Heat exchanger and method and apparatus for manufacturing the same

Abstract

A heat exchanger and a method and apparatus for manufacturing the same are provided. The heat exchanger may include a refrigerant tube, through which a refrigerant may flow, at least one heat-exchange fin, into which the refrigerant tube may be inserted, a plurality of tube treatments provided on a surface of the refrigerant tube, and a plurality of fin treatments provided on a surface of the at least one heat-exchange fin.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a refrigerant tube through which a refrigerant flows;   at least one heat-exchange fin, into which the refrigerant tube is inserted;   a plurality of tube treatments provided on a surface of the refrigerant tube; and   a plurality of fin treatments provided on a surface of the at least one heat-exchange fin.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tube treatments comprises:
 a first tube treatment provided on the surface of the refrigerant tube, the first tube treatment comprising a fine unevenness formed in a micrometer (μm) unit; and   a second tube treatment provided on a surface of the first tube treatment, the second tube treatment comprising a metal layer formed in a nanometer (nm) unit.   
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein the first tube treatment is formed through one of a sand blast method, a sand paper method, a shot blast method, a plasma etching method, a discharge treatment method, a laser treatment method, or an acid (base) etching method. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein the metal layer of the second tube treatment is formed by an acid or base treatment process. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of tube treatments further comprises a third tube treatment provided on a surface of the second tube treatment, the third tube treatment comprising a hydrophobic high-molecular layer. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 5 , wherein the hydrophobic high-molecular layer of the third tube treatment is coated with a fluorinate-based compound. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fin treatments comprises:
 a first fin treatment provided on the surface of the at least one heat-exchange fin, the first fin treatment comprising a fine unevenness formed in a micrometer (μm) unit; and   a second fin treatment provided on a surface of the first fin treatment, the second fin treatment comprising a metal layer formed in a nanometer (nm) unit.   
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of fin treatments further comprises a third fin treatment provided on a surface of the second fin treatment, the third fin treatment comprising a hydrophobic high-molecular layer. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the refrigerant tube and the at least one heat-exchange fin is formed of an aluminum material. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat-exchange fin comprises a plurality of heat-exchange fins, each of the plurality of heat-exchange fins having a through hole, through which the refrigerant tube passes. 
     
     
         11 . A method for manufacturing a heat exchanger, the method comprising:
 assembling a refrigerant tube with at least one heat-exchange fin to form an assembled body;   processing a fine unevenness on a surface of the assembled body; and   forming a metal nano-layer on a surface of the fine unevenness.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one heat-exchange fin comprises a plurality of heat-exchange fins, each of the plurality of heat-exchange fins having a through hole, through which the refrigerant tube passes. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:
 forming a hydrophobic high-molecular layer on a surface of the metal nano-layer.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the processing of the fine unevenness on the surface of the assembled body is performed using one of a sand blast method, a sand paper method, a shot blast method, a plasma etching method, a discharge treatment method, a laser treatment method, or an acid or base etching method. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the processing of the fine unevenness on the surface of the assembled body comprises:
 dipping the assembled body into a first base solution; and   dipping the assembled body into an acid solution.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the forming of the metal nano-layer on the surface of the fine unevenness comprises:
 dipping the assembled body into a second base solution; and   dipping the assembled body into deionized-water.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein a time taken for dipping the assembled body into the second base solution is longer than a time taken for dipping the assembled body into the first base solution. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the forming of the hydrophobic high-molecular layer on the surface of the metal nano-layer comprises:
 performing a first drying process on the assembled body;   treating the assembled body using a fluorinate-based compound; and   performing a second drying process on the assembled body.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:
 performing a cleaning process on the assembled body.   
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for manufacturing a heat exchanger, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one bath in which a solution is stored to dip an assembled body of a refrigerant tube and at least one heat-exchange fin; and   a reaction inducing device disposed at at least one side of the at ea one bath to induce a reaction between the assembled body and the solution.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the reaction inducing device comprises:
 a drive that generates a drive force; and   a blade rotated by the drive force of the drive.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the reaction inducing device comprises at least one vibrator coupled to the at least one bath to generate ultrasonic waves due to vibration. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the at least bath comprises a plurality of baths, each having a different solution. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the at least one heat-exchange fin comprises a plurality of heat-exchange fins, each of the plurality of heat-exchange fins having a through hole, through which the refrigerant tube passes.