Heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger including a plurality of refrigerant tubes provided to allow refrigerant to flow; and a header coupled to ends of the plurality of refrigerant tubes. The header may include a header housing disposed on one side of the plurality of refrigerant tubes; an inlet pipe that penetrates the header housing to be connected to one of the plurality of refrigerant tubes, and forms a flow path through which refrigerant is introduced into the refrigerant tube; and a plurality of distribution baffles that are disposed inside the header housing, so that the refrigerant introduced into the refrigerant tube from the inlet pipe flows out from the refrigerant tube and is distributed in both directions inside the header housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of refrigerant tubes configured to allow refrigerant to flow therethrough; and   a header coupled to ends of the plurality of refrigerant tubes,   wherein the header comprises:
 a header housing on one side of the plurality of refrigerant tubes; 
 an inlet pipe penetrating the header housing and connected to a refrigerant tube of the plurality of refrigerant tubes to provide a flow path through which the refrigerant is introduced into the refrigerant tube; and 
 a plurality of distribution baffles inside the header housing and configured to allow the refrigerant introduced into the refrigerant tube from the inlet pipe to flow out of the refrigerant tube and be distributed in both of opposite directions inside the header housing. 
   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet pipe comprises:
 a refrigerant inlet on an outer side of the header housing; and   a refrigerant outlet on an inner side of the header housing and connected to the refrigerant tube.   
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the header further comprises a connecting pipe connected to the refrigerant tube coupled to the refrigerant outlet of the inlet pipe to return the refrigerant introduced into the refrigerant tube to the header, the connecting pipe extending from the header housing to the inner side of the header housing. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of distribution baffles comprises:
 a first distribution baffle on one side of the inlet pipe and comprising a first baffle hole therein; and   a second distribution baffle spaced apart from the first distribution baffle and having a second baffle hole therein.   
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of distribution baffles are configured to introduce the refrigerant into the refrigerant tube through the inlet pipe and return the refrigerant to the header by a flow in a first direction through the first baffle hole of the first distribution baffle and in a second direction opposite to the first direction through the second baffle hole of the second distribution baffle, the first direction being opposite to the second direction. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of distribution baffles are further configured to pass the refrigerant as passed through the first baffle hole of the first distribution baffle further through a connection space formed between the inlet pipe and the header housing and into another refrigerant tube of the plurality of refrigerant tubes. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the header housing comprises:
 a first header housing; and   a second header housing that is covered by the first header housing and is coupled to the first header housing at an inner side of the first header housing.   
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , wherein the second header housing comprises an inlet through hole through which the inlet pipe is penetrated into an inner side of the second header housing. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , the second header housing further comprises:
 a plurality of compartment baffles; and   a plurality of refrigerant flow spaces provided by the plurality of compartment baffles and configured to connect two refrigerant tubes, of the plurality of refrigerant tubes, arranged adjacent to each other.   
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the header housing comprises a connecting hole in a base of the header housing and configured to allow the plurality of refrigerant tubes to be inserted into the inner side of the header housing. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein the header further comprises a connection space between the inlet pipe and the refrigerant tube connected to the inlet pipe and the header housing. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein the header further comprises:
 a first row;   a second row arranged side by side to the first row; and   a portion of refrigerant tubes of the plurality of refrigerant tubes coupled to the first row and a portion of refrigerant tubes of the plurality of refrigerant tubes coupled to the second row are in communication with each other inside the header housing.   
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the header further comprises:
 a first row and a second row arranged side by side to each other and to which the inlet pipe is coupled; and   an outlet pipe coupled to the second row and configured to discharge the heat exchanged refrigerant.   
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 13 , wherein the header further comprises a bend pipe coupled to the header housing and connecting a portion of the plurality of refrigerant tubes arranged along the first row with a portion of the plurality of refrigerant tubes arranged along the second row. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the header further comprises a sensor holder brazed to the header housing and configured to receive a sensor configured to detect a temperature of the refrigerant.