JPH04350498A - Heat exchanger - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To expedite a gas/liquid separation, to simplify by an integral structure by communicating a plurality of partition chambers in an upper header pipe with a fluidizing chamber in a lower header pipe and a receiver tank having an agitator arranged therein through three types of tube groups. CONSTITUTION:An interior of an upper header pipe 1 is divided into first and second partition chambers 5, 6 by a partition wall 4. A fluidizing chamber 13 in a lower header pipe 8 communicates with first, second tube groups 21, 22 arranged vertically in the chambers 5, 6. Further, a receiver tank 11 arranged adjacently to the pipe 8 communicates with the chamber 6 via a third tube group 23 arranged vertically in the chamber 6. An agitator 24 for agitating and mixing heat exchanged refrigerant is arranged directly under a lower end opening of the group 23 in the tank 11. Thus, refrigerant of gas/liquid mixture state fed down from the group 23 is separated into gas and liquid.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heat exchanger, and particularly to a heat exchanger such as a condenser for a cooler, which condenses and liquefies a gaseous heat medium through heat exchange.

[Prior Art] As a heat exchanger used in a car cooler condenser, etc., a pair of header pipes are arranged at both ends of the heat exchanger so that their lengths are parallel to each other, and the header pipes are arranged perpendicularly to the length direction of the header pipes. It is widely known that a plurality of tubes are connected to each other and heat exchange fins are connected between the tubes. These conventional heat exchangers are
A receiver tank is provided adjacent to this and communicates with the heat medium outlet formed in the header pipe, and the heat exchanger stores the condensed heat medium and removes the gaseous heat medium from the liquid heat medium. It is customary to circulate the heat through a thermal cycle circuit.

0002

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the heat exchanger described above, the receiver tank is provided separately, and it takes time and effort to connect the heat exchanger and the receiver tank. Therefore, it has been proposed to connect the header pipe and receiver tank by integrally molding them (Utility Model Application Publication No. 2-139
However, in a header tank, a gaseous heat medium and a condensed and liquefied heat medium flow in the inner cavity, whereas a receiver tank stores the condensed and liquefied heat medium. Since both functions are separate, conventional heat exchangers have a structure in which the receiver tank is independent from the heat exchanger, resulting in an increase in overall size. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger that is integrally attached with a receiver tank within the range of the front dimensions of conventional heat exchangers.

0003

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention is a heat exchanger of a type in which a plurality of tubes are arranged parallel to each other with their longitudinal directions being vertical directions between header pipes arranged at an upper part and a lower part. The inner cavity of the upper header pipe is divided by a partition, and the inner cavity of the upper header pipe is divided into at least two independent compartments, first and second, adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction. At the same time, the plurality of tubes are organized into at least three groups, the first tube group is made to communicate with the first compartment in the upper header pipe and the inner cavity of the lower header pipe, and the second The third tube group communicates with the second compartment of the upper header pipe and the inner cavity of the lower header pipe with which the first tube group communicates, and the third tube group communicates with the inner cavity of the lower header pipe with which the first tube group communicates. The second compartment communicates with a receiver tank that is adjacent to the longitudinal end of the lower header pipe and is independent of the inner cavity of the lower header pipe, and the third receiver tank is in communication with the third compartment. This apparatus is characterized in that a stirring body is disposed directly below the opening at the lower end of the tube group for stirring and mixing the heat medium flowing down from the tube group.

0004

[Operation] According to the present invention, the heat medium introduced into the first compartment of the upper header pipe flows into the lower header pipe via the first tube group, and then flows into the lower header pipe via the second tube group. It flows into the second compartment of the upper header pipe, and further flows from the second compartment into the receiver tank via the third tube group. Due to the cross-flow type flow during this time, the heat transfer medium exchanges heat with the air flowing between the tubes and the fins connected between the tubes, and is condensed, so that most of the gaseous heat transfer medium is condensed. The heat medium is liquefied and flows down from the lower end of the third tube group, which is the last passage in the heat exchanger, into the receiver tank, and the liquefied heat medium is stored in the receiver tank and recirculated from the heat medium outlet to the heat cycle circuit. I am forced to do it.

[0005] Inside the receiver tank, a stirring body is disposed immediately below the lower end openings of the tubes constituting the third tube group, and the stirring body imparts a stirring and mixing effect to the flowing heat medium. A gaseous heat medium is separated from the liquefied heat medium in the heat medium flowing down into the tank, and an uncondensed heat medium is separated from the liquefied heat medium stored in the receiver tank.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a sectional front view of an embodiment of the present invention applied to a car cooler capacitor, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the main parts thereof. In the figure, the upper header pipe 1 includes a hollow cylindrical metal pipe body 2 that extends over the entire width when viewed from the front of the capacitor, end plates 3, 3 that close both ends of the pipe body 2, and an inner wall of the pipe body 2. It consists of a partition wall 4 that divides the cavity into a first compartment 5 and a second compartment 6, and a refrigerant inlet 7 that communicates with the first compartment 5. The lower header pipe 8 is a hollow cylindrical metal pipe body 9 that is shorter than the length of the pipe body 2 and has approximately 2/3 of the length.
and an end plate 10 that closes one end of the lower header pipe 8. A receiver tank 11 is connected to the other end of the pipe main body 9 of the lower header pipe 8. The receiver tank 11 includes a hollow cylindrical metal pipe body 12 having a diameter larger than the pipe body 9 of the lower header pipe 8, and one end of the pipe body 12 and the other end of the pipe body 9 of the lower header pipe 8. It consists of a connecting plate 14 that closes to form a flow chamber 13 in the pipe body 9, and an end plate 16 that closes the other end of the pipe body 12 of the receiver tank 11 to form a storage chamber 15 in the pipe body 12. , a refrigerant outlet 17 is provided in the end plate 16 .

The pipe main body 9 of the lower header pipe 8 and the pipe main body 12 of the receiver tank 11 are fixed in series through a connecting plate 14 so that their respective lowermost ends are on a line, and the end plate 10 of the pipe main body 9 From the pipe body 12
The distance to the end plate 16 is equal to the distance between the end plates 3, 3 at both ends of the pipe body 2 of the upper header pipe 1. That is, the total length of the connected lower header pipe 8 and receiver tank 11 is made equal to the length of the upper header pipe 1.

The upper header pipe 1, the lower header pipe 8, and the receiver tank 11 are arranged in the longitudinal direction (
A plurality of metal tubes 18 are arranged parallel to each other, with the central axis direction) being horizontal, and between the upper header pipe 1 and the lower header pipe 8 and between the upper header pipe 1 and the receiver tank 11. These tubes 18 are arranged in parallel to each other, and allow the inner cavity of the pipe body 2 of the upper header pipe 1 to communicate with the inner cavity of the pipe bodies 9, 12 of the lower header pipe 8 and the receiver tank 11. Further, side plates 19, 1 are provided on both outer sides of these tubes 18 in parallel with the tubes 18.
9, upper header pipe 1 and lower header pipe 8
and between the pipe bodies 2 and 9 of the upper header pipe 1 and the pipe bodies 2 and 12 of the receiver tank 11. Heat radiation fins 20 are installed between the tubes 18 and between the tubes 18 and the side plates 19, 19. The fixation of the tube 18 to each pipe body 2, 9, 12 and the fixation of the radiation fin 20 are the same as in the prior art.

The plurality of tubes 18 include a first tube group 21 that communicates the first compartment 5 of the upper header pipe 1 with the flow chamber 13 of the lower header pipe 8, and a second compartment of the upper header pipe 1. 6 and the flow chamber 13 of the lower header pipe 8 , and a third tube group 23 that communicates the second compartment 6 of the upper header pipe 1 and the storage chamber 15 of the receiver tank 11 . It is divided into three groups. The lower end of each tube 18 constituting the third tube group 23 opens into the storage chamber 15 at the highest portion of the receiver tank 11 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, each tube group is composed of four tubes 18. The high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant introduced from the compressor into the first compartment 5 of the upper header pipe 1 of the condenser via the refrigerant inlet 7 passes through the first tube group 21 to the flow chamber 13 of the lower header pipe 8. It flows from the flow chamber 13 through the second tube group 22 into the second compartment 6 of the upper header pipe 1, and from the second compartment 6 through the third tube group 23 into the receiver. It flows down into the storage chamber 15 of the tank 11. While the gaseous refrigerant flows through each tube group, heat exchange is performed between the heat radiation fins 20 and the air flowing between the tubes 18, and the refrigerant is condensed, thereby performing vertical cross-flow type heat exchange.

In the final stage of cooling, which flows from the second compartment 6 of the upper header pipe 1 to the storage chamber 15 of the receiver tank 11 via the third tube group 23, each tube constituting the third tube group 23 Within 18, there is a two-phase flow of liquid refrigerant flowing down the inner wall of the tube and uncondensed gaseous refrigerant flowing down the center of the tube. Therefore, the stirring body 24 is fixed at both ends to the connecting plate 14 and the end plate 16 at a position directly below the open end of each tube 18 of the third tube group 23 that opens at the highest part of the storage chamber 15 of the receiver tank 11. to be fixed. The stirring body 24 is shown as a punched metal with a large number of holes wound into a cylindrical or spiral shape. Third tube group 23
The liquid refrigerant flowing down into the storage chamber 15 from the lower end opening of each tube 18 constituting the tube collides with the stirring body 24 and is stirred, and the uncondensed gaseous refrigerant is further condensed by the supercooled refrigerant. , drips into the storage chamber 15. As a result, the bubble-like refrigerant trapped in the liquid-phase refrigerant is separated, and the generation of bubbles in the liquid-phase refrigerant is also suppressed. The refrigerant is stored in the upper layer, and from the refrigerant discharge port 17 communicating with the lower part of the storage chamber 15, the liquid refrigerant, which has been separated into gas and liquid and the gas refrigerant is not trapped in the form of bubbles, is sent to the next stage expansion valve. sent to.

The stirring body 24 has the function of stirring and mixing the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant, and is made by winding the punched metal into a cylindrical or spiral shape, or by bending the punched metal several times to form several layers. A folded one or a spirally wound metal wire can be used. In addition, the stirring body 24 is bridged between the connecting plate 14 and the end plate 16 as shown in the figure, so that one stirring body 24 corresponds to all the tubes 18 of the third tube group 23. It is also possible to bridge between the cylindrical walls of the eleven pipe bodies 12 and make one stirring body 24 correspond to each tube 18 of the third tube group 23.

In the embodiment described above, the upper header pipe 1, the lower header pipe 8 and the receiver tank 11
In this heat exchanger, a plurality of tubes 18 that communicate with each other are organized into three tube groups to constitute a heat exchange passage for a vertical cross-flow refrigerant shown in FIG. In the present invention, the path for the refrigerant, which is a heat medium that is composed of the upper header pipe 1, the lower header pipe 8, and the tube 18 and finally reaches the receiver tank 11, is connected to the second section of the upper header pipe 1. By communicating with the receiver tank 11 through the tubes 18 constituting the third tube group 23 extending vertically downward from the chamber 6, the receiver tank was successfully incorporated into the heat exchanger. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the flow chamber 13 of the lower header pipe 8 can be
The first flow chamber 31 of the lower header pipe 8 is connected to the refrigerant inlet 7, and the first flow chamber 31 is connected to the first flow chamber 31 of the upper header pipe 1. By forming the fourth tube group 24 that communicates with the compartment 5 of the upper header pipe 1, the refrigerant passage shown in FIG.
4 into two independent compartments 51, 52, the flow chamber 13 of the lower header pipe 8 is divided into two independent flow chambers 31, 32 as described above, and the plurality of tubes 18 are divided into two independent compartments 51, 52. 1 and 2nd tube group 21, 2
2, a fourth tube group 25 communicating the first flow chamber 31 and the compartment chamber 52 and a fifth tube group 26 communicating the compartment chamber 52 and the second flow chamber 32 are formed. , the refrigerant passage shown in FIG. 5 can be formed.

[0013]

According to the present invention, the upper header pipe disposed horizontally at the upper position of the heat exchanger has its inner cavity divided into at least two mutually independent compartments, the first and second compartments, by the partition wall. a first tube group formed in the compartment and communicating with the first compartment a lumen of a lower header pipe arranged parallel to the upper header pipe at a lower position of the heat exchanger; The inner cavity of the receiver tank is connected to the second tube group communicating with the second compartment and is disposed adjacent to one longitudinal end of the lower header pipe. Since the compartments are communicated with the third tube group, a heat transfer medium passage that communicates from the first compartment of the upper header pipe to the lower header pipe via the first tube group, and a second tube from the lower header pipe are connected to each other. a heat transfer medium passage communicating with the second compartment of the upper header pipe through the group;
A heat medium path communicating from the compartment to the receiver tank via the third tube group is connected in series to form a long heat medium path. The third tube group constituting the final stage of the heat medium passage extends vertically downward from the second compartment of the upper header pipe and communicates with the receiver tank. By disposing a stirring body immediately below the lower end opening in correspondence with the opening and imparting a stirring and mixing action to the heat medium flowing down from the tube, each tube constituting the third tube group is The gas-liquid two-phase heat transfer medium flowing down into the receiver tank is stirred and mixed by the agitator, which promotes the condensation of the uncondensed gaseous heat transfer medium and creates bubbles in the liquid heat transfer medium. Since the gaseous heat medium trapped in the tank is separated, gas-liquid separation is promoted, and the liquid heat medium that has undergone gas-liquid separation is stored at the bottom of the receiver tank, and the gaseous uncondensed heat medium is Since the liquid heat medium is stored in the upper part of the receiver tank, the lower end of each tube constituting the third tube group is not immersed in the liquid heat medium, thereby increasing the flow resistance of the heat medium and reducing pressure loss. Therefore, the receiver tank can be assembled with the tube of the heat exchanger to form an integral structure.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional front view of an embodiment in which a heat exchanger of the present invention is applied to a condenser for a cooler.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of essential parts of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the flow of refrigerant in the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the flow of refrigerant in another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the flow of refrigerant in another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Upper header pipe 4 Partition wall 5 First compartment 6 Second compartment 8 Lower header pipe 11 Receiver tank 13 Flow chamber 15 Storage room 18 Tube 21 First tube group 22 Second tube group 23 Third tube group 24 Stirring body

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A plurality of tubes are arranged parallel to each other in the vertical direction between two header pipes arranged parallel to each other in the horizontal direction in the upper and lower parts, and a plurality of tubes are arranged parallel to each other in the vertical direction, and In the heat exchanger in which the cavity is communicated with the tube, the upper header pipe divides the cavity by at least one partition wall to form at least first and second compartments that are independent from each other, and
A receiver tank adjacent to the lower header pipe and independent from the inner cavity of the lower header pipe is connected, and the plurality of tubes are connected to the first compartment of the upper header pipe and the inner cavity of the lower header pipe. a first tube group that communicates between a second compartment of the upper header pipe and a lumen of the lower header pipe, and a second tube group of the upper header pipe that communicates with the lumen of the receiver tank; The receiver tank is divided into at least three groups, and the lower end openings of the tubes of the third tube group open into the inner cavity of the tank. A heat exchanger characterized in that a stirring body is disposed directly below the opening in correspondence with the opening to impart stirring and mixing effects to the heat medium flowing down from the tube.