seal the first outer fluid duct with respect to a passage of the first fluid, and a second supporting element region which is connected to the first supporting element region and is at least substantially in contact with the fluid duct apparatus wall in a manner which seals the first outer fluid duct with respect to a passage of the first fluid through the first outer fluid duct;
• collectively introducing the plurality of fluid ducts, which are connected to one another, and the at least one supporting element, as a result of which the at least one supporting element is arranged and braced between the first fluid duct wall of the first outer fluid duct of the plurality of fluid ducts and the fluid duct apparatus wall, and is pressed against the first fluid duct wall via the first supporting element region, which is of complementary shape at least in regions with respect to the undulating course, with the configuration of a positively locking connection at least between the first supporting element region and the first fluid duct wall, and with sealing of the first outer fluid duct with respect to a passage of the first fluid.