Heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a header, a first flat porous tube, and a second flat porous tube. The header has first and second primary channels, with first and second refrigerants flowing through the first and second primary channels. The first flat porous tube has a plurality of first refrigerant-channel holes through which the first refrigerant flows. The second flat porous tube has a plurality of second refrigerant-channel holes through which the second refrigerant flows. The header has sub-channel-forming member that forms a first sub-channel and a second sub-channel. The first sub-channel allows the first primary channel to be communicated with the first refrigerant-channel holes. The second sub-channel allows the second primary channel to be communicated with the second refrigerant-channel holes. The first flat porous tube and the second flat porous tube are in close contact to allow heat exchange between the first refrigerant and the second refrigerant.

1 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a header having a first primary channel and a second primary channel with a first refrigerant flowing through the first primary channel, and a second refrigerant flowing through the second primary channel;   a first flat tube linked to the header and having a plurality of first refrigerant-channel holes, the first refrigerant flowing through the first refrigerant-channel holes, and the first flat tube being a flat porous tube; and   a second flat tube linked to the header and having a plurality of second refrigerant-channel holes, the second refrigerant flowing through the second refrigerant-channel holes, and the second flat tube being a flat porous tube,   the header having a sub-channel-forming member that forms at least one first sub-channel and at least one second sub-channel, the first sub-channel allowing the first primary channel to be communicated with the first refrigerant-channel holes, and the second sub-channel allowing the second primary channel to be communicated with the second refrigerant-channel holes; and   the first flat tube and the second flat tube being in close contact, and heat being exchanged between the first refrigerant flowing through the first refrigerant-channel holes and the second refrigerant flowing through the second refrigerant-channel holes.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first flat tube and the second flat tube are linked to the header so that a cross-sectional longitudinal direction intersects a longitudinal direction of the header, the cross-sectional longitudinal direction extending along alignment directions of the first refrigerant-channel holes and the second refrigerant-channel holes.   
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the first flat tube and the second flat tube are linked to the header so that the cross-sectional longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the header.   
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the sub-channel-forming member includes a tube-adhering member, end parts of the first flat tube and the second flat tube are adhered to the tube-adhering member, and the tube-adhering member is immobilized on the header.   
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the sub-channel-forming member further includes a tube-immobilizing member that immobilizes the end parts of the first flat tube and the second flat tube along with the tube-adhering member.   
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one first sub-channel includes a plurality of first sub-channels and the at least one second sub-channel includes a plurality of second sub-channels.   
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first refrigerant and the second refrigerant are carbon dioxide.   
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the sub-channel-forming member includes a tube-adhering member, end parts of the first flat tube and the second flat tube are adhered to the tube-adhering member, and the tube-adhering member is immobilized on the header.   
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the sub-channel-forming member further includes a tube-Immobilizing member that immobilizes the end parts of the first flat tube and the second flat tube along with the tube-adhering member.   
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the at least one first sub-channel includes a plurality of first sub-channels and the at least one second sub-channel includes a plurality of second sub-channels.   
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the sub-channel-forming member includes a tube-adhering member, end parts of the first flat tube and the second flat tube are adhered to the tube-adhering member, and the tube-adhering member is immobilized on the header.   
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the sub-channel-forming member further includes a tube-immobilizing member that immobilizes the end parts of the first flat tube and the second flat tube along with the tube-adhering member.   
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the at least one first sub-channel includes a plurality of first sub-channels and the at least one second sub-channel includes a plurality of second sub-channels.   
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the at least one first sub-channel includes a plurality of first sub-channels and the at least one second sub-channel includes a plurality of second sub-channels.   
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the at least one first sub-channel includes a plurality of first sub-channels and the at least one second sub-channel includes a plurality of second sub-channels.