Heat exchanger for refrigerator and method for manufacturing a tube thereof

Abstract

A heat exchanger for a refrigerator and a method for manufacturing a tube thereof with improved heat exchanger heat transfer efficiency. The heat exchanger for a refrigerator comprising of: a tube to guide a refrigerant; and a plurality of ridges disposed on an inner peripheral surface of the tube, the ridges configured to cause the refrigerant flowing along the tube to form a turbulent flow. The method of manufacturing a tube having a plurality of ridges comprising the steps of: providing a surface of a plate; forming ridges on the surface of the plate; and coupling opposite longitudinal edges of the plate such that the surface of the plate provided with the ridges becomes an inner peripheral surface of the tube.

1 . A heat exchanger for a refrigerator comprising of:
 a tube to guide a refrigerant; and   a plurality of ridges disposed on an inner peripheral surface of the tube, the ridges configured to cause the refrigerant flowing along the tube to form a turbulent flow.   
     
     
         2 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal direction of each of the plurality of ridges is substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the tube. 
     
     
         3 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of ridges is shaped to have a triangular cross-section. 
     
     
         4 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of ridges is a ridge forming member, the ridge forming member shaped as a rod of predetermined length and coupled to the inner peripheral surface of the tube. 
     
     
         5 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of ridges is a lump of fine powder disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the tube. 
     
     
         6 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of ridges is a lump of fine metal powder disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the tube. 
     
     
         7 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of ridges is a lump of fine stone powder disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the tube. 
     
     
         8 . 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. 
     
     
         9 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of heat exchange fins are disposed around an outer peripheral surface of the tube to increase a heat exchange area of the tube. 
     
     
         10 . A method of manufacturing a tube for a heat exchanger of a refrigerator, the tube having a plurality of ridges, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a surface of a plate;   (b) forming ridges on the surface of the plate; and   (c) coupling opposite longitudinal edges of the plate such that the surface of the plate provided with the ridges becomes an inner peripheral surface of the tube.   
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising the step of welding the opposite longitudinal ends of the plate to each other. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising the step of disposing ridges away from the opposite longitudinal edges of the plate, thereby allowing the welding of opposite longitudinal edges of the plate without deformation. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising the step of forming ridges on the surface of the plate by pressing the plate between a normal roller and a processing roller, the processing roller having a ridged outer peripheral surface. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising the step of providing the ridges by coupling a plurality of ridge forming members to the surface of the plate. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising the step of providing the ridges by attaching fine powder to the surface of the plate to allow the fine powder to form lumps. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the fine powder is a metal powder. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the fine powder is a stone powder. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising the step of providing a plurality of heat exchange fins around an outer peripheral surface of the tube thereby increasing a heat exchange area of the tube. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising the step of coupling the heat exchanger to a refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator.