Heat exchanger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017191761-A1
Application number	US-201615295342-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 17, 2016
Priority date	Dec 31, 2015
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A heat exchanger is provided that may include at least one refrigerant tube having a plurality of tube channels; a plurality of headers provided at both sides of the at least one refrigerant tube, and at least one distributor provided between one header among the plurality of header and the at least one refrigerant tube. The at least one distributor may include an opening through which the at least one refrigerant tube may be coupled to the distributor, and a shielding wall having an inlet/outlet that guides introduction or discharge of the refrigerant.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
at least one refrigerant tube configured for a refrigerant to flow therein, the at least one refrigerant tube having a plurality of tube channels; a plurality of headers provided at both sides of the at least one refrigerant tube, respectively; and one or more distributor provided between one header among the plurality of headers and the at least one refrigerant tube, wherein each of the one or more distributor includes: an opening forming at a first side of the distributor and through which the refrigerant tube is coupled to the distributor; and a shielding wall having an inlet/outlet on a second side of the distributor, wherein the inlet/outlet is configured to guide introduction or discharge of the refrigerant.

2 . The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more distributor includes:
a distributor main body having a distribution space; and a plurality of guide channels formed in the distribution space, the plurality of guide channels being configured to change a direction of flow of the refrigerant flowing in the plurality of tube channels.

3 . The heat exchanger according to claim 2 , wherein the first side and the second side form opposite side ends of the distributor main body.

4 . The heat exchanger according to claim 2 , wherein the distributor further includes at least one distribution rib that extends from the shielding wall, and wherein the at least one distribution rib partitions the distribution space into the plurality of guide channels.

5 . The heat exchanger according to claim 2 , wherein a width of the guide channel in a first direction is formed greater than a width of the tube channel in the first direction.

6 . The heat exchanger according to claim 5 , wherein the width of the guide channel in the first direction is formed to have a value corresponding to two times the width of the tube channel in the first direction.

7 . The heat exchanger according to claim 2 , wherein the one or more distributor includes:
at least one first distributor coupled to a first header among the plurality of headers; and at least one second distributor coupled to a second header among the plurality of headers.

8 . The heat exchanger according to claim 7 , wherein the inlet/outlet includes:
an inlet formed in the at least one first distributor, through which the refrigerant in the first header is introduced into the refrigerant tube; and an outlet formed in the at least one second distributor, through which the refrigerant in the refrigerant tube is discharged to the second header.

9 . The heat exchanger according to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of guide channels includes:
a first guide channel that changes a direction of flow of the refrigerant discharged from one tube channel among the plurality of tube channels to an opposite direction; and a second guide channel that changes a direction of flow of the refrigerant discharged from another tube channel among the plurality of tube channels to an opposite direction.

10 . The heat exchanger according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one first distributor includes a plurality of first distributors, wherein the plurality of first distributors includes:
at least one first upper distributor connected to an upper portion of the first header, the at least one first upper distributor having a first inlet through which the refrigerant is introduced from the first header; and at least one first lower distributor connected to a lower portion of the first header, the at least one first lower distributor having a second outlet through which the refrigerant is discharged from the refrigerant tube, wherein each of the first inlet and the second outlet form the inlet/outlet.

11 . The heat exchanger according to claim 10 , wherein a direction in which the at least one first upper distributor is coupled to the first header and a direction in which the at least one first lower distributor is coupled to the first header are formed opposite to each other.

12 . The heat exchanger according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one second distributor includes a plurality of second distributors, and wherein the plurality of second distributors includes:
at least one second upper distributor connected to an upper portion of the second header, the at least one second upper distributor having a first outlet through which the refrigerant is discharged from the refrigerant tube; and at least one second lower distributor connected to a lower portion of the second header, the at least one second lower distributor having a second inlet through which the refrigerant is introduced from the second header, wherein each of the first outlet and the second inlet form the inlet/outlet.

13 . The heat exchanger according to claim 12 , wherein a direction in which the at least one second upper distributor is coupled to the second header and a direction in which the at least one second lower distributor is coupled to the second header are formed opposite to each other.

14 . The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant tube is arranged to extend in a lateral direction, and the plurality of headers is arranged to extend in a longitudinal direction.

15 . The heat exchanger according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one refrigerant tube includes a plurality of refrigerant tubes spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction, wherein the heat exchanger further includes a plurality of fins provided between the plurality of refrigerant tubes.

16 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
a plurality of refrigerant tubes configured for a refrigerant to flow therein, the plurality of refrigerant tubes each having a plurality of tube channels; first and second headers provided at both sides of the plurality of refrigerant tubes, respectively; and a plurality of first and second distributors provided between the first and second headers, respectively, and the plurality of refrigerant tubes, wherein each of the first and second distributors includes:
a distributor main body having a distribution space;
an opening forming at a first side of the distributor main body and through which the at least one refrigerant tube is coupled to the distributor;
a plurality of guide channels formed in the distribution space, the plurality of guide channels being configured to change a direction of flow of the refrigerant flowing in the plurality of tube channels; and
a wall having an inlet/outlet at a second side of the distributor body, wherein the inlet/outlet is configured to guide introduction or discharge of the refrigerant.

17 . The heat exchanger according to claim 16 , wherein each distributor further includes at least one distribution rib that extends from the wall, and wherein the at least one distribution rib partitions the distribution space into the plurality of guide channels.

18 . The heat exchanger according to claim 16 , wherein a width of the guide channel in a first direction is formed greater than a width of the tube channel in the first direction.

19 . The heat exchanger according to claim 16 , wherein the plurality of first distributors includes:
at least one first upper distributor connected to an upper portion of the first header, the at least one first upper distributor having a first inlet through which the refrigerant is introduced from the first header; and at least one first lower distributor connected to a lower portion of the first header, the at least one firs

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Lee Haeseung
• Na Byeongchul
• Lee Hyang

Classifications

• F28D1/05375 Primary

  with particular pattern of flow, e.g. change of flow direction (F28D1/05391 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F28F1/126

  consisting of zig-zag shaped fins (F28F1/105 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F28F9/0202

  Header boxes having their inner space divided by partitions · CPC title

• F28F9/04

  Arrangements for sealing elements into header boxes or end plates {(arrangements for sealing flow lines connectors to header boxes F28F9/0248)} · CPC title

• F28F9/028

  by using inserts for modifying the pattern of flow inside the header box, e.g. by using flow restrictors or permeable bodies or blocks with channels · CPC title