US20210041115A1 - Indoor heat exchanger and air conditioning apparatus - Google Patents
Indoor heat exchanger and air conditioning apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20210041115A1 US20210041115A1 US16/964,027 US201816964027A US2021041115A1 US 20210041115 A1 US20210041115 A1 US 20210041115A1 US 201816964027 A US201816964027 A US 201816964027A US 2021041115 A1 US2021041115 A1 US 2021041115A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- indoor
- heat exchanger
- flat tubes
- outdoor
- indoor heat
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F1/00—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
- F24F1/0007—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units
- F24F1/0059—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by heat exchangers
- F24F1/0067—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by heat exchangers by the shape of the heat exchangers or of parts thereof, e.g. of their fins
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
- F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
- F28D1/0233—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with air flow channels
- F28D1/024—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with air flow channels with an air driving element
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F1/00—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
- F24F1/0007—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units
- F24F1/0068—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by the arrangement of refrigerant piping outside the heat exchanger within the unit casing
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
- F24F13/22—Means for preventing condensation or evacuating condensate
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
- F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
- F28D1/04—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits
- F28D1/047—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits the conduits being bent, e.g. in a serpentine or zig-zag
- F28D1/0471—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits the conduits being bent, e.g. in a serpentine or zig-zag the conduits having a non-circular cross-section
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
- F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
- F28D1/04—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits
- F28D1/053—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits the conduits being straight
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
- F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
- F28D1/04—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits
- F28D1/053—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits the conduits being straight
- F28D1/0535—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits the conduits being straight the conduits having a non-circular cross-section
- F28D1/05366—Assemblies of conduits connected to common headers, e.g. core type radiators
- F28D1/05391—Assemblies of conduits connected to common headers, e.g. core type radiators with multiple rows of conduits or with multi-channel conduits combined with a particular flow pattern, e.g. multi-row multi-stage radiators
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F1/00—Tubular elements; Assemblies of tubular elements
- F28F1/02—Tubular elements of cross-section which is non-circular
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F1/00—Tubular elements; Assemblies of tubular elements
- F28F1/10—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses
- F28F1/12—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses the means being only outside the tubular element
- F28F1/24—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses the means being only outside the tubular element and extending transversely
- F28F1/32—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses the means being only outside the tubular element and extending transversely the means having portions engaging further tubular elements
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F1/00—Tubular elements; Assemblies of tubular elements
- F28F1/10—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses
- F28F1/12—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses the means being only outside the tubular element
- F28F1/24—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses the means being only outside the tubular element and extending transversely
- F28F1/32—Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses the means being only outside the tubular element and extending transversely the means having portions engaging further tubular elements
- F28F1/325—Fins with openings
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F17/00—Removing ice or water from heat-exchange apparatus
- F28F17/005—Means for draining condensates from heat exchangers, e.g. from evaporators
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
- F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
- F28D2001/0253—Particular components
- F28D2001/026—Cores
- F28D2001/0273—Cores having special shape, e.g. curved, annular
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
- F28D21/00—Heat-exchange apparatus not covered by any of the groups F28D1/00 - F28D20/00
- F28D2021/0019—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for
- F28D2021/0068—Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for for refrigerant cycles
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F2215/00—Fins
- F28F2215/12—Fins with U-shaped slots for laterally inserting conduits
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an indoor heat exchanger and an air conditioning apparatus.
- PTL 1 Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2016-0419866 discloses an outdoor heat exchanger in which heat transfer fins are joined to a plurality of flat tubes.
- One or more embodiments of the present invention provide an indoor heat exchanger including a plurality of flat tubes capable of suppressing dispersion of dew condensation water, and an air conditioning apparatus.
- An indoor heat exchanger is an indoor heat exchanger used in an indoor unit of an air conditioning apparatus.
- the indoor heat exchanger includes a plurality of flat tubes and a plurality of heat transfer fins.
- the flat tubes each include a flow channel that allows refrigerant to pass through an inner portion thereof.
- the plurality of flat tubes are vertically juxtaposed (i.e., disposed in a vertical direction).
- the plurality of heat transfer fins are joined to the plurality of flat tubes.
- the heat transfer fins each include a continuous portion.
- the continuous portion extends vertically (i.e., extends in the vertical direction).
- the continuous portion of each heat transfer fin is a portion of the heat transfer fin and continuous with portions positioned between the flat tubes vertically juxtaposed.
- the indoor heat exchanger satisfies the relation of 4.0 ⁇ DP/HT ⁇ 10.0.
- HT represents the height of each of the flat tubes.
- DP represents the pitch of the flat tubes vertically juxtaposed.
- the indoor heat exchanger enables, even when the flow rate of the airflow supplied to the indoor heat exchanger is increased, suppression of dispersion of dew condensation water that is generated when the indoor heat exchanger is used as an evaporator for refrigerant.
- An indoor heat exchanger is an indoor heat exchanger used in an indoor unit.
- the indoor unit constitutes an air conditioning apparatus in cooperation with an outdoor unit that includes an outdoor heat exchanger.
- the outdoor heat exchanger includes a plurality of flat tubes and a plurality of heat transfer fins.
- the indoor heat exchanger also includes a plurality of flat tubes and a plurality of heat transfer fins. These flat tubes each include a flow channel that allows refrigerant to pass through an inner portion thereof.
- the plurality of flat tubes are vertically juxtaposed.
- the plurality of fins are joined to the plurality of flat tubes.
- the heat transfer fins each include a continuous portion. The continuous portion extends vertically.
- each heat transfer fin is a portion of the heat transfer fin and continuous with portions positioned between the flat tubes vertically juxtaposed.
- the value of DP/HT of the indoor heat exchanger is smaller than the value of DP/HT of the outdoor heat exchanger.
- HT represents the height of each of the flat tubes.
- DP represents the pitch of the flat tubes vertically juxtaposed.
- the indoor heat exchanger enables suppression of dispersion of dew condensation water that is generated when the indoor heat exchanger is used as an evaporator for refrigerant while suppressing frost formation that occurs when the outdoor heat exchanger is used as an evaporator for refrigerant.
- An indoor heat exchanger is the indoor heat exchanger according to the first aspect or the second aspect, in which the flat tubes each include a plurality of upstream-side flat tubes disposed on the upstream side in an airflow direction, and a plurality of downstream-side flat tubes disposed on the downstream side in the airflow direction from the upstream-side flat tubes.
- the indoor heat exchanger enables suppression of dispersion of dew condensation water from the downstream-side ends of the downstream-side flat tubes in the airflow direction.
- An indoor heat exchanger is the indoor heat exchanger according to any one of the first aspect to the third aspect, in which the continuous portion is positioned on the leeward side of the flat tubes in the airflow direction.
- the indoor heat exchanger enables suppression of dispersion of dew condensation water from the downstream-side ends of the heat transfer fins in the airflow direction by guiding the dew condensation water that has been generated on the flat tubes to move downward along the continuous portions of the heat transfer fins positioned on the downstream side in the airflow direction.
- An indoor heat exchanger is the indoor heat exchanger according to any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect, in which the relation of 0.2 ⁇ WL/WF ⁇ 0.5 is satisfied.
- WF represents the length of each of the heat transfer fins in the airflow direction.
- WL represents the length of the continuous portion in the airflow direction.
- the indoor heat exchanger enables suppression of dispersion of dew condensation water by sufficiently ensuring the continuous portion while suppressing material costs of the heat transfer fins.
- An indoor heat exchanger is the indoor heat exchanger according to any one of the first aspect to the fifth aspect, in which the heat transfer fins each include a cut-and-raised portion.
- the longitudinal direction of the cut-and-raised portion is the up-down direction (i.e., the vertical direction).
- the indoor heat exchanger enables an improvement in heat transfer performance.
- An indoor heat exchanger according to a seventh aspect is the indoor heat exchanger according to any one of the first aspect to the sixth aspect, in which the relation of 4.6 ⁇ DP/HT ⁇ 8.0 is satisfied.
- the indoor heat exchanger more easily suppresses dispersion of dew condensation water that is generated when the indoor heat exchanger is used as an evaporator for refrigerant.
- An air conditioning apparatus includes an indoor unit including the indoor heat exchanger according to any one of the first aspect to the seventh aspect, and an outdoor unit including an outdoor heat exchanger.
- the air conditioning apparatus easily suppresses dispersion of dew condensation water that is generated when the indoor heat exchanger is used as an evaporator for refrigerant.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of air conditioning apparatus.
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the external appearance of an outdoor unit.
- FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of an outdoor unit.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the external appearance of an outdoor heat exchanger.
- FIG. 5 is an illustration of a positional relation between outdoor fins and outdoor flat tubes.
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the external appearance of an indoor unit.
- FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of an indoor unit.
- FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of the indoor unit along the A-A section of FIG. 7 .
- FIG. 9 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the external appearance of an indoor heat exchanger.
- FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged perspective view schematically illustrating the external appearance of the indoor heat exchanger.
- FIG. 11 is an illustration of the positional relation between indoor fins and indoor flat tubes.
- FIG. 12 is an illustration of a joined state between the indoor fins and the indoor flat tubes.
- FIG. 13 is an illustration of the positional relation between indoor fins and indoor flat tubes according to a modification A.
- FIG. 14 is an illustration of a portion of a water-guiding rib included in each of the indoor fins according to the modification A, along the B-B section of FIG. 13 , the portion being in the vicinity of the downstream side in an airflow direction.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioning apparatus 1 .
- the air conditioning apparatus 1 is an apparatus capable of cooling and heating a room of a building or the like by performing a vapor compression refrigeration cycle.
- the air conditioning apparatus 1 includes, mainly, an outdoor unit 2 , an indoor unit 3 , and a liquid-refrigerant connection pipe 4 and a gas-refrigerant connection pipe 5 that are refrigerant paths connecting the outdoor unit 2 and the indoor unit 3 to each other.
- a vapor compression refrigerant circuit 6 of the air conditioning apparatus 1 is constituted by the outdoor unit 2 and the indoor unit 3 being connected to each other via the refrigerant connection pipes 4 and 5 .
- the refrigerant connection pipes 4 and 5 are refrigerant pipes that are constructed locally during installation of the air conditioning apparatus 1 in an installation location in a building or the like.
- the refrigerant circuit 6 is packed with R32 as a working refrigerant; however, the working refrigerant is not limited thereto.
- the outdoor unit 2 is installed outside (for example, on the rooftop of a building or in the vicinity of a wall surface of a building) and constitutes a portion of the refrigerant circuit 6 .
- the outdoor unit 2 includes, mainly, an accumulator 7 , a compressor 8 , a four-way switching valve 10 , an outdoor heat exchanger 11 , an outdoor expansion valve 12 as an expansion mechanism, a liquid-side shutoff valve 13 , a gas-side shutoff valve 14 , an outdoor fan 15 , and a casing 40 .
- the accumulator 7 is a container for supplying a gas refrigerant to the compressor and is disposed on the suction side of the compressor 8 .
- the compressor 8 sucks and compresses a low-pressure gas refrigerant and discharges a high-pressure gas refrigerant.
- the outdoor heat exchanger 11 is a heat exchanger that functions during a cooling operation as a radiator for refrigerant that is discharged from the compressor 8 and that functions during a heating operation as an evaporator for refrigerant that is sent from an indoor heat exchanger 51 .
- the outdoor heat exchanger 11 is connected at the liquid side thereof to the outdoor expansion valve 12 and connected at the gas side thereof to the four-way switching valve 10 .
- the outdoor expansion valve 12 is an electric expansion valve capable of, during a cooling operation, decompressing refrigerant whose heat is radiated in the outdoor heat exchanger 11 before sending the refrigerant to the indoor heat exchanger 51 and, during a heating operation, decompressing refrigerant whose heat is radiated in the indoor heat exchanger 51 before sending the refrigerant to the outdoor heat exchanger 11 .
- liquid-refrigerant connection pipe 4 is connected to the liquid-side shutoff valve 13 of the outdoor unit 2 .
- One end of the gas-refrigerant connection pipe 5 is connected to the gas-side shutoff valve 14 of the outdoor unit 2 .
- Devices of the outdoor unit 2 and the valves are connected to each other by refrigerant pipes 16 to 22 .
- the four-way switching valve 10 switches between a connection state for a cooling operation and a connection state for a heating operation, which are to be described later, by switching between a state (see the solid lines in the four-way switching valve 10 in FIG. 1 ) in which the discharge side of the compressor 8 is connected to the side of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 and in which the suction side of the compressor 8 is connected to the side of the gas-side shutoff valve 14 and a state (see the dashed lines in the four-way switching valve 10 in FIG. 1 ) in which the discharge side of the compressor 8 is connected to the side of the gas-side shutoff valve 14 and in which the suction side of the compressor 8 is connected to the side of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 .
- the outdoor fan 15 is disposed in an inner portion of the outdoor unit 2 and, after taking outdoor air therein and supplying the outdoor air to the outdoor heat exchanger 11 , forms an airflow (indicated by arrows in FIG. 3 ) that is discharged to the outside of the unit.
- the outdoor air supplied by the outdoor fan 15 is used as a cooling source or a heating source in a heat exchange with the refrigerant of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 .
- the casing 40 includes, mainly, a bottom frame 40 a , a top panel 40 b , a left front panel 40 c , a right front panel 40 d , and a right-side panel 40 e .
- the bottom frame 40 a is a laterally elongated substantially rectangular plate-shaped member that constitutes the bottom surface portion of the casing 40 .
- the bottom frame 40 a is set on a local installation surface via fixed legs 41 fixed to the lower surface of the bottom frame 40 a .
- the top panel 40 b is a laterally elongated substantially rectangular plate-shaped member that constitutes the top surface portion of the casing 40 .
- the left front panel 40 c is a plate-shaped member that constitutes, mainly, the left front surface portion and the left-side surface portion of the casing 40 and includes two blow-out ports for blowing out, to the front surface side, the air that has been taken into the casing 40 from the back surface side and the left-side surface side by the outdoor fan 15 .
- the blow-out ports are vertically juxtaposed.
- a fan grille 42 is disposed at each of the blow-out ports.
- the right front panel 40 d is a plate-shaped member that constitutes, mainly, the right front surface portion and the front portion of the right side surface of the casing 40 .
- the right-side panel 40 e is a plate-shaped member that constitutes, mainly, the rear portion of the right side surface and the right back surface portion of the casing 40 .
- a partition plate 43 that partitions a fan chamber in which the outdoor fan 15 and the like are disposed and a machine chamber in which the compressor 8 and the like are disposed from each other is disposed.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the external appearance of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 .
- the outdoor heat exchanger 11 includes, mainly, a gas-side flow divider 23 , a liquid-side flow divider 24 , a plurality of inflow-side returning members 25 , a plurality of opposite-inflow-side returning members 26 , a plurality of outdoor flat tubes 90 , and a plurality of outdoor fins 91 . All of these components that constitute the outdoor heat exchanger 11 are formed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy and joined to each other by brazing or the like.
- the plurality of outdoor flat tubes 90 are vertically juxtaposed.
- the plurality of outdoor fins 91 are disposed side by side in a plate thickness direction thereof so as to extend along the outdoor flat tubes 90 and are fixed to the plurality of the outdoor flat tubes 90 .
- the gas-side flow divider 23 is connected to the refrigerant pipe 19 and, of the plurality of the outdoor flat tubes 90 , the outdoor flat tubes 90 disposed in an upper portion.
- the outdoor heat exchanger 11 functions as a radiator for the refrigerant
- the flow of the refrigerant that has flowed from the refrigerant pipe 19 into the outdoor heat exchanger 11 is divided into flows at a plurality of height positions and sent to, of the plurality of outdoor flat tubes 90 , the outdoor flat tubes 90 disposed in the upper portion.
- the liquid-side flow divider 24 is connected to the refrigerant pipe 20 and, of the plurality of outdoor flat tubes 90 , the outdoor flat tubes 90 disposed in a lower portion.
- the outdoor heat exchanger 11 functions as a radiator for the refrigerant
- the flows of the refrigerant that have flowed from, of the plurality of outdoor flat tubes 90 , the outdoor flat tubes 90 disposed in the lower portion are merged together and caused to flow to the outside of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 through the refrigerant pipe 20 .
- the plurality of inflow-side returning members 25 are disposed between the gas-side flow divider 23 and the liquid-side flow divider 24 and connect ends of the outdoor flat tubes 90 disposed at mutually different height positions to each other.
- the opposite-inflow-side returning members 26 are disposed at an end of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 on a side opposite to a side where the gas-side flow divider 23 , the liquid-side flow divider 24 , and the plurality of inflow-side returning members 25 are disposed.
- the opposite-inflow-side returning members 26 connect ends of the outdoor flat tubes 90 disposed at mutually different height positions to each other.
- the outdoor heat exchanger 11 enables the refrigerant to flow while returning at both ends of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 .
- FIG. 5 illustrates a positional relation between the outdoor fins 91 and the outdoor flat tubes 90 viewed, in a state of being sectioned along a section perpendicular to a direction in which flow channels 90 c in inner portions of the outdoor flat tubes 90 extend, in the direction in which the flow channels 90 c extend.
- the outdoor flat tubes 90 each include an upper-side flat surface 90 a facing vertically upward and constituting the upper surface, a lower-side flat surface 90 b facing vertically downward and constituting the lower surface, and a large number of the flow channels 90 c that are small and in which refrigerant flows.
- the plurality of flow channels 90 c included in the outdoor flat tubes 90 are disposed side by side in an airflow direction (indicated by arrows in FIG. 5 ; the longitudinal direction of the outdoor flat tubes 90 in a sectional view of the flow channels 90 c ).
- the plurality of outdoor flat tubes 90 that are used are identical to each other in terms of a height HT in an up-down direction.
- the height HT denotes a width between the upper-side flat surface 90 a and the lower-side flat surface 90 b of each outdoor flat tube 90 in the height direction.
- the plurality of outdoor flat tubes 90 are arranged in the up-down direction at a predetermined pitch (stage pitch DP).
- the stage pitch DP is an interval between the upper-side flat surfaces 90 a of the outdoor flat tubes 90 .
- the outdoor heat exchanger 11 is configured such that downstream-side ends of the plurality of outdoor flat tubes 90 in the airflow direction are positioned on the downstream side from downstream-side ends of the outdoor fins 91 in the airflow direction. Consequently, the leeward-side ends of the outdoor fins 91 are suppressed from being damaged or broken during manufacture or transport of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 .
- the outdoor fins 91 are plate-shaped members extending in the airflow direction and in the up-down direction. A plurality of the outdoor fins 91 are disposed in the plate thickness direction thereof at predetermined intervals and fixed to the outdoor flat tubes 90 .
- the outdoor fins 91 each include a plurality of insertion portions 92 , an outdoor continuous portion 97 a , a plurality of leeward portions 97 b , a waffle portion 93 , windward-side fin tabs 94 a , leeward-side fin tabs 94 b , outdoor slits 95 , windward-side ribs 96 a , leeward-side ribs 96 b , and the like.
- the thickness of each outdoor fin 91 at a flat portion in the plate thickness direction is, for example, 0.05 mm or more and 0.15 mm or less.
- Each of the insertion portions 92 is formed by being horizontally cut from the leeward-side edge of the outdoor fin 91 toward the windward side to a portion before the windward-side edge thereof.
- the plurality of insertion portions 92 are disposed side by side in the up-down direction.
- the insertion portions 92 constitute a fin collar that is formed by burring or the like.
- the shape of each of the insertion portions 92 is substantially in coincident with the outer shape of the section of each outdoor flat tube 90 .
- the outdoor flat tubes 90 are fixed to the outdoor fins 91 at the insertion portions 92 by brazing in a state of being inserted into the insertion portions 92 .
- the outdoor continuous portion 97 a is, of each outdoor fin 91 , a portion that is continuous in the up-down direction on the further windward side from the windward-side ends of the outdoor flat tubes 90 . From the point of view of ensuring frost proof performance, a distance in the airflow direction from the windward ends of the outdoor flat tubes 90 to the windward end of the outdoor continuous portion 97 a of each outdoor fin 91 may be 4 mm or more.
- the plurality of leeward portions 97 b extend from different height positions in the outdoor continuous portion 97 a toward the downstream side in the airflow direction. Each leeward portion 97 b is surrounded in the up-down direction by the insertion portions 92 adjacent to each other.
- the waffle portion 93 is formed, in each outdoor fin 91 , in the vicinity of the center in the airflow direction and configured to include a bump part and a non-bump part in the plate thickness direction.
- the windward-side fin tabs 94 a and the leeward-side fin tabs 94 b are disposed in the vicinity of the windward-side ends and in the vicinity of the leeward-side ends, respectively, to restrict the interval between the outdoor fins 91 .
- Each outdoor slit 95 is a portion that is configured by being cut and raised in the plate thickness direction from a flat part to improve the heat transfer performance of the outdoor fins 91 and is formed on the downstream side of the waffle portion 93 in the airflow direction.
- Each outdoor slit 95 has a longitudinal direction in the up-down direction (the arrangement direction of the outdoor flat tubes 90 ).
- a plurality (two shown in FIG. 5 ) of the outdoor slits 95 are disposed side by side in the airflow direction. These outdoor slits 95 are cut and raised from the flat part on the same side in the plate thickness direction, thereby having openings on the upstream side and the downstream side in the airflow direction, respectively.
- the windward-side ribs 96 a are disposed above and below the windward-side fin tabs 94 a to extend in the airflow direction between mutually vertically adjacent outdoor flat tubes 90 .
- the leeward-side ribs 96 b continue from the leeward-side ends of the windward-side ribs 96 a and extend further on the leeward side.
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the external appearance of the indoor unit 3 .
- FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of the indoor unit 3 with the top panel thereof removed.
- FIG. 8 is a schematic side sectional view of the indoor unit 3 along a section indicated by A-A in FIG. 7 .
- the indoor unit 3 is an indoor unit of a type that is installed on a ceiling of a room or the like that is an air-conditioning target space by being embedded in an opening of the ceiling.
- the indoor unit 3 constitutes a portion of the refrigerant circuit 6 .
- the indoor unit 3 includes, mainly, the indoor heat exchanger 51 , an indoor fan 52 , a casing 30 , a flap 39 , a bell mouth 33 , and a drain pan 32 .
- the indoor heat exchanger 51 is a heat exchanger that functions, during a cooling operation, as an evaporator for the refrigerant sent from the indoor heat exchanger 51 and functions, during a heating operation, as a radiator for the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 8 .
- the indoor heat exchanger 51 is connected at the liquid side thereof to the indoor-side end of the liquid-refrigerant connection pipe 4 and connected at the gas side thereof to the indoor-side end of the gas-refrigerant connection pipe 5 .
- the indoor fan 52 is a centrifugal fan disposed in an inner portion of a casing body 31 of the indoor unit 3 .
- the indoor fan 52 takes indoor air through an intake port 36 of a decorative panel 35 into the casing 30 and, after causing the air to pass through the indoor heat exchanger 51 , forms an airflow (indicated by arrows in FIG. 8 ) that blows out to the outside of the casing 30 through a blow-out port 37 of the decorative panel 35 .
- the indoor air thus supplied by the indoor fan 52 exchanges heat with the refrigerant of the indoor heat exchanger 51 , and the temperature of the indoor air is thereby controlled.
- the casing 30 includes, mainly, the casing body 31 and the decorative panel 35 .
- the casing body 31 is disposed to be inserted into an opening formed in a ceiling U of an air-conditioned room.
- the casing body 31 is a substantially octagonal box-shaped body having long sides and short sides alternately formed.
- the casing body 31 has an open lower surface.
- the casing body 31 includes a top panel and a plurality of side plates extending downward from the peripheral portion of the top panel.
- the decorative panel 35 is disposed to be fitted into the opening of the ceiling U and extends further on the outer side in plan view than the top panel and the side plates of the casing body 31 .
- the decorative panel 35 is mounted below the casing body 31 from the indoor side.
- the decorative panel 35 includes an inner frame 35 a and an outer frame 35 b .
- On the inner side of the inner frame 35 a the intake port 36 opening downward and having a substantially quadrangular shape is formed.
- a filter 34 for removing dust in air that has been taken in through the intake port 36 is disposed above the intake port 36 .
- blow-out port 37 In a part that is on the inner side of the outer frame 35 b and on the outer side of the inner frame 35 a , the blow-out port 37 and a corner blow-out port 38 that open to be directed obliquely downward from the lower portion of the part are formed.
- the blow-out port 37 includes, in locations corresponding to the sides of the substantially quadrangular shape of the decorative panel 35 in plan view, a first blow-out port 37 a , a second blow-out port 37 b , a third blow-out port 37 c , and a fourth blow-out port 37 d .
- the corner blow-out port 38 includes, in locations corresponding to the four corners of the substantially quadrangular shape of the decorative panel 35 in plan view, a first corner blow-out port 38 a , a second corner blow-out port 38 b , a third corner blow-out port 38 c , and a fourth corner blow-out port 38 d.
- the flap 39 is a member capable of changing a direction of an airflow that passes through the blow-out port 37 .
- the flap 39 includes a first flap 39 a disposed in the first blow-out port 37 a , a second flap 39 b disposed in the second blow-out port 37 b , a third flap 39 c disposed in the third blow-out port 37 c , and a fourth flap 39 d disposed in the fourth blow-out port 37 d .
- Each of the flaps 39 a to 39 d is rotatably supported in a predetermined location in the casing 30 .
- the drain pan 32 is disposed on the lower side of the indoor heat exchanger 51 and receives drain water that is generated as a result of moisture in air condensing in the indoor heat exchanger 51 .
- the drain pan 32 is mounted in a lower portion of the casing body 31 .
- the drain pan 32 includes a cylindrical space extending in the up-down direction on the inner side of the indoor heat exchanger 51 in plan view.
- the bell mouth 33 is disposed in an inner lower portion of the space. The bell mouth 33 guides the air that is taken in through the intake port 36 to the indoor fan 52 .
- the drain pan 32 includes a plurality of blow-out flow channels 47 a to 47 d and corner blow-out flow channels 48 a to 48 c that extend in the up-down direction on the outer side of the indoor heat exchanger 51 in plan view.
- the blow-out flow channels 47 a to 47 d include a first blow-out flow channel 47 a in communication at the lower end thereof with the first blow-out port 37 a , a second blow-out flow channel 47 b in communication at the lower end thereof with the second blow-out port 37 b , a third blow-out flow channel 47 c in communication at the lower end thereof with the third blow-out port 37 c , and a fourth blow-out flow channel 47 d in communication at the lower end thereof with the fourth blow-out port 37 d .
- the corner blow-out flow channels 48 a to 48 c include a first corner blow-out flow channel 48 a in communication at the lower end thereof with the first corner blow-out port 38 a , a second corner blow-out flow channel 48 b in communication at the lower end thereof with the second corner blow-out port 38 b , and a third corner blow-out flow channel 48 c in communication at the lower end thereof with the third corner blow-out port 38 c.
- FIG. 9 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the external appearance of the indoor heat exchanger 51 .
- FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the external appearance of the indoor heat exchanger 51 on the windward side of a plurality of indoor fins 60 .
- the indoor heat exchanger 51 is disposed, in an inner portion of the casing body 31 , at a height position identical to the height position of the indoor fan 52 in a state of being bent to surround the periphery of the indoor fan 52 .
- the indoor heat exchanger 51 includes, mainly, a liquid-side header 81 , a gas-side header 71 , a return header 59 , a plurality of indoor flat tubes 55 , and a plurality of the indoor fins 60 . All of these components that constitute the indoor heat exchanger 51 are formed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy and joined to each other by brazing or the like.
- the indoor heat exchanger 51 includes a windward heat exchanging section 70 (inner part in plan view) that constitutes the windward side thereof in the airflow direction, and a leeward heat exchanging section 80 (outer part in plan view) that constitutes the leeward side thereof in the airflow direction.
- the liquid-side header 81 constitutes, of the indoor heat exchanger 51 , one end of the leeward heat exchanging section 80 in plan view and is a cylindrical member extending in the up-down direction.
- An indoor-side end of the liquid-refrigerant connection pipe 4 is connected to the liquid-side header 81 .
- a plurality of the indoor flat tubes 55 that constitute, of the indoor heat exchanger 51 , the leeward heat exchanging section 80 are connected to the liquid-side header 81 so as to be disposed side by side vertically.
- the gas-side header 71 constitutes, of the indoor heat exchanger 51 , one end of the windward heat exchanging section 70 in plan view and is a cylindrical member extending in the up-down direction.
- the indoor-side end of the gas-refrigerant connection pipe 5 is connected to the gas-side header 71 .
- a plurality of the indoor flat tubes 55 that constitute, of the indoor heat exchanger 51 , the windward heat exchanging section 70 are connected to the gas-side header 71 so as to be disposed side by side vertically.
- the return header 59 constitutes, of the indoor heat exchanger 51 , an end on a side opposite to the side where the liquid-side header 81 and the gas-side header 71 are disposed in plan view and includes a plurality of return spaces disposed side by side in an inner portion thereof in the up-down direction.
- the indoor flat tubes 55 constituting the windward heat exchanging section 70 and the indoor flat tubes 55 constituting the leeward heat exchanging section 80 are connected to the return spaces disposed at height positions identical to respective height positions of the indoor flat tubes 55 .
- the return header 59 enables, while suppressing the refrigerants that have flowed through the indoor flat tubes 55 at different height positions from mixing together, the refrigerants that have flowed through the indoor flat tubes 55 at respective height positions to return to be sent to the indoor flat tubes 55 at height positions identical to the height positions thereof on the windward side (when the indoor heat exchanger 51 function as the evaporator for the refrigerant) or on the leeward side (when the indoor heat exchanger 51 functions as the radiator for the refrigerant).
- the plurality of indoor flat tubes 55 include indoor flat tubes that constitute the windward heat exchanging section 70 and indoor flat tubes that constitute the leeward heat exchanging section 80 .
- the plurality of indoor flat tubes 55 include indoor flat tubes that are juxtaposed in the up-down direction in the windward heat exchanging section 70 of the indoor heat exchanger 51 and indoor flat tubes that are juxtaposed in the up-down direction in the leeward heat exchanging section 80 of the indoor heat exchanger 51 .
- the plurality of indoor flat tubes 55 constituting the windward heat exchanging section 70 are each connected at one end thereof to the gas-side header 71 and connected at the other end thereof to the windward-side part of the return header 59 .
- the plurality of the indoor flat tubes 55 constituting the leeward heat exchanging section 80 are each connected at one end thereof to the liquid-side header 81 and connected at the other end thereof to the leeward-side part of the return header 59 .
- the plurality of indoor fins 60 include indoor fins that constitute the windward heat exchanging section 70 and indoor fins that constitute the leeward heat exchanging section 80 .
- the plurality of indoor fins 60 include indoor fins that are fixed to the indoor flat tubes 55 that constitute the windward heat exchanging section 70 of the indoor heat exchanger 51 , and indoor fins that are fixed to the indoor flat tubes 55 that constitute the leeward heat exchanging section 80 of the indoor heat exchanger 51 .
- the indoor fins 60 are disposed side by side in the plate thickness direction of the indoor fins 60 such that each indoor fin 60 extends along the indoor flat tubes 55 .
- FIG. 11 illustrates a positional relation between the indoor fins 60 and the indoor flat tubes 55 viewed, in a state of being sectioned along a section perpendicular to a direction in which flow channels 55 c in the inner portions of the indoor flat tubes 55 extend, in the direction in which the flow channels 55 c extend.
- the indoor flat tubes 55 each include an upper-side flat surface 55 a facing vertically upward and constituting the upper surface, a lower-side flat surface 55 b facing vertically downward and constituting the lower surface, and a large number of the flow channels 55 c that are small and in which refrigerant flows.
- the plurality of flow channels 55 c included in the indoor flat tubes 55 are disposed side by side in an airflow direction (indicated by arrows in FIG. 11 ; the longitudinal direction of the indoor flat tubes 55 in a sectional view of the flow channels 55 c ).
- the plurality of indoor flat tubes 55 that are identical to each other in terms of the height HT in the up-down direction are used.
- the height HT denotes a width between the upper-side flat surface 55 a and the lower-side flat surfaces 55 b of the indoor flat tubes 55 in the height direction.
- the height HT may be 1.2 mm or more and 2.5 mm or less.
- the plurality of indoor flat tubes 55 are arranged at a predetermined pitch (stage pitch DP) in the up-down direction similarly both in the windward heat exchanging section 70 and in the leeward heat exchanging section 80 .
- the stage pitch DP is an interval between the upper-side flat surfaces 55 a of the indoor flat tubes 55 and may be 8.0 mm or more and 15.0 mm or less.
- the indoor heat exchanger 51 satisfies the relation of 4.0 ⁇ DP/HT ⁇ 10.0.
- the lower limit of DP/HT of the indoor heat exchanger 51 may be 4.6 or more.
- the upper limit of DP/HT of the indoor heat exchanger 51 may be 8.0 or less.
- the indoor heat exchanger 51 may satisfy the relation of 4.6 ⁇ DP/HT ⁇ 8.0.
- the air conditioning apparatus 1 satisfies a relation in which the value of DP/HT of the indoor heat exchanger 51 is smaller than the value of DP/HT of the aforementioned outdoor heat exchanger 11 .
- the indoor flat tubes 55 constituting the windward heat exchanging section 70 and the indoor flat tubes 55 constituting the leeward heat exchanging section 80 are disposed to be superposed on each other at respective height positions when viewed in the airflow direction.
- the upstream-side ends of the plurality of indoor flat tubes 55 in the airflow direction and the upstream-side ends of the indoor fins 60 in the airflow direction are disposed at substantially identical positions in the airflow direction.
- the indoor fins 60 are plate-shaped members extending in the airflow direction and the up-down direction. A plurality of the indoor fins 60 are disposed in the plate thickness direction thereof at predetermined intervals and fixed to the indoor flat tubes 55 . In one or more embodiments, the indoor fins 60 constituting the windward heat exchanging section 70 and the indoor fins 60 constituting the leeward heat exchanging section 80 are disposed to be substantially superposed on each other when viewed in the airflow direction. The leeward-side ends of the indoor fins 60 constituting the windward heat exchanging section 70 and the windward-side ends of the indoor fins 60 constituting the leeward heat exchanging section 80 are disposed in contact with each other at least at a portion thereof.
- Each of the indoor fins 60 constituting the windward heat exchanging section 70 and each of the indoor fins 60 constituting the leeward heat exchanging section 80 both similarly include a major surface 61 , a plurality of fin collar portions 65 a , an indoor continuous portion 64 , a plurality of windward portions 65 , main slits 62 , continuous-location slits 63 , and the like.
- the thickness of the flat major surface 61 of each of the indoor fins 60 in the plate thickness direction is, for example, 0.05 mm or more and 0.15 mm or less.
- the pitch (the interval between the surfaces of mutually adjacent indoor fins 60 on the same side) of the plurality of indoor fins 60 in the plate thickness direction may be 1.0 mm or more and 1.6 mm or less.
- the major surface 61 constitutes, of the indoor fins 60 , a flat part in which the fin collar portions 65 a , the main slits 62 , and the continuous-location slits 63 are not disposed.
- the fin collar portions 65 a are formed to extend horizontally from the windward-side edges of the indoor fins 60 toward the leeward side to a portion before the leeward-side edge.
- the plurality of fin collar portions 65 a are disposed side by side in the up-down direction.
- the fin collar portions 65 a are formed by burring or the like.
- the contour shape of each fin collar portion 65 a is substantially in coincident with the outer shape of the section of each indoor flat tube 55 .
- the indoor flat tubes 55 are fixed to the indoor fins 60 at the fin collar portions 65 a by brazing in a state of being inserted into the fin collar portions 65 a .
- FIG. 12 is an illustration of a joined state between the indoor fins 60 and the indoor flat tubes 55 in a section of the flow channels 55 c of the indoor flat tubes 55 taken in refrigerant passing direction along a face including a vertical direction.
- the fin collar portions 65 a are configured by being raised with respect to the major surfaces 61 in the plate thickness direction of the major surfaces 61 on a side opposite the side where the main slits 62 are cut and raised.
- positioning portions 65 x that are bent to extend in a direction away from the upper-side flat surfaces 55 a (or the lower-side flat surfaces 55 b ) of the indoor flat tubes 55 corresponding thereto are disposed.
- the positioning portions 65 x are in surface contact with the major surfaces 61 of the indoor fins 60 adjacent thereto, thereby regulating the interval between the indoor fins 60 in the plate thickness direction.
- the fin collar portions 65 a are joined by brazing with brazing materials 58 interposed between the fin collar portions 65 a and the upper-side flat surfaces 55 a (or the lower-side flat surfaces 55 b ) of the indoor flat tubes 55 .
- on the side of the lower-side flat surfaces 55 b of the indoor flat tubes 55 may be 1 mm or less but is not limited thereto.
- Dew condensation water on the lower-side flat surfaces 55 b of the indoor flat tubes 55 is guided to move downward via the portion where the raising of the main slits 62 starts and drained. Therefore, setting the distance DS to a short distance of 1 mm or less enables the dew condensation water to be suppressed from continuing to remain on the lower-side flat surfaces 55 b of the indoor flat tubes 55 .
- the indoor continuous portion 64 is, of each indoor fin 60 , a portion continuous in the up-down direction on the further leeward side from the leeward-side ends of the indoor flat tubes 55 .
- the relation between a width WL of the indoor continuous portion 64 of each indoor fin 60 in the airflow direction and a width WF of each indoor fin 60 in the airflow direction may satisfy the relation of 0.2 ⁇ WL/WF ⁇ 0.5.
- the plurality of windward portions 65 extend from different height positions in the indoor continuous portion 64 toward the upstream side in the airflow direction.
- Each of the windward portions 65 is surrounded in the up-down direction by the fin collar portions 65 a adjacent to each other.
- the length of each windward portion 65 in the up-down direction is defined by DP—HT.
- the main slits 62 are portions that are configured by being cut and raised in the plate thickness direction from the flat major surfaces 61 to improve the heat transfer performance of the indoor fins 60 .
- the main slits 62 are formed in the windward portions 65 of the indoor fins 60 .
- a plurality (four shown in FIG. 11 ) of the main slits 62 are formed side by side in the airflow direction.
- the continuous-location slits 63 are also portions that are configured by being cut and raised in the plate thickness direction from the flat major surfaces 61 to improve the heat transfer performance of the indoor fins 60 .
- the continuous-location slits 63 are formed at a plurality of height positions in the indoor continuous portions 64 of the indoor fins 60 .
- the continuous-location slits 63 are disposed so as to each correspond to the downstream side in the airflow direction of the main slits 62 disposed at respective height positions.
- the continuous-location slits 63 are formed such that the longitudinal direction thereof is the up-down direction.
- the continuous-location slits 63 are each elongated in the up-down direction such that the upper end thereof extends to a position higher than the upper ends of the main slits 62 corresponding thereto and such that the lower end thereof extends to a position lower than the lower ends of the main slits 62 corresponding thereto.
- the main slits 62 and the continuous-location slits 63 are cut and raised from the flat major surfaces 61 on the same side in the plate thickness direction, thereby having openings on the upstream side and the downstream side in the airflow direction, respectively.
- the air conditioning apparatus 1 performs a cooling operation in which refrigerant flows through the compressor 8 , the outdoor heat exchanger 11 , the outdoor expansion valve 12 , and the indoor heat exchanger 51 in this order and a heating operation in which the refrigerant flows through the compressor 8 , the indoor heat exchanger 51 , the outdoor expansion valve 12 , and the outdoor heat exchanger 11 in this order.
- connection state of the four-way switching valve 10 is switched to cause the outdoor heat exchanger 11 to function as the radiator for the refrigerant and the indoor heat exchanger 51 to function as the evaporator for the refrigerant (see the solid lines in FIG. 1 ).
- a low-pressure gas refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle is sucked by the compressor 8 and discharged after being compressed to a high pressure of the refrigeration cycle.
- the high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 8 is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 11 through the four-way switching valve 10 .
- the high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 11 radiates heat by, in the outdoor heat exchanger 11 that functions as the radiator for the refrigerant, exchanging the heat with outdoor air supplied as a cooling source by the outdoor fan 15 , thereby becoming a high-pressure liquid refrigerant.
- the high-pressure liquid refrigerant is decompressed to a low pressure of the refrigeration cycle when passing through the outdoor expansion valve 12 , thereby becoming refrigerant in a gas-liquid two-phase state.
- the refrigerant in the gas-liquid two-phase state is sent to the indoor unit 3 through the liquid-side shutoff valve 13 and the liquid-refrigerant connection pipe 4 .
- the low-pressure refrigerant in the gas-liquid two-phase state evaporates by, in the indoor heat exchanger 51 , exchanging heat with indoor air supplied as a heating source by the indoor fan 52 during a cooling operation. Consequently, the air that passes through the indoor heat exchanger 51 is cooled, and cooling of the inside of a room is performed. In this case, the moisture contained in the air that passes through the indoor heat exchanger 51 condenses and thereby generates dew condensation water on the surface of the indoor heat exchanger 51 .
- the low-pressure gas refrigerant that has evaporated in the indoor heat exchanger 51 is sent to the outdoor unit 2 through the gas-refrigerant connection pipe 5 .
- the low-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the outdoor unit 2 is sucked again by the compressor 8 through the gas-side shutoff valve 14 , four-way switching valve 10 , and an accumulator 7 .
- the refrigerant circulates in the refrigerant circuit 6 as described above.
- connection state of the four-way switching valve 10 is switched to cause the outdoor heat exchanger 11 to function as the evaporator for the refrigerant and the indoor heat exchanger 51 to function as the radiator for the refrigerant (see the dashed lines of FIG. 1 ).
- a low-pressure gas refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle is sucked by the compressor 8 and discharged after being compressed to a high pressure of the refrigeration cycle.
- the high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 8 is sent to the indoor unit 3 through the four-way switching valve 10 , the gas-side shutoff valve 14 , and the gas-refrigerant connection pipe 5 .
- the high-pressure gas refrigerant radiates heat by, in the indoor heat exchanger 51 , exchanging the heat with indoor air supplied as a cooling source by the indoor fan 52 and becomes a high-pressure liquid refrigerant. Consequently, the air that passes through the indoor heat exchanger 51 is heated, and heating of the inside of a room is performed.
- the high-pressure liquid refrigerant that has radiated heat in the indoor heat exchanger 51 is sent to the outdoor unit 2 through the liquid-refrigerant connection pipe 4 .
- the high-pressure liquid refrigerant sent to the outdoor unit 2 is decompressed to a low pressure of the refrigeration cycle in the outdoor expansion valve 12 through the liquid-side shutoff valve 13 and becomes a low-pressure refrigerant in a gas-liquid two-phase state.
- the low-pressure refrigerant in the gas-liquid two-phase state decompressed in the outdoor expansion valve 12 evaporates by, in the outdoor heat exchanger 11 that functions as the evaporator for the refrigerant, exchanging heat with outdoor air supplied as a heating source by the outdoor fan 15 , thereby becoming a low-pressure gas refrigerant.
- the low-pressure gas refrigerant is sucked again by the compressor 8 through the four-way switching valve 10 and the accumulator 7 .
- the refrigerant circulates in the refrigerant circuit 6 as described above.
- the heat transfer rate of indoor fins of an indoor heat exchanger can be increased as the interval at which indoor flat tubes are disposed is decreased. Decreasing the interval at which the indoor flat tubes are disposed, however, increases the flow rate of airflow that passes between the indoor flat tubes and causes dew condensation water to easily disperse. When the height of each indoor flat tube in the up-down direction is large, the flow rate of the airflow that passes between the indoor flat tubes is similarly increased and causes dew condensation water to easily disperse. When the interval at which the indoor flat tubes are disposed is increased, the heat transfer rate of the indoor fins decreases. Consequently, the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger is required to be decreased, which generates environment in which dew condensation water is easily generated.
- the indoor heat exchanger 51 employ the indoor heat exchanger and the air conditioning apparatus that satisfy the relation of 4.0 ⁇ DP/HT ⁇ 10.0 where HT represents the height of each indoor flat tube 55 in the up-down direction and DP represents the pitch of the plurality of indoor flat tubes 55 in the up-down direction. It is revealed from analysis data in which the values of DP and HT are varied that thus the value of DP/HT of the indoor heat exchanger 51 may be set to be in the numerical range for suppression of dew condensation water.
- setting the value of DP/HT of the indoor heat exchanger 51 to 10.0 or less causes, of the region in the indoor fins 60 , a region far away from the indoor flat tubes 55 to be small and can improve the heat transfer rate of the indoor fins 60 . Therefore, the need to decrease the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant of the indoor heat exchanger 51 to ensure the capacity thereof is suppressed.
- dew condensation water not to be generated easily, it is enabled to suppress dispersion of dew condensation water from the indoor fins 60 , even when the indoor fan 52 is used with the air volume thereof increased.
- the indoor heat exchanger 51 is configured to satisfy the relation of 4.6 ⁇ DP/HT ⁇ 8.0, it is enabled to make the effect of suppressing the dispersion of dew condensation water more remarkable.
- an outdoor heat exchanger used in an outdoor unit of an air conditioning apparatus air flow resistance is easily increased by frost formation on outdoor fins when the outdoor heat exchanger functions as an evaporator for refrigerant.
- the pitch of outdoor flat tubes is required to be wide. If a heat exchanger having a structure identical to the structure of such an outdoor heat exchanger that has a structure in which the pitch of flat tubes is wide is applied to an indoor heat exchanger, the heat transfer rate of indoor fins decreases due to the wide pitch of the flat tubes, which requires a decrease in the evaporation temperature of refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger and causes dew condensation water to be easily generated.
- the indoor heat exchanger 51 according to one or more embodiments and the air conditioning apparatus 1 that includes the indoor heat exchanger 51 satisfy a relation in which the value of DP/HT of the indoor heat exchanger 51 is smaller than the value of DP/HT of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 where HT represents the height of each of the flat tubes 90 and 55 in the up-down direction and DP represents the pitch of the plurality of flat tubes 90 and 55 in the up-down direction.
- the heat transfer rate of the indoor fins 60 is improved in the indoor heat exchanger 51 , in which dispersion of dew condensation water easily occurs, while frost formation on the outdoor heat exchanger 11 , in which dispersion of dew condensation water does not easily occur, when the outdoor heat exchanger 11 is used as the evaporator is suppressed, thereby suppressing the need to decrease the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant of the indoor heat exchanger 51 when the indoor heat exchanger 51 is used as the evaporator and causing dew condensation water not to be easily generated. Consequently, it is enabled to suppress dispersion of dew condensation water.
- the indoor heat exchanger 51 includes the windward heat exchanging section 70 and the leeward heat exchanging section 80 and employs a structure in which at least two rows or more of the indoor flat tubes 55 are disposed.
- dew condensation water that has been generated on the windward heat exchanging section 70 is easily guided to move downward on a portion between the windward heat exchanging section 70 and the leeward heat exchanging section 80 or on the leeward heat exchanging section 80 and is to be drained.
- air whose dry degree is increased by generating dew condensation water on the windward heat exchanging section 70 when passing through the windward heat exchanging section 70 is supplied to the leeward heat exchanging section 80 . It is thus possible to cause the volume of the dew condensation water that is generated on the leeward heat exchanging section 80 to be small and to suppress dispersion of dew condensation water from the leeward-side end of the leeward heat exchanging section 80 .
- the indoor fins 60 each include the indoor continuous portion 64 on the leeward side of the indoor flat tubes 55 .
- dew condensation water that has been generated on the indoor flat tubes 55 is easily drained by being guided to move downward on the indoor continuous portions 64 of the indoor fins 60 positioned along the downstream side in the airflow direction. Consequently, it is enabled to suppress dispersion of dew condensation water from the downstream-side ends of the indoor fins 60 in the airflow direction.
- the structure in which the two rows or more of the indoor flat tubes 55 are disposed includes the indoor continuous portions 64 on the downstream side of the indoor fins 60 of the leeward heat exchanging section 80 . It is thus enabled to increase drainage of generated dew condensation water while suppressing generation of dew condensation water on the downstream-side ends of the indoor fins 60 .
- the indoor heat exchanger 51 satisfies the relation of 0.2 ⁇ WL/WF ⁇ 0.5 where WF represents the length of each indoor fin 60 in the airflow direction and WL represents the length of each indoor continuous portion 64 in the airflow direction.
- the indoor heat exchanger 51 according to one or more embodiments have, in each indoor fin 60 , the main slits 62 and the continuous-location slits 63 that are cut and raised to open in the airflow direction. Consequently, the air supplied to the indoor heat exchanger 51 is enabled to come into contact with the indoor fins 60 sufficiently. It is thus enabled to fully utilize an air heat source.
- the upper ends of the main slits 62 and the continuous-location slits 63 are disposed to be positioned close to the lower parts of the indoor flat tubes 55 that are positioned directly above.
- the dew condensation water that has been generated on the indoor flat tubes 55 positioned directly above is thus easily caught and guided to move downward, which enables an enhancement of drainage.
- the distance DS between the portion where raising of the fin collar portions 65 a with respect to the major surfaces 61 of the indoor fins 60 starts and the portion where raising of the main slits 62 of the indoor fins 60 starts on the side of the lower-side flat surfaces 55 b of the indoor flat tubes 55 is 1 mm or less, it is possible to suppress the dew condensation water from remaining on the side of the lower-side flat surfaces 55 b of the indoor flat tubes 55 and to enhance drainage performance.
- each indoor fin 60 has a flat shape.
- each indoor fin 60 is, however, not limited thereto.
- the indoor fins 60 a that each include a water-guiding rib 99 extending along the downstream-side end in the airflow direction, as described below, may be used.
- FIG. 13 the positional relation between the indoor fins 60 a and the indoor flat tubes 55 is illustrated.
- FIG. 14 the water-guiding rib 99 along, of the B-B section of FIG. 13 , a portion in the vicinity of the downstream side in the airflow direction is illustrated.
- the indoor heat exchanger 51 also includes the windward heat exchanging section 70 and the leeward heat exchanging section 80 .
- Each of the indoor fins 60 a of the windward heat exchanging section 70 and the leeward heat exchanging section 80 has the water-guiding rib 99 extending vertically along the downstream-side end in the airflow direction of the indoor continuous portion 64 disposed on the downstream side in the airflow direction.
- the water-guiding rib 99 is formed to be recessed in the plate thickness direction of each indoor fin 60 a with respect to the major surface 61 around the water-guiding rib 99 .
- Each water-guiding rib 99 may be recessed more than the plate thickness of each indoor fin 60 a but not limited thereto.
- Each water-guiding rib 99 may be disposed, on the indoor continuous portion 64 of each indoor fin 60 a , on the downstream side from the center of the width in the airflow direction. Each water-guiding rib 99 may be disposed in a location having a width within, of the width of the indoor continuous portion 64 in the airflow direction, 20% from the downstream-side end in the airflow direction.
- the relation between the width WL of the indoor continuous portion 64 of each indoor fin 60 in the airflow direction and the width WF of each indoor fin 60 in the airflow direction may satisfy the relation of 0.2 ⁇ WL/WF.
- the indoor heat exchanger 51 includes the windward heat exchanging section 70 and the leeward heat exchanging section 80 and in which the indoor flat tubes 55 are juxtaposed in two rows.
- the number of the rows along which the indoor flat tubes 55 included in the indoor heat exchanger 51 are disposed side by side in the airflow direction is, however, not limited to two.
- the rows may be a plurality of rows of three or more.
- increasing the number of the rows of the indoor flat tubes 55 enables dispersion of the dew condensation water from the downstream-side end of the indoor heat exchanger 51 in the airflow direction to be more effectively suppressed.
- the indoor heat exchanger 51 is, however, not limited thereto.
- the plurality of indoor flat tubes 55 belonging to the heat exchanging section on the further windward side and the plurality of indoor flat tubes 55 belonging to the heat exchanging section on the further leeward side may be disposed not to be superposed on each other when viewed in the airflow direction. Consequently, both the indoor flat tubes 55 positioned on the windward side and the indoor flat tubes 55 positioned on the leeward side are enabled to be subjected to sufficient airflow.
- the indoor fins 60 of the indoor heat exchanger 51 include the main slits 62 and the continuous-location slits 63 that are configured by being cut and raised such that the entirety of slit pieces is positioned on one side in the plate thickness direction with respect to the major surfaces 61 of the indoor fins 60 .
- the cut-and-raised portions formed in the indoor fins 60 are, however, not limited thereto.
- the cut and raised slit pieces may employ a structure, called louver, in which the windward-side ends of the slit pieces in the airflow direction are positioned on one side of the major surfaces 61 of the indoor fins 60 in the plate thickness direction and in which the leeward-side ends of the slit pieces in the airflow direction are positioned on the other side of the major surfaces 61 of the indoor fins 60 in the plate thickness direction.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Geometry (AREA)
- Air Filters, Heat-Exchange Apparatuses, And Housings Of Air-Conditioning Units (AREA)
- Heat-Exchange Devices With Radiators And Conduit Assemblies (AREA)
- Devices For Blowing Cold Air, Devices For Blowing Warm Air, And Means For Preventing Water Condensation In Air Conditioning Units (AREA)
Abstract
An indoor heat exchanger in an indoor unit of an air conditioning apparatus, includes: flat tubes that are juxtaposed in a vertical direction and that each comprise a flow channel that allows refrigerant to pass through an inner portion thereof, and heat transfer fins joined to the flat tubes. The heat transfer fins each include: a first portion that extends continuously in the vertical direction; and second portions that are disposed between the flat tubes. The first portion and the second portions are continuous. 4.0≤DP/HT≤10.0 where HT is a height of each of the flat tubes and DP is a pitch of the flat tubes.
Description
- The present invention relates to an indoor heat exchanger and an air conditioning apparatus.
- As an existing outdoor heat exchanger included in an outdoor unit of an air conditioning apparatus, for example, PTL 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2016-041986) discloses an outdoor heat exchanger in which heat transfer fins are joined to a plurality of flat tubes.
- When such a heat exchanger in which heat transfer fins are joined to a plurality of flat tubes is used in an indoor unit of an air conditioning apparatus, dew condensation water that is generated when the heat exchanger functions as an evaporator for refrigerant disperses into an indoor space.
- One or more embodiments of the present invention provide an indoor heat exchanger including a plurality of flat tubes capable of suppressing dispersion of dew condensation water, and an air conditioning apparatus.
- An indoor heat exchanger according to a first aspect is an indoor heat exchanger used in an indoor unit of an air conditioning apparatus. The indoor heat exchanger includes a plurality of flat tubes and a plurality of heat transfer fins. The flat tubes each include a flow channel that allows refrigerant to pass through an inner portion thereof. The plurality of flat tubes are vertically juxtaposed (i.e., disposed in a vertical direction). The plurality of heat transfer fins are joined to the plurality of flat tubes. The heat transfer fins each include a continuous portion. The continuous portion extends vertically (i.e., extends in the vertical direction). The continuous portion of each heat transfer fin is a portion of the heat transfer fin and continuous with portions positioned between the flat tubes vertically juxtaposed. The indoor heat exchanger satisfies the relation of 4.0≤DP/HT≤10.0. HT represents the height of each of the flat tubes. DP represents the pitch of the flat tubes vertically juxtaposed.
- The indoor heat exchanger enables, even when the flow rate of the airflow supplied to the indoor heat exchanger is increased, suppression of dispersion of dew condensation water that is generated when the indoor heat exchanger is used as an evaporator for refrigerant.
- An indoor heat exchanger according to a second aspect is an indoor heat exchanger used in an indoor unit. The indoor unit constitutes an air conditioning apparatus in cooperation with an outdoor unit that includes an outdoor heat exchanger. The outdoor heat exchanger includes a plurality of flat tubes and a plurality of heat transfer fins. The indoor heat exchanger also includes a plurality of flat tubes and a plurality of heat transfer fins. These flat tubes each include a flow channel that allows refrigerant to pass through an inner portion thereof. The plurality of flat tubes are vertically juxtaposed. The plurality of fins are joined to the plurality of flat tubes. The heat transfer fins each include a continuous portion. The continuous portion extends vertically. The continuous portion of each heat transfer fin is a portion of the heat transfer fin and continuous with portions positioned between the flat tubes vertically juxtaposed. The value of DP/HT of the indoor heat exchanger is smaller than the value of DP/HT of the outdoor heat exchanger. HT represents the height of each of the flat tubes. DP represents the pitch of the flat tubes vertically juxtaposed.
- The indoor heat exchanger enables suppression of dispersion of dew condensation water that is generated when the indoor heat exchanger is used as an evaporator for refrigerant while suppressing frost formation that occurs when the outdoor heat exchanger is used as an evaporator for refrigerant.
- An indoor heat exchanger according to a third aspect is the indoor heat exchanger according to the first aspect or the second aspect, in which the flat tubes each include a plurality of upstream-side flat tubes disposed on the upstream side in an airflow direction, and a plurality of downstream-side flat tubes disposed on the downstream side in the airflow direction from the upstream-side flat tubes.
- The indoor heat exchanger enables suppression of dispersion of dew condensation water from the downstream-side ends of the downstream-side flat tubes in the airflow direction.
- An indoor heat exchanger according to a fourth aspect is the indoor heat exchanger according to any one of the first aspect to the third aspect, in which the continuous portion is positioned on the leeward side of the flat tubes in the airflow direction.
- The indoor heat exchanger enables suppression of dispersion of dew condensation water from the downstream-side ends of the heat transfer fins in the airflow direction by guiding the dew condensation water that has been generated on the flat tubes to move downward along the continuous portions of the heat transfer fins positioned on the downstream side in the airflow direction.
- An indoor heat exchanger according to a fifth aspect is the indoor heat exchanger according to any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect, in which the relation of 0.2≤WL/WF≤0.5 is satisfied. WF represents the length of each of the heat transfer fins in the airflow direction. WL represents the length of the continuous portion in the airflow direction.
- The indoor heat exchanger enables suppression of dispersion of dew condensation water by sufficiently ensuring the continuous portion while suppressing material costs of the heat transfer fins.
- An indoor heat exchanger according to a sixth aspect is the indoor heat exchanger according to any one of the first aspect to the fifth aspect, in which the heat transfer fins each include a cut-and-raised portion. The longitudinal direction of the cut-and-raised portion is the up-down direction (i.e., the vertical direction).
- Due to the heat transfer fins each including the cut-and-raised portion, the indoor heat exchanger enables an improvement in heat transfer performance.
- An indoor heat exchanger according to a seventh aspect is the indoor heat exchanger according to any one of the first aspect to the sixth aspect, in which the relation of 4.6≤DP/HT≤8.0 is satisfied.
- The indoor heat exchanger more easily suppresses dispersion of dew condensation water that is generated when the indoor heat exchanger is used as an evaporator for refrigerant.
- An air conditioning apparatus according to an eighth aspect includes an indoor unit including the indoor heat exchanger according to any one of the first aspect to the seventh aspect, and an outdoor unit including an outdoor heat exchanger.
- The air conditioning apparatus easily suppresses dispersion of dew condensation water that is generated when the indoor heat exchanger is used as an evaporator for refrigerant.
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of air conditioning apparatus. -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the external appearance of an outdoor unit. -
FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of an outdoor unit. -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the external appearance of an outdoor heat exchanger. -
FIG. 5 is an illustration of a positional relation between outdoor fins and outdoor flat tubes. -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the external appearance of an indoor unit. -
FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of an indoor unit. -
FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of the indoor unit along the A-A section ofFIG. 7 . -
FIG. 9 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the external appearance of an indoor heat exchanger. -
FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged perspective view schematically illustrating the external appearance of the indoor heat exchanger. -
FIG. 11 is an illustration of the positional relation between indoor fins and indoor flat tubes. -
FIG. 12 is an illustration of a joined state between the indoor fins and the indoor flat tubes. -
FIG. 13 is an illustration of the positional relation between indoor fins and indoor flat tubes according to a modification A. -
FIG. 14 is an illustration of a portion of a water-guiding rib included in each of the indoor fins according to the modification A, along the B-B section ofFIG. 13 , the portion being in the vicinity of the downstream side in an airflow direction. -
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of anair conditioning apparatus 1. - The
air conditioning apparatus 1 is an apparatus capable of cooling and heating a room of a building or the like by performing a vapor compression refrigeration cycle. - The
air conditioning apparatus 1 includes, mainly, anoutdoor unit 2, anindoor unit 3, and a liquid-refrigerant connection pipe 4 and a gas-refrigerant connection pipe 5 that are refrigerant paths connecting theoutdoor unit 2 and theindoor unit 3 to each other. A vaporcompression refrigerant circuit 6 of theair conditioning apparatus 1 is constituted by theoutdoor unit 2 and theindoor unit 3 being connected to each other via therefrigerant connection pipes refrigerant connection pipes air conditioning apparatus 1 in an installation location in a building or the like. In one or more embodiments, therefrigerant circuit 6 is packed with R32 as a working refrigerant; however, the working refrigerant is not limited thereto. - The
outdoor unit 2 is installed outside (for example, on the rooftop of a building or in the vicinity of a wall surface of a building) and constitutes a portion of therefrigerant circuit 6. Theoutdoor unit 2 includes, mainly, an accumulator 7, acompressor 8, a four-way switching valve 10, anoutdoor heat exchanger 11, anoutdoor expansion valve 12 as an expansion mechanism, a liquid-side shutoff valve 13, a gas-side shutoff valve 14, anoutdoor fan 15, and acasing 40. - The accumulator 7 is a container for supplying a gas refrigerant to the compressor and is disposed on the suction side of the
compressor 8. - The
compressor 8 sucks and compresses a low-pressure gas refrigerant and discharges a high-pressure gas refrigerant. - The
outdoor heat exchanger 11 is a heat exchanger that functions during a cooling operation as a radiator for refrigerant that is discharged from thecompressor 8 and that functions during a heating operation as an evaporator for refrigerant that is sent from anindoor heat exchanger 51. Theoutdoor heat exchanger 11 is connected at the liquid side thereof to theoutdoor expansion valve 12 and connected at the gas side thereof to the four-way switching valve 10. - The
outdoor expansion valve 12 is an electric expansion valve capable of, during a cooling operation, decompressing refrigerant whose heat is radiated in theoutdoor heat exchanger 11 before sending the refrigerant to theindoor heat exchanger 51 and, during a heating operation, decompressing refrigerant whose heat is radiated in theindoor heat exchanger 51 before sending the refrigerant to theoutdoor heat exchanger 11. - One end of the liquid-
refrigerant connection pipe 4 is connected to the liquid-side shutoff valve 13 of theoutdoor unit 2. One end of the gas-refrigerant connection pipe 5 is connected to the gas-side shutoff valve 14 of theoutdoor unit 2. - Devices of the
outdoor unit 2 and the valves are connected to each other byrefrigerant pipes 16 to 22. - The four-
way switching valve 10 switches between a connection state for a cooling operation and a connection state for a heating operation, which are to be described later, by switching between a state (see the solid lines in the four-way switching valve 10 inFIG. 1 ) in which the discharge side of thecompressor 8 is connected to the side of theoutdoor heat exchanger 11 and in which the suction side of thecompressor 8 is connected to the side of the gas-side shutoff valve 14 and a state (see the dashed lines in the four-way switching valve 10 inFIG. 1 ) in which the discharge side of thecompressor 8 is connected to the side of the gas-side shutoff valve 14 and in which the suction side of thecompressor 8 is connected to the side of theoutdoor heat exchanger 11. - The
outdoor fan 15 is disposed in an inner portion of theoutdoor unit 2 and, after taking outdoor air therein and supplying the outdoor air to theoutdoor heat exchanger 11, forms an airflow (indicated by arrows inFIG. 3 ) that is discharged to the outside of the unit. As above, the outdoor air supplied by theoutdoor fan 15 is used as a cooling source or a heating source in a heat exchange with the refrigerant of theoutdoor heat exchanger 11. - As illustrated in the perspective view schematically illustrating the external appearance of the
outdoor unit 2 inFIG. 2 and in the schematic plan view of theoutdoor unit 2 inFIG. 3 , thecasing 40 includes, mainly, abottom frame 40 a, atop panel 40 b, a leftfront panel 40 c, a rightfront panel 40 d, and a right-side panel 40 e. Thebottom frame 40 a is a laterally elongated substantially rectangular plate-shaped member that constitutes the bottom surface portion of thecasing 40. Thebottom frame 40 a is set on a local installation surface via fixedlegs 41 fixed to the lower surface of thebottom frame 40 a. Thetop panel 40 b is a laterally elongated substantially rectangular plate-shaped member that constitutes the top surface portion of thecasing 40. The leftfront panel 40 c is a plate-shaped member that constitutes, mainly, the left front surface portion and the left-side surface portion of thecasing 40 and includes two blow-out ports for blowing out, to the front surface side, the air that has been taken into thecasing 40 from the back surface side and the left-side surface side by theoutdoor fan 15. The blow-out ports are vertically juxtaposed. Afan grille 42 is disposed at each of the blow-out ports. The rightfront panel 40 d is a plate-shaped member that constitutes, mainly, the right front surface portion and the front portion of the right side surface of thecasing 40. The right-side panel 40 e is a plate-shaped member that constitutes, mainly, the rear portion of the right side surface and the right back surface portion of thecasing 40. - In the
casing 40, apartition plate 43 that partitions a fan chamber in which theoutdoor fan 15 and the like are disposed and a machine chamber in which thecompressor 8 and the like are disposed from each other is disposed. -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the external appearance of theoutdoor heat exchanger 11. - The
outdoor heat exchanger 11 includes, mainly, a gas-side flow divider 23, a liquid-side flow divider 24, a plurality of inflow-side returning members 25, a plurality of opposite-inflow-side returning members 26, a plurality of outdoorflat tubes 90, and a plurality ofoutdoor fins 91. All of these components that constitute theoutdoor heat exchanger 11 are formed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy and joined to each other by brazing or the like. - The plurality of outdoor
flat tubes 90 are vertically juxtaposed. - The plurality of
outdoor fins 91 are disposed side by side in a plate thickness direction thereof so as to extend along the outdoorflat tubes 90 and are fixed to the plurality of the outdoorflat tubes 90. - The gas-
side flow divider 23 is connected to therefrigerant pipe 19 and, of the plurality of the outdoorflat tubes 90, the outdoorflat tubes 90 disposed in an upper portion. When theoutdoor heat exchanger 11 functions as a radiator for the refrigerant, the flow of the refrigerant that has flowed from therefrigerant pipe 19 into theoutdoor heat exchanger 11 is divided into flows at a plurality of height positions and sent to, of the plurality of outdoorflat tubes 90, the outdoorflat tubes 90 disposed in the upper portion. - The liquid-
side flow divider 24 is connected to therefrigerant pipe 20 and, of the plurality of outdoorflat tubes 90, the outdoorflat tubes 90 disposed in a lower portion. When theoutdoor heat exchanger 11 functions as a radiator for the refrigerant, the flows of the refrigerant that have flowed from, of the plurality of outdoorflat tubes 90, the outdoorflat tubes 90 disposed in the lower portion are merged together and caused to flow to the outside of theoutdoor heat exchanger 11 through therefrigerant pipe 20. - The plurality of inflow-
side returning members 25 are disposed between the gas-side flow divider 23 and the liquid-side flow divider 24 and connect ends of the outdoorflat tubes 90 disposed at mutually different height positions to each other. - The opposite-inflow-
side returning members 26 are disposed at an end of theoutdoor heat exchanger 11 on a side opposite to a side where the gas-side flow divider 23, the liquid-side flow divider 24, and the plurality of inflow-side returning members 25 are disposed. The opposite-inflow-side returning members 26 connect ends of the outdoorflat tubes 90 disposed at mutually different height positions to each other. - As above, by including the plurality of inflow-
side returning members 25 and the opposite-inflow-side returning members 26, theoutdoor heat exchanger 11 enables the refrigerant to flow while returning at both ends of theoutdoor heat exchanger 11. -
FIG. 5 illustrates a positional relation between theoutdoor fins 91 and the outdoorflat tubes 90 viewed, in a state of being sectioned along a section perpendicular to a direction in which flowchannels 90 c in inner portions of the outdoorflat tubes 90 extend, in the direction in which theflow channels 90 c extend. - The outdoor
flat tubes 90 each include an upper-sideflat surface 90 a facing vertically upward and constituting the upper surface, a lower-sideflat surface 90 b facing vertically downward and constituting the lower surface, and a large number of theflow channels 90 c that are small and in which refrigerant flows. The plurality offlow channels 90 c included in the outdoorflat tubes 90 are disposed side by side in an airflow direction (indicated by arrows inFIG. 5 ; the longitudinal direction of the outdoorflat tubes 90 in a sectional view of theflow channels 90 c). The plurality of outdoorflat tubes 90 that are used are identical to each other in terms of a height HT in an up-down direction. The height HT denotes a width between the upper-sideflat surface 90 a and the lower-sideflat surface 90 b of each outdoorflat tube 90 in the height direction. The plurality of outdoorflat tubes 90 are arranged in the up-down direction at a predetermined pitch (stage pitch DP). The stage pitch DP is an interval between the upper-sideflat surfaces 90 a of the outdoorflat tubes 90. - The
outdoor heat exchanger 11 according to one or more embodiments is configured such that downstream-side ends of the plurality of outdoorflat tubes 90 in the airflow direction are positioned on the downstream side from downstream-side ends of theoutdoor fins 91 in the airflow direction. Consequently, the leeward-side ends of theoutdoor fins 91 are suppressed from being damaged or broken during manufacture or transport of theoutdoor heat exchanger 11. - The
outdoor fins 91 are plate-shaped members extending in the airflow direction and in the up-down direction. A plurality of theoutdoor fins 91 are disposed in the plate thickness direction thereof at predetermined intervals and fixed to the outdoorflat tubes 90. - The
outdoor fins 91 each include a plurality ofinsertion portions 92, an outdoorcontinuous portion 97 a, a plurality ofleeward portions 97 b, awaffle portion 93, windward-side fin tabs 94 a, leeward-side fin tabs 94 b,outdoor slits 95, windward-side ribs 96 a, leeward-side ribs 96 b, and the like. The thickness of eachoutdoor fin 91 at a flat portion in the plate thickness direction is, for example, 0.05 mm or more and 0.15 mm or less. - Each of the
insertion portions 92 is formed by being horizontally cut from the leeward-side edge of theoutdoor fin 91 toward the windward side to a portion before the windward-side edge thereof. The plurality ofinsertion portions 92 are disposed side by side in the up-down direction. Theinsertion portions 92 constitute a fin collar that is formed by burring or the like. The shape of each of theinsertion portions 92 is substantially in coincident with the outer shape of the section of each outdoorflat tube 90. The outdoorflat tubes 90 are fixed to theoutdoor fins 91 at theinsertion portions 92 by brazing in a state of being inserted into theinsertion portions 92. - The outdoor
continuous portion 97 a is, of eachoutdoor fin 91, a portion that is continuous in the up-down direction on the further windward side from the windward-side ends of the outdoorflat tubes 90. From the point of view of ensuring frost proof performance, a distance in the airflow direction from the windward ends of the outdoorflat tubes 90 to the windward end of the outdoorcontinuous portion 97 a of eachoutdoor fin 91 may be 4 mm or more. - The plurality of
leeward portions 97 b extend from different height positions in the outdoorcontinuous portion 97 a toward the downstream side in the airflow direction. Eachleeward portion 97 b is surrounded in the up-down direction by theinsertion portions 92 adjacent to each other. - The
waffle portion 93 is formed, in eachoutdoor fin 91, in the vicinity of the center in the airflow direction and configured to include a bump part and a non-bump part in the plate thickness direction. - The windward-
side fin tabs 94 a and the leeward-side fin tabs 94 b are disposed in the vicinity of the windward-side ends and in the vicinity of the leeward-side ends, respectively, to restrict the interval between theoutdoor fins 91. - Each
outdoor slit 95 is a portion that is configured by being cut and raised in the plate thickness direction from a flat part to improve the heat transfer performance of theoutdoor fins 91 and is formed on the downstream side of thewaffle portion 93 in the airflow direction. Eachoutdoor slit 95 has a longitudinal direction in the up-down direction (the arrangement direction of the outdoor flat tubes 90). A plurality (two shown inFIG. 5 ) of theoutdoor slits 95 are disposed side by side in the airflow direction. Theseoutdoor slits 95 are cut and raised from the flat part on the same side in the plate thickness direction, thereby having openings on the upstream side and the downstream side in the airflow direction, respectively. - The windward-
side ribs 96 a are disposed above and below the windward-side fin tabs 94 a to extend in the airflow direction between mutually vertically adjacent outdoorflat tubes 90. The leeward-side ribs 96 b continue from the leeward-side ends of the windward-side ribs 96 a and extend further on the leeward side. -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the external appearance of theindoor unit 3.FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of theindoor unit 3 with the top panel thereof removed.FIG. 8 is a schematic side sectional view of theindoor unit 3 along a section indicated by A-A inFIG. 7 . - In one or more embodiments, the
indoor unit 3 is an indoor unit of a type that is installed on a ceiling of a room or the like that is an air-conditioning target space by being embedded in an opening of the ceiling. Theindoor unit 3 constitutes a portion of therefrigerant circuit 6. Theindoor unit 3 includes, mainly, theindoor heat exchanger 51, anindoor fan 52, acasing 30, a flap 39, abell mouth 33, and adrain pan 32. - The
indoor heat exchanger 51 is a heat exchanger that functions, during a cooling operation, as an evaporator for the refrigerant sent from theindoor heat exchanger 51 and functions, during a heating operation, as a radiator for the refrigerant discharged from thecompressor 8. Theindoor heat exchanger 51 is connected at the liquid side thereof to the indoor-side end of the liquid-refrigerant connection pipe 4 and connected at the gas side thereof to the indoor-side end of the gas-refrigerant connection pipe 5. - The
indoor fan 52 is a centrifugal fan disposed in an inner portion of acasing body 31 of theindoor unit 3. Theindoor fan 52 takes indoor air through anintake port 36 of adecorative panel 35 into thecasing 30 and, after causing the air to pass through theindoor heat exchanger 51, forms an airflow (indicated by arrows inFIG. 8 ) that blows out to the outside of thecasing 30 through a blow-out port 37 of thedecorative panel 35. The indoor air thus supplied by theindoor fan 52 exchanges heat with the refrigerant of theindoor heat exchanger 51, and the temperature of the indoor air is thereby controlled. - The
casing 30 includes, mainly, thecasing body 31 and thedecorative panel 35. - The
casing body 31 is disposed to be inserted into an opening formed in a ceiling U of an air-conditioned room. In plan view, thecasing body 31 is a substantially octagonal box-shaped body having long sides and short sides alternately formed. Thecasing body 31 has an open lower surface. Thecasing body 31 includes a top panel and a plurality of side plates extending downward from the peripheral portion of the top panel. - The
decorative panel 35 is disposed to be fitted into the opening of the ceiling U and extends further on the outer side in plan view than the top panel and the side plates of thecasing body 31. Thedecorative panel 35 is mounted below thecasing body 31 from the indoor side. Thedecorative panel 35 includes aninner frame 35 a and anouter frame 35 b. On the inner side of theinner frame 35 a, theintake port 36 opening downward and having a substantially quadrangular shape is formed. Afilter 34 for removing dust in air that has been taken in through theintake port 36 is disposed above theintake port 36. In a part that is on the inner side of theouter frame 35 b and on the outer side of theinner frame 35 a, the blow-out port 37 and a corner blow-out port 38 that open to be directed obliquely downward from the lower portion of the part are formed. The blow-out port 37 includes, in locations corresponding to the sides of the substantially quadrangular shape of thedecorative panel 35 in plan view, a first blow-outport 37 a, a second blow-outport 37 b, a third blow-outport 37 c, and a fourth blow-outport 37 d. The corner blow-out port 38 includes, in locations corresponding to the four corners of the substantially quadrangular shape of thedecorative panel 35 in plan view, a first corner blow-outport 38 a, a second corner blow-outport 38 b, a third corner blow-outport 38 c, and a fourth corner blow-outport 38 d. - The flap 39 is a member capable of changing a direction of an airflow that passes through the blow-out port 37. The flap 39 includes a
first flap 39 a disposed in the first blow-outport 37 a, asecond flap 39 b disposed in the second blow-outport 37 b, athird flap 39 c disposed in the third blow-outport 37 c, and afourth flap 39 d disposed in the fourth blow-outport 37 d. Each of theflaps 39 a to 39 d is rotatably supported in a predetermined location in thecasing 30. - The
drain pan 32 is disposed on the lower side of theindoor heat exchanger 51 and receives drain water that is generated as a result of moisture in air condensing in theindoor heat exchanger 51. Thedrain pan 32 is mounted in a lower portion of thecasing body 31. Thedrain pan 32 includes a cylindrical space extending in the up-down direction on the inner side of theindoor heat exchanger 51 in plan view. Thebell mouth 33 is disposed in an inner lower portion of the space. Thebell mouth 33 guides the air that is taken in through theintake port 36 to theindoor fan 52. Thedrain pan 32 includes a plurality of blow-out flow channels 47 a to 47 d and corner blow-out flow channels 48 a to 48 c that extend in the up-down direction on the outer side of theindoor heat exchanger 51 in plan view. The blow-out flow channels 47 a to 47 d include a first blow-out flow channel 47 a in communication at the lower end thereof with the first blow-outport 37 a, a second blow-out flow channel 47 b in communication at the lower end thereof with the second blow-outport 37 b, a third blow-out flow channel 47 c in communication at the lower end thereof with the third blow-outport 37 c, and a fourth blow-out flow channel 47 d in communication at the lower end thereof with the fourth blow-outport 37 d. The corner blow-out flow channels 48 a to 48 c include a first corner blow-out flow channel 48 a in communication at the lower end thereof with the first corner blow-outport 38 a, a second corner blow-out flow channel 48 b in communication at the lower end thereof with the second corner blow-outport 38 b, and a third corner blow-out flow channel 48 c in communication at the lower end thereof with the third corner blow-outport 38 c. -
FIG. 9 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the external appearance of theindoor heat exchanger 51.FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the external appearance of theindoor heat exchanger 51 on the windward side of a plurality ofindoor fins 60. - The
indoor heat exchanger 51 is disposed, in an inner portion of thecasing body 31, at a height position identical to the height position of theindoor fan 52 in a state of being bent to surround the periphery of theindoor fan 52. Theindoor heat exchanger 51 includes, mainly, a liquid-side header 81, a gas-side header 71, areturn header 59, a plurality of indoorflat tubes 55, and a plurality of theindoor fins 60. All of these components that constitute theindoor heat exchanger 51 are formed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy and joined to each other by brazing or the like. - The
indoor heat exchanger 51 includes a windward heat exchanging section 70 (inner part in plan view) that constitutes the windward side thereof in the airflow direction, and a leeward heat exchanging section 80 (outer part in plan view) that constitutes the leeward side thereof in the airflow direction. - The liquid-
side header 81 constitutes, of theindoor heat exchanger 51, one end of the leewardheat exchanging section 80 in plan view and is a cylindrical member extending in the up-down direction. An indoor-side end of the liquid-refrigerant connection pipe 4 is connected to the liquid-side header 81. A plurality of the indoorflat tubes 55 that constitute, of theindoor heat exchanger 51, the leewardheat exchanging section 80 are connected to the liquid-side header 81 so as to be disposed side by side vertically. - The gas-
side header 71 constitutes, of theindoor heat exchanger 51, one end of the windwardheat exchanging section 70 in plan view and is a cylindrical member extending in the up-down direction. The indoor-side end of the gas-refrigerant connection pipe 5 is connected to the gas-side header 71. A plurality of the indoorflat tubes 55 that constitute, of theindoor heat exchanger 51, the windwardheat exchanging section 70 are connected to the gas-side header 71 so as to be disposed side by side vertically. - The
return header 59 constitutes, of theindoor heat exchanger 51, an end on a side opposite to the side where the liquid-side header 81 and the gas-side header 71 are disposed in plan view and includes a plurality of return spaces disposed side by side in an inner portion thereof in the up-down direction. The indoorflat tubes 55 constituting the windwardheat exchanging section 70 and the indoorflat tubes 55 constituting the leewardheat exchanging section 80 are connected to the return spaces disposed at height positions identical to respective height positions of the indoorflat tubes 55. Consequently, thereturn header 59 enables, while suppressing the refrigerants that have flowed through the indoorflat tubes 55 at different height positions from mixing together, the refrigerants that have flowed through the indoorflat tubes 55 at respective height positions to return to be sent to the indoorflat tubes 55 at height positions identical to the height positions thereof on the windward side (when theindoor heat exchanger 51 function as the evaporator for the refrigerant) or on the leeward side (when theindoor heat exchanger 51 functions as the radiator for the refrigerant). - The plurality of indoor
flat tubes 55 include indoor flat tubes that constitute the windwardheat exchanging section 70 and indoor flat tubes that constitute the leewardheat exchanging section 80. In other words, the plurality of indoorflat tubes 55 include indoor flat tubes that are juxtaposed in the up-down direction in the windwardheat exchanging section 70 of theindoor heat exchanger 51 and indoor flat tubes that are juxtaposed in the up-down direction in the leewardheat exchanging section 80 of theindoor heat exchanger 51. The plurality of indoorflat tubes 55 constituting the windwardheat exchanging section 70 are each connected at one end thereof to the gas-side header 71 and connected at the other end thereof to the windward-side part of thereturn header 59. The plurality of the indoorflat tubes 55 constituting the leewardheat exchanging section 80 are each connected at one end thereof to the liquid-side header 81 and connected at the other end thereof to the leeward-side part of thereturn header 59. - Similarly, the plurality of
indoor fins 60 include indoor fins that constitute the windwardheat exchanging section 70 and indoor fins that constitute the leewardheat exchanging section 80. In other words, the plurality ofindoor fins 60 include indoor fins that are fixed to the indoorflat tubes 55 that constitute the windwardheat exchanging section 70 of theindoor heat exchanger 51, and indoor fins that are fixed to the indoorflat tubes 55 that constitute the leewardheat exchanging section 80 of theindoor heat exchanger 51. Theindoor fins 60 are disposed side by side in the plate thickness direction of theindoor fins 60 such that eachindoor fin 60 extends along the indoorflat tubes 55. -
FIG. 11 illustrates a positional relation between theindoor fins 60 and the indoorflat tubes 55 viewed, in a state of being sectioned along a section perpendicular to a direction in which flowchannels 55 c in the inner portions of the indoorflat tubes 55 extend, in the direction in which theflow channels 55 c extend. - The indoor
flat tubes 55 each include an upper-sideflat surface 55 a facing vertically upward and constituting the upper surface, a lower-sideflat surface 55 b facing vertically downward and constituting the lower surface, and a large number of theflow channels 55 c that are small and in which refrigerant flows. The plurality offlow channels 55 c included in the indoorflat tubes 55 are disposed side by side in an airflow direction (indicated by arrows in FIG. 11; the longitudinal direction of the indoorflat tubes 55 in a sectional view of theflow channels 55 c). The plurality of indoorflat tubes 55 that are identical to each other in terms of the height HT in the up-down direction are used. The height HT denotes a width between the upper-sideflat surface 55 a and the lower-sideflat surfaces 55 b of the indoorflat tubes 55 in the height direction. The height HT may be 1.2 mm or more and 2.5 mm or less. The plurality of indoorflat tubes 55 are arranged at a predetermined pitch (stage pitch DP) in the up-down direction similarly both in the windwardheat exchanging section 70 and in the leewardheat exchanging section 80. The stage pitch DP is an interval between the upper-sideflat surfaces 55 a of the indoorflat tubes 55 and may be 8.0 mm or more and 15.0 mm or less. Theindoor heat exchanger 51 satisfies the relation of 4.0≤DP/HT≤10.0. The lower limit of DP/HT of theindoor heat exchanger 51 may be 4.6 or more. The upper limit of DP/HT of theindoor heat exchanger 51 may be 8.0 or less. Theindoor heat exchanger 51 may satisfy the relation of 4.6≤DP/HT≤8.0. - The
air conditioning apparatus 1 according to one or more embodiments satisfies a relation in which the value of DP/HT of theindoor heat exchanger 51 is smaller than the value of DP/HT of the aforementionedoutdoor heat exchanger 11. - In one or more embodiments, the indoor
flat tubes 55 constituting the windwardheat exchanging section 70 and the indoorflat tubes 55 constituting the leewardheat exchanging section 80 are disposed to be superposed on each other at respective height positions when viewed in the airflow direction. - In the
indoor heat exchanger 51 according to one or more embodiments, the upstream-side ends of the plurality of indoorflat tubes 55 in the airflow direction and the upstream-side ends of theindoor fins 60 in the airflow direction are disposed at substantially identical positions in the airflow direction. - The
indoor fins 60 are plate-shaped members extending in the airflow direction and the up-down direction. A plurality of theindoor fins 60 are disposed in the plate thickness direction thereof at predetermined intervals and fixed to the indoorflat tubes 55. In one or more embodiments, theindoor fins 60 constituting the windwardheat exchanging section 70 and theindoor fins 60 constituting the leewardheat exchanging section 80 are disposed to be substantially superposed on each other when viewed in the airflow direction. The leeward-side ends of theindoor fins 60 constituting the windwardheat exchanging section 70 and the windward-side ends of theindoor fins 60 constituting the leewardheat exchanging section 80 are disposed in contact with each other at least at a portion thereof. - Each of the
indoor fins 60 constituting the windwardheat exchanging section 70 and each of theindoor fins 60 constituting the leewardheat exchanging section 80 both similarly include amajor surface 61, a plurality offin collar portions 65 a, an indoorcontinuous portion 64, a plurality ofwindward portions 65,main slits 62, continuous-location slits 63, and the like. The thickness of the flatmajor surface 61 of each of theindoor fins 60 in the plate thickness direction is, for example, 0.05 mm or more and 0.15 mm or less. The pitch (the interval between the surfaces of mutually adjacentindoor fins 60 on the same side) of the plurality ofindoor fins 60 in the plate thickness direction may be 1.0 mm or more and 1.6 mm or less. - The
major surface 61 constitutes, of theindoor fins 60, a flat part in which thefin collar portions 65 a, themain slits 62, and the continuous-location slits 63 are not disposed. - The
fin collar portions 65 a are formed to extend horizontally from the windward-side edges of theindoor fins 60 toward the leeward side to a portion before the leeward-side edge. The plurality offin collar portions 65 a are disposed side by side in the up-down direction. Thefin collar portions 65 a are formed by burring or the like. The contour shape of eachfin collar portion 65 a is substantially in coincident with the outer shape of the section of each indoorflat tube 55. The indoorflat tubes 55 are fixed to theindoor fins 60 at thefin collar portions 65 a by brazing in a state of being inserted into thefin collar portions 65 a.FIG. 12 is an illustration of a joined state between theindoor fins 60 and the indoorflat tubes 55 in a section of theflow channels 55 c of the indoorflat tubes 55 taken in refrigerant passing direction along a face including a vertical direction. As illustrated inFIG. 12 , thefin collar portions 65 a are configured by being raised with respect to themajor surfaces 61 in the plate thickness direction of themajor surfaces 61 on a side opposite the side where themain slits 62 are cut and raised. On a side opposite the side of themajor surfaces 61 of thefin collar portions 65 a,positioning portions 65 x that are bent to extend in a direction away from the upper-sideflat surfaces 55 a (or the lower-sideflat surfaces 55 b) of the indoorflat tubes 55 corresponding thereto are disposed. Thepositioning portions 65 x are in surface contact with themajor surfaces 61 of theindoor fins 60 adjacent thereto, thereby regulating the interval between theindoor fins 60 in the plate thickness direction. As illustrated inFIG. 12 , thefin collar portions 65 a are joined by brazing withbrazing materials 58 interposed between thefin collar portions 65 a and the upper-sideflat surfaces 55 a (or the lower-sideflat surfaces 55 b) of the indoorflat tubes 55. A distance DS between a portion where raising of thefin collar portions 65 a with respect to themajor surfaces 61 starts and a portion where raising of themain slits 62 starts, as illustrated inFIG. 12 , on the side of the lower-sideflat surfaces 55 b of the indoorflat tubes 55 may be 1 mm or less but is not limited thereto. Dew condensation water on the lower-sideflat surfaces 55 b of the indoorflat tubes 55 is guided to move downward via the portion where the raising of themain slits 62 starts and drained. Therefore, setting the distance DS to a short distance of 1 mm or less enables the dew condensation water to be suppressed from continuing to remain on the lower-sideflat surfaces 55 b of the indoorflat tubes 55. - The indoor
continuous portion 64 is, of eachindoor fin 60, a portion continuous in the up-down direction on the further leeward side from the leeward-side ends of the indoorflat tubes 55. The relation between a width WL of the indoorcontinuous portion 64 of eachindoor fin 60 in the airflow direction and a width WF of eachindoor fin 60 in the airflow direction may satisfy the relation of 0.2≤WL/WF≤0.5. - The plurality of
windward portions 65 extend from different height positions in the indoorcontinuous portion 64 toward the upstream side in the airflow direction. Each of thewindward portions 65 is surrounded in the up-down direction by thefin collar portions 65 a adjacent to each other. The length of eachwindward portion 65 in the up-down direction is defined by DP—HT. - The
main slits 62 are portions that are configured by being cut and raised in the plate thickness direction from the flatmajor surfaces 61 to improve the heat transfer performance of theindoor fins 60. Themain slits 62 are formed in thewindward portions 65 of theindoor fins 60. A plurality (four shown inFIG. 11 ) of themain slits 62 are formed side by side in the airflow direction. - The continuous-
location slits 63 are also portions that are configured by being cut and raised in the plate thickness direction from the flatmajor surfaces 61 to improve the heat transfer performance of theindoor fins 60. The continuous-location slits 63 are formed at a plurality of height positions in the indoorcontinuous portions 64 of theindoor fins 60. The continuous-location slits 63 are disposed so as to each correspond to the downstream side in the airflow direction of themain slits 62 disposed at respective height positions. The continuous-location slits 63 are formed such that the longitudinal direction thereof is the up-down direction. The continuous-location slits 63 are each elongated in the up-down direction such that the upper end thereof extends to a position higher than the upper ends of themain slits 62 corresponding thereto and such that the lower end thereof extends to a position lower than the lower ends of themain slits 62 corresponding thereto. - The
main slits 62 and the continuous-location slits 63 are cut and raised from the flatmajor surfaces 61 on the same side in the plate thickness direction, thereby having openings on the upstream side and the downstream side in the airflow direction, respectively. - Next, with reference to
FIG. 1 , the operation of theair conditioning apparatus 1 will be described. Theair conditioning apparatus 1 performs a cooling operation in which refrigerant flows through thecompressor 8, theoutdoor heat exchanger 11, theoutdoor expansion valve 12, and theindoor heat exchanger 51 in this order and a heating operation in which the refrigerant flows through thecompressor 8, theindoor heat exchanger 51, theoutdoor expansion valve 12, and theoutdoor heat exchanger 11 in this order. - During a cooling operation, the connection state of the four-
way switching valve 10 is switched to cause theoutdoor heat exchanger 11 to function as the radiator for the refrigerant and theindoor heat exchanger 51 to function as the evaporator for the refrigerant (see the solid lines inFIG. 1 ). In therefrigerant circuit 6, a low-pressure gas refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle is sucked by thecompressor 8 and discharged after being compressed to a high pressure of the refrigeration cycle. The high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from thecompressor 8 is sent to theoutdoor heat exchanger 11 through the four-way switching valve 10. The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to theoutdoor heat exchanger 11 radiates heat by, in theoutdoor heat exchanger 11 that functions as the radiator for the refrigerant, exchanging the heat with outdoor air supplied as a cooling source by theoutdoor fan 15, thereby becoming a high-pressure liquid refrigerant. The high-pressure liquid refrigerant is decompressed to a low pressure of the refrigeration cycle when passing through theoutdoor expansion valve 12, thereby becoming refrigerant in a gas-liquid two-phase state. The refrigerant in the gas-liquid two-phase state is sent to theindoor unit 3 through the liquid-side shutoff valve 13 and the liquid-refrigerant connection pipe 4. - The low-pressure refrigerant in the gas-liquid two-phase state evaporates by, in the
indoor heat exchanger 51, exchanging heat with indoor air supplied as a heating source by theindoor fan 52 during a cooling operation. Consequently, the air that passes through theindoor heat exchanger 51 is cooled, and cooling of the inside of a room is performed. In this case, the moisture contained in the air that passes through theindoor heat exchanger 51 condenses and thereby generates dew condensation water on the surface of theindoor heat exchanger 51. The low-pressure gas refrigerant that has evaporated in theindoor heat exchanger 51 is sent to theoutdoor unit 2 through the gas-refrigerant connection pipe 5. - The low-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the
outdoor unit 2 is sucked again by thecompressor 8 through the gas-side shutoff valve 14, four-way switching valve 10, and an accumulator 7. During a cooling operation, the refrigerant circulates in therefrigerant circuit 6 as described above. - During a heating operation, the connection state of the four-
way switching valve 10 is switched to cause theoutdoor heat exchanger 11 to function as the evaporator for the refrigerant and theindoor heat exchanger 51 to function as the radiator for the refrigerant (see the dashed lines ofFIG. 1 ). In therefrigerant circuit 6, a low-pressure gas refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle is sucked by thecompressor 8 and discharged after being compressed to a high pressure of the refrigeration cycle. The high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from thecompressor 8 is sent to theindoor unit 3 through the four-way switching valve 10, the gas-side shutoff valve 14, and the gas-refrigerant connection pipe 5. - The high-pressure gas refrigerant radiates heat by, in the
indoor heat exchanger 51, exchanging the heat with indoor air supplied as a cooling source by theindoor fan 52 and becomes a high-pressure liquid refrigerant. Consequently, the air that passes through theindoor heat exchanger 51 is heated, and heating of the inside of a room is performed. The high-pressure liquid refrigerant that has radiated heat in theindoor heat exchanger 51 is sent to theoutdoor unit 2 through the liquid-refrigerant connection pipe 4. - The high-pressure liquid refrigerant sent to the
outdoor unit 2 is decompressed to a low pressure of the refrigeration cycle in theoutdoor expansion valve 12 through the liquid-side shutoff valve 13 and becomes a low-pressure refrigerant in a gas-liquid two-phase state. The low-pressure refrigerant in the gas-liquid two-phase state decompressed in theoutdoor expansion valve 12 evaporates by, in theoutdoor heat exchanger 11 that functions as the evaporator for the refrigerant, exchanging heat with outdoor air supplied as a heating source by theoutdoor fan 15, thereby becoming a low-pressure gas refrigerant. The low-pressure gas refrigerant is sucked again by thecompressor 8 through the four-way switching valve 10 and the accumulator 7. During a heating operation, the refrigerant circulates in therefrigerant circuit 6 as described above. - (5-1)
- Generally, the heat transfer rate of indoor fins of an indoor heat exchanger can be increased as the interval at which indoor flat tubes are disposed is decreased. Decreasing the interval at which the indoor flat tubes are disposed, however, increases the flow rate of airflow that passes between the indoor flat tubes and causes dew condensation water to easily disperse. When the height of each indoor flat tube in the up-down direction is large, the flow rate of the airflow that passes between the indoor flat tubes is similarly increased and causes dew condensation water to easily disperse. When the interval at which the indoor flat tubes are disposed is increased, the heat transfer rate of the indoor fins decreases. Consequently, the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger is required to be decreased, which generates environment in which dew condensation water is easily generated.
- In contrast, the
indoor heat exchanger 51 according to one or more embodiments and theair conditioning apparatus 1 that includes theindoor heat exchanger 51 employ the indoor heat exchanger and the air conditioning apparatus that satisfy the relation of 4.0≤DP/HT≤10.0 where HT represents the height of each indoorflat tube 55 in the up-down direction and DP represents the pitch of the plurality of indoorflat tubes 55 in the up-down direction. It is revealed from analysis data in which the values of DP and HT are varied that thus the value of DP/HT of theindoor heat exchanger 51 may be set to be in the numerical range for suppression of dew condensation water. - In other words, thus setting the value of DP/HT of the
indoor heat exchanger 51 to 4.0 or more suppresses the flow rate of the airflow that flows to cross theindoor fins 60 from being increased excessively. Consequently, even when theindoor fan 52 is used with the air volume thereof increased, it is possible to suppress dew condensation water from dispersing from the leeward-side end due to the airflow being large. - Moreover, setting the value of DP/HT of the
indoor heat exchanger 51 to 10.0 or less causes, of the region in theindoor fins 60, a region far away from the indoorflat tubes 55 to be small and can improve the heat transfer rate of theindoor fins 60. Therefore, the need to decrease the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant of theindoor heat exchanger 51 to ensure the capacity thereof is suppressed. Thus, by causing dew condensation water not to be generated easily, it is enabled to suppress dispersion of dew condensation water from theindoor fins 60, even when theindoor fan 52 is used with the air volume thereof increased. - When the
indoor heat exchanger 51 is configured to satisfy the relation of 4.6≤DP/HT≤8.0, it is enabled to make the effect of suppressing the dispersion of dew condensation water more remarkable. - (5-2)
- Generally, in an outdoor heat exchanger used in an outdoor unit of an air conditioning apparatus, air flow resistance is easily increased by frost formation on outdoor fins when the outdoor heat exchanger functions as an evaporator for refrigerant. Thus, the pitch of outdoor flat tubes is required to be wide. If a heat exchanger having a structure identical to the structure of such an outdoor heat exchanger that has a structure in which the pitch of flat tubes is wide is applied to an indoor heat exchanger, the heat transfer rate of indoor fins decreases due to the wide pitch of the flat tubes, which requires a decrease in the evaporation temperature of refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger and causes dew condensation water to be easily generated.
- In contrast, the
indoor heat exchanger 51 according to one or more embodiments and theair conditioning apparatus 1 that includes theindoor heat exchanger 51 satisfy a relation in which the value of DP/HT of theindoor heat exchanger 51 is smaller than the value of DP/HT of theoutdoor heat exchanger 11 where HT represents the height of each of theflat tubes flat tubes - Therefore, the heat transfer rate of the
indoor fins 60 is improved in theindoor heat exchanger 51, in which dispersion of dew condensation water easily occurs, while frost formation on theoutdoor heat exchanger 11, in which dispersion of dew condensation water does not easily occur, when theoutdoor heat exchanger 11 is used as the evaporator is suppressed, thereby suppressing the need to decrease the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant of theindoor heat exchanger 51 when theindoor heat exchanger 51 is used as the evaporator and causing dew condensation water not to be easily generated. Consequently, it is enabled to suppress dispersion of dew condensation water. - (5-3)
- The
indoor heat exchanger 51 according to one or more embodiments includes the windwardheat exchanging section 70 and the leewardheat exchanging section 80 and employs a structure in which at least two rows or more of the indoorflat tubes 55 are disposed. - Consequently, of the dew condensation water that is generated on the
indoor heat exchanger 51, dew condensation water that has been generated on the windwardheat exchanging section 70 is easily guided to move downward on a portion between the windwardheat exchanging section 70 and the leewardheat exchanging section 80 or on the leewardheat exchanging section 80 and is to be drained. In addition, air whose dry degree is increased by generating dew condensation water on the windwardheat exchanging section 70 when passing through the windwardheat exchanging section 70 is supplied to the leewardheat exchanging section 80. It is thus possible to cause the volume of the dew condensation water that is generated on the leewardheat exchanging section 80 to be small and to suppress dispersion of dew condensation water from the leeward-side end of the leewardheat exchanging section 80. - (5-4)
- In the
indoor heat exchanger 51 according to one or more embodiments, theindoor fins 60 each include the indoorcontinuous portion 64 on the leeward side of the indoorflat tubes 55. Thus, dew condensation water that has been generated on the indoorflat tubes 55 is easily drained by being guided to move downward on the indoorcontinuous portions 64 of theindoor fins 60 positioned along the downstream side in the airflow direction. Consequently, it is enabled to suppress dispersion of dew condensation water from the downstream-side ends of theindoor fins 60 in the airflow direction. - In particular, in the
indoor heat exchanger 51 according to one or more embodiments, the structure in which the two rows or more of the indoorflat tubes 55 are disposed includes the indoorcontinuous portions 64 on the downstream side of theindoor fins 60 of the leewardheat exchanging section 80. It is thus enabled to increase drainage of generated dew condensation water while suppressing generation of dew condensation water on the downstream-side ends of theindoor fins 60. - (5-5)
- The
indoor heat exchanger 51 according to one or more embodiments satisfies the relation of 0.2≤WL/WF≤0.5 where WF represents the length of eachindoor fin 60 in the airflow direction and WL represents the length of each indoorcontinuous portion 64 in the airflow direction. By thus setting the value of WL/WF to 0.2 or more in theindoor fins 60, the width of each indoorcontinuous portion 64 in the airflow direction is sufficiently ensured, and the dew condensation water that has been generated on theindoor heat exchanger 51 is caused to be easily drained downward through the indoorcontinuous portions 64. In addition, by setting the value of WL/WF to 0.5 or less in theindoor fins 60, of the region in theindoor fins 60, a region that is far away from the indoorflat tubes 55 and that does not easily contribute to the improvement of the heat transfer performance is caused to be small, and it is thereby enabled to suppress material costs while maintaining the performance of theindoor fins 60. - In particular, by setting the value of WL/WF of the
indoor fins 60 to 0.2 or more while positioning the indoorcontinuous portions 64 of theindoor fins 60 on the downstream side in the airflow direction of the indoorflat tubes 55, it is enabled to increase drainage of the dew condensation water that has been generated on the indoorflat tubes 55 through the indoorcontinuous portions 64. - (5-6)
- The
indoor heat exchanger 51 according to one or more embodiments have, in eachindoor fin 60, themain slits 62 and the continuous-location slits 63 that are cut and raised to open in the airflow direction. Consequently, the air supplied to theindoor heat exchanger 51 is enabled to come into contact with theindoor fins 60 sufficiently. It is thus enabled to fully utilize an air heat source. - The upper ends of the
main slits 62 and the continuous-location slits 63 are disposed to be positioned close to the lower parts of the indoorflat tubes 55 that are positioned directly above. The dew condensation water that has been generated on the indoorflat tubes 55 positioned directly above is thus easily caught and guided to move downward, which enables an enhancement of drainage. In particular, by designing as illustrated inFIG. 12 such that the distance DS between the portion where raising of thefin collar portions 65 a with respect to themajor surfaces 61 of theindoor fins 60 starts and the portion where raising of themain slits 62 of theindoor fins 60 starts on the side of the lower-sideflat surfaces 55 b of the indoorflat tubes 55 is 1 mm or less, it is possible to suppress the dew condensation water from remaining on the side of the lower-sideflat surfaces 55 b of the indoorflat tubes 55 and to enhance drainage performance. - The aforementioned embodiments have been described by presenting an example in which the downstream-side end of each
indoor fin 60 has a flat shape. - The shape of the downstream-side end of each
indoor fin 60 is, however, not limited thereto. For example, theindoor fins 60 a that each include a water-guidingrib 99 extending along the downstream-side end in the airflow direction, as described below, may be used. - In
FIG. 13 , the positional relation between theindoor fins 60 a and the indoorflat tubes 55 is illustrated. InFIG. 14 , the water-guidingrib 99 along, of the B-B section ofFIG. 13 , a portion in the vicinity of the downstream side in the airflow direction is illustrated. - As with the aforementioned embodiments, the
indoor heat exchanger 51 according to the modification A also includes the windwardheat exchanging section 70 and the leewardheat exchanging section 80. Each of theindoor fins 60 a of the windwardheat exchanging section 70 and the leewardheat exchanging section 80 has the water-guidingrib 99 extending vertically along the downstream-side end in the airflow direction of the indoorcontinuous portion 64 disposed on the downstream side in the airflow direction. As illustrated inFIG. 14 , the water-guidingrib 99 is formed to be recessed in the plate thickness direction of eachindoor fin 60 a with respect to themajor surface 61 around the water-guidingrib 99. Each water-guidingrib 99 may be recessed more than the plate thickness of eachindoor fin 60 a but not limited thereto. - Thus disposing the water-guiding
ribs 99 in theindoor fins 60 a causes the dew condensation water that has been generated on theindoor heat exchanger 51 to be caught in the water-guidingribs 99 and causes the dew condensation water to be easily guided to move downward along the water-guidingribs 99. Consequently, the dew condensation water is suppressed from reaching the leeward-side ends of theindoor fins 60 a, which enables dispersion of the dew condensation water to be sufficiently suppressed. - Each water-guiding
rib 99 may be disposed, on the indoorcontinuous portion 64 of eachindoor fin 60 a, on the downstream side from the center of the width in the airflow direction. Each water-guidingrib 99 may be disposed in a location having a width within, of the width of the indoorcontinuous portion 64 in the airflow direction, 20% from the downstream-side end in the airflow direction. - In the
indoor fins 60 a on each of which the water-guidingrib 99 is disposed, in particular, the relation between the width WL of the indoorcontinuous portion 64 of eachindoor fin 60 in the airflow direction and the width WF of eachindoor fin 60 in the airflow direction may satisfy the relation of 0.2≤WL/WF. - The aforementioned embodiments have been described by presenting an example in which the
indoor heat exchanger 51 includes the windwardheat exchanging section 70 and the leewardheat exchanging section 80 and in which the indoorflat tubes 55 are juxtaposed in two rows. - The number of the rows along which the indoor
flat tubes 55 included in theindoor heat exchanger 51 are disposed side by side in the airflow direction is, however, not limited to two. The rows may be a plurality of rows of three or more. Thus increasing the number of the rows of the indoorflat tubes 55 enables dispersion of the dew condensation water from the downstream-side end of theindoor heat exchanger 51 in the airflow direction to be more effectively suppressed. - The aforementioned embodiments have been described by presenting an example in which, in the
indoor heat exchanger 51, the plurality of indoorflat tubes 55 belonging to the windwardheat exchanging section 70 and the plurality of indoorflat tubes 55 belonging to the leewardheat exchanging section 80 are disposed to be superposed on each other when viewed in the airflow direction. - The
indoor heat exchanger 51 is, however, not limited thereto. The plurality of indoorflat tubes 55 belonging to the heat exchanging section on the further windward side and the plurality of indoorflat tubes 55 belonging to the heat exchanging section on the further leeward side may be disposed not to be superposed on each other when viewed in the airflow direction. Consequently, both the indoorflat tubes 55 positioned on the windward side and the indoorflat tubes 55 positioned on the leeward side are enabled to be subjected to sufficient airflow. - The aforementioned embodiments have been described by presenting an example in which the
indoor fins 60 of theindoor heat exchanger 51 include themain slits 62 and the continuous-location slits 63 that are configured by being cut and raised such that the entirety of slit pieces is positioned on one side in the plate thickness direction with respect to themajor surfaces 61 of theindoor fins 60. - The cut-and-raised portions formed in the
indoor fins 60 are, however, not limited thereto. Instead of themain slits 62 and the continuous-location slits 63, for example, the cut and raised slit pieces may employ a structure, called louver, in which the windward-side ends of the slit pieces in the airflow direction are positioned on one side of themajor surfaces 61 of theindoor fins 60 in the plate thickness direction and in which the leeward-side ends of the slit pieces in the airflow direction are positioned on the other side of themajor surfaces 61 of theindoor fins 60 in the plate thickness direction. - Although the disclosure has been described with respect to only a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that various other embodiments may be devised without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.
-
-
- 1 air conditioning apparatus
- 2 outdoor unit (outdoor unit)
- 3 indoor unit (indoor unit)
- 11 outdoor heat exchanger
- 51 indoor heat exchanger
- 55 indoor flat tube (flat tube)
- 55 c flow channel
- 60 indoor fin (heat transfer fin)
- 62 main slit (cut-and-raised portion)
- 63 continuous-location slit (cut-and-raised portion)
- 64 indoor continuous portion (continuous portion)
- 65 windward portion (each portion positioned between the flat tubes vertically juxtaposed)
- 90 outdoor flat tube (flat tube)
- 90 c flow channel
- 91 outdoor fin (heat transfer fin)
- 97 a continuous portion
- 97 b leeward portion
-
- PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2016-041986
Claims (9)
1.-8. (canceled)
9. An indoor heat exchanger in an indoor unit of an air conditioning apparatus, the indoor heat exchanger comprising:
flat tubes that are juxtaposed in a vertical direction and that each comprise a flow channel that allows refrigerant to pass through an inner portion thereof, and
heat transfer fins joined to the flat tubes and that each comprise:
a continuous portion that extends continuously in the vertical direction; and
windward portions that are continuous with the continuous portion and are disposed between the flat tubes, wherein
4.0≤DP/HT≤10.0 is satisfied, where HT is a height of each of the flat tubes and DP is a pitch of the flat tubes.
10. An indoor heat exchanger in an indoor unit constituting an air conditioning apparatus together with an outdoor unit that comprises an outdoor heat exchanger, wherein
the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger each comprise:
flat tubes that are juxtaposed in a vertical direction and that each comprise a flow channel that allows refrigerant to pass through an inner portion thereof; and
heat transfer fins joined to the flat tubes and that each comprise:
a continuous portion that extends continuously in the vertical direction; and
windward portions that are continuous with the continuous portion and are disposed between the flat tubes, wherein
a value of DP/HT of the indoor heat exchanger is smaller than a value of DP/HT of the outdoor heat exchanger, where HT is a height of each of the flat tubes and DP is a pitch of the flat tubes.
11. The indoor heat exchanger according to claim 9 , wherein the flat tubes each comprise:
upstream-side flat tubes on an upstream side in an airflow direction, and
downstream-side flat tubes on a downstream side of the upstream-side flat tubes in the airflow direction.
12. The indoor heat exchanger according to claim 9 , wherein the continuous portion is disposed on a leeward side of the flat tubes in an airflow direction.
13. The indoor heat exchanger according to claim 9 , wherein 0.2≤WL/WF≤0.5 is satisfied, where WF is a length of each of the heat transfer fins in an airflow direction and WL is a length of the continuous portion in the airflow direction.
14. The indoor heat exchanger according to claim 9 , wherein
the heat transfer fins each comprise a cut-and-raised portion, and
a longitudinal direction of the cut-and-raised portion is the vertical direction.
15. The indoor heat exchanger according to claim 9 , wherein 4.6≤DP/HT≤8.0 is satisfied.
16. An air conditioning apparatus comprising:
an indoor unit comprising the indoor heat exchanger according to claim 9 , and
an outdoor unit comprising an outdoor heat exchanger.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2018008352A JP7092987B2 (en) | 2018-01-22 | 2018-01-22 | Indoor heat exchanger and air conditioner |
JP2018-008352 | 2018-01-22 | ||
PCT/JP2018/048147 WO2019142642A1 (en) | 2018-01-22 | 2018-12-27 | Indoor heat exchanger and air conditioning device |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20210041115A1 true US20210041115A1 (en) | 2021-02-11 |
Family
ID=67301294
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US16/964,027 Abandoned US20210041115A1 (en) | 2018-01-22 | 2018-12-27 | Indoor heat exchanger and air conditioning apparatus |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20210041115A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP3745075B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP7092987B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN111630336B (en) |
ES (1) | ES2941545T3 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2019142642A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20220011048A1 (en) * | 2018-12-24 | 2022-01-13 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Heat exchanger |
US20230147346A1 (en) * | 2021-11-10 | 2023-05-11 | Climate Master, Inc. | Low height heat pump system and method |
US11927377B2 (en) | 2014-09-26 | 2024-03-12 | Waterfurnace International, Inc. | Air conditioning system with vapor injection compressor |
US11953239B2 (en) | 2018-08-29 | 2024-04-09 | Waterfurnace International, Inc. | Integrated demand water heating using a capacity modulated heat pump with desuperheater |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2021234964A1 (en) * | 2020-05-22 | 2021-11-25 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Heat exchanger and air conditioner |
JP7457587B2 (en) * | 2020-06-18 | 2024-03-28 | 三菱重工サーマルシステムズ株式会社 | Heat exchangers, heat exchanger units, and refrigeration cycle equipment |
Family Cites Families (23)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH02101333A (en) * | 1988-10-07 | 1990-04-13 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Integral type air conditioner |
JP3264525B2 (en) * | 1992-10-12 | 2002-03-11 | 東芝キヤリア株式会社 | Heat exchanger |
ES2087702T3 (en) * | 1993-07-06 | 1996-07-16 | Magneti Marelli Climat Srl | AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS CONDENSER, IN PARTICULAR FOR MOTOR VEHICLES. |
JP2000193389A (en) * | 1998-12-28 | 2000-07-14 | Hitachi Ltd | Outdoor unit of air-conditioner |
JP2002139282A (en) * | 2000-10-31 | 2002-05-17 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | Heat exchanger, refrigerating air conditioner and manufacturing method of heat exchanger |
US6964296B2 (en) * | 2001-02-07 | 2005-11-15 | Modine Manufacturing Company | Heat exchanger |
JP2003240261A (en) | 2002-02-15 | 2003-08-27 | Sharp Corp | Integrated type air conditioner |
JP2009145010A (en) | 2007-12-17 | 2009-07-02 | Hitachi Appliances Inc | Fin-less heat exchanger for air conditioner |
JP2009168317A (en) * | 2008-01-15 | 2009-07-30 | Toshiba Carrier Corp | Heat exchanger and air conditioner |
JP4845943B2 (en) * | 2008-08-26 | 2011-12-28 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Finned tube heat exchanger and refrigeration cycle air conditioner |
JP5470793B2 (en) | 2008-09-30 | 2014-04-16 | ダイキン工業株式会社 | Air conditioner indoor unit and air conditioner equipped with the same |
CN101614492A (en) * | 2009-06-15 | 2009-12-30 | 浙江康盛股份有限公司 | Micro-channel condenser |
CN101963418B (en) * | 2009-07-21 | 2012-09-05 | 约克(无锡)空调冷冻设备有限公司 | Micro channel heat exchanger for air-conditioner heat pump |
EP2657637A4 (en) * | 2011-01-21 | 2014-07-09 | Daikin Ind Ltd | Heat exchanger and air conditioner |
JP5523495B2 (en) * | 2011-04-22 | 2014-06-18 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Finned tube heat exchanger and refrigeration cycle apparatus |
KR101936224B1 (en) * | 2012-04-26 | 2019-01-08 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | A heat exchanger |
WO2015004720A1 (en) | 2013-07-08 | 2015-01-15 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Heat exchanger, and air conditioner |
JP6448948B2 (en) | 2014-08-14 | 2019-01-09 | 三菱重工サーマルシステムズ株式会社 | Heat exchanger and outdoor unit for air conditioner using the same |
US10393452B2 (en) * | 2015-05-29 | 2019-08-27 | Mitsubishi Electric Corporation | Heat exchanger |
JP6566530B2 (en) * | 2015-07-14 | 2019-08-28 | 株式会社 エコファクトリー | Air conditioning apparatus and air conditioning system |
JP2017166757A (en) | 2016-03-16 | 2017-09-21 | 三星電子株式会社Samsung Electronics Co.,Ltd. | Heat exchanger and air conditioner |
JP6380449B2 (en) | 2016-04-07 | 2018-08-29 | ダイキン工業株式会社 | Indoor heat exchanger |
JP6771321B2 (en) | 2016-06-27 | 2020-10-21 | 日立ジョンソンコントロールズ空調株式会社 | Indoor unit of air conditioner |
-
2018
- 2018-01-22 JP JP2018008352A patent/JP7092987B2/en active Active
- 2018-12-27 EP EP18901558.9A patent/EP3745075B1/en active Active
- 2018-12-27 ES ES18901558T patent/ES2941545T3/en active Active
- 2018-12-27 CN CN201880087296.1A patent/CN111630336B/en active Active
- 2018-12-27 WO PCT/JP2018/048147 patent/WO2019142642A1/en unknown
- 2018-12-27 US US16/964,027 patent/US20210041115A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US11927377B2 (en) | 2014-09-26 | 2024-03-12 | Waterfurnace International, Inc. | Air conditioning system with vapor injection compressor |
US11953239B2 (en) | 2018-08-29 | 2024-04-09 | Waterfurnace International, Inc. | Integrated demand water heating using a capacity modulated heat pump with desuperheater |
US20220011048A1 (en) * | 2018-12-24 | 2022-01-13 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Heat exchanger |
US11988452B2 (en) * | 2018-12-24 | 2024-05-21 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Heat exchanger |
US20230147346A1 (en) * | 2021-11-10 | 2023-05-11 | Climate Master, Inc. | Low height heat pump system and method |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN111630336A (en) | 2020-09-04 |
EP3745075A4 (en) | 2021-01-06 |
EP3745075A1 (en) | 2020-12-02 |
ES2941545T3 (en) | 2023-05-23 |
WO2019142642A1 (en) | 2019-07-25 |
EP3745075B1 (en) | 2023-03-08 |
JP2019128060A (en) | 2019-08-01 |
CN111630336B (en) | 2022-08-16 |
JP7092987B2 (en) | 2022-06-29 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20210041115A1 (en) | Indoor heat exchanger and air conditioning apparatus | |
US8205470B2 (en) | Indoor unit for air conditioner | |
EP3650798B1 (en) | Heat exchanger | |
WO2019239990A1 (en) | Indoor heat exchanger and air conditioning device | |
US20180195744A1 (en) | Heat exchanger and air conditioner having same | |
US11499762B2 (en) | Heat exchanger and air conditioner | |
US20200232709A1 (en) | Heat exchange unit | |
WO2019004139A1 (en) | Heat exchanger | |
US11486655B2 (en) | Outdoor unit of air conditioner | |
CN111448423B (en) | Air conditioner | |
WO2019240055A1 (en) | Heat exchanger and air conditioner | |
WO2016067907A1 (en) | Heat exchanger | |
US20200200476A1 (en) | Heat exchanger | |
JP7137092B2 (en) | Heat exchanger | |
JP2015169358A (en) | heat exchanger | |
US20230341189A1 (en) | Heat exchanger and air conditioner having the same | |
WO2021095452A1 (en) | Heat exchanger and air conditioner | |
JP7089187B2 (en) | Heat exchanger and air conditioner | |
CN109219723A (en) | The outdoor unit of air-conditioning device |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD., JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:YOSHIOKA, SHUN;MATSUMOTO, YOSHIYUKI;FUJII, CHIHO;SIGNING DATES FROM 20190207 TO 20190214;REEL/FRAME:053366/0278 |
|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: APPLICATION DISPATCHED FROM PREEXAM, NOT YET DOCKETED |
|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: DOCKETED NEW CASE - READY FOR EXAMINATION |
|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: NON FINAL ACTION MAILED |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |