Heat exchanger and heat exchange method

Abstract

A heat exchanger has a plurality of heat exchange function surface units, capable of suppressing an influence of the gravity exerted on refrigerant and suppressing reduction of heat exchange performance in each of the surfaces. The heat exchanger has the plurality of heat exchange function surface units, and includes an upper header pipe, a lower header pipe, and a plurality of heat exchange pipes provided between the pair of upper and lower header pipes in each of the heat exchange function surface units. The plurality of heat exchange function surface units have a parallel connection relationship, and a plurality of the lower header pipes are connected to a lower collection pipe through a branch current adjusting section.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of heat exchange function surface units having an upper header pipe, a lower header pipe, and a plurality of heat exchange pipes provided between a pair of the upper header pipe and the lower header pipe;   the plurality of heat exchange function surface units having a parallel connection relationship;   a plurality of the lower header pipes being connected to a lower collection pipe through a branch current adjusting section.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the branch current adjusting section comprises a distributer and at least one flow rate adjusting section,   wherein the distributer is provided between the lower collection pipe and the plurality of the lower header pipes, and equalizes a dryness of refrigerant to be supplied to the plurality of the lower header pipes, and   wherein the at least one flow rate adjusting section is arranged between the distributer and a corresponding one of the plurality of the lower header pipes.   
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of the lower header pipes comprises a perforated pipe arranged thereinside. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein in the each of the plurality of heat exchange function surface units, a collection side inlet and outlet port of the lower header pipe is provided on one end side of the lower header pipe, and a collection side inlet and outlet port of the upper header pipe is provided on another end side of the upper header pipe. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant to be used comprises HFO1234yf, HFO1234ze, or R134a as low-pressure refrigerant. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A heat exchange method of carrying out heat exchange in a plurality of surfaces, the heat exchange method comprising:
 preparing an upper header pipe, a lower header pipe, and a plurality of heat exchange pipes provided between a pair of the upper header pipe and the lower header pipe in each of a plurality of heat exchange function surface units;   connecting the plurality of heat exchange function surface units in parallel, and connecting a plurality of the lower header pipes to a lower collection pipe through a branch current adjusting section; and   branching, by the branch current adjusting section, refrigerant inside the lower collection pipe in parallel to the plurality of heat exchange function surface units, subjecting the refrigerant to the heat exchange in the each of the plurality of heat exchange function surface units, and causing the refrigerant to flow out from a plurality of the upper header pipes so as to be joined together to an upper side collection pipe.   
     
     
         9 . The heat exchange method according to  claim 8 , wherein the refrigerant to be used comprises HFO1234yf, HFO1234ze, or R134a as low-pressure refrigerant. 
     
     
         10 . A refrigeration cycle system comprising the heat exchanger according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . An air conditioner, comprising the heat exchanger according to  claim 1 .