Heat exchanger and refrigeration cycle apparatus including the same

Abstract

An outdoor heat exchanger includes a first heat exchange module and a second heat exchange module, as heat exchange modules each including a plurality of heat transfer tubes and a securing connector that holds the heat transfer tubes. The securing connector has a holder plate holding one end of each of the heat transfer tubes, and a pair of side plates extending from the holder plate away from the heat transfer tubes. The pair of side plates of the securing connector of the first heat exchange module is joined to the pair of side plates of the securing connector of the second heat exchange module. The securing connectors of both of the first heat exchange module and the second heat exchange module define a space, and the heat transfer tubes of each of the first heat exchange module and the second heat exchange module communicate with the space.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising a plurality of heat exchange modules, the plurality of heat exchange modules each comprising a plurality of heat transfer tubes and a securing connector that holds the plurality of heat transfer tubes, the plurality of heat exchange modules being connected together by the securing connector of each of the plurality of heat exchange modules,
 the securing connector comprising:
 a holder plate holding the plurality of heat transfer tubes that are disposed in a first direction to be spaced from each other, the plurality of heat transfer tubes each having one end inserted through the holder plate; and 
 a pair of side plates extending from the holder plate away from the heat transfer tubes, the pair of side plates extending along the one end of each of the plurality of heat transfer tubes, the one end being located between the side plates, 
   the plurality of heat exchange modules comprising three or more heat exchange modules connected together by the securing connector of each of the heat exchange modules in a second direction crossing the first direction,   the plurality of heat exchange modules comprising:
 a first heat exchange module in which the plurality of heat transfer tubes are disposed in the first direction to be spaced from each other; and 
 a second heat exchange module in which the plurality of heat transfer tubes are disposed in the first direction to be spaced from each other, the second heat exchange module being connected to the first heat exchange module in the second direction, wherein 
   in the first heat exchange module and the second heat exchange module connected with each other,   the holder plate of the securing connector in the first heat exchange module is spaced from and faces the holder plate of the securing connector in the second heat exchange module,   the pair of side plates of the securing connector in the first heat exchange module is joined to the pair of side plates of the securing connector in the second heat exchange module, and   the securing connector in the first heat exchange module and the securing connector in the second heat exchange module define a region, and the plurality of heat transfer tubes in the first heat exchange module and the plurality of heat transfer tubes in the second heat exchange module communicate with the region and face each other.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of heat exchange modules each have a fin-less structure without fins. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein a draining groove for draining moisture adhering to the heat transfer tubes is formed in the securing connector. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein an inclination for draining moisture adhering to the heat transfer tubes toward a direction away from the heat transfer tubes is provided in the securing connector. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the plurality of heat exchange modules comprises
 a third heat exchange module in which the plurality of heat transfer tubes are disposed to be bent from the first direction and to be spaced from each other, and 
 a fourth heat exchange module in which the plurality of heat transfer tubes are disposed to be bent from the first direction and to be spaced from each other, the fourth heat exchange module being connected to the third heat exchange module, and 
   in the third heat exchange module and the fourth heat exchange module connected with each other,   the securing connector bent to correspond to the heat transfer tubes disposed to be bent in the third heat exchange module is joined to the securing connector bent to correspond to the heat transfer tubes disposed to be bent in the fourth heat exchange module.   
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 in the first heat exchange module, the plurality of heat transfer tubes disposed in the first direction to be spaced from each other are disposed on a windward side and on a leeward side along an air flow direction corresponding to a third direction crossing the first direction and the second direction,   in the second heat exchange module, the plurality of heat transfer tubes disposed in the first direction to be spaced from each other are disposed on the windward side and on the leeward side along the air flow direction corresponding to the third direction,   in the first heat exchange module and the second heat exchange module connected with each other,   the securing connector holding the one end of each of the plurality of heat transfer tubes disposed on the windward side and on the leeward side in the first heat exchange module is joined to the securing connector holding the one end of each of the plurality of heat transfer tubes disposed on the windward side and on the leeward side in the second heat exchange module.   
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the securing connector comprises a pair of partition walls extending from the holder plate away from the heat transfer tubes, the pair of partition walls being disposed to face each other to be spaced in the first direction, and to connect between the side plates, and   in the first heat exchange module and the second heat exchange module connected with each other, the pair of partition walls of the securing connector in the first heat exchange module is further joined to the pair of partition walls of the securing connector in the second heat exchange module.   
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the plurality of heat exchange modules comprises a fifth heat exchange module in which the plurality of heat transfer tubes are disposed in the first direction to be spaced from each other, the fifth heat exchange module being connected to the first heat exchange module in the first direction, and   in the first heat exchange module and the fifth heat exchange module connected with each other,   an inter-module pitch between a heat transfer tube closest to the fifth heat exchange module, of the plurality of heat transfer tubes in the first heat exchange module, and a heat transfer tube closest to the first heat exchange module, of the plurality of heat transfer tubes in the fifth heat exchange module, is larger than an intra-module pitch of the plurality of heat transfer tubes in the first heat exchange module.   
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein an intra-module pitch of the plurality of heat transfer tubes in the first heat exchange module is smaller than an intra-module pitch of the plurality of heat transfer tubes in the second heat exchange module. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the second direction is a gravity direction, and   the first heat exchange module is connected above the second heat exchange module.   
     
     
         11 . A refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising the heat exchanger according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the securing connector is attached to another end of each of the plurality of heat transfer tubes in an uppermost heat exchange module of the plurality of heat exchange modules, and   the securing connector is joined to a header.   
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 in the plurality of heat exchange modules, two heat exchange modules disposed to be adjacent in the first direction are joined to each other by the securing connector of each of the heat exchange modules.   
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 6 , wherein
 in the first heat exchange module, positions in the first direction of the plurality of heat transfer tubes disposed on the windward side are offset from positions in the first direction of the plurality of heat transfer tubes disposed on the leeward side, and   in the second heat exchange module, positions in the first direction of the plurality of heat transfer tubes disposed on the windward side are offset from positions in the first direction of the plurality of heat transfer tubes disposed on the leeward side.   
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , comprising a propeller fan that supplies air to the plurality of heat exchange modules, wherein
 an intra-module pitch of the plurality of heat transfer tubes in the heat exchange module located inside a projection region, of the plurality of heat exchange modules is smaller than an intra-module pitch of the plurality of heat transfer tubes in the heat exchange module located outside the projection region, of the plurality of heat exchange modules, the projection region being obtained by projecting a region in which the propeller fan rotates onto the heat exchange module facing the propeller fan.