U.S. patent application number 14/065919 was filed with the patent office on 2014-05-08 for heat exchanger for an air conditioner and an air conditioner having the same.
The applicant listed for this patent is Soonchul Hwang, Jaeyoung Kim, Junghoon Kim. Invention is credited to Soonchul Hwang, Jaeyoung Kim, Junghoon Kim.
Application Number | 20140124183 14/065919 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50621292 |
Filed Date | 2014-05-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140124183 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hwang; Soonchul ; et
al. |
May 8, 2014 |
HEAT EXCHANGER FOR AN AIR CONDITIONER AND AN AIR CONDITIONER HAVING
THE SAME
Abstract
A heat exchanger for an air conditioner and an air conditioner
having the same are provided. The heat exchanger may include at
least one heat exchange device, the heat exchange device comprising
a lower header provided therein with a lower flow path; an upper
header provided therein with an upper flow path; and a plurality of
flat tubes provided therein with a plurality of flow paths that
communicates with the lower flow path and the upper flow path. The
upper flow path may be partitioned into a first lower flow path
with which a portion of the plurality of flat tubes may
communicate, and a second lower flow path with which a remaining
portion of the plurality of flat tubes may communicate. Each of an
internal sectional area of the upper header and an internal
sectional area of the lower header may be 0.7 times or more as
large as a sum of sectional areas of flow paths in the plurality of
flat tubes forming one path.
Inventors: |
Hwang; Soonchul;
(Changwon-si, KR) ; Kim; Junghoon; (Changwon-si,
KR) ; Kim; Jaeyoung; (Changwon-si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hwang; Soonchul
Kim; Junghoon
Kim; Jaeyoung |
Changwon-si
Changwon-si
Changwon-si |
|
KR
KR
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
50621292 |
Appl. No.: |
14/065919 |
Filed: |
October 29, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/173 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 2021/0085 20130101;
F25B 39/00 20130101; F28D 2021/0084 20130101; F28F 9/027 20130101;
F28F 9/262 20130101; F28D 1/0417 20130101; F28D 1/05391 20130101;
F28F 9/028 20130101; F28D 1/0435 20130101; F28F 9/0204
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/173 |
International
Class: |
F28F 9/02 20060101
F28F009/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 5, 2012 |
KR |
10-2012-0124328 |
Jun 18, 2013 |
KR |
10-2013-0069690 |
Claims
1. A heat exchanger for an air conditioner, comprising: at least
one heat exchange device, the at least one heat exchange device
comprising: a lower header provided therein with a lower flow path;
an upper header provided therein with an upper flow path; and a
plurality of flat tubes provided therein with a plurality of flow
paths that communicates with the lower flow path and the upper flow
path, wherein the upper flow path is partitioned into a first lower
flow path with which a first portion of the plurality of flat tubes
communicates, and a second lower flow path with which a second
portion of the plurality of flat tubes communicates, wherein a
longitudinal width of a heat exchange area is greater than a
transverse width of the heat exchange area, the heat exchange area
being an area in which heat of the plurality of flat tubes are
exchanged with air, and wherein each of an internal sectional area
of the upper header and an internal sectional area of the lower
header is approximately 0.7 times or more as large as a sum of
sectional areas of flow paths in the plurality of flat tubes
forming one path.
2. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the at least one heat
exchange device further comprises a plurality of fins disposed
between the plurality of flat tubes.
3. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein a refrigerant introduced
into the upper flow path through the first portion of the plurality
of flat tubes collides with an upper inner wall of the upper header
and is discharged to the second portion of the plurality of flat
tubes.
4. The heat exchanger of claim 1, further comprising an inlet pipe
to introduce and guide a refrigerant into the heat exchanger in a
direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the
plurality of flat tubes extends.
5. The heat exchanger of claim 4, wherein the inlet pipe
communicates with one of the first lower flow path or the second
lower flow path.
6. The heat exchanger of claim 4, wherein the inlet pipe comprises
a plurality of branch pipes.
7. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the sum of the sectional
areas of the flow paths is determined by the following equation:
Acell=Tn.times.Cn.times.A where, Acell is the sum of the sectional
areas of the flow paths, Tn is a number of flat tubes forming one
path, Cn is a number of the flow paths formed in the plurality of
flat tubes forming the one path, and A is an area of a flow
path.
8. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein each of the internal
sectional area of the upper header and the internal sectional area
of the lower header is approximately 0.8 times or less as large as
the sum of the sectional areas of the flow paths.
9. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal width is
approximately 1.5 times or more as large as the transverse
width.
10. The heat exchanger of claim 9, wherein the longitudinal width
is approximately 2.5 times or less as large as the transverse
width.
11. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the at least heat
exchange device comprises a plurality of heat exchange devices
disposed at front and rear sides with respect to an air moving
direction, wherein an inlet pipe that introduces and guides a
refrigerant into the heat exchanger is connected to a first lower
flow path formed in a lower header of a first heat exchange device
of the plurality of heat exchange devices, and wherein an outlet
pipe that introduces and guides the refrigerant out of the heat
exchanger is connected to a lower flow path formed in a lower
header of a second heat exchange device of the plurality of heat
exchange devices.
12. The heat exchanger of claim 11, wherein a separator is disposed
between a second lower flow path formed in the lower header of the
first heat exchange device, and a second lower flow path formed in
the lower header of the second heat exchange device, and is
provided therein with a plurality communication holes.
13. The heat exchanger of claim 12, wherein a sum of sectional
areas of the plurality of communication holes is approximately 4%
to approximately 8% of an area of the separator.
14. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the at least heat
exchange device comprises a plurality of heat exchange devices
disposed at front and rear sides with respect to an air moving
direction, and wherein an upper flow path formed in an upper header
of a first heat exchange device of the plurality of heat exchange
devices is partitioned into a first upper flow path and a second
upper flow path.
15. The heat exchanger of claim 14, wherein an inlet pipe that
introduces and guides a refrigerant into the heat exchanger is
connected to the first upper flow path, and an outlet pipe that
discharges and guides the refrigerant from the heat exchanger is
connected to the second upper flow path.
16. The heat exchanger of claim 15, wherein a first lower flow path
formed in a lower header of the first heat exchange device
communicates with a first lower flow path formed in a lower header
of a second heat exchange device of the plurality of heat exchange
devices through a plurality of first communication holes, and
wherein a second lower flow path formed in the lower header of the
first heat exchange device communicates with a second lower flow
path formed in the lower header of the second heat exchange device
through a plurality of second communication holes.
17. The heat exchanger of claim 16, wherein a sum of sectional
areas of the plurality of first communication holes is
approximately 4% to approximately 8% of an area of a separator,
which is disposed between the first lower flow path formed in the
lower header of the first heat exchange device and the first lower
flow path formed in the lower header of the second heat exchange
device.
18. The heat exchanger of claim 17, wherein a sum of sectional
areas of the plurality of second communication holes is
approximately 4% to approximately 8% of an area of a separator,
which is disposed between the second lower flow path formed in the
lower header of the first heat exchange device and the second lower
flow path formed in the lower header of the second heat exchange
device.
19. An air conditioner comprising the heat exchanger of claim
1.
20. A heat exchanger for an air conditioner, comprising: least one
heat exchange device, the at least one heat exchange device
comprising: a lower header provided therein with a lower flow path;
an upper header provided therein with an upper flow path; and a
plurality of flat tubes provided therein with a plurality of flow
paths that communicates with the lower flow path and the upper flow
path, wherein the upper flow path is partitioned into a first upper
flow path with which a first portion of the plurality of flat tubes
communicates, and a second upper flow path with which a second
portion of the plurality of flat tubes communicates, and wherein
each of an internal sectional area of the upper header and an
internal sectional area of the lower header is approximately 0.7
times or more as large as a sum of sectional areas of flow paths in
the plurality of flat tubes forming one path.
21. The heat exchanger of claim 20, wherein the at least one heat
exchange device further comprises a plurality of fins disposed
between the plurality of flat tubes.
22. The heat exchanger of claim 20, wherein the sum of the
sectional areas of the flow paths may be determined by the
following equation: Acell=Tn.times.Cn.times.A where, Acell is the
sum of the sectional areas of the flow paths, Tn is a number of
flat tubes forming one path, Cn is a number of the flow paths
formed in the plurality of flat tubes forming the one path, and A
is an area of a flow path.
23. The heat exchanger of claim 20, wherein each of an internal
sectional area of the upper header and an internal sectional area
of the lower header is approximately 0.8 times or less as large as
the sum of the sectional areas of the flow paths.
24. An air conditioner comprising the heat exchanger of claim
20.
25. A heat exchanger for an air conditioner, comprising: at least
one heat exchange device, the at least one heat exchange device
comprising: a lower header provided therein with a lower flow path;
an upper header provided therein with an upper flow path; and a
plurality of flat tubes provided therein with a plurality of flow
paths that communicates with the lower flow path and the upper flow
path, wherein the plurality of flat tubes are divided into a
plurality of groups, each group forming one path in communication
with a portion of the lower flow path and the upper flow path,
wherein a longitudinal width of a heat exchange area is greater
than a transverse width of the heat exchange area, the heat
exchange area being an area in which heat of the plurality of flat
tubes are exchanged with air, and wherein each of an internal
sectional area of the upper header and an internal sectional area
of the lower header is approximately 0.7 times or more as large as
a sum of sectional areas of flow paths in the plurality of flat
tubes forming one path.
26. The heat exchanger of claim 25, wherein the at least one heat
exchange device further comprises a plurality of fins disposed
between the plurality of flat tubes.
27. The heat exchanger of claim 25, wherein the sum of the
sectional areas of the flow paths may be determined by the
following equation: Acell=Tn.times.Cn.times.A where, Acell is the
sum of the sectional areas of the flow paths, Tn is a number of
flat tubes forming one path, Cn is a number of the flow paths
formed in the plurality of flat tubes forming the one path, and A
is an area of a flow path.
28. The heat exchanger of claim 25, wherein each of an internal
sectional area of the upper header and an internal sectional area
of the lower header is approximately 0.8 times or less as large as
the sum of the sectional areas of the flow paths.
29. An air conditioner comprising the heat exchanger of claim 25.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application claims priority to Korean Application No.
10-2012-0124328 filed in Korea on Nov. 5, 2012 and Korean
Application No. 10-2013-0069690 filed in Korea on Jun. 18, 2013,
the subject matter of each of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] A heat exchanger for an air conditioner and an air
conditioner having the same are disclosed herein.
[0004] 2. Background
[0005] Heat exchangers for air conditioners and air conditioners
having the same are known. However, they suffer from various
disadvantages.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Embodiments will be described in detail with reference to
the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to
like elements, and wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an air conditioner including a
heat exchanger according to an embodiment;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a side view of an inside of an indoor device in
which a heat exchanger according to an embodiment may be
installed;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a side view of a heat exchanger for an air
conditioner according to an embodiment;
[0010] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the heat exchanger
of FIG. 3;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a front view of the heat exchanger of FIG. 3;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG.
3;
[0013] FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG.
3;
[0014] FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of
FIG. 5;
[0015] FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX of FIG.
5;
[0016] FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating a performance ratio of a
heat exchanger according to a length ratio of a longitudinal width
of a heat exchange region to a transverse width of the heat
exchange region in a heat exchanger for an air conditioner
according to an embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 11 is a sectional view of an inside of a header of a
heat exchanger for an air conditioner according to an
embodiment;
[0018] FIG. 12 is a graph illustrating a mal-distribution ratio
according to a ratio of a sum of sectional areas of flow paths of a
plurality of flat tubes forming one path to an internal sectional
area of a header according to an embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 13 is a front view of a plurality of communication
holes and a separator according to an embodiment;
[0020] FIG. 14 is a graph illustrating a cooling efficiency
according to a ratio of an area of a separator to a sum of
sectional areas of a plurality of communication holes in a heat
exchanger for an air conditioner according to an embodiment;
[0021] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger for an air
conditioner according to another embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the heat
exchanger of FIG. 15;
[0023] FIG. 17 is a sectional plan view of an upper header of the
heat exchanger of FIG. 15; and
[0024] FIG. 18 is a sectional plan view of a lower header of the
heat exchanger of FIG. 15.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] Embodiments may be described with reference to appended
drawings. For the description of the embodiments, the same names
and symbols may be used for the same structure and an additional
description according thereto may not be provided.
[0026] In general, a heat exchanger may be used as a condenser or
an evaporator in a refrigerating cycle device including a
compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator.
Such a heat exchanger may be installed in, for example, a vehicle,
a refrigerator, or an air conditioner, and may exchange heat of a
refrigerant with air.
[0027] The heat exchanger may be classified as a fin-and-tube type
heat exchanger or a micro channel type heat exchanger. The heat
exchanger may include a tube, through which the refrigerant may
pass, a heat member connected to the tube, and a header that
distributes the refrigerant to the tube. A refrigerant introducing
pipe that guides the refrigerant to the header may be connected to
the heat exchanger, and a refrigerant discharging pipe that
discharges the refrigerant from the header may be connected to the
heat exchanger.
[0028] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an air conditioner including a
heat exchanger according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the
air conditioner 1 may include a compressor 2 that compresses a
refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger 4 that exchanges heat of the
refrigerant with exterior air, an expansion device 6 that expands
the refrigerant, and an indoor heat exchanger 8 that exchanges heat
of the refrigerant with interior air or air in an interior space.
In the air conditioner 1, the refrigerant compressed by the
compressor 2 may pass through the outdoor heat exchanger 4 so that
the heat of the refrigerant may be exchanged with the exterior air
and be condensed. In this case, the outdoor heat exchanger 4 may
function as a condenser. The refrigerant condensed in the outdoor
heat exchanger 4 may move into the expansion device 6 so that the
expansion device 6 may expand the condensed refrigerant. The
refrigerant expanded by the expansion device 6 may pass through the
indoor heat exchanger 8 and the heat of the refrigerant may be
exchanged with interior air to be evaporated. In this case, the
indoor heat exchanger 8 may function as an evaporator to evaporate
the refrigerant. The refrigerant evaporated in the indoor heat
exchanger 8 may be recovered to the compressor 2. The refrigerant
may circulate via the compressor 2, the outdoor heat exchanger 4,
the expansion device 6, and the indoor heat exchanger 8 to cool the
interior air.
[0029] A flow path 11, for example, a gas pipe, that guides the
refrigerant having passed through the indoor heat exchanger 8 to
the compressor 2 may be provided. An accumulator 9 may be installed
at, on, or in the flow path 11. Liquefied refrigerant may be
accumulated in the accumulator 9.
[0030] A flow path through which the refrigerant may pass may be
formed in the indoor heat exchanger 8. A flow path 10, for example,
a liquid pipe, that guides the refrigerant having passed through
the expansion device 6 to a first end of the refrigerant flow path
may be connected to the indoor heat exchanger 8. The flow path 11
may guide the refrigerant evaporated in the indoor heat exchanger 8
and may be connected to a second end of the flow path of the indoor
heat exchanger 8.
[0031] The air conditioner 1 may be a separate or split type air
conditioner in which an indoor device I is separated from an
outdoor device O. In this case, the compressor 2 and the outdoor
heat exchanger 4 may be installed inside the outdoor device O, the
expansion device 6 may be installed at or in the indoor device I or
the outdoor device O, and the indoor heat exchanger 8 may be
installed inside the indoor device I.
[0032] An outdoor fan 12, which may blow exterior air to the
outdoor heat exchanger 8, may be installed in the outdoor device O.
The exterior air blown to the outdoor heat exchanger 4 from the
outdoor fan 12 may condense the refrigerant passing through the
outdoor heat exchanger 4.
[0033] An indoor fan 13 that blows interior air to the indoor heat
exchanger 8 may be installed in the indoor device I. The interior
air blown to the indoor heat exchanger 8 from the indoor fan 13 may
condense the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger
8.
[0034] FIG. 2 is a side view of an inside of an indoor device in
which a heat exchanger according to an embodiment may be installed.
As shown in FIG. 2, the indoor device I may include a casing 16
that forms an outer appearance of the indoor device I. An air
introduction port 14 and an air discharge port 15 may be formed in
the casing 16. The casing 16 may be formed by an assembly having a
plurality of members. The casing 16 may include an introduction
panel 17 formed therein with the air introduction port 14 and a
discharge panel 18 formed therein with the air discharge port 15.
The casing 16 may include a base 19 that supports a load of the
indoor device I. The casing 16 may further include a front panel
that forms a front appearance of the air conditioner 1.
[0035] A heat exchanger, such as indoor heat exchanger 8 of FIG. 1,
and a fan, such as indoor fan 13 of FIG. 1, may be installed inside
the casing 16. In such a case, when driving the indoor fan 13,
interior air may be introduced into the casing 16 through the air
introduction port 14, and may pass through an inside of the casing
16 and may then be discharged to the air discharge port 15. The
indoor heat exchanger 8 may exchange heat of the interior air
introduced through the air introduction port 14 with refrigerant
upon driving the indoor fan 13. The indoor heat exchanger 8 may be
substantially longitudinally aligned or oriented inside the casing
16. The indoor heat exchanger 8 may be substantially vertically
oriented or inclined inside the casing 16.
[0036] As discussed further hereinbelow, the heat exchanger may
include one or more heat exchange devices HU1 and HU2. The heat
exchanger may include one or more lower headers 30 and one or more
upper headers 40 vertically spaced from each other. The one or more
lower headers 30 may be connected to the one or more upper headers
40 by a plurality of flat tubes 50 and 70.
[0037] The heat exchanger according to embodiments may function as
at least one of the outdoor heat exchanger 4 or the indoor heat
exchanger 8. For example, the heat exchanger according to
embodiments may be applicable as the indoor heat exchanger 8 into
which a two-phase refrigerant may be introduced and may function as
an evaporator. When the air conditioner is a cooling and heating
concurrent type air conditioner, the indoor heat exchanger 8 may
function as the evaporator during a cooling operation mode, while
the outdoor heat exchanger 4 may function as the evaporator during
a heating operation mode. In this case, the indoor heat exchanger 8
and the outdoor heat exchanger 4 may serve as the heat exchanger of
the air conditioner according to embodiments, respectively.
[0038] FIG. 3 is a side view of a heat exchanger for an air
according to an embodiment. The heat exchanger for an air
conditioner according to an embodiment may include a heat exchange
device through which refrigerant may pass and heat-exchange with
air. The heat exchanger for an air conditioner may include an inlet
pipe 100 connected to the flow path 10 shown in FIG. 1 and an
outlet pipe 110 connected to the flow path 11 shown in FIG. 1.
[0039] The heat exchanger according to embodiments may include at
least one heat exchange device HU1. Both the inlet pipe 100 and the
outlet pipe 110 may be connected on the heat exchange device HU1.
In this case, the refrigerant in the flow path 10 may be moved or
flow in the order of the inlet pipe 100, the heat exchange device
HU1, and the outlet pipe 110, and then may be moved or flow to the
flow path 11.
[0040] The heat exchanger according to embodiments may include a
plurality of heat exchange devices HU1 and HU2 through which a
refrigerant R may sequentially pass. The plurality of heat exchange
devices HU1 and HU2 may be disposed at front and rear sides with
respect to a direction of air movement. Further, the inlet pipe 100
may be connected to a first heat exchanger device HU1 of the
plurality of heat exchange devices HU1 and HU2, while the outlet
pipe 110 may be connected to a second heat exchanger of the
plurality of heat exchange devices HU1 and HU2. In this case, the
refrigerant R in the flow path 10 may be moved or flow in the order
of the inlet pipe 100, the heat exchanger HU1, the heat exchanger
HU2, and the outlet pipe 110 and may then be moved or flow to the
flow path 11. Use of the plurality of heat exchange devices HU1 and
HU2 may minimize a height of the heat exchanger.
[0041] The plurality of heat exchange devices HU1 and HU2 may
include a front or first heat exchange device HU1, through which
the refrigerant R may first pass, and a rear or second heat
exchange device HU2, through which the refrigerant R may pass
later. The inlet pipe 100 may be connected to the front or first
exchange device HU1, and the outlet pipe 110 may be connected to
the rear or second heat exchange device HU2. The heat exchanger may
be installed such that air passes through the front or first
exchange device HU1 after the air passes through the rear or second
heat exchange device HU2. Alternatively, the heat exchanger may be
installed such that air first passes through the front or first
exchanger device HU1 and then passes through the rear or second
heat exchange device HU2.
[0042] Hereinafter, for purposes of convenience, when the front or
first exchange device HU1 is distinguished from the rear or second
heat exchange device HU2, the embodiment will be discussed on the
assumption that one is referred to as `front exchange device HU1`
and the other is referred to as `rear heat exchange device HU2`,
and a common configuration of the front exchange device HU1 and the
rear heat exchange device HU2 is referred to as `heat exchange
device HU1/HU2`.
[0043] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the heat exchanger
of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a front view of the heat exchanger of FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 3. FIG. 7
is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 3. FIG. 8 is a
sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 5. FIG. 9 is a
sectional view taken along line IX-IX of FIG. 5.
[0044] The heat exchange devices HU1 and HU2 may each include the
lower header 30, the upper header 40 spaced apart from the lower
header 30, a plurality of the flat tubes 50 and 70, which may
communicate an inside of the lower header 30 with an inside of the
upper header 40, and a fin 90 disposed between the plurality of
flat tubes 50 and 70. The lower header 30 may be formed therein
with lower flow paths PL1 and PL2 through which the refrigerant may
pass. The upper header 40 may be formed therein with an upper flow
path PU through which the refrigerant may pass. The plurality of
flat tubes 50 and 70 may be formed therein with flow paths that
communicate with the lower flow paths PL1 and PL2, and the upper
flow path PU, respectively. The flow paths formed in the plurality
of flat tubes 50 and 70 may include heat exchange flow paths
through which the refrigerant may pass so that heat of the
refrigerant may be exchanged with air.
[0045] The lower header 30 may extend substantially longitudinally
in a direction X substantially perpendicular to a moving direction
Z of the air. The lower flow paths PL1 and PL2 may extend
substantially longitudinally in a longitudinal direction of the
lower header 30. The lower header 30 may be provided with a
plurality of lower slits 32, which may be formed through or
corresponding to lower portions of the flat tubes 50 and 70. The
plurality of lower slits 32 may be formed at an upper portion of
the lower header 30. A same number of lower slits 32 may be formed
as the corresponding number of flat tubes 50 and 70. The plurality
of lower slits 32 may be spaced apart from each other in a
longitudinal direction of the lower header 30.
[0046] The lower flow paths PL1 and PL2 may be partitioned into a
first lower flow path PL1 with which a portion of the plurality of
flat tubes 50 and 70 may communicate and a second lower flow path
PL2 with which a remaining portion of the plurality of flat tubes
50 and 70 may communicate. A partition 33 may be disposed in the
lower header 30 to partition an inside of the lower header 30, for
example, to the left and right. The partition 33 may partition the
inside of the lower header 30 into the first lower flow path PL1
and the second lower flow path PL2. A partition insertion hole 34
may be formed in the lower header 30. The partition 33 may be
inserted into an upper portion of the partition insertion hole 34
to be installed therein.
[0047] The upper header 40 may extend substantially longitudinally
parallel with or to the lower header 30. The upper header 40 may be
vertically spaced apart from an upper portion of the lower header
30. The upper header 40 may be provided with the upper flow path PU
so that the refrigerant may move therein substantially in the
longitudinal direction X. The upper header 40 may be provided with
a plurality of upper slits 42, which may be formed through or
corresponding to upper portions of the plurality of flat tubes 50
and 70. The plurality of upper slits 42 may be formed at a lower
portion of the upper header 40. A same number of upper slits 42 may
be formed as the corresponding number of flat tubes 50 and 70. The
plurality of upper slits 42 may be spaced apart from each other in
a substantially longitudinal direction of the upper header 40.
[0048] One upper flow path PU may be longitudinally formed in the
upper header 40 in a substantially horizontal direction. The
refrigerant may be introduced into the upper flow path PU through a
portion of the plurality of flat tubes 50 and 70. Next, the
refrigerant may collide with an inner top wall 44 of the upper
header 40 and be moved in a longitudinal direction of the upper
flow path PU along the upper flow path PU. The refrigerant moved
along the upper flow path PU may be moved into a remaining portion
of the plurality of flat tubes 50 and 70.
[0049] A plurality of flow paths C1, C2, and C3 may be formed in
the plurality of flat tubes 50 and 70, respectively. The plurality
of flat tubes 50 and 70 may include flat individual tubes 60 to 69
that communicate the first lower flow path PL1 with the upper flow
path PU. The flat tubes 60 to 69 may form a first flat tube group
50. The plurality of flat tubes 50 and 70 may further include
individual flat tubes 80 to 89 that communicate the second lower
flow path PL2 with the upper flow path PU. The flat tubes 80 to 89
may form a second flat tube group 70.
[0050] In the heat exchange devices HU1 and HU2, when the
refrigerant is introduced into the first lower flow path PL1, the
refrigerant introduced into the first lower flow path PL1 may be
distributed into the flat tubes 60 to 69 forming the first flat
tube group 50 and be ascended or flow upward, and may pass through
the flat tubes 60 to 69 forming the first flat tube group 50. The
refrigerant may pass through the flat tubes 60 to 69 forming the
first flat tube group 50 and then be moved upward into the upper
flow path PU. The refrigerant moved into the upper flow path PU
from the flat tubes 60 to 69 may be combined in the upper flow path
PU and be horizontally moved or flow inside the upper flow path PU.
The refrigerant in the upper flow path PU may be distributed into
the flat tubes 80 to 89 forming the second flat tube group 70, be
descended or flow downward, and pass through the flat tubes 80 to
89. The refrigerant may pass through the flat tubes 80 to 89 and
then be descended to or flow into the second lower flow path PL2.
The refrigerant moved into the flat tubes 80 to 89 may be combined
in the second lower flow path PL2.
[0051] Alternatively, in the heat exchange devices HU1 and HU2,
when the refrigerant is introduced into the second lower flow path
PL2, the refrigerant introduced into the second lower flow path PL2
may be distributed into the flat tubes 80 to 89 forming the second
flat tube group 70 and be ascended or flow upward, and may pass
through the flat tubes 80 to 89 forming the second flat tube group
70. The refrigerant may pass through the flat tubes 80 to 89
forming the second flat tube group 70 and then be moved upward into
the upper flow path PU. The refrigerant moved into the upper flow
path PU from the flat tubes 80 to 89 forming the second flat tube
group 70 may be combined in the upper flow path PU and be
horizontally moved inside the upper flow path PU. The refrigerant
in the upper flow path PU may be distributed into the flat tubes 60
to 69 forming the first flat tube group 50, be descended or flow,
and pass through the flat tubes 60 to 69. The refrigerant may pass
through the flat tubes 60 to 69 and then be descended to or flow
into the first lower flow path PL1. The refrigerant moved into the
flat tubes 60 to 69 may be combined in the first lower flow path
PL1.
[0052] For example, if the heat exchange devices HU1 and HU2
include a total of twenty flat tubes, respectively, the first flat
tube group 50 may include ten flat tubes 60 to 69, and the second
flat tube group 70 may include ten flat tubes 80 to 89. The heat
exchange devices HU1 and HU2 may form one path including in an
order the first lower flow path PL1, the first flat tube group 50,
the upper flow path PU, the second flat tube group 70, and the
second lower flow path PL2. When the refrigerant is first
introduced into the second lower flow path PL2, the heat exchange
devices HU1 and HU2 may form one path formed in order of the second
lower flow path PL2, the second flat tube group 70, the upper flow
path PU, the first flat tube group 50, and the first lower flow
path PL1. In this case, the number of flat tubes forming one path
in the heat exchange devices HU1 and HU2 may be twenty.
[0053] As another example, the heat exchange devices HU1 and HU2
may include 30 flat tubes, the first flat tube group 50 may include
15 flat tubes, and the second flat tube group 70 may include 15
flat tubes. In this case, as in the case including a total of 20
flat tubes, the heat exchange devices HU1 and HU2 may form one path
formed in the order of the first lower flow path PL1, the first
flat tube group 50, the upper flow path PU, the second flat tube
group 70, and the second lower flow path PL2, or one path formed in
the order of the second flow path PL2, the second flat tube group
70, the upper flow path PU, the first flat tube group 50, and the
first lower flow path PL1. In this case, the number of flat tubes
forming one path in the heat exchange devices HU1 and HU2 may be
thirty.
[0054] However, the number of flat tubes is not so limited. Several
numbers of flat tubes, such as 10, 24, 36, and 40 flat tubes, may
be provided. It has been illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 that ten flat
tubes 60 to 69 form the first flat tube group 50 and ten flat tubes
80 to 89 form the second flat tube group 70 for the purpose of
convenience or clarity.
[0055] The inlet pipe 100 may guide the refrigerant to one of the
lower header 30 or the upper header 40, and the outlet pipe 110 may
guide the refrigerant to be discharged from one of the lower header
30 or the upper header 40. When the heat exchanger for an air
conditioner according to embodiments includes one heat exchange
device HU1, the inlet pipe 100 to introduce and guide the
refrigerant may guide the refrigerant to one of the first lower
flow path PL1 or the second lower flow path PL2, and the outlet
pipe 110 to discharge and guide the refrigerant may discharge the
refrigerant from the other of the first lower flow path PL1 or the
second lower flow path PL2.
[0056] When the heat exchanger for an air conditioner according to
embodiments includes a plurality of heat exchange devices HU1 and
HU2, an inlet pipe 100 to introduce and guide the refrigerant may
be connected to the first lower flow path PL1 formed at or in the
lower header 30 of a first heat exchanged device HU1 of the
plurality of heat exchange devices HU1 and HU2, and an outlet pipe
110 to discharge and guide the refrigerant may be connected to the
first lower flow path PL1 formed at the lower header 30 of a second
heat exchange device HU2 of the heat exchange devices HU1 and HU2.
The second lower flow path PL2 formed at the lower header 30 of the
first heat exchange device HU1 may communicate with the second
lower flow path PL2 formed at the lower header 30 of the second
heat exchange device HU2 through a plurality of communication holes
35, 36, 37, and 38.
[0057] The inlet pipe 100 may introduce and guide the refrigerant
in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the
plurality of flat tubes 50 and 70. The inlet pipe 100 may be
longitudinally disposed in a direction perpendicular to the
longitudinal direction Y of the plurality of flat tubes 50 and 70
and in a direction Z perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X
of the lower header 30. In this case, the refrigerant may be
introduced into the lower header 30 parallel with a flow direction
of air, and may be horizontally sprayed inside the lower header 30
to be moved in substantially left and right directions. When the
refrigerant introduced into the lower header 30 is horizontally
sprayed inside the lower header 30 to be moved in left and right
directions, the inlet pipe 100 may uniformly distribute the
refrigerant, and may be longitudinally disposed in a direction
perpendicular to a longitudinal direction Y of the plurality of
flat tubes 50 and 70 and in a direction Z perpendicular to the
longitudinal direction X of the lower heater 30. One inlet pipe 100
may guide the refrigerant to a substantially central position of
the first lower flow path P1. The inlet pipe 100 may include a
common pipe and a plurality of branch pipes branched from the
common pipe. The common pipe may be connected to the flow path 10,
and the plurality of branch pipes may guide the refrigerant to a
plurality of positions along the lower flow path P1.
[0058] The inlet pipe 100 may be substantially longitudinally
disposed in a direction substantially perpendicular to a
longitudinal direction Y of the plurality of flat tubes 50 and 70
and in a longitudinal direction of the lower header 30. In this
case, the refrigerant may be moved in a substantially longitudinal
direction of the lower heater 30 aside the lower header 30 and be
introduced into the lower header 30, and may be substantially
horizontally moved inside the lower header 30. As the lower header
30 is partitioned into a first lower flow path PL1 and a second
lower flow path PL2, lengths of the first lower flow path PL1 and
the second lower flow path PL2 may be shorter than those in a case
where an inside of the lower header 30 is not partitioned to the
left and right, and a phenomenon where liquefied refrigerant is
concentrated to an opposite side of the inlet pipe 100 may be
minimized. That is, even when the inlet pipe 100 is longitudinally
disposed in a longitudinal direction X of the lower header 30, the
lengths of the first lower flow path PL1 and the second lower flow
path PL2 may be short, so the refrigerant may be uniformly sprayed
to the plurality of flat tubes 50 and 70.
[0059] The outlet pipe 110 may discharge and guide the refrigerant
in a direction perpendicular to the plurality of flat tubes 50 and
70. The outlet pipe 110 may be substantially longitudinally
disposed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the
longitudinal direction Y of the plurality of flat tubes 50 and 70
and in a direction Z substantially perpendicular to the
longitudinal direction X of the lower header 30. The outlet pipe
110 may be substantially longitudinally disposed in a direction
substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction Y of the
plurality of flat tubes 50 and 70 and in the longitudinal direction
X of the lower header 30.
[0060] Referring to FIG. 5, a performance ratio of the heat
exchanger for an air conditioner according to embodiments may be
determined according to a size and a shape of a heat exchange area
Aheat. The heat exchange area Aheat may be an area in which heat of
the plurality of flat tubes 50 and 70 and the fins 90 may be
exchanged with air. The heat exchange area Aheat may include a
whole area between the lower header 30 and the upper header 40, or
an area in which the plurality of flat tubes 50 and 70 and the fins
90 are substantially located except for a partial left region and a
partially right area among the whole area between the lower header
30 and the upper header 40.
[0061] A height of the plurality of flat tubes 50 and 70 in the
heat exchange area Aheat formed between the lower header 30 and the
upper header 40 may be a longitudinal width L. A distance between a
left end or edge of a flat tube 89, which may be horizontally
located at a left end or edge of the plurality of flat tubes 50 and
70 and a right end or edge of a flat tube 60, which may be located
at a right end or edge of the plurality of flat tubes 50 and 70 in
the heat exchange area Aheat may be a transverse width W. The
longitudinal width L of the heat exchange area Aheat may be longer
than the transverse width W thereof. The longitudinal width L and
the transverse width W will be described in more detail with
reference to FIG. 10.
[0062] Further, in the heat exchanger for an air conditioner
according to embodiments, each of an internal sectional area
Aheader of the upper header 40 and an internal sectional area
Aheader of the lower header 30 may be approximately 0.7 times or
more as large as a sum of sectional areas of flow paths in a
plurality of flat tubes constituting one path.
[0063] The sum of sectional areas of flow paths may be determined
by a following Equation 1:
Acell=Tn.times.Cn.times.A [Equation 1]
where, Acell is a sum of sectional areas of flow paths, Tn is a
number of flat tubes forming one path, Cn is a number of flow paths
C1, C2, and C3 formed at or in the plurality of flat tubes, and A
is an area of a flow path.
[0064] In the heat exchanger for an air conditioner according to
embodiments, sectional areas A of flow paths C1, C2, and C3 formed
in each of the plurality of flat tubes may be the same as each
other. In this case, A may be a sectional area of one flow path. In
the heat exchanger for an air conditioner according to embodiments,
sectional areas A of flow paths C1, C2, and C3 formed in each of
the plurality of flat tubes may be different from each other. In
this case, A may be an average sectional area of flow paths C1, C2,
and C3 formed in one flat tube. That is, Cn.times.A in Equation 1
may be a sum of sectional areas of a plurality of flow paths C1,
C2, and C3 formed in one flat tube.
[0065] For example, when a total of seven flow paths C1, C2, and C3
are formed in each of the plurality of flat tubes 50 and 70, a
total of ten flat tubes may communicate with the first lower flow
path PL1 of the lower path PL2, and a sectional area of the flow
path is A (average sectional area when sectional areas of flow
paths are different from each other), the number Tn of flat tubes
forming one path may be ten, the number of the flow paths C1, C2,
and C3 may be 7, and a sum Acell of sectional areas of the flow
paths may be 10.times.7.times.A. In this case, each of an internal
sectional area Aheader of the upper header 40 and an internal
sectional area Aheader of the lower header 30 may be approximately
0.7 times or more as large as a sum 10.times.7.times.A of sectional
areas of flow paths.
[0066] The internal sectional area Aheader of the upper header 40
and the internal sectional area Aheader of the lower header 30 will
be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 12.
[0067] In the heat exchanger for an air conditioner according to
embodiments, a separator 39 may be disposed between the second
lower flow path PL2 formed at or in the lower header 30 of the
first heat exchange device HU1 of the plurality of heat exchange
devices HU1 and HU2 and the second lower flow path PL2 formed at or
in the lower header 30 of the second heat exchange device HU2 of
the plurality of heat exchange devices HU1 and HU2. The separator
39 may separate the second lower flow path PL2 formed at or in the
lower header 30 of first heat exchange device HU1 from the second
lower flow path PL2 formed at or in the lower header 30 of the
second heat exchange device HU2. The separator 39 may be provided
therein with a plurality of communication holes 35, 36, 37, and 38.
A sum of sectional areas of the plurality of communication holes
35, 36, 37, and 38 may be approximately 4% to approximately 8% of
an area of the separator 39.
[0068] The plurality of communication holes 35, 36, 37, and 38 may
be formed in the lower header 30 of each of the plurality of heat
exchange devices HU1 and HU2. The plurality of communication holes
35, 36, 37, and 38 may be spaced apart from each other in a
longitudinal direction of the lower header 30. The sum of sectional
areas of the plurality of communication holes 35, 36, 37, and 38
will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 14.
[0069] Hereinafter, a case in which the heat exchanger for an air
conditioner according to embodiments includes a front or first
exchanger device HU1 to which an inlet pipe 100 is connected and a
rear or second heat exchanger device HU2 to which an outlet pipe
110 is connected will be described in detail. Hereinafter, the
lower header 30 of the front exchange device HU1 may be referred to
as `lower front header`, the plurality of flat tubes 50 and 70 of
the front exchange device HU1 may be referred to as `a plurality of
front flat tubes`, and the upper header 40 of the front exchange
device HU1 may be referred to as `upper front header`. Further, the
lower header 30 of the rear heat exchange device HU2 may be
referred to as `lower rear header`, the plurality of flat tubes 50
and 70 of the rear heat exchange device HU2 may be referred to as
`a plurality of rear flat tubes`, and the upper header 40 of the
rear heat exchange device HU2 may be referred to as `upper rear
header`.
[0070] In the heat exchanger for an air conditioner according to
embodiments, the lower front header may be bonded with the lower
rear header. The upper front header may be bonded with the upper
rear header. The plurality of front flat tubes may be spaced apart
from the plurality of rear flat tubes in an air flow direction.
[0071] In the heat exchanger for an air conditioner according to
embodiments, a portion of plates to which the lower front header
and the lower rear header may be bonded may serve as the separator
39 in which the communication holes 35, 36, 37, and 38 may be
formed. When a rear plate of the front heat exchange device HU1 is
bonded with a front plate of the rear heat exchanger device HU2,
each of the rear plate of the front heat exchange device HU1 and
the front plate of the rear heat exchange device HU2 may include
the separator 39 in which the plurality of communication holes 35,
36, 37, and 38 may be formed.
[0072] In the heat exchanger for an air conditioner according to
embodiments, the refrigerant may be introduced into the first lower
flow path PL1 of the lower front header from the inlet pipe 100 so
that the refrigerant may be sprayed into the first lower flow path
PL1 of the lower front header. Next, the refrigerant may pass
through the first front flat tube group 50 and be moved upwards.
The refrigerant may be moved to the upper flow path PU of the upper
front header, and may be horizontally moved to an upper side of the
second front flat tube group 70. Next, the refrigerant may pass
through the second front flat tube group 70 and be moved downward,
and may be moved to the second lower flow path PL2 of the lower
front header. The moving direction of the refrigerant moved to the
second lower flow path PL2 of the lower front header may be changed
inside the second lower flow path PL2 of the lower front header.
After that, the refrigerant may be sprayed through the plurality of
communication holes 35, 36, 37, and 38 to pass through the
separator 39. The refrigerant may be partially evaporated in the
front exchange device HU1 and be sprayed through the plurality of
communication holes 35, 36, 37, and 38, to be moved to the rear
heat exchange device HU2. The sprayed refrigerant passing through
the plurality of communication holes 35, 36, 37, and 38 may be
introduced into the second lower flow path PL2 of the lower rear
header.
[0073] The refrigerant introduced into the second lower flow path
PL2 of the lower rear header may pass through the second rear flat
tube group 70 and be moved upward. The refrigerant may be moved to
the upper flow path PU of the upper rear header, and may be
horizontally moved to an upper side of the first rear flat tube
group 50. The refrigerant may pass through the first rear flat tube
group 50 and be moved downward, and may be moved to the first lower
flow path PL1 of the lower rear header.
[0074] The refrigerant moved to the first lower flow path PL1 of
the lower rear header may be introduced into the outlet pipe 110
and pass therethrough. Heat of the refrigerant may be sequentially
exchanged with air in the front exchange device HU1 and the rear
heat exchanger device HU2 and the exchanged refrigerant may be
moved to the flow path 11.
[0075] FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating a performance ratio of a
heat exchanger according to a length ratio of a longitudinal width
of a heat exchange region to a transverse width of the heat
exchange region in a heat exchanger for an air conditioner
according to an embodiment. When a longitudinal width L of the heat
exchange area Aheat is greater than a transverse area W thereof,
the performance ratio in the heat exchanger for an air conditioner
according to embodiments may be improved. The longitudinal width L
of the heat exchange area Aheat may be approximately 1.5 times or
more as large as the transverse area W thereof. The longitudinal
width L of the heat exchange area Aheat may be approximately 2.5
times or less as large as the transverse area W thereof.
Hereinafter, a ratio of the longitudinal width L to the transverse
area W may be referred to as a length ratio.
[0076] As the length of the plurality of flat tubes 50 and 70 is
increased in a state in which a transverse width of the lower
header 30 and a transverse width of the upper header 40 are
constant, the performance ratio in the heat exchanger for an air
conditioner according to embodiments may be improved. As the length
of the plurality of flat tubes 50 and 70 is increased, a heat
transfer area in the heat exchanger for an air conditioner
according to embodiments may be increased.
[0077] In a state in which the transverse width W of the heat
exchange area Aheat is constant in the heat exchanger for an air
conditioner according to embodiments, a longitudinal width L of a
heat exchange area Aheat having the best heat exchange performance
ratio may be determined by experiment. The heat exchange
performance ratio in the heat exchanger for an air conditioner
according to a length ratio L/2 may be determined by experiment
based on the longitudinal width W having the best heat exchange
performance ratio. In a state in which other factors, such as an
amount of wind blown to the heat exchanger during the experiment
and a mass flow rate of the refrigerant affecting the performance
of the heat exchanger, are constant, the performance of the heat
exchanger may be determined by varying a sectional area ratio, and
experimental results are illustrated in FIG. 10.
[0078] As shown in FIG. 10, when the length ratio L/W is
approximately 2.4, the heat exchanger for an air conditioner
according to embodiments may represent a maximum heat exchange
performance ratio. A length ratio L/W capable of representing
approximately 95% of the maximum heat exchange performance ratio
based on the heat exchange performance of approximately 100% may be
confirmed. The performance ratio in the heat exchanger for an air
conditioner may be determined by varying only the length ratio L/W.
When the length ratio L/W is approximately 1.5, the heat exchanger
for an air conditioner according to embodiments may present a heat
exchange performance of approximately 98% based on the maximum heat
exchange performance. When the length ratio L/W is approximately
1.0, the heat exchanger of the air conditioner may represent a heat
exchange performance ratio of approximately 95% based on the
maximum heat exchange performance ratio. The heat exchanger for an
air conditioner according to embodiments may be designed so that
the length ratio L/W is in the range of approximately 1 to
approximately 1.5.
[0079] FIG. 11 is a sectional view of an inside of a header of a
heat exchanger for an air conditioner according to an embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a graph illustrating a mal-distribution ratio according
to a ratio of a sum of sectional areas of flow paths of a plurality
of flat tubes forming one path to an internal sectional area of a
header according to an embodiment.
[0080] When each of the internal sectional area of the upper header
40 and the internal sectional area of the lower header 30 is
approximately 0.7 times or more as large as a sum of sectional
areas of flow paths of the plurality of flat tubes forming one
path, the number of excessively heated tubes may be minimized. The
excessively heated tubes may be a flat tube excessively heated when
refrigerant is not uniformly distributed to the plurality of flat
tubes.
[0081] The internal sectional area of the upper header 40 may be an
internal sectional area in a direction perpendicular to a
longitudinal direction of the upper header 40, and may be a
sectional area of the upper flow path PU. The internal sectional
area of the upper header 30 may be an internal sectional area in a
direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the lower
header 30, and may be a sectional area of the first lower flow path
PL1 or a sectional area of the second lower flow path PL2. The
internal sectional area Aheader of the upper header 40 and the
internal sectional area Aheader of the lower header 30 may be
approximately 0.8 times or less as large as a sum Acell of
sectional areas of flow paths.
[0082] Hereinafter, the internal sectional area of the upper header
40 and the internal sectional area of the lower header 30 may be
referred to as an internal sectional area Aheader of the header.
Further, a ratio Aheader/Acell of the internal sectional area
Aheader of the header to a sum Acell of sectional areas of flow
paths of the plurality of flat tubes may be referred to as a
sectional area ratio.
[0083] In the heat exchanger for an air conditioner according to
embodiments, the number of excessively heated tubes may be changed
according to the sectional area ratio. If a sectional area of the
upper flow path PU, a sectional area of the first lower flow path
PL1, and a sectional area Aheader of the second lower flow path PL2
are increased in a state in which a sum Acell of sectional areas of
flow paths in the plurality of flat tubes 50 and 70 is constant, a
mal-distribution ratio % may be reduced in the heat exchanger for
an air conditioner according to embodiments. If a sum Acell of
sectional areas of flow paths in the plurality of flat tubes 50 and
70 is increased in a state in which a sectional area of the upper
flow path PU, a sectional area of the first lower flow path PL1,
and a sectional area Aheader of the second lower flow path PL2 are
constant, a mal-distribution ratio % may be increased in the heat
exchanger.
[0084] A sectional area ratio where an excessively heated tube is
minimized or is not generated according to the sectional area ratio
may be determined by experiment in the heat exchanger for an air
conditioner according to embodiments. In a state in which other
factors, such as an amount of wind blown to the heat exchanger for
an air conditioner according to embodiments and a mass flow rate of
the refrigerant affecting the performance of the heat exchanger are
constant, the number of excessively heated tubes may be determined
by varying only the sectional area ratio, and experimental results
are illustrated in FIG. 12.
[0085] In the heat exchanger for an air conditioner according to
embodiments, a range of the sectional area ratio may be determined
in a case in which an excessively heated tube of a suitable level
based on a sectional area ratio in which the excessively heated
tube is minimized. When the sectional area ratio is about 0.78 in
the heat exchanger for an air conditioner according to embodiments,
the excessively heated tube may not occur or may be minimized. When
the heat exchanger for an air conditioner according to embodiments
has the sectional area ratio of about 0.67, it may be confirmed by
experiment that excessively heated tubes of approximately 10% among
a plurality of flat tubes are caused. If the heat exchanger for an
air conditioner according to embodiments has the sectional area
ratio of at least approximately 0.7, as flat tubes of approximately
10% or less among the flat tubes may become excessively heated, the
sectional area ratio may be 0.7 or greater. The heat exchanger for
an air conditioner according to embodiments may have a sectional
area ratio of at least approximately 0.8.
[0086] FIG. 13 is a front view of a plurality of communication
holes and a separator according to an embodiment. FIG. 14 is a
graph illustrating a cooling efficiency according to a ratio of an
area of a separator to a sum of sectional areas of a plurality of
communication holes in a heat exchanger for an air conditioner
according to an embodiment.
[0087] An area As of the separator 39 may be determined based on a
height H of the second lower flow path PL2 and a longitudinal width
K of a lower header in the second lower flow path PL2. The
plurality of communication holes 35, 36, 37, and 38 may have the
same or different sectional areas. When the plurality of
communication holes has the same sectional area, a sum Au of
sectional areas of the plurality of communication holes 35, 36, 37,
and 38 may be determined as (.pi. D2/4.times.N), where D is a
diameter of a communication hole, and N is a number of
communication holes 35, 36, 37, and 38 formed in the separator 39.
A ratio (Au/As) of the area As of the separator 39 of the sum Au of
sectional areas of the plurality of communication holes 35, 36, 37,
and 38 may be (.pi. D2/4.times.N)/(H.times.K). When the refrigerant
passes through the plurality of communication holes 35, 36, 37, and
38 shown in FIG. 13, mist flow may occur due to an orifice
effect.
[0088] If the sectional areas of the plurality of communication
holes 35, 36, 37, and 38 are excessively small in the heat
exchanger for an air conditioner according to embodiments, a load
of a compressor may be increased and efficiency may be deteriorated
due to an increase in pressure loss. If the sectional areas of the
plurality of communication holes 35, 36, 37, and 38 are excessively
large in the heat exchanger for an air conditioner according to
embodiments, the refrigerant may not be uniformly distributed to
the plurality of communication holes 35, 36, 37, and 38, and
efficiency may be deteriorated due to unbalance of the
refrigerant.
[0089] It may be confirmed by experiment that the plurality of
communication holes 35, 36, 37, and 38 have sectional areas capable
of maximizing a cooling performance of the heat exchanger for an
air conditioner according to embodiments. The cooling performance
in the heat exchanger for an air conditioner according to
embodiments may be confirmed by varying the sum of sectional areas
of the plurality of communication holes 35, 36, 37, and 38 as
compared with the area of the separator 39.
[0090] FIG. 14 is a graph illustrating a cooling efficiency
according to a ratio of an area of a separator to a sum of
sectional areas of a plurality of communication holes in a heat
exchanger of an air conditioner according to an embodiment. That
is, FIG. 14 illustrates an experimental result measuring a cooling
performance by allowing other factors affecting the cooling
performance to have the same value and by differently varying only
the sum of sectional areas of the plurality of communication holes
35, 36, 37, and 38. Hereinafter, a ratio Au/As of the area Au of
the separator 39 to the sum Au of sectional areas of the plurality
of communication holes 35, 36, 37, and 38 may be referred to as a
communication hole area ratio.
[0091] As shown in FIG. 14, with the communication hole area ratio
Au/As in section Q of approximately 0.04 to approximately 0.08, the
heat exchanger for an air conditioner according to embodiments may
represent a higher cooling performance in comparison with the other
sections P and R. When the communication hole area ratio Au/As is
in section P, that is, it is less than approximately 0.04, a sum of
sectional areas of the plurality of communication holes are too
small as compared with the area of the separator As, so that
efficiency in the heat exchanger for an air conditioner according
to embodiments may be deteriorated due to pressure loss. When the
communication hole area ratio Au/As is in section R, that is, it
exceeds approximately 0.08, the efficiency in the heat exchanger
for an air conditioner according to embodiments may be deteriorated
due to unbalance of the refrigerant.
[0092] The sum Au of sectional areas of the plurality of
communication holes 35, 36, 37, and 38 may be approximately 4% to
approximately 8% of the area As of the separator 39. Moreover, the
sum Au of sectional areas of the plurality of communication holes
35, 36, 37, and 38 may be approximately 5% to approximately 7% of
the area As of the separator 39.
[0093] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger for an air
conditioner according to another embodiment. FIG. 16 is an exploded
perspective view of the heat exchanger of FIG. 15. FIG. 17 is a
sectional plan view of an upper header of the heat exchanger of
FIG. 15. FIG. 18 is a sectional plan view of a lower header of the
heat exchanger of FIG. 15.
[0094] In the heat exchanger for an air conditioner according to
this embodiment, a plurality of heat exchange devices HU1' and HU2'
may be disposed at front and rear sides in an air moving direction.
An upper header 40' of a first heat exchange device HU1' may be
partitioned into a first upper flow path PU1 and a second upper
flow path PU2. That is, an inside of the upper header 40' of the
first heat exchange device HU1' may be partitioned into the first
upper flow path PU1 and the second upper flow path PU2 by a
partition 43.
[0095] An inlet pipe 100 that introduces and guides the refrigerant
may be connected to the first upper flow path PU1 of the first heat
exchange device HU1'. An outlet pipe 110 that discharges and guides
the refrigerant may be connected to the second upper flow path PU2
of the first heat exchange device HU1'.
[0096] As illustrated with this embodiment, one upper flow path PU
may be longitudinally formed in a longitudinal direction of an
upper header 40 of the second heat exchange device HU2'. The inlet
pipe 100 and the outlet pipe 110 may not be connected to the first
heat exchange device HU1'. A first lower flow path PL1 formed at or
in a lower header 30' of the first heat exchange device HU1' may
communicate with a first lower flow path PL1 formed at or in a
lower header 30' of the second heat exchange device HU2' through a
plurality of first communication holes 35', 36', 37', and 38'.
[0097] A first separator 39' may be disposed between the first
lower flow path PL1 formed at or in the lower header 30' of the
first heat exchange device HU1' and the first lower flow path PL1
formed at or in the lower header 30' of the second heat exchange
device HU2'. The first separator 39' may be formed therein with the
plurality of first communication holes 35', 36', 37', and 38'.
[0098] A sum of sectional areas of the plurality of communication
holes 35', 36', 37', and 38' may be approximately 4% to
approximately 8% of an area of the first separator 39'. An effect
according to the sum of sectional areas of the plurality of
communication holes 35', 36', 37', and 38' and the area of the
first separator 39' may be identical or similar to that of the
previous embodiment, and thus detailed description thereof has been
omitted.
[0099] A second lower flow path PL2 formed at or in a lower header
30' of the first heat exchange device HU1' may communicate with a
second lower flow path PL2 formed at or in a lower header 30' of
the second heat exchange device HU2' through a plurality of
communication holes 35, 36, 37, and 38.
[0100] A second separator 39 may be disposed between the second
lower flow path PL2 formed at or in the lower header 30 of the
first heat exchange device HU1' and the second lower flow path PL2
formed at or in the lower header 30 of the second heat exchange
device HU2'. The second separator 39 may be formed therein with the
plurality of communication holes 35, 36, 37, and 38.
[0101] A sum of sectional areas of the plurality of communication
holes 35, 36, 37, and 38 may be approximately 4% to approximately
8% of an area of the second separator 39. An effect according to
the sum of sectional areas of the plurality of communication holes
35, 36, 37, and 38 and the area of the second separator 39 may be
identical or similar to that of the previous embodiment, and thus
detailed description thereof has been omitted.
[0102] The first and second heat exchange devices HU1' and HU2' may
include a front exchange device HU1', through which the refrigerant
may first pass, and a rear heat exchange device HU2', through which
the refrigerant having passed through the front exchange device
HU1' may pass. A refrigerant in the flow path 10 may be introduced
into a flow path of the front exchange device HU1', pass a portion
of the flow path of the front exchange device HU 1', and be
introduced into the flow path of the rear heat exchange device
HU2'. The refrigerant introduced into the flow path of the rear
heat exchange device HU2' may pass through the whole flow path of
the rear heat exchange device HU2'. The refrigerant having passed
through the whole flow path of the rear heat exchange device HU2'
may be introduced into a remaining portion of the flow path of the
front exchange device HU1'. The refrigerant having passed through
the remaining portion of the flow path of the front exchange device
HU1' may be moved to a flow path 11 through the outlet pipe
110.
[0103] When comparing the heat exchanger for an air conditioner of
this embodiment with the previous embodiment, the difference is
that partition 43 may be formed inside of the upper header 40' of
the front exchange device HU1' so that the front exchange device
HU' is partitioned into the first upper flow path PU1 and the
second upper flow path PU2. The inlet pipe 100 may be connected to
the first upper flow path PU1, rather than the first lower flow
path PL1. The outlet pipe 110 may be connected to the second upper
flow path PU2, rather than the second lower flow path PL2. The
plurality of communication holes 35', 36', 37', and 38' may
communicate the first lower flow path PL1 of the front exchange
device HU1' with the first lower flow path PL1 of the rear heat
exchange device HU2'. Other configurations are the same as those of
the previous embodiment, and thus, detailed description thereof has
been omitted.
[0104] The front exchange device HU1' may include a first front
flat tube group 50 that communicates the first upper flow path PU1
formed at or in the upper header 40' of the front exchange device
HU1' with the first lower flow path PL1 formed at or in the lower
header 30' of the front exchange device HU1'. The front exchange
device HU1' may include a second front flat tube group 70 that
communicates the second lower flow path PL2 formed at or in the
lower header 30' of the front exchange device HU1' with the second
upper flow path PU2 formed at or in the upper header 40' of the
front exchange device HU1'.
[0105] The rear heat exchange device HU2' may include a first rear
flat tube group 50 that communicates the first lower flow path PL1
formed at or in the lower header 30' of the rear heat exchange
device HU2' with the upper flow path PU formed at or in the upper
header 40 of the rear heat exchange device HU2'. The rear heat
exchange device HU2' may include a second rear flat tube group 70
that communicates the upper flow path PU formed at or in the upper
header 40 of the rear heat exchange device HU2' with the second
lower flow path PL2 formed at or in the lower header 30' of the
rear heat exchange device HU2'.
[0106] Hereinafter, a case in which a heat exchanger for an air
conditioner according to embodiments includes a front exchange
device HU1' connected to the inlet pipe 100 and the outlet pipe 110
and a rear heat exchange device HU2' not connected to the inlet
pipe 100 and the outlet pipe 110 will be described in detail.
[0107] Hereinafter, the lower header 30' of the front exchange
device HU1' may be referred to as a lower front header. The
plurality of flat tubes 50 and 70 of the front exchange device HU1'
may be referred to as a plurality of front flat tubes. An upper
header 40' of the front exchange device HU1' may be referred to as
an upper front header.
[0108] Further, the lower header 30' of the rear heat exchange
device HU2' may be referred to as a lower rear header. The
plurality of flat tubes 50 and 70 of the rear heat exchange device
HU2' may be referred to as a plurality of rear heat flat tubes. The
upper header 40 of the rear heat exchange device HU2' may be
referred to as an upper rear header.
[0109] In the heat exchanger for an air conditioner according to
embodiments, the front lower header may be bonded with the rear
lower header. The front upper header may be bonded with the rear
upper header. The plurality of front flat tubes may be spaced from
the plurality of rear heat flat tubes in the air moving
direction.
[0110] In the heat exchanger for an air conditioner according to
embodiments, a plate at which the front lower header and the rear
lower header are bonded to each other may include the first
separator 39' formed therein with the plurality of communication
holes 35', 36', 37', and 38' and the second separator 39 formed
therein with the plurality of communication holes 35, 36, 37, and
38. When a rear plate of the front lower header of the front
exchange device HU1' is bonded with a front plate of the rear lower
header of the rear heat exchange device HU2', the rear plate of the
front lower header of the front exchange device HU1' may be formed
therein with the plurality of communication holes 35', 36', 37',
and 38', and the front plate of the rear lower header of the rear
heat exchange device HU2' may be formed therein with the plurality
of communication holes 35, 36, 37, and 38. The plurality of
communication holes 35', 36', 37', and 38' and the plurality of
communication holes 35, 36, 37, and 38 may be separately formed at
or in the separators 39' and 39, respectively.
[0111] The first separator 39' may be formed between the first
lower flow path PL1 of the front lower front header and the first
lower flow path PL1 of the rear lower header. The refrigerant in
the first lower flow path PL1 of the lower front header may be
distributed to the plurality of communication holes 35', 36', 37',
and 38' formed in the first separator 39' and may be moved to the
first lower flow path PL1 of the rear lower header.
[0112] The second separator 39 may be formed between the second
lower flow path PL2 of the rear lower header and the second lower
flow path PL1 of the front lower header. The refrigerant in the
second lower flow path PL2 of the rear lower header may be
distributed to the plurality of communication holes 35, 36, 37, and
38 formed in the second separator 39 and may be moved to the second
lower flow path PL2 of the front lower header. The second separator
39 may be the same as the separator 39 of the previous embodiment.
The plurality of communication holes 35, 36, 37, and 38 may be the
same as the plurality of communication holes 35, 36, 37, and 38 of
the previous embodiment. What is different from the previous
embodiment may be a direction in which the refrigerant passes.
[0113] In the heat exchanger for an air conditioner according to
this embodiment, the refrigerant may be introduced into the first
upper flow path PU1, be sprayed to the first upper flow path PU1 of
the front upper header 40', pass through the first front flat tube
group 50 and be moved downward. The refrigerant may be moved to the
first lower flow path PL1 of the front lower header 30', and a
moving direction of the refrigerant may be changed in the first
lower flow path PL1 of the front lower header 30'. The refrigerant
located in the first lower flow path PL1 of the front lower header
30' may be sprayed to or through the plurality of communication
holes 35', 36', 37', and 38' and pass through the first separator
39'. The refrigerant sprayed by passing through the plurality of
communication holes 35', 36', 37', and 38' may be introduced into
the first lower flow path PL1 of the rear lower header 30'.
[0114] The refrigerant introduced into the first lower flow path
PL1 of the rear lower header may pass through the first rear flat
tube group 50 and be moved upward. Next, the refrigerant may be
moved to the upper flow path PU of the rear upper header 40, and
may be horizontally moved to the second rear flat tube group
70.
[0115] Next, the refrigerant may pass through the second rear flat
tube group 70 and be moved downward, and be moved to the second
lower flow path PL2 of the rear lower header 30'. A moving
direction of the refrigerant moved to the second lower flow path
PL2 of the rear lower header 30' may be changed. The refrigerant in
the second lower flow path PL2 of the rear lower header 30' may be
sprayed to or through the plurality of communication holes 35, 36,
37, and 38 and pass through the second separator 39. The
refrigerant sprayed by passing through the plurality of
communication holes 35, 36, 37, and 38 may be introduced into the
second lower flow path PL2 of the front lower header 30'.
[0116] The refrigerant introduced into the second lower flow path
PL2 of the front lower header 30' may pass through the second front
flat tube group 70 and be move upward. The refrigerant moved to the
second front flat tube group 70 may be moved to the second upper
flow path PU2 of the front upper header 40'. Next, the refrigerant
moved to the second upper flow path PU2 of the front upper header
40' may be introduced and pass through the outlet pipe 110. In this
manner, in a state in which heat of the refrigerant may
sequentially be exchanged with air in a portion of the front
exchange front HU1', the rear heat exchange front HU2, and a
remaining portion of the front exchange front HU1', the refrigerant
may be moved to the flow path 11.
[0117] In the following description of the flow of the refrigerant,
the first upper flow path PU1 of the front upper header may be
referred to as a first upper front flow path, the first lower flow
path PL1 of the lower front header may be referred to as a first
lower front flow path, the first lower flow path PL1 of the lower
rear header may be referred to as a first lower rear flow path, the
second lower flow path PL2 of the lower rear header may be referred
to as a second lower rear flow path, the second lower flow path PL2
of the lower front header may be referred to as a second lower
front flow path, the second upper flow path PL2 of the upper front
header may be referred to as a second upper front flow path. The
refrigerant in the flow path 10 may sequentially pass through first
upper front flow path, the first front flat tube group, and the
first lower front flow path in the inlet pipe 100 to pass through a
partial flow path of the front heat exchange device HU1'.
[0118] The refrigerant in the first lower front flow path may be
introduced into the first lower rear path through the plurality of
communication holes 35', 36', 37', and 38' and be moved to the rear
heat exchange device HU2'. The refrigerant in the first lower rear
flow path may sequentially pass through the first rear flat tube
group, the upper flow path, the second rear flat tube group, and
the second lower rear flow path to pass through the rear heat
exchange device HU2'.
[0119] The refrigerant in the second lower rear flow path may be
introduced into the second lower front path through the plurality
of communication holes 35, 36, 37, and 38 and be moved to the front
heat exchange device HU1'. The refrigerant in the second lower
front flow path may sequentially pass through the second front flat
tube group and the upper flow path to pass through a remaining flow
path of the front heat exchange device HU1'. The refrigerant in the
second upper front flow path may be move to the flow path 11
through the outlet pipe 110.
[0120] Embodiments disclosed herein provide a heat exchanger of an
air conditioner capable of uniformly distributing a refrigerant to
a plurality of flat tubes and improving heat exchanging
performance.
[0121] Embodiments disclosed herein provide a heat exchanger of an
air conditioner that may include a lower header provided therein
with a lower flow path; an upper header provided therein with an
upper flow path; a plurality of flat tubes provided therein with a
plurality of flow paths that communicates with the lower flow path
and the upper flow path; and a heat exchange unit or device
including fins disposed between the plurality of flat tubes. The
upper flow path may be partitioned into a first lower flow path
with which some of the plurality of flat tubes may communicate, and
a second lower flow path with which remaining tubes of the
plurality of flat tubes may communicate. A longitudinal width of a
heat exchange area may be greater than a transverse width of the
heat exchange area, the heat exchange area being an area where heat
of the plurality of flat tubes and the fins may be exchanged with
air, and each of an internal sectional area of the upper header and
an internal sectional area of the lower header may be approximately
0.7 times or more as large as a sum of sectional areas of flow
paths in the plurality of flat tubes constituting one path.
[0122] A refrigerant introduced into the upper flow path through
the some of the plurality of flat tubes may collide with an upper
inner wall of the upper header and be discharged to the remaining
tubes of the plurality of flat tubes. The heat exchanger may
further include an inlet pipe to introduce and guide a refrigerant
in a direction perpendicular to the plurality of flat tubes.
[0123] The inlet pipe may communicate with one of the first lower
flow path or the second lower flow path. The inlet pipe may include
a plurality of branch pipes.
[0124] The sum of sectional areas of flow paths may be determined
by the following Equation 1:
Acell=Tn.times.Cn.times.A [Equation 1]
where, Acell is a sum of areas of the flow paths, Tn is a number of
flat tubes constituting one path, Cn is a number of flow paths
formed at the plurality of flat tubes, and A is an area of a flow
path.
[0125] Each of an internal sectional area of the upper header and
an internal sectional area of the lower header may be approximately
0.8 times or less as large as a sum of sectional areas of flow
paths. The longitudinal width may be approximately 1.5 times or
more as large as the transverse width. The longitudinal width may
be approximately 2.5 times or less as large as the transverse
width.
[0126] A plurality of heat exchange units or devices may be
disposed in front and rear sides in an air moving direction front
and back, an inlet pipe that introduces and guides a refrigerant
may be connected to a first lower flow path formed at one lower
header among the plurality of heat exchange units, and an outlet
pipe that introduces and guides the refrigerant may be connected to
an outlet flow path formed at a lower header of a remaining one of
the plurality of heat exchange units.
[0127] A separator may be disposed between a second lower flow path
formed at one lower header among the plurality of heat exchange
units, and a second lower flow path formed at another lower header
among the plurality of heat exchange units, and may be provided
therein with a plurality communication holes.
[0128] A sum of sectional areas of the plurality of communication
holes may be approximately 4% to approximately 8% of an area of the
separator.
[0129] A plurality of heat exchange units may be disposed in front
and rear sides in an air moving direction, and an upper flow path
formed at ban upper header of one of the plurality of heat exchange
units may be partitioned into a first upper flow path and a second
upper flow path.
[0130] An inlet pipe that introduces and guides a refrigerant may
be connected of the first upper flow path, and an outlet pipe that
discharges and guides the refrigerant may be connected to the
second upper flow path.
[0131] A first lower flow path formed at a lower header of one of
the plurality of heat exchange units may communicate with a first
lower flow path formed at a lower header of a remaining one of the
plurality of heat exchange units through a plurality of first
communication holes, and a second lower flow path formed at the
lower header of the one of the plurality of heat exchange units may
communicate with a second lower flow path formed at the lower
header of the remaining one of the plurality of heat exchange units
through a plurality of second communication holes.
[0132] A sum of sectional areas of the plurality of first
communication holes may be approximately 4% to approximately 8% of
an area of a separator which is disposed between a first lower flow
path formed at a lower header of one of the plurality of heat
exchange units and a first lower flow path formed at a lower header
of a remaining one of the plurality of heat exchange units.
[0133] A sum of sectional areas of the plurality of second
communication holes may be approximately 4% to approximately 8% of
an area of a separator which is disposed between a second lower
flow path formed at a lower header of one of the plurality of heat
exchange units and a second lower flow path formed at a lower
header of a remaining one of the plurality of heat exchange
units.
[0134] The heat exchanger for an air conditioner according to
embodiments may uniformly distribute refrigerant to a plurality of
flat tubes to prevent the plurality of flat tubes from being
excessively heated.
[0135] An optimal ratio of a sum of sectional areas of a plurality
of communication holes to an area of a separator formed therein
with the plurality of communication holes may be provided.
[0136] A divider or a capillary tube may not be separately
installed outside of the exchanger for an air conditioner, and
occurrence of excessively heated tubes may be minimized while
increasing heat exchange performance at a low cost.
[0137] Any reference in this specification to "one embodiment," "an
embodiment," "example embodiment," etc., means that a particular
feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with
the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the
invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the
specification are not necessarily all referring to the same
embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or
characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it
is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the
art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in
connection with other ones of the embodiments.
[0138] Although embodiments have been described with reference to a
number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood
that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by
those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope
of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various
variations and modifications are possible in the component parts
and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within
the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims.
In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts
and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to
those skilled in the art.
* * * * *