Patent Application
20250224184
The present disclosure relates to the field of heat exchanger, and in particular, to a fin structure and a heat exchanger having same.
A heat exchanger is commonly applied to a refrigeration system to absorb or release heat from air via a flowing medium, thereby achieving function of cooling or heating.
In related technology, the fin heat exchanger commonly includes a heat exchanger and a fin. The fin fits with a heat exchange tube in an inserting manner to increase a connecting area between the heat exchanger and air, resulting in improving heat-exchange efficiency. However, the heat-exchange efficiency of normal fin structure is not high, and when the moisture in air is left on the fin, a drainage effect of the fin is not good enough.
According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, a fin structure is provided.
The fin structure is applied to a microchannel heat exchanger. The fin structure is provided with a flat tube groove. The flat tube groove penetrates through a side of the fin structure to form an opening. The flat tube groove is configured for allowing a flat tube to penetrate.
The fin structure is provided with a plurality of inclined sections. The plurality of inclined sections extend from one end of the fin structure to the other end of the fin structure. The plurality of inclined sections are sequentially connected to each other to form a wave shape. Two opposite side surfaces of each of the plurality of inclined sections are defined as two inclined surfaces inclined relative to the opening, respectively.
In an embodiment, an angle between each of the plurality of inclined surfaces and the opening is defined as a and ranges from 5° to 20°.
In an embodiment, angles between the plurality of inclined surfaces and the opening are the same.
In an embodiment, an angle between the inclined surface towards the flat tube groove and the opening is less than an angle between the inclined surface away from the flat tube groove and the opening.
In an embodiment, connection curvature between the plurality of inclined surfaces is continuous.
In an embodiment, the number of the plurality of inclined sections are in a range of three to five.
In an embodiment, the flat tube groove is disposed on two of the plurality of inclined sections.
In an embodiment, the fin structure is formed into a wave shape by bending technology.
In an embodiment, an edge of the flat tube groove is provided with a protrusion. The protrusion extends towards a direction perpendicular to the opening.
In an embodiment, an inner wall of the opening is provided with a guiding portion. The guiding portion is connected to an inner wall of the flat tube groove. A size of the guiding portion along a direction perpendicular to a direction from the opening to the flat tube groove decreases.
The present disclosure further provides a heat exchanger including the fin structure.
Details of one or more embodiments of this disclosure are presented in the attached drawings and descriptions below. And other features, purposes and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent from the description, drawings and claims.
For a better description and illustration of embodiments and/or examples of those disclosures disclosed herein, reference may be made to one or more attached drawings. Additional details or examples used to describe the drawings should not be considered as limiting the scope of any of the disclosed disclosures, currently described embodiments and/or examples, and currently understood best modes of these disclosures.
Reference signs are as follows: 100 represents a fin structure; 10 represents a flat tube groove; 11 represents a guiding portion; 12 represents an opening; 20 represents an inclined section; 21 represents an inclined surface; 30 represents a protrusion; 40 represents a first flange; 50 represents a second flange; and 200 represents a heat exchanger.
The following will provide a clear and complete description of the technical solution in the embodiments of the present disclosure, in communication with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, not all of them. Based on the embodiments in the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary skill in this art without creative labor fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.
It should be noted that, when a member is considered “fixed on” or “set on” another member, it can be directly fixed to another member or there may be a centered member present simultaneously. When a member is considered “connected to” another member, it can be directly connected to another member or there may be a centered member present simultaneously. The terms “vertical”, “horizontal”, “left”, “right” and similar expressions used in the specification of the present disclosure are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only implementation method.
In addition, the terms “first” and “second” are only used to describe the purpose and can not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implying the quantity of indicated technical features. Therefore, the features limited to “first” and “second” can explicitly or implicitly include at least one of these features. In the description of the present application, “multiple” means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless there is an otherwise specific limitation.
In the present disclosure, unless there is the otherwise specifications and limitations, the first feature is “above” or “below” the second feature which may be a direct contact between the first and second features, or the first features and the second features may be in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Moreover, the first feature is “on”, “above”, and “over” the second feature can be that the first feature is directly or diagonally above the second feature, or only indicates that the first feature is horizontally higher than the second feature. The first feature is “beneath”, “below”, and “under” the second feature can be that the first feature is directly or diagonally below the second feature, or only indicate that the horizontal height of the first feature is less than that of the second feature.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this article have the same meanings as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art of the present disclosure. The terms used in the specification of the present disclosure are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. The term “and/or” used in this article includes any and all combinations of one or more related listed items.
Referring to
A fin structure 100 is provided. The fin structure 100 is provided with a flat tube groove 10. The flat tube groove 10 penetrates through a side of the fin structure 100 to form an opening 12. The flat tube groove 10 is configured for allowing a flat tube to penetrate. The flat tube is inserted into the flat tube groove 10 from the opening 12. The flat tube is configured for a medium to flow therein to fit with the fin structure to absorb or release heat from air.
The fin structure 100 includes a plurality of inclined sections 20. The plurality of inclined sections 20 extend from one end of the fin structure 100 to the other end of the fin structure 100. The plurality of inclined sections 20 are sequentially connected end to end to form a wave shape. Two opposite side surfaces of each of the plurality of inclined sections are defined as two inclined surfaces inclined relative to the opening 12, respectively.
By such arrangement, when air flows through a wave-shaped fin structure 100, in which a size of the fin structure 100 remains, a flow path of the air on a surface of the fin structure 100 is longer, contact time between the air and the surface of the fin structure 100 is prolonged, a contact area between the air and the fin structure 100 increases, and thus heat-exchange efficiency is improved. A wave-shaped fin can enhance a resistance suffered from air flow, make an air flow velocity slow down, and improve residence time of the air on the surface of the fin structure 100, resulting in enhancing the heat-exchange efficiency. In addition, since the inclined section 20 extends from one end of the fin structure 100 to the other end of the fin structure 100, drainage of the fin structure will be smoother, preventing moisture from leaving or even condensing on the fin. Moreover, the flat tube groove 10 is disposed on two of the plurality of inclined sections 20. Thus, it can enhance combination of the flat tube and flat tube groove 10, which is conducive to the stability of the overall structure of the heat exchanger after application.
Referring to
Referring to
Angle herein indicates a minimum positive angle formed between the inclined surface 21 of the inclined section 20 and the flat tube groove 10. In the present embodiment, the angle α between each of the plurality of inclined surfaces 21 and the opening 12 refers to an acute angle.
Furthermore, angles between the plurality of inclined surfaces and the opening are the same. By such arrangement, the fin structure 100 is prone to shaping, and processing cost is reduced. During an assembling process, consistency of the plurality of fin structures 100 is better.
Alternatively, the angles α between the plurality of inclined surfaces 21 and the opening 12 are all defined as 8°. In this slope of the inclined surface 21, a ratio between the heat-exchange efficiency and a power requirement for the external blowing element can reach to the best.
In an embodiment, an angle between the inclined surface 21 towards the flat tube groove 10 and the opening 12 is less than an angle between the inclined surface away from the flat tube groove 10 and the opening 12, thereby improving the heat-exchange efficiency between the fin structure 100 and the air. In the present disclosure, a side of the inclined surface 21 towards the flat tube groove 10 is a windward side, and a side of the inclined surface away from the flat tube groove 10 is a leeward side. Therefore, the moisture of the air is prone to condensing at the leeward side away from the flat tube groove 10, and flows and drips along the inclined surface 21 on the leeward side, facilitating drainage.
Connection curvature between the plurality of inclined surfaces is continuous. By such arrangement, a surface of the fin structure 100 is smoother, resulting in reducing dust accumulation, such that liquid flows more smoothly.
Curvature continuity of the plurality of inclined surfaces refers to that the plurality of inclined surfaces 21 are connected to each other via smooth transition sections. Discontinuous drop is not existed on connection between the plurality of inclined surfaces.
The fin structure 100 includes three, four or five inclined sections 20. The number of the inclined sections 20 increases, such that the numbers of peaks and valleys on the surface of the fin structure 100 are more densely packed, thereby further increasing flow path of the air, increasing the contact area between the fin structure 100 and the air, increasing flow resistance of the air and so on, resulting in improving the heat-exchange efficiency of the fin structure 100. When the number of the inclined sections of the fin structure 100 is three, the power requirement of the external blowing element is reduced. When the number of the inclined sections 20 of the fin structure 100 is five, the heat-exchange efficiency of the fin structure 100 can be improved.
The fin structure 100 is formed into a wave shape by a bending process. By such arrangement, the fin structure 100 is formed by bending itself. No additional structure is required. Material waste and cost are reduced.
Alternatively, the fin structure 100 can be formed into a wave shape by other process, such as stamping process.
Referring to
The edge of the flat tube groove 10 is provided with a protrusion 30. The protrusion 30 is disposed on the first flange 40. The protrusion 30 extends towards a direction perpendicular to the opening 12. By such arrangement, when the plurality of fin structures 100 fits with the flat tube, it is convenient to control distances between the plurality of fin structures 100, and consistency of the distances between the plurality of fin structures 100 can be ensured.
A surface of the protrusion 30 towards a fin structure 100 adjacent to the protrusion 30 is a plane, so as to be in better contact with a side surface of the adjacent fin structure 100.
The number of the protrusion 30 is multiple. A plurality of protrusions 30 on the adjacent fin structures 100 can abut against with each other, or be separated from each other, thereby adjusting a distance between the adjacent fin structures 100.
An opening of the flat tube groove 10 is provided with a guiding portion 11. The guiding portion 11 is connected to an inner wall of the flat tube groove 10, such that when the flat tube is assembled, an inserting direction of the fin structure is guided, facilitate the flat tube inserting into the flat tube groove 10. A size of the guiding portion 11 along a direction perpendicular to a direction from the opening 12 to the flat tube groove 10 decreases.
In an embodiment, the guiding portion 11 is a bevel formed by chamfering. In other embodiments, the guiding portion 11 can be an arc surface formed by rounding corners.
Referring to
Comparing the present disclosure with related technology, in the present disclosure, by a wave-shaped design of the fin structure 100, when the air flows through the wave-shaped fin structure 100, in which the size of the fin structure 100 remains, the flow path of the air on a surface of the fin structure 100 is longer, contact time between the air and the surface of the fin structure 100 is prolonged, the contact area between the air and the fin structure 100 increases, and thus the heat-exchange efficiency is improved. The wave-shaped fin can enhance the resistance suffered from the air flow, make the air flow velocity slow down, and improve residence time of air on the surface of the fin structure 100, thereby enhancing heat-exchange efficiency. In addition, since the inclined section 20 extends from one end of the fin structure 100 to the other end of the fin structure 100, the drainage of the fin structure 100 will be smoother, resulting in preventing the moisture from staying or even condensing on the fin.
The various technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. In order to make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the various technical features in the above embodiments have been described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered within the scope of the specification.
The above embodiments only express several embodiments of the present disclosure, and their descriptions are more specific and detailed, but should not be understood as limiting the scope of the disclosure. It should be pointed out that for ordinary skill in the art, several modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the disclosure, which are within the scope of protection of the disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present disclosure should be based on the attached claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202222312278.5 | Aug 2022 | CN | national |
This application is a continuation of international patent application No. PCT/CN2023/115277, filed on Aug. 28, 2023, which itself claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202222312278.5, filed on Aug. 30, 2022, and titled “FIN STRUCTURE AND HEAT EXCHANGER HAVING SAME”. The contents of the above identified applications are hereby incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/CN2023/115277 | Aug 2023 | WO |
| Child | 19065849 | US |
