Heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger is provided with: an air coolant line through which air coolant (AC) flows; a compressed air branching line through which compressed air flows; a plurality of heat exchange units for performing heat exchange between the air coolant and the compressed air, the heat exchange units being disposed side by side in a flow direction of the air coolant; a flow rate-adjusting valve for adjusting the flow rate of the compressed air flowing through the second heat exchange unit of the plurality of heat exchange units, the second heat exchange unit being positioned at a downstream side in the flow direction of the air coolant; temperature sensors for detecting the temperature of the compressed air; and a control unit configured to adjust the degree of opening of the flow rate-adjusting valve in accordance with the compressed air temperatures detected by the temperature sensors.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a primary flow path through which a primary fluid flows;   a secondary flow path through which a secondary fluid flows within the primary flow path;   a plurality of heat exchange units which perform heat exchange between the primary fluid and the secondary fluid and are provided side by side in a flow direction of the secondary fluid; and   a flow rate-adjusting valve which adjusts a flow rate of the primary fluid flowing to the plurality of heat exchange units,   wherein the plurality of heat exchange units have a shared inlet header provided at one end portion and an individual outlet header provided at the other end portion, the primary flow path is connected to the inlet header and the outlet header, and the flow rate-adjusting valve is provided in the primary flow path which is connected to the outlet header.   
     
     
         17 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a primary flow path through which a primary fluid flows;   a secondary flow path through which a secondary fluid flows within the primary flow path;   a plurality of heat exchange units which perform heat exchange between the primary fluid and the secondary fluid and are provided side by side in a flow direction of the secondary fluid;   a flow rate-adjusting valve which adjusts a flow rate of the primary fluid flowing to the plurality of heat exchange units which are provided in the primary flow path which is connected to the heat exchange unit which is disposed on the side furthest downstream in a flow direction of the secondary fluid;   a state detection sensor which detects a state of the primary fluid; and   a control unit which adjusts a degree of opening of the flow rate-adjusting valve according to the state of the primary fluid detected by the state detection sensor.   
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of heat exchange units have an individual inlet header provided at one end portion and a shared outlet header provided at the other end portion, the primary flow path is connected to the inlet header and the outlet header, and the flow rate-adjusting valve is provided in the primary flow path which is connected to the inlet header. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 16 , wherein the state detection sensor is a temperature sensor which detects a temperature of the primary fluid in the side of outlets of the plurality of heat exchange units, and the control unit reduces the degree of opening of the flow rate-adjusting valve when a difference in temperature of the primary fluid in the side of outlets of the plurality of heat exchange units has become larger than a predetermined temperature difference set in advance. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 16 , wherein the state detection sensor is a flow rate sensor which detects a flow rate of the primary fluid in the side of inlets of the plurality of heat exchange units, and the control unit reduces the degree of opening of the flow rate-adjusting valve when the flow rate of the primary fluid in the side of inlets of the plurality of heat exchange units has become smaller than a predetermined flow rate set in advance. 
     
     
         21 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 16 , wherein the state detection sensor is a pressure sensor which detects a pressure of the primary fluid in the side of inlets of the plurality of heat exchange units, and the control unit reduces the degree of opening of the flow rate-adjusting valve when the pressure of the primary fluid in the side of inlets of the plurality of heat exchange units has become larger than a predetermined pressure set in advance. 
     
     
         22 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a primary flow path through which a primary fluid flows;   a secondary flow path through which a secondary fluid flows within the primary flow path;   a plurality of heat exchange units which perform heat exchange between the primary fluid and the secondary fluid;   a bypass flow path which bypasses at least one heat exchange unit among the plurality of heat exchange units;   a flow rate-adjusting valve which adjusts a flow rate of the primary fluid flowing through the bypass flow path;   a temperature sensor which measures a temperature of the primary fluid in the side of outlets of the plurality of heat exchange units; and   a control unit which adjusts a degree of opening of the flow rate-adjusting valve according to the temperature of the primary fluid detected by the temperature sensor.   
     
     
         23 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of heat exchange units have a first heat exchange unit and a second heat exchange unit connected in series, and the bypass flow path is connected, at one end portion, to an inlet of the first heat exchange unit and connected, at the other end portion, to a connection section between the first heat exchange unit and the second heat exchange unit. 
     
     
         24 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 23 , wherein the first heat exchange unit and the second heat exchange unit are disposed in parallel, an inlet portion of the first heat exchange unit and an outlet portion of the second heat exchange unit are disposed at one end portion, and the connection section is disposed at the other end portion. 
     
     
         25 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 23 , wherein the connection section is a header to which a downstream-side end portion in the first heat exchange unit and an upstream-side end portion in the second heat exchange unit are connected. 
     
     
         26 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 23 , wherein the connection section is a connection pipe which connects a downstream-side end portion in the first heat exchange unit to an upstream-side end portion in the second heat exchange unit. 
     
     
         27 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 22 , wherein the flow rate-adjusting valve is provided in the bypass flow path. 
     
     
         28 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 22 , wherein the flow rate-adjusting valve is a three-way valve which is provided in a branch section between the primary flow path and the bypass flow path.