Heat exchanger for improving thermal efficiency and air conditioner mounted therewith

Abstract

A heat exchanger of an air conditioner is disclosed whereby refrigerant is not biased to a particular heat exchange line but evenly flows in all heat exchange lines. The heat exchanger includes a housing having air inlets and an air outlet; and a plurality of heat exchange lines each formed inside the housing in a serpentine shape for refrigerant to flow and switch the flow direction. The plurality of heat exchange lines are arranged in such a manner that each line crosses each other before and after the infusion directions of air introduced via the air inlets. Each heat exchange line is substantially the same diameter and length. An air quantity initially contacting each heat exchange line is substantially the same, and a heat exchanged quantity of the refrigerant passing through each heat exchange line is substantially the same.

1 . A heat exchanger for an air conditioner, the heat exchanger comprising: 
 a housing having at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet; and    a plurality of heat exchange lines each disposed in the housing and branched from a refrigerant tube at least one into which refrigerant is infused and in which the refrigerant switches flowing directions along the respective interiors thereof, wherein the plurality of heat exchange lines are arranged in such a manner that each line crosses before and after an infusion direction of air introduced via the air inlet.    
   
   
       2 . The heat exchanger as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each heat exchange line is substantially the same in diameter and length thereof, and the air quantity initially contacting each heat exchange line is substantially the same, out of the air infused into the housing via the air inlet, and the heat exchanged quantity of the refrigerant passing through each heat exchange line is substantially the same.  
   
   
       3 . The heat exchanger as defined in  claim 1 , wherein refrigerant inlets of each heat exchange line are contiguous thereamong so as to converge at one side of an interior of the housing, and refrigerant outlets of each heat exchange line are contiguous thereamong so as to converge at the other side of an interior of the housing.  
   
   
       4 . The heat exchanger as defined in  claim 1  comprising a heat transmission member coupled to each heat exchange line for increasing a heat exchanging area of each heat exchange line.  
   
   
       5 . The heat exchanger as defined in  claim 1  comprising a fan device disposed inside the housing for forcibly blowing the air heat-exchanged inside the housing via the air outlet.  
   
   
       6 . A heat exchanger of an air conditioner comprising: 
 a housing having at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet; and    a first heat exchange line branched from a single refrigerant tube disposed inside the housing and in which refrigerant switches flowing directions along an interior thereof:    a second heat exchange line branched from the single refrigerant tube disposed inside the housing and in which refrigerant switches flowing directions along an interior thereof, and wherein the first and second heat exchange lines are arranged in such a manner that each line crosses before and after an infusion direction of air introduced via the air inlet.    
   
   
       7 . The heat exchanger as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the first and second heat exchange lines are substantially the same in diameter and length thereof, and an air quantity initially contacting the first heat exchange line and an air quantity initially contacting the second heat exchange line are substantially the same, out of the air infused into the housing via the air inlet, and the heat exchanged quantity of the refrigerant passing through the first and second heat exchange lines is substantially the same.  
   
   
       8 . The heat exchanger as defined in  claim 6 , wherein each refrigerant inlet of the first and second heat exchange lines is contiguous thereamong so as to converge at one side of an interior of the housing, and each refrigerant outlet of the first and second heat exchange lines is contiguous thereamong so as to converge at the other side of an interior of the housing.  
   
   
       9 . The heat exchanger as defined in  claim 6  comprising a heat transmission member coupled to each heat exchange line for increasing heat exchanging areas of the first and second heat exchange lines.  
   
   
       10 . The heat exchanger as defined in  claim 6  comprising a fan device disposed inside the housing for forcibly blowing the air heat-exchanged inside the housing via the air outlet.  
   
   
       11 . An air conditioner comprising: 
 a compressor for compressing refrigerant;    an outdoor heat exchanger connected to the compressor to allow the refrigerant to move therein and for heat exchanging between the refrigerant and outside air;    an expansion device connected to the outdoor heat exchanger for the refrigerant to move therein; and    an indoor heat exchanger connected to the expansion device and the compressor via refrigerant tube for the refrigerant to move therein and for heat exchanging between the refrigerant and indoor air, wherein the indoor heat exchanger comprises:    a housing having at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet for infusing and discharging the indoor air; and    a plurality of heat exchange lines respectively disposed inside the housing, branched from the refrigerant tube and into which the refrigerant is infused and in which the refrigerant flows along each interior thereof changing flow directions, and wherein the plurality of heat exchange lines are arranged in such a manner that each line crosses before and after the infusion directions of air introduced via the air inlet.    
   
   
       12 . The air conditioner as defined in  claim 11 , wherein each heat exchange line is substantially the same in diameter and length thereof, and the air quantity initially contacting each heat exchange line is substantially the same, out of the air infused into the housing via the air inlet, and the heat exchanged quantity of the refrigerant passing through each heat exchange line is substantially the same.  
   
   
       13 . The air conditioner as defined in  claim 11 , wherein refrigerant inlets of each heat exchange line are contiguous thereamong so as to converge at one side of an interior of the housing, and refrigerant outlets of each heat exchange line are contiguous thereamong so as to converge at the other side of an interior of the housing.  
   
   
       14 . The air conditioner as defined in  claim 11  comprising a heat transmission member coupled to each heat exchange line for increasing a heat exchanging area of each heat exchange line.  
   
   
       15 . The air conditioner as defined in  claim 11  comprising a fan device disposed inside the housing for forcibly blowing the air heat-exchanged inside the housing via the air outlet.  
   
   
       16 . An air conditioner comprising: 
 a compressor for compressing refrigerant;    an outdoor heat exchanger connected to the compressor to allow the refrigerant to move therein and for heat exchanging between the refrigerant and outside air;    an expansion device connected to the outdoor heat exchanger for the refrigerant to move therein; and    an indoor heat exchanger connected to the expansion device and the compressor via refrigerant tubes for the refrigerant to move therein and for heat exchanging between the refrigerant and indoor air, wherein the indoor heat exchanger comprises:    a housing having at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet; and    a first heat exchange line disposed inside the housing and branched from the refrigerant tube in which refrigerant switches flowing directions along an interior thereof;    a second heat exchange line disposed inside the housing and branched from the single refrigerant tube in which refrigerant switches flowing directions along an interior thereof, and wherein the first and second heat exchange lines are arranged in such a manner that each line crosses before and after an infusion direction of air introduced via the air inlet.    
   
   
       17 . The air conditioners as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the first and second heat exchange lines are substantially the same in diameter and length thereof, and an air quantity initially contacting the first heat exchange line and an air quantity initially contacting the second heat exchange line are substantially the same, out of the air infused into the housing via the air inlets, and the heat exchanged quantity of the refrigerant passing through the first and second heat exchange lines is substantially the same.  
   
   
       18 . The air conditioner as defined in  claim 16 , wherein each refrigerant inlet of the first and second heat exchange lines is contiguous thereamong so as to converge at one side of an interior of the housing, and each refrigerant outlet of the first and second heat exchange lines is contiguous thereamong so as to converge at the other side of an interior of the housing.  
   
   
       19 . The air conditioner as defined in  claim 16  comprising a heat transmission member coupled to each heat exchange line for increasing heat exchanging areas of the first and second heat exchange lines.  
   
   
       20 . The air conditioner as defined in  claim 16  comprising a fan device disposed inside the housing for forcibly blowing the air heat-exchanged inside the housing via the air outlet.