Manifold and heat exchanger having same

Abstract

Disclosed is a collecting pipe ( 1 ), comprising: an axially extending inner chamber ( 20 ), the inner chamber ( 20 ) comprising a refrigerant inlet chamber ( 18 ) and a refrigerant distribution chamber ( 19 ), the refrigerant inlet chamber ( 18 ) and refrigerant distribution chamber ( 19 ) being separated from each other and in fluid communication with each other, a refrigerant entering the refrigerant inlet chamber ( 18 ) and being distributed to heat exchange tubes ( 2 ) at the refrigerant distribution chamber ( 19 ); and a plurality of axially extending individual components ( 11, 12 ), wherein the refrigerant inlet chamber ( 18 ) and the refrigerant distribution chamber ( 19 ) are formed by successively placing and connecting the plurality of axially extending individual components ( 11, 12 ) in an assembling direction perpendicular to the axial direction. The collecting pipe ( 1 ) is composed of the plurality of individual components ( 11, 12 ). The plurality of individual components ( 11, 12 ) are connected together, such that the problem of two-phase flow distribution in a heat exchanger is mitigated, the heat exchange performance is improved, the problem of unstable product quality is mitigated, and the currently existing problem of the high cost of high frequency welded tubes is solved.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collecting pipe comprising:
 an axially extending inner chamber comprising a refrigerant inlet chamber and a refrigerant distribution chamber which are separated from each other and in fluid communication with each other, a refrigerant entering said refrigerant inlet chamber and being distributed to heat exchange tubes at said refrigerant distribution chamber; and   a plurality of axially extending individual components, wherein at least one of said refrigerant inlet chamber and refrigerant distribution chamber or said collecting pipe is formed by successively placing and connecting the plurality of axially extending individual components in an assembling direction perpendicular to the axial direction.   
     
     
         2 . The collecting pipe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of axially extending individual components comprises individual first and second components, the first component comprises one of said refrigerant inlet chamber and refrigerant distribution chamber, and at least a portion of a wall of said first component and the second component form the other of said refrigerant inlet chamber and refrigerant distribution chamber by placing and connecting the first and second components in said assembling direction. 
     
     
         3 . The collecting pipe as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein when viewed in cross section, said first component comprises: a first U-shaped wall part, step parts extending outwardly from two ends of the first U-shaped wall part, and second wall parts extending from outer ends of said step parts towards the side remote from the first U-shaped wall part. 
     
     
         4 . The collecting pipe as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein when viewed in cross section, said first component comprises: a first U-shaped wall part, step parts extending outwardly from two ends of the first U-shaped wall part, second wall parts extending from outer ends of said step parts towards the side remote from the first U-shaped wall part, and a partition wall part extending between inner ends of said step parts. 
     
     
         5 . The collecting pipe as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said first component further comprises protrusions which are formed on the partition wall part and are spaced apart from said second wall parts by a predetermined distance. 
     
     
         6 . The collecting pipe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of axially extending individual components comprise individual first, second and third components, and by means of successively placing and connecting the first component, the third component and the second component in said assembling direction, the refrigerant inlet chamber is formed between said first component and third component, and the refrigerant distribution chamber is formed between the third component and second component. 
     
     
         7 . The collecting pipe as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein when viewed in cross section, said first component comprises: a first U-shaped wall part, step parts extending outwardly from two ends of the first U-shaped wall part, and second wall parts extending from outer ends of said step parts towards the side remote from the first U-shaped wall part. 
     
     
         8 . The collecting pipe as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein when viewed in cross section, said third component has a first end and a second end, and the first and second ends of said third component are respectively placed on and connected to said step parts. 
     
     
         9 . The collecting pipe as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein when viewed in cross section, said second component has an inverted U-shaped wall part, and two ends of the inverted U-shaped wall part of said second component are arranged on the inner sides of the second wall parts of said first component. 
     
     
         10 . The collecting pipe as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein when viewed in cross section, the first U-shaped wall part is approximately arc-shaped. 
     
     
         11 . The collecting pipe as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein when viewed in cross section, said second wall parts are approximately arc-shaped. 
     
     
         12 . The collecting pipe as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein when viewed in cross section, the inverted U-shaped wall part of said second component is approximately arc-shaped. 
     
     
         13 . The collecting pipe as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the width of a portion of the inverted U-shaped wall part of said second component overlapping the second wall parts of said first component is greater than or equal to 3 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The collecting pipe as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein when viewed in cross section, a central angle corresponding to said first component is approximately equal to or less than 180 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The collecting pipe as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said partition wall part protrudes towards said refrigerant distribution chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The collecting pipe as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein a surface of said partition wall part on the side remote from said refrigerant distribution chamber is integrally formed with a refrigerant pipeline, and the refrigerant pipeline is spaced apart from said first U-shaped wall part. 
     
     
         17 . The collecting pipe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 the inner side of said collecting pipe is approximately circular.   
     
     
         18 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 heat exchange tubes, and   a collecting pipe as claimed in  claim 1 , end portions of said heat exchange tubes being in fluid communication with the refrigerant distribution chamber of the collecting pipe.   
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein
 said collecting pipe has a plurality of openings which are formed in a tube wall of said collecting pipe and arranged in the axial direction, the end portion of said heat exchange tube has a step and is inserted into said opening, and at least a portion of the step of said heat exchange tube abuts a periphery of said opening.   
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein
 said refrigerant inlet chamber and refrigerant distribution chamber are separated by the partition wall part and are in fluid communication with each other through holes in the partition wall part, and at least one of said holes is provided between two adjacent heat exchange tubes.