Patent Description:
In general, a heat exchanger may be used as a condenser or an evaporator in a refrigeration cycle device composed of a compressor, a condenser, an expansion mechanism, and an evaporator. In addition, a heat exchanger is installed in a vehicle, a refrigerator, or the like to exchange heat between refrigerant and air. The heat exchanger may be classified into a fin tube type heat exchanger, a micro channel type heat exchanger, and the like, depending on a structure. Recently, a heat exchanger with improved performance has been proposed by employing a corrugated fin formed by bending a fin in a corrugated form to more efficiently exchange heat between a refrigerant and air through the corrugated fin.

<CIT> relates to a finned tube heat exchanger. <CIT> relates to a cross fin heat exchanger. <CIT> relates to a cross-fin heat exchanger for outdoor machine.

Prior Art Document <NUM> discloses that a plate fin <NUM> for improving the heat transfer rate in the fin side without increasing air-side pressure loss has at least three thread portions formed according to a column direction and a flat portion formed at the top of the thread portion according to a single direction.

However, in the case of the Prior Art Document, there is a problem in that air resistance is generated around a through hole <NUM> which is formed in the fin and through which a heat transfer pipe passes, and as a result, the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger is lowered.

The disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and may provide a heat exchanger that is simply manufactured, has excellent heat exchange efficiency, and has low air flow resistance.

The disclosure may further provide a heat exchanger having a structure including a through hole through which a heat transfer pipe passes, a corrugated form portion which moves in a first direction, which is an air flow direction, and is formed in a zigzag shape, and a flat portion provided in a plane adjacent to the through hole, so that air can be actively mixed in the corrugated form portion and the vicinity of the through hole.

The disclosure may further provide a heat exchanger in which the heat transfer pipe does not interfere with the air flow in the direction of air flow, and the air can be mixed uniformly in the direction perpendicular to the air flow direction, by disposing a through hole to which two rows of heat transfer pipes are coupled in a zigzag pattern.

In a heat exchanger according to the present disclosure, a sheet portion has a first length in a first direction which is an air flow direction, and has a second length longer than the first length in a second direction perpendicular to the air flow direction.

In detail, a heat exchanger according to the present disclosure includes: a heat transfer pipe for guiding a refrigerant; and a plurality of fins which respectively have a through-hole through which the heat transfer pipe passes and are disposed spaced apart from each other to allow air to pass in a first direction, wherein the fin includes: a corrugated form portion having an inclination with the first direction which is an air flow direction; and a sheet portion including a surface parallel to the first direction around the through hole, wherein the sheet portion has a first length in the first direction which is an air flow direction, and has a second length longer than the first length in a second direction perpendicular to the air flow direction.

The fin further includes a collar in surface contact with the heat transfer pipe, and the sheet portion is connected to an outer surface of the collar.

The sheet portion is formed by a first arc passing through a first point which is one distal end of the first direction and a tangent line thereof, a second arc pas sing through a second point which is the other distal end point of the first direction and a tangent line thereof, a third arc passing through a third point which is one distal end point of the second direction and a tangent line thereof, and a fourth arc passing through a fourth point which is the other distal end point of the second direction and a tangent line thereof.

A center of curvature of the first arc and a center of curvature of the second arc are located symmetrically in the first direction with respect to a center of the heat transfer pipe.

A center of curvature of the third arc and a center of curvature of the fourth arc are located symmetrically in the second direction with respect to a center of the heat transfer pipe.

The first arc and the second arc have a first radius of curvature, and the third arc and the fourth arc have a second radius of curvature greater than the first radius of curvature.

The sheet portion is formed in an elliptical shape in which two focal points are symmetrically located in the second direction with respect to a center of the heat transfer pipe.

The corrugated form portion is located between sheet portions adjacent to each other.

A ratio of the second length of the sheet portion to the first length of the sheet portion is in the range of <NUM> to <NUM>.

The corrugated form portion includes a plurality of inclined portions having an inclination with respect to the first direction.

The corrugated form portion includes four inclined portions, and two thread portions and one groove portion.

A center of the through hole is located to overlap the groove portion in the second direction.

The two thread portions are disposed not to overlap with the through hole in the second direction.

The two thread portions are disposed not to overlap with the sheet portion in the second direction.

The two thread portions are located higher than the sheet portion in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.

The heat exchanger further includes a connecting portion connecting the corrugated form portion and the sheet portion.

The connecting portion has an inclination with respect to a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.

In addition, an air conditioner according to the present disclosure includes an indoor heat exchanger that exchanges heat with indoor air; an indoor heat exchanger that exchanges heat with outdoor air, wherein at least one of the indoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger includes: a heat transfer pipe for guiding a refrigerant; and a plurality of fins which respectively have a through-hole through which the heat transfer pipe vertically passes and are disposed spaced apart from each other to allow air to pass in a first direction, wherein the fin includes: a corrugated form portion which proceeds in a first direction which is an air flow direction and is formed in a zigzag pattern; and a sheet portion including a surface parallel to the first direction around the through hole, wherein the sheet portion has a first length in the first direction which is an air flow direction, and has a second length longer than the first length in a second direction perpendicular to the air flow direction.

In addition, a fin according to the present disclosure includes a corrugated form portion having an inclination with respect to a first direction; and a sheet portion which includes a through hole in which a heat transfer pipe is installed, and includes a surface parallel to the first direction around the through hole, wherein the sheet portion has a first length in the first direction, and has a second length longer than the first length in a second direction perpendicular to an air flow direction.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:.

The terms spatially relative, "below", "beneath", "lower", "above" and "upper" and the like can be used to easily describe the correlation of elements with other elements. Spatially relative terms should be understood in terms of the directions shown in the drawings, including the different directions of components at the time of use or operation. For example, when inverting an element shown in the drawings, an element described as "below" or "beneath" of another element may be placed "above" of another element. Thus, the exemplary term "below" may include both downward and upward directions. The elements may also be oriented in a different direction, so that spatially relative terms can be interpreted according to orientation.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein may be used in a sense commonly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. In addition, commonly used predefined terms are not ideally or excessively interpreted unless explicitly defined otherwise.

In the drawings, the thicknesses and sizes of respective elements are exaggerated, omitted, or schematically shown for convenience and clarity of explanation. In addition, the size and area of each element do not entirely reflect actual size or area.

In addition, angles and directions mentioned when describing the structure of the embodiment are based on those described in the drawings. In the description of the structure constituting the embodiment in the specification, if the reference point and the positional relationship for the angle are not clearly mentioned, refer to the related drawings.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and shows a case in which a heating operation is performed.

As shown in <FIG>, the air conditioner includes an outdoor unit <NUM> disposed in an outdoor space, a plurality of indoor units <NUM> installed in an indoor space, and refrigerant pipes <NUM> and <NUM> connecting the outdoor unit <NUM> and the plurality of indoor units <NUM> so that a refrigerant circulates between the outdoor unit <NUM> and the plurality of indoor units <NUM>.

In this embodiment, two indoor units <NUM> are connected to one outdoor unit <NUM>, but this is an example and is not limited thereto. That is, one indoor unit <NUM> may be connected to one outdoor unit <NUM>, or three or more indoor units <NUM> may be connected to one outdoor unit <NUM>.

The outdoor unit <NUM> includes an outdoor heat exchanger <NUM> for exchanging heat between outdoor air and a refrigerant, an outdoor blower <NUM> for allowing outdoor air to pass through the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM>, a compressor <NUM> for compressing the refrigerant, a four-way valve <NUM> for guiding the refrigerant discharged from the compressor <NUM> to one of the outdoor unit <NUM> and the indoor unit <NUM>, an outdoor expansion valve <NUM> for reducing pressure and expanding the refrigerant, and an accumulator <NUM> separating liquid refrigerant from refrigerant flowing into the compressor <NUM> so that the liquid refrigerant vaporizes and then flows into the compressor <NUM>.

In addition, the outdoor unit <NUM> includes a controller <NUM> that controls the operation of the outdoor blower <NUM>, the outdoor expansion valve <NUM>, the compressor <NUM>, and the four-way valve <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may be composed of a microcomputer or the like.

The indoor unit <NUM> includes an indoor heat exchanger <NUM> that allows heat exchange between indoor air and the refrigerant, an indoor blower <NUM> that allows the indoor air to pass through the indoor heat exchanger <NUM>, and an indoor expansion valve <NUM> that reduces pressure and expands the refrigerant.

The refrigerant pipe <NUM> includes a liquid refrigerant pipe <NUM> through which liquid refrigerant passes, and a gaseous refrigerant pipe <NUM> through which gaseous refrigerant passes. The liquid refrigerant pipe <NUM> allows the refrigerant to flow between the indoor expansion valve <NUM> and the outdoor expansion valve <NUM>.

The gaseous refrigerant pipe <NUM> guides the refrigerant to move between the four-way valve <NUM> of the outdoor unit <NUM> and the gas side of the indoor heat exchanger <NUM> of the indoor unit <NUM>. it is preferable that any one of HC single refrigerant, HC mixed refrigerant, R32, R410A, R407C, and carbon dioxide is used as the above described refrigerant used in the air conditioner.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a heat exchanger <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is an enlarged plan view of a part of a fin according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the heat exchanger <NUM> corresponds to at least one of the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM> and the indoor heat exchanger <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

The heat exchanger <NUM> is a fin tube type heat exchanger, and includes a plurality of fins <NUM> made of aluminum and a heat transfer pipe <NUM> having a circular cross section made of copper or aluminum.

A plurality of heat transfer pipes <NUM> extend in a left-right direction (second direction) LeRi orthogonal to the air flow direction. Specifically, the heat transfer pipe <NUM> may include a plurality of first row heat transfer pipes 60a spaced apart from each other in the up-down direction (third direction) UD, and a plurality of second row heat transfer pipes 60b spaced apart in a rearward direction from the first row heat transfer pipes 60a, and spaced apart in the up-down direction.

The pitch of the first row heat transfer pipes 60a is the same as the pitch of the second row heat transfer pipes 60b, and the first row heat transfer pipes 60a and the second row heat transfer pipes 60b are disposed not to overlap each other in the front-rear direction. If the first heat transfer pipes <NUM> and the second heat transfer pipes 60b are disposed not to overlap each other in the front-rear direction, it is possible to reduce the resistance of air flowing in the front-rear direction due to the heat transfer pipes <NUM>.

The plurality of fins <NUM> are vertically disposed with respect to the heat transfer pipe <NUM> and are spaced apart from each other so that air passes between the plurality of fins <NUM> in a first direction (front-rear direction) FR. The heat transfer pipe <NUM> is vertically installed to penetrate through-holes <NUM> provided in each of the fins <NUM> and is disposed parallel to each other. The heat transfer pipe <NUM> is connected to the refrigerant pipes <NUM> of the air conditioner of <FIG> to form a closed circuit refrigerating cycle.

In addition, since the heat transfer pipe <NUM> contacts the fin <NUM> to transmit or receive heat through the fin <NUM>, the contact area with the air passing through the heat exchanger <NUM> through the fin <NUM> is widened. Therefore, heat exchange between the refrigerant passing through the inside of the heat transfer pipe <NUM> and the refrigerant passing through the heat exchanger <NUM> is efficiently performed through the fin <NUM>.

In order for heat transfer between the fin <NUM> and the air to be more efficient, the fin <NUM> proceeds in the first direction (front-rear direction) of the air flow direction through a press mold and is bent in a zigzag pattern, so that the fin <NUM> may be formed in a corrugated form. Hereinafter, the fin <NUM> having a corrugated form formed as described above may be referred to as a corrugate fin.

The fin <NUM> includes a collar <NUM> in surface contact with the heat transfer pipe <NUM>, and a sheet portion <NUM> provided in a plane around the collar <NUM> to form the collar <NUM>. Since the sheet portion <NUM> is adjacent to the collar <NUM> in contact with the heat transfer pipe <NUM>, it has a temperature similar to that of the refrigerant passing through the heat transfer pipe <NUM>. The sheet portion <NUM> is connected to the outer surface of the collar <NUM>.

The collar <NUM> extends in the left-right direction from the sheet portion <NUM> and has a cylindrical shape.

Therefore, since heat exchange between the refrigerant and air can be efficiently performed in the sheet portion <NUM>, the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger <NUM> can be improved by allowing more air to come into contact with the sheet portion <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the fin shown in <FIG> taken along line <NUM>-<NUM>', <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the fin shown in <FIG> taken along line <NUM>-<NUM>', and <FIG> is an enlarged view of a part of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the sheet portion <NUM> may define a surface parallel to the first direction around the through hole <NUM>. Specifically, the sheet portion <NUM> may be defined as a plane parallel to the first direction (front-rear direction) and the second direction (up-down direction) around the through hole <NUM>.

The sheet portion <NUM> is formed to have a first length in the first direction which is an air flow direction and a second length longer than the first length in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a corrugated form portion between the sheet portion <NUM> and two adjacent sheet portions <NUM> allows a lot of air to be exchanged and mixed with each other, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger <NUM>.

In the embodiment, the sheet portion <NUM> is formed in an oval type shape elongated in the second direction perpendicular to the air flow direction. Obviously, in another embodiment, the sheet portion <NUM> may have a rhombus shape elongated in the second direction.

The fin <NUM> includes a corrugated form portion. The corrugated form portion is a region that proceeds in a first direction which is an air flow direction and is formed in a zigzag pattern. The corrugated form portion is located between the sheet portions <NUM> adjacent to each other. The corrugated form portion may have an inclination in a first direction.

The corrugated form portion includes four inclined portions 82a, 82b, 82c, and 82d, and two thread portions 81a, 81b and one groove portion 81c that are formed by the four inclined portions 82a, 82b, 82c, and 82d.

The thread portion 81a and 81b include a first thread portion 81a located relatively forward and a second thread portion 81b located rearward from the first thread portion 81a, and the groove portion 81c is located between the first thread portion 81a and the second thread portion 81b.

The four inclined portions 82a, 82b, 82c, and 82d have an inclination with respect to the first direction (front-rear direction) and extend in the second direction.

Specifically, the inclined portions 82a, 82b, 82c, and 82d may include a first inclined portion 82a connected to the front of the first thread portion 81a, a second inclined portion 82b which is connected to the rear of the first thread portion 81a and connects the first thread portion 81a and the groove portion 81c, a third inclined portion 82c which is connected to the front of the second thread portion 81b and connects the second thread portion 81b and the groove portion 81c, and a fourth inclined portion 82d connected to the rear of the second thread portion 81b.

Here, the thread portions 81a, 81b and the groove portion 81c are folded portions that occur when the corrugated fin <NUM> is bent to form the inclined portion 82a, 82b, 82c, and 82d, and the inclined portions 82a, 82b, 82c, and 82d are inclined surfaces inclined with respect to the surface of the fin <NUM> before forming the inclined portions 82a, 82b, 82c, and 82d.

Accordingly, the fin <NUM> includes the thread portion 81a, 81b, the groove portion 81c, and the inclined portions 82a, 82b, 82c, and 82d connected to each other in a zigzag pattern through the thread portion 81a, 81b and the groove portion 81c. A zigzag- patterned corrugated form portion is formed by the above thread portions 81a, 81b, the groove portion 81c, and the inclined portions 82a, 82b, 82c, and 82d.

The width of the second inclined portion 82b may decrease in the second direction from the front to the rear, and the width of the third inclined portion 82c may increase in the second direction from the front to the rear.

The first thread portion 81a, the second thread portion 81b, and the groove portion 81c extend in the second direction. The center of the through hole <NUM> may be located to overlap the groove portion 81c in the second direction. Two thread portions may be disposed not to overlap with the through hole <NUM> in the second direction.

The two thread portions 81a and 81b may be disposed not to overlap with the sheet portion <NUM> in the second direction. The sheet portion <NUM> is located between the two thread portions 81a and 81b.

Accordingly, the air is uniformly mixed in the second direction due to the interaction of the sheet portion <NUM>, the groove portion 81c, and the thread portion.

The two thread portions are located higher than the sheet portion <NUM> in the third direction (up-down direction). In addition, the groove portion 81c is located higher than the sheet portion <NUM> in the third direction. The two thread portions are located lower than the upper end of the collar <NUM> in the third direction. In addition, the groove portion 81c is located lower than the upper end of the collar <NUM> in the third direction.

A first inclination angle Θ1 of the first inclination portion 82a with respect to the first direction is equal to a fourth inclination angle Θ4 of the fourth inclination portion 82d with respect to the first direction. A second inclination angle Θ2 of the second inclination portion 82b with respect to the first direction is equal to a third inclination angle Θ3 of the third inclination portion 82c with respect to the first direction.

The first inclination angle Θ1 of the first inclination portion 82a with respect to the first direction and the fourth inclination angle Θ4 of the fourth inclination portion 82d with respect to the first direction may be greater than the second inclination angle Θ2 of the second inclination portion 82b with respect to the first direction and the third inclination angle Θ3 of the third inclination portion 82c with respect to the first direction.

The first inclination angle Θ1 of the first inclination portion 82a with respect to the first direction and the fourth inclination angle Θ4 of the fourth inclination portion 82d with respect to the first direction range from <NUM> degrees to <NUM> degrees, and the second inclination angle Θ2 of the second inclination portion 82b with respect to the first direction and the third inclination angle Θ3 of the third inclination portion 82c with respect to the first direction range from <NUM> degrees to <NUM> degrees.

Preferably, the first thread portion 81a and the second thread portion 81b may have a symmetrical shape in the front-rear direction based on the groove portion 81c.

Here, the width of the fin <NUM> (hereinafter referred to as "fin width") may be referred to as P1, and a gap between the heat transfer pipes <NUM> may be referred to as P2. The sheet portion <NUM> has a first length W1 in a first direction which is an air flow direction, and has a second length W2 in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction which is an air flow direction.

When both ends of the sheet portion <NUM> in the first direction are referred to as points C and D, the points C and D are provided at positions symmetrical in the first direction with respect to the center O of the heat transfer pipe <NUM>. In addition, when both ends of the sheet portion <NUM> in the second direction are referred to as points A and B, the points A and B are provided at positions symmetrical in the second direction with respect to the center O of the heat transfer pipe <NUM>.

Therefore, the distance between the points C and D is the aforementioned first length W1, and the distance between the points A and B is the aforementioned second length W2.

Here, the center O of the heat transfer pipe <NUM> is located at a position corresponding to the groove portion 81c.

The expression "elliptical shape" is a term for collectively referring to a shape which is similar to an ellipse as a first length in a first direction which is the air flow direction is formed shorter than a second length in a second direction perpendicular to the air flow direction.

In the embodiment, the sheet portion <NUM> is formed in a substantially elliptical shape by a left first arc passing through a point C and its tangent line, a right second arc passing through a point D and its tangent line, an upper third arc passing through a point A and its tangent line, and a lower fourth arc passing through a point B and its tangent line.

It is preferable that the first arc and the second arc have a center of curvature on a straight line connecting the point C, the center O of the heat transfer pipe <NUM>, and the point D, and the third arc and the fourth arc have a center of curvature on a straight line connecting point A, the center O of the heat transfer pipe <NUM>, and the point B. However, it is not limited thereto.

In the elliptical sheet portion <NUM>, the first arc and the second arc have a radius of curvature R1, and the third arc and the fourth arc have a radius of curvature R2 greater than R1. However, it is not limited thereto, and the sheet portion <NUM> may be formed in various elliptical type shapes in which the first length W1 is shorter than the second length W2.

The sheet portion <NUM> is preferably formed in an elliptical shape in which two focal points are symmetrically located in the second direction with respect to the center O of the heat transfer pipe <NUM>. It is preferable that the ratio of the second length W2 of the sheet portion <NUM> to the first length W1 of the sheet portion <NUM> is in the range of <NUM> to <NUM>.

The fin <NUM> includes a connecting portion <NUM> connecting a corrugated form portion and a flat portion. The connecting portion <NUM> connects the thread portions 81a and 81b and the groove portion 81c that form the corrugated form portion and the sheet portion <NUM>. The connecting portion <NUM> is formed to surround the sheet portion <NUM>.

Therefore, since the condensed water generated in the heat exchanger <NUM> can easily move along the groove portion 81c, condensed water is prevented from accumulating in the sheet portion <NUM>, thereby suppressing an increase in air resistance in the sheet portion <NUM>.

The connection portion <NUM> has an inclination with respect to the first direction and the third direction. Specifically, the inclination angle Θ5 and Θ6 between the connection portion <NUM> and the first direction may be greater than the first inclination angle Θ1 of the first inclination portion 82a with respect to the first direction, the fourth inclination angle Θ4 of the fourth inclination portion 82d with respect to the first direction, the second inclination angle Θ2 of the second inclination portion 82b with respect to the first direction, and the third inclination angle Θ3 of the third inclination portion 82c with respect to the first direction.

The center of the groove portion 81c and the thread portion 81a, 81c may overlap with the center O of the heat transfer pipe <NUM> in the front-rear direction.

The heat exchanger of the present disclosure has one or more of the following effects.

First, the present disclosure has a structure including a through hole through which a heat transfer pipe passes, a corrugated form portion which moves in a first direction, which is an air flow direction, and is formed in a zigzag shape, and a flat portion provided in a plane adjacent to the through hole, so that air can be actively mixed in the corrugated form portion and the vicinity of the through hole.

Second, the present disclosure disposes a through hole to which two rows of heat transfer pipes are coupled in a zigzag pattern, so that the heat transfer pipe does not interfere with the air flow in the direction of air flow, and the air can be mixed uniformly in the direction perpendicular to the air flow direction,.

Third, the present disclosure has the advantage that the air passing through the flat portion and the air passing through the inclined portion can be actively mixed, because the flat portion where the through hole through which the heat transfer pipe passes is formed has an elongated oval type shape in a direction perpendicular to the air flow direction.

Claim 1:
A heat exchanger (<NUM>) comprising:
a heat transfer pipe (<NUM>) for guiding a refrigerant; and
a plurality of fins (<NUM>) which respectively have a through-hole (<NUM>) through which the heat transfer pipe (<NUM>) passes and are disposed spaced apart from each other to allow air to pass in a first direction,
wherein the fin (<NUM>) comprises:
a corrugated form portion having an inclination with the first direction which is an air flow direction;
a sheet portion (<NUM>) comprising a surface parallel to the first direction around the through hole (<NUM>); and
a connecting portion (<NUM>) connecting the corrugated form portion and the sheet portion (<NUM>),
wherein the sheet portion (<NUM>) has a first length (W1) in the first direction which is an air flow direction, and has a second length (W2) longer than the first length in a second direction perpendicular to the air flow direction,
wherein the connecting portion (<NUM>) has an inclination with respect to a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second dire ction, and
characterised in that
the connection portion (<NUM>) is formed to surround the seat portion (<NUM>).