Heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger (100), the heat exchanger (100) including: a plurality of heat exchange tubes (1) arranged in a first direction and extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and a plurality of fins (2) provided between every two adjacent heat exchange tubes (1) and in contact with one another, each fin (2) including a curved surface portion. The heat exchanger is able to increase the heat exchange area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a plurality of heat exchange tubes arranged in a first direction and extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and   a plurality of fins arranged between two adjacent heat exchange tubes and in contact with each other, the fin comprising a curved-surface portion.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second direction and a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction define a reference plane; in at least one of two mutually perpendicular cross sections perpendicular to the reference plane, the curved-surface portion has a curved-line shape.   
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the curved-surface portion is formed by a plurality of planar portions.   
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 the curved-surface portion of the fin has a smaller curvature at one side in the third direction of the heat exchanger than at the other side in the third direction of the heat exchanger; and/or   the curved-surface portion of the fin has a smaller curvature at one side in the second direction of the heat exchanger than at the other side in the second direction of the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 the curvature of the curved-surface portion of the fin gradually increases from one side in the third direction of the heat exchanger to the other side in the third direction of the heat exchanger; and/or   the curvature of the curved-surface portion of the fin gradually increases from one side in the second direction of the heat exchanger to the other side in the second direction of the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein:
 the curvature of the curved-surface portion of the fin is zero at said one side in the third direction of the heat exchanger; and/or   the curvature of the curved-surface portion of the fin is zero at said one side in the second direction of the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the curved-surface portion of the fin has a corrugated shape and comprises alternately arranged strip-shaped ridges and troughs.   
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein:
 mutually contacting ridges of the curved-surface portions of two adjacent fins cross over each other.   
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein:
 when viewed in the first direction, mutually contacting ridges of the curved-surface portions of two adjacent fins are arranged symmetrically with respect to a plane defined by the first direction and the second direction.   
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein:
 when viewed in the first direction, the curved-surface portion of the fin has an I-shape, a V-shape, a W-shape, a C-shape or an L-shape.   
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the curved-surface portion of the fin has a bumpy shape and comprises multiple rows of discrete protrusions and multiple rows of discrete depressions.   
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein:
 protrusions of the curved-surface portions of two adjacent fins are in contact with each other.   
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 adjacent fins between two adjacent heat exchange tubes are spaced apart at one side in the third direction of the heat exchanger; and/or   adjacent fins between two adjacent heat exchange tubes are spaced apart at one side in the second direction of the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein:
 the curvature of the curved-surface portion of the fin is zero at said one side in the third direction of the heat exchanger; and/or   the curvature of the curved-surface portion of the fin is zero at said one side in the second direction of the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 adjacent fins between two adjacent heat exchange tubes are spaced apart at one side in the third direction of the heat exchanger; and/or   adjacent fins between two adjacent heat exchange tubes are spaced apart at one side in the second direction of the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein:
 adjacent fins between two adjacent heat exchange tubes are spaced apart at one side in the third direction of the heat exchanger; and/or   adjacent fins between two adjacent heat exchange tubes are spaced apart at one side in the second direction of the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein:
 adjacent fins between two adjacent heat exchange tubes are spaced apart at one side in the third direction of the heat exchanger; and/or   adjacent fins between two adjacent heat exchange tubes are spaced apart at one side in the second direction of the heat exchanger.   
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein:
 adjacent fins between two adjacent heat exchange tubes are spaced apart at one side in the third direction of the heat exchanger; and/or   adjacent fins between two adjacent heat exchange tubes are spaced apart at one side in the second direction of the heat exchanger.