Heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger is provided. The heat exchanger may include a case in which a space is formed; a top cover coupled to a top of the case; a lower cover coupled to a bottom of the case; a first pipe that guides a first fluid to flow into the space and having an exit end, through which first fluid may come out into the space; a tube, through which a second fluid, which exchanges heat with the first fluid, may pass; and a second pipe that guides the first fluid discharged from the space and having an inlet end through which the first fluid may enter. The tube may have a spiral pipe portion positioned in the space and spirally wound. The inlet end may be positioned to be spaced from the top cover under the top cover. A height of the inlet end may be larger than a height of an upper end of the spiral pipe portion, and a height between an exit end and the lower cover may be smaller than a height between the inlet end and the lower cover. With this structure, it is possible to achieve a compact heat exchanger, while minimizing an installation space, and the first fluid may exchange heat with the spiral pipe portion of the tube as much as possible.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a case in which a space is formed;   a top cover coupled to a top of the case;   a lower cover coupled to a bottom of the case;   a first pipe having an exit end through which a first fluid comes out into the space;   a tube, through which a second fluid, which exchanges heat with the first fluid, passes; and   a second pipe having an inlet end through which the first fluid is discharged from the space, wherein the tube has a spiral pipe portion positioned in the space, wherein the inlet end is positioned to be spaced from the top cover under the top cover, wherein a height of the inlet end is larger than a height of an upper end of the spiral pipe portion, and wherein a height between an exit end and the lower cover is smaller than a height between the inlet end and the lower cover.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the height between the inlet end and the top cover is approximately 0.1 to 0.2 times a height of the case. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the height between the inlet end and the top cover is approximately 0.1 to 0.15 times a height of the case. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first pipe, the second pipe, and the tube extend under the lower cover and through the lower cover. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the spiral pipe portion is positioned between the first pipe and the case and has a substantially vertically extending central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein the central longitudinal axis is coxial with a central longitudinal axis of a portion of the first pipe positioned within the case. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein the tube comprises a plurality of tubes disposed in the case, and wherein the plurality of tubes has different distances from the central longitudinal axis to the spiral pipe portion. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , wherein the spiral pipe portion of one of the plurality of tubes is in contact with the first pipe. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein a height of the exit end is smaller than a height of a lower end of the spiral pipe portion. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein a central longitudinal axis of the case extends in a substantial vertical direction. 
     
     
         11 . An air conditioner comprising the heat exchanger of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a case in which a space is formed;   a first pipe having an end through which a first fluid enters the space;   a tube, through which a second fluid, which exchanges heat with the first fluid, passes; and   a second pipe having an end through which the first fluid is discharged from the space, wherein the tube has a spiral pipe portion positioned in the space, wherein the end of the second pipe is spaced from a top of the case, wherein a height of the end of the second pipe is larger than a height of an upper end of the spiral pipe portion, and wherein a height between the end of the first pipe and a bottom of the case is smaller than a height between the end of the second pipe and the bottom.   
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein the height between the end of the second pipe and the top of the case is approximately 0.1 to 0.2 times a height of the case. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein the height between the end of the second pipe and the top of the case is approximately 0.1 to 0.15 times a height of the case. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein the first pipe, the second pipe, and the tube extend through the bottom of the case. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein the spiral pipe portion is positioned between the first pipe and the case and has a substantially vertically extending central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 16 , wherein the central longitudinal axis is coxial with a central longitudinal axis of a portion of the first pipe positioned within the case. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger of  claim 16 , wherein the tube comprises a plurality of tubes disposed in the case, and wherein the plurality of tubes has different distances from the central longitudinal axis to the spiral pipe portion. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger of  claim 18 , wherein the spiral pipe portion of one of the plurality of tubes is in contact with the first pipe. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein a height of the end of the first pipe is smaller than a height of a lower end of the spiral pipe portion. 
     
     
         21 . The heat exchanger of  claim 12 , wherein a central longitudinal axis of the case extends in a substantial vertical direction. 
     
     
         22 . An air conditioner comprising the heat exchanger of  claim 12 .