Patent ID: 8837925

Claim:
A refrigerant heating apparatus comprising: a refrigerant pipe in which a refrigerant flows; and a heating unit that is provided on an outer surface of the refrigerant pipe, wherein the heating unit includes: an insulating sheet on an outer surface of the refrigerant pipe; a plurality of electrodes that are provided at an outer surface of the refrigerant pipe, the plurality of electrodes comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the second electrode is spaced apart from the first electrode, and the first and second electrode being extended in a length direction of the refrigerant pipe; a plurality of carbon nanotube heating elements that are electrically connected to the plurality of electrodes to generate heat by an applied power, the plurality of electrodes being disposed to be spaced from each other; and a plurality of connection members that electrically connect a plurality of electric wires for supplying power to the plurality of electrodes, the connection members comprising a first connection member coupled to the second electrode and a second connection member surrounding the refrigerant pipe to make contact with the first electrode, wherein the first and second electrodes are between the insulating sheet and the carbon nanotube heating element, and the second connection member comprises a first part to make contact with the first electrode, a second part to be spaced apart from the second electrode and a pair of connectors extended from the first part in a radial direction of the refrigerant pipe to connect with both ends of the second part.