Heat exchange unit and heat exchanger using the heat exchange unit

Abstract

A heat exchange unit and a heat exchanger having simple structures which can be manufactured at low cost are provided. The capacity and efficiency of the heat exchanger can be set in accordance with conditions. Heat exchanger tubes 2 and 4 are coiled with predetermined gaps to form heat exchange unit elements A and B, respectively. The elements A and B are shifted from each other so that the tubes 2 and 4 do not overlap each other. The elements A and B are connected to each other with a connection pipe 6 at inner ends thereof Fluid enters the element A from an inlet header 12 , flows into the element B through the connection pipe 6 at the center of element A, and then flows out of the element B through an outlet header 14 . Heat is collected during this time.

1 . A heat exchange unit comprising: two heat exchange unit elements A and B, the heat exchange unit elements A and B including heat exchanger tubes that are coiled in a single plane with predetermined gaps and being shifted from each other so that the tubes do not overlap each other when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane, wherein the tubes are connected to each other at inner or outer ends of the tubes, and wherein one of the elements A and B has a fluid inlet at the outer or inner end of the tube thereof and the other one of the elements A and B has a fluid outlet at the outer or inner end of the tube thereof  
   
   
       2 . A heat exchanger comprising a plurality of heat exchange units arranged in a casing, a fluid inlet header, and a fluid outlet header, the fluid inlet header and the fluid outlet header being disposed on the exterior of the casing, wherein each heat exchange unit includes two heat exchange unit elements A and B, the heat exchange unit elements A and B including heat exchanger tubes that are coiled in a single plane with predetermined gaps and being shifted from each other so that the tubes do not overlap each other when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plane, and wherein, in each heat exchange unit, the tubes are connected to each other at inner or outer ends of the tubes, one of the elements A and B has a fluid inlet at the outer or inner end of the tube thereof, and the other one of the elements A and B has a fluid outlet at the outer or inner end of the tube thereof, the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet being connected to the fluid inlet header and the fluid outlet header, respectively.  
   
   
       3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein the heat exchanger tubes of the heat exchange units are connected in series.  
   
   
       4 . The heat exchanger unit according to claims  1 , wherein the heat exchanger tubes are coiled in a circular shape, a rectangular shape, a conical shape, or a polygonal shape, including a triangular shape.  
   
   
       5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein the heat exchanger tubes are coiled in a circular shape, a rectangular shape, a conical shape, or a polygonal shape, including a triangular shape.  
   
   
       6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 3 , wherein the heat exchanger tubes are coiled in a circular shape, a rectangular shape, a conical shape, or a polygonal shape, including a triangular shape.  
   
   
       7 . A heat exchanger comprising heat exchange unit elements A and B including heat exchanger tubes that are coiled in a conical shape, the heat exchange unit elements A and B being connected to each other in the same or opposite orientations at a central position.  
   
   
       8 . The heat exchanger unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger tubes comprise a corrugated flexible tube, a spiral flexible tube, a flexible tube with annular ridges, or a flexible tube with partially pressed annular ridges.  
   
   
       9 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein the heat exchanger tubes comprise a corrugated flexible tube, a spiral flexible tube, a flexible tube with annular ridges, or a flexible tube with partially pressed annular ridges.  
   
   
       10 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 3 , wherein the heat exchanger tubes comprise a corrugated flexible tube, a spiral flexible tube, a flexible tube with annular ridges, or a flexible tube with partially pressed annular ridges.  
   
   
       11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 4 , wherein the heat exchanger tubes comprise a corrugated flexible tube, a spiral flexible tube, a flexible tube with annular ridges, or a flexible tube with partially pressed annular ridges.  
   
   
       12 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 5 , wherein the heat exchanger tubes comprise a corrugated flexible tube, a spiral flexible tube, a flexible tube with annular ridges, or a flexible tube with partially pressed annular ridges.  
   
   
       13 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 6 , wherein the heat exchanger tubes comprise a corrugated flexible tube, a spiral flexible tube, a flexible tube with annular ridges, or a flexible tube with partially pressed annular ridges.  
   
   
       14 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 7 , wherein the heat exchanger tubes comprise a corrugated flexible tube, a spiral flexible tube, a flexible tube with annular ridges, or a flexible tube with partially pressed annular ridges.  
   
   
       15 . The heat exchanger unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger tubes of the elements A and B have different diameters.  
   
   
       16 . The heat exchanger according to one of  claim 2 , wherein the heat exchanger tubes of the elements A and B have different diameters.  
   
   
       17 . The heat exchanger according to one of  claim 3 , wherein the heat exchanger tubes of the elements A and B have different diameters.  
   
   
       18 . The heat exchanger according to one of  claim 4 , wherein the heat exchanger tubes of the elements A and B have different diameters.  
   
   
       19 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 5 , wherein the heat exchanger tubes of the elements A and B have different diameters.  
   
   
       20 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 6 , wherein the heat exchanger tubes of the elements A and B have different diameters.