Heat exchanger and fin for the same

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 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, a plurality of flat micro-channel tubes arranged in a front row and a rear row between the first header and the second header, and a plurality of plate type fins. Each of the micro-channel tubes includes micro-channels. Each of the fins includes slots arranged in a front row and a rear row to respectively fit the front row and rear row micro-channel tubes into the slots.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a first header connected with an inflow tube and an outflow tube;   a second header spaced apart from the first header by a defined distance and arranged parallel to the first header;   a plurality of micro-channel tubes arranged in a front row and a rear row between the first header and the second header, each of the micro-channel tubes comprising a plurality of micro-channels; and   a plurality of plate type fins, each of the plate type fins comprising slots arranged in a front row and a rear row to respectively receive the front row and rear row of the micro-channel tubes.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plate type fins comprises louvers or slits formed between vertically adjacent ones of the slots. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein the louvers have a pitch LP satisfying a range of about 0.8 mm≦Lp≦1.2 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein a clearance D 1  between each slot and each louver or slit adjacent to each other satisfies a range of about 0 mm<D 1 ≦1 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein a clearance D 2  between the front row and rear row slots satisfies a range of about D 2 ≧2 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein a ratio R between an air-side heat transfer area A and a refrigerant-side heat transfer area C defined by equations below satisfies a range of about 2.5 mm≦R≦3.5 mm:
     A =(( Lf×Wf )−(sum of slot areas per fin))×2×total number of fins,
 
     C =( Wc+Hc )×2 ×Lt ×(total number of micro-channels per micro-channel tube)×(total number of micro-channel tubes), and
 
     R=A/C,    
 where Lf represents an overall height of each fin, Wf represents a width of each fin, We represents a width of each micro-channel, Hc represents a height of each micro-channel, and Lt represents a length of each micro-channel tube. 
 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein welding material, provided at inner sides of the slots arranged in each of the first row and rear row in each fin, is used to permanently attach the micro-channel tubes to the corresponding slots. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein openings arranged in the form of a lattice between vertically adjacent ones of the slots are formed at each of the fins. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 8 , wherein each of the openings has a square shape. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second headers extend vertically. 
     
     
         11 . A fin assembly for a heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of plate type fins into which micro-channel tubes are received,   wherein each of the plate type fins comprises slots arranged in a front row and a rear row to receive the micro-channel tubes, respectively, and louvers or slits formed between vertically adjacent ones of the slots.   
     
     
         12 . The fin assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the louvers have a pitch LP satisfying a range of about 0.8 mm≦Lp≦1.2 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The fin assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein a clearance D 1  between each slot and each louver or slit adjacent to each other satisfies a range of about 0 mm<D 1 ≦1 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The fin assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein a clearance D 2  between the front row and rear row slots satisfies a range of about D 2 ≧2 mm. 
     
     
         15 . A fin assembly for a heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of plate type fins into which flat micro-channel tubes are received,   wherein each of the plate type fins comprises slots arranged in a front row and a rear row to receive the micro-channel tubes, respectively, and openings arranged in a lattice form between the vertically adjacent ones of the slots.   
     
     
         16 . The fin assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein each of the openings has a square shape. 
     
     
         17 . The fin assembly according to  claim 15 , further comprising welding wires installed at inner sides of the slots arranged in each of the front row and rear row in each fin so that the micro-channel tubes, which are respectively fitted into the corresponding slots, are welded to the slots by the welding wires.