Heat exchanger, method for operating the heat exchanger and use of the heat exchanger in an air conditioner

Abstract

In a heat exchanger comprising a capillary tube register in which a fluid to be cooled and/or heated is routed through capillary tubes and in which air flows around the capillary tubes in countercurrent flow relative to the fluid, the capillary tube register comprises at least one capillary tube mat formed from longitudinal and lateral capillary tubes connected together in a mesh pattern for fluid throughput. At least the longitudinal capillary tubes are each connected by way of the ends thereof to a common trunk for feeding, and to a common trunk for discharging, the fluid.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a capillary tube register, through which a fluid to be cooled and/or to be heated is led, the capillary tube register configured for being subjected to a flow of air in counterflow to the fluid, wherein the capillary tube register comprises at least one capillary tube mat which is formed from flexible capillary longitudinal and capillary transverse tubes which are connected to each other in a network for fluid passage, at least the capillary longitudinal tubes being connected respectively to a branch for supply or discharge of the fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein, for control of a flow course of the fluid in the capillary tube mat, passage for the fluid is blocked in individual capillary longitudinal and/or capillary transverse tubes. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one branch of a capillary tube mat is shorter than a length of a side of the capillary tube mat parallel thereto. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein the capillary tube mat comprises cut-outs in an interior or at an edge. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein the flow course in the capillary tube mat is meandering. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 5 , wherein a degree of the meandering of the flow course in the capillary tube mat changes. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the capillary longitudinal tubes extend at an angle of 90° and the capillary transverse tubes at an angle of 5° to 20° relative to the branches. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the capillary longitudinal tubes and the capillary transverse tubes respectively extend diagonally relative to the branches. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 8 , wherein the capillary longitudinal tubes and the capillary transverse tubes extend respectively at an angle of 45° relative to the branches for the supply and discharge of the fluid and are connected directly to the branches. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 8 , wherein the capillary tube register comprises a plurality of capillary tube mats which are disposed parallel to each other, having a common supply line for the fluid on one side and a common discharge line for the fluid on an oppositely situated side. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , wherein the capillary tubes comprise a hydrophilic or water-spreading surface. 
     
     
         12 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the capillary tube mat, respectively for the supply and the discharge of fluid to or from the capillary longitudinal and capillary transverse tubes, comprises at least one cut-out in which a closed chamber is formed, into which chamber at least one capillary longitudinal and/or capillary transverse tube opens and which is connected outside a mat plane to a connection line for supply of the fluid from a fluid source or to a fluid sink for discharge of the fluid. 
     
     
         16 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a capillary tube register comprising at least one capillary tube mat, the capillary tube mat comprising capillary longitudinal tubes and capillary transverse tubes which receive a fluid to be cooled and/or to be heated and are connected to each other in the manner of a network for fluid passage,   wherein the capillary longitudinal tubes and the capillary transverse tubes extend respectively at an angle relative to end-sides of the capillary tube mat,   wherein at least one of the end-sides respectively, a pair comprising a capillary longitudinal tube and an intersecting capillary transverse tube is connected to a common connection tube, for supply or discharge of the fluid, which extends outside a capillary tube mat,   wherein the connection tubes are connected to each other via transverse tubes with a reduced number relative to the number of connection tubes and free ends of the transverse tubes respectively open in an opening in an outer wall of a branch tube for supply or discharge of the fluid.   
     
     
         23 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 22 , wherein the capillary tube mat, the connection tubes and the transverse tubes comprise two plastic material films which are connected to each other in a planar manner, which films comprise convex raised portions and complementary concave recesses for forming the capillary longitudinal and capillary transverse tubes, the connection lines and also the transverse lines. 
     
     
         24 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A method for operating a heat exchanger comprising:
 using a heat exchanger comprising a capillary tube register, through which a fluid to be cooled and/or to be heated is led, the capillary tube register configured for being subjected to a flow of air in counterflow to the fluid, wherein the capillary tube register comprises at least one capillary tube mat which is formed from flexible capillary longitudinal and capillary transverse tubes which are connected to each other in a network for fluid passage, at least the capillary longitudinal tubes being connected respectively to a branch for supply or discharge of the fluid, wherein the capillary longitudinal tubes and the capillary transverse tubes respectively extend diagonally relative to the branches, wherein the capillary tube register comprises a plurality of capillary tube mats that are disposed parallel to each other, having a common supply line for the fluid on one side and a common discharge line for the fluid on an oppositely situated side, and wherein the capillary tubes comprise a hydrophilic or water-spreading surface;   wetting the hydrophilic or water-spreading surface uniformly; and   altering humidity of air, comprising at least one of dehumidifying or humidifying air, wherein the dehumidifying comprises wetting the hydrophilic or water-spreading surface uniformly with a sorption solution and discharging the condensation heat of moisture withdrawn from the air using the fluid led through the capillary tube register, and wherein the humidifying comprises wetting the hydrophilic or water-spreading surface with water and delivering evaporation heat for the water using the fluid led through the capillary tube register.   
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the sorption solution comprises an aqueous lithium chloride solution. 
     
     
         28 . The method for operating a heat exchanger according to  claim 26  comprising humidifying air, including wetting the hydrophilic or water-spreading surface uniformly with water and using the fluid led through the capillary tube register to deliver the evaporation heat for the water required for humidifying the air. 
     
     
         29 . A method comprising:
 using, in an air conditioner, at least two heat exchangers, the heat exchanger comprising a capillary tube register, through which a fluid to be cooled and/or to be heated is led, the capillary tube register configured for being subjected to a flow of air in counterflow to the fluid, wherein the capillary tube register comprises at least one capillary tube mat which is formed from flexible capillary longitudinal and capillary transverse tubes which are connected to each other in a network for fluid passage, at least the capillary longitudinal tubes being connected respectively to a branch for supply or discharge of the fluid;   subjecting the heat exchangers to a flow of the fluid in a closed circulation in succession, including using the first heat exchanger for cooling and dehumidifying the ingoing air and using the second heat exchanger for cooling the fluid by the outgoing air.   
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29 , comprising cooling the outgoing air adiabatically to the dew point temperature thereof before flowing through the second heat exchanger. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 29 , comprising wetting the hydrophilic or water-spreading surface of the capillary tubes of the first heat exchanger with sorption solution and that of the second heat exchanger with water.