Patent Publication Number: US-2022234092-A1

Title: Apparatus and method for bending heat exchanger

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Section 371 National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/CN2020/093678, filed Jun. 1, 2020 and published as WO 2020/239121 on Dec. 3, 2020, not in English, which claims priority and rights to Chinese Patent Application No. 201910470365.3, filed on May 31, 2019, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This application belongs to the field of heat exchange device technologies, and specifically, relates to an apparatus for bending a heat exchanger and a method for bending a heat exchanger. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Heat exchangers are widely applied to heat exchange systems such as heat pumps and air conditioners. To increase a heat exchange area, a heat exchanger usually uses two or more rows in series and the heat exchanger is bent. In the related art, when a heat exchange tube is bent, a bend radius of an inner row of heat exchange tube section close to a center of curvature is different from that of an outer row of heat exchange tube segment away from the center of curvature. Therefore, compared to a flat state, heat exchange tube segments of different rows have relative motion during a bending process, making it difficult to maintain a consistent distance between different areas of two adjacent heat exchange tube sections. This affects a shape and a heat exchange effect of an entire heat exchanger after the forming, and improvements need to be made. 
     SUMMARY 
     An embodiment of this application proposes an apparatus for bending a heat exchanger. The apparatus includes: a plurality of support members, where the plurality of support members are arranged to be spaced apart in a longitudinal direction, each of the support members includes a first support plate, a second support plate, and a connecting plate connected between the first support plate and the second support plate, the first support plate and the second support plate are spaced apart in a transverse direction, the first support plate has a first support surface that faces away from the second support plate in the transverse direction and that is configured to abut against a heat exchanger, the second support plate has a second support surface that faces away from the first support plate in the transverse direction and that is configured to abut against the heat exchanger, a distance between the first support surface and the second support surface keeps unchanged during a heat exchanger bending process, and a distance between a first support surface and a second support surface of one support member of any two support members is equal to a distance between a first support surface and a second support surface of the other support member; and a connecting component, where the connecting component connects the plurality of support members in the longitudinal direction. 
     An embodiment of this application proposes an apparatus for bending a heat exchanger. The apparatus includes: a plurality of support rollers, where the plurality of support rollers are arranged to be spaced apart in a longitudinal direction, each of the support rollers includes a first support surface and a second support surface that are spaced apart in a transverse direction and that are configured to abut against a heat exchanger, a distance between the first support surface and the second support surface keeps unchanged during a heat exchanger bending process, and a distance between a first support surface and a second support surface of one support roller of any two support rollers is equal to a distance between a first support surface and a second support surface of the other support roller; and a connecting component, where the connecting component connects the plurality of support rollers in the longitudinal direction. 
     This application further discloses a method for bending a heat exchanger, where the heat exchanger includes a first header, a second header, and a plurality of heat exchange tubes; the first header and the second header are arranged in parallel and adjacent to each other, and the heat exchange tube is a flat tube; a first end of the heat exchange tube is connected to the first header, and a second end of the heat exchange tube is connected to the second header, so as to connect the first header and the second header; the plurality of the heat exchange tubes are distributed in a length direction of the first header or the second header; the heat exchange tubes are arranged parallel to each other in the length direction of the first header or the second header; fins are arranged between adjacent flat tubes, and the heat exchange tube includes a bent section and at least two rows of substantially parallel heat exchange tube sections in a width direction of the heat exchange tube; and the bending method includes: placing the apparatus for bending a heat exchanger according to any one of the foregoing embodiments between the at least two rows of substantially parallel heat exchange tube sections, where the first support surface and the second support surface each abut against the heat exchange tube section and/or the fin; and a transverse direction of the support member is substantially parallel to the width direction of the heat exchange tube section, and a longitudinal direction of the support member is substantially parallel to a length direction of the heat exchange tube section; and simultaneously bending the at least two rows of heat exchange tube sections around a direction parallel to an axial direction of the first header and an axial direction of the second header. 
     The additional aspects and advantages of this application are partially given in the following description, and some of them become obvious from the following description, or are understood through practice of this application. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and/or additional aspects and advantages of this application become obvious and easy to understand from the description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus according to a first embodiment of this application; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of an apparatus viewed from an end face according to a first embodiment of this application; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus according to a second embodiment of this application; 
         FIG. 4  is a locally enlarged view of D in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of an apparatus viewed from an end face according to a second embodiment of this application; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus according to a third embodiment of this application; 
         FIG. 7  is a locally enlarged view of E in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of an apparatus at an initial stage of bending according to a first, second, or third embodiment of this application; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram of an apparatus at a completed stage of bending according to a first, second, or third embodiment of this application; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram of an apparatus at an initial stage of bending according to a first, second, or third embodiment of this application; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram of an apparatus at a completed stage of bending according to a first, second, or third embodiment of this application; 
         FIG. 12  is a partial schematic diagram of an apparatus in usage according to a first, second, or third embodiment of this application; 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of this application; 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of this application; 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of this application; 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of this application; 
         FIG. 17  is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus according to an eighth embodiment of this application; 
         FIG. 18  is a schematic diagram of an apparatus at a completed stage of bending according to a fourth, fifth, or sixth embodiment of this application; 
         FIG. 19  is a schematic diagram of an apparatus at an initial stage of bending according to a fourth, fifth, or sixth embodiment of this application; and 
         FIG. 20  is a schematic diagram of an apparatus at a completed stage of bending according to a fourth, fifth, or sixth embodiment of this application. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of this application are described in detail below, and examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the accompanying drawings, a same or similar number denotes a same or similar component or a component with a same or similar function. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are examples, and are merely intended to explain this application, but shall not be understood as a limitation on this application. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8  to  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 14  to  FIG. 20 , a heat exchanger includes a first header  610 , a second header  620 , and a plurality of heat exchange tubes  630 . 
     An axial direction of the first header  610  is parallel to an axial direction of the second header  620 , and the first header  610  and the second header  620  may be arranged in parallel and spaced apart from each other. The first header  610  may be used as an inlet header, the second header  620  may be used as an outlet header, or the first header  610  may be used as an outlet header, and the second header  620  can be used as an inlet header. 
     The plurality of heat exchange tubes  630  may be arranged to be spaced apart in the axial direction of the first header  610  and a length direction of the second header  620 , and the plurality of heat exchange tubes  630  are arranged in parallel in a length direction of the first header  610  or the length direction the second header  620 . A first end of each heat exchange tube  630  is connected to the first header  610 , and a second end of each heat exchange tube  630  is connected to the second header  620 , so as to connect the first header  610  and the second header  620 . In this way, a heat exchange medium can flow along a the first header  610 —the heat exchange tube  630 —second header  620  or along a path: the second header  620 —the heat exchange tube  630 —the first header  610 . The first header  610  may be provided with a first interface, and the second header  620  may be provided with a second interface. The first interface and the second interface are configured to connect to an external pipeline, so as to connect the heat exchanger to an entire air conditioning system or another heat exchange system. 
     The heat exchange tube  630  is a flat tube, and fins are arranged between adjacent flat tubes. The heat exchange tube  630  includes a bent section  631  and at least two rows of heat exchange tube sections  632  that are substantially parallel in a width direction of the heat exchange tube  630 . The bent section  631  is formed by bending the heat exchange tube  630  around parallel to the length direction parallel of the first header  610 , and a first heat exchange tube section  632  and a second heat exchange tube section  632  are parallel to each other. 
     The following describes an apparatus for bending a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of this application with reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 12 , an apparatus for bending a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of this application includes a plurality of support members  100  and a connecting component  200 . 
     The plurality of support members  100  are arranged to be spaced apart in a longitudinal direction A, and each of the support members  100  includes a first support plate  110 , a second support plate  120 , and a connecting plate  130  connected between the first support plate  110  and the second support plate  120 . The first support plate  110  and the second support plate  120  are spaced apart in a transverse direction B. The first support plate  110  has a first support surface  111  that faces away from the second support plate  120  in the transverse direction B and that is configured to abut against a heat exchanger, and the second support plate  120  has a second support surface  121  that faces away from the first support plate  110  in the transverse direction B and that is configured to abut against the heat exchanger. A distance between the first support surface  111  and the second support surface  121  keeps unchanged during a heat exchanger bending process. A distance between a first support surface  111  and a second support surface  121  of one support member  100  of any two support members  100  is equal to a distance between a first support surface  111  and a second support surface  121  of the other support member  100 . The connecting component  200  connects the plurality of support members  100  in the longitudinal direction A. 
     In an actual use process of the apparatus, the longitudinal direction A is a length direction of a heat exchange tube  630 , and the transverse direction B is a distribution direction of at least two rows of heat exchange tube sections  632  of each heat exchange tube  630 . 
     It should be noted that during a bending process, bending radii of an outer heat exchange tube section  632  and an inner heat exchange tube section  632  are different. Therefore, compared with a flat state, the heat exchange tube sections  632  have relative motion during the bending process. According to the apparatus for bending a heat exchanger in this application, the plurality of support members  100  are disposed to provide support between two rows of heat exchange tube sections  632 , and a distance between the first support surface  111  and the second support surface  121  of each support member  100  is equal. In this way, fixed support is formed between the two rows of heat exchange tube sections  632  to ensure that a distance between the two rows of heat exchange tube sections  632  meets design requirements and does not change significantly during the bending process. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8  to  FIG. 11 , for a plurality of rows of misaligned heat exchange tube sections  632 , using the apparatus for bending a heat exchanger in this application can accurately ensure a length difference between two rows of heat exchange tube sections  632  and ensure that a processed product meets design requirements. 
     Certainly, the apparatus in this embodiment of this application may also be applied to aligned heat exchange tube sections  632 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , the apparatus in this embodiment of this application can be used in a heat exchanger with two rows of heat exchange tube sections  632 . As shown in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , the apparatus in this embodiment of this application may be in a heat exchanger with more than two rows of heat exchange tube sections  632 . 
     The apparatus for bending a heat exchanger in this application can provide fixing support for a plurality of rows of heat exchange tube sections  632  during a bending process, to ensure an overall size of a bent heat exchanger, and help improve efficiency and quality of a bending process. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5 , and  FIG. 12 , the first support surface  111  and the second support surface  121  are arc-shaped, and a first support surface  111  and a second support surface  121  of a same support member  100  protrude toward a direction away from each other. The convex first support surface  111  and the second support surface  121  can ensure that during the bending process, at least a part of the first support surface  111  and the second support surface  121  can always implement effective support, that is, always keep in contact with the heat exchange tube section  632 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a distance between a first support plate  110  and a second support plate  120  of a same support member  100  is fixed, the apparatus may be used to process heat exchangers of a fixed size, and the apparatus has a simple structure and a low cost. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 5 , a distance between a first support plate  110  and a second support plate  120  of a same support member  100  is adjustable, and the apparatus may be used to process heat exchangers of a plurality of models. In actual use, the distance between the first support surface  111  and the second support surface  121  can be adjusted according to design requirements of a distance between two rows of heat exchange tube sections  632 . In this way, such a same apparatus may be used in a production process of heat exchangers of a plurality of models. 
     In actual implementation, as shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the connecting plate  130  includes a first fixing section  131 , a second fixing section  132 , and an adjustment section  133  connected between the first fixing section  131  and the second fixing section  132 ; one end of the first fixing section  131  is connected to the first support plate  110 , and the other end is provided with a first opening  131   a  facing the adjustment section  133 ; one end of the second fixing section  132  is connected to the second support plate  120 , and the other end is provided with a second opening  132   a  facing the adjustment section  133 ; 
     one end of the adjustment section  133  is movably inserted into the first opening  131   a,  and the other end of the adjustment section  133  is movably inserted into the second opening  132   a;  at least one fixing section of the first fixing section  131  and the second fixing section  132  is provided with a long hole extending in the transverse direction B, and the adjustment section  133  is provided with a positioning hole matching the long hole of the fixing section; and the adjustment section  133  and the at least one fixing section are positioned by a positioning bolt  134  passing through the long hole and the positioning hole. In actual implementation, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the first fixing section  131  is provided with a first long hole  131   b  extending in the transverse direction B, and the second fixing section  132  is provided with a second long hole  132   b  extending in the transverse direction B. The adjustment section  133  is provided with a first positioning hole  133   a  and a second positioning hole (not shown in the figure). The first positioning hole  133   a  is used together with the first long hole  131   b,  and the second positioning hole is used together with the second long hole  132   b.    
     Increasing a length of the adjustment section  133  extending into the first opening  131   a  or the second opening  132   a  can shorten the distance between the first support plate  110  and the second support plate  120 . Conversely, reducing the length of the adjustment section  133  extending into the first opening  131   a  or the second opening  132   a  can increase the distance between the first support plate  110  and the second support plate  120 . 
     It can be understood that the long hole for adjusting positioning may be arranged in the fixing section or in the adjustment section  133 . In some embodiments, the first opening  131   a  and the second opening  132   a  may not be used, and the fixing section and the adjustment section  133  may be directly connected through a long hole or using another manner of adjusting a relative position, such as using a plurality of positioning holes. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , each of the first support plate  110  and the second support plate  120  is divided into at least two sections in its length direction, one end of each section is provided with a concave portion  112 , another end is provided with a convex portion  113  matching the concave portion  112 , and in a length direction of the first support plate  110  or the second support plate  120 , two adjacent sections cooperate with each other to be connected to each other by using the concave portion  112  of one section and the convex portion  113  of the other section. 
     The apparatus may be used to process heat exchangers of a plurality of models. In actual use, a quantity of first support plates  110  and second support plates  120  may be chosen for splicing according to design requirements of a length of the heat exchanger in an arrangement direction of the heat exchange tube  630 . In this way, such a same apparatus may be used in a production process of heat exchangers of a plurality of models, thereby facilitating production and manufacturing. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 6 , the connecting component  200  includes an elastic member, two adjacent support members  100  are connected by using the elastic member, and a distance between the two adjacent support members  100  is changeable in the longitudinal direction A during a heat exchanger bending process. In actual implementation, the elastic member is an elastic belt. 
     It can be understood that two adjacent support members  100  are connected by using the elastic member, so that a distance between the two adjacent support members  100  is adjustable, that is, a plurality of support members  100  can move relative to each other while having particular restriction. The plurality of support members  100  cannot move freely without restriction. As shown in  FIG. 12 , especially for a support member  100  corresponding to a bending area, two adjacent support members  100  are connected by using the elastic member, so that during bending, the support member  100  can move or deflect to a particular extent so as to respond to deformation of the heat exchange tube section  632  occurring during the bending process. For example, in the longitudinal direction A, a plurality of rows of heat exchange tube sections have a relative displacement. The support members  100  have a particular displacement change to be adapted to the displacement of the heat exchange tube section, which facilitates contact between a support surface and the heat exchange tube segment, provides support, and meanwhile also has a particular protective effect on the heat exchange tube section. In addition, resistance is not caused to circumferential deformation and movement of the flat tube during bending, and an overall size of the heat exchanger is not affected. 
     In some other embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the connecting component  200  includes a first connecting rod  210  and a second connecting rod  220 , and the first connecting rod  210  and the second connecting rod  220  extend in parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction A and are spaced apart in the transverse direction B. The first connecting rod  210  and the second connecting rod  220  each pass through connecting plates  130  of the plurality of support members  100 , and either of the first connecting rod  210  and the second connecting rod  220  is provided with an elastic sleeve  230  on both sides of each connecting plate  130  for positioning the connecting plate  130 . 
     It can be understood that the first connecting rod  210  and the second connecting rod  220  are used to restrict the support member  100 , so that the plurality of support members  100  cannot move freely without restriction, and the elastic sleeve  230  makes a distance between two adjacent support members  100  adjustable. In other words, the plurality of support members  100  can move relative to each other while having particular restriction. In this way, during bending, the support member  100  can move or deflect to a particular extent so as to respond to deformation of the heat exchange tube section  632 , which imposes particular restriction on the support member while having particular flexibility. This facilitates positioning of the support member, and does not cause resistance to circumferential deformation and movement of the flat tube or affect an overall size of the heat exchanger during bending. A quantity of support members  100  on the first connecting rod  210  and the second connecting rod  220  can be adjusted to meet length requirements of bending different heat exchange tube segments. 
     In some embodiments, the connecting component  200  includes a first connecting rod  210  and a second connecting rod  220 , and the first connecting rod  210  and the second connecting rod  220  extend in parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction A and are spaced apart in the transverse direction B. One end of the first connecting rod  210  is connected to the connecting plate  130  of the support member  100 , and the other end of the first connecting rod  210  is connected to a connecting plate  130  of another support member  100  adjacent in the longitudinal direction A. One end of the second connecting rod  220  is connected to the connecting plate  130  of the support member  100 , and the other end of the second connecting rod  220  is connected to the connecting plate  130  of the another support member  100  adjacent in the longitudinal direction A. It can be understood that the first connecting rod  210  and the second connecting rod  220  are used to restrict the support member  100 , so that the plurality of support members  100  cannot move freely without restriction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8  to  FIG. 11 , the apparatus in the embodiment of this application may further include: a positioning component  410  and a bending guide member  420 . The positioning component  410  is configured to position the heat exchanger before bending it, and fix a position for bending the heat exchanger. The bending guide member  420  is configured to guide the heat exchange tube section  632  to bend around a target direction and shape. The bending guide member  420  may include a cylinder, and the bending guide member  420  may be placed on an inner side of a row of heat exchange tube section  632  that is innermost for bending in the at least two rows of heat exchange tube sections  632 . 
     The following describes an apparatus for bending a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of this application with reference to  FIG. 13  to  FIG. 20 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 13  to  FIG. 20 , an apparatus for bending a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of this application includes a plurality of support roller  300  and a connecting component  200 . 
     The plurality of support rollers  300  are arranged to be spaced apart in a longitudinal direction A, and each of support rollers  300  includes a first support surface  111  and a second support surface  121  that are spaced apart in a transverse direction B and that are configured to abut against a heat exchanger. A distance between the first support surface  111  and the second support surface  121  keeps unchanged during a heat exchanger bending process, and a distance between a first support surface  111  and a second support  121  surface of one support roller  300  of any two support rollers  300  is equal to a distance between a first support surface  111  and a second support surface  121  of the other support roller  300 . The connecting component  200  connects the plurality of support rollers  300  in the longitudinal direction A. The support roller  300  has a particular structural rigidity, and the support roller  300  does not deform during a heat exchanger bending process. 
     In an actual use process of the apparatus, the longitudinal direction A is a length direction of a heat exchange tube  630 , and the transverse direction B is a distribution direction of at least two rows of heat exchange tube sections  632  of each heat exchange tube  630 . 
     It should be noted that during a bending process, bending radii of an outer heat exchange tube section  632  and an inner heat exchange tube section  632  are different. Therefore, compared with a flat state, the heat exchange tube sections  632  have relative motion during the bending process. According to the apparatus for bending a heat exchanger in this application, the plurality of support rollers  300  are disposed to provide support between two rows of heat exchange tube sections  632 , and a distance between the first support surface  111  and the second support surface  121  of each support roller  300  is equal. In this way, fixed support is formed between the two rows of heat exchange tube sections  632  to ensure that a distance between the two rows of heat exchange tube sections  632  meets design requirements and does not change significantly during the bending process. 
     As shown in  FIG. 18  to  FIG. 20 , for a plurality of rows of misaligned heat exchange tube sections  632 , using the apparatus for bending a heat exchanger in this application can accurately ensure a length difference between two rows of heat exchange tube sections  632  and ensure that a processed product meets design requirements. In addition, design of the support roller can more flexibly adapt to a displacement change between different heat exchange tube sections during the bending process, so as to meet bending requirements of heat exchange tube sections of different lengths. 
     Certainly, the apparatus in this embodiment of this application may also be applied to alignment of headers after the bending, that is, applied to heat exchange tube sections  632  with a consistent length after a plurality of heat exchange tube segments are bent. 
     As shown in  FIG. 18  and  FIG. 19 , the apparatus in this embodiment of this application can be used in a heat exchanger with two rows of heat exchange tube sections  632 . As shown in  FIG. 20 , the apparatus in this embodiment of this application may be in a heat exchanger with more than two rows of heat exchange tube sections  632 . 
     The apparatus for bending a heat exchanger in this application can provide fixing support for two rows of heat exchange tube sections  632 , to ensure an overall size of a bent heat exchanger, and help improve efficiency and quality of a bending process. 
     In some embodiments, a distance between two adjacent support rollers  300  is changeable in the longitudinal direction A during a heat exchanger bending process. In this way, during bending, the support roller  300  can move or deflect to a particular extent so as to respond to deformation of the heat exchange tube section  632  during a bending process. In addition, this does not cause resistance to circumferential deformation and movement of a flat tube or affect an overall size of the heat exchanger during bending. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 13 , the support roller  300  is a hollow cylinder, and each of the first support surface  111  and the second support surface  121  is formed by a part of an outer wall surface of the support roller  300 . A circumferential wall of the hollow cylinder is circular, which can ensure that during the bending process, at least a part of the first support surface  111  and the second support surface  121  can always implement effective support. In addition, a weight of the hollow cylinder is small, causing small pressure on the heat exchange tube segment  632 . 
     The connecting component  200  is a rectangular connecting frame  240 , and the connecting component  200  includes two longitudinal rods  241  parallel to each other and two transverse rods  242  parallel to each other. The two longitudinal rods  241  extend in the longitudinal direction A, and the two transverse rods  242  extend in an axial direction of the support roller  300 . One transverse rod  242  of each rectangular connecting frame  240  passes through one support roller  300  of two adjacent support rollers  300  in the axial direction of the support roller  300 , and the other transverse rod  242  passes through the other support roller  300  in the axial direction of the support roller  300 . 
     Two longitudinal rods  241  are used to restrict the support roller  300 , so that a plurality of support rollers  300  cannot move freely without restriction. A diameter of the transverse rod  242  passing through the hollow cylinder is less than an inner diameter of the hollow cylinder, and the transverse rod  242  can move in the hollow cylinder, so that a distance between two adjacent support rollers  300  is adjustable. In other words, the plurality of support roller  300  can move relative to each other while having particular restriction. In this way, during bending, the support roller  300  can move or deflect to a particular extent so as to respond to deformation of the heat exchange tube section  632  during a bending process. In addition, this does not cause resistance to circumferential deformation and movement of a flat tube or affect an overall size of the heat exchanger during bending. Moreover, the connecting component may be designed as an assemblable structure according to application requirements, so as to combine different quantities of support rollers  300  based on different heat exchange tube sizes. 
     In some other embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 16 , the support roller  300  has an axial hole  301  extending in an axial direction of the support roller  300 , and a first plane  302  and a second plane  303  spaced apart in the longitudinal direction A, the first support surface  111  is connected between the first plane  302  and the second plane  303  and forms an arc-shaped surface protruding away from the second support surface  121  in the transverse direction B, and the second support surface  121  is connected between the first plane  302  and the second plane  303  and forms an arc-shaped surface protruding away from the first support surface  111  in the transverse direction B. 
     The connecting component  200  is a rectangular connecting frame  240 , and the connecting component  200  includes two longitudinal rods  241  parallel to each other and two transverse rods  242  parallel to each other. The two longitudinal rods  241  extend in the longitudinal direction A, and the two transverse rods  242  extend in an axial direction of the support roller  300 . One transverse rod  242  of each rectangular connecting frame  240  passes through one support roller  300  of two adjacent support rollers  300  in the axial direction of the support roller  300 , and the other transverse rod  242  passes through the other support roller  300  in the axial direction of the support roller  300 . 
     Two longitudinal rods  241  are used to restrict the support roller  300 , so that a plurality of support rollers  300  cannot move freely without restriction. A diameter of the transverse rod  242  passing through the axial hole  301  is less than a length of the axial hole  301  in the longitudinal direction A, and the transverse rod  242  can move in the axial hole  301 , so that a distance between two adjacent support roller  300  is adjustable. In other words, the plurality of support roller  300  can move relative to each other while having particular restriction. In this way, during bending, the support roller  300  can move or deflect to a particular extent with a displacement further restricted, so as to respond to deformation of the heat exchange tube section  632  during a bending process. In addition, this does not cause resistance to circumferential deformation and movement of the flat tube or affect an overall size of the heat exchanger during bending. 
     Certainly, the support roller  300  may alternatively be in another shape. 
     For example, in an embodiment shown in  FIG. 14 , the support roller  300  is a solid cylinder, and the solid cylinder has an axial hole  301  extending in an axial direction of the support roller  300 . The connecting component  200  is a rectangular connecting frame  240 , and the connecting component  200  includes two longitudinal rods  241  parallel to each other and two transverse rods  242  parallel to each other. The two longitudinal rods  241  extend in the longitudinal direction A, and the two transverse rods  242  extend in the axial direction of the support roller  300 . One transverse rod  242  of each rectangular connecting frame  240  passes through one support roller  300  of two adjacent support rollers  300  in the axial direction of the support roller  300 , and the other transverse rod  242  passes through the other support roller  300  in the axial direction of the support roller  300 . 
     For example, in an embodiment shown in  FIG. 15 , the support roller  300  is a hollow cylinder, the hollow cylinder is provided with spokes extending in the radial direction. A plurality of spokes are arranged crosswise, and the connecting component  200  is slidably connected to one of the spokes. 
     As shown in  FIG. 18  to  FIG. 20 , the apparatus in this embodiment of this application may further include: a positioning component  410  and a bending guide member  420 . The positioning component  410  is configured to position the heat exchanger before bending it. The bending guide member  420  is configured to guide the heat exchange tube section  632  to bend around a target direction and shape. The bending guide member  420  may include a cylinder, and the bending guide member  420  may be placed on an inner side of a row of heat exchange tube section  632  that is innermost for bending in the at least two rows of heat exchange tube sections  632 . 
     According to the apparatus in this application, a shape of the support roller  300  or the support member  100  may be an “I” shaped, or a cylindrical shape, or a double-fan shape, or a round drum shape. 
     This application further discloses a method for bending a heat exchanger. 
     The bending method in this application includes: 
     placing the apparatus for bending a heat exchanger according to any one of the foregoing embodiments between at least two rows of substantially parallel heat exchange tube sections  632 , where a first support surface  111  and a second support surface  121  each abut against the heat exchange tube section  632  and/or a fin, a transverse direction B of a support member  100  is substantially parallel to a width direction of the heat exchange tube section  632 , and a longitudinal direction A of the support member  100  is substantially parallel to a length direction of the heat exchange tube section  632 ; and simultaneously bending the at least two rows of heat exchange tube sections  632  around a direction parallel to an axial direction of a first header  610  and an axial direction of a second header  620 . 
     A plurality of support members  100  or support rollers  300  are disposed to provide support between two rows of heat exchange tube sections  632 , and a distance between the first support surface  111  and the second support surface  121  of each support member  100  is equal. In this way, fixed support is formed between the two rows of heat exchange tube sections  632  to ensure that a distance between the two rows of heat exchange tube sections  632  meets design requirements and does not change significantly during a bending process. 
     According to the method for bending a heat exchanger, a heat exchanger with heat exchange tube segments  632  parallel to each other can be formed, to ensure an overall size of a bent heat exchanger, and high efficiency and quality of a bending process. 
     In some embodiments, a distance between two adjacent support members  100  or support rollers  300  is changeable in the longitudinal direction A during a bending process. In this way, during bending, the support member  100  or the support roller  300  can move or deflect to a particular extent so as to respond to non-uniform deformation of the heat exchange tube sections  632 . In addition, this does not cause resistance to circumferential deformation and movement of a flat tube or affect an overall size of the heat exchanger during bending. 
     For a heat exchanger with a relatively large length in a length direction of the header, a plurality of the apparatuses for bending a heat exchanger may be placed in the length direction of the header. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 8  to  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 18  to  FIG. 20 , the method for bending a heat exchanger in this application further includes: before the bending the at least two rows of heat exchange tube sections  632 , positioning the heat exchanger; and placing a bending guide member  420  on an inner side of a row of heat exchange tube section  632  that is innermost for bending in the at least two rows of heat exchange tube sections  632 . 
     In the descriptions of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or defined, terms such as “install”, “connect”, and “connected to” should be understood in a broad sense. For example, a “connection” may be a fixed connection, may be a detachable connection, or may be an integrated connection; or may be a mechanical connection, or an electrical connection; or may be a direct connection, or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; or may be an internal connection between two elements. A person of ordinary skill in the art can understand specific meanings of the foregoing terms in this application with reference to specific circumstances. 
     In the description of this specification, descriptions with reference to terms such as “an embodiment”, “some embodiments”, “illustrative embodiment”, “example”, “specific example”, or “some examples” mean that specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described with reference to the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, illustrative descriptions of the foregoing terms do not necessarily mean a same embodiment or example. Moreover, the described specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics can be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in an appropriate manner. 
     Although the embodiments of this application are shown and described, a person of ordinary skill in the art can understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variants can be made based on these embodiments without departing from the principle and purpose of this application. The scope of this application is defined by the claims and their equivalents.