Condenser for refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020284482-A1
Application number	US-201816648984-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 19, 2018
Priority date	Sep 19, 2017
Publication date	Sep 10, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A condenser for a refrigerator according the present invention includes a heat exchange unit configured to receive at one side thereof refrigerant, which has been compressed in a compressor, to perform heat exchange between the refrigerant and air and to discharge the refrigerant, which has exchanged heat with the air, to an evaporator, wherein the heat exchange unit includes a flat tube, through one end of which the refrigerant is introduced and through a remaining end of which the refrigerant is discharged, thereby performing heat exchange between the refrigerant and the air, wherein the flat tube includes at least one bent tube portion defining plural rows of tubes, which are spaced apart from each other in an up-and-down direction, and wherein the plural rows of tubes define an intersection bent surface, which has a predetermined curvature and intersects the up-and-down direction.

First claim

1 . A condenser for a refrigerator comprising a heat exchange unit configured to receive, at one side thereof, refrigerant which has been compressed in a compressor, to perform heat exchange between the refrigerant and air and to discharge the refrigerant, which has exchanged heat with the air, to an evaporator,
wherein the heat exchange unit includes a flat tube, through one end of which the refrigerant is introduced and through a remaining end of which the refrigerant is discharged, thereby performing heat exchange between the refrigerant and the air, wherein the flat tube includes at least one bent tube portion defining plural rows of tubes, which are spaced apart from each other in an up-and-down direction, and wherein the plural rows of tubes define an intersection bent surface, which has a predetermined curvature and intersects the up-and-down direction.

2 . The condenser for a refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the bent tube surface of the intersection bent portion and a bent surface of the bent tube portion are disposed in a direction so as to intersect each other.

3 . The condenser for a refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the flat tube has a horizontal width which is larger than a vertical thickness of the flat tube.

4 . The condenser for a refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the flat tube has a longer side which is disposed parallel to the bent surface of the intersection bent portion.

5 . The condenser for a refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the flat tube has a longer side which is disposed in a direction so as to intersect a bent surface of the bent tube portion.

6 . The condenser for a refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the intersection bent portion has a radius of curvature which is larger than a radius of curvature of the bent tube portion.

7 . The condenser for a refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a radius of curvature of the intersection bent portion to a horizontal width of the flat tube is 3-5:1.

8 . The condenser for a refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the bent tube portion to a vertical thickness of the flat tube is 5.5-7:1.

9 . The condenser for a refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a vertical thickness of the flat tube to a pitch of the plural rows of tubes is 1:5.5-7.

10 . The condenser for a refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an inflow header configured to supply the refrigerant, which has been compressed in the compressor, to the heat exchange unit, and an outflow header through which the refrigerant, which has exchanged heat with the air in the heat exchange unit, flows, wherein the inflow header is connected to the one end of the flat tube, and the outflow header is connected to the remaining end of the flat tube.

11 . The condenser for a refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising a fin connecting the plural rows of tubes to each other in order to transfer heat.

12 . The condenser for a refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the plural rows of tubes define two heat exchange surfaces, which face each other.

13 . The condenser for a refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the bent surface of the bent tube portion is parallel to the up-and-down direction.

14 . The condenser for a refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the intersection bent surface is perpendicular to the up-and-down direction.

15 . The condenser for a refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein a direction in which the air flows is parallel to the bent surface of the intersection bent portion and intersects the bent surface of the bent tube portion.

16 . A refrigerator comprising:
a body having a storage compartment for storing foodstuffs; a door configured to open and close the body; and a condenser configured to condense refrigerant for cooling the storage compartment, wherein the condenser includes a heat exchange unit configured to receive at one side thereof the refrigerant, which has been compressed in a compressor, to perform heat exchange between the refrigerant and air and to discharge the refrigerant, which has exchanged heat with the air, to an evaporator, wherein the heat exchange unit includes a flat tube, through one end of which the refrigerant is introduced and through a remaining end of which the refrigerant is discharged, thereby performing heat exchange between the refrigerant and the air, wherein the flat tube includes at least one bent tube portion defining plural rows of tubes, which are spaced apart from each other in an up-and-down direction, and wherein the plural rows of tubes define an intersection bent surface, which has a predetermined curvature and intersects the up-and-down direction.

17 . The refrigerator according to claim 16 , wherein the intersection bent surface is perpendicular to the up-and-down direction.

18 . The refrigerator according to claim 16 , wherein the bent tube surface of the intersection bent portion and a bent surface of the bent tube portion are disposed in a direction so as to intersect each other.

19 . The refrigerator according to claim 16 , wherein a direction in which the air flows is parallel to the bent surface of the intersection bent portion and intersects the bent surface of the bent tube portion.

20 . The refrigerator according to claim 16 , wherein the flat tube has a longer side which is disposed parallel to the bent surface of the intersection bent portion.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Park Taegyun
• Kim Juhyok
• Choi Jiwon

Classifications

• F28F1/02

  Tubular elements of cross-section which is non-circular (F28F1/08, F28F1/10 take precedence) · CPC title

• F25D23/003

  for cooling refrigerating machinery · CPC title

• F25B39/04 Primary

  Condensers · CPC title

• F28D1/05383

  with multiple rows of conduits or with multi-channel conduits (F28D1/05391 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F28D2021/007

  Condensers · CPC title