Patent Publication Number: US-11639817-B2

Title: Heat exchanger, air conditioner, and refrigerating unit

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This patent application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/CN2018/120269, filed on Dec. 11, 2018, which claims priority to Chinese patent application 201810045147.0, filed on Jan. 17, 2018, entitled “Heat Exchanger, Air Conditioner, and Refrigerating Unit”, the content of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to the field of air conditioning technology, and particularly to a heat exchanger, an air conditioner and a refrigerating unit. 
     BACKGROUND 
     At present, the rail transportation industry is developing rapidly, and the demand for air conditioner in the rail transportation industry is increased sharply. Refrigerating units can meet the demand for air conditioner in the rail transportation industry. A condenser and an evaporator, as important parts of a refrigerating unit, are research focuses of various manufacturers. Since the lengths of the heat exchange tubes are generally longer, a situation of uneven water distribution in pipelines is easy to occur, resulting in a lower heat exchange efficiency. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a heat exchanger, an air conditioner and a refrigerating unit, which solve the problem of uneven water diversion of the heat exchange tubes of the heat exchanger. 
     According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a heat exchanger is provided. The heat exchanger includes a heat exchange tube and a first water collecting tank, the first water collecting tank is provided on the heat exchange tube, a first water diversion hole is provided at a bottom portion of the first water collecting tank, the heat exchange tube passes through the first water diversion hole, and the first water diversion hole has a diameter greater than an outer diameter of the heat exchange tube. 
     In an embodiment, the heat exchanger further includes an upper side plate, the upper side plate is located above the first water collecting tank, a mounting hole is provided on the upper side plate, and the heat exchange tube is fixedly mounted in the mounting hole. 
     In an embodiment, a drainage structure is further provided on the upper side plate, and water flows through the drainage structure into the first water collecting tank. 
     In an embodiment, the drainage structure has a plurality of drainage holes. 
     In an embodiment, the drainage holes are provided on the upper side plate at intervals, and one drainage hole is provided between every two adjacent mounting holes. 
     In an embodiment, the heat exchanger further includes a lower side plate, the lower side plate is located below the first water collecting tank, a second connection hole is provided on the lower side plate, and the heat exchange tube is fixedly mounted in the second connection hole. 
     In an embodiment, the heat exchanger further includes a connection plate, the connection plate is provided between the upper side plate and the lower side plate, and two ends of the connection plate are respectively fixed to the upper side plate and the lower side plate. 
     In an embodiment, the heat exchanger further includes a second water collecting tank, the second water collecting tank is provided on the heat exchange tube and is located above the first water collecting tank, a second water diversion hole is further provided on the second water collecting tank, and water flows through the second water diversion hole into the first water collecting tank. 
     In an embodiment, the heat exchange tube passes through the second water diversion hole, and the second water diversion hole has a diameter greater than an outer diameter of the heat exchange tube. 
     In an embodiment, a center of the second water diversion hole is located on an axis of the heat exchange tube. 
     In an embodiment, the heat exchanger includes the upper side plate, the second water collecting tank is located below the upper side plate, and the heat exchange tube expanding to the upper side plate passes through the second water collecting tank. 
     In an embodiment, the heat exchanger includes the connection plate, the upper side plate covers the second water collecting tank, the first water collecting tank is fixed to the connection plate, and the second water collecting tank is fixed to the connection plate. 
     In an embodiment, a center of the first water diversion hole is located on an axis of the heat exchange tube. 
     In an embodiment, the heat exchanger further includes a liquid collecting tube and a gas diversion tube, one end of the heat exchange tube is connected to the gas diversion tube, and the other end of the heat exchange tube is connected to the liquid collecting tube. 
     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, an air conditioner including the above-mentioned heat exchanger is provided. 
     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a refrigerating unit including the above-mentioned heat exchanger is provided. 
     In the present disclosure, by providing the first water collecting tank, and making the heat exchange tube pass through the first water diversion hole provided on the first water collecting tank, and leaving a gap between the heat exchange tube and the first water diversion hole, the water in the first water collecting tank evenly flows into the first water diversion hole. Since the gap is smaller, the water flow can pass through the gap, and then can adhere to the heat exchange tube in the first water diversion hole after the water flow passes through the gap, which is beneficial to forming a water film on an outer surface of the heat exchange tube, improving the heat exchange efficiency. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic structure diagram of a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a partially enlarged view of A in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic structure diagram of an upper side plate of a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic structure diagram of a first water collecting tank of a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic structure diagram of a second water collecting tank of a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  6    is a schematic structure diagram of a lower side plate of a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     The reference signs in  FIGS.  1  to  6    respectively represent:  10 , heat exchange tube;  20 , first water collecting tank;  21 , first water diversion hole;  31 , second water collecting tank;  312 , second water diversion hole;  32 , lower side plate;  321 , second connection hole;  33 , connection plate;  34 , upper side plate;  341 , drainage hole;  342 , mounting hole. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure will be further described below in combination with the embodiments. However the present disclosure is not limited to the contents of the description. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  4   , the present disclosure provides a heat exchanger including a heat exchange tube  10  and a first water collecting tank  20 . The first water collecting tank  20  is disposed on the heat exchange tube  10 . A first water diversion hole  21  is provided at a bottom portion of the first water collecting tank  20 . The heat exchange tube  10  passes through the first water diversion hole  21 , the first water diversion hole  21  has a diameter greater than an outer diameter of the heat exchange tube  10 , and a gap is formed between the first water diversion hole  21  and the heat exchange tube  10 . Water flows through the gap and then adheres to an outer wall of the heat exchange tube  10 . In the present disclosure, by providing the first water collecting tank  20 , and making the heat exchange tube  10  pass through the first water diversion hole  21  provided on the first water collecting tank  20 , and leaving a gap therebetween, the water (condensate water or cooling water) in the first water collecting tank  20  evenly flows into the first water diversion hole  21 . Since the gap is smaller, the water flow can pass through the gap, then the water flow can further adhere to the heat exchange tube  10  in the first water diversion hole  21  after passing through the gap, which is beneficial to forming a water film on the outer surface of the heat exchange tube  10  and improving the heat exchange efficiency. 
     When the heat exchanger is a condenser, by providing the first water collecting tank  20 , and making the heat exchange tube  10  pass through the first water diversion hole  21  provided on the first water collecting tank  20 , and leaving a gap therebetween, the condensate water in the first water collecting tank  20  evenly flows into the first water diversion hole  21 . Since the gap is smaller, the water flow can pass through the gap, then the water flow can further adhere to the heat exchange tube  10  in the first water diversion hole  21  after passing through the gap, which is beneficial to forming a water film on the outer surface of the heat exchange tube  10  and improving the heat exchange efficiency. 
     As shown in  FIG.  3   , in the above embodiment, the heat exchanger further includes an upper side plate  34 . The upper side plate  34  is located above the first water collecting tank  20 . The upper side plate  34  it provide with a mounting hole  342 , and the heat exchange tube  10  expands into the mounting hole. Accordingly, the heat exchange tube  10  which was not fixed can be fixed by the upper side plate  34 , to avoid abrasions between the heat exchange tube  10  and its adjacent parts during transportation and operation, eliminating a hidden danger of tube abrasion and ensuring a product quality. 
     In the above embodiment, the upper side plate  34  is further provided with a drainage structure, and water flows into the first water collecting tank  20  through the drainage structure. The drainage structure has a plurality of drainage holes  341 . The drainage holes  341  are provided on the upper side plate  34  at intervals, and one drainage hole  341  is provided between every two adjacent mounting holes  342 . The water flow can be evenly distributed into the second water collecting tank  31  through the drainage holes  341 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  6   , in the above embodiment, the heat exchanger further includes an lower side plate  32 . The lower side plate  32  is located below the first water collecting tank  20 , and a second connection hole  321  is provided on the lower side plate  32 . The heat exchange tube  10  expands into the second connection hole  321 . By providing the lower side plate  32  which expands into the heat exchange tube  10 , the heat exchange tube  10  can be fixed by the lower side plate  32 , to avoid abrasions between the heat exchange tube  10  and the lower side plate  32  during transportation and operation, eliminating a hidden danger of tube abrasion and ensuring the product quality. 
     In the above embodiment, the heat exchanger further includes a connection plate  33 . The connection plate  33  is provided between the upper side plate  34  and the lower side plate  32 , and two ends of the connection plate  33  are fixed to the upper side plate  34  and the lower side plate  32  respectively. By providing the connection plate  33  to connect the upper side plate  34  with the lower side plate  32  as an integral fixing frame, the overall strength of the heat exchanger can be increased, avoiding damages caused by the abrasions between the heat exchange tube  10  and the water collecting tank, and ensuring the product quality. 
     In the above embodiment, the heat exchanger further includes a second water collecting tank  31 . The second water collecting tank  31  is provided on the heat exchange tube  10  and is located above the first water collecting tank  20 . A second water diversion hole  312  is further provided on the second water collecting tank  31 , and water flows through the second water diversion hole  312  into the first water collecting tank  20 . Since the second water diversion hole  312  is provided in the second water collecting tank  31 , the water that previously only flows along a single heat exchange tube  10  converges into the second water collecting tank  31 , and then flows through the second water diversion hole  312  into the first water collecting tank  20 , to form a first water diversion. After the first water diversion, and after the water converges into the first water collecting tank  20 , since the heat exchange tube  10  is provided in each first water diversion hole  21 , the water then evenly flows into the first water diversion hole  21  and adheres onto the heat exchange tube  10  to form a second water diversion. Through two water diversions, the water is distributed more evenly, and the amount of condensate water adhering to each heat exchange tube  10  is more even, then a water film formed on the outer surface of the heat exchange tube  10  is more uniform, further improving the heat exchange efficiency. 
     In the above embodiment, the heat exchange tube  10  passes through the second water diversion hole  312 , and the second water diversion hole  312  has a diameter greater than an outer diameter of the heat exchange tube  10 , so that a gap is formed between the second water diversion hole  312  and the heat exchange tube  10 . Water adheres to an outer wall of the heat exchange tube  10  after passing through the gap. The water (condensate water or cooling water) in the second water collecting tank  31  evenly flows into the second water diversion hole  312 . Since the gap is smaller, the water flow can pass through the gap, and then the water flow can adhere to the heat exchange tube  10  in the second water diversion hole  312  after the water flow passes through the gap, which is beneficial to forming a water film on the outer surface of the heat exchange tube  10  and improving the heat exchange efficiency. 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , in the above embodiment, there are a plurality of second water diversion holes  312 , and each second water diversion hole  312  is passed through by one heat exchange tube  10 . A difference value between a diameter of the second water diversion hole  31  and an outer diameter of the heat exchange tube  10  is in a range of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. Accordingly, the water flow can evenly flow into the gap, and the water flow can adhere to the heat exchange tube  10  in the second water diversion hole  312  after flowing into the gap, which is beneficial to forming a water film on the outer surface of the heat exchange tube  10  and improving the heat exchange efficiency. 
     In the above embodiments, a center of the second water diversion hole  312  is located on an axis of the heat exchange tube  10 , so that a uniform gap is formed between outer wall of the heat exchange tube  10  and an inner edge of the second water diversion hole  312 , to allow the water to more evenly adhere to the heat exchange tube  10  in the second water diversion hole  312  when the water flows through the gap, which is more beneficial to the formation of a water film on the outer surface of the heat exchange tube  10 , improving the heat exchange efficiency. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , in the above embodiment, the second water collecting tank  31  is located below the upper side plate  34 , the upper side plate  34  covers the second water collecting tank  31 , and the heat exchange tube  10  expanding to the upper side plate  34  passes through the second water collecting tank  31 , the connection plate  33  is provided between the second water collecting tank  31  and the lower side plate  32 , and two ends of the connection plate  33  are fixed to the second water collecting tank  31  and the lower side plate  32  respectively. The first water collecting tank  20  is located between the second water collecting tank  31  and the lower side plate  32 , and the first water collecting tank  20  is fixed to the connection plate  33 . By providing the connection plate  33  to connect the first water collecting tank  20 , the second water collecting tank  31  and the lower side plate  32  as a whole. On one hand, the overall strength of the heat exchanger can be increased, avoiding the damages caused by the abrasions between the heat exchange tube  10  and the water collecting tank, and ensuring the product quality; on the other hand, the problem of uneven distribution of water flow below the pipelines caused by an overlong heat exchange tube  10  can also be avoided, i.e., the water film can be formed on the outer surface of the heat exchange tube even if the pipeline is longer, improving the heat exchange efficiency. 
     In the above embodiment, a difference value between a diameter of the first water diversion hole  21  and an outer diameter of the heat exchange tube  10  is in a range of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. Accordingly, the water flow can flow through the gap, and then can adhere to the heat exchange tube  10  in the second water diversion hole  21 , which is beneficial to form a water film on the outer surface of the heat exchange tube  10 , improving the heat exchange efficiency. 
     In the above embodiment, a center of the first water diversion hole  21  is located on an axis of the heat exchange tube  10 , so that a uniform gap is formed between an outer wall of the heat exchange tube  10  and an inner edge of the first water diversion hole  21 , to allow the water to more evenly adhere to the heat exchange tube  10  in the first water diversion hole  21  when the water flows through the gap, which is more beneficial to the formation of the water film on the outer surface of the heat exchange tube  10 , improving the heat exchange efficiency. 
     In the above embodiment, the heat exchanger further includes a liquid collecting tube and a gas diversion tube. One end of the heat exchange tube  10  is connected to the gas diversion tube, and the other end of the heat exchange tube is connected to the liquid collecting tube. 
     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, an air conditioner including the above heat exchanger is further provided. 
     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a refrigerating unit including the above heat exchanger is further provided.