Heat exchanger and heat exchange method

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a channel structure including a first substrate in which a first channel is arrayed, and a second substrate stacked on the first substrate, in which a second channel is arrayed. The first channel has an effective area overlapping a range where the second channel is provided, when viewed in a lamination direction of the first and second substrates. The effective area includes a standard heat transfer channel part including a high temperature end, and a high heat transfer channel part including a low temperature end, which is a part of the effective area other than the standard heat transfer channel part. The high heat transfer channel part has a bent shape so that a channel length thereof per unit distance of an end-to-end distance thereof is greater than a channel length of the standard heat transfer channel part per unit distance of an end-to-end distance thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger that causes a plurality of fluids to flow therethrough so as to cause heat exchange to occur between the fluids, the heat exchanger comprising
 a channel structure that includes:
 a first layer in which a first channel that is a microchannel through which one fluid is caused to flow is arrayed; and 
 a second layer stacked on the first layer, in which a second channel that is a microchannel through which another fluid is caused to flow is arrayed, the other fluid being a fluid different from the one fluid, 
   wherein the first channel has an effective area that overlaps a range where the second channel in the second layer is provided, when viewed in a direction in which the first layer and the second layer are stacked,   wherein the effective area includes:
 a standard heat transfer channel part that includes a high temperature end that is one of ends of the effective area; and 
 a high heat transfer channel part that is equivalent to a part of the effective area other than the standard heat transfer channel part, the high heat transfer channel part including a low temperature end that is an end of the effective area on a side opposite to the high temperature end and through which the one fluid having a temperature lower than a temperature of the one fluid flowing at the high temperature end, and 
   wherein the high heat transfer channel part has a channel shape bent in such a manner that a channel length thereof per unit distance of an end-to-end distance thereof is greater than a channel length of the standard heat transfer channel part per unit distance of an end-to-end distance thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the standard heat transfer channel part is a straight channel, and   wherein the high heat transfer channel part is a wavy type channel.   
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the high heat transfer channel part meanders in such a manner as being deflected to both sides with respect to a center line that is a straight line, and   wherein the end-to-end distance of the high heat transfer channel part in a direction along the center line is 60% or less of an end-to-end distance of the effective area.   
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the end-to-end distance of the high heat transfer channel part in a direction along the center line is 10% or more of the end-to-end distance of the effective area.   
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the high heat transfer channel part meanders in such a manner as being deflected to both sides with respect to a center line that is a straight line, and   wherein the end-to-end distance of the high heat transfer channel part in a direction along the center line is smaller than the end-to-end distance of the standard heat transfer channel part.   
     
     
         6 . A heat exchange method comprising:
 causing one fluid to flow through the first channel in the heat exchanger according to  claim 1  from the standard heat transfer channel part toward the high heat transfer channel part, and at the same time, causing a refrigerant as another fluid to flow through the second channel in the heat exchanger, so as to cause heat exchange to occur between the one fluid and the refrigerant.   
     
     
         7 . A heat exchange method comprising:
 causing one fluid to flow through the first channel in the heat exchanger according to  claim 1  from the high heat transfer channel part toward the standard heat transfer channel part, and at the same time, causing a hot medium as another fluid to flow through the second channel in the heat exchanger, so as to cause heat exchange to occur between the one fluid and the hot medium.