JPH11257800A - Heat exchanger and air conditioner with exchanger - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a heat exchanging efficiency in the case of functioning as a condenser. SOLUTION: In the heat exchanger 28 comprising refrigerant tube 41, 45 respectively inserted in a zigzag manner into a plurality of fins 38, 42 to heat exchange a refrigerant flowing through the tubes with the air fed toward the fins via the fins; channel areas of the tubes are constituted so that the area of the channel of a part 45 in which more liquid refrigerant flows is smaller than that of a part 41 in which more gas refrigerant flows.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fin tube type heat exchanger in which a refrigerant tube is inserted through a plurality of stacked fins, and an air conditioner including the heat exchanger.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a heat pump type air conditioner, a compressor, a four-way valve, an outdoor heat exchanger,
Refrigerant circulates in the order of a pressure reducing device (capillary tube, electric expansion valve, etc.) and an indoor heat exchanger. During heating operation, the refrigerant flows in the order of a compressor, a four-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, a pressure reducing device, and an outdoor heat exchanger. Circulates.

The outdoor heat exchanger 10 shown in FIG. 10 functions as a condenser during a cooling operation in which the refrigerant flows in the direction of the solid arrow a, and functions as an evaporator in the heating operation in which the refrigerant flows in the direction of the broken arrow b. I do. Here, the white arrow c
The flow direction of the air blown by a blower fan (not shown) is shown.

The outdoor heat exchanger 10 comprises a leeward heat exchanger unit 11 and an leeward heat exchanger unit 12 arranged adjacent to each other. Each leeward heat exchanger unit 11 and the leeward heat exchanger unit The fin 13 has a plurality of hairpin tubes 14 penetrating through the fins 13, and the hairpin tubes 14 of the leeward heat exchanger unit 11 and the leeward heat exchanger unit 12 are connected by U-bends 15, respectively. The refrigerant pipes 19 of the side heat exchanger unit 11 and the windward heat exchanger unit 12 are configured to meander. Then, the ends of the refrigerant pipes 19 on the upper side in FIG. 10 of the leeward side heat exchanger unit 11 and the leeward side heat exchanger unit 12 are connected by the connecting pipe 16, and further, the leeward side heat exchanger unit 11, the leeward side FIG. 1 of the heat exchanger unit 12
0, the lead-in / out pipe 17, 1
8 are respectively connected.

[0005] The refrigerant flows through the refrigerant pipes 19 of the leeward heat exchanger unit 11 and the leeward heat exchanger unit 12 as shown by a solid arrow a or a broken arrow b in FIG. Heat exchange with air. Here, the refrigerant pipe 19 of the leeward heat exchanger unit 11 and the leeward heat exchanger unit 12, the connecting pipe 16, and the lead-in / out pipe 17
And 18, the flow passage area in the path of the outdoor heat exchanger 10 is configured to be constant.

[0006]

When the outdoor heat exchanger 10 or the indoor heat exchanger configured as described above functions as a condenser, the refrigerant flows into the refrigerant pipe 19 of the outdoor heat exchanger 10.
Although it flows in the direction of the solid arrow a in (the hairpin tube 14 and the U-bend 15) and the like, the liquid refrigerant becomes more downstream as the flow becomes, so that the wetness increases. As the wetness of the refrigerant increases, the flow rate of the gas refrigerant decreases, and the hairpin tube 14
In addition, a liquid refrigerant film is formed on the inner wall surface of the U-bend 15 and grows, and the liquid refrigerant film lowers the heat exchange efficiency of the outdoor heat exchanger 10 and the indoor heat exchanger. This tendency is particularly remarkable when the refrigerant is a non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant.

The object of the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and a heat exchanger capable of improving the heat exchange efficiency when functioning as a condenser, and air provided with the heat exchanger. It is to provide a harmony device.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In a heat exchanger in which a refrigerant pipe is inserted in a meandering manner through a plurality of fins, and a refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant pipe is heat-exchanged with air blown toward the fin through the fin, Flow path area, when the heat exchanger functions as a condenser, the portion where the liquid refrigerant flows more,
It is configured to be smaller than the portion where the gas refrigerant flows more.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when the heat exchanger functions as a condenser, a portion through which the liquid refrigerant flows more is a gas refrigerant. Is configured to have a smaller diameter than the portion where more flows.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, a spacer is provided in the refrigerant pipe at a portion where the liquid refrigerant flows more when the heat exchanger functions as a condenser. It is housed so that the flow path area is limited.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the arrangement pitches of the refrigerant tubes inserted in a meandering manner through the plurality of fins can be connected to each other. The refrigerant pipes arranged adjacent to each other are set to be substantially the same.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air conditioner configured to circulate a refrigerant through a refrigerant circuit having a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, a pressure reducing device, and an indoor heat exchanger. At least one of the vessel and the indoor heat exchanger is inserted through a plurality of fins in a meandering refrigerant pipe,
The refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant pipe exchanges heat with the air blown toward the fins through the fins, and the flow path area of the refrigerant pipe is a liquid when the heat exchanger functions as a condenser. The portion where the refrigerant flows more is configured to be smaller than the portion where the gas refrigerant flows more.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the arrangement pitch of the refrigerant pipes inserted in a meandering manner through the plurality of fins is such that the refrigerant pipes are arranged adjacent to each other so as to be connectable to each other. Are set substantially the same.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the refrigerant pipe is inserted in a meandering manner through the plurality of fins, and the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant pipe exchanges heat with the air blown toward the fin through the fin. In the heat exchanger described above, the refrigerant tubes are eccentrically distributed at positions away from the fin edge where the blown air first hits the fins in the blowing direction.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the seventh aspect, the arrangement pitch of the refrigerant tubes inserted in a meandering manner through the plurality of fins is such that the refrigerant tubes arranged adjacent to each other so that they can be connected to each other. Are set substantially the same.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air conditioner configured to circulate a refrigerant through a refrigerant circuit having a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, a decompression device, and an indoor heat exchanger. The refrigerant pipe is inserted in a meandering manner through the plurality of fins, and the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant pipe exchanges heat with the air blown toward the fin through the fin, and the refrigerant pipe is inserted into the fin. On the other hand, in the blowing direction, the blown air is unevenly distributed at a position away from the edge of the fin that first hits.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect of the present invention, the arrangement pitch of the refrigerant tubes inserted in a meandering manner through the plurality of fins is such that the refrigerant tubes arranged adjacent to each other so as to be connectable to each other. Are set substantially the same.

The first, second, and third aspects of the present invention have the following effects.

When the heat exchanger functions as a condenser,
Since the flow path area of the refrigerant pipe through which the liquid refrigerant flows more is configured to be smaller than the flow path area of the refrigerant pipe through which the gas refrigerant flows more, the flow rate of the gas refrigerant in the refrigerant pipe through which the liquid refrigerant flows more is increased. Therefore, the liquid refrigerant adhering to the inner wall surface of the refrigerant pipe is separated or thinned by the gas refrigerant having the increased flow velocity. The separation or thinning of the liquid refrigerant film can prevent a decrease in the heat transfer coefficient, and can improve the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger.

The invention according to claim 4 or 8 has the following operation.

Since the arrangement pitch of the refrigerant pipes inserted in a meandering manner through the plurality of fins is set to be substantially the same in the refrigerant pipes arranged adjacent to each other so that they can be connected to each other, the refrigerant pipes arranged adjacent to each other can be removed. The dimensions of the connecting pipes to be connected and the branch pipes or lead-in pipes that are connected together to the refrigerant pipes arranged adjacently can be standardized to make them common parts, thereby improving the production efficiency of heat exchangers and reducing manufacturing costs. realizable.

The fifth aspect of the invention has the following operation.

Since the heat exchanger according to claim 1 is employed in an air conditioner, an air conditioner having excellent heat exchange efficiency as a condenser can be obtained, and the operation performance of the air conditioner can be improved. Can be.

The invention according to claim 6 or 10 has the following operation.

Since the heat exchanger according to claim 4 or 8 is employed in the air conditioner, it is possible to realize an air conditioner which is excellent in production efficiency and can reduce the production cost.

The invention according to claim 7 has the following operation.

Since the blown air is unevenly distributed from the edge of the fin where the blown air hits the fin in the blowing direction, the blown air is blown when the heat exchanger functions as an evaporator. The fin edge to which air first strikes is less likely to be thermally affected by the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant pipe and taking away latent heat of evaporation, thereby preventing overcooling. For this reason, the amount of frost formed at the edge of the fin where the blown air first hits can be reduced, and the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger functioning as an evaporator can be improved.

The ninth invention has the following effects.

Since the heat exchanger according to claim 7 is employed in an air conditioner, an air conditioner having excellent heat exchange efficiency as an evaporator can be obtained, and the time and number of defrosting operations can be reduced. In addition, the heating operation performance can be improved.

[0030]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[A] First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a refrigerant circuit in an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 20
It has an outdoor unit 21 and an indoor unit 22,
The outdoor refrigerant pipe 23 of the outdoor unit 21 and the indoor refrigerant pipe 24 of the indoor unit 22 are connected to each other.

The outdoor unit 21 is installed outdoors, and a compressor 25 is disposed in an outdoor refrigerant pipe 23.
5 has an accumulator 26 on the suction side and a four-way valve 2 on the discharge side.
The outdoor heat exchanger 28 and the capillary tube 29 as a pressure reducing device are sequentially connected to the four-way valve 27 via the outdoor refrigerant pipe 23. An outdoor fan 31 that blows air toward the outdoor heat exchanger 28 is disposed adjacent to the outdoor heat exchanger 28.

On the other hand, the indoor unit 22 is installed indoors, and the indoor heat exchanger 30 is disposed in the indoor refrigerant pipe 24. An indoor fan 32 that blows air to the indoor heat exchanger 30 is disposed adjacent to the indoor heat exchanger 30. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 33 denotes a muffler, and reference numeral 34 denotes a strainer.

In the air conditioner 20, the flow of the refrigerant flowing through the outdoor refrigerant pipe 23 and the indoor refrigerant pipe 24 is changed by switching the four-way valve 27, and the cooling operation or the heating operation is performed.

When the air conditioner 20 is switched to the cooling side, the refrigerant flows through the outdoor refrigerant pipe 23 and the indoor refrigerant pipe 24 as shown by the solid arrow A in FIG.
Reference numeral 8 denotes a condenser, and the indoor heat exchanger 30 functions as an evaporator to enter a cooling operation state. The indoor heat exchanger 30 cools the room.

When the four-way valve 27 is switched to the heating side, the refrigerant flows through the outdoor refrigerant pipe 23 and the indoor refrigerant pipe 24 as shown by the dashed arrow B in FIG.
0 is a condenser, and the indoor heat exchanger 28 is an evaporator to be in a heating operation state, and the indoor heat exchanger 30 heats the room.

As shown in FIG. 2, the outdoor heat exchanger 28 is housed in the housing 35 of the outdoor unit 21 together with the outdoor fan 31 and the compressor 25. Is blown in the blowing direction shown in FIG. Further, the outdoor heat exchanger 28 is configured such that a leeward heat exchanger unit 36 and a leeward heat exchanger unit 37 are arranged adjacent to each other in the direction of a white arrow C.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the leeward heat exchanger unit 36, a plurality of hairpin tubes 39 having a hairpin shape penetrate through a plurality of fins 38 arranged in a stack, and both ends thereof are U-shaped. The refrigerant pipes 41 are connected by a U-shaped bend 40 and meander. In the windward heat exchanger unit 37, a plurality of hairpin tubes 43 having a hairpin shape penetrate through a plurality of fins 42 arranged in a stack, and both ends thereof are U-shaped.
The refrigerant pipes 45 are connected by the bends 44 and meander.

The refrigerant pipe 41 of the leeward heat exchanger unit 36
(Hairpin tube 39) and windward heat exchanger unit 3
The refrigerant pipe 45 (hairpin tube 43) of No. 7 is connected by a connection pipe 46 to form a path through which the refrigerant flows continuously. Further, the leeward heat exchanger unit 36
The end of the refrigerant pipe 41 (hairpin tube 39) at the end and the refrigerant pipe 45 at the windward heat exchanger unit 37
Outlet / inlet pipes 47 and 48 are connected to the ends of the (hairpin tube 43), respectively. This outdoor heat exchanger 2
8, the refrigerant pipe 41, the refrigerant pipe 45, and the connection pipe 46
Are configured in a multi-path structure having three or more paths.

In the cooling operation in which the outdoor heat exchanger 28 functions as a condenser, the refrigerant is supplied to the inlet / outlet pipe 47, the refrigerant pipe 41,
It flows as shown by the solid arrow A in the order of the connection pipe 46, the refrigerant pipe 45, and the lead-in / out pipe 48. On the other hand, during the heating operation in which the outdoor heat exchanger 28 functions as an evaporator, the refrigerant flows in the order of the dashed arrow B in the order of the outlet pipe 48, the refrigerant pipe 45, the connecting pipe 46, the refrigerant pipe 41, and the outlet pipe 47. And the refrigerant is the refrigerant pipe 41
And 45, the outdoor fan 31
And 42 is condensed or evaporated by heat exchange with the air blown toward.

By the way, the flow passage area of the refrigerant pipes 41 and 45 in the outdoor heat exchanger 28 is such that when the outdoor heat exchanger 28 functions as a condenser, a portion (refrigerant pipe 45) through which the liquid refrigerant flows more is: The flow path area is smaller than that of the portion (refrigerant tube 41) through which more gas refrigerant flows. That is, when the refrigerant flows as indicated by the solid arrow A in FIG.
In the uppermost stream portion of the refrigerant pipe 45, the gas refrigerant is condensed by about half as compared with the uppermost stream section of the refrigerant pipe 41 to become a liquid refrigerant, and the inner diameter D2 (for example, 7 mm) of the refrigerant pipe 45 is It is configured to be smaller than the inner diameter D1 (for example, 9 mm) (inner diameter D2 <inner diameter D1). The arrangement pitch P2 of the refrigerant tubes 45 with respect to the fins 42 is set to substantially the same dimension (for example, 25 mm) as the arrangement pitch P1 of the refrigerant tubes 41 with respect to the fins 38.

Further, in this outdoor heat exchanger 28,
The refrigerant pipe 45 of the windward heat exchanger unit 37 is
On the other hand, in the blowing direction indicated by the white arrow C, the blown air is unevenly distributed at a position away from the fin edge 49 that first hits. That is, the distance L from the fin edge 49 to the fin 42 in the air blowing direction indicated by the outline arrow C is larger than that of the
It is positioned at a position larger than the distance M from 0. As a result, when the outdoor heat exchanger 28 functions as a condenser, the fin edges 49 of the fins 42 are less likely to be thermally affected by the latent heat of evaporation from the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant pipe 45. The amount of frost on the surface is reduced.

The fin edges 49 of the fins 42 in the windward heat exchanger unit 37 are subjected to a surface treatment for improving water repellency and increasing thermal resistance. Further, the number of fins 42 in the leeward heat exchanger unit 37 is set to be smaller than the number of fins 38 in the leeward heat exchanger unit 36. These surface treatments and the reduction in the number of fins 42 stacked facilitate the reduction in the amount of frost on the fin edge 49 described above.

Therefore, in the outdoor heat exchanger 28 and the air conditioner 20 according to the above embodiment, the following effects are obtained.
To play.

When the outdoor heat exchanger 28 functions as a condenser, the flow passage area of the refrigerant pipe 45 in the windward heat exchanger unit 37 through which the liquid refrigerant flows more depends on the leeward heat exchange through which the gas refrigerant flows more. The flow rate of the gas refrigerant in the refrigerant pipe 45 through which more liquid refrigerant flows increases because the flow path area of the refrigerant pipe 41 in the heat exchanger unit 36 is reduced. The attached liquid refrigerant is separated or thinned by the gas refrigerant having the increased flow velocity. The separation or thinning of the liquid refrigerant film can prevent a decrease in the heat transfer coefficient, and the outdoor heat exchanger 28
Heat exchange efficiency can be improved.

In particular, HFC32 / 125 /
134a; When a non-azeotropic refrigerant (R-407C) having a composition of 23/25/52 w% is employed,
Even if a refrigerant having a low boiling point and being easily liquefied is included, a decrease in heat exchange efficiency can be prevented, and an improvement in the heat exchange efficiency of the outdoor heat exchanger 28 can be achieved.

The arrangement pitches P1 and P2 of the refrigerant pipes 41 and 45 inserted in a meandering manner through the plurality of fins 38 and 42 are arranged adjacently so as to be connectable to each other using the connection pipe 46. The refrigerant pipe 41,
Since the coolant pipes 45 are set at substantially the same pitch, the connection pipes 46 connecting the coolant pipes 41 and 45,
The dimensions of the outlet pipe 47 and the outlet pipe 48 connected to the refrigerant pipe 41 and the refrigerant pipe 45 can be standardized to form a common part, so that the production efficiency of the outdoor heat exchanger 28 can be improved and the production cost can be reduced. .

Since the refrigerant pipe 45 in the windward heat exchanger unit 37 is unevenly distributed with respect to the fin 42 at a position away from the fin edge 49 where the blown air first hits in the blowing direction shown by the outline arrow C. In the case where the outdoor heat exchanger 28 functions as an evaporator, the fin edge 49 to which the blown air first hits becomes less likely to be thermally affected by the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant pipe 45 and taking away the latent heat of evaporation, Subcooling is prevented. For this reason, in the fins 42 of the windward heat exchanger unit 37, the amount of frost formed at the fin edges 49 where the blown air first hits can be reduced, and the heat exchange efficiency of the outdoor heat exchanger 28 functioning as an evaporator can be reduced. Can be improved.

The outdoor heat exchanger 28 having the above effects.
Is adopted in the air conditioner 20, so that the outdoor heat exchanger 10 having excellent heat exchange efficiency as a condenser can be obtained.
The operation performance of the air conditioner 20 can be improved.

The outdoor heat exchanger 28 having the above effects.
Is adopted for the air conditioner 20, so it has excellent production efficiency,
The air conditioner 20 that can reduce the manufacturing cost can be realized.

The outdoor heat exchanger 28 having the above effects.
Was adopted for the air conditioner 20, so that an air conditioner 20 having excellent heat exchange efficiency as an evaporator can be obtained.
The time and frequency of the defrosting operation can be reduced, and the air conditioner 20
Can improve the heating operation performance.

[B] Second Embodiment FIG. 4 is a side view showing an outdoor heat exchanger in an air conditioner according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This second
In the second embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description is omitted.

The air conditioner 60 of the second embodiment
In FIG. 1, the configuration of the windward heat exchanger unit 61 (FIG. 4) in the outdoor heat exchanger 69 is different. That is, in the windward heat exchanger unit 61, the refrigerant tubes 65 including the hairpin tubes 63 and the U-bends 64 are provided in a meandering manner on the plurality of fins 62 arranged in a stack.
This refrigerant pipe 65 has an arrangement pitch P3 with respect to the fins 62.
However, the refrigerant pipe 4 of the leeward heat exchanger unit 36 is similar to the leeward heat exchanger unit 37 of the first embodiment.
1 is set to be substantially the same as the arrangement pitch P1 of the fins 62,
Is positioned symmetrically with respect to. Further, the refrigerant pipe 65
The inner diameter D3 is set to be substantially the same as the inner diameter D1 of the refrigerant pipe 41 in the leeward heat exchanger unit 36,
The spacer 66 is accommodated inside, and the flow passage area is restricted (reduced) as compared with the refrigerant pipe 41 of the leeward heat exchanger unit 36.

The spacer 6 of the windward heat exchanger unit 61
6 is a bar-shaped main spacer 67 as shown in FIG.
A sub-spacer 68 is spirally wound around the outer periphery of the motor, and is integrally formed of a resin having oil resistance and refrigerant resistance. The cross-sectional area of the spacer 66 is set to at least １ ／ or more of the cross-sectional area of the refrigerant pipe 65. The spacer 66 is inserted into the refrigerant pipe 65 while being twisted. At this time, the sub-spacer 68 abuts on the inner wall surface of the refrigerant pipe 65, and relative vibration and movement with respect to the refrigerant pipe 65 are prevented.

As a modified example of the spacer 66, as shown in FIG. 6, a spacer 71 (first modified example) formed in a wavy shape abutting on the inner wall surface of the refrigerant pipe 65, as shown in FIG. A spacer 72 (second modification) having a quadrangular (square, rectangular) cross-sectional shape abutting the inner wall surface of the refrigerant pipe 65;
As shown in FIG. 7B, a spacer 73 (third modification) having a triangular cross-sectional shape that comes into contact with the inner wall surface of the refrigerant pipe 65, FIG.
As shown in (C), a spacer 74 (fourth modification) having an irregular cross-sectional shape such as a star-shaped cross-sectional shape abutting the inner wall surface of the refrigerant pipe 65 may be used. Further, as shown in FIG.
A flexible spacer 75 (fifth modified example) that is frictionally fixed to the U-bend 64 in advance by an elastic force may be used. Like the spacer 66, these spacers 71 to 75 are also made of a resin or metal having oil resistance and refrigerant resistance, and the cross-sectional area is at least 1 / th of the cross-sectional area of the refrigerant pipe 65.
It is set to 2 or more. Further, these spacers 71 to 7
Also in 5, it abuts on the inner wall surface of the refrigerant pipe 65, and relative vibration and movement with respect to the refrigerant pipe 65 are prevented.

Also in the windward heat exchanger unit 61 and the air conditioner 60, the flow path area of the refrigerant pipe 65 in the windward heat exchanger unit 61 is reduced by the presence of the spacers 66 and 71 to 75. Since the configuration is smaller than that of the refrigerant pipes 41 of the unit 36, the same effects as those of the first embodiment and the same effects are obtained. Further, the arrangement pitch P3 of the refrigerant pipes 65 with respect to the fins 62 is smaller than the leeward heat exchange. Since the arrangement pitch P1 of the refrigerant tubes 41 with respect to the fins 38 in the container unit 36 is set to be substantially the same,
The same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

[C] Third Embodiment FIG. 9 is a side view showing an outdoor heat exchanger in an air conditioner according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

The air conditioner 80 of the third embodiment
In FIG. 1, the leeward heat exchanger unit 82 (FIG. 9) of the outdoor heat exchanger 81 and the leeward heat exchanger unit 8
3 (FIG. 9) is different.

That is, the leeward heat exchanger unit 82 and the leeward heat exchanger unit 83 have substantially the same structure, and the upper half of each of the fins 84, 85 in FIG. Bend 88, 89
A refrigerant tube 90 and a refrigerant tube 91 are provided in a meandering manner, and hairpin tubes 92 and 93 and a U-bend 94 are provided in the lower half of each of the fins 84 and 85 in FIG.
Refrigerant pipes 96 and 97 composed of 95 are respectively provided in a meandering manner.

The refrigerant pipe 90 of the leeward heat exchanger unit 82 and the refrigerant pipe 91 of the leeward heat exchanger unit 83
Is connected to the branch pipe 98 at the upper end in FIG. The refrigerant pipe 96 of the leeward heat exchanger unit 82 and the refrigerant pipe 97 of the leeward heat exchanger unit 83 are connected at their lower ends to the branch pipe 99 in FIG. Further, the lower end of the refrigerant pipe 90 of the leeward heat exchanger unit 82 and the upper end of the refrigerant pipe 97 of the leeward heat exchanger unit 83 are connected by a connection pipe 100, and the refrigerant pipe of the leeward heat exchanger unit 83 is connected. 91
The lower end and the upper end of the refrigerant pipe 96 of the leeward heat exchanger unit 82 are connected by the connection pipe 101. Therefore, in the outdoor heat exchanger 81, the branch pipe 98, the refrigerant pipe 90,
The first path of the connection pipe 100, the refrigerant pipe 97, and the branch pipe 99, and the branch pipe 98, the refrigerant pipe 91, the connection pipe 101, and the refrigerant pipe 9
6 and a second path of the branch pipe 99 are provided.

Here, the arrangement pitch P4 of the refrigerant pipes 90 and 96 with respect to the fins 84 and the arrangement pitch P5 of the refrigerant pipes 91 and 97 with respect to the fins 85 are set substantially the same. The inner diameter D5 of the refrigerant pipe 96 and the refrigerant pipe 97 is the same as the inner diameter D4 of the refrigerant pipe 90 and the refrigerant pipe 91.
When the outdoor heat exchanger 81 is configured to be smaller (inner diameter D4> inner diameter D5) and the refrigerant flows as indicated by the solid arrow A and the outdoor heat exchanger 81 functions as a condenser, the liquid refrigerant in the first pass and the second pass is The flow passage area that flows more is configured to be smaller than the flow passage area that flows more gas refrigerant.

Therefore, also in the air conditioner 80 and the outdoor heat exchanger 81 of the third embodiment, when the outdoor heat exchanger 81 functions as a condenser, the first path and the second heat
In the path, the flow path area through which the liquid refrigerant flows more is configured to be smaller than the flow path area through which the gas refrigerant flows more, and thus has the same effects as those of the first embodiment. Further, the arrangement pitch P4 of the refrigerant pipes 90 and 96 and the arrangement pitch P of the refrigerant pipes 91 and 97
5 are set to be substantially the same, the branch pipe 98 and the branch pipe 99, and the connection pipe 100 and the connection pipe 101 can be made common parts, and the effects of the first embodiment and the effects similar to those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

Although the present invention has been described based on one embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a small-diameter refrigerant pipe 45 through which more liquid refrigerant flows.
(First Embodiment) A refrigerant pipe 96 and a refrigerant pipe 97 (third embodiment)
In this embodiment, spacers 66, 71 to 75 may be inserted to reduce the flow path area. Further, the windward heat exchanger unit 61 and the spacers 71 to 7 of the second embodiment.
5, when the outdoor heat exchanger 69 functions as a condenser, a taper whose outer diameter gradually increases from the upstream side to the downstream side with respect to the flow direction of the refrigerant flowing as indicated by the solid arrow A may be formed.

Further, the fins 3 in the outdoor heat exchanger 28
8, fins 42, fins 38 in the outdoor heat exchanger 69
And the fins 62 and the fins 84 and 85 in the outdoor heat exchanger 81 may be integrally formed.

In the indoor heat exchanger 30, when the indoor heat exchanger 30 functions as a condenser, the flow passage area of the refrigerant pipe through which more liquid refrigerant flows is reduced by the flow path area of the refrigerant pipe through which more gas refrigerant flows. It may be configured to be smaller than the flow path area, and furthermore, the arrangement pitch of the refrigerant tubes inserted meandering through the plurality of fins may be set to be substantially the same in the refrigerant tubes arranged adjacent to each other so as to be connectable to each other. Good.

[0067]

As described above, according to the heat exchanger and the air conditioner including the heat exchanger according to the present invention, more liquid refrigerant flows when the heat exchanger functions as a condenser. Since the flow path area of the refrigerant pipe is configured to be smaller than the flow path area of the refrigerant pipe through which more gas refrigerant flows, it is possible to achieve an improvement in heat exchange efficiency when the heat exchanger functions as a condenser. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating a refrigerant circuit in an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view showing an outdoor unit including the outdoor heat exchanger of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing an outdoor heat exchanger in the outdoor unit of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing an outdoor heat exchanger in an air conditioner according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

5A and 5B show spacers in a refrigerant pipe in the outdoor heat exchanger of FIG. 4, wherein FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view and FIG.

6A and 6B show a first modified example of the spacer of FIG. 5, in which FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view and FIG.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C are cross-sectional views showing second, third, and fourth modifications of the spacer of FIG. 5, respectively.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a fifth modification of the spacer of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a side view showing an outdoor heat exchanger in an air conditioner according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing a conventional outdoor heat exchanger.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 20 air conditioner 28 outdoor heat exchanger 30 indoor heat exchanger 31 outdoor fan 32 indoor fan 38 fin 41 refrigerant tube 42 fin 45 refrigerant tube 46 connection tube 49 fin edge 60 air conditioner 62 fin 65 refrigerant tube 66 spacer 69 outdoor Heat exchanger 80 Air conditioner 81 Outdoor heat exchanger 84 Fin 85 Fin 90 Refrigerant tube 91 Refrigerant tube 96 Refrigerant tube 97 Refrigerant tube 100 Connecting tube 101 Connecting tube P1 Array pitch P2 Array pitch P3 Array pitch P4 Array pitch P5 Array pitch D1 Inside diameter D2 Inside diameter D3 Inside diameter D4 Inside diameter D5 Inside diameter

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A heat exchanger in which a refrigerant pipe is inserted in a meandering manner through a plurality of fins, and a refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant pipe exchanges heat with the air blown toward the fin through the fin. The flow path area of the refrigerant tube is characterized in that, when the heat exchanger functions as a condenser, a portion where the liquid refrigerant flows more is configured to be smaller than a portion where the gas refrigerant flows more. Heat exchanger. 2. The internal diameter of the refrigerant pipe is such that, when the heat exchanger functions as a condenser, a portion where the liquid refrigerant flows more is configured to have a smaller diameter than a portion where the gas refrigerant flows more. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein 3. In the refrigerant pipe, when the heat exchanger functions as a condenser, a spacer is accommodated in a portion where the liquid refrigerant flows more so that the flow path area is limited. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein: 4. An arrangement pitch of the refrigerant tubes inserted meandering through the plurality of fins is set to be substantially the same in the refrigerant tubes arranged adjacent to each other so as to be connectable to each other. 4. The heat exchanger according to any one of 1, 2, and 3. 5. An air conditioner configured to circulate refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit having a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, a decompression device, and an indoor heat exchanger, wherein the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger At least one of the refrigerant pipes is inserted in a meandering manner through the plurality of fins, and the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant pipes exchanges heat with the air blown toward the fins through the fins, The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein when the heat exchanger functions as a condenser, a portion where the liquid refrigerant flows more is smaller than a portion where the gas refrigerant flows more. 6. An arrangement pitch of the refrigerant tubes inserted meandering through the plurality of fins is set to be substantially the same in the refrigerant tubes arranged adjacent to each other so as to be connectable to each other. An air conditioner according to item 1. 7. A heat exchanger in which a refrigerant tube is inserted in a meandering manner through a plurality of fins, and a refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant tube exchanges heat with the air blown toward the fin through the fin. The heat exchanger, wherein the refrigerant pipe is unevenly distributed with respect to the fin in a position away from a fin edge where the blown air first hits in the blowing direction. 8. An arrangement pitch of the refrigerant tubes inserted in a meandering manner through the plurality of fins is set to be substantially the same in the refrigerant tubes arranged adjacent to each other so as to be connectable to each other. 8. The heat exchanger according to 7. 9. An air conditioner configured to circulate a refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit having a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, a decompression device, and an indoor heat exchanger, wherein the outdoor heat exchanger includes a plurality of air conditioners. The refrigerant tube is inserted in a meandering manner through the fins, and the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant tube is exchanged with the air blown toward the fins through the fins, and the refrigerant tube is moved relative to the fins in the blowing direction. An air conditioner characterized in that the blown air is unevenly distributed at a position away from the edge of the fin that first hits. 10. The arrangement pitch of the refrigerant tubes inserted meandering through the plurality of fins is set to be substantially the same in the refrigerant tubes arranged adjacent to each other so as to be connectable to each other. 10. The air conditioner according to 9.