Heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger having an improved distribution structure in which one inlet pipe is connected to a header which is partitioned into a first sub-chamber in which a refrigerant flows through the inlet pipe and a second sub-chamber in which tubes communicate with each other, and a distribution pipe is installed at the header and causes the first sub-chamber and the second sub-chamber to communicate so that the refrigerant in the first sub-chamber can be distributed to the tubes. The distribution pipe can pass through and can be combined with a partitioning baffle that is combined with the header to partition a chamber of the header into the first sub-chamber and the second sub-chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 an inlet pipe through which a refrigerant flows into the heat exchanger;   an outlet pipe through which the refrigerant flows out of the heat exchanger;   tubes into which the refrigerant flows and is heat-exchanged with air outside the heat exchanger and which are disposed in a plurality of rows comprising a first row and a second row;   a first header having a first chamber in which the refrigerant flows into the heat exchanger through the inlet pipe and the first-row tubes communicate with one another and a second chamber in which the refrigerant flows out of the heat exchanger through the outlet pipe and the second-row tubes communicate with one another;   a second header having a third chamber in which the first-row tubes communicate with one another and a fourth chamber in which the refrigerant in the third chamber flows and the second-row tubes communicate with one another;   a first partitioning baffle that partitions the first chamber into a first sub-chamber in which the refrigerant flows through the inlet pipe and a second sub-chamber in which the first-row tubes communicate with one another; and   a distribution pipe that passes through and is combined with the first partitioning baffle, is disposed in a lengthwise direction of the first header, and has a plurality of distribution holes formed spaced apart from each other by a predetermined gap from the first partitioning baffle to the second sub-chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant that flows in the first sub-chamber through the inlet pipe is mixed in the first sub-chamber and then flows into the second sub-chamber through the distribution pipe. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein an end of the distribution pipe passes through and is combined with the first partitioning baffle, and the other end of the distribution pipe passes through and is combined with a cover baffle combined with the first header to cover one open side of the second sub-chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the distribution pipe has two distribution holes. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first header comprises a central barrier rib that partitions the first header into the first chamber and the second chamber, and
 the distribution hole is formed to be directed toward the central barrier rib.   
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap that is combined with an outlet of the distribution pipe and seals the outlet of the distribution pipe. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the distribution pipe comprises an internal space, an outer wall that constitutes the internal space, and a plurality of ribs that protrude from the outer wall to separate the outer wall from an inner side of the first header and that are supported on the inner side of the first header. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , wherein the outer wall is spaced apart from the inner side of the first header by a gap of 1 mm or more. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of ribs comprise a plurality of lower ribs that protrude from a lower side of the outer wall, a plurality of left ribs that protrude from a left side of the outer wall, and a plurality of right ribs that protrude from a right side of the outer wall. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , wherein the ribs are formed spaced apart from each other, and a flow space, in which the refrigerant is able to flow, is formed between the ribs. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the distribution pipe comprises an internal space, an outer wall that constitutes the internal space, and a stopper rib that protrudes from an upper side of the outer wall to limit insertion depths of the first-row tubes. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the distribution pipe is 15% to 30% of a cross-sectional area of the first chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein a differential pressure between a refrigerant that flows into the heat exchanger through the inlet pipe and a refrigerant that flows out of the heat exchanger through the outlet pipe is 0.5 kgf/cm 2  to 2.0 kgf/cm 2 . 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the third chamber is not partitioned by an additional baffle so that the refrigerant that flows into the third chamber from the first chamber through the front-row tubes is mixed in the third chamber and then flows into the fourth chamber, and the fourth chamber is partitioned by at least one second partitioning baffle. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the second header comprises a central barrier rib that partitions the second header into the third chamber and the fourth chamber, and
 at least one through hole through which the third chamber and the fourth chamber are connected to each other, is formed in the central barrier rib, the at least one through hole not being formed in a predetermined section of both ends of the central barrier rib.   
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an inlet connection pipe combined with the inlet pipe;   an outlet connection pipe combined with the outlet pipe; and   a flange that causes the inlet connection pipe and the outlet connection pipe to be combined with the first header,   wherein the flange is combined with the first header by brazing and riveting.   
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 16 , wherein the inlet connection pipe and the outlet connection pipe are combined with an outer side of the flange by brazing using solder rings. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger of  claim 16 , wherein the first header comprises a body having a central barrier rib and a cover combined with the body,
 the cover comprises a through hole through which a part of the central barrier rib passes, and   the flange comprises an insertion groove in which at least a part of the central barrier rib that passes through the through hole is inserted.   
     
     
         19 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 tubes in which a refrigerant flows and is heat-exchanged with air outside the heat exchanger;   a header having a chamber formed in the header;   a first cover baffle and a second cover baffle that are combined with both ends of the header to cover both open sides of the chamber;   a partitioning baffle combined with the header to partition the chamber;   a first sub-chamber, which is formed between the first cover baffle and the partitioning baffle and in which the refrigerant flows;   a second sub-chamber, which is formed between the partitioning baffle and the second cover baffle and in which the tubes communicate with one another; and   a distribution pipe that passes through and is combined with the partitioning baffle and the second cover baffle and is disposed in a lengthwise direction of the header.   
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger of  claim 19 , wherein distribution pipe through holes through which the distribution pipe passes, are formed in the partitioning baffle and the second cover baffle. 
     
     
         21 . The heat exchanger of  claim 20 , wherein the distribution pipe comprises an internal space, an outer wall that constitutes the internal space, and ribs that protrude from the outer wall to reinforce a combination force between the partitioning baffle and the second cover baffle, and
 the distribution pipe through holes have shapes corresponding to a cross-section of the distribution pipe.   
     
     
         22 . The heat exchanger of  claim 19 , wherein the distribution pipe is formed of aluminum and is combined with the partitioning baffle and the second cover baffle by brazing. 
     
     
         23 . The heat exchanger of  claim 21 , wherein an inlet of the distribution pipe is disposed in the first sub-chamber so that a refrigerant in the first sub-chamber is able to flow in the distribution pipe through the inlet of the distribution pipe,
 an outlet of the distribution pipe is exposed to an outside of the header, an additional cap is combined with the outlet of the distribution pipe, and the outlet of the distribution pipe is sealed, and   at least one distribution hole through which the refrigerant in the first sub-chamber flows into the second sub-chamber is formed in the outer wall of the distribution pipe.   
     
     
         24 . The heat exchanger of  claim 23 , wherein the cap is formed of aluminum and is combined with the distribution pipe by brazing. 
     
     
         25 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 tubes in which a refrigerant flows and is heat-exchanged with air outside the heat exchanger;   a first header and a second header, which are spaced apart from each other in lengthwise directions of the first header and the second header and in which the tubes communicate with one another;   one inlet pipe through which the refrigerant flows in the heat exchanger; and   a distribution pipe disposed in the first and second headers in the lengthwise directions of the first and second headers to distribute the refrigerant that flows in the heat exchanger through the one inlet pipe to the tubes,   wherein the first header comprises a first sub-chamber where the refrigerant flowing through the one inlet pipe is mixed before being distributed to the tubes and a second sub-chamber, which is partitioned from the first sub-chamber and in which the tubes communicate with each other,   the distribution pipe is separately provided from the one inlet pipe not to contact the one inlet pipe, and   the refrigerant flowing through the one inlet pipe successively passes through the first sub-chamber, an inside of the distribution pipe, and the second sub-chamber and is distributed to the tubes.   
     
     
         26 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 an inlet pipe through which a refrigerant flows in the heat exchanger;   an outlet pipe through which the refrigerant flows out of the heat exchanger;   tubes in which the refrigerant flows and is heat-exchanged with air outside the heat exchanger and which are disposed in a plurality of rows comprising a first row and a second row;   a first header having a first chamber in which the refrigerant flows through the inlet pipe and the first-row tubes communicate with each other and a second chamber in which the refrigerant flows out of the heat exchanger through the outlet pipe and the second-row tubes communicate with each other; and   a second header having a third chamber in which the first-row tubes communicate with each other and a fourth chamber in which the refrigerant in the third chamber flows and the second-row tubes communicate with each other,   wherein the third chamber is not partitioned by a baffle so that the refrigerant flowing through the front-row tubes is mixed in the third chamber and then flows into the fourth chamber, and the fourth chamber is partitioned into a plurality of sub-chambers by the baffle so that the refrigerant flowing in the third chamber is distributed to the rear-row tubes.   
     
     
         27 . The heat exchanger of  claim 26 , wherein the second header comprises a central barrier rib that partitions the second header into the third chamber and the fourth chamber, and
 at least one through hole through which the third chamber and the fourth chamber are connected to each other, is formed in the central barrier rib, the at least one through hole not being formed in a predetermined section of both ends of the central barrier rib.   
     
     
         28 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 tubes into which a refrigerant flows and is heat-exchanged with air outside the heat exchanger and which are disposed in a plurality of rows comprising a first row and a second row;   a first header having a first chamber that communicates with ends of the first-row tubes and a second chamber that communicates with ends of the second-row tubes;   a second header having a third chamber that communicates with the other ends of the first-row tubes and a fourth chamber that communicates with the other ends of the second-row tubes and the third chamber;   an inlet pipe that communicates with the first chamber so that the refrigerant is able to flow in the heat exchanger when a cooling cycle is circulated and the refrigerant is able to flow out of the heat exchanger when a heating cycle is circulated;   an outlet pipe that communicates with the second chamber so that the refrigerant is able to flow out of the heat exchanger when the cooling cycle is circulated and the refrigerant is able to flow in the heat exchanger when the heating cycle is circulated;   a heating distributor disposed in the second chamber so that the refrigerant that flows into the second chamber through the outlet pipe when the heating cycle is circulated is able to be distributed to the second-row tubes.   
     
     
         29 . The heat exchanger of  claim 28 , wherein the heating distributor comprises a distribution baffle that partitions the second chamber into a first distribution chamber and a second distribution chamber and a heating distribution pipe that passes through the distribution baffle and causes the first distribution chamber and the second distribution chamber to communicate. 
     
     
         30 . The heat exchanger of  claim 29 , wherein the distribution baffle is disposed to correspond to a position of an outlet hole formed in the first header so that the refrigerant flows through the outlet pipe. 
     
     
         31 . The heat exchanger of  claim 29 , wherein the first distribution chamber communicates with the outlet pipe and does not communicate with the tubes, and the second distribution chamber communicates with the outlet pipe and the second-row tubes. 
     
     
         32 . The heat exchanger of  claim 29 , wherein a part of the refrigerant that flows in the second chamber through the outlet pipe flows into the first distribution chamber, and the other part of the refrigerant flows into the second distribution chamber. 
     
     
         33 . The heat exchanger of  claim 29 , wherein the refrigerant that flows in the second chamber through the outlet pipe is guided to the first distribution chamber and the second distribution chamber that are partitioned by the distribution baffle. 
     
     
         34 . The heat exchanger of  claim 29 , wherein the refrigerant that flows in the first distribution chamber passes through the heating distribution pipe and the second distribution chamber and is guided to the second-row tubes, and the refrigerant flowing in the second distribution chamber is directly guided to the second-row tubes. 
     
     
         35 . The heat exchanger of  claim 29 , wherein the heating distribution pipe has at least one distribution hole through which the refrigerant in the first distribution chamber is distributed to the second-row tubes. 
     
     
         36 . The heat exchanger of  claim 35 , wherein the second-row tubes comprise first zone tubes that are positioned in a zone close to the outlet pipe and a second zone tubes that are positioned in a zone distant from the outlet pipe by setting a middle part of a tube that is the closest to the outlet pipe and a tube that is farthest from the outlet pipe to a reference point, and
 the at least one distribution hole is formed in a position corresponding to the second zone tubes.   
     
     
         37 . The heat exchanger of  claim 30 , wherein the second-row tubes comprise first zone tubes that are positioned in a zone close to the outlet pipe and a second zone tubes that are positioned in a zone distant from the outlet pipe by setting a middle part of a tube that is the closest to the outlet pipe and a tube that is farthest from the outlet pipe to a reference point, and
 a greater part of the refrigerant flowing in the first distribution chamber is distributed to the second zone tubes via the heating distribution pipe, and a greater part of the refrigerant flowing in the second distribution chamber is distributed to the first zone tubes.   
     
     
         38 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 tubes into which the refrigerant flows and is heat-exchanged with air outside the heat exchanger and which are disposed in a plurality of rows comprising a first row and a second row;   a first header having a first chamber that communicates with ends of the first-row tubes and a second chamber that communicates with ends of the second-row tubes;   a second header having a third chamber that communicates with the other ends of the first-row tubes and a fourth chamber that communicates with the other ends of the second-row tubes and the third chamber;   an inlet pipe that communicates with the first chamber so that the refrigerant is able to flow in the heat exchanger when a cooling cycle is circulated and the refrigerant is able to flow out of the heat exchanger when a heating cycle is circulated;   an outlet pipe that communicates with the second chamber so that the refrigerant is able to flow out of the heat exchanger when the cooling cycle is circulated and the refrigerant is able to flow in the heat exchanger when the heating cycle is circulated;   a cooling distributor disposed in the first chamber so that the refrigerant that flows into the first chamber through the inlet pipe when the cooling cycle is circulated is able to be distributed to the first-row tubes; and   a heating distributor disposed in the second chamber so that the refrigerant that flows into the second chamber through the outlet pipe when the heating cycle is circulated is able to be distributed to the second-row tubes.   
     
     
         39 . A method for equally distributing refrigerant in a heat exchanger, the method comprising:
 delivering the refrigerant to an inlet end of the heat exchanger using an inlet pipe;   distributing a first portion of the refrigerant from the inlet pipe to a first chamber and a first plurality of heat-exchanging tubes near the inlet end of the heat exchanger in the first chamber; and   distributing a second portion of the refrigerant from the inlet pipe to a second chamber and to a second plurality of heat-exchanging tubes near an end opposite the inlet end of the heat exchanger in the second chamber,   wherein the refrigerant is distributed to the second chamber through a plurality of distribution holes formed in a distribution pipe connecting the inlet pipe and the second chamber.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the refrigerant is distributed in a reverse cycle such that the heat exchanger operates as a condenser.