JPH1123184A - Heat exchanger - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve heat exchanging performance by removing a restriction of an applying range by forming a heat exchanger annularly, and making a flow of heat exchanging fluid uniform. SOLUTION: The heat exchanger comprises a pair of header pipes 1, 2, a plurality of sectionally substantially flat heat exchange tubes 3 coupled between the pipes 1 and 2, corrugated fins 4 interposed between the tubes 3, and a fan 30 for feeding the air A of fluid to be heat exchanged. The tubes 3 and fins 4 are annularly bent to dispose the pipes 1, 2 into contact with each other or at near positions, and fan 30 is axially arranged at the annular part to supply the air A from outside of the annular part toward an internal center. And, a fin pitch of the fins 4 of the fan 30 side is densely formed to a fin pitch of the fins 4 separated from the fan.

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 more particularly, to an aluminum heat exchanger applicable to, for example, an air conditioner or a refrigerator for a car or a house. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an aluminum heat exchange device in which fins made of aluminum alloy (hereinafter referred to as aluminum) and aluminum heat exchange tubes are brazed is widely used.

[0003] As this type of heat exchange device, a pair of header pipes, a plurality of heat exchange tubes having a substantially flat cross section connected between the header pipes, and corrugated fins interposed between the heat exchange tubes are provided. There is known a heat exchange device including a heat exchanger and a fan for flowing a heat exchange fluid such as air.

[0004] In the heat exchange device having such a configuration, the heat exchange tube is flat, so that the influence of the heat exchange tube on the ventilation resistance can be reduced as compared with the case where the heat exchange tube is a round tube. Has the advantage of being able to reduce the pitch and improving the heat exchange performance. Therefore, this heat exchange device can be applied to air conditioning equipment and refrigeration equipment in various fields, such as being used as a condenser for air conditioning mounted on an automobile, for example.

[0005]

However, in the conventional heat exchange device, the flat heat exchange tube has a structure in which the flat heat exchange tube extends linearly and both ends thereof are integrally brazed to a pair of header pipes. As a result, the heat exchange device must be a linear structure that is long as a whole, and its form is fixed, requiring a long occupied space horizontally, and the positions of the header pipes are far apart from each other. There were restrictions on the applications and mounting forms that could be applied in this regard, such as the form.

Therefore, in the present invention, the heat exchanger tubes and the corrugated fins are bent in a flat plane of the flat heat exchange tube so that the header pipes of the heat exchanger are brought into contact with each other or arranged near each other. The present invention proposes a heat exchange device that is formed in a ring shape and has a structure in which air flows in from an outer peripheral side of the ring portion and air is discharged from an inner central portion side, thereby eliminating restrictions on an applicable range. .

However, in the case where the corrugated fins only have the same fin pitch when only the bending process is performed in the flat plane of the flat heat exchange tube, the air flows concentrated near the fan, and the portion distant from the fan is increased. It turned out that there was a problem that it was not used effectively for heat exchange.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and improves the heat exchange performance by forming a heat exchanger in an annular shape to remove restrictions on the applicable range and making the flow of the heat exchanged fluid uniform. An object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchange device that can be designed.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a heat exchange apparatus according to the present invention comprises a pair of header pipes, and a plurality of heat exchange tubes having a substantially flat cross section connected between the header pipes. In a heat exchange device including a corrugated fin interposed between these heat exchange tubes and a fan that flows a heat exchange fluid, the heat exchange tubes and The corrugated fin is bent in an annular shape, and the fan is disposed in the axial direction of the annular portion so that the fluid for heat exchange flows from the outside of the annular portion toward the inner central portion thereof, and The fin pitch of the corrugated fins on the fan side is formed densely with respect to the fin pitch of the corrugated fins away from the fan (claim 1).

In the present invention, the fan is disposed at a position where the heat exchange fluid flows in from the outside of the annular portion of the heat exchange tube and the corrugated fin toward the inner central portion, and is discharged from the inner central portion. If so, it may be at one axial end of the annular portion of the heat exchange tube and the corrugated fin, or a fan may be provided at both axial ends of the annular portion of the heat exchange tube and the corrugated fin. (Claim 2).

The fin pitch of the corrugated fins may be such that the same fin pitch is provided in a plurality of rows so that the fin pitch is increased stepwise as long as the fan side is made denser with respect to the inflow side of the heat exchange fluid. However, it is preferable to form the fin pitch of the corrugated fins gradually and gradually from the side away from the fan toward the fan (claim 3).

According to the heat exchange device of the present invention configured as described above, the heat exchange tube and the corrugated fin are bent in an annular shape so that the header pipes are in contact with each other or located in the vicinity thereof. By arranging the fluid for heat exchange in the axial direction of the annular portion so that the fluid for heat exchange flows from the outer side of the annular portion toward the inner central portion, a conventional heat exchange device having a linearly fixed shape can be provided. In comparison, the range of application is expanded, and it can be used for a wide variety of applications. Also, by forming the fin pitch of the corrugated fins on the fan side densely with respect to the fin pitch of the corrugated fins away from the fan, the amount of fluid flowing from the outer periphery of the annular portion can be made substantially uniform, and the The exchange performance can be improved (claim 1).

Further, by disposing the fans at both axial ends of the annular portion of the heat exchange tube and the corrugated fin,
Since a larger amount of the fluid for heat exchange can be exchanged, the heat exchange efficiency can be further improved (claim 2).

Further, by forming the fin pitch of the corrugated fins gradually from the side away from the fan toward the fan side, the amount of fluid flowing from the outer periphery of the annular portion can be made substantially uniform at any portion. Therefore, the heat exchange performance can be further improved (claim 3).

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of the heat exchange apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a part of the heat exchanger of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG.

The heat exchange device 10 includes a pair of header pipes 1 and 2 and a plurality of heat exchange pipes 3 having a substantially flat cross section which are connected to each other and connected between the header pipes 1 and 2.
An annular (cylindrical) heat exchanger including a corrugated fin 4 interposed between the heat exchange tubes 3 and 3 and a side sheet 5 as a protective member disposed on the outermost side of the outermost corrugated fin 4. And a fluid to be subjected to heat exchange, for example, air A, flows in from the outer peripheral side of the annular portion of the heat exchanger 20 toward the inner central portion, and is discharged from the inner central portion in one axial end of the annular portion, for example, heat exchange. And a fan 30 disposed on the upper side of the vessel 20. Note that the heat exchange device 10
A disk-shaped lower cover 41 that covers the lower surface of the heat exchanger 20 is attached to a lower part of the heat exchanger 20, and a cylindrical upper cover 42 in which the fan 30 is disposed is attached to an upper side of the heat exchanger 20. .

In this case, the header pipes 1 and 2, the heat exchange tubes 3 and the side sheets 5 are formed by extruded aluminum members. Further, the corrugated fin 4 is formed of an aluminum plate material, and is continuously curved in a wavy shape along the longitudinal direction of the heat exchange tube 3. Further, the fin pitch of the corrugated fins 4 on the side of the fan 30 is formed more densely than the fin pitch of the corrugated fins 4 remote from the fan 30. In this case, the fin pitches of the corrugated fin groups 4a in the first to third rows on the side of the fan 30 are formed at the same pitch, and the fin pitches of the corrugated fin group 4a are formed from the fourth row formed at the same pitch. The fin pitches of the corrugated fin groups 4b of the sixth row are formed more densely, and the fin pitches of the corrugated fin groups 4b of the fourth to sixth rows are the same as those of the seventh and eighth rows. It is formed more densely than the fin pitch of the corrugated fin group 4c. In this manner, the fin pitch of the corrugated fin group 4a on the fan side is formed more densely than the fin pitch of the corrugated fin groups 4b and 4c remote from the fan side.
That is, Pa <Pb <Pc, where Pa: the fin pitch of the corrugated fin group 4a, Pb: the fin pitch of the corrugated fin group 4b, and Pc: the fin pitch of the corrugated fin group 4c. With｝, the amount of fluid flowing from the outer periphery of the annular portion can be made substantially uniform,
Heat exchange performance can be improved.

Of the corrugated fins 4 (4a to 4c), the corrugated fins 4a and 4c arranged outside the outermost heat exchange tube 3 do not need to be provided with a side sheet as a protective member outside. Or corrugated fins 4
Since a and 4c are easily damaged from the outside, it is preferable to provide a side sheet as a protective member. In this case, a side sheet 5 is provided as a protective member on the surface of the corrugated fins, that is, on the outer side of the outermost corrugated fins 4a and 4c as viewed in the laminating direction, and covers the corrugated fins 4a and 4c. The side seat 5 includes
As in the case of the heat exchange tube 3, a tube having a flat cross section and a hollow porous shape is used.

The plurality of heat exchange tubes 3 are formed as flat heat exchange tubes extending linearly in advance from an extruded aluminum member. The cross-sectional structure of the flat heat exchange tube 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 6 showing the side sheet 5. As shown, a plurality of passages 7 defined by a plurality of reinforcing walls 6 are formed in the width direction. (The short side direction), and these passages 7 run in the longitudinal direction of the heat exchange tube 3. The heat exchange tubes 3 are arranged in a plurality of stages by extending their long sides in parallel with each other, that is, linearly, and are arranged in a plurality of stages. Brazed to 1,2.

The header pipes 1 and 2 are each formed of a hollow cylindrical member, and the lower open ends thereof are cap members 11 respectively.
To form a bottomed tubular member. Also, small diameter portions 1a, 2a are formed or joined to the upper portions of the header pipes 1, 2 with steps.
The small-diameter portion is open at the top, so that the small-diameter portion 1a of one header pipe 1 functions as an inlet for the heat medium, and the small-diameter portion 2a of the other header pipe 2 functions as an outlet for the heat medium. It has become. In this case, the cap member 11 has end cap portions 12, 12 for closing the open ends of the header pipes 1, 2 on both sides, and the two cap portions 12, 12 are integrally connected by a bridge portion 13. The heat exchange tube 3 and the corrugated fin 4 are formed by the expansion force due to the residual stress of bending and the internal pressure.
(4a to 4c) and even if the bent portion of the side sheet 5 is subjected to an expanding force between the header pipes 1 and 2 by the expanding force due to the springback or the internal pressure, the displacement in the expanding direction is prevented. The heat exchanger 20 including the heat exchange tube 3, the corrugated fins 4 (4a to 4c), and the side sheets 5 can be held in an annular (cylindrical) shape.

In manufacturing the linear heat exchanger (FIG. 4), a brazing sheet is used for the flat heat exchange tubes 3 and the side sheets 5. That is, an aluminum alloy layer having a lower melting point than the flat heat exchange tubes 3 and the side sheets 5 is formed on the surfaces of the flat heat exchange tubes 3 and the side sheets 5, and is heated by contributing as a brazing material. Flat heat exchange tube 3 and corrugated fin 4
(4a to 4c) and the side sheet 5 are integrally brazed. Similarly, the flat heat exchange tubes 3 and the side sheets 5 and the header pipes 1 and 2 are integrally brazed.

In this case, a brazing sheet may be used for the corrugated fins 4 instead of using a brazing sheet for the flat heat exchange tubes 3 and the side sheets 5. Also, instead of using a brazing sheet, brazing may be performed by a method in which a brazing material is sandwiched between both members to be brazed and heated. In this case, the brazing material may be any of a sheet material, a rod-shaped body (linear body), and a powder.

In any case, a pair of header pipes 1 and 2, a plurality of heat exchange tubes 3 having a flat cross section connected to each other between the header pipes, and a corrugated fin interposed between the heat exchange tubes. 4 (4a to 4c);
The heat exchanger 20 linearly configured as shown in FIG. 4 is obtained by integrally joining the side sheet 5 which is a hollow porous protective member provided on the outermost side of the corrugated fins 4a and 4c.

Next, in order to obtain a heat exchanger 20 having a bend as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 (here, a heat exchanger having a circular shape), the heat exchanger 20 (FIG. )
The heat exchange tube 3, the corrugated fins 4 (4a to 4c) and the side sheet 5 are simultaneously bent in the flat plane of the flat heat exchange tube 3. In this case, the corrugated fin 4 is curved so that the edge near the header pipes 1 and 2 when viewed in the width direction is inside. The bending is performed so as to be substantially uniform in the longitudinal direction of the heat exchange tube 3, and the whole is bent into a substantially circular shape as shown in FIG.

At the time of this bending, the corrugated fin 4
The side seat 5 disposed on the outermost side of the
The heat exchange tube 3, the corrugated fins 4, and the side sheets 5 are simultaneously bent in a flat plane of the flat heat exchange tube because the heat exchange tube 3, the corrugated fin 4, and the side sheet 5 are formed of a hollow porous aluminum member instead of a solid aluminum plate material as in the related art. Even if it is processed, the tensile and compressive strains due to the bending are absorbed by the hollow porous portion of the side sheet 5. As a result, the side sheet 5 is not deformed in a corrugated manner in the laminating direction of the corrugated fins unlike the conventional side sheet, so that the appearance is not impaired and the outermost corrugated fins are not deformed or damaged. . Therefore, it is also possible to prevent the outermost corrugated fins from being deformed as in the related art, thereby deteriorating the air flow and lowering the heat exchange performance.

Further, since the shape of the heat exchanger 20 itself is circular and the size in the horizontal direction is reduced, the use thereof is expanded. Since both ends of the side sheet 5 are fitted to the peripheral surfaces of the header pipes 1 and 2 and brazed, the end of the side sheet 5 warps outward in the bending radial direction during bending. Therefore, damage to the corrugated fin 4 can be prevented. In addition, by closing the open ends of the header pipes 1 and 2 with the integral cap member 11, it is possible to prevent the heat exchanger 20 from expanding due to the expansion force due to the springback or the internal pressure. The annular configuration of the exchanger 20 can be maintained.

The lower cover 41 is attached to the lower surface of the heat exchanger 20 configured as described above, and the heat exchanger 20
After attaching the upper cover 42 to the upper part of the
The heat exchange device 10 is manufactured by mounting a fan in the inside 2.

In the above description, the header pipe 1,
Although the case where the integral cap member 11 is closed at the opening end of the second embodiment has been described, it is not always necessary to use the integral cap member 11, and the opening ends of the header pipes 1 and 2 are closed with a separate cap member. May be. Even if the open ends of the header pipes 1 and 2 are closed by the separate cap members, the heat exchanger 20 is attached to the lower cover 41 and the upper cover 42, so that the cover 41,
By 42, the heat exchanger 20 can be prevented from expanding by the expansion force due to springback or internal pressure, and the annular shape of the heat exchanger 20 can be maintained.

The heat exchange apparatus 1 configured as described above
When the fan 30 is driven at 0, the air A flows into the inner central portion from the outer peripheral side of the annular portion of the heat exchanger 20, and the air A is discharged from the inner central portion to the outside in the axial direction. At this time, the corrugated fin 4 (corrugated fin group 4a to
4c), the fin pitch Pa of the corrugated fin group 4a on the fan 30 side is formed more densely than the fin pitches Pb and Pc of the corrugated fin groups 4b and 4c remote from the fan 30,
That is, since Pa is formed so as to satisfy Pa <Pb <Pc, the amount of air flowing from the outer peripheral surface of the heat exchanger 20 can be made substantially uniform. Therefore, the heat exchange performance of the heat exchange device 10 can be improved.

In the above embodiment, the corrugated fin 4
To the first to third rows of corrugated fin groups 4a and the fourth to sixth rows of corrugated fin groups 4b and 7 on the fan side.
The corrugated fins 4b are separated into the corrugated fins 4b in the fourth row and the eighth row, and the fin pitch of each group is set to be the same.
c is formed more densely than the fin pitch, that is, Pa
Although the case where <Pb <Pc has been described, as shown in FIG. 5, the fin pitch Pd of the corrugated fins 4d on the fan side is changed to the corrugated fins 4e to 4d remote from the fan 30.
It may be formed so as to be gradually denser from the 4k fin pitches Pe to Pk.

That is, Pd <Pe <Pf <Pg <Ph
It may be formed such that <Pi <Pj <Pk. As described above, the fin pitch of the fan-side corrugated fins 4d is formed so as to be gradually denser than the fin pitch of the corrugated fins 4e to 4k separated from the fan 30, so that the fins flow in from the outer periphery of the annular heat exchanger 20. Since the fluid volume can be made almost uniform in any part,
Further, the heat exchange performance can be improved.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the heat exchange device of the present invention.

The second embodiment is a case in which the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchange device is further improved. That is, a substantially cylindrical cover 4 is provided on both upper and lower ends of the heat exchanger 20 in the axial direction.
At the same time, the fans 30 are arranged in the covers 43 and 44, and the corrugated fins 4 on the fan side of the heat exchanger 20 (specifically, the corrugated fin group 4a in the first to third rows). The fin pitch of the corrugated fins 4 at the position away from the fan 30, that is, the central portion of the heat exchanger 20 (specifically, the corrugated fin group 4b in the fourth to sixth rows on the fan side and the corrugated fins 4b on the fan side). This is a case where the fin pitches of the corrugated fin groups 4c) in the eighth to eighth rows are formed more densely.

As described above, the fans 30 are disposed at both ends in the axial direction of the heat exchanger 20, and the fin pitch of the corrugated fin group 4a on the fan side is set at a position away from the fan 30, that is, at the center of the heat exchanger 20. By forming the corrugated fins closer to the fin pitch than the fin pitches of the corrugated fin groups 4b and 4c on the outer side, air A can be drawn to both ends in the axial direction of the heat exchanger 20, and the inner central portion from the outer peripheral side of the heat exchanger 20 , And the airflow flowing out in the axial direction can be made uniform.

In the second embodiment, the other parts are the same as those in the first embodiment. Therefore, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

[0036]

As described above, according to the heat exchanger of the present invention, the following excellent effects can be obtained.

1) According to the heat exchanger of the first aspect,
The heat exchange tubes and the corrugated fins are bent in a ring shape so that the header pipes are in contact with each other or in the vicinity thereof, and the fan is moved so that the heat exchange fluid flows from the outside of the annular portion toward the inner central portion. By arranging in the axial direction of the annular portion, its application range is expanded as compared with a conventional heat exchange device having a shape fixed linearly, and it can be used for various applications. Further, since the fin pitch of the corrugated fins on the fan side is formed densely with respect to the fin pitch of the corrugated fins away from the fan, the amount of fluid flowing from the outer periphery of the annular portion can be made substantially uniform. Heat exchange performance can be improved.

2) According to the heat exchanger of the second aspect,
By disposing the fans at both ends in the axial direction of the heat exchange tube and the annular portion of the corrugated fin, a larger amount of the fluid for heat exchange can be exchanged with heat. Can be further improved.

3) According to the heat exchanger of the third aspect,
By forming the fin pitch of the corrugated fin gradually from the side away from the fan to the fan side,
Since the amount of fluid flowing in from the outer periphery of the annular portion can be made substantially uniform at any portion, the heat exchange performance can be further improved in addition to the above 1) and 2).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a heat exchange device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which a part of the heat exchanger in the first embodiment is cut away.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the heat exchanger of FIG.

4A and 4B show a linear heat exchanger before bending in the first embodiment, wherein FIG. 4A is a plan view with a part thereof cut away, and FIG. 4B is a side view thereof. It is.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing another embodiment of the fin pitch of the corrugated fin according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of the heat exchanger according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a heat exchange device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 header pipe 3 flat heat exchange tube 4 corrugated fin 4a to 4h corrugated fin group 10 heat exchanger 20 heat exchanger 30 fan A air (fluid for heat exchange)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A pair of header pipes, a plurality of heat exchange pipes having a substantially flat cross section connected between the header pipes, corrugated fins interposed between the heat exchange pipes, and a fluid for heat exchange. In a heat exchange device comprising a flowing fan, the heat exchange tube and the corrugated fin are bent in an annular shape so as to arrange the header pipes in contact with each other or in the vicinity thereof, and the fan is bent from the outside of the annular portion. The corrugated fins are arranged in the axial direction of the annular portion so that the heat exchange fluid flows toward the inner central portion, and the fin pitch of the corrugated fins on the fan side is away from the fan. A heat exchange device, which is formed densely with respect to a heat exchanger. 2. The heat exchange device according to claim 1, wherein the fan is disposed at both axial ends of the annular portion of the heat exchange tube and the corrugated fin. 3. The heat exchange device according to claim 1, wherein the fin pitch of the corrugated fins is gradually increased from a side away from the fan to a side of the fan. apparatus.