Heat exchanger and micro-channel tube thereof

Abstract

A heat exchanger having a structure in which micro-channel tubes are respectively fitted into both sides of corresponding flat fins for heat exchange, thereby achieving enhancements in drainage and heat transfer performance. The heat exchanger includes a first header extending vertically and connected with an inflow tube and an outflow tube, a second header spaced apart from the first header by a desired distance and arranged parallel to the first header, and a plurality of flat micro-channel tubes arranged horizontally while being vertically spaced apart from one another by a desired clearance and arranged in a front row and a rear row between the first header and the second header. Micro-channels are formed in each of the micro-channel tubes.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a first header extending vertically and connected with an inflow pipe and an outflow pipe;   a second header spaced apart from the first header by a defined distance and arranged parallel to the first header; and   a plurality of micro-channel tubes arranged horizontally while being vertically spaced apart from one another by a defined clearance and arranged in a front row and a rear row between the first header and the second header, each of the mico-channel tubes comprising a plurality of micro-channels.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the front row and rear row micro-channel tubes are alternately arranged in a zigzag formation. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the front row and rear row micro-channel tubes are arranged to be horizontally aligned with each other. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the micro-channel tubes have a pitch Tp satisfying a range of about 7 mm≦Tp≦11 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein a thickness Tt of each micro-channel tube satisfies a range of about 2 mm≦Tt≦3.5 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein a wall thickness Tow of each micro-channel tube satisfies a range of about 0.1 mm≦Tow≦0.35 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein a width Wc of each micro-channel satisfies a range of about 0.5 mm≦Wc≦1.5 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the inflow pipe is connected to a lower side of the first header, whereas the outflow pipe is connected to an upper side of the first header. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second headers comprise respective front tanks and respective rear tanks. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fins corresponding to the plurality of micro-channel tubes, each fin comprising a rectangular plate. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , wherein each fin comprises:
 front row slots and rear row slots so that the front row and rear row micro-channel tubes are fitted into the front row slots and the rear row slots, respectively, and   collars perpendicular to the fin body.   
     
     
         12 . A micro-channel tube assembly for a heat exchanger comprising a plurality of micro-channel tubes,
 wherein the micro-channel tubes are arranged horizontally while being vertically spaced apart from one another by a desired clearance and are arranged in a front row and a rear row between the first header and the second header extending vertically, and   wherein a thickness Tt of each micro-channel tube satisfies a range of about 2 mm≦Tt≦3.5 mm.   
     
     
         13 . A micro-channel tube assembly for a heat exchanger comprising a plurality of micro-channel tubes,
 wherein the micro-channel tubes are arranged horizontally while being vertically spaced apart from one another by a desired clearance and are arranged in a front row and a rear row between the first header and the second header extending vertically, and   wherein a wall thickness Tow of each micro-channel tube satisfies a range of about 0.1 mm≦Tow≦0.35 mm.   
     
     
         14 . A micro-channel tube assembly for a heat exchanger comprising a plurality of micro-channel tubes,
 wherein the micro-channel tubes are arranged horizontally while being vertically spaced apart from one another by a desired clearance and are arranged in a front row and a rear row between the first header and the second header extending vertically, and   wherein a width Wc of each micro-channel tube satisfies a range of about 0.5 mm≦Wc≦1.5 mm. Docket No.  2294 . 1363     
     
     
         15 . The micro-channel tube assembly for the heat exchanger according to  claim 12 , wherein the front row and rear row micro-channel tubes are alternately arranged in a zigzag formation. 
     
     
         16 . The micro-channel tube assembly for the heat exchanger according to  claim 13 , wherein the front row and rear row micro-channel tubes are alternately arranged in a zigzag formation. 
     
     
         17 . The micro-channel tube assembly for the heat exchanger according to  claim 14 , wherein the front row and rear row micro-channel tubes are alternately arranged in a zigzag formation. 
     
     
         18 . The micro-channel tube assembly for the heat exchanger according to  claim 12 , wherein the front row and rear row micro-channel tubes are arranged to be horizontally aligned with each other. 
     
     
         19 . The micro-channel tube assembly for the heat exchanger according to  claim 13 , wherein the front row and rear row micro-channel tubes are arranged to be horizontally aligned with each other. 
     
     
         20 . The micro-channel tube assembly for the heat exchanger according to  claim 14 , wherein the front row and rear row micro-channel tubes are arranged to be horizontally aligned with each other.