Patent ID: 6431264
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: F28D,F28F

Abstract:
A heat exchanger in which a fluid flows to have a phase-change by performing a heat exchange with air passing through the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger comprising:a plurality of tubes through which the fluid flows in a longitudinal direction of the tubes; a plurality of first header tanks for distributing and supplying refrigerant into the tubes, each of the first header tanks being disposed at one end side of each tube in the longitudinal direction; and a plurality of second header tanks for collecting refrigerant from the tubes, each of the second header tanks being disposed at the remainder end side of each tube in the longitudinal direction; wherein: the tubes and the first and second header tanks construct at least first through fourth heat-exchanging units for performing a heat exchange between fluid and air; among the first through fourth heat-exchanging units, the first heat-exchanging unit and the second heat-exchanging unit are arranged in a line in a width direction approximately perpendicular to an air flowing direction, the third heat-exchanging unit and the fourth heat-exchanging unit are arranged in a line in the width direction, the first heat-exchanging unit and the fourth heat-exchanging unit are arranged in a line in a line in the air flowing direction, and the second heat-exchanging unit and the third heat-exchanging unit are arranged in a line in the air flowing direction; the first through fourth heat-exchanging units are constructed in such a manner that fluid flows through the first heat-exchanging unit, the second heat-exchanging unit, the third heat-exchanging unit and the fourth heat-exchanging unit, in this order; and the first through the fourth heat-exchanging units are disposed in such a manner that, a flow direction of fluid flowing through the tubes of the first heat-exchanging unit is opposite to that flowing through the tubes of the fourth heat-exchanging unit, the flow direction of fluid flowing through the tubes of the second heat-exchanging unit is opposite to that flowing through the tubes of the third heat-exchanging unit, the flow direction of fluid flowing in the first header tank of the first heat-exchanging unit is the same as that flowing in the first header tank of the fourth heat-exchanging unit, and the flow direction of fluid flowing in the first header tank of the second heat-exchanging unit is the same as that flowing in the first header tank of the third heat-exchanging unit.