Heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger to be used as a gas cooler has a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet provided at upper and lower header sections, respectively, of a first header tank. A value represented by a formula {(L 1 +L 2 )/2}+(T×2N) is defined as an average flow path length L 0 , where L 1 represents the total interior length of both the header sections of the first header tank, L 2 represents the interior length of the header section(s) of the second header tank, T represents the length of the flat tubes, and N represents the number of the header section(s) of the second header tank. The positions of the refrigerant inlet and outlet are determined to satisfy the relation 0.8≦LX/L 0 ≦1.2, where Lx represents a flow path length for refrigerant which flows into the upper header section from the refrigerant inlet and flows out of the refrigerant outlet.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising first and second header tanks disposed apart from each other; and a plurality of flat tubes disposed between the first and second header tanks such that the flat tubes are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the header tanks, opposite end portions of the flat tubes being connected to the respective header tanks, the first header tank including a plurality of header sections arranged in the longitudinal direction of the first header tank, the second header tank including a single header section or a plurality of header sections which are one fewer in number than the header sections of the first header tank, the single header section or each of the header sections facing two adjacent header sections of the first header tank, a refrigerant inlet being provided at a header section of the first header tank located at one end with respect to the longitudinal direction, a refrigerant outlet being provided at another header section of the first header tank located at the other end with respect to the longitudinal direction, the flat tubes being divided into groups each of which includes a plurality of flat tubes arranged in the longitudinal direction of the header tanks and which form paths which are equal in number to the header sections of the first header tank, 
 wherein when a value represented by a formula {(L 1 +L 2 )/2}+(T×2N) is defined as an average flow path length L 0 , where L 1  represents the total interior length of all the header sections of the first header tank, L 2  represents the total interior length of all the header section(s) of the second header tank, T represents the length of the flat tubes, and N represents the number of the header section(s) of the second header tank, the position of the refrigerant inlet and the position of the refrigerant outlet are determined to satisfy the relation 0.8≦LX/L 0 ≦1.2, where Lx represents a flow path length for refrigerant which flows into the first header tank from the refrigerant inlet, passes through all the header sections and the flat tubes of all the paths, and flows out of the refrigerant outlet.    
   
   
       2 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the first header tank includes two header sections, the second header tank includes a single header section, and the number of paths is two.  
   
   
       3 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the amount of compressor lubrication oil mixed in a refrigerant to be used is 1 wt. % or less.  
   
   
       4 . A heat exchanger comprising first and second header tanks disposed apart from each other; and a plurality of flat tubes disposed between the first and second header tanks such that the flat tubes are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the header tanks, opposite end portions of the flat tubes being connected to the respective header tanks, the first header tank including a plurality of header sections arranged in the longitudinal direction of the first header tank, the second header tank including header sections which are equal in number to the header sections of the first header tank and which are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the second header tank, a refrigerant inlet being provided at a header section of the first header tank located at one end with respect to the longitudinal direction, a refrigerant outlet being provided at a header section of the second header tank located at the opposite end with respect to the longitudinal direction, the flat tubes being divided into groups each of which includes a plurality of flat tubes arranged in the longitudinal direction of the header tanks and which form paths which are one greater in number than the header sections of each header tank, 
 wherein when a value represented by a formula {(L 1 +L 2 )/2}+{(T×(N+1)) is defined as an average flow path length L 0 , where L 1  represents the total interior length of all the header sections of the first header tank, L 2  represents the total interior length of all the header sections of the second header tank, T represents the length of the flat tubes, and N represents the number of the header sections of each header tank, the position of the refrigerant inlet and the position of the refrigerant outlet are determined to satisfy the relation 0.8≦LX/L 0 ≦1.2, where Lx represents a flow path length for refrigerant which flows into the first header tank from the refrigerant inlet, passes through all the header sections and the flat tubes of all the paths, and flows out of the refrigerant outlet.    
   
   
       5 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 4 , wherein each header tank includes two header sections, and the number of paths is three.  
   
   
       6 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 4 , wherein the amount of compressor lubrication oil mixed in a refrigerant to be used is 1 wt. % or less.