Heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a main heat exchanger configured to perform heat exchange between refrigerant and air and to define a first heat exchange surface and an auxiliary heat exchanger configured to perform heat exchange between refrigerant discharged from the main heat exchanger and air and to define a second heat exchange surface. The first heat exchange surface has an area larger than the area of the second heat exchange surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger apparatus, comprising:
 a main heat exchanger configured to perform heat exchange between refrigerant and air, the main heat exchanger defining a first heat exchange surface; and   an auxiliary heat exchanger configured to perform heat exchange between the refrigerant discharged from the main heat exchanger and air, the auxiliary heat exchanger defining a second heat exchange surface,   wherein a surface area of the first heat exchange surface is greater than a surface area of the second heat exchange surface.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface area of the second heat exchange surface is 40% to 60% of the surface area of the first heat exchange surface. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first heat exchange surface and the second heat exchange surface extends in a first direction and a second direction,
 wherein a width of the second heat exchange surface along the first direction is identical to a width of the first heat exchange surface along the first direction, and   wherein a height of the second heat exchange surface along the second direction is different from a height of the first heat exchange surface along the second direction.   
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the main heat exchanger overlaps with the auxiliary heat exchanger along a first direction, and
 wherein an upper end of the auxiliary heat exchanger is disposed below an upper end of the main heat exchanger with respect to a ground.   
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger apparatus has an air introduction hole configured to supply air toward the auxiliary heat exchanger, and
 wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger is located closer to the air introduction hole than the main heat exchanger.   
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the main heat exchanger comprises a plurality of first heat exchange surfaces arranged in multiple rows that are spaced apart from one another in a first direction, the first heat exchange surface being one of the plurality of first heat exchange surfaces. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the main heat exchanger comprises:
 a plurality of main refrigerant tubes configured to carry the refrigerant;   a plurality of main fins disposed between the plurality of main refrigerant tubes and configured to conduct heat;   a first main header coupled to a first main side of each of the plurality of main refrigerant tubes and configured to carry the refrigerant; and   a second main header coupled to a second main side of each of the plurality of main refrigerant tubes and configured to carry the refrigerant, the second main side being opposite to the first main side.   
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the first heat exchange surface is defined by at least one of the plurality of main refrigerant tubes or the plurality of main fins. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger comprises:
 a plurality of auxiliary refrigerant tubes configured to carry the refrigerant;   a plurality of auxiliary fins disposed between the plurality of auxiliary refrigerant tubes and configured to conduct heat;   a first auxiliary header coupled to a first auxiliary side of each of the plurality of auxiliary refrigerant tubes and configured to carry the refrigerant; and   a second auxiliary header coupled to a second auxiliary side of each of the plurality of auxiliary refrigerant tubes and configured to carry the refrigerant, the second auxiliary side being opposite to the first auxiliary side.   
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the second heat exchange surface is defined by at least one of the plurality of auxiliary refrigerant tubes or the plurality of auxiliary fins. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein a spacing distance between one of the plurality of main refrigerant tubes and one of the plurality of auxiliary refrigerant tubes in a first direction is less than a width of the plurality of main refrigerant tubes in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. 
     
     
         12 . A heat exchanger apparatus, comprising:
 a main heat exchanger configured to perform heat exchange between refrigerant and air, the main heat exchanger defining a first heat exchange surface; and   an auxiliary heat exchanger configured to perform heat exchange between the refrigerant discharged from the main heat exchanger and air, the auxiliary heat exchanger defining a second heat exchange surface,   wherein a portion of the main heat exchanger overlaps with the auxiliary heat exchanger along a first direction,   wherein an upper end of the auxiliary heat exchanger is located below an upper end of the main heat exchanger with respect to a ground, and   wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger is located at an upstream side of air relative to the main heat exchanger.   
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein a surface area of the first heat exchange surface is greater than a surface area of the second heat exchange surface. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein a width of the second heat exchange surface is identical to a width of the first heat exchange surface, and
 wherein a height of the second heat exchange surface is different from a height of the first heat exchange surface.   
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the main heat exchanger comprises a plurality of first heat exchange surfaces arranged in multiple rows that are spaced apart from one another in the first direction, the first heat exchange surface being one of the plurality of first heat exchange surfaces. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the main heat exchanger comprises:
 a plurality of main refrigerant tubes configured to carry the refrigerant;   a plurality of main fins disposed between the plurality of main refrigerant tubes and configured to conduct heat;   a first main header coupled to a first main side of each of the plurality of main refrigerant tubes and configured to carry the refrigerant; and   a second main header coupled to a second main side of each of the plurality of main refrigerant tubes and configured to carry the refrigerant, the second main side being opposite to the first main side.   
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the first heat exchange surface is defined by at least one of the plurality of main refrigerant tubes or the plurality of main fins. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger comprises:
 a plurality of auxiliary refrigerant tubes configured to carry the refrigerant;   a plurality of auxiliary fins disposed between the plurality of auxiliary refrigerant tubes and configured to conduct heat;   a first auxiliary header coupled to a first auxiliary side of each of the plurality of auxiliary refrigerant tubes and configured to carry the refrigerant; and   a second auxiliary header coupled to a second auxiliary side of each of the plurality of auxiliary refrigerant tubes and configured to carry the refrigerant, the second auxiliary side being opposite to the first auxiliary side.   
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the second heat exchange surface is defined by at least one of the plurality of auxiliary refrigerant tubes or the plurality of auxiliary fins. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein a spacing distance between one of the plurality of main refrigerant tubes and one of the plurality of auxiliary refrigerant tubes in the first direction is less than a width of the plurality of main refrigerant tubes in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.