Heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger including a plurality of tubes disposed horizontally, a pair of vertical headers connecting the tubes, and at least one flow distribution baffle mounted to a header at one group of the plurality of tubes such that the flow distribution baffle is positioned between tubes of the one group. Each of the at least one flow distribution baffle is provided with at least one distribution hole allowing a refrigerant to pass therethrough. The heat exchanger prevents unbalanced distribution of the refrigerant when it operates as an evaporator of an outdoor unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of tubes disposed horizontally, each having first and second ends;   a first header disposed to communicate with the first end of each of the tubes;   a second header disposed to communicate with the second end of each of the tubes;   at least one flow passage defining baffle mounted to at least one header of the first header and the second header to prevent flow of the refrigerant in the at least one header in a longitudinal direction and to divide the tubes into n (n≧2, where n is an even number) groups, each of the groups having tubes allowing the refrigerant to flow in one direction therethrough and the number of the at least one flow passage defining baffle being n−1; and   at least one flow distribution baffle mounted to at least one header of the first header and the second header and arranged at one group of the n groups such that the flow distribution baffle is positioned between the tubes belonging to the one group, each of the at least one flow distribution baffle being provided with at least one distribution hole allowing the refrigerant to pass therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow distribution baffle positioned between the tubes belonging to the last group of the n groups arranged in a direction of flow of the refrigerant when the heat exchanger operates as an evaporator. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the distribution hole is spaced from an inner side surface of the at least one header at an opposite side to the tubes of the at least one header such that flow of the refrigerant along the inner side surface at the opposite side is prevented. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein a cross section of each of the at least one distribution hole has a shape of one of polygon, circle, and other different closed figures. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one distribution hole comprises either a hole formed in the flow distribution baffle or a hole formed between the flow distribution baffle and an inner side surface of the at least one header. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein a total cross-sectional area of the at least one distribution hole is 1% to 40% of a cross-sectional area of an inner surface of the at least one header. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the groups has 2 to 15 tubes. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein n=4, the number of the at least one flow passage defining baffle is 3, and the tubes are divided into four groups. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first header is provided with an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe; and   the flow distribution baffle is mounted to the second header.   
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the refrigerant flows upward in the first header and the second header when the heat exchanger operates as an evaporator; and   the refrigerant flows downward in the first header and the second header when the heat exchanger operates as a condenser.   
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one flow speed boosting baffle mounted to at least one header of the first header and the second header arranged at an inlet of one group of the n groups such that the flow speed boosting baffle is positioned between the one group and another group positioned immediately ahead of the one group in a direction of flow of the refrigerant when the heat exchanger operates as an evaporator, each of the at least one flow speed boosting baffle being provided with at least one boosting hole allowing the refrigerant to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one flow speed boosting baffle is positioned between the last group of the n groups arranged in the direction of flow of the refrigerant and another group immediately ahead of the last group when the heat exchanger operates as the evaporator. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 11 , wherein a cross section of each of the at least one boosting hole has a shape of one of polygon, circle, and other different closed figures. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 11 , wherein a total cross-sectional area of the at least one boosting hole is 5% to 70% of a cross-sectional area of an inner space of the at least one header. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 11 , wherein a total cross-sectional area of the at least one boosting hole is greater than the total cross-sectional area of the at least one distribution hole. 
     
     
         16 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of tubes disposed horizontally, each tube having a first end and a second and;   a first header vertically disposed to communicate with the first end of each of the tubes;   a second header vertically disposed to communicate with the second end of each of the tubes;   at least one flow passage defining baffle mounted to at least one header of the first header and the second header to prevent flow of the refrigerant in the at least one header in a longitudinal direction and to divide the tubes into n (n≧2, where n is an even number) groups, each of the groups having tubes allowing the refrigerant to flow in one direction therethrough and the number of the at least one flow passage defining baffle being n−1; and   at least one flow speed boosting baffle mounted to at least one header of the first header and the second header arranged at an inlet of one group of the n groups such that the flow speed boosting baffle is positioned between the one group and another group positioned immediately ahead of the one group in a direction of flow of the refrigerant when the heat exchanger operates as an evaporator, each of the at least one flow speed boosting baffle being provided with at least one boosting hole allowing the refrigerant to pass therethrough.   
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one flow speed boosting baffle is positioned between the last group of the n groups arranged in the direction of flow of the refrigerant and another group immediately ahead of the last group when the heat exchanger operates as the evaporator. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 16 , wherein a cross section of each of the at least one boosting hole has a shape of one of polygon, circle, and other different closed figures. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 16 , wherein a total cross-sectional area of the at least one boosting hole is 5% to 70% of a cross-sectional area of an inner space of the corresponding header. 
     
     
         20 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of tubes disposed horizontally, each tube having a first end and a second end;   a first header vertically disposed to communicate with the first end of each of the tubes and provided with an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe;   a second header vertically disposed to communicate with the second end of each of the tubes;   at least one flow passage defining baffle mounted to the first header to prevent flow of the refrigerant in the at least one header in a longitudinal direction and to divide the tubes into a plurality of groups, each of the groups having tubes allowing the refrigerant to flow in one direction therethrough; and   at least one flow distribution baffle mounted to the second header such that a supply section of the second header to supply the refrigerant to the tubes belonging to one of the groups positioned at an uppermost side is partitioned into an upper section communicating one portion of the tubes and a lower section communicating with the other portion of the tubes, each of the at least one flow distribution baffle being provided with at least one distribution hole allowing the refrigerant to pass therethrough, wherein one portion of the refrigerant directed from the lower section to the upper section is distributed to the one portion of the tubes communicating with the upper section through the at least one distribution hole, and the other portion of the refrigerant fails to pass through the at least one distribution hole and is distributed to the other portion of the tubes communicating with the lower section.   
     
     
         21 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 20 , further comprising a flow speed boosting baffle mounted to the second header to be positioned between the supply section and an introduction section of the second header and provided with at least one boosting hole allowing the refrigerant to flow therethrough, the introduction section being positioned immediately under the supply section to receive the refrigerant from the tubes of another one of the groups positioned immediately under the group positioned at the uppermost side,
 wherein a flow speed of the refrigerant flowing from the introduction section to the supply section through the at least one boosting hole is boosted by boosting pressure in the introduction section.   
     
     
         22 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of elongated, first fluid conduits disposed in a first direction;   an elongated second fluid conduit in fluid communication with one end of each of the plurality of first fluid conduits, and extending along a second different direction,   an elongated third fluid conduit in fluid communication with an opposite end of each of the plurality of first conduits, and extending along the second direction,   at least one flow passage defining baffle in the second fluid conduit and in the third fluid conduit to prevent liquid flow in the second fluid conduit in a longitudinal direction and to divide the plurality of first conduits into at least two groups of first fluid conduits, wherein fluid flows in opposite directions in adjacent groups; and   at least one flow distribution baffle on the third conduit arranged at an inlet of one of the groups of first conduits, each of the at least one flow distribution baffles being provided with at least one distribution hole allowing the fluid to pass therethrough.   
     
     
         23 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 22 , wherein a cross section of each of the at least one distribution hole has a shape of one of polygon, circle, and other different closed figures. 
     
     
         24 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 22 , wherein a total cross-sectional area of the at least one distribution hole is 1% to 40% of a cross-sectional area of an inner surface of the corresponding header. 
     
     
         25 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 22 , wherein:
 the second fluid conduit is provided with an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe.