KR20090109142A - Heat exchanger and method of manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An exchanger and a manufacturing method thereof are provided to improve heat exchange efficiency by coupling a flat tube, in which a plurality of coolant flow channels are formed, to a fin. CONSTITUTION: An exchanger comprises a connecting tube, a first refrigerant tube, a second refrigerant tube, and a fixed layer. One end of the first refrigerant tube(10a) is inserted into the connecting tube(15). One end of the second refrigerant tube(10b) is inserted into the connecting tube. The fixed layer is formed between the connecting tube and the first refrigerant tube and between connecting tube and the second refrigerant tube. The connecting tube and each refrigerant tube are fixed on the fixed layer.

Description

Heat exchanger and method of manufacturing the same

This embodiment relates to a heat exchanger and a method of manufacturing the same.

In general, the heat exchanger is a device for heat exchange between the internal refrigerant and the external fluid. The heat exchanger may be used as a condenser or evaporator in a refrigerant cycle consisting of a compressor-condenser-expander-evaporator.

The heat exchanger may be broadly classified into a fin-tube type heat exchanger and a micro channel tube type heat exchanger. The fin-tube type heat exchanger includes a plurality of fins and a plurality of circular or circular shaped tubes passing through the plurality of fins. On the other hand, the micro channel tube type heat exchanger includes a plurality of flat tubes and fins provided between the flat tubes and bent a plurality of times.

An object of this embodiment is to propose a heat exchanger and a method of manufacturing the heat exchanger efficiency is improved.

Another object of this embodiment is to propose a heat exchanger and a method of manufacturing the same that can easily connect a flat tube and a return tube.

Heat exchanger according to one aspect, the connecting tube; A first refrigerant tube inserted at one end of the connecting tube; A second refrigerant tube having one end inserted into the connecting tube; And a fixing layer provided between the connecting tube and the first refrigerant tube and between the connecting tube and the second refrigerant tube to fix the connecting tube and the respective refrigerant tubes.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a heat exchanger includes: coupling a brazing filler material around a first refrigerant tube and a second refrigerant tube; Inserting an end portion of each of the refrigerant tubes to which the brazing material is coupled, into a connecting tube; And heating the brazing material to fix the connecting tube and the respective refrigerant tubes.

According to the proposed embodiment, since a flat tube in which a plurality of refrigerant passages are formed is used to be coupled to the fin, there is an advantage of improving heat exchange efficiency.

In addition, since a plurality of flat tubes and a plurality of fins can be joined at the same time by brazing, it is possible to simply manufacture a heat exchanger.

In addition, since the flat tube penetrates through the fins, when the heat exchanger acts as an evaporator, there is an advantage that the generated condensate can easily flow along the fins.

In addition, since the flat tube and the return tube can be connected by brazing while being inserted into the connecting tube, there is an advantage in that a plurality of flat tubes and a plurality of return tubes can be simply connected at the same time.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a view showing the structure of a heat exchanger according to the present embodiment, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a heat exchanger according to the present embodiment.

1 and 2, the heat exchanger 1 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of micro channel tubes 10 having a flat shape (hereinafter referred to as a 'flat tube' for convenience of description), A plurality of pins 12 through which the flat tube 10 penetrates, and a header 13 to which some of the plurality of flat tubes 10 are connected.

In detail, the flat tube 10 includes a tube body 101 and a partition 103 that divides the inner space of the tube body 101 into a plurality of refrigerant passages 102.

The flat tube 10 and the fin 12 may be formed of, for example, an aluminum material having excellent thermal conductivity.

A solder layer 19 is formed on the contact surface of the flat tube 10 and the fin 12. The brazing filler metal layer 19 is formed as a sheet-like brazing filler material bonded or attached to the flat tube 10 is heated. The brazing filler material layer 19 allows the flat tube 10 and the fin 12 to be firmly fixed.

For example, a clad may be used as the brazing material. At this time, the melting point of the brazing material is lower than the melting point of the flat tube 10 and the fin 12.

The flat tube 10 includes a first tube 10a connected to the capillary 16 by a connector 17, a second tube 10c connected to the header 13, and the first tube. It may be divided into one or more intermediate tubes (10b) provided between the (10a) and the second tube (10b). The capillary 16 is connected to a distributor 18, which is located below the heat exchanger 1.

The first tube 10a and the intermediate tube 10b and the second tube 10c and the intermediate tube 10b are communicated by the return tube 14. In addition, the return tube 14 and the respective tubes 10a, 10b, 10c are connected by a connecting tube 15.

The ends of each of the tubes 10a, 10b, 10c and the return tube 14 are inserted at the ends of the connecting tube 15.

Each of the tubes 10a, 10b, and 10c are bent to form two layers. The bent portion of each of the tubes 10a, 10b, and 10c may be referred to as a bent portion 11.

The first tube 10a, the intermediate tube 10b, and the second tube 10c form one tube unit. And, a plurality of tube units constitute one heat exchanger.

In this case, since the plurality of tube units each include a second tube 10c, it will be easily understood that the plurality of second tubes 10c are connected to the head 13.

In this embodiment, it is disclosed that one tube tube 10b is included in the tube unit, but the number of the intermediate tubes 10b is not limited. For example, the intermediate tube 10b is not provided, and the first tube 10a and the second tube 10c are configured to communicate by the return tube 14, or a plurality of intermediate tubes 10b are provided. Can be. And, if more than one intermediate tube 10b is provided, the return tube 14 is provided with one more number than the intermediate tube 10b.

3 is a perspective view of a return tube according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a flat tube and a return tube are connected to the connecting tube.

3 and 4, the return tube 14 is bent in the same shape as the flat tube 10 to form an open curve as a whole.

The return tube 14 includes a tube body 141 and a partition 143 partitioning an inner space of the tube body 141 into a plurality of refrigerant passages 142. The number of coolant paths 142 formed in the return tube 14 is equal to the number of coolant paths 102 formed in the flat tube 10. The cross-sectional shape of the return tube 14 is the same as the cross-sectional shape of the flat tube 10.

The tube body 141 includes one curved portion 141a which is generally formed in a horseshoe shape and two straight portions 141b extending from both sides of the curved portion 141a.

In detail, the curved portion 141a has a radius of curvature R exceeding 2/1 of the distance between the two straight portions 141b (L: equal to the distance between two flat tubes substantially adjacent to each other). Is formed by bending.

This is to facilitate molding of the return tube 14 while minimizing the distance between the flat tubes 10 adjacent to each other. In other words, as the distance L between the flat tubes 10 adjacent to each other decreases, the number of the flat tubes 10 provided in the heat exchanger of the same size increases. When the number of the flat tubes 10 is increased, it is possible to increase the heat exchange capacity of the heat exchanger 1.

However, as the distance L between the flat tubes 10 adjacent to each other is reduced, the radius of curvature of the return tube 14 connected to the flat tube 10 is reduced, so that the return tube 14 is reduced. Bending becomes difficult.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the radius of curvature R of the curved portion 141a is set to exceed 1/2 of the distance L between the flat tubes 10 adjacent to each other, whereby the flat tubes adjacent to each other ( Even if the distance (L) between the 10) is reduced, the molding of the return tube 14, that is, the bending of the return tube 14 can be made easily.

Meanwhile, ends of the flat tube 10 and the return tube 14 are inserted into the connecting tube 15. The connecting tube 15 is formed in a shape corresponding to the ends of the flat tube 10 and the return tube 14, the inner circumference of the connecting tube 15 is the flat tube 10 and the return tube It is formed in the same size as the outer circumference of (14).

A brazing filler metal layer 20 is formed between the flat tube 10 and the connecting tube 15 and between the return tube 14 and the connecting tube 15. The brazing filler metal layer 20 is formed as the brazing filler material is heated. The brazing filler metal layer 20 allows the flat tube 10, the connecting tube 15, and the connecting tube 15 and the return tube 14 to be firmly fixed. Therefore, the brazing filler metal layer 20 may also be referred to as a fixed layer.

As the brazing filler metal, a clad may be used as described above. The melting point of the brazing material is lower than the melting point of the flat tube 10, the return tube 14 and the connecting tube 15.

In detail, the brazing material is bonded or attached to the circumference of the flat tube 10 and the return tube 14 at a position spaced a predetermined distance from the ends of the flat tube 10 and the return tube 14. When the flat tube 10 and the return tube 14 are inserted into the connecting tube 15, each end of the flat tube 10 and the return tube 14 abuts. In addition, a coating layer 21 is formed around each end of the flat tube 10 and the return tube 14.

The coating layer 21 prevents the molten solder material from flowing between the flat tube 10 and the return tube 14 when the solder material is heated. In addition, a part of the brazing filler metal 20 may be formed outside the coating layer 21. The location of the brazing filler metal layer 20 and the coating layer 21 will be clearly understood by FIG. 4.

Hereinafter, the coupling process of the flat tube, the connecting tube, and the return tube will be described.

First, the brazing filler material is attached or bonded along the circumference of the flat tube 10 and the return tube 14. In addition, a coating layer 21 is formed at each end of the flat tube 10 and the return tube 14. The process of forming the coating layer 21 and the process of bonding the brazing material to the flat tube 10 and the return tube 14 may be reversed.

The coating layer 21 may be formed by coating or spraying a material (for example, oil) for coating on the flat tube 10 and the return tube 14.

Then, each end of the flat tube 10 and return tube 14 to which the brazing material is coupled is inserted into the connecting tube 15. The brazing material is then heated to allow the flat tube 10 and the connecting tube 15 to be fixed, and the connecting tube 15 and the return tube 14 to be fixed.

At this time, since the flat tube 10 and the return tube 14, which each end portion is in contact with, are fixed to the connecting tube 15, the flat tube 10 and the return tube 14 are connected to the connecting tube 15. It can be understood that it is fixed indirectly by the tube 15.

Hereinafter, a manufacturing process of the heat exchanger will be described.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a manufacturing process of the heat exchanger according to the present embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5, first, a plurality of flat tubes 10 and a plurality of fins 12 are formed. Then, the braze material is bonded or attached around the plurality of flat tubes 10. In addition, the plurality of flat tubes 10 having a brazing filler material are coupled to the plurality of pins 12 through S11.

Then, each of the first tube 10a, the intermediate tube 10b, and the second tube 10c and the return tube 14 is connected to the connecting tube 15 (S13). At this time, each of the tubes (10a, 10b, 10c) and the return tube 14, the coating layer 21 is formed, it is a matter of course that the solder material is bonded or attached.

Next, the flat tube 10, the return tube 14 and the connecting tube 15 are heated (S15: brazing). For example, the flat tube 10, return tube 14 and connecting tube 15 are heated to a temperature of approximately 580-612. The heating of the flat tube 10, the return tube 14 and the connecting tube 15 is, of course, for heating and melting the brazing material.

Then, a brazing filler material layer 19 is formed between the flat tube 10 and the fin 12 to fix the flat tube 10 and the fin 12. In addition, a brazing filler layer 20 is formed between the flat tube 10 and the connecting tube 15, and between the connecting tube 15 and the return tube 14, so that the flat tube 10 and the connecting tube 15 are formed. And the connecting tube 15 and the return tube 14 are fixed.

Next, the oil in the flat tube 10 and the return tube 14 is dried (S17). Then, to coat the corrosion-resistant coating layer on the outer surface of the pin 12 (S19). Then, a hydrophilic coating layer is coated on the outer surface of the corrosion resistant coating layer of the fin 12 (S21).

Next, a leak test for the heat exchanger 1 is performed (S23). The leak test may be performed by detecting a leak by flowing a fluid into the heat exchanger at a predetermined pressure, for example, a pressure of 20 kg / cm 2.

Next, the operation of the heat exchanger will be described.

First, when the heat exchanger 1 acts as an evaporator, the refrigerant in an abnormal state is distributed from the distributor 18 to the plurality of capillaries 16. In this embodiment, since the plurality of tube units are provided, the first tube 10a and the plurality of capillaries 16 respectively included in the plurality of tube units are connected to each other. Thus, a plurality of capillaries 16 are connected to the distributor 18.

When the refrigerant is completely condensed while passing through the condenser, the refrigerant passing through the condenser is in a liquid state. However, the refrigerant which has substantially passed through the condenser cannot be a perfect liquid phase, but becomes an abnormal state of the liquid phase and the gaseous phase.

In this embodiment, since the plurality of capillaries 16 connected by the plurality of first tubes 10a and the connector 17 respectively extend downward and are coupled to the upper surface of the distributor 18, the distributor In 18, the refrigerant can be uniformly distributed to the capillaries 16. That is, only one liquid refrigerant is distributed to one of the capillaries 16, and only the gaseous refrigerant is distributed to the other capillaries 16.

The refrigerant introduced into the capillary 16 undergoes an expansion process, and the expanded refrigerant flows into the first tube 10a. The refrigerant introduced into the first tube 10a is sequentially moved to the header 13 after being evaporated while flowing through the intermediate tube 10b and the second tube 10c.

Here, while the heat exchanger 1 acts as an evaporator, condensed water is generated during the heat exchange process between the refrigerant and the external fluid. At this time, in the case of the present embodiment, the flat tube 10 is coupled through the pin 12, so that the generated condensate can easily flow along the pin 12.

On the other hand, when the heat exchanger acts as a condenser, the refrigerant in the gaseous phase discharged from the compressor flows into the header 13. The refrigerant introduced into the header 13 is distributed to each of the second tubes 10c. The refrigerant moved to the second tube 10c is condensed while passing through the intermediate tube 10b and the first tube 10a in sequence. The condensed refrigerant is then moved to each capillary 16.

According to the present embodiment as described above, since a flat tube in which a plurality of coolant flow paths are formed is used to be coupled to a fin, there is an advantage in that heat exchange efficiency is improved.

In addition, since a plurality of flat tubes and a plurality of fins can be combined at the same time by brazing, it is possible to simply manufacture a heat exchanger.

In addition, since the flat tube and the return tube can be connected by brazing in a state of being inserted into the connecting tube, there is an advantage that can connect a plurality of flat tubes and a plurality of return tubes at the same time.

In the description of this embodiment, the flat tube may be referred to as the first refrigerant tube, the return tube may be referred to as the second refrigerant tube.

1 is a view showing the structure of a heat exchanger according to the present embodiment.

2 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a heat exchanger according to the present embodiment.

3 is a perspective view of a return tube according to the present embodiment;

4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a flat tube and a return tube are connected to a connecting tube.

5 is a flow chart for explaining the manufacturing process of the heat exchanger according to the present embodiment.

Claims (7)

Connecting tube; A first refrigerant tube inserted at one end of the connecting tube; A second refrigerant tube having one end inserted into the connecting tube; And And a fixing layer provided between the connecting tube and the first refrigerant tube and between the connecting tube and the second refrigerant tube to fix the connecting tube and the respective refrigerant tubes. The method of claim 1, The end of each refrigerant tube is in contact with each refrigerant tube is inserted into the connecting tube, A heat exchanger having a coating layer formed around an end of each refrigerant tube in contact with each other. The method of claim 2, A portion of the fixed layer is formed outside the coating layer. The method of claim 1, And the second refrigerant tube connects two adjacent first refrigerant tubes. The method of claim 4, wherein A plurality of refrigerant passages are formed in the first refrigerant tube, The cross-sectional shape of the second refrigerant tube is the same as the cross-sectional shape of the first refrigerant tube. Coupling a brazing filler material around the first refrigerant tube and the second refrigerant tube; Inserting an end portion of each of the refrigerant tubes to which the brazing material is coupled, into a connecting tube; And Heating the brazing material to fix the connecting tube and the respective refrigerant tubes. The method of claim 6, Before or after coupling the brazing filler material to each of the refrigerant tubes, the method of manufacturing a heat exchanger further comprising forming a coating layer around an end of each of the refrigerant tubes.

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