Heat exchanger and refrigeration cycle apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025389432-A1
Application number	US-202218880197-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 22, 2022
Priority date	Aug 22, 2022
Publication date	Dec 25, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a first heat exchange body that has first flat tubes; a first refrigerant distributor; and a second refrigerant distributor. The first refrigerant distributor has a first outer tube into which end portions of the first flat tubes are inserted, a first inner tube that is located inside the first outer tube and has first refrigerant outflow holes, and a first partition plate joined in a state in which the first inner tube passes through a plate thickness. The second refrigerant distributor has a second outer tube into which the other end portions of the first flat tubes are inserted, a second inner tube that is located inside the second outer tube and has second refrigerant outflow holes, and a second partition plate joined in a state in which the second inner tube passes through a plate thickness.

First claim

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
a heat exchanger; and a second heat exchanger, the heat exchanger including a first heat exchange body that has a plurality of first flat tubes arranged and spaced from each other in a first direction and each of which tube axis extends in a second direction that intersects the first direction, a first refrigerant distributor into which one end portion of each of the plurality of first flat tubes is inserted, and a second refrigerant distributor into which an other end portion of each of the plurality of first flat tubes is inserted, the first refrigerant distributor having a first outer tube that extends in the first direction and into which the one end portion of each of the plurality of first flat tubes is inserted, a first inner tube that extends in the first direction, is located inside the first outer tube, and has a plurality of first refrigerant outflow holes arranged and spaced from each other in the first direction, and a first partition plate joined to an internal wall of the first outer tube in a state in which the first inner tube passes through a plate thickness, the second refrigerant distributor having a second outer tube that extends in the first direction and into which the other end portion of each of the plurality of first flat tubes is inserted, a second inner tube that extends in the first direction, is located inside the second outer tube, and has a plurality of second refrigerant outflow holes arranged and spaced from each other in the first direction, and a second partition plate joined to an internal wall of the second outer tube in a state in which the second inner tube passes through a plate thickness, the second heat exchanger including a second heat exchange body that has a plurality of second flat tubes arranged and spaced from each other in a third direction and each of which tube axis extends in the second direction, which intersects the third direction, a third refrigerant distributor into which one end portion of each of the plurality of second flat tubes is inserted, and a fourth refrigerant distributor into which an other end portion of each of the plurality of second flat tubes is inserted, the third refrigerant distributor having a third outer tube that extends in the third direction and into which the one end portion of each of the plurality of second flat tubes is inserted, the fourth refrigerant distributor having a fourth outer tube that extends in the third direction and into which the other end portion of each of the plurality of second flat tubes is inserted, a fourth inner tube that extends in the third direction, is located inside the fourth outer tube, and has a plurality of fourth refrigerant outflow holes arranged and spaced from each other in the third direction, and a fourth partition plate joined to an internal wall of the fourth outer tube in a state in which the fourth inner tube passes through a plate thickness, when the heat exchanger serves as a condenser, the heat exchanger being connected in series to the second heat exchanger, which serves as a condenser, the second heat exchanger being located upstream of the heat exchanger in a direction in which refrigerant flows.

2 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein when the heat exchanger serves as a condenser, refrigerant flows from the first refrigerant distributor into the one end portion of each of the plurality of first flat tubes, flows through inside the plurality of first flat tubes, and flows out from the other end portion of each of the plurality of first flat tubes into the second refrigerant distributor.

3 . The heat exchanger of claim 2 , wherein the refrigerant that flows from the first refrigerant distributor into the one end portion of each of the plurality of first flat tubes is in a two-phase gas-liquid state.

4 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein
a part or all of specifications of the first refrigerant distributor differ from a part or all of specifications of the second refrigerant distributor, and the specifications of the first refrigerant distributor and the specifications of the second refrigerant distributor are defined according to an uniformity state of distribution of the refrigerant in the first refrigerant distributor and the second refrigerant distributor when the heat exchanger serves as a condenser and pressure loss caused in the first refrigerant distributor and the second refrigerant distributor when the heat exchanger serves as an evaporator.

5 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of first flat tubes has a leeward first flat tube that is located leeward in a direction in which air flows and has the one end portion of each of the plurality of first flat tubes, and a windward first flat tube that is located windward in the direction in which air flows and has the other end portion of each of the plurality of first flat tubes, and an end portion of the leeward first flat tube that is opposite the one end portion and an end portion of the windward first flat tube that is opposite the other end portion are connected to each other through a first reverse header.

6 . (canceled)

7 . (canceled)

8 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein when the second heat exchanger serves as a condenser, refrigerant flows from the third refrigerant distributor into the one end portion of each of the plurality of second flat tubes, flows through inside the plurality of second flat tubes, and flows out from the other end portion of each of the plurality of second flat tubes into the fourth refrigerant distributor.

9 . The heat exchanger of claim 8 , wherein the refrigerant that flows from the third refrigerant distributor into the one end portion of each of the plurality of second flat tubes is in a gas state.

10 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of second flat tubes has a leeward second flat tube that is located leeward in a direction in which air flows and has the one end portion of each of the plurality of second flat tubes, and a windward second flat tube that is located windward in the direction in which air flows and has the other end portion of each of the plurality of second flat tubes, and an end portion of the leeward second flat tube that is opposite the one end portion and an end portion of the windward second flat tube that is opposite the other end portion are connected to each other through a second reverse header.

11 . A refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising an outdoor unit, wherein
the outdoor unit is provided with the heat exchanger of claim 1 , the second heat exchanger of claim 1 , a refrigerant pipe through which the heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are connected to each other, a housing that is box-shaped and houses the heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger inside, and an air-sending device located at a upper portion of the housing and configured to form a flow of air by being driven to rotate and blow out the air that passes through the heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger upward from an upper face of the housing, and the heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are located along a part or all of four side faces of the housing.

Assignees

• Mitsubishi Electric Corp

Inventors

• Kasaki Shingo
• Saikusa Tetsuji
• Onaka Yoji
• Nakao Yuki
• Adachi Rihito

Classifications

• F28F9/027

  in the form of distribution pipes · CPC title

• F25B6/04

  arranged in series · CPC title

• F24F1/18 Primary

  characterised by their shape · CPC title

• F25B2339/0446

  characterised by the refrigerant tubes connecting the header of the condenser to the receiver; Inlet or outlet connections to receiver · CPC title

• F28D1/0443

  Combination of units extending one beside or one above the other (F28D1/0452 takes precedence) · CPC title