U.S. patent application number 10/337294 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-26 for heat exchanger.
Invention is credited to Jang, Dong-Yeon, Ko, Cheol-Soo, Oh, Sai-Kee, Oh, Se-Yoon, Sa, Yong-Cheol.
Application Number | 20040035561 10/337294 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31884982 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040035561 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ko, Cheol-Soo ; et
al. |
February 26, 2004 |
Heat exchanger
Abstract
A heat exchanger, which is able to improve heat transmission
function and reduce distances between fins to improve heat
exchanging function and reduce a size by coating surfaces of the
fins with certain materials to make condensate water attached on
the surfaces of the fins discharged smoothly, comprises fins
arranged with certain gaps therebetween to flow the air; and a
tube, through which the fluid passes, installed to penetrate the
fins, and the fins are arranged so that one surfaces treated by
hydrophilic material and the other surfaces treated by water
repellent material face each other with certain gaps
therebetween.
Inventors: |
Ko, Cheol-Soo; (Gunpo,
KR) ; Oh, Se-Yoon; (Seoul, KR) ; Oh,
Sai-Kee; (Seoul, KR) ; Sa, Yong-Cheol;
(Anyang, KR) ; Jang, Dong-Yeon; (Siheung,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
31884982 |
Appl. No.: |
10/337294 |
Filed: |
January 7, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/133 ;
165/151 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28F 13/04 20130101;
F28D 1/0477 20130101; F28F 1/325 20130101; F28F 2245/02 20130101;
F28F 2245/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/133 ;
165/151 |
International
Class: |
F28F 013/18; F28F
019/02; F28D 001/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 23, 2002 |
KR |
2002-0050214 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A heat exchanger comprising: fins disposed with certain gaps
therebetween so that air passes through; and a tube, through which
fluid passes, installed to penetrate the fins, wherein the fins are
arranged so that one surfaces thereof on which a hydrophilic
material is treated and the other surfaces thereof on which a water
repellent material is treated face each other.
2. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the fins include first
fins having both surfaces treated by the water repellent material
and second fins having both surfaces treated by the hydrophilic
material, and these first and second fins are arranged
sequentially.
3. The heat exchanger of claim 2, wherein the first fins have first
coating layers on both surfaces thereof by applying the water
repellent material, and the second fins have second coating layers
on both surfaces thereof by applying the hydrophilic material.
4. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the fins have one
surfaces treated by the water repellent material and the other
surfaces treated by the hydrophilic material, and the one surfaces
of the fins on which the water repellent material is treated and
the other surfaces of the fins on which the hydrophilic material is
treated face each other with certain gaps therebetween.
5. The heat exchanger of claim 4, wherein first coating layers are
formed on the one surfaces of the fins by applying the water
repellent material, and second coating layers are formed on the
other surfaces by applying the hydrophilic material.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a heat exchanger, and
particularly, to a heat exchanger which is able to improve heat
exchanging function by making condensate water, which is generated
in heat exchanging operation, discharge smoothly.
[0003] 2. Description of the Background Art
[0004] Generally, a heat exchanger is a device for exchanging heat
by contacting two different fluids to each other directly or
indirectly, and is mainly used for a heater, a cooler, an
evaporator or a condenser.
[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a fin and tube type
heat exchanger used in the freezing device according to the
conventional art, and FIG. 2 is a plane view showing a fin in the
heat exchanger according to the conventional art.
[0006] The conventional heat exchanger comprises a plurality of
fins 102 disposed with certain gaps therebetween, and a tube 104,
through which a fluid passes, installed as penetrating the fins
102.
[0007] The fins 102 are plate types having predetermined lengths
and widths respectively, and include a plurality of penetrating
holes 108 through which the tube 104 passes and a louver 106 bent
as a predetermined angle in order to increase heat transmission
area.
[0008] In addition, an end of the tube 104 is connected to an inlet
tube 110 to which the fluid is inflowed, and the other end of the
tube 104 is connected to an outlet tube 112 through which the fluid
completing the heat exchange is discharged. And the tube 104 is
bent a plurality of times to pass the penetrating holes 108 of the
fins 102 in zigzags.
[0009] In the conventional heat exchanger as above, when the fluid
is inflowed through the inlet tube 110, the fluid passes the tube
104 which is bent in zigzags to exchange the heat with the air
passing through the fins 102. At that time, the heat exchanged
between the air passing out of the tube 104 and the fluid passing
in the tube 104 can be made by the fins 102.
[0010] In heat exchanging operation as above, moisture included in
the air is attached to surface of the tube 104 and the surfaces of
the fins 102 by a difference in temperatures of inner/outer sides
of the tube 104. In addition, the moisture attached on the surfaces
of the tube 104 and the fins 102 is moved downward due to the
gravity, then collected in a drain pan (not shown) and discharged
to outer side.
[0011] However, according to the conventional heat exchanger as
above, condensate water generated during the heat exchanging
operation may be stayed on the surfaces of the fins 102 by a
surface tension, and thereby obstructing flows of the air passing
between the fins 102, and the heat exchanging function between the
air and the fluid is lowered.
[0012] Also, distances between the fins 102 should be maintained
more than certain degrees in order to prevent the condensate water
from staying in the spaces between the fins 102 through which the
air passes, and thereby a size of the heat exchanger is
increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide
a heat exchanger which improves a heat transmission function and
reduces distances between fins to reduce a size thereof having same
heat exchanging function, by coating surfaces of the fins with a
certain material to make condensate water attached on surface of
the fins be discharged smoothly.
[0014] To achieve the object of the present invention, as embodied
and broadly described herein, there is provided a heat exchanger
comprising: fins disposed with predetermined gaps therebetween to
make air pass therethrough; and a tube, through which fluid passes,
installed to penetrate between fins. In addition, the fins are
arranged so that one surfaces on which hydrophilic material is
coated and another surfaces on which water repellent material is
coated face each other with a certain distance therebetween.
[0015] The fins of the heat exchanger are arranged as follows. That
is, a first fin having both surfaces coated by the water repellent
material, and a second fin having both surface coated by
hydrophilic material and facing the first fin are arranged
sequentially.
[0016] First coating layers applied by the water repellent material
are formed on both surfaces of the first fins, and second coating
layers applied by the hydrophilic material are formed on both
surfaces of the second fins.
[0017] The fins of the heat exchanger include side surfaces coated
by the water repellent material and the other side surfaces coated
by the hydrophilic material, respectively. And the fins are
arranged so that one surfaces coated by the water repellent
material faces to the other side surfaces coated by the hydrophilic
material with certain distances therebetween.
[0018] In addition, the first coating layers applied by the water
repellent material are formed on one surfaces of the fins, and the
second coating layers applied by the hydrophilic material are
formed on the other surfaces of the fins.
[0019] The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and
advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from
the following detailed description of the present invention when
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principles of the invention.
[0021] In the drawings:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a heat exchanger
according to the conventional art;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a plane view showing fins of the conventional heat
exchanger;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a heat exchanger
according to the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view in line III-III in FIG.
3;
[0026] FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating
condensate water discharging treat of the heat exchanger according
to the present invention; and
[0027] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a heat exchanger
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0029] There may be a plurality of embodiments for a heat exchanger
according to the present invention, and the most preferred
embodiment will be described as follows.
[0030] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the heat exchanger
according to the present invention.
[0031] The heat exchanger according to the present invention
comprises: a tube 6, through which fluid passes, bent in zigzags
and having one side connected to an inlet tube 2 to which the fluid
is inflowed and the other side connected to an outlet tube 4
through which the fluid completing the heat exchanging is
discharged; and a plurality of fins 10 disposed with certain gaps
therebetween and including a plurality of penetrating holes 8 so as
to pass the tube 6, for expanding an area contacting to air.
[0032] The fins 10 are formed to be plate shapes having certain
lengths and widths, and louvers 12 which are protruded as certain
angles for expanding the area contacting to the passing air are
formed on both surfaces of the fins 10. In addition, water
repellent material and hydrophilic material are coated on both
surfaces of the fins to discharge the condensate water smoothly,
respectively.
[0033] That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the fins 10 can be divided into
first fins 20 having first coating layers 26 surface treated by the
water repellent material on both surfaces of the first fins 20, and
second fins 22 having second coating layers 28 surface treated by
the hydrophilic material on both surface of second fins 22. And
these first and second fins are arranged sequentially.
[0034] Herein, the hydrophilic material is a material having
hydrophilicity, and make the condensate water attached on the
surfaces of the fins 10. And the water repellent material is a
material which is repulsive to the water, and makes the condensate
water not to be attached on the surfaces of the fins 10.
[0035] It is desirable that the water repellent material and the
hydrophilic material are treated on the both surfaces of the fins
10 by a surface treatment such as a coating method,
respectively.
[0036] Operations of the heat exchanger constructed as above will
be described as follows.
[0037] The fluid inflowed into the inlet tube 2 passes through the
tube 6 which is bent in zigzags, and then, is discharged through
the outlet tube 4. In addition, the air passes between the fins 10.
At that time, the fluid passing through the tube 6 and the air
passing between the fins 10 flow to cross each other, and thereby,
heat exchanging with each other is made.
[0038] When the heat exchanging operation as above is performed,
moisture included in the air is attached on a surface of the tube 4
or on the surfaces of the fins 10 by a temperature difference
between the fluid and the air.
[0039] The treates that the condensate water is attached on the
surfaces of the fins 10 and discharged will be described with
reference to FIG. 5.
[0040] When the heat exchanging is performed, the condensate water
is condensed as water drop shapes (L) on both surfaces of the first
fins 20 on which the first coating layers 26 are formed, and the
condensate water of water drop shape (L) is gradually increased by
being mixed with other drops as time goes by.
[0041] In addition, when. the water drop (L) is expanded more than
a certain degree, the drop is contacted to the surfaces of the
second fins 22 on which the second coating layers 34 are formed.
Then, the drop flows down along with the surface of the second fins
22. At that time, since the drop (L) is heavy, the flowing down
speed of the drop (L) is fast and the condensate water can be
removed rapidly.
[0042] In addition, when the condensate water generated on the
surface of the first fins 20 is contacted to the surfaces of the
second fins 22, the condensate water is discharged promptly.
Therefore, the condensate water can be discharged regardless of the
drop size. Thus, the gaps between the first fins 20 and the second
fins 22 can be reduced, and the entire size of the heat exchanger
can be reduced.
[0043] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a heat exchanger
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[0044] The heat exchanger according to another embodiment of the
present invention comprises: a tube 6, through which the fluid
passes, formed to be bent in zigzags; and a plurality of fins 30
having a plurality of penetrating holes 8 to pass the tube 6, and
arranged with certain gaps therebetween to expand an area
contacting to the air. In addition, the fins 30 include first
coating layers 32 on one side surfaces made by applying water
repellent material, and second coating layers 34 on the other
surfaces made by applying the hydrophilic material, respectively.
And these fins 30 are arranged with certain gaps therebetween.
[0045] At that time, the fins 30 are arranged so that the surfaces
on which the first coating layers 32 are formed and the other
surfaces on which the second coating layers 34 are formed face each
other.
[0046] In treat for discharging the condensate water of the heat
exchanger, the condensate water is condensed as drop shape on one
side surfaces of the fins 30 on which the first coating layers 32
are formed by the water repellent material, and the condensate
water of drop shape is increased by being mixed with other drops as
the time goes by. In addition, when the drops are increased more
than certain degree and contacted to the other surfaces of the fins
30 on which the second coating layers 34 are formed, the water
drops falls down along with the other surfaces of the fins 30
rapidly.
[0047] Effects of the heat exchanger according to the present
invention constructed and operated as above will be described as
follows.
[0048] According to the present invention, the water repellent
material and the hydrophilic material are treated on the both
surfaces of the heat exchanger, and the surface treated by the
water repellent material and the surface treated by the hydrophilic
material are arranged to face each other. Therefore, the condensate
water generated when the heat exchanging operation is performed is
formed on the surface treated by the water repellent material as
water drop shape, and then, discharged to downward direction as
soon as the drop is contacted to the other surface treated by the
hydrophilic material. Thereby, the discharging speed of the
condensate water can be increased due to the weight of the water
drop, and therefore, the flow of the air passing between the fins
can be made smooth and the condensate water attached on the
surfaces of the fins can be discharged rapidly. Therefore, the heat
exchanging function can be improved.
[0049] Also, the condensate water can be discharged easily
regardless of the size of water drops, and the gaps between the
fins can be reduced, and thereby, the size of entire heat exchanger
can be reduced.
[0050] As the present invention may be embodied in several forms
without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics
thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described
embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing
description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be
construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the
appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that
fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of
such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the
appended claims.
* * * * *