HEAT EXCHANGER

Abstract

A heat exchanger including: a collecting pipe that has a collecting pipe wall; and a plurality of flat pipes. The plurality of flat pipes include two groups of first flat pipes, which are positioned on the outermost side in an axial direction of the collecting pipe, and a second flat pipe, which is positioned between the two groups of first flat pipes; and the collecting pipe includes two first parts, which correspond to the two groups of first flat pipes in the axial direction of the collecting pipe, and a second part, which is positioned between the two first parts. The tensile strength of at least one group of first flat pipes from the two groups of first flat pipes in the axial direction of the collecting pipe is greater than the tensile strength of the second flat pipe in the axial direction of the collecting pipe and/or the tensile strength of at least one first part from the two first parts of the collecting pipe in the axial direction of the collecting pipe is greater than the tensile strength of the second part of the collecting pipe in the axial direction of the collecting pipe. By means of the heat exchanger in the present invention, the bursting strength of the heat exchanger can be improved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The embodiments of the present invention relate to a heat exchanger.

BACKGROUND

A heat exchanger comprises a header, flat tubes, and fins arranged alternately with the flat tubes. In a microchannel strength bursting test, due to axially outward expansion deformation of the ends of the header, excessively high stress in the flat tubes close to the ends of the header causes the flat tubes to rupture.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide a heat exchanger whereby, for example, the bursting strength of the heat exchanger can be increased.

The present invention provides a heat exchanger, comprising: a header, comprising a header wall having multiple through-holes; and multiple flat tubes, the multiple flat tubes being arranged in an axial direction of the header, and ends of the multiple flat tubes being respectively inserted into multiple through-holes of the header wall of the header and connected to the header wall,

• • wherein the multiple flat tubes comprise two sets of first flat tubes that are outermost in the axial direction of the header, and a second flat tube between the two sets of first flat tubes; the header comprises two first parts corresponding to outermost flat tubes in the axial direction of the header, and a second part between the two first parts, and wherein the tensile strength of at least one set of first flat tubes in the two sets of first flat tubes in the axial direction of the header is greater than the tensile strength of the second flat tube in the axial direction of the header, and/or the tensile strength of at least one first part of the two first parts of the header in the axial direction of the header is greater than the tensile strength of the second part of the header in the axial direction of the header.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the flat tube comprises multiple channels, and a spacing wall between adjacent channels; a dimension, in the direction of arrangement of the spacing wall, of at least one spacing wall of at least one first flat tube in the at least one set of first flat tubes is greater than a dimension, in the direction of arrangement of the spacing wall, of the spacing wall of the second flat tube.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one spacing wall of at least one first flat tube in the at least one set of first flat tubes is a spacing wall located in the middle in a width direction of the first flat tube.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the dimensions, in the direction of arrangement of the spacing walls, of multiple spacing walls of at least one first flat tube in the at least one set of first flat tubes are the same.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one first flat tube in the at least one set of first flat tubes is a solid flat tube.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one first flat tube in the at least one set of first flat tubes comprises multiple secondary flat tubes, the multiple secondary flat tubes being spaced apart in a width direction of the flat tube; and the through-hole in the header wall of the header corresponding to the at least one first flat tube comprises multiple secondary through-holes, the multiple secondary through-holes being spaced apart in a circumferential direction of the header, and ends of the multiple secondary flat tubes being respectively inserted into the multiple secondary through-holes and connected to the header wall.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, adjacent secondary flat tubes in the multiple secondary flat tubes of at least one first flat tube in the at least one set of first flat tubes are connected via a connecting part, the multiple secondary flat tubes being formed integrally with the connecting part.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one first flat tube in the at least one set of first flat tubes comprises two secondary flat tubes, and the through-hole in the header wall of the header corresponding to the at least one first flat tube comprises two secondary through-holes.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a dimension, in a circumferential direction of the header, of the through-hole in the header wall of the header corresponding to at least one first flat tube in the at least one set of first flat tubes is less than a dimension, in the circumferential direction of the header, of the through-hole in the header wall of the header corresponding to the second flat tube.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when viewed in an axial direction of the flat tube, the through-hole in the header wall of the header corresponding to the at least one first flat tube in the at least one set of first flat tubes is inclined relative to the axial direction of the header.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when viewed in an axial direction of the flat tube, the through-hole in the header wall of the header corresponding to the at least one first flat tube in the at least one set of first flat tubes has a curved shape.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when viewed in an axial direction of the flat tube, the through-hole in the header wall of the header corresponding to the at least one first flat tube in the at least one set of first flat tubes is parallel to the through-hole in the header wall of the header corresponding to the second flat tube.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, each set of first flat tubes in the two sets of first flat tubes comprises one or more first flat tubes.

By using the heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible for example to increase the bursting strength of the heat exchanger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic main view of a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a first flat tube of a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a second flat tube of a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a first flat tube of a heat exchanger according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a first flat tube of a heat exchanger according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a heat exchanger according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the header of the heat exchanger shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of the first flat tube of the heat exchanger shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a first flat tube according to an embodiment of the present invention, used in the heat exchanger shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a heat exchanger according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the header of the heat exchanger shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a side view of a header of a heat exchanger according to a further embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is a side view of a header of a heat exchanger according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is explained further below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 13, a heat exchanger 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a header 1, the header 1 comprising a header wall 10, and the header wall 10 having multiple through-holes 11; and multiple flat tubes 2. The multiple flat tubes 2 are arranged in an axial direction of the header 1, and ends 21 of the multiple flat tubes 2 are respectively inserted into the multiple through-holes 11 in the header wall 10 of the header 1 and connected to the header wall 10. The multiple flat tubes 2 comprise two sets of first flat tubes 2A that are outermost in the axial direction of the header 1, and a second flat tube 2B between the two sets of first flat tubes 2A. The header 1 comprises two first parts 12A corresponding to outermost flat tubes 2 in the axial direction of the header 1, and a second part 12B between the two first parts 12A. The tensile strength of at least one set of first flat tubes 2A in the two sets of first flat tubes 2A in the axial direction of the header 1 is greater than the tensile strength of the second flat tube 2B in the axial direction of the header 1, and/or the tensile strength of at least one first part 12A of the two first parts 12A of the header 1 in the axial direction of the header 1 is greater than the tensile strength of the second part 12B of the header 1 in the axial direction of the header 1. The heat exchanger 100 may also comprise fins 3 arranged alternately with the flat tubes 2. The header 1 also comprises an end cap 13. Each set of first flat tubes 12A in the two sets of first flat tubes 12A comprises one or more first flat tubes 12A. When each set of first flat tubes 12A comprises multiple first flat tubes 12A, the multiple first flat tubes 12A are arranged sequentially or one after the other. In the embodiment shown in the figures, each set of first flat tubes 12A comprises one first flat tube 12A. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a first flat tube of a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a second flat tube of a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In an embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the flat tube 2 comprises multiple channels 20, and spacing walls 22 between adjacent channels 20; and a dimension, in the direction of arrangement of the spacing walls 22, of at least one spacing wall 22 of at least one first flat tube 2A in at least one set of first flat tubes 2A is greater than a dimension, in the direction of arrangement of the spacing walls 22, of the spacing wall 22 of the second flat tube 2B. For example, the dimension, in the direction of arrangement of the spacing walls 22, of at least one spacing wall 22 of the first flat tube 2A is greater than the dimension, in the direction of arrangement of the spacing walls 22, of the spacing wall 22 of the second flat tube 2B. The direction of arrangement of the spacing walls 22 is also a width direction of the flat tubes 2. The dimensions, in the direction of arrangement of the spacing walls 22, of multiple spacing walls 22 of at least one first flat tube 2A in at least one set of first flat tubes 2A may be the same or different; for example, the dimensions, in the direction of arrangement of the spacing walls 22, of multiple spacing walls 22 of the first flat tube 2A may be the same or different. In an example of the present invention, referring to FIG. 4, the at least one spacing wall 22 of at least one first flat tube 2A in at least one set of first flat tubes 2A is a spacing wall 22 located in the middle in the width direction of the first flat tube 2A. For example, the at least one spacing wall 22 of the first flat tube 2A is a spacing wall 22 located in the middle in the width direction of the first flat tube 2A.

In an embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIG. 5, at least one first flat tube 2A in at least one set of first flat tubes 2A is a solid flat tube 2; for example, the first flat tube 2A is a solid flat tube 2, i.e. has no channel 20.

In an embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIG. 6 to FIG. 9, at least one first flat tube 2A in at least one set of first flat tubes 2A comprises multiple secondary flat tubes 2S, the multiple secondary flat tubes 2S being spaced apart in the width direction of the flat tube 2; and the through-hole 11 in the header wall 10 of the header 1 corresponding to the at least one first flat tube 2A comprises multiple secondary through-holes 11S, the multiple secondary through-holes 11S being spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the header 1, and ends of the multiple secondary flat tubes being respectively inserted into the multiple secondary through-holes and connected to the header wall. For example, the first flat tube 2A comprises multiple secondary flat tubes 2S, the multiple secondary flat tubes 2S being spaced apart in the width direction of the flat tube 2; and the through-hole 11 in the header wall 10 of the header 1 corresponding to the first flat tube 2A comprises multiple secondary through-holes 11S, the multiple secondary through-holes 11S being spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the header 1. In an example of the present invention, referring to FIG. 9, adjacent secondary flat tubes 2S in multiple secondary flat tubes 2S of at least one first flat tube 2A in at least one set of first flat tubes 2A are connected via a connecting part 23, the multiple secondary flat tubes 2S being formed integrally with the connecting part 23. For example, adjacent secondary flat tubes 2S of multiple secondary flat tubes 2S of the first flat tube 2A are connected via a connecting part 23, the multiple secondary flat tubes 2S being formed integrally with the connecting part 23, which may be a connecting piece. In the embodiment shown, at least one first flat tube 2A in at least one set of first flat tubes 2A comprises two secondary flat tubes 2S, and the through-hole 11 in the header wall 10 of the header 1 corresponding to at least one first flat tube 2A comprises two secondary through-holes 11S. For example, the first flat tube 2A comprises two secondary flat tubes 2S, and the through-hole 11 in the header wall 10 of the header 1 corresponding to the first flat tube 2A comprises two secondary through-holes 11S.

In an embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIGS. 10, 11, 12 and 13, a dimension, in the circumferential direction of the header 1, of the through-hole 11 in the header wall 10 of the header 1 corresponding to at least one first flat tube 2A in at least one set of first flat tubes 2A is less than a dimension, in the circumferential direction of the header 1, of the through-hole 11 in the header wall 10 of the header 1 corresponding to the second flat tube 2B.

In an embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the width of the first flat tube 2A may be less than the width of the second flat tube 2B; alternatively, only the width of the end of the first flat tube 2A may be less than the width of the second flat tube 2B and less than the width of another part of the first flat tube 2A, the other part of the first flat tube 2A having the same width as the second flat tube 2B.

In an embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, when viewed in an axial direction of the flat tube 2, the through-hole 11 in the header wall 10 of the header 1 corresponding to at least one first flat tube 2A in at least one set of first flat tubes 2A is parallel to the through-hole 11 in the header wall 10 of the header 1 corresponding to the second flat tube 2B.

In embodiments of the present invention, referring to FIG. 12, when viewed in the axial direction of the flat tube 2, the through-hole 11 in the header wall 10 of the header 1 corresponding to at least one first flat tube 2A in at least one set of first flat tubes 2A has a curved shape. For example, in a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the flat tube 2, the first flat tube 2A has a curved shape; or in a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the flat tube 2, only the end of the first flat tube 2A has a curved shape, while another part of the first flat tube 2A has the same shape as the second flat tube 2B.

In an embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIG. 13, when viewed in the axial direction of the flat tube 2, the through-hole 11 in the header wall 10 of the header 1 corresponding to at least one first flat tube 2A in at least one set of first flat tubes 2A is inclined relative to the axial direction of the header 1. For example, in a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the flat tube 2, the first flat tube 2A is inclined relative to the axial direction of the header 1; or only the end of the first flat tube 2A is inclined relative to the axial direction of the header 1, while another part of the first flat tube 2A is parallel to the second flat tube 2B.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one first flat tube 2A in at least one set of first flat tubes 2A of the two sets of first flat tubes 2A may be one first flat tube 2A or multiple first flat tubes 2A.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the thickness of the spacing wall of the flat tube is increased, thereby enabling the flat tube to be restrained by pulling when the through-hole of the header is subjected to a force, and preventing the through-hole from increasing in size. Furthermore, by reducing the length of the through-hole of the header in the axial direction, deformation of the end of the header can be alleviated, preventing the through-hole from increasing in size. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the axial strength of the header end is enhanced, thereby increasing the final bursting pressure.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, failure of the flat tubes at the two ends of the header in a strength bursting test can be mitigated, increasing the bursting pressure. At the same time, it is ensured that performance and cost remain virtually unchanged.

Although the above embodiments have been described, certain features in the above embodiments can be combined to form new embodiments.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger, comprising: a header, comprising a header wall having multiple through-holes; andmultiple flat tubes, the multiple flat tubes being arranged in an axial direction of the header, and ends of the multiple flat tubes being respectively inserted into multiple through-holes of the header wall of the header and connected to the header wall,wherein the multiple flat tubes comprise two sets of first flat tubes that are outermost in the axial direction of the header, and a second flat tube between the two sets of first flat tubes; the header comprises two first parts corresponding to outermost flat tubes in the axial direction of the header, and a second part between the two first parts, andwherein the tensile strength of at least one set of first flat tubes in the two sets of first flat tubes in the axial direction of the header is greater than the tensile strength of the second flat tube in the axial direction of the header, and/or the tensile strength of at least one first part of the two first parts of the header in the axial direction of the header is greater than the tensile strength of the second part of the header in the axial direction of the header.

2. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the flat tube comprises multiple channels, and a spacing wall between adjacent channels; a dimension, in the direction of arrangement of the spacing wall, of at least one spacing wall of at least one first flat tube in the at least one set of first flat tubes is greater than a dimension, in the direction of arrangement of the spacing wall, of the spacing wall of the second flat tube.

3. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 2, wherein: the at least one spacing wall of at least one first flat tube in the at least one set of first flat tubes is a spacing wall located in the middle in a width direction of the first flat tube.

4. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 2, wherein: the dimensions, in the direction of arrangement of the spacing walls, of multiple spacing walls of at least one first flat tube in the at least one set of first flat tubes are the same.

5. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein: at least one first flat tube in the at least one set of first flat tubes is a solid flat tube.

6. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein: at least one first flat tube in the at least one set of first flat tubes comprises multiple secondary flat tubes, the multiple secondary flat tubes being spaced apart in a width direction of the flat tube; and the through-hole in the header wall of the header corresponding to the at least one first flat tube comprises multiple secondary through-holes, the multiple secondary through-holes being spaced apart in a circumferential direction of the header, and ends of the multiple secondary flat tubes being respectively inserted into the multiple secondary through-holes and connected to the header wall.

7. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 6, wherein: adjacent secondary flat tubes in the multiple secondary flat tubes of at least one first flat tube in the at least one set of first flat tubes are connected via a connecting part, the multiple secondary flat tubes being formed integrally with the connecting part.

8. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 6, wherein: at least one first flat tube in the at least one set of first flat tubes comprises two secondary flat tubes, and the through-hole in the header wall of the header corresponding to the at least one first flat tube comprises two secondary through-holes.

9. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein: a dimension, in a circumferential direction of the header, of the through-hole in the header wall of the header corresponding to at least one first flat tube in the at least one set of first flat tubes is less than a dimension, in the circumferential direction of the header, of the through-hole in the header wall of the header corresponding to the second flat tube.

10. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 9, wherein: when viewed in an axial direction of the flat tube, the through-hole in the header wall of the header corresponding to the at least one first flat tube in the at least one set of first flat tubes is inclined relative to the axial direction of the header.

11. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 9, wherein: when viewed in an axial direction of the flat tube, the through-hole in the header wall of the header corresponding to the at least one first flat tube in the at least one set of first flat tubes has a curved shape.

12. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 9, wherein: when viewed in an axial direction of the flat tube, the through-hole in the header wall of the header corresponding to the at least one first flat tube in the at least one set of first flat tubes is parallel to the through-hole in the header wall of the header corresponding to the second flat tube.

13. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein: each set of first flat tubes in the two sets of first flat tubes comprises one or more first flat tubes.