Method for manufacturing heat exchanger

A method for manufacturing a heat exchanger is provided. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of plate-like fins that are stacked with a predetermined fin pitch, and a plurality of flat heat exchanger tubes that are disposed with a predetermined spacing from one another along the longitudinal direction of the plate-like fins and extend through the plate-like fins along the stacking direction. The plate-like fins each have a plurality of notches provided in an end portion along the long side. The plate-like fins have a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the flat heat exchanger tubes, and the flat heat exchanger tubes are inserted into the notches. The manufacturing method includes disposing the flat heat exchanger tubes with a predetermined spacing from one another, and attaching the plate-like fins to the flat heat exchanger tubes one by one by inserting the flat heat exchanger tubes into the notches of each of the plate-like fins.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a U.S. national stage application of International Application No. PCT/JP2012/004242 filed on Jun. 29, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a heat exchanger, a heat exchanger, and an air-conditioning apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, there have been proposed heat exchangers (hereinafter, also referred to as fin-and-tube heat exchangers) including a plurality of plate-like fins that are stacked with a predetermined fin pitch, and a plurality of heat exchanger tubes that are disposed with a predetermined spacing from one another along the longitudinal direction of the plate-like fins and extend through the plate-like fins along the stacking direction. Further, some of the conventional fin-and-tube heat exchangers proposed use, as a heat exchanger tube, a heat exchanger tube whose cross-section is flat-shaped (hereinafter, also referred to as flat heat exchanger tube).

As an example of conventional fin-and-tube heat exchangers using such a flat heat exchanger tube, in order to minimize performance degradation of the heat exchanger caused by deformation of the plate-like fins or unevenness or any inappropriateness in the fin pitch between the plate-like fins, which occurs during assembling of the heat exchanger, the following heat exchanger has been proposed: “A heat exchanger is formed by integrally brazing the following components: a plurality of plate-like fins1that are arranged with a spacing as appropriate; a plurality of tapered flat heat exchanger tubes3that are parallel to each other and extend through tapered insertion grooves2provided in each of the plate-like fins1; and a pair of headers4and5formed by pipes that are disposed with a spacing from each other and communicate with the flat heat exchanger tubes3. As illustrated inFIG. 3, the insertion grooves2provided in each of the plate-like fins1are open on one side of each of the plate-like fins1, and are formed in such a shape that gradually narrows toward the inner side from this one side. That is, the insertion grooves2are formed in a tapered shape whose opening-side end portion has a widened portion2aand whose other end portion has a narrowed portion2b. The cross-section of the flat heat exchanger tubes3has a tapered shape that allows intimate contact of the flat heat exchanger tubes3with the narrowed portion2bside of the insertion grooves2″ (see Patent Literature 1).

The heat exchanger described in Patent Literature 1 is manufactured by the following method: “To assemble the heat exchanger, first, a predetermined number of plate-like fins1, for example,500plate-like fins1are set at predetermined intervals between a pair of jigs (not illustrated), in a state in which erected pieces10of adjacent plate-like fins1are brought into abutment with each other. The jig is also provided with tapered insertion grooves similar to the tapered insertion grooves2provided in each of the plate-like fins1. Next, as illustrated inFIG. 6(a), a narrowed portion3bof each of the flat heat exchanger tubes3is inserted into the widened portion2aside of the corresponding insertion groove2. After the narrowed portion3bof each of the flat heat exchanger tubes3is inserted into the widened portion2aof the corresponding insertion groove2, by moving the plate-like fins1and the flat heat exchanger tubes3relatively, that is, in the direction of the long axis of each of the insertion grooves2and the flat heat exchanger tubes3, the narrowed portion3bof each of the flat heat exchanger tubes3is moved to the narrowed portion2bside of the corresponding insertion groove2, thereby bringing each of the flat heat exchanger tubes3into intimate contact with the narrowed portion2bside of the corresponding insertion groove2(seeFIG. 6(b)). In this case, the widened portion2aof each of the insertion grooves2and the widened portion3aof the corresponding flat heat exchanger tube3are also brought into intimate contact with each other”.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

As described above, the heat exchanger described in Patent Literature 1 is assembled by disposing the plate-like fins at a predetermined fin pitch, and then inserting the flat heat exchanger tubes into the corresponding insertion grooves (notches) formed in an end portion along the long side of these plate-like fins. However, when disposing the plate-like fins at a predetermined fin pitch, the plate-like fins warp because the plate-like fins are thin plates, making it difficult to dispose the plate-like fins with good accuracy. Consequently, upon disposing the plate-like fins at a predetermined fin pitch, there occur variations in the positions of the insertion grooves (notches) of individual plate-like fins into which the same flat heat exchanger tube is to be inserted. Therefore, with the method for manufacturing a heat exchanger described in Patent Literature 1, when attempting to insert the flat heat exchanger tubes into these insertion grooves (notches), deformation of the plate-like fins or unevenness or any inappropriateness in fin pitch still occurs owing to the force exerted when inserting the flat heat exchanger tubes. Consequently, the ventilation resistance increases, leading to performance degradation of the heat exchanger.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. It is a first object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a heat exchanger which allows deformation of the plate-like fins or occurrence of unevenness or any inappropriateness in fin pitch to be reduced during assembling of the heat exchanger in comparison to related art, thereby minimizing performance degradation of the heat exchanger in comparison to related art. Further, it is a second object of the present invention to provide a heat exchanger manufactured by the method for manufacturing a heat exchanger, and an air-conditioning apparatus including this heat exchanger.

Solution to Problem

A method for manufacturing a heat exchanger according to the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a heat exchanger that includes a plurality of plate-like fins stacked with a predetermined fin pitch, and a plurality of heat exchanger tubes that are disposed with a predetermined spacing from one another along the longitudinal direction of the plate-like fins and extend through the plate-like fins along the stacking direction. The heat exchanger tubes have a flat-shaped cross-section, the plate-like fins each have a plurality of first notches formed in an end portion along the long side and having a shape corresponding to the shape of the cross-section of the heat exchanger tubes, and the heat exchanger tubes are inserted into the first notches. The method includes disposing the heat exchanger tubes with a predetermined spacing from one another, and attaching the plate-like fins to the heat exchanger tubes one by one, by inserting the heat exchanger tubes into the first notches of each of the plate-like fins.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

In the heat exchanger according to the present invention, the heat exchanger tubes are disposed with a predetermined spacing from one another, and the plate-like fins are attached to these heat exchanger tubes one by one in such a way that the plate-like fins are disposed at a predetermined fin pitch. Therefore, the present invention allows deformation of the plate-like fins or occurrence of unevenness or any inappropriateness in fin pitch during assembling of the heat exchanger to be reduced in comparison to related art, thereby minimizing performance degradation of the heat exchanger in comparison to related art. As a result, the present invention can provide a high-performance heat exchanger.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1is perspective view illustrating a heat exchanger according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

A heat exchanger20according to Embodiment 1 is a fin-and-tube heat exchanger including a plurality of plate-like fins2and a plurality of flat heat exchanger tubes1. The plate-like fins2are stacked with a predetermined fin pitch. The flat heat exchanger tubes1are disposed with a predetermined spacing from one another along the longitudinal direction of the plate-like fins2, and extend through the plate-like fins2along the stacking direction of the plate-like fins2.

The plate-like fins2are, for example, thin plates having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Each of the plate-like fins2has a plurality of cut-and-raised slits5formed on its surface. The cut-and-raised slits5open toward the direction of circulation of air flowing between the plate-like fins2(in other words, in the short direction of the plate-like fins2). By forming the cut-and-raised slits5, the thermal boundary layer on the surface of the plate-like fins2can be split/updated, thereby improving the efficiency of heat transfer between air flowing between the plate-like fins2and each of the plate-like fins2. A plurality of notches4are formed with a predetermined spacing from one another in an end portion along the long side of each of the plate-like fins2. The notches4are portions in which the flat heat exchanger tubes1described later are inserted. The notches4have a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the flat heat exchanger tubes1. In Embodiment 1, the cross-sectional shape of the flat heat exchanger tubes1is an elongated circle (a shape obtained by joining two circles of the same diameter by tangents). Accordingly, the notches4are formed in the shape of a U-shaped groove.

Each of the notches4corresponds to a first notch according to the present invention.

The flat heat exchanger tubes1are tubes in which a refrigerant that exchanges heat with the air flowing between the plate-like fins2flows. As described above, the cross-section of the flat heat exchanger tubes1has a flat shape (for example, the shape of an elongated circle). The flat heat exchanger tubes1are inserted in the corresponding notches4of each of the plate-like fins2.

(Manufacturing Method for the Heat Exchanger20)

The heat exchanger20configured as mentioned above is assembled as follows. In the following, a manufacturing process for a conventional heat exchanger will be described prior to describing a manufacturing process for the heat exchanger20according to Embodiment 1. Then, the manufacturing process for the heat exchanger20according to Embodiment 1 will be described.

FIG. 2is an explanatory drawing for explaining a pressing step by a progressive pressing device, which is executed when fabricating plate-like fins of a conventional heat exchanger.

Plate-like fins102of a conventional heat exchanger are generally fabricated by being cut out from a thin plate107(plate-like member) such as an aluminum thin plate that is wound in a loop around a reel. Specifically, first, a plurality of pilot holes103are formed along the feed direction of the thin plate107, at positions near an end portion of the thin plate107. Then, the thin plate107is fed intermittently inside a progressive pressing device by using the pilot holes103(for example, by inserting a pin or the like into each of the pilot holes103). The progressive pressing device has a plurality of dies provided along the feed direction of the thin plate107. The plate-like fins102are formed by pressing the thin plate107successively with these dies while intermittently feeding the thin plate107inside the progressive pressing device.

More specifically, as illustrated inFIG. 2, the pressing step by the progressive pressing device is performed as follows. First, in the first pressing step, cut-and-raised slits105are formed in the thin plate107. Then, in the next pressing step, in order to form an opening104chaving the shape of an elongated circle which becomes each of notches104, a circular opening104athat becomes an end portion of the opening104cis formed. Then, in the next pressing step, an incision104bis formed so as to straddle two circular openings104a. Then, in the next pressing step, the area in the vicinity of the incision104bis cut and raised, thereby forming the opening104chaving the shape of an elongated hole. Then, in the finial pressing step by the progressive pressing device, the thin plate107is cut along a cutting position108so that the opening104chaving the shape of an elongated hole is severed in the direction of the short axis, thereby cutting out each of the plate-like fins102from the thin plate107. When cutting out the plate-like fins102of the conventional heat exchanger from the thin plate107, normally, as illustrated inFIG. 2, the plate-like fins102are cut out in such a way that the direction in which the thin plate107is fed intermittently coincides with the longitudinal direction of the plate-like fins102.

After forming the plate-like fins102with the progressive pressing device in this way, the conventional heat exchanger is assembled by, for example, a method described in Patent Literature 1, outside the progressive pressing device. That is, the conventional heat exchanger is assembled by disposing the plate-like fins102at a predetermined fin pitch, and then inserting the flat heat exchanger tubes into the corresponding notches104formed in an end portion along the long side of each of these plate-like fins. However, the plate-like fins102warp because the plate-like fins102are thin plates, making it difficult to dispose the plate-like fins102with good accuracy. Consequently, upon disposing the plate-like fins102at a predetermined fin pitch, there are variations in the positions of the notches104of individual plate-like fins102into which the same flat heat exchanger tube is to be inserted. Therefore, when attempting to insert the flat heat exchanger tubes into the notches104, the force exerted when inserting the flat heat exchanger tubes causes the plate-like fins102to deform, or produces unevenness or any inappropriateness in the fin pitch between the plate-like fins102. That is, the ventilation resistance increases, leading to performance degradation of the heat exchanger.

Accordingly, in Embodiment 1, the heat exchanger20is manufactured by the following steps.

FIG. 3is an explanatory drawing for explaining a pressing step by a progressive pressing device, which is executed when fabricating the plate-like fins of the heat exchanger according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.FIG. 4is an explanatory drawing for explaining an assembly line for the heat exchanger according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Like the conventional plate-like fins102, the plate-like fins2of the heat exchanger20according to Embodiment 1 are also fabricated by being cut out from a thin plate7(plate-like member) such as an aluminum thin plate that is wound in a loop around a reel. However, unlike the conventional plate-like fins102, the plate-like fins2are cut out from the thin plate7outside a progressive pressing device8. Specifically, first, a plurality of pilot holes3are formed along the feed direction of the thin plate7, at positions near an end portion of the thin plate7. Then, a fin feeding mechanism10provided in the downstream of the progressive pressing device8feeds the thin plate7intermittently by using the pilot holes3(for example, by inserting a pin or the like into each of the pilot holes3). As a result, the thin plate7is fed intermittently inside the progressive pressing device.

The progressive pressing device8according to Embodiment 1 also has a plurality of dies provided along the feed direction of the thin plate7. The plate-like fins2are formed by pressing the thin plate7successively with these dies while intermittently feeding the thin plate7inside the progressive pressing device8. In Embodiment 1, steps up to tentative cutting that cuts a part of the outer periphery of the plate-like fins2are performed by the progressive pressing device8.

More specifically, as illustrated inFIG. 3, a pressing step by the progressive pressing device8is executed as follows. First, in the first pressing step, the cut-and-raised slits5are formed in the thin plate7. Then, in the next pressing step, in order to form an opening4dthat becomes each of the notches4, a circular opening4aand a rectangular opening4bwhich become end portions of the opening4dare formed. Then, in the next pressing step, an incision4cis formed so as to straddle the opening4aand the opening4b. Then, in the next pressing step, the area in the vicinity of the incision4cis cut and raised, thereby forming the opening4dhaving a shape corresponding to the shape of the notches4. Then, in the finial pressing step by the progressive pressing device, an incision6is formed at a position that becomes a part of the outer periphery of each of the plate-like fins2(tentative cutting).

The thin plate7that has been machined to this state exits the progressive pressing device8, and is carried to a cutting device11that is provided outside (that is, in the downstream of) the progressive pressing device8. Then, in the cutting device11, each of the plate-like fins2is cut at the position of a part of its outer periphery excluding the position of the incision6, thereby cutting out each of the plate-like fins2in the shape as illustrated inFIG. 5. In Embodiment 1, when cutting out the plate-like fins2from the thin plate7by the cutting device11, as illustrated inFIG. 3, the plate-like fins2are cut out one by one in such a way that the direction in which the thin plate7is intermittently fed coincides with the direction along the short side of the plate-like fins102. By cutting out the plate-like fins2in this way, the length of cut made by the cutting device11can be shortened, thereby enabling a reduction in the size/weight of the cutting device11. That is, the manufacturing line for the heat exchanger20can be reduced in size/weight. Further, by reducing the length of cut made by the cutting device11, the plate-like fins2can be cut out in a stable manner, that is, with good accuracy.

The plate-like fins2fabricated in this way are attached to the flat heat exchanger tubes1as follows, for example.

Specifically, the manufacturing line for the heat exchanger20according to Embodiment 1 has a table13. The flat heat exchanger tubes1are disposed with a predetermined spacing from one another on the top portion of the table13, and the flat heat exchanger tubes1are fixed in place with a fixing jig13a. Further, the surface of each of the flat heat exchanger tubes1disposed on top of the table13is coated with a brazing filler metal. The table13includes, for example, a direct-acting actuator (for example, an actuator driven by an electric motor such as a servo motor), and is movable along the axial direction of the flat heat exchanger tubes1(in other words, the stacking direction of the plate-like fins2). An inserting device12is provided above the table13. The inserting device12includes a gripping mechanism for gripping each of the plate-like fins2which has been cut out by the cutting device11, a rotating mechanism (for example, a mechanism using an electric motor such as a cam or a servo motor) for rotating the plate-like fin2being gripped so that the opening-side end portion of the notches4faces down, and a moving mechanism for moving the gripping mechanism and the rotating mechanism upward and downward by, for example, a direct-acting actuator or the like.

Therefore, by using the inserting device12to grip each of the plate-like fins2which has been cut out by the cutting device11, rotate the plate-like fin2being gripped so that the opening-side end portion of the notches4faces down (see an arrow12ainFIG. 4), and move each of the plate-like fins2downward to a position above the table13(see an arrow12binFIG. 4), the flat heat exchanger tubes1can be inserted into the corresponding notches4of each of the plate-like fins2in the direction along the long axis of their cross-section, thereby attaching each of the plate-like fins2to the flat heat exchanger tubes1disposed on top of the table13. Then, as the table13moves in the axial direction of the flat heat exchanger tubes1while the inserting device12repeats this attaching step of the plate-like fins2, that is, while the next one of the plate-like fins2is attached to the flat heat exchanger tubes1after a given one of the plate-like fins2is attached to the flat heat exchanger tubes1, the plate-like fins2are attached to the flat heat exchanger tubes1at a predetermined fin pitch.

The above configuration of the inserting device12is merely an example. The inserting device12may be configured by, for example, a gripping mechanism and a rotating mechanism. Further, in the process of rotating each of the plate-like fins2by the rotating mechanism, that is, in the process of lowering each of the plate-like fins2in an arcuate trajectory, the flat heat exchanger tubes1may be inserted into the corresponding notches4of each of the plate-like fins2in the direction along the long axis of their cross-section, thereby attaching each of the plate-like fins2to the flat heat exchanger tubes1disposed on top of the table13. In the case of adopting this configuration, the rotating mechanism may be rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of the arrow12a, that is, in such a direction that as the plate-like fin2being gripped by the gripping mechanism of the inserting device12is lowered in an arcuate trajectory, the plate-like fin2moves closer to the plate-like fins2that have already been attached to the flat heat exchanger tubes1. This makes it possible to prevent interference between the plate-like fin2being gripped by the gripping mechanism of the inserting device12and the plate-like fins2that have already been attached to the flat heat exchanger tubes1.

Once a predetermined number of plate-like fins2are attached to the flat heat exchanger tubes1disposed on top of the table13, the attaching step of the plate-like fins2using the inserting device12and the table13ends. After this attaching process ends, the plate-like fins2attached to the flat heat exchanger tubes1are fixed in place, with a clamp13band the fixing jig13aon the other side, and the flat heat exchanger tubes1and the plate-like fins2are brazed by heating in a furnace. The heat exchanger20is completed in this way. The flat heat exchanger tubes1and the plate-like fins2may be fixed in place, with an adhesive or the like.

As described above, in Embodiment 1, the flat heat exchanger tubes1that has a higher rigidity (less prone to warping) than the plate-like fins2are disposed with a predetermined spacing from one another, and the plate-like fins2are attached to the flat heat exchanger tubes1one by one. That is, in Embodiment 1, the flat heat exchanger tubes1, which can be disposed accurately with a predetermined spacing from one another, are disposed with a predetermined distance, and the plate-like fins2are attached to the flat heat exchanger tubes1one by one. Therefore, deformation of the plate-like fin2or occurrence of unevenness or any inappropriateness in fin pitch during assembling of the heat exchanger20can be more reduced than in the related art, thereby minimizing performance degradation of the heat exchanger20in comparison to related art. As a result, the heat exchanger20with high performance can be obtained.

In the method for manufacturing for the heat exchanger20according to Embodiment 1 described above, the plate-like fins2are attached to the flat heat exchanger tubes1in the step of disposing the plate-like fins2at a predetermined fin pitch. That is, the method for manufacturing for the heat exchanger20according to Embodiment 1 described above can simultaneously execute the “step of disposing the plate-like fins at a predetermined fin pitch” and the “step of attaching the flat heat exchanger tubes to the plate-like fins disposed at a predetermined fin pitch”. As a result, the manufacturing time for the heat exchanger20can be shortened.

In Embodiment 1, the plate-like fins2are attached one by one to the flat heat exchanger tubes1disposed with a predetermined spacing from one another, by using the inserting device12and the table13. However, any method may be used to attach the plate-like fins2one by one to the flat heat exchanger tubes1disposed with a predetermined spacing from one another. For example, the plate-like fins2may be attached one by one to the flat heat exchanger tubes1disposed with a predetermined spacing from one another manually by, for example, using a jig or the like. In this case, there is no particular need to cut out the plate-like fins2from the thin plate7one by one by the cutting device11. The plate-like fins2may be cut out by, for example, the progressive pressing device8.

When cutting out the plate-like fins2from the thin plate7by using the cutting device11, the cutting device11(that is, the manufacturing line for the heat exchanger20) can be reduced in size/weight by cutting out the plate-like fins2as follows. It is to be noted that components not particularly described in Embodiment 2 are the same as those in Embodiment 1, and the same reference signs are used for describing identical functions or components.

FIG. 6is an explanatory drawing for explaining a pressing step by a progressive pressing device, which is executed when fabricating plate-like fins of a heat exchanger according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

The pressing step by the progressive pressing device8according to Embodiment 2 is basically the same as the pressing step by the progressive pressing device8according to Embodiment 1 mentioned above. However, the pressing step by the progressive pressing device8according to Embodiment 2 differs from Embodiment 1 in the inclusion of a step of forming tooling holes14and15, and in the final step of tentatively cutting the plate-like fins2from the thin plate7.

More specifically, as illustrated inFIG. 6, in Embodiment 2, the tooling holes14and15are formed by the progressive pressing device8. The tooling hole14is formed at a position that becomes an end portion along the short side of the plate-like fins2. The tooling hole15is formed at a position that becomes an end portion along the long side of the plate-like fins2. Further, the incision6is formed at a position on the outer periphery of the plate-like fins2excluding the areas near the tooling holes14and15. That is, in Embodiment 2, the plate-like fins2are tentatively cut so as to leave the minimum connection margin required for preventing warping of the plate-like fins2that have not yet been cut out from the thin plate7(the plate-like fins2in a tentatively cut state).

In Embodiment 2, the tooling hole15is formed also at a position that does not become the outer periphery of the plate-like fins2. Further, the tooling hole15is also used as a pilot hole16to further prevent the plate-like fins2that have not been cut out from the thin plate7from warping when feeding the thin plate7intermittently. In the case of using the tooling hole located at a position that does not become the outer periphery of the plate-like fins2as the pilot hole16, there is no particular need to form the tooling hole15at a position that does not become the outer periphery of the plate-like fins2. In this case, each of the cut-and-raised slits5can be formed also at a position corresponding to the tooling hole15located at a position that does not become the outer periphery of the plate-like fins2, thereby improving the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger20. When intermittently feeding the thin plate7, as long as the plate-like fins2that have not been cut out from the thin plate7do not warp, the tooling hole15may not be used as the pilot hole16. In this case as well, each of the cut-and-raised slits5can be formed also at a position corresponding to the tooling hole15located at a position that does not become the outer periphery of the plate-like fins2, thereby improving the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger20. Further, the tooling hole14may be used as a pilot hole. In this case as well, each of the cut-and-raised slits5can be formed also at a position corresponding to the tooling hole15located at a position that does not become the outer periphery of the plate-like fins2, thereby improving the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger20.

As described above, in Embodiment 2, the plate-like fins2can be cut out from the thin plate7by cutting the areas near the tooling holes14and15by the cutting device11. That is, by forming the plate-like fins2as in Embodiment 2, the length of cut made by the cutting device11can be made shorter than that in Embodiment 1, thereby further reducing the size/weight of the cutting device11(that is, the manufacturing line for the heat exchanger20).

In its completed state, the heat exchanger that provides the above-mentioned effect is provided with a notch (a notch different from each of the notches4) constituting a part of the tooling hole15, or the tooling hole15(a hole different from a hole created when each of the cut-and-raised slits5is formed).

The notch constituting a part of the tooling hole15corresponds to a second notch according to the present invention.

The heat exchanger20according to each of Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 mentioned above can be used in, for example, an air-conditioning apparatus described below.

FIG. 7is a refrigerant circuit diagram illustrating an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

An air-conditioning apparatus70according to Embodiment 3 includes a compressor30, a condenser40(which serves as one of an outdoor heat exchanger and an indoor heat exchanger), a pressure-reducing device50, and an evaporator60(which serves as the other one of an outdoor heat exchanger and an indoor heat exchanger). The compressor30compresses a refrigerant that has exited the evaporator60described later. The condenser40causes heat to be exchanged between air and a high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant compressed by the compressor30, thereby condensing the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant. The pressure-reducing device50reduces the pressure of the high-pressure refrigerant condensed by the condenser40, thus turning the high-pressure refrigerant into a low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant. The evaporator60causes heat to be exchanged between air and the low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant that has been reduced in pressure by the pressure-reducing device50, thereby evaporating the low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant. The heat exchanger20according to each of Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 mentioned above is used as at least one of the condenser40and the evaporator60.

As described above, the air-conditioning apparatus70configured as in Embodiment 3 includes the heat exchanger20that makes it possible to reduce deformation of the plate-like fin2or occurrence of unevenness or any inappropriateness in fin pitch during assembling in comparison to related art, thereby minimizing degradation of heat exchange performance in comparison to related art. Therefore, the air-conditioning apparatus70obtained has a higher performance (higher heat exchange capacity) in comparison to related art.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST