Heat exchanger and refrigeration cycle apparatus

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a first heat exchange portion and a second heat exchange portion. The first heat exchange portion includes a plurality of first flat tubes. The second heat exchange portion includes a plurality of second flat tubes. The heat exchanger further includes: a first header; a second header; and a third header connected to each of the first flat tubes and each of the second flat tubes. The third header includes: a first plate provided with a plurality of first insertion holes through which the second ends of the first flat tubes are respectively inserted and a plurality of second insertion holes through which the second ends of the second flat tubes are respectively inserted; and a second plate provided with a plurality of communication spaces each communicating with a corresponding one of the first insertion holes and a corresponding one of the second insertion holes.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a first heat exchange portion and a second heat exchange portion arranged side by side in a first direction intersecting with a direction of gravity,   the first heat exchange portion having
 a plurality of first fins extending in the direction of gravity and arranged side by side in a second direction intersecting with the direction of gravity and the first direction, and 
 a plurality of first flat tubes mounted to intersect with each of the first fins and arranged side by side in the direction of gravity, 
   the second heat exchange portion having
 a plurality of second fins extending in the direction of gravity and arranged side by side in the second direction, and 
 a plurality of second flat tubes mounted to intersect with each of the second fins and arranged side by side in the direction of gravity, 
   the heat exchanger further comprising:   a first header connected to a first end of each of the first flat tubes;   a second header connected to a first end of each of the second flat tubes; and   a third header connected to a second end of each of the first flat tubes and a second end of each of the second flat tubes, wherein   when viewed in the first direction, each of the second flat tubes is disposed not to overlap with each of the first flat tubes, and the third header has
 a first plate provided with a plurality of first insertion holes through which the second ends of the first flat tubes are respectively inserted, and a plurality of second insertion holes through which the second ends of the second flat tubes are respectively inserted, and 
 a second plate provided with a plurality of communication spaces each communicating with a corresponding one of the first insertion holes and a corresponding one of the second insertion holes, and 
   a third plate disposed on the side opposite to each of the first insertion hole and each of the second insertion hole with respect to each of the communication space, and closing one end of each of the communication space in the second direction.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first flat tubes that is connected to one communication space of the communication spaces is located lower in the direction of gravity than at least one of the second flat tubes that is connected to the one communication space. 
     
     
         3 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a first heat exchange portion and a second heat exchange portion arranged side by side in a first direction intersecting with a direction of gravity,   the first heat exchange portion having
 a plurality of first fins extending in the direction of gravity and arranged side by side in a second direction intersecting with the direction of gravity and the first direction, and 
 a plurality of first flat tubes mounted to intersect with each of the first fins and arranged side by side in the direction of gravity, 
   the second heat exchange portion having
 a plurality of second fins extending in the direction of gravity and arranged side by side in the second direction, and 
 a plurality of second flat tubes mounted to intersect with each of the second fins and arranged side by side in the direction of gravity, 
   the heat exchanger further comprising:   a first header connected to a first end of each of the first flat tubes;   a second header connected to a first end of each of the second flat tubes; and   a third header connected to a second end of each of the first flat tubes and a second end of each of the second flat tubes, the third header being provided with a plurality of communication spaces each communicating with a corresponding one of the first flat tubes and a corresponding one of the second flat tubes, wherein   when viewed in the first direction, each of the second flat tubes is disposed not to overlap with each of the first flat tubes, and   at least one of the first flat tubes that is connected to one communication space of the communication spaces is located lower in the direction of gravity than at least one of the second flat tubes that is connected to the one communication space,   the first direction extends in a ventilation direction,   the first heat exchanging portion is disposed on the windward side relative to the second heat exchanging portion, and   the first flat tube connected to one of the plurality of communication spaces is connected in series with the second flat tube connected to the one communication space.   
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the third header has
 a first plate provided with a plurality of first insertion holes through which the second ends of the first flat tubes are respectively inserted, and a plurality of second insertion holes through which the second ends of the second flat tubes are respectively inserted, and 
 a second plate provided with the communication spaces. 
   
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the first plate is smaller in thickness than the second plate. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the second plate is configured as a multilayer body formed of a plurality of plate members. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 each of the first flat tubes and the second flat tubes has an upper surface inclined with respect to a horizontal direction, and   each of the communication spaces extends along the upper surface.   
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 each of the first fins and the second fins has a continuous portion disposed on one side in the first direction and extending in the direction of gravity,   each of the first fins and the second fins is provided with a plurality of insertion holes disposed on the other side in the first direction with respect to the continuous portion, each of the first flat tubes or each of the second flat tubes being inserted through a corresponding one of the insertion holes, and   the first heat exchange portion and the second heat exchange portion are disposed such that the first direction extends in a ventilation direction and the continuous portion is located upstream from the insertion holes in the ventilation direction.   
     
     
         9 . A refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising the heat exchanger according to  claim 1  as an evaporator. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein the first plate is smaller in thickness than the second plate. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 4 , wherein the first plate is smaller in thickness than the second plate. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein the second plate is configured as a multilayer body formed of a plurality of plate members. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 4 , wherein the second plate is configured as a multilayer body formed of a plurality of plate members. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 5 , wherein the second plate is configured as a multilayer body formed of a plurality of plate members. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein
 each of the first flat tubes and the second flat tubes has an upper surface inclined with respect to a horizontal direction, and   each of the communication spaces extends along the upper surface.   
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 3 , wherein
 each of the first flat tubes and the second flat tubes has an upper surface inclined with respect to a horizontal direction, and   each of the communication spaces extends along the upper surface.   
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 4 , wherein
 each of the first flat tubes and the second flat tubes has an upper surface inclined with respect to a horizontal direction, and   each of the communication spaces extends along the upper surface.   
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 5 , wherein
 each of the first flat tubes and the second flat tubes has an upper surface inclined with respect to a horizontal direction, and   each of the communication spaces extends along the upper surface.   
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 6 , wherein
 each of the first flat tubes and the second flat tubes has an upper surface inclined with respect to a horizontal direction, and   each of the communication spaces extends along the upper surface.   
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 3 , wherein
 each of the first fins and the second fins has a continuous portion disposed on one side in the first direction and extending in the direction of gravity,   each of the first fins and the second fins is provided with a plurality of insertion holes disposed on the other side in the first direction with respect to the continuous portion, each of the first flat tubes or each of the second flat tubes being inserted through a corresponding one of the insertion holes, and   the first heat exchange portion and the second heat exchange portion are disposed such that the first direction extends in a ventilation direction and the continuous portion is located upstream from the insertion holes in the ventilation direction.