BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It is to be understood that the embodiments and modifications described below are essentially preferred examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, its application, or its use.
≪ First Embodiment >
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The heat exchanger of the present embodiment is an outdoor heat exchanger (23) provided in the air conditioner (10). Hereinafter, the air conditioner 10 will be described first, and then the outdoor heat exchanger 23 will be described in detail.
- Air conditioner -
The air conditioner 10 will be described with reference to Fig.
<Configuration of the air conditioner>
The air conditioner (10) includes an outdoor unit (11) and an indoor unit (12). The outdoor unit 11 and the indoor unit 12 are connected to each other via the liquid side connecting pipe 13 and the gas side connecting pipe 14. In the air conditioner (10), the refrigerant circuit (20) is formed by the outdoor unit (11), the indoor unit (12), the liquid side connecting pipe (13) and the gas side connecting pipe (14).
The refrigerant circuit 20 is provided with a compressor 21, a four-way switching valve 22, an outdoor heat exchanger 23, an expansion valve 24 and an indoor heat exchanger 25. The compressor 21, the four-way switching valve 22, the outdoor heat exchanger 23, and the expansion valve 24 are accommodated in the outdoor unit 11. The outdoor unit (11) is provided with an outdoor fan (15) for supplying outdoor air to the outdoor heat exchanger (23). On the other hand, the indoor heat exchanger (25) is housed in the indoor unit (12). The indoor unit (12) is provided with an indoor fan (16) for supplying indoor air to the indoor heat exchanger (25).
The refrigerant circuit (20) is a closed circuit filled with refrigerant. In the refrigerant circuit 20, the compressor 21 is connected to the first port of the four-way switching valve 22 and the suction pipe thereof to the second port of the four-way switching valve 22, respectively. In the refrigerant circuit 20, the outdoor heat exchanger 23, the expansion valve 24, and the indoor heat exchanger 25 are arranged in order from the third port to the fourth port of the four-way switching valve 22 do.
The compressor (21) is a scroll-type or rotary-type all-hermetic compressor. The four-way selector valve 22 has a first state (a state shown by a solid line in FIG. 1) in which the first port communicates with the third port and a second port communicates with the fourth port, Port and the second port communicates with the third port (the state shown by the broken line in Fig. 1). The expansion valve 24 is a so-called electronic expansion valve.
The outdoor heat exchanger (23) exchanges the outdoor air with the refrigerant. The outdoor heat exchanger 23 will be described later. On the other hand, the indoor heat exchanger 25 exchanges the indoor air with the refrigerant. The indoor heat exchanger (25) is constituted by a so-called cross-fin type pin-and-tube heat exchanger having a heat transfer tube as a circular tube.
≪ Operation of the air conditioner >
The air conditioner (10) selectively performs the cooling operation and the heating operation.
In the refrigerant circuit (20) during the cooling operation, the refrigeration cycle is performed with the four-way switching valve (22) set to the first state. In this state, the refrigerant circulates in the order of the outdoor heat exchanger 23, the expansion valve 24 and the indoor heat exchanger 25, the outdoor heat exchanger 23 functions as a condenser, and the indoor heat exchanger 25 functions as an evaporator . In the outdoor heat exchanger (23), the gas refrigerant flowing in from the compressor (21) radiates heat to the outdoor air and condenses, and the refrigerant after condensation flows out toward the expansion valve (24).
In the refrigerant circuit (20) during the heating operation, the refrigeration cycle is performed in a state where the four-way switching valve (22) is set to the second state. In this state, the refrigerant circulates in the order of the indoor heat exchanger 25, the expansion valve 24, and the outdoor heat exchanger 23, the indoor heat exchanger 25 functions as a condenser, and the outdoor heat exchanger 23, . The refrigerant that has expanded into the gas-liquid two-phase state when it passes through the expansion valve (24) flows into the outdoor heat exchanger (23). The refrigerant flowing into the outdoor heat exchanger (23) absorbs heat from the outdoor air and evaporates, and then flows out toward the compressor (21).
- outdoor heat exchanger -
The outdoor heat exchanger 23 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7 as appropriate. The number of the flat tubes 31 and 32 and the number of the main heat exchanging portions 51a to 51c and the auxiliary heat exchanging portions 52a to 52c shown in the following description are all merely an example.
<Configuration of Outdoor Heat Exchanger>
2 and 3, the outdoor heat exchanger 23 includes a first header collecting tube 60, a second header collecting tube 70, a plurality of flat tubes 31 and 32, And a pin 36 of a second end. The first header collecting tube 60, the second header collecting tube 70, the flat tubes 31 and 32 and the fins 36 are both made of aluminum alloy and are joined to each other by soldering.
The outdoor heat exchanger 23 is divided into a main heat exchanging area 51 and an auxiliary heat exchanging area 52, which will be described later in detail. In the outdoor heat exchanger 23, a part of the flat pipe 32 constitutes the auxiliary heat exchange area 52 and the remaining flat pipe 31 constitutes the main heat exchange area 51.
The first header collecting tube 60 and the second header collecting tube 70 are both formed into an elongated cylindrical shape with both ends closed. 2 and 3, the first header collecting tube 60 is connected to the left end of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 and the second header collecting tube 70 is connected to the right end of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 Respectively. That is, the first header collecting tube 60 and the second header collecting tube 70 are installed such that their axial directions are vertical.
As shown in Fig. 4, the flat tubes 31 and 32 are heat transfer tubes each having a flat circular cross-sectional shape. As shown in Fig. 3, in the outdoor heat exchanger 23, the plurality of flat tubes 31, 32 are arranged in a state in which their extending directions are in the left-right direction, and their flat sides are opposed to each other. In addition, the plurality of flat tubes 31, 32 are arranged up and down at regular intervals from each other, and are substantially parallel to each other. One end of each of the flat tubes 31 and 32 is inserted into the first header collecting tube 60 and the other end thereof is inserted into the second header collecting tube 70.
As shown in Fig. 4, a plurality of fluid passages 34 are formed in each of the flat tubes 31, 32. Each of the fluid passages (34) is a passage extending in the extension direction of the flat pipes (31, 32). In the flat tubes 31 and 32, the plurality of fluid passages 34 are arranged in a line in the width direction (that is, the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction) of the flat tubes 31 and 32. A plurality of fluid passages 34 formed in the flat tubes 31 and 32 communicate with the inner space of the first header collecting tube 60 at one end and communicate with the inner space of the second header collecting tube 70 Communicate with space. The refrigerant supplied to the outdoor heat exchanger 23 exchanges heat with air while flowing through the fluid passages 34 of the flat tubes 31 and 32.
As shown in Fig. 4, the pin 36 is a vertically long plate-like pin formed by pressing a metal plate. A large number of elongated notches 45 extending in the width direction of the fins 36 are formed in the fins 36 from the leading edge of the fins 36 (that is, the edge portion on the windward side). In the pin 36, a plurality of notches 45 are formed at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction (up-and-down direction) of the pin 36. The portion of the cutout 45 on the windward side constitutes the tube insertion portion 46. [ The width of the tube insertion portion 46 in the vertical direction is substantially equal to the thickness of the flat tubes 31 and 32 and the length thereof is substantially equal to the width of the flat tubes 31 and 32. The flat tubes 31 and 32 are inserted into the tube insertion portion 46 of the pin 36 and joined to the peripheral edge portion of the tube insertion portion 46 by brazing. The pin 36 is provided with a louver 40 for promoting heat transfer. The plurality of fins 36 are arranged in the extending direction of the flat tubes 31 and 32 so that a space between adjacent flat tubes 31 and 32 is divided into a plurality of air flow paths 38 through which air flows.
As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the outdoor heat exchanger 23 is divided into two heat exchange areas 51, 52 in the upper and lower directions. In the outdoor heat exchanger 23, the upper heat exchange area is the main heat exchange area 51, and the lower heat exchange area is the auxiliary heat exchange area 52. [
Each of the heat exchange areas 51 and 52 is divided into three heat exchanging parts 51a to 51c and 52a to 52c. That is, in the outdoor heat exchanger 23, each of the main heat exchange region 51 and the auxiliary heat exchange region 52 is divided into a plurality of and the same number of heat exchange units 51a to 51c, 52a to 52c. The number of the heat exchanging sections 51a to 51c, 52a to 52c formed in the heat exchange regions 51 and 52 may be two or four or more.
Specifically, the first main heat exchanging portion 51a, the second main heat exchanging portion 51b, and the third main heat exchanging portion 51c are formed sequentially from the lower side to the upper side in the main heat exchange region 51. [ The first auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52a, the second auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52b and the third auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52c are formed in order from the lower side to the upper side in the auxiliary heat exchange area 52. [ The main heat exchanging parts 51a to 51c and the auxiliary heat exchanging parts 52a to 52c are provided with a plurality of flat pipes 31 and 32, respectively. 3, the number of the flat tubes 31 constituting each of the main heat exchanging portions 51a to 51c is larger than the number of the flat tubes 32 constituting the auxiliary heat exchanging portions 52a to 52c . Therefore, the number of the flat tubes 31 constituting the main heat exchange area 51 is larger than the number of the flat tubes 32 constituting the auxiliary heat exchange area 52. In the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment, the number of flat tubes 32 constituting each of the auxiliary heat exchangers 52a to 52c is three.
As shown in Fig. 3, the inner space of the first header collecting tube 60 is partitioned upward and downward by the partition plate 39a. In the first header collecting tube 60, the space above the partition plate 39a becomes the upper space 61, and the space below the partition plate 39a becomes the lower space 62. [
The upper space 61 constitutes a main communication space corresponding to the main heat exchange area 51. The upper space 61 is a single space communicating with all of the flat tubes 31 constituting the main heat exchange area 51. That is, the upper space 61 communicates with the flat pipe 31 of each of the main heat exchange units 51a to 51c.
The lower space (62) constitutes an auxiliary communication space corresponding to the auxiliary heat exchange area (52). The lower space 62 is divided into the same number (three in this embodiment) of communication chambers 62a to 62c as the auxiliary heat exchanging portions 52a to 52c. The first communication chamber 62a located at the lowest position communicates with all the flat tubes 32 constituting the first auxiliary heat exchange section 52a. The second communication chamber 62b located above the first communication chamber 62a communicates with all the flat tubes 32 constituting the second auxiliary heat exchange section 52b. The third communicating chamber 62c located at the uppermost position communicates with all the flat tubes 32 constituting the third auxiliary heat exchanging section 52c.
The inner space of the second header collecting tube 70 is divided into a main communication space 71 corresponding to the main heat exchange area 51 and an auxiliary communication space 72 corresponding to the auxiliary heat exchange area 52.
The main communication space 71 is vertically partitioned by two partition plates 39c. The partition plate 39c divides the main communication space 71 into the same number (three in this embodiment) of sub-spaces 71a to 71c as that of the main heat exchangers 51a to 51c. The first partial space 71a located at the lowest position communicates with all the flat tubes 31 constituting the first main heat exchanging part 51a. The second partial space 71b located above the first partial space 71a communicates with all the flat tubes 31 constituting the second main heat exchanger 51b. The third partial space 71c located at the uppermost position communicates with all the flat tubes 31 constituting the third main heat exchanging section 51c.
The auxiliary communication space 72 is vertically partitioned by two partition plates 39d. The partition plate 39d divides the auxiliary communication space 72 into the same number (three in this embodiment) of sub-spaces 72a to 72c as the auxiliary heat exchanging units 52a to 52c. The fourth subspace 72a located at the lowest position communicates with all the flat tubes 32 constituting the first auxiliary heat exchanger 52a. The fifth partial space 72b located above the fourth partial space 72a communicates with all the flat tubes 32 constituting the second auxiliary heat exchanger 52b. The sixth partial space 72c located at the uppermost position communicates with all the flat tubes 32 constituting the third auxiliary heat exchanging section 52c.
In the second header collecting tube 70, two connecting pipes 76 and 77 are mounted. These connecting pipes 76 and 77 are all circular tubes.
One end of the first connecting pipe 76 is connected to the second partial space 71b corresponding to the second main heat exchanging part 51b and the other end is connected to the first auxiliary heat exchanging part 52a 4 subspace 72a. One end of the second connecting pipe 77 is connected to the third partial space 71c corresponding to the third main heat exchanging portion 51c and the other end is connected to the second auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52b 5 subspace 72b. In the second header collecting tube 70, a sixth partial space 72c corresponding to the third auxiliary heat exchanging part 52c and a first partial space 71a corresponding to the first main heat exchanging part 51a To form one continuous space.
Thus, in the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment, the first main heat exchanging portion 51a and the third auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52c are connected in series, and the second main heat exchanging portion 51b and the first auxiliary The heat exchanging portion 52a is connected in series, and the third main heat exchanging portion 51c and the second auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52b are connected in series.
As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the liquid side connecting pipe 55 and the gas side connecting pipe 57 are provided in the outdoor heat exchanger 23. The liquid side connecting pipe 55 and the gas side connecting pipe 57 are aluminum alloy members formed into a circular tube shape. The liquid side connecting tube 55 and the gas side connecting tube 57 are connected to the first header collecting tube 60 by soldering.
One end of the liquid side connection pipe 55, which is a tubular member, is connected to the lower portion of the first header collecting tube 60 and communicates with the lower space 62. The other end of the liquid side connecting pipe 55 is connected to a piping 17 made of copper which connects the outdoor heat exchanger 23 and the expansion valve 24 via a joint (not shown).
One end of the gas-side connection pipe (57) is connected to the upper portion of the first header collecting tube (60) and communicates with the upper space (61). The other end of the gas side connecting pipe 57 is connected to a piping 18 made of copper which connects the outdoor heat exchanger 23 and the third port of the four-way switching valve 22 via a joint (not shown) .
≪ Substructure of first header set tube >
The lower structure of the first header collecting tube 60 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7 as appropriate. In this description, a portion of the side of the first header collecting tube 60 on the side of the flat tube 32 is referred to as a " front surface ", and a portion of the side of the first header collecting tube 60, Is referred to as "back surface ".
An upper side partition plate 80, a lower side partition plate 85 and a vertical partition plate 90 are provided in the lower space 62 of the first header collecting tube 60 (see FIG. 5) . The lower space 62 is divided into three communication chambers 62a to 62c and one mixing chamber 63 by these lateral partition plates 80 and 85 and the longitudinal partition plate 90. [ The material of the upper lateral partition plate 80, the lower lateral partition plate 85, and the longitudinal partition plate 90 is an aluminum alloy.
Each of the upper side partition plate 80 and the lower side partition plate 85 is formed in a disk shape to partition the lower space 62 up and down. The upper side partition plate 80 and the lower side partition plate 85 are joined to the first header collection tube 60 by soldering. The upper lateral partition plate 80 is disposed at the boundary between the second auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52b and the third auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52c to partition the second communication chamber 62b and the third communication chamber 62c . The lower lateral partition plate 85 is disposed at the boundary between the first auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52a and the second auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52b and divides the first communication chamber 62a and the second communication chamber 62b .
Slit holes 82 and 87 and through holes 81 and 86 for communication are formed in each of the upper side partition plate 80 and the lower side partition plate 85 (see Figs. 5 and 6) .
The slit holes 82 and 87 are elongated rectangular holes and pass through the lateral partition plates 80 and 85 in the thickness direction. The long sides of the slit holes 82 and 87 are substantially parallel to the end face of the flat tube 32. In each of the lateral partition plates 80 and 85, the slit holes 82 and 87 are located on the back side of the first header collection tube 60. The width of each of the slit holes 82 and 87 is substantially equal to the thickness of the vertical partition plate 90 and the length thereof is substantially equal to the width of the vertical partition plate 90.
The communication through holes 81 and 86 are circular holes and pass through the lateral partition plates 80 and 85 in the thickness direction. The communication through holes 81 and 86 are located on the rear side of the first header collecting tube 60 more than the slit holes 82 and 87 in the respective lateral partition plates 80 and 85. [ The communication through holes 81 and 86 of the upper lateral partition plate 80 and the lower lateral partition plate 85 are equal in diameter to each other.
The longitudinal partition plate 90 is formed into a vertically elongated rectangular plate (see Fig. 7).
The longitudinal partition plate 90 is inserted into the slit hole 82 of the upper lateral partition plate 80 and the slit hole 87 of the lower lateral partition plate 85 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The longitudinal partition plate 90 is opposed to the end face of the flat tube 32 inserted into the first header collecting tube 60.
The lower end of the longitudinal partition plate 90 is in contact with the bottom of the first header collecting tube 60 and the upper end of the longitudinal partition plate 90 is in contact with the partition plate 39a. Both side portions in the width direction (left and right direction in Fig. 6) of the longitudinal partition plate 90 are in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the first header collecting tube 60. The longitudinal partition plate 90 is not bonded to the other members. The longitudinal partition plate 90 is inserted into the slit holes 82 and 87 of the respective lateral partition plates 80 and 85 and is brought into contact with the bottom of the partition plate 39a and the first header collective tube 60, The posture is maintained.
The portion of the vertical partition plate 90 above the upper lateral partition plate 80 is the upper portion 91 and the portion between the upper lateral partition plate 80 and the lower lateral partition plate 85 is the middle portion 92), and the portion below the lower lateral partition plate 85 becomes the lower portion 93 (see Figs. 5 and 6).
The intermediate portion 92 of the longitudinal partition plate 90 is formed in such a manner that the space between the upper lateral partition plate 80 and the lower lateral partition plate 85 is divided into a space A chamber 62b, and a mixing chamber 63 located on the back side of the chamber 62b. That is, in the first header collecting tube 60, the mixing chamber 63 is formed on the back side of the second communication chamber 62b. The mixing chamber 63 is provided with a middle portion 92 of the vertical partition plate 90, an upper lateral partition plate 80, a lower lateral partition plate 85, .
The longitudinal partition plate 90 is formed with two rectangular openings 94a and 94b and two circular through-holes 95 and 95 for communication. The openings 94a and 94b and the communication through holes 95 and 95 penetrate the vertical partition plate 90 in the thickness direction.
The openings 94a and 94b are formed in the upper portion 91 and the lower portion 93 of the vertical partition plate 90, respectively. The upper opening portion 94b occupies most of the upper portion 91 of the longitudinal partition plate 90. [ Therefore, the third communication chamber 62c located above the upper lateral partition plate 80 has substantially both sides of the longitudinal partition plate 90 as one space. The lower opening 94a occupies a large part of the lower portion 93 of the vertical partition plate 90. Therefore, in the first communication chamber 62a located on the lower side of the lower lateral partition plate 85, the portions on both sides of the longitudinal partition plate 90 substantially become one space.
The communication through hole 95 is formed in the middle portion 92 of the longitudinal partition plate 90. The communication through holes 95 are circular holes each having a diameter of about 2 mm and are arranged one above and below the center in the vertical direction of the middle portion 92.
As described above, the longitudinal partition plate 90 is formed with one opening 94a, 94b at each end in the longitudinal direction, and two communication through holes 95, 95 between the opening portions 94a, 94b. . The two openings 94a and 94b and the two communication through holes 95 and 95 are arranged in a line in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal partition plate 90. [ The shape of the vertical partition plate 90 is vertically symmetrical and symmetrical.
As described above, the communicating hole 95 is formed in the longitudinal partition plate 90, the communicating hole 81 is formed in the upper lateral partition plate 80, and the through hole 81 is formed in the lower lateral partition plate 85, (86) are respectively formed. The communicating hole (95) of the longitudinal partition plate (90) communicates the mixing chamber (63) with the second communication chamber (62b). The communicating hole 95 of the upper lateral partition plate 80 communicates the mixing chamber 63 with the third communication chamber 62c. The communicating hole 86 of the lower lateral partition plate 85 communicates the mixing chamber 63 with the first communication chamber 62a. These communication through holes 81, 86, and 95 constitute a distribution passage 65 for distributing the refrigerant in the mixing chamber 63 to the respective communication chambers 62a to 62c.
A connection port 66 for inserting the liquid side connection pipe 55 is formed in the side wall portion of the first header collective tube 60. The connection port 66 is a circular through-hole. The connection port 66 is formed in a portion between the upper side partition plate 80 and the lower side partition plate 85 in the first header collecting tube 60 and communicates with the mixing chamber 63. The center of the connection port 66 is located at the center in the height direction of the mixing chamber 63. 5, the distance L1 from the center of the connection port 66 to the lower side of the upper side partition plate 80 and the distance from the center of the connection port 66 to the upper side of the lower side partition plate 85 (L2) are equal to each other (L1 = L2). The connection port 66 is opposed to a portion between two communication through holes 95 in the longitudinal partition plate 90.
The liquid connection pipe 55 has a shape in which the connection end portion 56 inserted into the connection port 66 of the first header collecting tube 60 has a narrowed end. That is, the inside diameter d of the connecting end portion 56 of the liquid side connecting pipe 55 is smaller than the inside diameter of the other portion. The outer diameter of the connection end portion 56 is substantially equal to the diameter of the connection port 66. [ The diameter of the communication through holes 81 and 86 of the upper side partition plate 80 and the lower side partition plate 85 is smaller than the inner diameter of the connection end 56 of the liquid side connection pipe 55, The diameter of the communication through hole 95 of the longitudinal partition plate 90 is smaller than the diameter of the communication through holes 81 and 86 of the upper side partition plate 80 and the lower side partition plate 85. [ The area of the communication through hole 81 of the upper side partition plate 80 and the area of the communication through hole 86 of the lower side partition plate 85 are set so as to be equal to each other It is equivalent to the total area of the general through hole (95).
<Flow of Refrigerant in Outdoor Heat Exchanger / Case of Condenser>
During the cooling operation of the air conditioner (10), the outdoor heat exchanger (23) functions as a condenser. The flow of the refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger 23 during the cooling operation will be described.
The gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor (21) is supplied to the outdoor heat exchanger (23). The gas refrigerant supplied from the compressor 21 flows into the upper space 61 of the first header collecting tube 60 via the gas side connecting pipe 57 and then flows into each of the flat tubes of the main heat exchange area 51 31). The refrigerant flowing into the fluid passage 34 of the flat tube 31 in each of the main heat exchanging portions 51a to 51c of the main heat exchange region 51 is discharged to the outside air while flowing through the fluid passage 34, And then the second header collecting tube 70 flows into the respective corresponding sub-spaces 71a to 71c.
The refrigerant flowing into the respective partial spaces 71a to 71c of the main communication space 71 is sent to the corresponding subspace 72a to 72c of the auxiliary communication space 72. [ Concretely, the refrigerant flowing into the first partial space 71a of the main communication space 71 flows downward and flows into the sixth partial space 72c of the auxiliary communication space 72. The refrigerant flowing into the second partial space 71b of the main communication space 71 flows into the fourth subspace 72a of the auxiliary communication space 72 through the first connection pipe 76. [ The refrigerant flowing into the third partition space 71c of the main communication space 71 flows into the fifth subspace 72b of the auxiliary communication space 72 through the second connection pipe 77. [
The refrigerant flowing into each of the partial spaces 72a to 72c of the auxiliary communication space 72 is distributed to the respective flat tubes 32 of the corresponding auxiliary heat exchange units 52a to 52c. The refrigerant flowing through the fluid passages 34 of the respective flat tubes 32 is dissipated into the outdoor air to become an excessive cooling liquid and then the lower space 62 of the first header collecting tube 60 is communicated with the corresponding communication room (62a to 62c). Thereafter, the refrigerant flows into the liquid side connecting pipe 55 via the mixing chamber 63, and flows out from the outdoor heat exchanger 23. [
<Flow of Refrigerant in Outdoor Heat Exchanger / Case of Evaporator>
During the heating operation of the air conditioner (10), the outdoor heat exchanger (23) functions as an evaporator. The flow of the refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger 23 during the heating operation will be described.
The outdoor heat exchanger 23 is supplied with a refrigerant that expands when passing through the expansion valve 24 and becomes a gas-liquid two-phase state. The liquid refrigerant in the gas-liquid two-phase state flowing from the expansion valve 24 flows into the mixing chamber 63 in the first header collecting tube 60 through the liquid side connecting pipe 55 inserted in the connection port 66. At this time, when the refrigerant passes through the connection end portion 56 of the liquid side connection pipe 55, the flow velocity thereof rises and the refrigerant at a high flow rate ejected from the liquid side connection pipe 55 flows into the bell- And collide with the plate 90. Thereby, in the mixing chamber 63, the refrigerant is strongly stirred, and the gas refrigerant in the refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant are mixed. That is, the refrigerant in the mixing chamber 63 is homogenized and the humidity of the refrigerant in the mixing chamber 63 becomes substantially uniform.
The refrigerant in the mixing chamber 63 is distributed to the communication chambers 62a to 62c. That is, the refrigerant in the mixing chamber 63 flows into the first communication chamber 62a through the communication through-hole 86 of the lower side partition plate 85 and flows into the communication through- Flows into the second communication chamber 62b through the communication passage 95 and flows into the third communication chamber 62c through the communication through hole 81 of the upper side partition plate 80. [
As described above, the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant in the mixing chamber 63 is homogenized. As a result, the humidity of the refrigerant flowing into the communication chambers 62a to 62c from the mixing chamber 63 becomes substantially the same. As described above, each of the area of the communication through hole 81 of the upper side partition plate 80 and the area of the communication through hole 86 of the lower side partition plate 85 is set to be smaller than the area of the vertical partition plate 90, Of the through-holes (95) of the two communication holes. Thus, the mass flow rate of the refrigerant flowing from the mixing chamber 63 into each of the communication chambers 62a to 62c becomes substantially the same.
The refrigerant flowing into the communication chambers 62a to 62c of the first header collecting tube 60 is distributed to the respective flat tubes 32 of the corresponding auxiliary heat exchanging units 52a to 52c. The refrigerant flowing into the fluid passage (34) of each flat tube (32) absorbs heat from the outdoor air while flowing through the fluid passage (34), and some liquid refrigerant evaporates. The refrigerant that has passed through the fluid passage 34 of the flat pipe 32 flows into the corresponding sub space 72a to 72c of the auxiliary communication space 72 of the second header collecting tube 70. The refrigerant flowing into the sub-spaces 72a to 72c is still in a vapor-liquid two-phase state.
The refrigerant flowing into each of the partial spaces 72a to 72c of the auxiliary communication space 72 is sent to the corresponding partial spaces 71a to 71c of the main communication space 71. [ Specifically, the refrigerant flowing into the fourth sub-space 72a of the auxiliary communication space 72 flows into the second sub-space 71b of the main communication space 71 through the first connecting pipe 76 . The refrigerant flowing into the fifth partial space 72b of the auxiliary communication space 72 flows into the third partial space 71c of the main communication space 71 through the second connecting pipe 77. [ The refrigerant flowing into the sixth partial space 72c of the auxiliary communication space 72 flows upward and flows into the first partial space 71a of the main communication space 71. [
The refrigerant flowing into the respective partial spaces 71a to 71c of the main communication space 71 is distributed to the respective flat tubes 31 of the corresponding main heat exchange units 51a to 51c. The refrigerant flowing through the fluid passage 34 of each of the flat tubes 31 absorbs and evaporates from the outdoor air and is substantially in a gas single phase state before the upper space 61 ). Thereafter, the refrigerant flows out of the outdoor heat exchanger (23) through the gas side connecting pipe (57).
- Effect of the first embodiment -
In the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment functioning as an evaporator, the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows into the mixing chamber 63 in the first header collecting tube 60 through the liquid side connecting pipe 55. At this time, the high-velocity refrigerant ejected from the liquid side connecting pipe 55 collides against the vertical partition plate 90, and the refrigerant in the mixing chamber 63 is strongly stirred.
In the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment, the homogenized gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant in the mixing chamber 63 is distributed to the three communication chambers 62a to 62c, And three flat pipes 32 communicating with the two flat pipes 32c and 62c. Thereby, the humidity of the refrigerant in the gas-liquid two-phase state flowing into the plurality of communication chambers 62a to 62c is made uniform, and as a result, the humidity of the refrigerant flowing into the flat tubes 32 from the communication chambers 62a to 62c .
In the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment, the area of the communication through hole 81 of the upper side partition plate 80 and the area of the communication through hole 86 of the lower side partition plate 85 Is equal to the sum of the areas of the two communication through holes (95) of the vertical partition plate (90). The mass flow rate of the refrigerant flowing from the mixing chamber 63 into each of the communication chambers 62a to 62c is thereby equalized and as a result the mass of the refrigerant flowing into the respective flat tubes 32 from the communication chambers 62a to 62c The flow rate is also equalized.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the outdoor heat exchanger 23 functions as an evaporator, the humidity and the mass flow rate of the refrigerant flowing into the communication chambers 62a to 62c can be equalized. As a result, the humidity and the mass flow rate of the refrigerant flowing into the flat tubes 32 communicating with the communication chambers 62a to 62c can be made uniform, and the performance of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 can be sufficiently exhibited.
In the present embodiment, the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant supplied to the outdoor heat exchanger 23 functioning as an evaporator is homogenized in the mixing chamber 63, and thereafter a plurality of communication chambers 62a to 62c ). Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the influence of the gravity acting on the refrigerant can be suppressed and the refrigerant having substantially the same humidity can be supplied from the mixing chamber 63 to the plurality of communication chambers 62a to 62c arranged up and down.
In the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment, the connection port 66 of the first header collecting tube 60 faces the longitudinal partition plate 90, (66) than the central axis (64) of the main body (60). As a result, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to increase the flow rate of the refrigerant which is ejected from the liquid side connecting pipe 55 and impinges on the longitudinal partition plate 90, and further the refrigerant in the mixing chamber 63 is further stirred to homogenize the refrigerant .
In the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment, the mixing chamber 63 in the first header collecting tube 60 is adjacent to the first communication chamber 62a with the lower side partition plate 85 interposed therebetween And is adjacent to the second communication chamber 62b with the longitudinal partition plate 90 interposed therebetween and adjacent to the third communication chamber 62c with the upper lateral partition plate 80 therebetween. Thereby, the communication through holes 81 and 86 are formed in the respective lateral partition plates 80 and 85 and the communication through hole 95 is formed in the longitudinal partition plate 90, Can communicate with the communication chambers 62a to 62c. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the distributing passage 65 can be constituted by the communication through holes 81, 86, 95 of a simple structure, and the complexity of the structure of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 can be suppressed.
- Modification of First Embodiment -
As described above, the number of communication chambers formed in the first header collecting tube 60 of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 is not limited to three. Here, the lower structure of the first header collecting tube 60 will be described for each of the case of having four communication chambers and the case of having five communication chambers. Here, differences from the structure of the first header collecting tube 60 in the case where the number of the communication chambers 62a to 62c shown in Fig. 5 is three will be described.
First, the lower structure of the first header collecting tube 60 when the number of the communication chambers 62a to 62c is four will be described with reference to Fig. In this case, the auxiliary heat exchange area 52 of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 is divided into the same number (i.e., four) of auxiliary heat exchanging parts 52a to 52d as the communication chambers 62a to 62d. In the auxiliary heat exchange area 52, a first auxiliary heat exchanging part 52a, a second auxiliary heat exchanging part 52b, a third auxiliary heat exchanging part 52c, a fourth auxiliary heat exchanging part 52c, A portion 52d is disposed. Although not shown in FIG. 8, the main heat exchange area 51 of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 is divided into the same number (that is, four) of main heat exchange units as the auxiliary heat exchange units 52a to 52d.
8, an upper side partition plate 80, a lower side partition plate 85, an intermediate transverse partition plate 89, a vertical partition plate 85, and a vertical partition plate 89 are provided in the lower space 62 of the first header collecting tube 60. [ One plate 90 is provided. The lower space 62 is partitioned into four communication chambers 62a to 62d and one mixing chamber 63 by these lateral partition plates 80, 85 and 89 and the longitudinal partition plate 90. In the lower space 62, a first communication chamber 62a, a second communication chamber 62b, a third communication chamber 62c, and a fourth communication chamber 62d are arranged in this order from the lower side to the upper side, . Here, the material of the intermediate lateral partition plate 89 is an aluminum alloy.
The upper lateral partition plate 80 is disposed at the boundary between the third auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52c and the fourth auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52d to partition the third communication chamber 62c and the fourth communication chamber 62d . The intermediate transverse partition plate 89 is disposed at the boundary between the second auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52b and the third auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52c to partition the second communication chamber 62b and the third communication chamber 62c . The intermediate partition plate 89 divides the space on the side of the flat tube 32 from the vertical partition plate 90 up and down. The lower side partition plate 85 is disposed at the boundary between the first auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52a and the second auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52b and divides the first communication chamber 62a and the second communication chamber 62b .
8, the length of the intermediate portion 92 is longer than that of the vertical partition plate 90 shown in Fig. The middle portion 92 of the vertical partition plate 90 is located on the back side (that is, the side opposite to the flat tube 32) of the second communication chamber 62b and the third communication chamber 62c, The communication chamber 62b and the third communication chamber 62c and the mixing chamber 63 are partitioned. The mixing chamber 63 shown in Fig. 8 is constituted by a middle portion 92 of the vertical partition plate 90, an upper lateral partition plate 80, and a lower lateral partition plate 90, similarly to the mixing chamber 63 shown in Fig. (85) and the side wall portion of the first header collecting tube (60).
Four communication through holes 92a and 95b are formed in the middle portion 92 of the longitudinal partition plate 90. [ The lower two communicating through holes 95a are formed in a portion of the longitudinal partition plate 90 adjacent to the second communication chamber 62b and the second communication chamber 62b is communicated with the mixing chamber 63 . The upper two communication through holes 95b are formed in a portion of the longitudinal partition plate 90 adjacent to the third communication chamber 62c and the third communication chamber 62c is communicated with the mixing chamber 93 . These communication through holes 95a and 95b constitute a distribution passage 65 together with the communication through holes 81 and 86 of the upper side partition plate 80 and the lower side partition plate 85. [
The diameters of the communication through holes 95a and 95b formed in the longitudinal partition plate 90 are equal to each other. The diameters of the communication through holes 95a and 95b are smaller than the diameters of the communication through holes 81 and 86 formed in the upper side partition plate 80 and the lower side partition plate 85.
The upper portion 91 of the vertical partition plate 90 shown in Fig. 8 is located in the fourth communication chamber 62d formed on the upper side of the upper lateral partition plate 80. As shown in Fig. The opening portion 94b formed on the upper end of the vertical partition plate 90 occupies most of the upper portion 91 of the vertical partition plate 90 as in the vertical partition plate 90 shown in Fig. Thus, in the fourth communication chamber 62d, the portions on both sides of the longitudinal partition plate 90 substantially become one space.
The connection port 66 shown in Fig. 8 has its center located at the center of the mixing chamber 63 in the height direction. The connection end 56 of the liquid side connection pipe 55 is inserted into the connection port 66. The connecting end portion 56 has a shape with a narrowed end. These points are the same as the structure shown in Fig.
Liquid two-phase refrigerant flows from the liquid side connecting pipe 55 into the mixing chamber 63 and flows out from the liquid side connecting pipe 55 in the state where the outdoor heat exchanger 23 shown in Fig. 8 functions as an evaporator The refrigerant collides against the vertical partition plate 90. The refrigerant in the mixing chamber 63 is distributed to the four communication chambers 62a to 62d. That is to say, the refrigerant in the mixing chamber 63 flows into the first communication chamber 62a through the communication through hole 86 of the lower lateral partition plate 85, Passes through the hole 95a and flows into the second communication chamber 62b and flows into the third communication chamber 62c through the communication through hole 95b on the upper side of the longitudinal partition plate 90 and the upper side partition plate Through the communication through hole 81 of the first communication chamber 62a and the fourth communication chamber 62d.
Next, when the number of the communication chambers 62a to 62e is five, the bottom structure of the first header collecting tube 60 will be described with reference to Fig. In this case, the auxiliary heat exchange area 52 of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 is divided into the same number (i.e., five) of auxiliary heat exchanging parts 52a to 52e as the communication chambers 62a to 62e. In the auxiliary heat exchange area 52, a first auxiliary heat exchanging part 52a, a second auxiliary heat exchanging part 52b, a third auxiliary heat exchanging part 52c, a fourth auxiliary heat exchanging part 52c, A second auxiliary heat exchanging part 52e, and a fifth auxiliary heat exchanging part 52e. 9, the main heat exchange area 51 of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 is divided into the same number (that is, five) of main heat exchange units as the auxiliary heat exchange units 52a to 52e.
9, one upper side partition plate 80, a lower side partition plate 85, and a vertical partition plate 90 are provided in the lower space 62 of the first header collecting tube 60 And two intermediate lateral partition plates 89a and 89b are disposed. The lower space 62 is partitioned into five communication chambers 62a to 62e and one mixing chamber 63 by these lateral partition plates 80, 85, 89a, 89b and the longitudinal partition plate 90 . In the lower space 62, a first communication chamber 62a, a second communication chamber 62b, a third communication chamber 62c, a fourth communication chamber 62d, And a fifth communication chamber 62e are disposed. Here, the material of the intermediate lateral partition plates 89a and 89b is an aluminum alloy.
The upper lateral partition plate 80 is disposed at the boundary between the fourth auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52d and the fifth auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52e to partition the fourth communication chamber 62d and the fifth communication chamber 62e . The upper intermediate partition plate 89b is disposed at the boundary between the third auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52c and the fourth auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52d so that the third communication chamber 62c and the fourth communication chamber 62d It divides. The lower intermediate partition plate 89a is disposed at the boundary between the second auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52b and the third auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52c and the second communication chamber 62b and the third communication chamber 62c It divides. Each of the intermediate lateral partition plates 89a and 89b vertically divides the space on the side of the flat tube 32 from the longitudinal partition plate 90. [ The lower lateral partition plate 85 is disposed at the boundary between the first auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52a and the second auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52b and divides the first communication chamber 62a and the second communication chamber 62b .
9, the length of the intermediate portion 92 is longer than that of the vertical partition plate 90 shown in Fig. The intermediate portion 92 of the vertical partition plate 90 is connected to the rear side of the second communication chamber 62b, the third communication chamber 62c and the fourth communication chamber 62d (that is, the flat pipe 32) And the third communication chamber 62c and the fourth communication chamber 62d and the mixing chamber 63. The second communication chamber 62b communicates with the third communication chamber 62c and the fourth communication chamber 62d. The mixing chamber 63 shown in Fig. 9 is constituted by the middle portion 92 of the longitudinal partition plate 90, the upper lateral partition plate 80, the lower lateral partition plate 80, (85), and a side wall portion of the first header collecting tube (90).
Six communication through holes 95a to 95c are formed in the middle portion 92 of the longitudinal partition plate 90. [ The lower two communication through holes 95a are formed in a portion of the intermediate portion 92 adjacent to the second communication chamber 62b so as to communicate the second communication chamber 62b with the mixing chamber 63 . The middle two communication through holes 95b are formed in a portion of the intermediate portion 92 adjacent to the third communication chamber 62c so as to communicate the third communication chamber 62c with the mixing chamber 63 . The upper two communication through holes 95c are formed in a portion of the intermediate portion 92 adjacent to the fourth communication chamber 62d so as to communicate the fourth communication chamber 62d with the mixing chamber 63 . The communication through holes 95a to 95c constitute a distribution passage 65 together with the communication through holes 81 and 86 of the upper side partition plate 80 and the lower side partition plate 85. [
The diameters of the communication through holes 95a to 95c formed in the class partition plate 90 are equal to each other. The diameters of the communication through holes 95a to 95c are smaller than the diameters of the communication through holes 81 and 86 formed in the upper side partition plate 80 and the lower side partition plate 85.
An upper portion 91 of the vertical partition plate 90 shown in Fig. 9 is located in the fifth communication chamber 62e formed on the upper side of the upper lateral partition plate 80. As shown in Fig. The opening portion 94b formed on the upper end of the vertical partition plate 90 occupies most of the upper portion 91 of the vertical partition plate 90 as in the vertical partition plate 90 shown in Fig. Therefore, in the fifth communication chamber 62e, both side portions of the longitudinal partition plate 90 substantially become one space.
The connection port 66 shown in Fig. 9 has its center located at the center of the mixing chamber 63 in the height direction. The connection end 56 of the liquid side connection pipe 55 is inserted into the connection port 66. The shape of the connecting member 56 is narrowed. These points are the same as the structure shown in Fig.
Liquid two-phase refrigerant flows from the liquid side connecting pipe 55 into the mixing chamber 63 and flows out from the liquid side connecting pipe 55 in the state where the outdoor heat exchanger 23 shown in Fig. 9 functions as an evaporator The refrigerant collides against the vertical partition plate 90. The refrigerant in the mixing chamber 63 is distributed to the five communication chambers 62a to 62e. That is to say, the refrigerant in the mixing chamber 63 flows into the first communication chamber 62a through the communication through hole 86 of the lower lateral partition plate 85, Flows into the second communication chamber 62b through the hole 95a and flows into the third communication chamber 62c through the communication through hole 95b in the middle of the longitudinal partition plate 90 so that the longitudinal partition plate 90 Passes through the communication through hole 95c on the upper side into the fourth communication chamber 62d and flows into the fifth communication chamber 62e through the communication through hole 81 of the upper side partition plate 80 .
≪ Second Embodiment >
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment differs from the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the first embodiment in that the upper side partition plate 80, the lower side partition plate 85 and the longitudinal partition plate 90 The configuration is changed. Here, the difference between the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment and the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the first embodiment will be described.
10, the communication through holes 81 and 86 are not formed in the upper side partition plate 80 and the lower side partition plate 85 of the present embodiment. 11, the width w1 of the slit hole is larger than the thickness t of the vertical partition plate 90 in each of the upper lateral partition plate 80 and the lower lateral partition plate 85. [ A gap 83 is formed between the upper lateral partition plate 80 and the longitudinal partition plate 90 inserted in the slit hole 82 and the third communication chamber 62c communicate with the mixing chamber 63. A gap 88 is formed between the lower lateral partition plate 85 and the longitudinal partition plate 90 inserted in the slit hole 87 and the first communication chamber 62a communicate with the mixing chamber 63.
As shown in Fig. 10, the communicating hole 95 is not formed in the longitudinal partition plate 90 of the present embodiment. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 11, the width w2 of the longitudinal partition plate 90 is narrower than that of the longitudinal partition plate 90 of the first embodiment shown in Fig. Thereby, a gap 96 is formed between both side portions in the width direction of the longitudinal partition plate 90 (left and right direction in Fig. 11) and the inner peripheral surface of the first header collecting tube 60, and these gaps 96 And the second communication chamber (62b) communicates with the mixing chamber (63).
Thus, in the first header collecting tube 60 of the present embodiment, the mixing chamber 63 communicates with any one of the communication chambers 62a to 62c via the gaps 83, 88, and 96 described above. That is, in the present embodiment, these gaps 83, 88, and 96 constitute the distribution passage 65.
Liquid two-phase refrigerant flowed into the mixing chamber 63 from the liquid side connecting pipe 55 in the state where the outdoor heat exchanger 23 functions as an evaporator flows through the lower side partition plate 85 and the vertical partition plate 90 And flows into the first communication chamber 62a through the gap 88 of the first header collecting tube 60 and the gap 96 between the side partition wall 60 and the longitudinal partition plate 90 to the second communication chamber 62b And flows into the third communication chamber 62c through the gap 83 between the upper lateral partition plate 80 and the longitudinal partition plate 90. [
≪ Third Embodiment >
A third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment differs from the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the second embodiment in that the upper side partition plate 80, the lower side partition plate 85 and the longitudinal partition plate 90 The configuration is changed. Here, the difference between the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment and the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the second embodiment will be described.
12 and 13, in the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment, as in the case of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the first embodiment, one communicating through hole (not shown) is formed in the upper lateral partition plate 80 One through hole 86 is formed in the lower lateral partition plate 85 and two communication through holes 95 and 95 are formed in the vertical partition plate 90 respectively.
In the upper side partition plate 80, a through hole 81 for communication, which is a circular through hole, is formed in the rear side of the first header collecting tube 60 rather than the slit hole 82. A gap 83 is formed between the upper lateral partition plate 80 and the vertical partition plate 90 inserted in the slit hole 82 as in the second embodiment. The third communication chamber 62c communicates with the mixing chamber 63 via the clearance 83 and the communication through hole 81 in the first header collector pipe 60 of the present embodiment.
In the lower lateral partition plate 85, a circular through-hole 86 for communication is formed on the rear side of the first header collecting tube 60 than the slit hole 87. A gap 88 is formed between the lower lateral partition plate 85 and the vertical partition plate 90 inserted in the slit hole 87 as in the second embodiment. The first communication chamber 62a communicates with the mixing chamber 63 via the clearance 88 and the communication through hole 86 in the first header collecting tube 60 of the present embodiment.
In the intermediate portion 92 of the longitudinal partition plate 90, two communication through holes 95, which are circular through holes, are formed with an interval therebetween. A gap 96 is formed between both side portions of the longitudinal partition plate 90 in the width direction (lateral direction in Fig. 13) and the inner peripheral surface of the first header collecting tube 60, as in the second embodiment. The second communication chamber 62b communicates with the mixing chamber 63 via the gap 96 and the communication through hole 95 in the first header collecting tube 60 of the present embodiment.
As described above, in the first header collecting tube 60 of the present embodiment, the mixing chamber 63 is provided with the clearances 83, 88, 96 and the communication through holes 81, 86, And communicates with one communication chamber 62a to 62c. That is, in the present embodiment, these clearances 83, 88, and 96 and the communication through holes 81, 86, and 95 constitute the distribution passage 65.
Liquid two-phase refrigerant flowing into the mixing chamber 63 from the liquid side connecting pipe 55 in the state where the outdoor heat exchanger 23 functions as an evaporator flows through the lower side partition plate 85 and the longitudinal partition plate 90 Through the communication gap 86 of the lower lateral partition plate 85 into the first communication chamber 62a and the sidewall of the first header collection tube 60 and the vertical partition Passes through any one of the clearance 96 of the plate 90 and the communication through hole 95 of the longitudinal partition plate 90 to flow into the second communication chamber 62b and the upper lateral partition plate 80, Passes through one of the clearance 83 of the plate 90 and the communication through hole 81 of the upper lateral partition plate 80 and flows into the third communication chamber 62c.
≪ Fourth Embodiment >
A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment differs from the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the first embodiment in that the upper side partition plate 80, the lower side partition plate 85 and the longitudinal partition plate 90 The configuration is changed. Here, the difference between the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment and the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the first embodiment will be described.
14, the upper side partition plate 80 and the lower side partition plate 85 of the present embodiment are arranged such that only the portion of the lower space 62 closer to the flat tube 32 than the longitudinal partition plate 90 is vertically It divides. The mixing chamber 63 of the present embodiment is adjacent to all the communication chambers 62a to 62c with the longitudinal partition plate 90 therebetween.
In the longitudinal partitioning plate 90 of the present embodiment, the openings 94a and 94b are not formed. The longitudinal partition plate 90 is formed with two communication through holes 95a to 95c in the upper portion 91, the middle portion 92 and the lower portion 93, respectively. The diameters of the communication through holes 95a to 95c are equal to each other. The communication through hole 95a formed in the lower portion 93 communicates the first communication chamber 62a with the mixing chamber 63. [ The communication through hole 95b formed in the intermediate portion 92 communicates the second communication chamber 62b with the mixing chamber 63. [ The communication through hole 95c formed in the upper portion 91 communicates the third communication chamber 62c with the mixing chamber 63. [
In the present embodiment, the communication through holes 95a to 95c formed in the longitudinal partition plate 90 constitute the distribution passage 65. [ Liquid two-phase refrigerant flowing into the mixing chamber 63 from the liquid side connecting pipe 55 in the state where the outdoor heat exchanger 23 functions as an evaporator flows through the communication through holes 95a Flows into the first communication chamber 62a through the communicating hole 95b of the intermediate portion 92 and flows into the second communication chamber 62b and passes through the upper portion 95c to the third communication chamber 62b, And flows into the chamber 62c.
≪ Fifth Embodiment >
A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment is a modification of the structure of the lower portion of the first header collecting tube 60 in the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the first embodiment. Here, the difference between the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment and the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the first embodiment will be described.
As shown in Fig. 15, the first header collecting tube 60 of this embodiment extends downward from the first header collecting tube 60 of the first embodiment shown in Fig. In the first header collecting tube (60), a bottom partition plate (101) is added. The lower space 62 of the first header collecting tube 60 is divided up and down by the upper side partition plate 80, the lower side partition plate 85, and the bottom partition plate 101. That is, the lower space 62 is divided into the mixing chamber 63, the first communication chamber 62a, the second communication chamber 62b, and the third communication chamber 62c in this order from the lower side to the upper side Respectively.
The bottom partition plate (101) is provided with a through hole (102) for communication constituting a connection passage. The communication through-hole 102 is a circular hole penetrating the bottom partition plate 101 in the thickness direction. A first communication path 103 and a second communication path 104, which constitute a connection passage, are connected to the bottom partition plate 101. Each of the communicating tubes 103 and 104 is a thin tube. One end of the first communicating tube 103 is joined to the bottom partition plate 101 and the other end thereof is joined to the lower lateral partition plate 85. One end of the second communicating tube 104 is joined to the bottom partition plate 101 and the other end thereof is joined to the upper lateral partition plate 80.
The communicating hole 102 of the bottom partition plate 101 and the first communicating pipe 103 and the second communicating pipe 104 constitute a distributing passage 65 in this embodiment. That is, the mixing chamber 63 is communicated with the first communication chamber 62a via the communicating hole 102 of the bottom partition plate 101, and is communicated with the second communication chamber 103 via the first communication pipe 103. [ And communicates with the third communication chamber 62c through the second communication pipe 104. [ 16, the communication through-hole 102, the first communicating tube 103, and the second communicating tube 104 of the bottom partition plate 101 are located at the center of the first header collecting tube 60 And is disposed at the apex of an equilateral triangle 105 about the axis 64.
15, a mixing partition plate 110 is provided in the first header collecting tube 60 of the present embodiment. The mixing partition plate 110 divides the mixing chamber 63 into upper and lower portions. In the mixing chamber 63 of the present embodiment, the upper portion of the mixing partition plate 110 becomes the upper mixing chamber 63a and the lower portion of the mixing partition plate 110 becomes the lower mixing chamber 63b . At the center of the mixing partition plate 110, a mixing through hole 111 is formed. The mixing through-hole 111 is a circular hole penetrating the mixing partition plate 110 in the thickness direction. The diameter of the mixing through-hole 111 is approximately 3 mm and the diameter of the communication through-hole 102 of the bottom partition plate 101, the inner diameter of the first communication pipe 103, It is larger than the inside diameter. The diameter of the mixing through-hole 111 is smaller than the inside diameter of the connecting end 56 of the liquid side connecting pipe 55 and the diameter of the connecting port 66.
The connection port 66 of the present embodiment is formed in a portion of the side wall portion of the first header collecting tube 60 below the mixing partition plate 110. The connection end 56 of the liquid side connection pipe 55 is inserted into the connection port 66 as in the first embodiment. The liquid side connecting pipe 55 communicates with the lower side mixing chamber 63b.
Liquid two-phase refrigerant flowing from the liquid side connecting pipe 55 into the lower mixing chamber 63b in a state where the outdoor heat exchanger 23 functions as an evaporator is introduced into the mixing through- (111) to the upper mixing chamber (63a). When the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant passes through the mixing through-hole 111, the gas refrigerant in the refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant are mixed. As a result, the homogenized gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows into the upper mixing chamber 63a. That is, the humidity of the refrigerant in the upper mixing chamber 63a becomes substantially uniform. The homogenized gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant in the upper mixing chamber 63a is distributed to each of the communication chambers 62a to 62c. Specifically, the refrigerant in the upper mixing chamber 63a flows into the first communication chamber 62a through the communication through-hole 102 of the bottom partition plate 101, passes through the first communication pipe 103, Flows into the communication chamber 62b, flows into the third communication chamber 62c through the second communication pipe 104,
≪ Sixth Embodiment >
A sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment is a modification of the configuration of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the first embodiment. Here, the difference between the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment and the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the first embodiment will be described.
As shown in Fig. 17, in the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment, the number of flat pipes 32 constituting the third auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52c is five. The number of the flat tubes 32 constituting the first auxiliary heat exchanging part 52a and the second auxiliary heat exchanging part 52b is three in each case is the same as that of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the first embodiment.
18 and 19, in the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment, the five flat tubes 32 communicate with the third communication chamber 62c of the first header collecting tube 60. In the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment, the five flat tubes 32 communicate with the sixth partial space 72c of the auxiliary communication space 72 of the second header collecting tube 70 17).
19, in the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment, the diameter of the communication through hole 81 of the upper side partition plate 80 is larger than the diameter of the communication through hole 81 of the lower side partition plate 85 86).
As shown in Fig. 20, the longitudinal partition plate 90 of the present embodiment has a longer rectangular plate shape than the longitudinal partition plate 90 of the first embodiment.
In the longitudinal partition plate 90 of the present embodiment, two rectangular openings 94a and 94b are formed similarly to the first embodiment. One opening 94a is disposed on the lower end of the vertical partition plate 90 and the other opening 94b is disposed on the upper end of the vertical partition plate 90, respectively. As in the first embodiment, the openings 94a and 94b penetrate the vertical partition plate 90 in the thickness direction. The sizes of the openings 94a and 94b are the same as those of the first embodiment.
In the longitudinal partition plate 90 of the present embodiment, four circular through holes 97, 97, 97, and 97 are formed. The four through holes 97, 97, 97, and 97 are formed at a certain interval from each other between the two openings 94a and 94b of the vertical partition plate 90. Each of the through holes 97 penetrates the vertical partition plate 90 in the thickness direction.
As described above, the vertical partition plate 90 is provided with four through-holes 97, 97, 97 between the two openings 94a, 94b, one opening 94a, 94b is formed at each end in the longitudinal direction thereof, , 97 are formed. The two openings 94a and 94b and the four through holes 97, 97, 97 and 97 are arranged in a line in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal partition plate 90. [ The shape of the vertical partition plate 90 is vertically symmetrical and also symmetrical.
The longitudinal partition plate 90 of this embodiment is inserted into the slit holes 82 and 87 of the upper lateral partition plate 80 and the lower lateral partition plate 85 as in the first embodiment and the partition plate 39a And the bottom of the first header collecting tube 60 (see Figs. 18 and 19). In this state, the bottom partition plate 90 is positioned such that the lower opening 94a is positioned below the lower lateral partition plate 85 and the lower two through holes 97, 97 are located below the upper lateral partition plate 80. [ And the uppermost opening 94b and the uppermost one through hole 97 are located above the upper lateral partition plate 80. In this case, The second through hole 97 from the top is located in the slit hole 82 of the upper lateral partition plate 80.
As described above, the longitudinal partition plate 90 provided in the first header collecting tube 60 is formed such that two lower through holes 97, 97 are formed between the upper lateral partition plate 80 and the lower lateral partition plate 85 Located. The two through holes 97 and 97 located between the upper side partition plate 80 and the lower side partition plate 85 are formed in the through hole 97 for connecting the mixing chamber 63 to the second communication chamber 62b Thereby constituting the ball 95. That is, in the longitudinal partition plate 90 of the present embodiment, two through-holes 97, 97, 97, 97 are provided between the upper lateral partition plate 80 and the lower lateral partition plate 85, Only the holes 97 and 97 constitute the communication through hole 95.
- Effect of the sixth embodiment -
If the shape of the compartment partition plate 60 is asymmetric or asymmetrical or asymmetrical, or if the compartment partition plate 90 is not provided in the first header collection tube 60 in a specific posture, the outdoor heat exchanger 23 It will not function normally.
In contrast, in the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment, the number of the flat tubes 32 constituting the third auxiliary heat exchanger 52c is larger than the number of the first auxiliary heat exchanger 52a or the second auxiliary heat exchanger 52b , The shape of the vertical partition plate 90 is vertically symmetrical and also symmetrical in the left and right direction. This eliminates the possibility that the bill dividing plate 90 is mounted in the wrong position on the first header collecting tube 60 during the manufacturing process of the outdoor heat exchanger 23. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to simplify the manufacturing process of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 in which the number of the flat pipes 32 constituting each of the auxiliary heat exchanging portions 52a to 52c is different, Can be reduced.
- Modification of Sixth Embodiment -
The outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment is arranged so that the connecting position of the gas side 57 with respect to the first header collecting tube 60 and the connecting position of the connecting pipes 76 and 77 with respect to the second header collecting tube 70 May be changed.
As shown in Fig. 21, in the first header collecting tube 60 of this modified example, near the center in the vertical direction of the portion constituting the upper space 61 (i.e., the portion above the partition plate 39a) (57) are connected. In the second header collecting tube 70 of the present modification example, the first connecting pipe 76 is connected to the fifth partial space 72b corresponding to the second auxiliary heat exchanging part 52b, (77) is connected to the fourth subspace (72a) corresponding to the first sub heat exchanging part (52a). 17, in that the first subspace 71a and the sixth subspace 72c form one continuous space.
Thus, in the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present modification example, the first main heat exchanging portion 51a and the third auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52c are connected in series, and the second main heat exchanging portion 51b and the second auxiliary heat exchanging portion And the third main heat exchanging portion 51c and the first auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52a are connected in series.
≪ Seventh Embodiment &
A seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described. The outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment is a measure for reducing the generation rate of defective products in the manufacturing process to the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the sixth embodiment.
Three kinds of partition plates 39a, 80, and 85 are provided in the first header collecting tube 60 of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the sixth embodiment shown in Fig. That is, the first header collecting tube 60 is provided with a partition plate 39a in which no through holes are formed, an upper side partition plate 80 in which a communication through hole 81 and a slit hole 82 having a slightly larger diameter are formed, And a lower side partition plate 85 formed with a through hole 86 for communication and a slit hole 87 with a small diameter.
In order for the outdoor heat exchanger 23 to function normally, it is necessary that these three kinds of partition plates 39a, 80, 85 are mounted at the correct positions of the first header collecting tube 60. That is, when these three kinds of partition plates 39a, 80, and 95 are installed at the wrong position of the first header collecting tube 60 in the manufacturing process of the outdoor heat exchanger 23, defective products that do not function normally are generated .
The three kinds of partition plates 39a, 80, and 85 described above in the manufacturing process of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 must be located at the precise positions of the first header collector pipe 60 in the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of this embodiment A countermeasure to be mounted is performed. Here, the difference between the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment and the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the sixth embodiment will be described.
22, insertion holes 161 to 163 for inserting the partition plates 39a, 80, 85 are formed in the body member 160 constituting the first header collecting tube 60 of the present embodiment . The body member 160 is a circular tubular member made of an aluminum alloy that occupies most of the first header collecting tube 60. In the body member 160 of the first header collecting tube 60, all the flat tubes 31 and 32 are inserted.
The body member 160 is provided with an insertion hole 161 for mounting the partition plate 39a, an upper insertion hole 162 for mounting the upper lateral partition plate 80, and a lower lateral partition plate 85 A lower insertion hole 163 for mounting is formed. These insertion holes 161 to 163 are slit-shaped through-holes formed on the back surface side of the body member 160 (that is, the side opposite to the side on which the flat tubes 31 and 32 are inserted).
In the body member 160, the insertion hole 161 is formed at the boundary portion, the lower end portion, and the upper end portion of the first main heat exchanging portion 51a and the third auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52c. The slit depth D1 of the insertion hole 161 (that is, the length from the back side top portion of the body member 160 to the end portion of the insertion hole 161) is half the outer diameter dh of the body member 160 (Dh / 2 < D1). The width of the insertion hole 161 is slightly larger than the thickness t1 of the partition plate 39a.
In the body member 160, the upper insertion hole 162 is formed at the boundary between the second auxiliary heat exchange section 52b and the third auxiliary heat exchange section 52c. The slit depth D2 of the upper insertion hole 162 (that is, the length from the top of the back side of the body member 160 to the end of the upper insertion hole 162) ) (D2 = dh / 2). That is, the slit depth D2 of the upper insertion hole 162 is shorter than the slit depth D1 of the insertion hole 161 (D2 <D1). The width of the upper insertion hole 162 is slightly larger than the thickness t2 of the upper lateral partition plate 80.
The lower insertion hole 163 is formed at the boundary between the first auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52a and the second auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52b. The slit depth D3 of the lower insertion hole 163 (that is, the length from the back side top portion of the body member 160 to the end portion of the lower insertion hole 163) (D1 < D3). The width of the lower insertion hole 163 is slightly larger than the thickness t3 of the lower lateral partition plate 85.
As described above, the slit depth D1 of the insertion hole 161, the slit depth D2 of the upper insertion hole 162, and the slit depth D3 of the lower insertion hole 163 are different from each other. The thickness t1 of the partition plate 39a is about half the thickness t2 of the upper lateral partition plate 80 and the thickness t3 of the lower lateral partition plate 85 as described later. Thus, the width of the insertion hole 161 is about half the width of the upper insertion hole 162 and the lower insertion hole 163. As described above, the insertion hole 161, the upper insertion hole 162, and the lower insertion hole 163 are different from each other in shape.
The body member 160 is formed with an insertion hole 164 for fitting the protrusion 183 of the upper lateral partition plate 80 to be described later at a position opposite to the upper insertion hole 162 .
23, each of the partition plate 39a, the upper lateral partition plate 80, and the lower lateral partition plate 85 includes the main body disk portions 131, 181, 186, the sealing portions 132, 182 , 187) having a constant thickness.
The body disk portions 131, 181 and 186 of the partition plates 39a, 80 and 85 are circular disks whose outer diameter di is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the body member 160. [ The sealing portions 132, 182 and 187 of the partition plates 39a, 80 and 85 are formed along a part of the outer periphery of the body plate portions 131, 181 and 186. Specifically, the sealing portions 132, 182, and 187 protrude radially outward from the outer periphery of the main body disk portions 131, 181, and 186, and have a constant width in the radial direction. The outer diameter d0 of the sealing portions 132, 182 and 187 of the partition plates 39a, 80 and 85 is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the body member 160. [
The thickness t1 of the partition plate 39a is, for example, about 2 mm. The thickness t2 of the upper lateral partition plate 80 is, for example, about 4 mm. And the thickness t3 of the lower lateral partition plate 85, for example, about 4 mm. That is, the partition plate 39a is thinner than the upper lateral partition plate 80 and the lower lateral partition plate 85, and the thicknesses of the upper lateral partition plate 80 and the lower lateral partition plate 85 are equal to each other (t1 <t2 = T3).
23 (A), the length of the partition plate 39a in the circumferential direction of the sealing portion 132 is longer than half of the outer circumferential length of the body plate portion 131. As shown in Fig. The longitudinal length from the top to the end of the sealing portion 132 is substantially equal to the slit depth D1 of the insertion hole 161. [ That is, the sealing portion 132 of the partition plate 39a has a shape corresponding to the insertion hole 161.
The length of the upper lateral partition plate 80 in the circumferential direction of the sealing portion 182 is substantially equal to half the outer circumferential length of the main body disk portion 181 as shown in FIG. 23 (B). The front and rear lengths from the top to the end of the sealing portion 182 are substantially equal to the slit depth D2 of the upper insertion hole 162. That is, the sealing portion 182 of the upper lateral partition plate 80 has a shape corresponding to the upper insertion hole 162. In the upper lateral partition plate 80, a protrusion 183 is formed. The protruding portion 183 protrudes from the outer periphery of the main body disc portion 181 and is disposed on the side opposite to the sealing portion 182. [ The upper side partition plate 80 is formed with a through hole 81 for communication and a slit hole 82 in a semicircular portion on the side of the sealing portion 182 in the main body disk portion 181.
23 (C), the length in the circumferential direction of the sealing portion 187 is longer than half of the outer circumferential length of the body disc portion 186 in the lower transverse partition plate 85. The front and rear lengths from the top to the end of the sealing portion 187 are substantially equal to the slit depth D3 of the lower insertion hole 163. That is, the sealing portion 187 of the lower lateral partition plate 85 has a shape corresponding to the lower insertion hole 163. The lower side partition plate 85 is formed with a through hole 86 for communication and a slit hole 87 in the semicircular portion of the body disc portion 186 on the side of the sealing portion 187 side.
22, in the manufacturing process of the outdoor heat exchanger 23, the partition plate 39a is inserted into each insertion hole 161 of the body member 160 from the outside of the body member 160, The upper lateral partition plate 80 is inserted into the upper insertion hole 162 of the body member 160 from the outside of the body member 160 and the lower lateral partition plate 85 is inserted into the lower insertion hole 163 of the body member 160 Is inserted from the outside of the body member (160).
As shown in Figs. 24A and 24B, the partition plate 39a inserted into the insertion hole 161 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the body disc portion 131 to the inner peripheral surface of the body member 160, The end face and the upper and lower surfaces of the body 132 come into contact with the peripheral edge of the insertion hole 161 in the body member 160. The insertion hole 161 of the body member 160 is blocked by the sealing portion 132 of the partition plate 39a. The clearance between the partition plate 39a and the body member 160 is clogged by soldering.
The partition plate 39a that is inserted into the insertion hole 161 located at the boundary between the first main heat exchanging portion 51a and the third auxiliary heat exchanging portion 52c is formed in the upper space (61) and the lower space (62). The partition plate 39a which is inserted into the insertion hole 161 located at the lower end of the body member 160 closes the lower end of the body member 160 and is inserted into the insertion hole 161 located at the upper end of the body member 160, The partition plate 39a sandwiched by the partition wall 161 closes the upper end of the body member 160. [
As shown in Figs. 24 (A) and 24 (C), the upper lateral partition plate 80 inserted into the upper insertion hole 162 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the body disc portion 181 against the inner peripheral surface of the body member 160 The end face and the upper and lower surfaces of the sealing portion 182 come into contact with the periphery of the upper insertion hole 162 in the body member 160. [ The upper insertion hole 162 of the body member 160 is blocked by the sealing portion 182 of the upper lateral partition plate 80. [ The protrusion 183 of the upper lateral partition plate 80 is fitted in the insertion hole 164 of the body member 160. [ The gap between the upper lateral partition plate 80 and the body member 160 is clogged by soldering.
24A and 24D, the lower lateral partition plate 85 fitted in the lower insertion hole 163 is in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the body disc portion 186 in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the body member 160 And the end face and the bottom face of the sealing portion 187 come into contact with the periphery of the lower insertion hole 163 in the body member 160. [ The lower insertion hole 163 of the body member 160 is blocked by the sealing portion 187 of the lower side partition plate 85. [ The clearance between the lower lateral partition plate 85 and the body member 160 is clogged by soldering.
- Effect of Seventh Embodiment -
The thickness t1 of the partition plate 39a is approximately half the thicknesses t2 and t3 of the upper lateral partition plate 80 and the lower lateral partition plate 85. In this embodiment, The width of the lower insertion hole 161 becomes approximately half the width of the upper insertion hole 162 and the lower insertion hole 163. [ As a result, it is impossible to fit the upper side partition plate 80 and the lower side partition plate 85 into the insertion hole 161. In addition, when the partition plate 39a is inserted into the upper insertion hole 162 and the lower insertion hole 163, a wide gap is formed so as to be seen even at first glance. Therefore, the operator who performs the assembling operation of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 can recognize that the mounting position of the partition plate 39a is wrong.
In the present embodiment, the slit depth D2 of the upper insertion hole 162 is shorter than the longitudinal length D3 of the sealing portion 187 of the lower lateral partition plate 85. 25 (A), when the lower lateral partition plate 85 is mistakenly fitted into the upper insertion hole 162, before the body circular plate portion 186 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the body member 160, The end of the portion 187 contacts the body member 160 and the sealing portion 187 protrudes outward from the body member 160. [ In other words, the upper insertion hole 162 can not be blocked by the sealing portion 187 of the lower lateral partition plate 85. Therefore, the operator who performs the assembly work of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 knows that the mounting position of the lower side partition plate 85 is wrong.
Although the protrusion 183 is formed on the upper lateral partition plate 80 in the present embodiment, the insertion hole 164 is formed on the opposite side of the lower insertion hole 163 in the body member 160 Do not. 25B, when the upper lateral partition plate 80 is erroneously inserted into the lower insertion hole 163, the end portion of the sealing portion 182 is pressed against the protrusion 183 Is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the body member 160 and the sealing portion 182 protrudes to the outside of the body member 160. That is, the lower insertion hole 163 can not be blocked by the sealing portion 182 of the upper side partition plate 80. Therefore, the operator who performs the assembly work of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 knows that the mounting position of the upper side partition plate 80 is wrong.
In this way, in the manufacturing process of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment, the operator can not fit the upper side partition plate 80 and the lower side partition plate 85 into the insertion hole 161. Further, when the worker mounts the partition plates 39a, 80, 85 at the wrong place of the body member 160, the operator can immediately know that an abnormality has occurred. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to eliminate the possibility that the three kinds of partition plates 39a, 80, and 85 are mounted at the wrong positions in the first header collecting tube 60, and the incidence of defective products that do not function normally can be reduced .
- Modification of the Seventh Embodiment -
The thickness t1 of the partition plate 39a, the thickness t2 of the upper lateral partition plate 80 and the thickness t3 of the lower lateral partition plate 85 in the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the present embodiment, (T1? T2, t2? T3, t3? T1).
In this case, the slit depth D1 of the insertion hole 161, the slit depth D2 of the upper insertion hole 162, and the slit depth D3 of the lower insertion hole 163 may coincide with each other, It may be different. In this case, however, the slit depth D1 of the insertion hole 161 substantially matches the longitudinal length of the sealing portion 132 of the partition plate 39, and the slit length D2 of the upper insertion hole 162 The front and rear lengths of the sealing portions 182 of the upper lateral partition plate 80 are substantially the same and the length of the slit depth D3 of the lower insertion hole 163 and the longitudinal length of the sealing portion 187 of the lower lateral partition plate 85 are It should be substantially consistent.
In this case, the protrusion 183 may be omitted from the upper side partition plate 80, or the protrusion 183 may be added to the lower side partition plate 85.
≪ Other Embodiments >
- Modified Example 1 -
The mass flow rates of refrigerant flowing into the communication chambers 62a to 62c from the mixing chamber 63 do not necessarily coincide with each other in the outdoor heat exchangers 23 of the first to fifth embodiments.
For example, in the outdoor heat exchanger 23 installed in the outdoor unit 11 of the air conditioner 10, the flow rates of the air passing through the respective main heat exchangers 51a to 51c often do not coincide with each other. In this case, the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the main heat exchanging portions 51a to 51c is relatively high, and the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the main heat exchanging portions 51a to 51c, . Therefore, in such a case, the mass flow rates of the refrigerant flowing into the communication chambers 62a to 62c from the mixing chamber 63 may be different from each other.
Here, it is assumed that the flow velocity of air passing through the second main heat exchange section 51b is faster than the flow velocity of air passing through the first main heat exchange section 51a and the third main heat exchange section 51c. In this case, it is preferable that the mass flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the second main heat exchanging portion 51b is made larger than the mass flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the first main heat exchanging portion 51a and the third main heat exchanging portion 51c Do. The mass flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the second auxiliary heat exchanging section 52b is controlled so that the mass flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the first auxiliary heat exchanging section 52a and the third auxiliary heat exchanging section 52c, To be larger than the mass flow rate of the refrigerant flowing.
In this case, the mass flow rate of the refrigerant flowing from the mixing chamber 63a into the second communication chamber 62b is changed from the mixing chamber 63a to the first communication chamber 62a and the third communication chamber 62c The shapes of the communication through holes 81, 86, and 95 constituting the distribution passage 65 are set so that the mass flow rate of the refrigerant flowing into each of them becomes larger. For example, in the outdoor heat exchanger 23 of the first embodiment, the total area of the two communication through holes 95 of the longitudinal partition plate 90 is larger than the total area of the two communication through holes 95 of the longitudinal partition plate 90, (81) and the area of the communication through hole (86) of the lower lateral partition plate (85).
- Modified Example 2 -
The outdoor heat exchanger (23) of the first to seventh embodiments may have a wavy fin instead of the plate-like fin (36). This pin is a so-called corrugate fin and is formed into a wave shape that meanders vertically. The wave-shaped fins are arranged one by one between the vertically adjacent flat pipes 31, 32.
[Industrial applicability]
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, the present invention is useful for a heat exchanger in which a plurality of flat tubes are connected to a header collecting tube.
