Heat exchanger for refrigerator

Abstract

A heat exchanger for a refrigerator with improved heat transfer efficiency by inducing turbulent flow in a refrigerant flowing along a refrigerant guiding tube. The heat exchanger for the refrigerator comprised of: the refrigerant guiding tube configured to allow the refrigerant to flow there through; a plurality of heat exchange fins disposed around an outer peripheral surface of the refrigerant guiding tube, the plurality of heat exchange fins increasing a heat exchange area of the refrigerant guiding tube; and a turbulent flow inducing member positioned in the refrigerant guiding tube, whereby the turbulent flow inducing member is configured to cause the refrigerant flowing along the refrigerant guiding tube to form a turbulent flow.

1 . A heat exchanger for a refrigerator, comprising of:
 a refrigerant guiding tube configured to allow a refrigerant to flow therethrough;   a plurality of heat exchange fins disposed around an outer peripheral surface of the refrigerant guiding tube, the plurality of heat exchange fins increasing a heat exchange area of the refrigerant guiding tube; and   a turbulent flow inducing member positioned in the refrigerant guiding tube, whereby the turbulent flow inducing member is configured to cause the refrigerant flowing along the refrigerant guiding tube to form a turbulent flow.   
   
   
       2 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the turbulent flow inducing member is disposed along a longitudinal direction of the refrigerant guiding tube. 
   
   
       3 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the turbulent flow inducing member is a wire bent in a serpentine manner. 
   
   
       4 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the turbulent flow inducing member has a coil spring shape. 
   
   
       5 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the turbulent flow inducing member has a twisted plate shape. 
   
   
       6 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the turbulent flow inducing member is further comprised of
 a plurality of protrusions disposed at an outer peripheral surface thereof, the plurality of protrusions protruding substantially orthogonal to a flow direction of the refrigerant flowing along the refrigerant guiding tube.   
   
   
       7 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is an evaporator or a condenser employed in a refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator. 
   
   
       8 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant guiding tube and turbulent flow inducing member are flexible. 
   
   
       9 . A refrigerator, comprising of:
 a body including an internal storage chamber having an opening;   a door coupled to the storage chamber of the body at the opening thereof, thereby providing access to the storage chamber;   a compressor disposed in the body, the compressor having a compressor refrigerant guiding tube and a compressor turbulent flow inducing member disposed therein;   a condenser disposed in the body;   an evaporator disposed in the storage chamber, the evaporator having an evaporator refrigerant guiding tube and an evaporator turbulent flow inducing member disposed therein; and   a plurality of refrigerant tubes, each of the refrigerant tubes coupling the compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator to form a refrigeration cycle.   
   
   
       10 . A refrigerator according to  claim 9 , wherein either the compressor turbulent flow inducing member or the evaporator turbulent flow inducing member, respectively, is disposed in a longitudinal direction of the compressor refrigerant guiding tube. 
   
   
       11 . A refrigerator according to  claim 9 , wherein either the compressor turbulent flow inducing member or the evaporator turbulent flow inducing member, respectively, is a wire bent in a serpentine manner. 
   
   
       12 . A method of manufacturing a heat exchanger for a refrigerator, the heat exchanger including a refrigerant guiding tube for receiving refrigerant and a turbulent flow inducing member, comprising the steps of:
 inserting the turbulent flow inducing member into a refrigerant guiding tube; and   bending the refrigerant guiding tube.   
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the step of inserting the turbulent flow inducing member longitudinally in the direction of the refrigerant guiding tube. 
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the turbulent flow inducing member is a wire bent in a serpentine manner. 
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the turbulent flow inducing member has a coil spring shape. 
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the turbulent flow inducing member has a twisted plate shape. 
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein a turbulent flow inducing member has a plurality of protrusions formed at an outer peripheral surface thereof, the plurality of protrusions protruding substantially orthogonal to a flow direction of the refrigerant flowing along the refrigerant guiding tube. 
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the step of coupling a plurality of heat exchange fins to an outer peripheral surface of the refrigerant guiding tube. 
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the step of coupling the heat exchanger to a refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator. 
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising the step of bending the turbulent flow inducing member in a serpentine manner prior to inserting the turbulent flow inducing member into the refrigerant guiding tube.