JPWO2019058471A1 - Heat exchangers, outdoor units of air conditioners and air conditioners - Google Patents

Abstract

The heat exchanger is a heat exchanger that includes fins and a plurality of heat transfer tubes that contact the fins and allow the refrigerant to flow therethrough. And a fixed portion for fixing the contact portion to the heat transfer tube, the contact portion being in contact with the heat transfer tube, and the fixing portion for fixing the contact portion to the heat transfer tube. At least the upper part of the outer circumference of the heat transfer tube is electrically contacted, and is separated from the adjacent heat transfer tube that is adjacent to the upper part of the electrically conductive heat transfer tube with a gap therebetween.

Description

  The present invention relates to a heat exchanger including a fin and a number of heat transfer tubes that contact the fin, an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, and an air conditioner.

  The heat exchanger is used for heat exchange in an outdoor unit or an indoor unit of an air conditioner. The heat exchanger is used outdoors for an outdoor unit, and dew condensation or rain adheres. Further, even when the heat exchanger is used for an indoor unit, the heat exchanger is exposed during cooling operation. For this reason, there is a problem in that the metal material used in the heat exchanger is wetted with water and rapidly corrodes, resulting in performance degradation or malfunction.

  As a countermeasure, the fins inserted through the heat transfer tubes through which the refrigerant flows are often made of a material having a lower oxidation-reduction potential than the heat transfer tubes. This is because the fins are corroded before the heat transfer tubes, so that the heat transfer tubes are prevented from being corroded.

  However, in the anticorrosion design, there is a problem that the heat transfer tube is protected only within a certain range from the fins. That is, the heat transfer tube is not protected at the portion where the fins are sparsely separated and the heat transfer tube is exposed, or at the portion where the heat transfer tube is exposed without the fin.

  As a method for solving such a problem on corrosion prevention, Patent Literature 1 discloses an outdoor heat exchanger including fins and a number of heat transfer tubes that contact the fins. In Patent Literature 1, an anticorrosion member made of a metal having a lower potential than the fins and the heat transfer tubes is provided. It is said that the anticorrosion member is made of a metal having a lower potential than the fins and the heat transfer tubes, so that the fins and the heat transfer tubes can be protected from corrosion and the leakage of refrigerant from the heat transfer tubes can be suppressed.

JP-A-2006-205653

  However, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, the anticorrosion member formed of a metal having a lower potential than the fins and the heat transfer tube, and the heat transfer tube to be subjected to anticorrosion do not come into contact in most parts, or water is not applied. Difficult to connect through. For this reason, only a small part of the heat transfer tubes, which come into contact with each other or are connected via water, can be protected from corrosion.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger, an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, and an air conditioner that can suppress corrosion of an exposed heat transfer tube for a long time.

  The heat exchanger according to the present invention is a heat exchanger including fins, and a number of heat transfer tubes that contact the fins and allow the refrigerant to flow, and extend from a region of the heat transfer tubes where the fins are in contact. Preferential corrosion having a contact portion made of a material that is in electrical contact with the extended portion to be formed and has a lower oxidation-reduction potential than the heat transfer tube, and a fixing portion that fixes the contact portion to the heat transfer tube. A member, wherein the contact portion electrically contacts at least an upper portion of the outer periphery of the heat transfer tube at the extension portion, and is adjacent to the heat transfer tube which is in electrical contact with the heat transfer tube and is adjacent to the heat transfer tube via a gap. It is apart from the heat transfer tube.

  An outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to the present invention includes the above heat exchanger.

  An air conditioner according to the present invention includes the outdoor unit of the above air conditioner.

  In the heat exchanger according to the present invention, the contact portion is electrically connected to at least the upper part of the outer periphery of the heat transfer tube at the extension portion, and is adjacent to the heat transfer tube that is electrically in contact with the heat transfer tube upward with a gap therebetween. Separate from heat transfer tubes. For this reason, the contact portion of the preferential corrosion member electrically contacts the heat transfer tube exposed at the extension portion and corrodes preferentially. Therefore, corrosion of the exposed heat transfer tube can be suppressed for a long period of time.

FIG. 2 is a refrigerant circuit diagram illustrating the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a front view showing the heat exchanger concerning Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a heat exchanger according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention by enlarging a portion A in FIG. 2. It is sectional drawing which shows the heat exchanger which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention in the BB cross section of FIG. It is an explanatory view showing a preferential corrosion member separated from the heat exchanger according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a heat exchanger according to a first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line BB of FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a heat exchanger according to a second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line BB of FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing a heat exchanger according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the heat exchanger which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention, and the preferential corrosion member of a pinching state. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a heat exchanger and a preferential corrosion member in a sandwiched state according to a third modification of the third embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same or corresponding components, which are common throughout the entire specification. Further, the forms of the components shown in the entire text of the specification are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these descriptions.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
<Configuration of air conditioner>
FIG. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram illustrating an air conditioner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 100 includes an outdoor unit 101 and an indoor unit 102, and circulates a refrigerant between the outdoor unit 101 and the indoor unit 102 connected by using a refrigerant pipe 103.

  The outdoor unit 101 is provided with a compressor 104, an outdoor heat exchanger 1, which is a heat exchanger of the present invention, a four-way valve 105, an expansion valve 106, and the like. The indoor unit 102 is provided with an indoor heat exchanger 107 and the like.

<Operation of air conditioner>
First, in the case of the heating operation, the gaseous refrigerant compressed by the compressor 104 flows to the indoor heat exchanger 107 through the four-way valve 105. The gaseous refrigerant condenses from a gaseous state to a liquid state by exchanging heat with the indoor air of the indoor heat exchanger 107. At this time, the indoor air in the room to be air-conditioned deprives the refrigerant of heat and is heated by the heat exchange. The refrigerant in the liquid state flows to the outdoor heat exchanger 1 through the expansion valve 106. The refrigerant in a liquid state evaporates from a liquid state to a gas state by exchanging heat with the outside air around the outdoor heat exchanger 1. At this time, the refrigerant cools the outside air and is heated by the heat exchange. Then, the gaseous refrigerant flows to the compressor 104 again.

  On the other hand, in the case of the cooling operation, by switching the four-way valve 105, the flow of the refrigerant is opposite to that in the case of the heating operation. The gaseous refrigerant compressed by the compressor 104 flows to the outdoor heat exchanger 1 through the four-way valve 105. The gaseous refrigerant condenses from a gaseous state to a liquid state by exchanging heat with the outside air around the outdoor heat exchanger 1. At this time, the refrigerant loses heat to the outside air and is cooled. The refrigerant in a liquid state flows through the expansion valve 106 to the indoor heat exchanger 107. The refrigerant in the liquid state evaporates from the liquid state to a gas state by exchanging heat with the indoor air of the indoor heat exchanger 107. At this time, the indoor air is cooled by deprived of the heat by the refrigerant. The gaseous refrigerant flows to the compressor 104 again.

  Note that the heat exchanger according to the present invention, the outdoor unit of the air conditioner including the heat exchanger, and the air conditioner including the outdoor unit of the air conditioner do not need to include all the components illustrated in FIG. 1. . For example, a cooling-only device or a heating-only device without a four-way valve may be used. In addition, the form or operating method of the compressor is not particularly limited. As the compressor, for example, an inverter compressor whose capacity can be controlled is used.

<Outdoor heat exchanger>
FIG. 2 is a front view showing an outdoor heat exchanger 1 as a heat exchanger according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The outdoor heat exchanger 1 shown in FIG. 2 is a parallel flow heat exchanger.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the outdoor heat exchanger 1 is provided between a pair of headers 4 arranged in parallel, and between the pair of headers 4, and is provided in parallel at intervals along the axial direction of the headers 4. This is a so-called parallel flow type heat exchanger including a number of heat transfer tubes 3 and fins 2 provided between adjacent flat tubes 3. The fin 2 is formed of a metal plate arranged in a corrugated shape, that is, a wave shape. The top or the valley of the fin 2 is brazed and in contact with the flat surface of the flat tube 3. The flat tube 3 is a refrigerant flow path through which the refrigerant flows, and functions as a heat transfer tube that transmits heat of the refrigerant to the fins 2. Both ends of each of the many flat tubes 3 are joined to a pair of headers 4. The refrigerant that has flowed into one of the pair of headers 4 is divided into a number of flat tubes 3. The divided refrigerant uses heat transmitted to the fins 2 and exchanges heat with the air around the fins 2. The refrigerant flowing through the many flat tubes 3 joins at the other of the pair of headers 4. A refrigerant pipe 103 connected to the indoor unit 102 and the four-way valve 105 is connected to the header 4. Note that one or more partitions may be provided inside the header 4 to regulate the locations where the refrigerant flows.

<Priority corrosion member 10>
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing the outdoor heat exchanger 1 as the heat exchanger according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention by enlarging portion A in FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the outdoor heat exchanger 1 as the heat exchanger according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, taken along the line BB of FIG.

<< Corrosion problem >>
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the outdoor heat exchanger 1, the refrigerant flows inside the flat tube 3 and inside the header 4. When a hole is opened in the flat tube 3 or the header 4 due to corrosion, the refrigerant leaks from the opened hole. Thereby, there is a possibility that the heating capacity or the cooling capacity is reduced. In particular, the flat tubes 3 are used in large quantities in one outdoor heat exchanger 1 and are required to have high thermal conductivity to perform heat exchange while the refrigerant is flowing. In many cases, the thickness is thinner than that of the header 4, and the risk of refrigerant leakage is high.

<< Basic anticorrosion method >>
In the basic anticorrosion method, the fins 2 and the header 4 are made of a material whose oxidation-reduction potential is lower than that of the flat tube 3. Since the fin 2 and the header 4 are lower in potential than the flat tube 3, they corrode preferentially more than the flat tube 3. As a result, in the peripheral region where the fins 2 and the header 4 are arranged, the corrosion of the flat tube 3 is suppressed. However, in order for this anticorrosion method to work, it is necessary for the water droplets to adhere to the flat tube 3 and the fins 2 or the header 4 when the water droplets adhere to the flat tube 3. If the water droplets adhere to the flat tube 3 in an isolated island shape and do not come into contact with the fins 2 or the header 4, this anticorrosion method cannot be realized, and the flat tube 3 may be corroded. In particular, since the flat tube used as the heat transfer tube in the first embodiment has a flat shape having a flat surface on the upper surface, water easily accumulates on the upper surface. For this reason, this anticorrosion method may not be established.

<< Issues of the prior art >>
In the structure described in Patent Document 1, with respect to the corrosion risk in the above basic anticorrosion method, a member made of a metal having a lower potential than the fins and the heat transfer tube and the heat transfer tube to be subjected to anticorrosion come into contact with each other. Or a portion having a structure that is difficult to connect via water. For this reason, only a small portion of the heat transfer tubes, such as a portion where they are in contact or a portion connected via water, can be protected. Further, in the structure described in Patent Literature 1, it is not possible to suppress water intrusion into the heat transfer tube, which is one of the factors causing corrosion. Further, in the structure described in Patent Literature 1, if the anticorrosion member continues to corrode the fins and the heat transfer tube, and the anticorrosion member is completely corroded, the fins and the heat transfer tube may corrode, leading to leakage of the refrigerant. . In addition, once the air conditioner having the structure described in Patent Document 1 is sold in the market, there is a problem that it is difficult to replace the anticorrosion member.

<< Configuration of Priority Corrosion Member 10 >>
Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the outdoor heat exchanger 1 is in electrical contact with an extension 3 a extending from a region of the flat tube 3 through which the fin 2 is inserted, and is more oxidized than the flat tube 3. A preferential corrosion member having a contact portion made of a material having a reduction potential is provided. Further, the preferential corrosion member 10 has a fixing portion 12 for fixing the contact portion 11 to the flat tube 3.

<<<< contact part 11 >>>>
The contact portion 11 electrically contacts and conducts with at least the upper portion of the outer periphery of the flat tube 3 at the extension portion 3a. In the first embodiment, the contact portion 11 electrically contacts and conducts with the upper portion of most of the flat tube 3 except for a part of the flat tube 3 at the extension portion 3a. The contact portion 11 is separated from the adjacent flat tube 3, which is an adjacent heat transfer tube adjacent to the flat tube 3 electrically in contact with the flat tube 3 with a gap therebetween.

<<<< Fixed part 12 >>>>
The fixing portion 12 extends below the contact portion 11 from an end of the contact portion 11 extending horizontally above the flat tube 3 and guides water attached to the contact portion 11 downward. The fixing portion 12 fixes a large number of contact portions 11 that are in electrical contact with at least two or more flat tubes 3 among the large number of flat tubes 3. That is, a large number of contact portions 11 are arranged in a comb-like shape with respect to a bar-shaped fixing portion 12 extending in the vertical direction.

<<< Operation of Priority Corrosion Member 10 >>>
Since the preferential corrosion member 10 corrodes preferentially over the flat tube 3 through which the refrigerant flows, it overlaps with the above basic anticorrosion method, and can also suppress corrosion at the extension 3a of the flat tube 3. In addition, since the preferential corrosion member 10 covers at least the upper part of the flat tube 3, water does not accumulate on the flat upper surface of the flat tube 3, and prevents water from adhering to the flat tube 3. Further, since the preferential corrosion member 10 is separated from the upper adjacent flat tube 3, the preferential corrosion member 10 comes into contact with the upper adjacent flat tube 3, and water is poured below the upper adjacent flat tube 3. The contact portion 11 does not accumulate due to infiltration and does not corrode early from above.

<< Material of each part >>
The outdoor heat exchanger 1 is made of a material such as aluminum or aluminum alloy, copper or copper alloy. Hereinafter, particularly, a case where aluminum or an aluminum alloy is used as the material of the outdoor heat exchanger 1 will be described.

  When aluminum or an aluminum alloy is used as the material of the flat tube 3, it is preferable to use a material having a lower oxidation-reduction potential than the flat tube 3 as the material of the fins 2 and the header 4. Specifically, as the material of the fins 2 and the header 4, aluminum alloy, zinc or zinc alloy, magnesium or magnesium alloy, magnesium or magnesium alloy, lithium or lithium alloy, silicon Alternatively, a material in which another element is added to silicon or a material in which these materials are combined is used.

  Even if the fins 2 and the header 4 are made of a material having a higher oxidation-reduction potential than the flat tube 3, the fins 2 and the header 4 are formed with a higher oxidation-reduction potential than the flat tube 3 by using a known method such as cladding, thermal spraying, or plating. It may be configured to cover the surface of the fin 2 and the header 4 or a part of the surface with a base material.

  When aluminum or an aluminum alloy is used for the flat tube 3, the flat tube 3 is made of a material having a lower oxidation-reduction potential than the flat tube material, and at least the upper surface of the extension 3 a of the flat tube 3 between the fin 2 and the header 4. The preferential corrosion member 10 that partially covers the aluminum alloy, zinc or zinc alloy, magnesium or magnesium alloy, lithium or lithium alloy, lithium or lithium alloy, silicon or silicon, etc. Or a material obtained by combining these materials.

  Further, even if the preferential corrosion member 10 is made of a material having a higher oxidation-reduction potential than the flat tube 3, it has a higher oxidation-reduction potential than the flat tube 3 by using a known method such as cladding, thermal spraying, or plating. It may be configured to cover the surface or a part of the surface of the preferentially corroded member 10 with a base material.

  In addition, the preferential corrosion member 10 may be composed of the same material, or may be composed of a combination of different materials.

  If the material of the fixing portion 12 is the same as the material of the contact portion 11, the flat portion 3 has a function of preventing corrosion of the flat tube 3 not only in the portion of the contact portion 11 but also in a range where moisture adheres to the fixing portion 12. On the other hand, when the material of the fixing portion 12 is made of a material different from that of the contact portion 11, the fixing portion 12 can have another function different from that of the contact portion 11. As another example of another function, the fixing portion 12 can be made hydrophilic so that water drops can be easily dropped and the fixing portion 12 can be hardly corroded. Alternatively, if a resin material is used for the fixing portion 12, corrosion becomes extremely difficult as compared with a metal material.

  When the material of the fixing portion 12 is different from the material of the contact portion 11, the material of the fixing portion 12 is not limited to a material whose oxidation-reduction potential is lower than that of the flat tube 3. Materials may be used.

<< Position of priority corrosion member 10 >>
The preferential corrosion member 10 does not need to be installed on each extension 3a of all the flat tubes 3 constituting the outdoor heat exchanger 1. If there is a place where the flat tube 3 is particularly susceptible to corrosion, it may be installed only in a part of the extension 3a. A specific example of a place particularly easily corroded is, for example, a part of the lower part of the outdoor heat exchanger 1. This is because the lower part of the outdoor heat exchanger 1 is apt to retain water and corrosion is easily promoted.

  When the preferential corrosion member 10 is installed in the outdoor heat exchanger 1, the preferential corrosion member 10 may be installed on the leeward side or on the leeward side with respect to the flow direction of the wind in the outdoor unit 101. In particular, the priority corrosion member 10 is more preferably installed on the windward side in view of the effect of suppressing the penetration of water droplets.

  Note that one of the preferential corrosion members 10 may be installed on one side of the outdoor heat exchanger 1 or two may be installed on both sides of the outdoor heat exchanger 1.

<<< Contact of priority corrosion member 10 >>
The fixing portion 12 of the preferential corrosion member 10 may or may not contact the flat tube 3. On the other hand, it is desirable that all the contact portions 11 of the plurality of contact portions 11 of the preferential corrosion member 10 contact the flat tube 3. However, for some reason, all or a part of the contact portion 11 may not be in contact with the flat tube 3. Even when the contact portion 11 does not contact the flat tube 3, if water droplets exist between the contact portion 11 and the flat tube 3, the function of preventing corrosion of the flat tube 3 by the contact portion 11 works. 3 is suppressed.

<<< Shape of priority corrosion member 10 >>
In FIG. 4, the contact portion 11 of the preferential corrosion member 10 is represented by a rectangular shape with the plate surface in the horizontal direction. However, the contact portion 11 is not limited to a rectangular shape, and may be, for example, a polygonal shape, a circular shape, or the like. The thickness of the contact portion 11 may be appropriately selected from the period in which the corrosion of the flat tube 3 is to be suppressed.

<< Removal of priority corrosion members >>
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the preferential corrosion member 10 to be separated from the outdoor heat exchanger 1 as the heat exchanger according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the preferential corrosion member 10 is detachable from the flat tube 3. In this case, the preferential corrosion member 10 can be mounted on the outdoor heat exchanger 1 in advance in the manufacturing process of the outdoor heat exchanger 1. Further, the preferential corrosion member 10 can be retrofitted to the outdoor heat exchanger 1 after being put on the market as the air conditioner 100 or the like. In addition, the preferential corrosion member 10 can be removed from the outdoor heat exchanger 1. For this reason, in the outdoor heat exchanger 1 after the endurance of use, the preferential corrosion member 10 with advanced corrosion can be removed, and the preferential corrosion member 10 can be replaced so that a new preferential corrosion member 10 is mounted.

<Modification 1>
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the outdoor heat exchanger 1 as the heat exchanger according to the first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line BB of FIG. In the first modification, description of the same items as in the first embodiment will be omitted, and only the characteristic portions will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the contact portion 11 has an inclined surface that is inclined downward and guides water attached to the contact portion 11 downward on an upper side opposite to a side electrically contacting the flat tube 3. 11a. In this case, since it is difficult for water droplets to collect on the inclined surface 11a, which is the upper surface of the contact portion 11, corrosion from the upper surface of the contact portion 11 is suppressed, and as a result, corrosion of the flat tube 3 can be suppressed for a longer period. .

  Further, the width of the fixing portion 12 in the left-right direction may be the same as the width of the contact portion 11 in the left-right direction. However, the width of the fixing portion 12 in the left-right direction may be wider than the width of the contact portion 11 in the left-right direction, and may be formed between the fin 2 and the header 4.

<Modification 2>
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an outdoor heat exchanger 1 as a heat exchanger according to a second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line BB of FIG. In the second modification, description of the same items as in the first embodiment will be omitted, and only the characteristic portions will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the preferential corrosion member 10 may be arranged on the outdoor heat exchanger 1 such that the preferential corrosion member 10 is overlapped with each other from the windward direction on the near side and the leeward direction on the far side with respect to the flow direction of the wind. Good. In this case, penetration of water droplets into the extension 3a of the flat tube 3 can be suppressed from both the windward and leeward sides, and the corrosion of the extension 3a of the flat tube 3 can be further suppressed.

<Effect of First Embodiment>
According to Embodiment 1, the outdoor heat exchanger 1 as a heat exchanger includes the fin 2. The outdoor heat exchanger 1 includes a plurality of flat tubes 3 that are heat transfer tubes that contact the fins 2 and allow the refrigerant to flow. The outdoor heat exchanger 1 includes a preferential corrosion member 10. The preferential corrosion member 10 is in electrical contact with an extension 3a of the flat tube 3 which is a heat transfer tube, which extends from a region where the fin 2 is in contact with the flat tube 3, and has a lower oxidation-reduction potential than the flat tube 3 which is a heat transfer tube. It has a contact portion 11 made of a certain material. The preferential corrosion member 10 has a fixing portion 12 for fixing the contact portion 11 to the flat tube 3 which is a heat transfer tube. The contact portion 11 electrically contacts at least the upper portion of the outer periphery of the flat tube 3 as the heat transfer tube at the extension portion 3a, and is located above the flat tube 3 as the heat transfer tube in electrical contact with a gap therebetween. Is separated from the flat tube 3 which is an adjacent heat transfer tube adjacent to the flat tube.

  According to this configuration, the contact portion 11 is in electrical contact with the upper part of the outer periphery of the flat tube 3 where water accumulates at the extension 3a of the flat tube 3 and the flat tube 3 is easily corroded. For this reason, since the contact portion 11 is made of a material whose oxidation-reduction potential is lower than that of the flat tube 3, water accumulates in the upper portion of the outer periphery of the flat tube 3 where the flat tube 3 is easily corroded. The contact portion 11 corrodes preferentially over the flat tube 3. On the other hand, the contact portion 11 is separated from the flat tube 3 which is an adjacent heat transfer tube which is adjacent above. For this reason, the contact portion 11 can be formed thin without having a thickness that blocks between the flat tube 3 and the adjacent flat tube 3, and cost reduction can be achieved. In this way, the preferential corrosion member 10 corrodes before the flat tubes 3, and the individual flat tubes 3 contacted by the contact portions 11 can be prevented from being corroded. Therefore, corrosion of the exposed flat tube 3 can be suppressed for a long time.

  According to the first embodiment, preferential corrosion member 10 is detachable from flat tube 3 which is a heat transfer tube.

  According to this configuration, the preferential corrosion member 10 can be mounted on the outdoor heat exchanger 1 in advance in the manufacturing process of the outdoor heat exchanger 1. Further, the preferential corrosion member 10 can be retrofitted to the outdoor heat exchanger 1 after being put on the market as the air conditioner 100 or the like. In addition, the preferential corrosion member 10 can be removed from the outdoor heat exchanger 1. For this reason, in the outdoor heat exchanger 1 after the endurance of use, the preferential corrosion member 10 with advanced corrosion can be removed, and the preferential corrosion member 10 can be replaced so that a new preferential corrosion member 10 is mounted. Therefore, corrosion of the exposed flat tube 3 can be suppressed for a long time.

  According to the first embodiment, fixing portion 12 extends below contact portion 11 and guides water attached to contact portion 11 downward.

  According to this configuration, the fixing portion 12 guides the water attached to the contact portion 11 downward. Thereby, corrosion of the contact portion 11 can be suppressed.

  According to the first embodiment, fixing portion 12 fixes a number of contact portions 11 that are respectively in electrical contact with at least two or more flat tubes 3 that are heat transfer tubes among many flat tubes 3 that are heat transfer tubes. I do.

  According to this configuration, the preferential corrosion member 10 can be fixed to one or more areas of the two or more flat tubes 3 that are easily corroded by one fixing part 12 that fixes many contact parts 11 in common. Thereby, the preferential corrosion member 10 can attach and detach many contact portions 11 at one time, and is easy to handle.

  According to the first embodiment, contact portion 11 is inclined downward to the side opposite to the side electrically contacting flat tube 3 which is a heat transfer tube, and guides water attached to contact portion 11 downward. It has an inclined surface 11a.

  According to this configuration, the inclined surface 11a of the contact portion 11 guides the water attached to the contact portion 11 downward. Thereby, unnecessary corrosion of the contact portion 11 can be suppressed.

  According to the first embodiment, many fins 2 are made of a material having a lower oxidation-reduction potential than flat tubes 3 that are heat transfer tubes.

  According to this configuration, corrosion of the flat tube 3 can be prevented by the fins 2 in a region where a large number of fins 2 to which the preferential corrosion member 10 is not mounted are arranged.

  According to the first embodiment, the outdoor heat exchanger 1 has a large number of refrigerant flow paths formed at each end of the flat tubes 3 as the heat transfer tubes at the ends of the flat tubes 3 as the heat transfer tubes. Are provided. The header 4 is made of a material whose oxidation-reduction potential is lower than that of the flat tube 3 which is a heat transfer tube. The extension 3a is provided between the header 4 and the fin 2.

  According to this configuration, the preferential corrosion member 10 is disposed on the extension 3a between the header 4 and the fin 2, and the corrosion of the flat tube 3 can be prevented. Further, the flat tube 3 arranged around the header 4 can prevent the flat tube 3 from being corroded by the header 4.

  According to Embodiment 1, the flat tube 3 as a heat transfer tube is the flat tube 3 having the flat surface 3b on the upper surface.

  According to this configuration, water easily accumulates on the flat surface 3b on the upper surface of the flat tube 3 that is the heat transfer tube. However, the contact portion 11 of the preferential corrosion member 10 electrically contacts the upper part of the outer periphery of the flat tube 3. Since the contact portion 11 is made of a material having a lower oxidation-reduction potential than the flat tube 3, the contact portion 11 is preferentially corroded than the flat tube 3 in contact. Thus, the preferential corrosion member 10 corrodes before the flat tube 3 which is the heat transfer tube, and the flat tube 3 with which the contact portion 11 comes into contact can be prevented from being corroded. Therefore, corrosion of the exposed flat tube 3 can be suppressed for a long time.

  According to Embodiment 1, the outdoor unit 101 of the air conditioner 100 includes the outdoor heat exchanger 1.

  According to this configuration, the preferential corrosion member 10 corrodes before the flat tube 3 that is the heat transfer tube, and the flat tube 3 with which the contact portion 11 comes into contact can be protected. Therefore, corrosion of the exposed flat tube 3 can be suppressed for a long time, and the outdoor heat exchanger 1 mounted on the outdoor unit 101 of the air conditioner 100 can be used for a long time.

  According to the first embodiment, air conditioner 100 includes outdoor unit 101 of air conditioner 100.

  According to this configuration, the preferential corrosion member 10 corrodes before the flat tube 3, and the flat tube 3 with which the contact portion 11 comes into contact can be prevented from being corroded. Therefore, corrosion of the exposed flat tube 3 can be suppressed for a long time, the outdoor heat exchanger 1 mounted on the outdoor unit 101 of the air conditioner 100 can be used for a long time, and the outdoor unit 101 of the air conditioner 100 can be used. An air conditioner 100 having excellent durability can be provided.

Embodiment 2 FIG.
<Priority corrosion member 10>
FIG. 8 is an enlarged view showing an outdoor heat exchanger 1 as a heat exchanger according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In the second embodiment, description of the same items as in the first embodiment will be omitted, and only the characteristic portions will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the fixing part 12 of the preferential corrosion member 10 has an urging part 13 for urging the contact part 11 to the flat tube 3. The fixing portion 12 has an adjacent contact portion 14 that is in contact with the flat tube 3 that is an adjacent heat transfer tube adjacent to the flat tube 3 with which the contact portion 11 is in electrical contact with a flat tube 3 via a gap. The urging part 13 is interposed between the contact part 11 and the adjacent contact part 14. The adjacent contact portion 14 is made of a material having a lower oxidation-reduction potential than the flat tube 3, like the contact portion 11. The urging portion 13 elastically repels between the contact portion 11 and the adjacent contact portion 14 so as to extend between the contact portion 11 and the adjacent contact portion 14.

  In the preferential corrosion member 10, the contact portion 11 and the adjacent contact portion 14 are brought into contact with the respective flat tubes 3, whereby the extension 3a of the flat tube 3 is prevented from being corroded, and the corrosion of the extension 3a can be suppressed. Further, even when the contact portion 11 and the adjacent contact portion 14 are corroded and become thinner, the contact portion 11 and the adjacent contact portion 14 are always in contact with the flat tube 3 due to the elastic repulsive restoring force of the urging portion 13. Pressed. For this reason, as long as the thickness of the contact part 11 and the adjacent contact part 14 exists, each flat tube 3 with which the contact part 11 and the adjacent contact part 14 contact can be anticorrosive.

  The same material as in the first embodiment can be used for the material of the contact portion 11 and the adjacent contact portion 14. The material of the urging portion 13 interposed between the contact portion 11 and the adjacent contact portion 14 is not particularly limited as long as it can exert a function of elastic repulsion, and a general spring material can be used.

  As a joining method when the urging portion 13 interposed between the contact portion 11 and the adjacent contact portion 14 is joined to the contact portion 11 and the adjacent contact portion 14, a known joining method can be used. For example, a method such as welding, soldering, or brazing can be used.

  The urging portion 13 may press the contact portion 11 and the adjacent contact portion 14 against the respective flat tubes 3 that come into contact with an elastically resilient restoring force. For this reason, the urging portion 13 is not limited to a general spring shape, and can use various shapes. For example, the shape of the urging portion 13 includes a bellows structure, a coil spring, and the like. Alternatively, the biasing unit 13 may use a shape memory alloy or the like. Further, the urging portion 13 does not need to be formed of one spring member, and may have a structure in which a plurality of spring members are combined to obtain a restoring force that resiliently repels.

  The contact surfaces of the contact portion 11 and the adjacent contact portion 14 that come into contact with the flat tube 3 are not particularly limited as long as there are portions or surfaces that come into contact with the flat tube 3. For example, the contact surfaces of the contact portion 11 and the adjacent contact portion 14 include a polygonal plate-like surface and a circular surface. In addition, the contact surfaces of the contact portion 11 and the adjacent contact portion 14 may have irregularities as long as there is a portion or a surface in contact with each of the flat tubes 3 with which the contact portions 11 contact.

  The preferential corrosion member 10 does not need to be installed in the space between all the extensions 3a among the many extensions 3a between the flat tube 3 and the header 4. The preferential corrosion member 10 may be installed, for example, between the extension portions 3a of only the lower part of the outdoor heat exchanger 1. Further, the preferential corrosion member 10 may be installed at any position as long as it is between the extension portions 3a. The preferential corrosion member 10 may be installed on only one side of the outdoor heat exchanger 1 or may be installed on both sides of the outdoor heat exchanger 1.

<Effect of Embodiment 2>
According to the second embodiment, fixing portion 12 has biasing portion 13 for biasing contact portion 11 to flat tube 3 which is a heat transfer tube.

  According to this configuration, the contact portion 11 is always pressed against the flat tube 3 by the restoring force of the urging portion 13. For this reason, even if the contact portion 11 that contacts the flat tube 3 is corroded, the flat tube 3 can be protected from corrosion as long as the contact portion 11 has a thickness in the direction in which the urging portion 13 exerts a restoring force.

  According to the second embodiment, the fixed portion 12 is adjacent to the flat tube 3 that is the adjacent heat transfer tube that is adjacent to the flat tube 3 that is the heat transfer tube with which the contact portion 11 is in electrical contact with a gap. It has a contact portion 14. The urging part 13 is interposed between the contact part 11 and the adjacent contact part 14.

  According to this configuration, the flat tubes 3, which are individual heat transfer tubes, in which the contact portions 11 come into contact between the flat tubes 3, which are heat transfer tubes, and the flat tubes 3, which are adjacent heat transfer tubes, can be protected. Therefore, corrosion of the exposed flat tube 3 can be suppressed for a long time.

  According to the second embodiment, the adjacent contact portion 14 is made of a material whose oxidation-reduction potential is lower than that of the flat tube 3 which is the adjacent heat transfer tube.

  According to this configuration, the individual flat tubes 3 in contact with the contact portions 11 can be protected from corrosion. At the same time, the flat tubes 3 which are the individual adjacent heat transfer tubes contacting the adjacent contact portions 14 can be protected from corrosion. Therefore, the corrosion of the flat tubes 3 which are a large number of exposed heat transfer tubes can be suppressed for a long time.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
<Priority corrosion member 10>
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing an outdoor heat exchanger 1 as a heat exchanger according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention and a preferential corrosion member 10 in a sandwiched state. In the third embodiment, description of the same matters as in the first embodiment will be omitted, and only the characteristic portions will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the contact portion 11 and the fixed portion 12 of the preferential corrosion member 10 are integrated, and the flat tube 3 with which the contact portion 11 is in electrical contact is sandwiched between the contact portion 11 and the fixed portion 12. In other words, the contact portion 11 and the fixing portion 12 of the preferential corrosion member 10 are clip-shaped, and cover the upper surface and the lower surface of the extension 3a of the flat tube 3 together. The fixing portion 12 is made of a material whose oxidation-reduction potential is lower than that of the flat tube 3. A part of the fixing portion that folds the contact portion 11 and the fixing portion 12 has an urging portion 13 that exerts a clamping force. The contact portion 11 has an inclined surface 11a that is inclined downward and guides water attached to the contact portion 11 downward on an upper side opposite to a lower side electrically contacting the flat tube 3.

  In the preferential corrosion member 10, the contact portion 11 and the fixing portion 12 are formed using a material whose oxidation-reduction potential is lower than that of the flat tube 3. For this reason, the upper and lower surfaces of the extension 3a of the flat tube 3 can be protected from corrosion, and the corrosion of the extension 3a can be suppressed. The preferential corrosion member 10 has a clip shape and is installed so as to cover both the upper surface and the lower surface of the extension 3a. Therefore, it is possible to prevent water droplets, which is one of the factors causing corrosion, from adhering to the extension 3a of the flat tube 3, and from that point, it is possible to suppress the corrosion of the extension 3a.

  The same material as the material of the contact portion 11 of the first embodiment can be used for the material of the contact portion 11 and the fixing portion 12. The materials of the contact portion 11 and the fixing portion 12 may be different for the contact portion 11 and the fixing portion 12.

  The preferential corrosion member 10 has a clip shape that covers the contact portion 11 and the fixed portion 12 with the extension 3 a of the flat tube 3. It is desirable that the clip-shaped preferential corrosion member 10 covers the entire flat tube from the viewpoint of preventing the attachment of water droplets. However, the shape is not necessarily limited.

  The preferential corrosion member 10 may be provided with the bent portion in the contact portion 11 and the fixed portion 12 on the windward side of the wind direction in the outdoor unit 101 or on the leeward side. In view of the effect of suppressing the intrusion of water droplets, it is more preferable to set the bent portion on the windward side. Further, only one preferential corrosion member 10 may be provided, or a plurality of preferential corrosion members may be provided.

<Modification 3>
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing an outdoor heat exchanger 1 as a heat exchanger and a preferential corrosion member 10 in a sandwiched state according to a third modification of the third embodiment of the present invention. In the third modification, the description of the same items as in the third embodiment will be omitted, and only the characteristic portions will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 10, two preferential corrosion members 10 may be provided for the extension 3 a of one flat tube 3. At this time, it is more preferable to install the first preferential corrosion member 10 so as to cover the second preferential corrosion member 10 that is placed next. Further, one or more priority corrosion members 10 may be installed on the leeward side, and one or more pieces may be installed on the leeward side.

<Effect of Third Embodiment>
According to the third embodiment, contact portion 11 and fixed portion 12 are integrated, and flat tube 3, which is a heat transfer tube with which contact portion 11 makes electrical contact, is sandwiched between contact portion 11 and fixed portion 12.

  According to this configuration, the contact portion 11 of the preferential corrosion member 10 makes electrical contact with at least a part of the outer periphery of one flat tube 3 exposed at the extension 3a. Since the contact portion 11 is made of a material having a lower oxidation-reduction potential than the flat tube 3, the contact portion 11 is preferentially corroded than the flat tube 3 in contact. In this way, the preferential corrosion member 10 corrodes before the flat tubes 3, and the individual flat tubes 3 contacted by the contact portions 11 can be prevented from being corroded. Therefore, corrosion of the exposed flat tube 3 can be suppressed for a long time. When the fixing portion 12 has the urging portion 13, the preferential corrosion member 10 is detachably provided like a clip having a restoring force. Therefore, the preferential corrosion member 10 having the urging portion 13 can be replaced. The fixing portion 12 of the preferential corrosion member 10 may fix a large number of contact portions 11.

<Others>
Embodiments 1 to 3 according to the present invention have described the outdoor heat exchanger 1 using the flat tubes 3 as the refrigerant tubes. However, the present invention is not limited to the outdoor heat exchanger 1 using the flat tubes 3. It may be a heat exchanger using a heat transfer tube. Then, the preferential corrosion member 10 may be attached to an extension of the refrigerant pipe in a portion where the fins 2 are only sparsely present, an extension of the refrigerant pipe in a portion where the fin 2 is not present, or the like. The shape of the refrigerant tube as the heat transfer tube is not particularly limited, and any heat transfer tube such as a circular refrigerant tube, an elliptical refrigerant tube, a polygonal refrigerant tube, and an irregular refrigerant tube can be used. . Further, the present invention is not limited to the configuration having the header 4 described in the first to third embodiments, and is not limited to the parallel flow type, and a heat exchanger of a type in which a refrigerant flows in series, a heat exchanger having a laminated header, various heat exchangers, and the like. Can be used.

  In the first to third embodiments, the preferentially corroded member 10 having a lower oxidation-reduction potential than the refrigerant pipe corroding preferentially to the refrigerant pipe is installed in the extension 3 a of the flat pipe 3 between the fin 2 and the header 4. The configuration has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The preferential corrosion member 10 may be attached to an extension of a portion where the fins 2 are only sparsely present.

  In the first to third embodiments, the configuration in which the flat tubes 3 are arranged so as to extend in the horizontal direction parallel to the ground has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can also be used for a heat exchanger having a structure in which heat transfer tubes are arranged perpendicular to the ground or a structure in which heat transfer tubes are arranged at a predetermined angle or a plurality of angles with the ground. Further, in the parallel flow type heat exchanger, a structure in which the flat tubes are not parallel to the ground but are arranged at a fixed angle or a plurality of angles with respect to the ground can also be used.

  In the first to third embodiments, corrugated fins have been described as the shapes and structures of the fins 2. However, the shape of the fin is not limited to this form, and a fin shape and structure generally used for a heat exchanger can be used.

  The first to third embodiments of the present invention may be combined, or may be applied to other portions.

  Reference Signs List 1 outdoor heat exchanger, 2 fins, 3 flat tubes, 3a extension, 3b flat surface, 4 header, 10 preferential corrosion member, 11 contact portion, 11a inclined surface, 12 fixing portion, 13 urging portion, 14 adjacent contact portion , 100 air conditioner, 101 outdoor unit, 102 indoor unit, 103 refrigerant pipe, 104 compressor, 105 four-way valve, 106 expansion valve, 107 indoor heat exchanger.

The heat exchanger according to the present invention, a pair of headers arranged in parallel, a number of heat transfer tubes installed between the pair of headers, provided in parallel at intervals along the axial direction of the header, a plurality of fins provided between the adjacent heat transfer tubes each other, a heat exchanger comprising an electrical extension portion which is extended between the area contacting the fins of the heat transfer tubes to said header A contact portion made of a material having an oxidation-reduction potential lower than that of the heat transfer tube, and a fixing portion for fixing the contact portion to the heat transfer tube. Is electrically connected to at least the upper part of the outer periphery of the heat transfer tube at the extension portion, and is separated from an adjacent heat transfer tube which is adjacent to the heat transfer tube which is in electrical contact with the heat transfer tube and has a gap therebetween. It is.

Claims (14)

A heat exchanger including fins, a number of heat transfer tubes that contact the fins and allow the refrigerant to flow,
A contact portion made of a material having an oxidation-reduction potential lower than that of the heat transfer tube, which is in electrical contact with an extension portion of the heat transfer tube extending from a region where the fin is in contact with the fin;
A fixing portion for fixing the contact portion to the heat transfer tube,
With a preferential corrosion member having
The contact portion is electrically connected to at least an upper portion of the outer circumference of the heat transfer tube at the extension portion, and an adjacent heat transfer tube adjacent to the heat transfer tube that is electrically in contact with the heat transfer tube upward through a gap. Separate heat exchanger.   The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the preferential corrosion member is detachable from the heat transfer tube.   The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the fixing portion extends below the contact portion and guides water attached to the contact portion downward.   The heat exchange according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fixing portion fixes a large number of the contact portions electrically contacting at least two or more of the heat transfer tubes among the multiple heat transfer tubes. vessel.   The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the fixing unit includes an urging unit that urges the contact unit toward the heat transfer tube. The fixing portion has an adjacent contact portion that is in contact with an adjacent heat transfer tube that is adjacent to the heat transfer tube that is in electrical contact with the contact portion through a gap,
The heat exchanger according to claim 5, wherein the urging portion is interposed between the contact portion and the adjacent contact portion.   The heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein the adjacent contact portion is made of a material having a lower oxidation-reduction potential than the adjacent heat transfer tube.   The said contact part and the said fixed part are integrated, The said heat transfer tube which the said contact part electrically contacts is pinched by the said contact part and the said fixed part, The Claims any one of Claims 1-5. Heat exchanger.   The said contact part has the inclined surface which inclines downward and guides the water which adhered to the said contact part downward at the side opposite to the side which contacts the said heat exchanger tube electrically. Item 2. The heat exchanger according to item 1.   The heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the fin is made of a material having a redox potential lower than that of the heat transfer tube. At an end portion of the plurality of heat transfer tubes, a header is provided for assembling a number of refrigerant flow paths formed in each of the plurality of heat transfer tubes,
The header is made of a material whose oxidation-reduction potential is lower than that of the heat transfer tube,
The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the extension is provided between the header and the fin.   The heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the heat transfer tube is a flat tube having a flat surface on an upper surface.   An outdoor unit of an air conditioner, comprising the heat exchanger according to claim 1.   An air conditioner comprising the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 13.

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