The present disclosure relates to a heat exchanger and a corrugated fin.
Heat exchangers for performing heat exchange between fluids are conventionally known.
According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a heat exchanger performs heat exchange between a first fluid and a second fluid. The heat exchanger includes tubes which are arranged in one direction and in which the first fluid flows, and a corrugated fin provided between the tubes, curved to have a wave shape, and configured to promote heat exchange between the first fluid and the second fluid. The second fluid flows between the tubes. The corrugated fin includes joints that are joined to the tubes, and fin bodies that are each between and connect the joints which are located next to each other along the wave shape.
The fin body includes a cut-raised portion that has a shape in which a part of the fin body is cut and raised for promotion of heat transfer. The cut-raised portion includes a cut-raised body that guides the second fluid, and a cut-raised end that is provided on at least one end of the cut-raised portion in the one direction and has a plate shape extending from the cut-raised body. The cut-raised end has recesses and projections that increase hydrophilicity of a surface of the cut-raised end on at least one side of the cut-raised end in a thickness direction of the cut-raised end.
Each embodiment will now be described with reference to the drawings. Parts that are identical or equivalent to each other in the following embodiments are assigned the same reference numerals in the drawings.
A heat exchanger 1 of the present embodiment is, for example, used as an evaporator that forms a part of a refrigeration cycle performing air conditioning in a vehicle compartment. The evaporator performs heat exchange between refrigerant as a first fluid circulating in the refrigeration cycle and air as a second fluid passing through the heat exchanger 1, and cools the air by the latent heat of vaporization of the refrigerant. Arrow DRg in
As illustrated in
The plurality of tubes 20 is arranged side by side at predetermined intervals in a tube arrangement direction DRst. The air passing through the heat exchanger 1 flows among the plurality of tubes 20. The air flows among the tubes 20 from one side in an air passage direction AF as an upstream side to the other side in the air passage direction AF as a downstream side. The air passage direction AF is one cross direction crossing the tube arrangement direction DRst which is one direction.
Moreover, the air passing through the heat exchanger 1 is cooled by the refrigerant to generate condensed water while flowing among the tubes 20. That is, the air passing through the heat exchanger 1 is a gas that generates condensed water by heat exchange with the refrigerant.
The plurality of tubes 20 is arranged in two rows corresponding to one side and the other side of the air passage direction AF. Each of the plurality of tubes 20 linearly extends in a tube extending direction DRt from one end to the other end. The tube extending direction DRt need not necessarily coincide with the up-down direction DRg but coincides with the up-down direction DRg in the present embodiment. In short, all the tubes 20 of the present embodiment extend in the up-down direction DRg, that is, in a vertical direction. The air passage direction AF, the tube arrangement direction DRst, and the tube extending direction DRt are directions intersecting one another, strictly speaking, directions orthogonal to one another.
The plurality of tubes 20 is inserted into the first header tank 21 or the second header tank 22 at upper ends, and inserted into the third header tank 23 or the fourth header tank 24 at lower ends. The first to fourth header tanks 21 to 24 distribute the refrigerant to the plurality of tubes 20 and collect the refrigerant flowing in from the plurality of tubes 20.
The air flows among the plurality of tubes 20 so that gaps formed among the tubes 20 are air passages through which the air flows. The corrugated fins 10 are provided in the air passages. In other words, the corrugated fins 10 are provided among the tubes 20. The corrugated fins 10 of the present embodiment are thus outer fins provided outside the tubes 20.
The corrugated fins 10 promote heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing inside the tubes 20 and the air flowing among the tubes 20. Specifically, the corrugated fins 10 increase a heat transfer area between the refrigerant flowing inside the tubes 20 and the air flowing outside the tubes 20, thereby increasing a heat exchange efficiency between the refrigerant and the air. A pair of the outer frame members 25 is provided on the outside of the portion where the plurality of tubes 20 and the plurality of corrugated fins 10 are alternately arranged in the tube arrangement direction DRst. The pipe connection member 26 is fixed to one of the pair of outer frame members 25.
The pipe connection member 26 is provided with a refrigerant inlet 27 through which the refrigerant is supplied, and a refrigerant outlet 28 through which the refrigerant is discharged. The refrigerant flowing into the first header tank 21 through the refrigerant inlet 27 flows through the first to fourth header tanks 21 to 24 and the plurality of tubes 20 in a predetermined path, and flows out of the refrigerant outlet 28. At that time, the latent heat of vaporization of the refrigerant flowing through the first to fourth header tanks 21 to 24 and the plurality of tubes 20 cools the air flowing through the air passages in which the corrugated fins 10 are provided.
As illustrated in
The corrugated fin 10 has a plurality of joints 12 and a plurality of fin bodies 13. Each of the plurality of joints 12 forms a crest of the wave shape of the corrugated fin 10 and is joined to a tube wall surface 201 which is a side surface of the tube 20 facing the tube arrangement direction DRst. That is, between surfaces of the joint 12 on both sides in the thickness direction, a surface 121 on the side opposite to the side joined to the tube 20 is exposed to the air passage formed between the tubes 20. The joint 12 and the tube 20 are joined specifically by brazing. The joint 12 forms the crest of the wave shape of the corrugated fin 10 and is thus also called a fin top portion.
The fin body 13 is disposed between the joints 12 next to each other along the wave shape of the corrugated fin 10, and is connected to each of the joints 12 to link the joints 12 together.
The fin body 13 is curved at both ends thereof in the tube arrangement direction DRst. That is, the fin body 13 includes a pair of curved connections 131 provided at both ends of the fin body 13 in the tube arrangement direction DRst, and a middle body portion 132 provided between the pair of curved connections 131. The pair of curved connections 131 is curved and connected to the joints 12 on both sides of the fin body 13.
Solid lines L1, L2, L3, and L4 in
The fin body 13 includes a plurality of louvers 14 that has a shape formed by cutting and raising a part of the fin body 13. The plurality of louvers 14 is arranged side by side in the air passage direction AF.
The plurality of louvers 14 is included in the middle body portion 132 of the fin body 13. The louver 14 has a louver body portion 141 including a central portion of the louver 14 in the tube arrangement direction DRst, one louver end 142, and the other louver end 143. In the present embodiment, the one louver end 142 and the other louver end 143 are collectively referred to as louver ends 142 and 143.
In a broader concept, the louver 14 is a cut-raised portion 14 for promoting heat transfer between the corrugated fin 10 and the air in contact with the corrugated fin 10. Accordingly, the louver body portion 141 may be referred to as a cut-raised body 141, the one louver end 142 may be referred to as one cut-raised end 142, and the other louver end 143 may be referred to as the other cut-raised end 143. Moreover, the one cut-raised end 142 and the other cut-raised end 143 may be collectively referred to as cut-raised ends 142 and 143.
The louver body portion 141 has a flat plate shape tilted with respect to the air passage direction AF and guides the air along the louver body portion 141.
The one louver end 142 has a plate shape extending from the louver body portion 141 to one side in the tube arrangement direction DRst, and is provided at an end of the louver 14 on one side in the tube arrangement direction DRst. The one louver end 142 is formed such that the thickness direction of the one louver end 142 intersects the thickness direction of the louver body portion 141.
The one louver end 142 is connected to the curved connection 131 of the fin body 13 forming a portion around the louver 14 on the side opposite to the side of the louver body portion 141 in the tube arrangement direction DRst. The curved connection 131 to which the one louver end 142 is connected is one on one side in the tube arrangement direction DRst of the pair of curved connections 131 arranged with the middle body portion 132 interposed therebetween.
The other louver end 143 has a plate shape extending from the louver body portion 141 to the other side in the tube arrangement direction DRst, and is provided at an end of the louver 14 on the other side in the tube arrangement direction DRst. That is, in view of the arrangement of the one louver end 142 and the other louver end 143, the louver ends 142 and 143 are arranged to form a pair with the louver body portion 141 interposed therebetween, and are provided at both ends of the louver 14 in the tube arrangement direction DRst.
The other louver end 143 is formed such that the thickness direction of the other louver end 143 intersects the thickness direction of the louver body portion 141.
The other louver end 143 is connected to the curved connection 131 of the fin body 13 forming the portion around the louver 14 on the side opposite to the side of the louver body portion 141 in the tube arrangement direction DRst. The curved connection 131 to which the other louver end 143 is connected is one on the other side in the tube arrangement direction DRst of the pair of curved connections 131 arranged with the middle body portion 132 interposed therebetween.
Moreover, as illustrated in
The plurality of louvers 14 forming the four louver groups as a whole guides the air passing through the heat exchanger 1 such that the air meanders as indicated by arrow FLf in
The middle body portion 132 of the fin body 13 includes the plurality of louvers 14 described above, but a region excluding the louvers 14 is formed in the shape of a flat plate. Specifically, the middle body portion 132 has a plurality of flat surfaces 15 formed along the air passage direction AF. The plurality of flat surfaces 15 is arranged side by side with respect to the louvers 14 in the air passage direction AF. That is, the plurality of flat surfaces 15 includes one flat surface 151 provided at an end of the middle body portion 132 on one side in the air passage direction AF, the other flat surface 152 provided at an end of the middle body portion 132 on the other side in the air passage direction AF, and a middle flat surface 153. The middle flat surface 153 is provided between the plurality of louvers 14 formed in the middle body portion 132.
As illustrated in
The hydrophilic recesses and projections 12a to 15a on the surface of the corrugated fin 10 include a plurality of grooves 12b, 131b, 141b, 142b, 143b, 15b, and 15c formed side by side at predetermined intervals. The plurality of grooves 12b, 131b, 141b, 142b, 143b, 15b, and 15c includes a groove extending in a predetermined first direction and a groove extending in a predetermined second direction intersecting the first direction.
Therefore, the plurality of grooves 12b, 131b, 141b, 142b, 143b, 15b, and 15c forming the hydrophilic recesses and projections 12a to 15a is recesses included in the hydrophilic recesses and projections 12a to 15a. The plurality of grooves 12b, 131b, 141b, 142b, 143b, 15b, and 15c may be abbreviated as the plurality of grooves 12b to 15c. In each of the drawings referred to in the present embodiment, the plurality of grooves 12b to 15c provided on the surface of the corrugated fin 10 is schematically enlarged for the purpose of description. The similar is true for each drawing described later that illustrates the grooves 12b to 15c.
Specifically, with regard to each portion of the corrugated fin 10, the joint 12 has the hydrophilic recesses and projections 12a, which is the recesses and projections formed to increase the hydrophilicity of the surface of the joint 12, on the side opposite to the side joined to the tube 20 in the thickness direction of the joint 12. The hydrophilic recesses and projections 12a includes the plurality of grooves 12b formed on the surface 121 of the joint 12 on the side opposite to the side joined to the tube.
In the corrugated fin 10 in isolation, the joint 12 also has the hydrophilic recesses and projections 12a on the side joined to the tube 20 in the thickness direction of the joint 12. However, the joint 12 is joined to the tube 20 in the heat exchanger 1 so that the hydrophilic recesses and projections 12a provided on the joined side of the joint 12 is mostly covered by the tube 20.
The one louver end 142 has the hydrophilic recesses and projections 142a, which is the recesses and projections formed to increase the hydrophilicity of the surface of the one louver end 142, on each of both sides in the thickness direction of the one louver end 142. The hydrophilic recesses and projections 142a includes the plurality of grooves 142b formed on the surface of the one louver end 142.
The other louver end 143 has the hydrophilic recesses and projections 143a, which is the recesses and projections formed to increase the hydrophilicity of the surface of the other louver end 143, on each of both sides in the thickness direction of the other louver end 143. The hydrophilic recesses and projections 143a includes the plurality of grooves 143b formed on the surface of the other louver end 143.
The louver body portion 141 has the hydrophilic recesses and projections 141a, which is the recesses and projections formed to increase the hydrophilicity of the surface of the louver body portion 141, on each of both sides in the thickness direction of the louver body portion 141. The hydrophilic recesses and projections 141a includes the plurality of grooves 141b formed on the surface of the louver body portion 141. At least any of the plurality of grooves 141b provided in the louver body portion 141 is formed to extend in the tube arrangement direction DRst.
The pair of curved connections 131 each has the hydrophilic recesses and projections 131a, which is the recesses and projections formed to increase the hydrophilicity of the surface of the curved connection 131, on each of both sides in the thickness direction of the curved connection 131. The hydrophilic recesses and projections 131a include the plurality of grooves 131b formed on the surface of the curved connection 131.
Each of the flat surfaces 15 of the fin body 13 has the hydrophilic recesses and projections 15a which is the recesses and projections formed to increase the hydrophilicity of the flat surface 15. The hydrophilic recesses and projections 15a include the plurality of grooves 15b and 15c formed on the flat surface 15. The grooves included in the plurality of grooves 15b and 15c formed to increase the hydrophilicity of the flat surface 15 intersect with one another. Specifically, the plurality of grooves 15b and 15c of the flat surface 15 includes a plurality of first flat surface grooves 15b and a plurality of second flat surface grooves 15c.
The plurality of first flat surface grooves 15b is lateral grooves extending in the air passage direction AF. On the other hand, the plurality of second flat surface grooves 15c is longitudinal grooves extending in the tube arrangement direction DRst. The plurality of first flat surface grooves 15b thus extends to intersect the plurality of second flat surface grooves 15c. As one can see, this is true for all of the one flat surface 151, the other flat surface 152, and the middle flat surface 153. The above description that the grooves included in the plurality of grooves 15b and 15c of the flat surface 15 intersect with one another is true for each portion of the corrugated fin 10 besides the flat surface 15.
The plurality of grooves 12b to 15c on the surface of the corrugated fin 10 is formed before the corrugated fin 10 is formed into the wave shape, for example. Thus, as illustrated in
Specifically, at least any of the plurality of grooves 142b of the one louver end 142 is connected to at least any of the plurality of grooves 131b of one curved connection 131 of the pair of curved connections 131 closer to the one louver end 142. This is true for both sides of the one louver end 142. This is also true for the relationship between the plurality of grooves 143b of the other louver end 143 and the plurality of grooves 131b of the other curved connection 131 of the pair of curved connections 131 closer to the other louver end 143.
Specifically, among the plurality of grooves 141b, 142b, and 143b of the louver 14, grooves reaching a region adjacent to the louver are all connected to any of grooves in the region adjacent to the louver. The region adjacent to the louver is a region around the louver 14 and adjacent to the louver 14, and the pair of curved connections 131 and the plurality of flat surfaces 15 each correspond to the region adjacent to the louver as illustrated in
Focusing on the one louver end 142 of the louver 14, the one curved connection 131 described above is adjacent to the one louver end 142. Among the plurality of grooves 142b of the one louver end 142, grooves reaching the one curved connection 131 described above are all connected to any of the grooves 131b of the one curved connection 131.
Likewise, focusing on the other louver end 143, the other curved connection 131 described above is adjacent to the other louver end 143. Among the plurality of grooves 143b of the other louver end 143, grooves reaching the other curved connection 131 described above are all connected to any of the grooves 131b of the other curved connection 131.
At least any of the plurality of grooves 142b of the one louver end 142 is connected to at least any of the plurality of grooves 141b of the louver body portion 141. At the other louver end 143 as well, at least any of the plurality of grooves 143b of the other louver end 143 is connected to at least any of the plurality of grooves 141b of the louver body portion 141.
For example, in part P1 of
As illustrated in
As a result, the hydrophilicity of the surface of the corrugated fin 10 can be sufficiently high. When the hydrophilicity of the surface of the corrugated fin 10 is high, the drainage performance of the corrugated fin 10 is improved so that the condensed water does not stagnate on the surface of the corrugated fin 10. This prevents an increase in the air flow resistance of the air passage due to the stagnation of the condensed water, whereby the heat exchanger 1 can increase the heat exchange performance.
Next, the flow of condensed water generated from the air cooled by the refrigerant will be described. As illustrated in
At this time, the fin body 13 crosses the air passage between the tubes 20, so that the condensed water flowing as indicated by arrow F1 passes the surface of the one louver end 142 and at the same time passes through the gap formed between the louvers 14. Similarly, the condensed water flowing as indicated by arrow F2 passes the surface of the other louver end 143 and at the same time passes through the gap formed between the louvers 14. For example, in area A1 of
The condensed water is mainly generated in the louver 14 because the heat exchange between the refrigerant and the air is promoted in the louver 14. For example, condensed water Wc adhering to the louver body portion 141 of the louver 14 wets and spreads on the surface of the louver body portion 141 as indicated by arrows Fa and Fb.
The condensed water generated in such a manner in the louver body portion 141 joins the condensed water flowing from the upper side as indicated by arrow Fc at the one louver end 142, and flows to the tube wall surface 201 or the joint 12. The condensed water generated in the louver body portion 141 also joins the condensed water flowing from the upper side as indicated by arrow Fd at the other louver end 143, and flows to the tube wall surface 201 or the joint 12.
Considering the flow of the condensed water as described above, the corrugated fin 10 needs to ensure satisfactory drainage to the tube wall surface 201 and the joint 12 for the flow of the condensed water indicated by arrows F1 and F2.
Next, in order to describe the effect of the heat exchanger 1 of the present embodiment, a comparative example to be compared with the present embodiment will be described. As illustrated in
In the corrugated fin 90 of the comparative example illustrated in
In the corrugated fin 90 of the comparative example, the hydrophilicity of the one louver end 142 and the other louver end 143 is lower than that of the present embodiment, so that drainage from the one louver end 142 or the other louver end 143 to the joint 12 or the tube wall surface 201 is more likely to be stagnant. For example, when drainage from the other louver end 143 to the joint 12 or the tube wall surface 201 becomes stagnant as indicated by arrows Fh and Fi in
If there is no condensed water Wc between the louvers 14, for example, the air meanders along the louvers 14 as indicated by arrow FLf in
Moreover, in the corrugated fin 90 of the comparative example, as illustrated in
When the gap between the fin bodies 13 is closed by the condensed water We as described above, the air is held back at the site where the gap between the fin bodies 13 is closed as illustrated in
On the other hand, the heat exchanger 1 of the present embodiment is configured to prevent the stagnation of the condensed water Wc (in other words, the stagnation of drainage) that can occur in the heat exchanger of the comparative example described with reference to
For example, as illustrated in
The hydrophilicity of the surfaces of the one louver end 142 and the other louver end 143 is high as described above, whereby the condensed water adhering to the louver 14 is less likely to be stagnant at each of the one louver end 142 and the other louver end 143. The condensed water is thus quickly drained to the joint 12 or the tube wall surface 201 of the corrugated fin 10. That is, the drainage through the one louver end 142 and the other louver end 143 being a part of the drainage path can be promoted.
It is therefore possible to prevent the condensed water from stagnating in the louvers 14 of the corrugated fin 10. As a result, for example, the function of the louvers 14 for guiding the air as indicated by arrow FLf in
The groove 142b as the recess of the hydrophilic recesses and projections 142a of the one louver end 142 has a force of pulling the condensed water, whereby the drainage of the condensed water flowing through the one louver end 142 can be promoted using the force of the groove 142b pulling the condensed water. The similar is true for the other louver end 143. It is therefore easier to prevent the stagnation of the condensed water in the louvers 14 as compared with the configuration in which only one of the one louver end 142 and the other louver end 143 has the hydrophilic recesses and projections 142a or 143a.
The hydrophilicity of the surface of the corrugated fin 10 can be improved by providing the recesses and projections on the surface as described above, and specific effects obtained by the improvement of the hydrophilicity are as follows. That is, the improvement of the hydrophilicity of the surface can increase the extent of wetting and spreading of water adhering to the surface. Then, as illustrated in
According to the present embodiment, as illustrated in
According to the present embodiment, as illustrated in
According to the present embodiment, the hydrophilic recesses and projections 142a of the one louver end 142 includes the plurality of grooves 142b. The hydrophilic recesses and projections 131a of one curved connection 131 of the pair of curved connections 131 closer to the one louver end 142 also includes the plurality of grooves 131b. At least any of the plurality of grooves 142b of the one louver end 142 is connected to at least any of the plurality of grooves 131b of the one curved connection 131.
As a result, the condensed water adhering to the one louver end 142 is more easily pulled to the one curved connection 131, so that the drainage from the louver 14 can be promoted. Thus, the drainage from the louver 14 to the joint 12 or the tube wall surface 201 via the one curved connection 131 can be promoted. For example, the drainage of the condensed water Wc flowing as indicated by arrows Fn and Fo in
The drainage from the louver 14 is promoted in a similar manner at the other louver end 143 as well. That is, the present embodiment can promote the drainage of the condensed water Wc flowing through the other louver end 143 as indicated by arrows Fp and Fq in
According to the present embodiment, as illustrated in
Moreover, the plurality of grooves 12b included in the hydrophilic recesses and projections 12a of the joint 12 pulls the condensed water from the curved connection 131 connected on the upper side of the joint 12. Such a configuration can also promote the drainage of the condensed water Wc flowing as indicated by arrow Fr in
In area XVII of
From such a relationship in magnitude between the radii of curvature R1 and R2, the force of pulling the condensed water Wc is larger on the convex side than on the concave side of the curved shape of the curved connection 131, whereby the drainage flow as indicated by arrows Fs and Ft in
According to the present embodiment, as illustrated in
According to the present embodiment, as illustrated in
Accordingly, the condensed water Wc adhering on the flat surface 15 wets and spreads while being pulled by the first flat surface grooves 15b and the second flat surface grooves 15c, and is drained to the area around the flat surface 15. For example, as indicated by arrows F1u, F2u, and F3u in
For example, as illustrated in
According to the present embodiment, as illustrated in
According to the present embodiment, in addition to the plurality of second flat surface grooves 15c, the plurality of first flat surface grooves 15b extending in the air passage direction AF is also provided on the flat surface 15. Thus, the hydrophilicity of the flat surface 15 is also improved by the first flat surface grooves 15b so that the drainage from the flat surface 15 can be improved.
According to the present embodiment, as illustrated in
According to the present embodiment, the depth h of the recesses included in the hydrophilic recesses and projections 12a to 15a illustrated in
In the present embodiment, among the plurality of grooves 12b to 15c, one surface grooves provided on the surface at one side in the thickness direction and other surface grooves provided on the surface at the other side are in an alternate arrangement in a part of the corrugated fin 10, as illustrated in area B1 of
The part of the corrugated fin 10 where the plurality of grooves 12b to 15c is in the alternate arrangement as described above can avoid a local reduction in thickness of the corrugated fin 10 caused by formation of the grooves 12b to 15c on the surfaces at both sides in the thickness direction. Therefore, the part with the alternate arrangement can avoid a decrease in strength of the corrugated fin 10 caused by the formation of the grooves 12b to 15c. The part in which the plurality of grooves 12b to 15c is in the alternate arrangement, that is, an alternating groove part, may be included in any of the components of the corrugated fin 10 such as the joint 12, the fin body 13, or the louver 14, for example.
In the present embodiment, the hydrophilic recesses and projections 12a to 15a are provided on the surface of the corrugated fin 10 as described above, whereby the hydrophilicity is improved by the shape of the surface. Such a shape of the surface undergoes a small change over time. Therefore, deterioration in the hydrophilicity due to aging does not progress easily so that the hydrophilicity of the surface of the corrugated fin 10 can be stably exhibited.
For example,
In the present embodiment, a chemical method such as applying a hydrophilic coating to the surface of the corrugated fin 10 is not performed and is not essential. However, the effect of improving the hydrophilicity is further increased by combining the provision of the hydrophilic recesses and projections 12a to 15a with the chemical method.
Next, a second embodiment will be described. The present embodiment will mainly describe points that are different from the first embodiment. In addition, descriptions of parts identical or equivalent to those of the above embodiment will be omitted or simplified. This also applies to the description of third and subsequent embodiments to be described below.
As illustrated in
The present embodiment is similar to the first embodiment except for what is described above. The present embodiment can thus obtain effects similar to those of the first embodiment by the configuration common to the first embodiment.
Next, a third embodiment will be described. The present embodiment will mainly describe points that are different from the first embodiment.
As illustrated in
The corrugated fin 10 of the present embodiment and the corrugated fin 10 of the first embodiment both have the louvers 14, so that the louver gap 14c is provided as described above similarly in the present embodiment and the first embodiment.
However, unlike the first embodiment, a notch 131c is formed in the pair of curved connections 131 of the fin body 13 in the present embodiment. The notch 131c may be formed in at least one of the pair of curved connections 131 but is formed on each of the pair of curved connections 131 in the present embodiment.
Specifically, the notch 131c of each of the curved connections 131 has a shape obtained by cutting each of the curved connections 131 from the louver gap 14c. In the present embodiment, the notch 131c is provided to correspond to some of a plurality of the louver gaps 14c formed in the fin body 13. As illustrated in
Since the notch 131c is formed in each of the curved connections 131 as described above, a cut portion in which the notch 131c is formed can also be used as the drainage path so that drainage of a region around the cut portion can be performed smoothly.
For example, as illustrated in
The present embodiment is similar to the first embodiment except for what is described above. The present embodiment can thus obtain effects similar to those of the first embodiment by the configuration common to the first embodiment. Although the present embodiment is a modification based on the first embodiment, the present embodiment can be combined with the above second embodiment as well.
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. The present embodiment will mainly describe points that are different from the first embodiment.
As illustrated in
The hydrophilic recesses and projections 142a and 143a of the louver ends 142 and 143 may be formed on at least one side in the thickness direction of the louver ends 142 and 143, but are formed on both sides in the thickness direction of the louver ends 142 and 143 in the present embodiment.
The present embodiment is similar to the first embodiment except for what is described above. The present embodiment can thus obtain effects similar to those of the first embodiment by the configuration common to the first embodiment. Although the present embodiment is a modification based on the first embodiment, the present embodiment can be combined with the above second or third embodiment as well.
Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. The present embodiment will mainly describe points that are different from the first embodiment.
In the present embodiment, as illustrated in
The joint adjacent portions 161 form a pair with the joint 12 interposed therebetween, and extend from both ends of the joint 12. Each of the joint adjacent portions 161 is included in each of the curved connections 131. For example, the joint adjacent portions 161 each may be a part or all of each of the curved connections 131.
The tube side ridge 16 has a plurality of hydrophilic grooves 16a and 16b, which is formed to increase the hydrophilicity of the surface of the tube side ridge 16, on the convex surface joined to the tube 20 and a concave surface on the backside of the convex surface, respectively. That is, the tube side ridge 16 has the plurality of hydrophilic grooves 16a provided on the convex surface and the plurality of hydrophilic grooves 16b provided on the concave surface. Since the tube side ridge 16 includes the joint 12, the hydrophilic grooves 16a and 16b of the tube side ridge 16 include the grooves 12b (see
The hydrophilic groove 16a on the convex surface and the hydrophilic groove 16b on the concave surface of the tube side ridge 16 are formed in different shapes. Specifically, a groove depth DPa of the hydrophilic groove 16a on the convex surface is smaller than a groove depth DPb of the hydrophilic groove 16b on the concave surface. Moreover, a groove width WDa of the hydrophilic groove 16a on the convex surface is larger than a groove width WDb of the hydrophilic groove 16b on the concave surface.
The above relationship in magnitude between the groove depths DPa and DPb expressed as “DPa<DPb” may hold true for the entire tube side ridge 16 or only a part of the tube side ridge 16. Likewise, the above relationship in magnitude between the groove widths WDa and WDb expressed as “WDa>WDb” may hold true for the entire tube side ridge 16 or only a part of the tube side ridge 16.
The relationships in magnitude between the groove depths DPa and DPb and between the groove widths WDa and WDb in the tube side ridge 16 may or need not extend to a part of the corrugated fin 10 beyond the tube side ridge 16.
The present embodiment is similar to the first embodiment except for what is described above. The present embodiment can thus obtain effects similar to those of the first embodiment by the configuration common to the first embodiment.
According to the present embodiment, among the plurality of hydrophilic grooves 16a and 16b of the tube side ridge 16, the hydrophilic groove 16a on the convex surface has the groove depth DPa smaller than the groove depth DPb of the hydrophilic groove 16b on the concave surface.
Accordingly, the hydrophilic grooves 16a and 16b of the tube side ridge 16 generate the capillary force of “convex surface<concave surface”, whereby water is more easily collected on the concave surface of the tube side ridge 16 to be the drainage path. As a result, the water is drained smoothly from the heat exchanger 1. Moreover, the recesses and projections on the surface can be reduced on the convex surface of the tube side ridge 16 joined to the tube 20, whereby the corrugated fin 10 can be reliably joined to the tube 20.
Moreover, in the tube side ridge 16, the groove width WDa of the hydrophilic groove 16a on the convex surface is larger than the groove width WDb of the hydrophilic groove 16b on the concave surface. In this case as well, water is more easily collected on the concave surface of the tube side ridge 16 as described above, whereby the corrugated fin 10 can be reliably joined to the tube 20.
Although the present embodiment is a modification based on the first embodiment, the present embodiment can be combined with the above second or third embodiment as well.
In each of the embodiments described above, as illustrated in
The grooves 12b to 15c may be grooves having uniform or non-uniform groove widths. Moreover, the grooves 12b to 15c may be grooves having uniform or non-uniform groove depths.
In each of the embodiments described above, as illustrated in
In each of the embodiments described above, as illustrated in
When the heat exchanger 1 is disposed as illustrated in
In each of the embodiments described above, the heat exchanger 1 is used as the evaporator but is not limited thereto. The heat exchanger 1 in each of the embodiments may be a heat exchanger other than the evaporator as long as the heat exchanger requires drainage of water.
For example, instead of the evaporator, the heat exchanger 1 may be a heat exchanger provided in an environment exposed to water. As a specific example, a condenser and a radiator for air conditioning installed in an engine room of a vehicle may be exposed to water during travel of the vehicle or the like, and therefore correspond to the heat exchanger provided in the environment exposed to water.
In each of the embodiments described above, the first fluid flowing through the tube 20 is the refrigerant but can be a fluid other than the refrigerant. Moreover, the second fluid flowing among the tubes 20 is the air but can be a fluid other than the air.
In the first embodiment described above, as illustrated in
For example, the hydrophilic recesses and projections 12a to 15a can be formed not on the surfaces at both sides in the thickness direction of the corrugated fin 10 but on only surface at one side in the thickness direction thereof. That is, as for the louver ends 142 and 143, each of the louver ends 142 and 143 need only have the corresponding hydrophilic recesses and projections 142a or 143a on at least one side in the thickness direction of the louver end 142 or 143. As for the curved connection 131, the curved connection 131 need only have the hydrophilic recesses and projections 131a on at least one side in the thickness direction of the curved connection 131. As for the louver body portion 141, the louver body portion 141 need only have the hydrophilic recesses and projections 141a on at least one side in the thickness direction of the louver body portion 141.
For example, in the configuration in which the hydrophilic recesses and projections 12a to 15a are formed only on the surface at one side in the thickness direction of the corrugated fin 10, the hydrophilic recesses and projections 12a to 15a can be formed as illustrated in
As another point of view, the hydrophilic recesses and projections 12a to 15a can be formed only on specific portions of the corrugated fin 10. For example, the hydrophilic recesses and projections 12a to 15a may be provided on only one of the one louver end 142 and the other louver end 143 of the corrugated fin 10, and need not be provided on the other portions.
That is, as illustrated in
In the first embodiment described above, as illustrated in area B1 of
In the third embodiment described above, as illustrated in
In the fifth embodiment described above, as illustrated in
In each of the embodiments described above, as illustrated in
Specifically,
As one can see, each of the slit fin in
The present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments but can be modified in various ways for implementation. The above embodiments are not independent of one another but can be combined as appropriate unless clearly not combinable. It goes without saying that the components included in the above embodiments are not necessarily required unless specified as being required, regarded as being clearly required in principle, or the like.
The numerical value such as the number, the numerical value, the quantity, the range, or the like of a component mentioned in the above embodiments is not limited to a specific number unless specified as being required, clearly limited to such a specific number in principle, or the like. The material, the shape, the positional relationship, and the like of a component or the like mentioned in the above embodiments are not limited to those being mentioned unless otherwise specified, limited to specific material, shape, positional relationship, and the like in principle, or the like.
According to a first aspect illustrated in part or all of the above embodiments, tubes through which a first fluid flows are arranged in one direction. A cut-raised portion of a corrugated fin includes a cut-raised body that guides the second fluid, and a cut-raised end. The cut-raised end is provided on at least one end of the cut-raised portion in the one direction and has a plate shape extending from the cut-raised body. The cut-raised end has recesses and projections that increase hydrophilicity of a surface of the cut-raised end on at least one side of the cut-raised end in a thickness direction of the cut-raised end.
According to a second aspect, the cut-raised end is provided on each of opposite ends of the cut-raised portion in the one direction. As describe above, the cut-raised end has the recesses and projections on the at least one side of the cut-raised end in the thickness direction. As a result, the water adhering to the cut-raised portion is less likely to be stagnant due to the improvement in the hydrophilicity of the surface at each of both ends of the cut-raised portion. Therefore, as compared with the configuration of the first aspect, it is easier to prevent the water from being stagnant in the cut-raised portion of the corrugated fin.
According to a third aspect, the fin body includes a pair of curved connections that are curved and connected to the joints at opposite ends of the fin body in the one direction. The pair of curved connections each includes recesses and projections that increase hydrophilicity of a surface of the curved connection on at least one side of the curved connection in a thickness direction of the curved connection. Thus, since the hydrophilicity of the surface of the curved connections becomes high, the drainage from the curved connections to the joint or the tube wall surface can be promoted.
According to a fourth aspect, the cut-raised end provided on at least one end of the cut-raised portion in the one direction includes one cut-raised end that is provided at an end of the cut-raised portion on one side of the cut-raised portion in the one direction. The recesses and projections of the one cut-raised end includes a plurality of grooves, and the recesses and projections of one of the pair of curved connections closer to the one cut-raised end also includes a plurality of grooves. At least one of the plurality of grooves of the one cut-raised end is connected to at least one of the plurality of grooves of the one of the pair of curved connections. As a result, the water adhering to the one cut-raised end is more easily pulled to one of the curved connections, so that the drainage from the cut-raised portion can be promoted. Thus, the drainage from the cut-raised portion to the joint or the tube wall surface via the one curved connection can be promoted.
According to a fifth aspect, the fin body includes a pair of curved connections curved and connected to the joints at opposite ends of the fin body in the one direction. The fin body includes a cut-raised gap that is provided adjacent to the cut-raised portion by formation of the cut and raised shape of the cut-raised portion. At least one of the pair of curved connections has a notch extending thereinto from the cut-raised gap. The notch extends outward of a width of the cut-raised portion in the one direction. Thus, a notched portion of the notch can also be used as a drainage path so that drainage of a region near the notched portion can be performed smoothly.
According to a sixth aspect, the joint includes recesses and projections provided on a surface of the joint facing away from the joined tube for increase in hydrophilicity of the surface of the joint. Thus, the drainage is less likely to be stagnant at the joint, whereby the drainage from the cut-raised portion to the joint can be promoted.
According to a seventh aspect, the corrugated fin includes a tube side ridge that includes the joint and a portion adjacent to the joint, and the tube side ridge is curved to have a convex surface joined to the tube. The tube side ridge includes a plurality of hydrophilic grooves on the convex surface and a concave surface on the backside of the convex surface for increase in hydrophilicity of the convex and concave surfaces of the tube side ridge. The plurality of hydrophilic grooves on the convex surface has a groove depth smaller than a groove depth of the plurality of hydrophilic grooves on the concave surface.
Thus, the hydrophilic grooves of the tube side ridge generate the capillary force of “convex surface <concave surface”, whereby the water is more easily collected on the surface on the concave surface of the tube side ridge to be the drainage path. As a result, the water is drained smoothly from the heat exchanger. Moreover, the recesses and projections on the surface can be made to be small on the convex surface of the tube side ridge joined to the tube, whereby the corrugated fin can be reliably joined to the tube.
According to an eighth aspect, the corrugated fin includes a tube side ridge that includes the joint and a portion adjacent to the joint, and the tube side ridge is curved to have a convex surface joined to the tube. The tube side ridge includes a plurality of hydrophilic grooves on the convex surface and a concave surface on a backside of the convex surface for increase in hydrophilicity of the convex and concave surfaces of the tube side ridge. The plurality of hydrophilic grooves on the convex surface has a groove width wider than a groove width of the plurality of hydrophilic grooves on the concave surface.
Thus, similar to the seventh aspect, the water is more easily collected on the surface on the concave surface of the tube side ridge, whereby the corrugated fin can be reliably joined to the tube.
According to a ninth aspect, the cut-raised body includes recesses and projections that increase hydrophilicity of a surface of the cut-raised body on at least one side in a thickness direction of the cut-raised body. Thus, the water spreads on the surface of the cut-raised body and flows out more easily from the cut-raised portion, whereby the drainage from the cut-raised portion can be improved.
According to a tenth aspect, the second fluid flows between the tubes in one cross direction crossing the one direction from one side as an upstream side to another side as a downstream side. The fin body includes a flat surface along the one cross direction. The flat surface includes a plurality of longitudinal grooves that increase hydrophilicity of the flat surface, and the plurality of longitudinal grooves extends in the one direction. The longitudinal grooves thus pull the water adhering on the flat surface in the one direction, whereby the water is easily led to a tube adjacent to the corrugated fin. Therefore, the drainage from the flat surface can be improved.
According to an eleventh aspect, the flat surface includes a plurality of lateral grooves that increase hydrophilicity of the flat surface, and the plurality of lateral grooves crosses the plurality of longitudinal grooves and extends in the one cross direction. The water adhering on the flat surface thus wets and spreads while being pulled by the longitudinal and lateral grooves, and is drained to the area around the flat surface. Since the plurality of longitudinal grooves and the plurality of lateral grooves intersect one another, a wide variety of drainage paths is formed on the flat surface so that the drainage from the flat surface can be improved.
According to a twelfth aspect, the flat surface includes a plurality of lateral grooves that increase hydrophilicity of the flat surface, and the plurality of lateral grooves extends in the one cross direction. Thus, the hydrophilicity of the flat surface is improved by the lateral grooves so that the drainage from the flat surface can be improved.
According to a thirteenth aspect, the second fluid is a gas that generates condensed water by heat exchange with the first fluid.
According to a fourteenth aspect, the heat exchanger is provided in an environment to be exposed to water.
According to a fifteenth aspect, the tubes extend in a vertical direction. Therefore, the drainage of the water along the tube wall surface can be improved by gravity.
According to a sixteenth aspect, a depth of a recess included in the recesses and projections is 10 μm or deeper. As a result, the hydrophilicity is gained sufficiently by the recesses and projections, and the drainage effect of draining the water adhering to the surface with the recesses and projections can be sufficiently exerted.
According to a seventeenth aspect, a depth of a groove included in the plurality of longitudinal grooves is 10 μm or deeper, and a depth of a groove included in the plurality of lateral grooves is 10 μm or deeper. As a result, the hydrophilicity is gained sufficiently by the longitudinal grooves and the lateral grooves, and the drainage effect of draining the water adhering to the flat surface can be sufficiently exerted.
According to an eighteenth aspect, the recesses and projections of the cut-raised end are provided on each of opposite sides of the cut-raised end in the thickness direction. Thus, as compared with the case where the recesses and projections is provided only on one side in the thickness directions of the cut-raised end, a greater effect of preventing stagnation of the water in the cut-raised portion of the corrugated fin can be obtained.
According to a nineteenth aspect, the cut-raised portion for promoting heat transfer is a louver.
According to a twentieth aspect, a cut-raised portion of a corrugated fin includes a cut-raised body that guides a second fluid, and a cut-raised end that is provided on at least one end of the cut-raised portion in one direction and has a plate shape extending from the cut-raised body. The cut-raised end has recesses and projections that increase hydrophilicity of a surface of the cut-raised end on at least one side of the cut-raised end in a thickness direction of the cut-raised end.
A comparative example will be described. A heat exchanger according to the comparative example is a plate-fin and tube heat exchanger, and flat tubes are inserted into notches formed in a flat plate fin.
On the surface of the plate fin, recesses and projections may be formed to improve hydrophilicity of the surface of the plate fin. As a result, condensed water is drained quickly along the plate fin.
When the condensed water is generated in the heat exchanger and stagnates therein, the heat exchange performance may be deteriorated. As a result, such deterioration may cause, for example, an increase in noise, an increase in power consumption of a blower feeding air to the heat exchanger, an increase in power of a compressor connected to the heat exchanger in a refrigeration cycle, and the like.
On the other hand, a heat exchanger including corrugated fins with louvers has a different drainage path from that of the plate-fin and tube heat exchanger. Moreover, the corrugated fins improve the heat exchange performance by guiding the fluid passing between tubes with the louvers of the corrugated fins. Therefore, the technology of the comparative example for improvement of hydrophilicity of the surface of the plate fin cannot be used as it is for the heat exchanger including the corrugated fins. The present inventors have found the above facts as a result of detailed study.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a heat exchanger performs heat exchange between a first fluid and a second fluid. The heat exchanger includes tubes which are arranged in one direction and in which the first fluid flows, and a corrugated fin provided between the tubes, curved to have a wave shape, and configured to promote heat exchange between the first fluid and the second fluid. The second fluid flows between the tubes. The corrugated fin includes joints that are joined to the tubes, and fin bodies that are each between and connect the joints which are located next to each other along the wave shape. The fin body includes a cut-raised portion that has a shape in which a part of the fin body is cut and raised for promotion of heat transfer. The cut-raised portion includes a cut-raised body that guides the second fluid, and a cut-raised end that is provided on at least one end of the cut-raised portion in the one direction and has a plate shape extending from the cut-raised body. The cut-raised end has recesses and projections that increase hydrophilicity of a surface of the cut-raised end on at least one side of the cut-raised end in a thickness direction of the cut-raised end.
Thus, since the hydrophilicity of the surface of the cut-raised end becomes high, the water adhering to the cut-raised portion is less likely to be stagnant at the cut-raised end and is quickly drained to the joint or the surface of the tube of the corrugated fin. Therefore, the water can be prevented from stagnating in the cut-raised portion of the corrugated fin. As a result, for example, the function of the cut-raised portion for guiding the second fluid is not hindered by the water adhering to the cut-raised portion.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a corrugated fin is for a heat exchanger performing heat exchange between a first fluid and a second fluid. The corrugated fin is disposed between tubes arranged in one direction, is curved to form a wave shape, and promotes the heat exchange between the first fluid flowing through the tubes and the second fluid flowing between the tubes. The corrugated fin includes joints joined to the tubes, and fin bodies that are each between and connect the joints which are located next to each other along the wave shape. The fin body includes a cut-raised portion that has a shape in which a part of the fin body is cut and raised for promotion of heat transfer. The cut-raised portion includes a cut-raised body that guides the second fluid, and a cut-raised end that is provided on at least one end of the cut-raised portion in the one direction and has a plate shape extending from the cut-raised body. The cut-raised end has recesses and projections that increase hydrophilicity of a surface of the cut-raised end on at least one side of the cut-raised end in a thickness direction of the cut-raised end.
Therefore, the effect similar to that of the heat exchanger according to the one aspect above can be obtained.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2017-115290 | Jun 2017 | JP | national |
2018-105208 | May 2018 | JP | national |
The present application is a continuation application of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2018/021850 filed on Jun. 7, 2018, which designated the U.S. and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-115290 filed on Jun. 12, 2017, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-105208 filed on May 31, 2018.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/JP2018/021850 | Jun 2018 | US |
Child | 16696767 | US |