Heat pump

Abstract

A heat pump is provided. The heat pump that may include an outdoor heat exchanger, in which a refrigerant may be condensed by being heat-exchanged with outdoor air in a cooling operation, and evaporated by being heat-exchanged with the outdoor air in a heating operation, and an outdoor fan that allows the outdoor air to be moved to the outdoor heat exchanger. The outdoor heat exchanger may include a front-row heat exchange device, through which the outdoor air moved by the outdoor fan may pass, and a rear-row heat exchange device, through which the outdoor air having passed through the front-row heat exchange device may pass; a water-repellent coating layer formed on a surface of the front-row heat exchange device, which the outdoor air contacts; and a hydrophilic coating layer formed on a surface of the rear-row heat exchange device, which the outdoor air contacts. Accordingly, the outdoor heat exchanger may have a longer frost formation time in comparison to a hydrophilic coated double-row heat exchanger, and a high heat exchange performance and lower pressure loss in comparison to a water-repellent coated heat exchanger.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat pump, comprising:
 an outdoor heat exchanger, in which a refrigerant is condensed by being heat-exchanged with outdoor air, in a cooling operation, and evaporated by being heat-exchanged with the outdoor air, in a heating operation; and   an outdoor fan that moves the outdoor air to the outdoor heat exchanger, wherein the outdoor heat exchanger includes a front-row heat exchange device, through which the outdoor air moved by the outdoor fan passes, and a rear-row heat exchange device, through which the outdoor air having passed through the front-row heat exchange device passes, wherein a water-repellent coating layer is formed on the front-row heat exchange device, which the outdoor air contacts, and wherein a hydrophilic coating layer is formed on the rear-row heat exchange device, which the outdoor air contacts.   
     
     
         2 . The heat pump of  claim 1 , wherein the water-repellent coating layer is formed on a surface of the front-row heat exchange device, which the outdoor air contacts, and wherein the hydrophilic coating layer is formed on a surface of the rear-row heat exchange device, which the outdoor air contacts. 
     
     
         3 . The heat pump of  claim 2 , wherein each of the front-row heat exchange device and the rear-row heat exchange device includes a refrigerant tube and at least one fin coupled to the refrigerant tube. 
     
     
         4 . The heat pump of  claim 3 , wherein the water-repellent coating layer is formed on at least one outer surface of the fin of the front-row heat exchange device, and wherein the hydrophilic coating layer is formed on at least one outer surface of the fin of the rear-row heat exchange device. 
     
     
         5 . The heat pump of  claim 4 , wherein the water-repellent coating layer and the hydrophilic coating layer are separated from each other. 
     
     
         6 . The heat pump of  claim 4 , wherein the water-repellent coating layer is coated on first and second side surfaces of the fin of the front-row heat exchange device, and the hydrophilic coating layer is coated on first and second side surfaces of the fin of the rear-row heat exchange device. 
     
     
         7 . The heat pump of  claim 6 , wherein the water-repellent coating layer is coated on front and rear end surfaces of the fin of the front-row heat exchange device, and the hydrophilic coating layer is coated on front and rear end surfaces of the fin of the rear-row heat exchange device. 
     
     
         8 . The heat pump of  claim 4 , wherein a rear end of the water-repellent coating layer is separated from a front end of the hydrophilic coating layer in a moving direction of the outdoor air. 
     
     
         9 . A heat exchange apparatus, comprising:
 a fan that moves air; and   a heat exchanger including a front-row heat exchange device, through which the air moved by the fan first passes, and a rear-row heat exchange device, through which the air having passed through the front-row heat exchange device passes, wherein a water-repellent coating layer is formed on the front-row heat exchange device, and wherein a hydrophilic coating layer is formed on the rear-row heat exchange device.   
     
     
         10 . The heat exchange apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the water-repellant coating layer is formed on a surface of the front-row heat exchange device, and wherein the hydrophilic coating layer is formed on a surface of the rear-row heat exchange device. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchange apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein each of the front-row heat exchange device and the rear-row heat exchange device includes a refrigerant tube and at least one fin coupled to the refrigerant tube. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchange apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the water-repellent coating layer is formed on at least one outer surface of the fin of the front-row heat exchange device, and wherein the hydrophilic coating layer is formed on at least one outer surface of the fin of the rear-row heat exchange device. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchange apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the water-repellent coating layer and the hydrophilic coating layer are separated from each other. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchange apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the water-repellent coating layer is coated on first and second side surfaces of the fin of the front-row heat exchange device, and the hydrophilic coating layer is coated on first and second side surfaces of the fin of the rear-row heat exchange device. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchange apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the water-repellent coating layer is coated on front and rear end surfaces of the fin of the front-row heat exchange device, and the hydrophilic coating layer is coated on front and rear end surfaces of the fin of the rear-row heat exchange device. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchange apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein a rear end of the water-repellent coating layer is separated from a front end of the hydrophilic coating layer in a moving direction of the outdoor air. 
     
     
         17 . A heat pump comprising the heat exchange apparatus of  claim 9 . 
     
     
         18 . The heat pump of  claim 17 , wherein the heat exchange apparatus comprises an outdoor heat exchange apparatus.