Heat exchanger of refrigerator

Abstract

A heat exchanger for a refrigerator, which is of a microchannel type, includes a first heat exchange unit including a plurality of flat tubes, which serves to exchange heat between refrigerant and are connected to an introduction pipe, a second heat exchange unit including a plurality of flat tubes, which serve to exchange heat between the refrigerant and air and are disposed outside the first heat exchange unit so as to be connected to a discharge tube, and a connecting pipe connecting the first heat exchange unit to the second heat exchange unit to supply the refrigerant to the second heat exchange unit, wherein the first heat exchange unit is disposed so as to exchange heat with air, and wherein a total cross-sectional area of the flat tubes of the first heat exchange unit is larger than that of the flat tubes of the second heat exchange unit.

1 . A heat exchanger for a refrigerator, which is of a microchannel type, comprising:
 a first heat exchange unit including a plurality of flat tubes for exchanging heat between refrigerant and air, the first heat exchange unit being connected to an introduction pipe into which the refrigerant is introduced;   a second heat exchange unit including a plurality of flat tubes for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and air, the second heat exchange unit being disposed outside the first heat exchange unit and being connected to a discharge tube from which the refrigerant is discharged; and   a connecting pipe connecting the first heat exchange unit to the second heat exchange unit so as to supply the refrigerant that has been discharged from the first heat exchange unit to the second heat exchange unit,   wherein the first heat exchange unit is disposed so as to exchange heat with air that has exchanged heat with the second heat exchange unit, and   wherein a ratio of a total cross-sectional area of the flat tubes of the first heat exchange unit and a total cross-sectional area of the flat tubes of the second heat exchange unit is 7-9:1-2.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an air introduction portion into which external air is introduced; and   an air discharge portion, from which the air that has been introduced into the air introduction portion and has exchanged heat with the heat exchange units, is discharged,   wherein the second heat exchange unit is disposed closer to the air introduction portion than the first heat exchange unit is.   
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the flat tubes of the first heat exchange unit are classified into a plurality of groups of flat tubes, the plurality of groups of flat tubes defining a plurality of rows in a direction in which air flows. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the first heat exchange unit or the second heat exchange unit includes:
 the plurality of flat tubes, which extend laterally and which are longitudinally spaced apart from each other;   fins connecting the plurality of flat tubes to each other so as to conduct heat therebetween;   a left header coupled to first side ends of the plurality of flat tubes so as to communicate therewith and to allow the refrigerant to flow thereinto; and   a right header coupled to second side ends of the plurality of flat tubes so as to communicate therewith and to allow the refrigerant to flow thereinto.   
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 4 , wherein, in the first heat exchange unit, the plurality of flat tubes and the plurality of fins connecting the plurality of flat tubes to each other define a heat exchange plane, which is orthogonal to a direction in which air flows, and
 wherein the heat exchange plane includes a plurality of heat exchange planes, which are spaced apart from each other.   
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 5 , wherein the left header or the right header includes a plurality of headers, which are disposed so as to correspond to respective ones among the plurality of heat exchange planes. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 5 , wherein the left header or the right header communicates with the plurality of flat tubes, which are disposed at the heat exchange plane. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 4 , wherein the connecting pipe connects the left header of the first heat exchange unit to the right header of the second heat exchange unit. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate heat exchange unit including a plurality of flat tubes for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and air, the intermediate heat exchange unit exchanging heat with refrigerant from the first heat exchange unit and supplying the refrigerant to the second heat exchange unit,
 wherein a total cross-sectional area of the flat tubes of the intermediate heat exchange unit is equal to or smaller than a total cross-sectional area of the flat tubes of the first heat exchange unit but is equal to or larger than a total cross-sectional area of the flat tubes of the second heat exchange unit.   
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger for a refrigerator, which is of a microchannel type, comprising:
 a first heat exchange unit including a plurality of flat tubes for exchanging heat between refrigerant and air, the first heat exchange unit being connected to an introduction pipe into which the refrigerant is introduced;   a second heat exchange unit including a plurality of flat tubes for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and air, the second heat exchange unit being disposed outside the first heat exchange unit and being connected to a discharge tube from which the refrigerant is discharged; and   a connecting pipe connecting the first heat exchange unit to the second heat exchange unit so as to supply the refrigerant that has been discharged from the first heat exchange unit to the second heat exchange unit,   wherein the first heat exchange unit is disposed so as to exchange heat with air that has exchanged heat with the second heat exchange unit,   wherein an inner diameter of the flat tubes of the first heat exchange unit is equal to an inner diameter of the second flat tubes, and   wherein a ratio of a number of flat tubes of the first heat exchange unit and a number of flat tubes of the second heat exchange unit is 7-9:1-2.   
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , further comprising an intermediate heat exchange unit including a plurality of flat tubes for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and air, the intermediate heat exchange unit exchanging heat with refrigerant from the first heat exchange unit and supplying the refrigerant to the second heat exchange unit,
 wherein a number of flat tubes of the intermediate heat exchange unit is equal to or smaller than a number of flat tubes of the first heat exchange unit but is equal to or larger than a number of flat tubes of the second heat exchange unit.   
     
     
         12 . A heat exchanger for a refrigerator, which is of a microchannel type, comprising:
 a first heat exchange unit including a plurality of flat tubes for exchanging heat between refrigerant and air, the first heat exchange unit being connected to an introduction pipe into which the refrigerant is introduced;   a second heat exchange unit including a plurality of flat tubes for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and air, the second heat exchange unit being disposed outside the first heat exchange unit and being connected to a discharge tube from which the refrigerant is discharged; and   a connecting pipe connecting the first heat exchange unit to the second heat exchange unit so as to supply the refrigerant that has been discharged from the first heat exchange unit to the second heat exchange unit,   wherein the first heat exchange unit is disposed so as to exchange heat with air that has exchanged heat with the second heat exchange unit, and   wherein a total cross-sectional area of the flat tubes of the first heat exchange unit is larger than a total cross-sectional area of the flat tubes of the second heat exchange unit.   
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 12 , further comprising an intermediate heat exchange unit including a plurality of flat tubes for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and air, the intermediate heat exchange unit exchanging heat with refrigerant from the first heat exchange unit and supplying the refrigerant to the second heat exchange unit,
 wherein a total cross-sectional area of the flat tubes of the intermediate heat exchange unit is equal to or smaller than a total cross-sectional area of the flat tubes of the first heat exchange unit but is equal to or larger than a total cross-sectional area of the flat tubes of the second heat exchange unit.   
     
     
         14 . A heat exchanger for a refrigerator, which is of a microchannel type, comprising:
 a first heat exchange unit including a plurality of flat tubes for exchanging heat between refrigerant and air, the first heat exchange unit being connected to an introduction pipe into which the refrigerant is introduced;   a second heat exchange unit including a plurality of flat tubes for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and air, the second heat exchange unit being disposed outside the first heat exchange unit and being connected to a discharge tube from which the refrigerant is discharged; and   a connecting pipe connecting the first heat exchange unit to the second heat exchange unit so as to supply the refrigerant that has been discharged from the first heat exchange unit to the second heat exchange unit,   wherein the first heat exchange unit is disposed so as to exchange heat with air that has exchanged heat with the second heat exchange unit,   wherein an inner diameter of the flat tubes of the first heat exchange unit is equal to an inner diameter of the second flat tubes, and   wherein a number of flat tubes of the first heat exchange unit is larger than a number of flat tubes of the second heat exchange unit.   
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 12 , further comprising an intermediate heat exchange unit including a plurality of flat tubes for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and air, the intermediate heat exchange unit exchanging heat with refrigerant from the first heat exchange unit and supplying the refrigerant to the second heat exchange unit,
 wherein an inner diameter of the third heat exchange unit is equal to an inner diameter of the first flat tubes, and   wherein a number of flat tubes of the third heat exchange unit is equal to or smaller than a number of flat tubes of the first heat exchange unit but is equal to or larger than a number of flat tubes of the second heat exchange unit.