Heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger is provided which is capable of rapidly moving condensed water downward. The heat exchanger may include a plurality of flat tubes forming a plurality of flow paths therein; and a fin located between the plurality of flat tubes to conduct heat. The fin may include at least one first fin portion located between the plurality of flat tubes; at least one first bent portion bent at the first fin portion so as to come into contact with a first one of the plurality of flat tubes; at least one second fin portion bent at the first bent portion, the second fin portion being opposite to the first fin portion and being located between the plurality of flat tubes; a flow space defined between the first fin portion and the second fin portion; at least one second bent portion bent at the second fin portion so as to come into contact with a second one of the plurality of flat tubes; at least one condensed water discharge hole formed by cutting at least one of the first bent portion or the second bent portion; and at least one condensed water discharge fin bent at the at least one of the first bent portion or the second bent portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a plurality of flat tubes forming a plurality of flow paths therein; and   a fin located between the plurality of flat tubes to conduct heat, wherein the fin includes:
 at least one first fin portion located between the plurality of flat tubes; 
 at least one first bent portion bent at the first fin portion so as to come into contact with a first one of the plurality of flat tubes; 
 at least one second fin portion bent at the first bent portion, the second fin portion being opposite to the first fin portion and being located between the plurality of flat tubes; 
 a flow space defined between the first fin portion and the second fin portion; 
 at least one second bent portion bent at the second fin portion so as to come into contact with a second one of the plurality of flat tubes; 
 at least one condensed water discharge hole formed by cutting at least one of the first bent portion or the second bent portion; and 
 at least one condensed water discharge fin bent at the at least one of the first bent portion or the second bent portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the condensed water discharge fin is bent in a same direction as a direction in which the at least one of first fin portion or the second fin portion extends. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein each flat tube is located so as to come into close contact with the at least one condensed water discharge fin. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the condensed water discharge fin and the condensed water discharge hole are located at an edge of the respective fin. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one condensed water discharge fin includes two condensed water discharge fins formed on opposite sides of the condensed water discharge hole. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 5 , wherein the two condensed water discharge fins are arranged so as to face each other. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one condensed water discharge fin includes a first condensed water discharge fin formed on the first bent portion and a second condensed water discharge fin formed on the second bent portion, and wherein the first condensed water discharge fin and the second condensed water discharge fin are bent in opposite directions. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 7 , wherein the first condensed water discharge fin and the second condensed water discharge fin are arranged in a line in a vertical direction. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 7 , wherein the first condensed water discharge fin and the second condensed water discharge fin are offset in a vertical direction. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first fin portion or the second fin portion is provided with at least one vent by which the flow space and an adjacent flow space communicate with each other. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , wherein a louver forms the vent and guides air. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one of the first fin portion or the second fin portion is further provided with a first vent and a second vent, and provided with a first-first louver that forms the first vent and a first-second louver that forms the second vent, and the first-first louver and the first-second louver are formed in opposite directions. 
     
     
         13 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a plurality of flat tubes forming a plurality of flow paths therein; and   a fin located between the plurality of flat tubes to conduct heat, wherein the fin includes:
 at least one first fin portion located between the plurality of flat tubes; 
 at least one first bent portion bent at the first fin portion so as to come into contact with a first one of the plurality of flat tubes; 
 at least one second fin portion bent at the first bent portion, the second fin portion being opposite to the first fin portion and being located between the plurality of flat tubes; 
 a flow space defined between the first fin portion and the second fin portion; 
 at least one second bent portion bent at the second fin portion so as to come into contact with a second one of the plurality of flat tubes; 
 at least one condensed water discharge hole provided in at least one of the first bent portion or the second bent portion; and 
 at least one condensed water discharge fin provided in the at least one of the first bent portion or the second bent portion adjacent the at least one condensed water discharge hole. 
   
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 13 , wherein the condensed water discharge fin extends in a same direction as a direction in which the at least one of first fin portion or the second fin portion extends. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 13 , wherein the condensed water discharge fin and the condensed water discharge hole are located at an edge of the respective fin. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least one condensed water discharge fin includes two condensed water discharge fins formed on opposite sides of the condensed water discharge hole. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least one condensed water discharge fin includes a first condensed water discharge fin formed on the first bent portion and a second condensed water discharge fin formed on the second bent portion, and wherein the first condensed water discharge fin and the second condensed water discharge fin are bent in opposite directions. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first fin portion or the second fin portion is provided with at least one vent by which the flow space and an adjacent flow space communicate with each other. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 18 , wherein a louver forms the vent and guides air. 
     
     
         20 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a plurality of flat tubes forming a plurality of flow paths therein; and   a fin located between the plurality of flat tubes to conduct heat, wherein the fin includes:
 at least one first fin portion located between the plurality of flat tubes; 
 at least one first bent portion bent at the first fin portion so as to come into contact with a first one of the plurality of flat tubes; 
 at least one second fin portion bent at the first bent portion, the second fin portion being opposite to the first fin portion and being located between the plurality of flat tubes; 
 a flow space defined between the first fin portion and the second fin portion; 
 at least one second bent portion bent at the second fin portion so as to come into contact with a second one of the plurality of flat tubes; 
 at least one condensed water discharge hole provided in at least one of the first bent portion or the second bent portion; and 
 at least one condensed water discharge fin provided in the at least one of the first bent portion or the second bent portion adjacent the at least one condensed water discharge hole, where the first fin portion and the second fin portion are spaced a predetermined amount apart sufficient to prevent condensed water from connecting the first fin portion and the second fin portion via surface tension.