Air conditioner and outdoor unit thereof

Abstract

An air conditioner includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger connected to the compressor through a first connection pipe, a second heat exchanger connected to the first heat exchanger through a second connection pipe and adapted to discharge super-cooled refrigerant through a third connection pipe, and a blower to blow air toward the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger includes a first header in communication with the first connection pipe for introduction of the refrigerant, a plurality of tubes each having one end in communication with the first header and the other opposite end, and a second header in communication with the other end of each of the plurality of tubes. The second heat exchanger includes a heat exchange pipe that is bent plural times between the second connection pipe and the third connection pipe.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2009-0112434, filed on Nov. 20, 2009 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments relate to an air conditioner having a refrigeration cycle system.

2. Description of the Related Art

An air conditioner is an apparatus to control, e.g., the temperature or humidity of air through transfer of heat generated during evaporation or condensation of a refrigerant.

Generally, a refrigeration cycle system of an air conditioner includes a compressor, a condenser, an expander, an evaporator, and pipes connecting the above mentioned elements to one another. In circulation of a refrigerant through the pipes, the refrigerant is compressed to a high pressure by the compressor and then, is introduced into the condenser. The refrigerant is condensed via heat emission while passing through the condenser. The condensed refrigerant is introduced into the expander so as to be expanded to a low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant. As the expanded liquid-phase refrigerant is introduced into the expander, the refrigerant is evaporated upon receiving heat from the surrounding air while passing through the evaporator.

The performance of the air conditioner may be estimated in terms of cooling/heating capability and energy efficiency. To enhance the cooling/heating capability and energy efficiency of the air conditioner, it may be necessary to increase heat transfer ability and efficiency of the condenser.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is an aspect to provide an air conditioner having an improved refrigeration cycle system to enhance air-conditioning performance and an outdoor unit thereof.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

In accordance with one aspect, an air conditioner includes a compressor to compress a refrigerant, a first heat exchanger arranged to undergo heat exchange with the surrounding air and connected to the compressor through a first connection pipe so as to condense the gas-phase refrigerant compressed by the compressor, a second heat exchanger arranged to undergo heat exchange with the surrounding air and connected to the first heat exchanger through a second connection pipe so as to super-cool the refrigerant condensed by the first heat exchanger, the super-cooled refrigerant being discharged through a third connection pipe, and a blower arranged to generate air flow toward the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, wherein the first heat exchanger includes a first header in communication with the first connection pipe for introduction of the refrigerant, a plurality of tubes each having one end in communication with the first header, and a second header in communication with the other end of each of the plurality of tubes, and wherein the second heat exchanger includes a heat exchange pipe that is bent plural times between the second connection pipe and the third connection pipe.

The second heat exchanger may be arranged upstream of the first heat exchanger in a blowing direction of the blower.

The first heat exchanger may include a plurality of baffles arranged in the first header and the second header to divide the plurality of tubes into a plurality of groups, each of the groups may include the plurality of tubes, and the refrigerant of the first heat exchanger may flow in the same direction through the tubes of the same group.

Some of the plurality of groups arranged downstream in a refrigerant flow direction may include a lower number of tubes than others arranged upstream in the refrigerant flow direction.

The second connection pipe may be connected to the first header at one side of the first heat exchanger, and may be connected to the second heat exchanger at one side of the second heat exchanger corresponding to the side of the first heat exchanger.

The first heat exchanger may include a first heat exchange region defined between the first header and the second header, the second heat exchanger may include a first bent portion and a second bent portion arranged at opposite sides, and a second heat exchange region defined between the first bent portion and the second bent portion, and the first heat exchange region and the second heat exchange region may overlap each other.

The first heat exchange region and the second heat exchange region may have the same shape.

A distance between the first bent portion and the second bent portion of the second heat exchanger may be substantially equal to a distance between the first header and the second header of the first heat exchanger.

A height of the first heat exchange region may be substantially equal to a height of the second heat exchange region.

In accordance with another aspect, an outdoor unit of an air conditioner includes a compressor to compress a refrigerant, a first heat exchanger connected to the compressor so as to condense the gas-phase refrigerant compressed by the compressor and including a first header, a second header and a plurality of tubes arranged between the first header and the second header to define a first heat exchange region, a second heat exchanger connected to the first heat exchanger so as to super-cool the refrigerant condensed by the first heat exchanger and including a heat exchange pipe that is bent plural times to define a second heat exchange region, and a blower arranged to generate air flow passing through the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, wherein the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are arranged parallel to each other in a blowing direction of the blower.

The blower may include an axial flow fan, and the second heat exchanger, the first heat exchanger and the axial flow fan may be arranged sequentially in the blowing direction.

The first heat exchange region and the second heat exchange region may have substantially the same shape and size.

The first heat exchanger may include a plurality of baffles arranged in the first header and the second header to divide the plurality of tubes into a plurality of groups, each of the groups may include the plurality of tubes, and the refrigerant of the first heat exchanger may flow in the same given direction when passing through the tubes of the same group, and may flow in different directions when passing through the tubes of the neighboring two groups.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a view schematically illustrating an air conditioner according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a fan, a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger included in the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the first heat exchanger; and

FIG. 5 is a front view of the second heat exchanger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. FIG. 1 is a view schematically illustrating an air conditioner according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to an embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 1 includes an indoor unit 2 and an outdoor unit 3. Constituent elements of a refrigeration cycle system are mounted in the indoor unit 2 and the outdoor unit 3. These constituent elements are connected to one another via a refrigerant line 4.

The indoor unit 2 is arranged in an indoor space of a building to cool or heat indoor air. The outdoor unit 3 is arranged outdoors to enable heat exchange between a refrigerant circulating through the refrigerant line 4 and outdoor air. The indoor unit 2 and the outdoor unit 3 may be separated from or integrated with each other.

In one example in which an indoor unit functions as a cooler, the indoor unit 2 includes an evaporator 10. As a fan 14 is driven by a motor 12, indoor air is fed toward the evaporator 10. A refrigerant passing through the evaporator 10 is evaporated by absorbing heat from the indoor air fed by the fan 14, and the high-temperature indoor air is cooled and is discharged into an indoor space.

The outdoor unit 3 includes a compressor 20, a first heat exchanger 40, a second heat exchanger 60, and a blower 80.

The compressor 20 is connected to the evaporator 10 via a refrigerant pipe 4a and compresses the evaporated refrigerant from the evaporator 10, generating a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant.

The first exchanger 40 is arranged to undergo heat exchange with the surrounding air and is connected to the compressor 20 via a first connection pipe 4b. The compressed gas-phase refrigerant generated in the compressor 20 is introduced into the first heat exchanger 40 and is condensed by emitting heat to the surrounding air while passing through the first heat exchanger 40.

The second heat exchanger 60 is connected to the first heat exchanger 40 via a second connection pipe 4c. The second heat exchanger 60 undergoes heat exchange with the surrounding air, to super-cool the refrigerant condensed by the first heat exchanger 40.

When the refrigerant is condensed and cooled by the sequentially arranged first and second heat exchangers 40 and 60, the air conditioner 1 may achieve enhanced refrigerant super-cooling performance and thus, enhanced cooling capability thereof. In addition, since the second heat exchanger 60 has an interior space to accommodate a liquid-phase refrigerant therein, the refrigerant line 4 may be filled with a great quantity of refrigerant. This may enhance the cooling capability of the air conditioner 1 and the super-cooling efficiency of the refrigerant without a significant increase in condensation pressure or evaporation pressure of the refrigerant.

The blower 80 generates air flow toward the first heat exchanger 40 and the second heat exchanger 60 as a fan 84 is rotated by a motor 82. The second heat exchanger 60 may be arranged upstream of the first heat exchanger 40 in a blowing direction F of the blower 80.

The above described configuration raises the overall efficiency of the first heat exchanger 40 and the second heat exchanger 60. Specifically, since the refrigerant inside the second heat exchanger 60 has a lower temperature than that of the refrigerant inside the first heat exchanger 40, it may be possible to raise the efficiency of the second heat exchanger 60 when the second heat exchanger 60 first undergoes heat exchange with the blown air. Also, even if a temperature of the blown air increases due to heat transferred from the second heat exchanger 60, the refrigerant inside the first heat exchanger 40 having a relatively higher temperature may efficiently undergo heat exchange with the increased temperature of air.

The super-cooled refrigerant, having passed through the second heat exchanger 60, is discharged from the second heat exchanger 60 through a third connection pipe 4d. The discharged super-cooled refrigerant is introduced into the expander 100 thus being lowered in pressure and then, is fed into the evaporator 10 through a refrigerant pipe 4e.

Although FIG. 1 illustrates the expander 100 provided in the outdoor unit 3, the expander 100 may be provided in the indoor unit 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the outdoor unit 3 includes a box-shaped case 120. The case 120 is formed by coupling a front plate 122, a rear plate 124, both lateral plates 126 and 128, a top plate 130 and a bottom plate 132. The rear plate 124 and one lateral plate 126 may be formed of a single right-angled panel. The rear plate 124 has a suction grill 125 for suction of outdoor air.

The other lateral plate 128 has an opening (not shown) for passage of the refrigerant pipes and electric wires for power supply. A cover 134 is coupled to the opening.

The front plate 122 has a discharge hole 123 to discharge air out of the case 120. A fan guard 136 is coupled to the discharge hole 123 to prevent external impurities from entering the outdoor unit 3.

The compressor 20, the first heat exchanger 40, the second heat exchanger 60 and the blower 80 are arranged inside the case 120.

The blower 80 may include the axial flow fan 84 and the motor 82 to drive the axial flow fan 84. The blower 80 is fixed to a supporting member 86 and in turn, upper and lower ends of the supporting member 86 are coupled respectively to the top plate 130 and the bottom plate 132 so as to be coupled to the case 120.

The axial flow fan 84 includes a hub 84a coupled to a rotating shaft of the motor 82, and blades 84b extending from the hub 84a in a radial direction and arranged in a circumferential direction of the hub 84a. When the axial flow fan 84 is rotated by the motor 82, an air stream in an axial direction F is generated.

A partition 138 is used to separate a space for installation of the compressor 20 from a space for installation of the axial flow fan 84. An electric box 140, in which a variety of electric elements are accommodated, is arranged in an upper region of the space for installation of the compressor 20.

The first heat exchanger 40 and the second heat exchanger 60 are arranged between the suction grill 125 and the axial flown fan 84 in the blowing direction F of the blower 80. Outdoor air suctioned through the suction grill 125 absorbs heat from the first heat exchanger 40 and the second heat exchanger 60 thus acting to cool the refrigerant and then, is discharged out of the case 120 through the discharge hole 123.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a fan, a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger included in the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to an embodiment, FIG. 4 is a front view of the first heat exchanger, and FIG. 5 is a front view of the second heat exchanger.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first heat exchanger 40 is a so-called parallel flow heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger 40 includes a first header 42 and a second header 44 each defining a space therein, and a plurality of tubes 46 connecting the first header 42 and the second header 44 to each other. The first header 42, the second header 44 and the tubes 46 may be made of aluminum materials having superior heat transfer characteristics.

The first header 42 and the second header 44 extend vertically and are horizontally spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance on the drawing. The first connection pipe 4b and the second connection pipe 4c are connected respectively to upper and lower positions of the first header 42. The positions of the first connection pipe 4b and the second connection pipe 4c may be reversed.

The high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant compressed in the compressor 20 is introduced into the first heat exchanger 40 through the first connection pipe 4b. Also, the condensed refrigerant having passed through the first heat exchanger 40 is fed into the second heat exchanger 60 through the second connection pipe 4c.

One end of each of the tubes 46 is in communication with the first header 42, and the other opposite end of each of the tubes 46 is in communication with the second header 44. Air paths 48 are defined between the respective tubes 46 to enable air passage.

The first heat exchanger 40 has a first heat exchange region 50 in which the refrigerant inside the first heat exchanger 40 undergoes heat exchange with the air stream. The first heat exchange region 50 may be defined between the first header 42 and the second header 44 in consideration of the fact that most heat exchange occurs in the air paths 48 and the tubes 46 located between the first header 42 and the second header 44.

Fins 52 to facilitate heat exchange are arranged in the air paths 48. The fins 52 may be made of aluminum materials, and may be soldered to the neighboring tubes 46. Although FIG. 4 illustrates waveform-shaped fins 52 extending between the first header 42 and the second header 44, the shape of the fins 52 may be changed.

Baffles 54a, 54b and 54c are arranged in the first header 42 and the second header 44. The baffles 54a, 54b and 54c divide the tubes 46 of the first heat exchanger 40 into a plurality of groups. A first group G1 is divided by the baffle 54a arranged upstream in a refrigerant flow direction inside the first header 42. A second group G2 is defined between the baffle 54a and the baffle 54b arranged in the second header 44. A third group G3 is defined between the baffle 54b inside the second header 44 and the baffle 54c arranged downstream of the first header 42. A fourth group G4 is divided by the baffle 54c arranged downstream of the first header 42.

When the refrigerant passes through the first heat exchanger 40, the refrigerant flows in the same given direction when passing through the tubes of the same group, but flows in different directions when passing through the tubes of the neighboring two groups.

More specifically, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant, introduced into the first header 42 through the first connection pipe 4b, undergoes heat exchange with the surrounding air while flowing to the second header 44 through the tubes 46 of the first group G1. The refrigerant, having passed through the tubes 46 of the first group G1, is merged into the second header 44 and thereafter, is distributed into the tubes 46 of the second group G2. The distributed refrigerant undergoes heat exchange with the surrounding air while flowing to the first header 44 through the tubes 46 of the second group G2. Thereafter, the refrigerant flows to the second header 44 through the tubes 46 of the third group G3 and returns to the first header 42 through the tubes 46 of the fourth group G4, thereby being discharged through the second connection pipe 4c.

Of the first to fourth groups G1, G2, G3 and G4, some of the groups arranged farther downstream than the other groups in the refrigerant flow direction may include a lower number of the tubes 46 than the other upstream groups. FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment in which the first to fourth groups G1, G2, G3 and G4 include 6, 5, 3 and 2 tubes respectively.

The high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant present upstream of the first heat exchanger 40 shows a relatively faster flow rate, whereas the condensed refrigerant present downstream of the first heat exchanger 40 shows a relatively slower flow rate. Accordingly, when the refrigerant flows through a great number of tubes upstream of the first heat exchanger 40, heat exchange ability and efficiency may be enhanced.

Although FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment in which the three baffles 54a, 54b and 54c divide the tubes into the four groups G1, G2, G3 and G4, the number of the baffles may be changed according to the number of groups to be divided.

The refrigerant introduced into the second heat exchanger 60 through the second connection pipe 4c is super-cooled while passing through the second heat exchanger 60, and is discharged out of the second heat exchanger 60 through the third connection pipe 4d.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the second heat exchanger 60 includes a serpentine heat exchange pipe 62 that is bent plural times between the second connection pipe 4c and the third connection pipe 4d. The heat exchange pipe 62 has a first bent portion 64 and a second bent portion 66 arranged at opposite sides.

The refrigerant having passed through the first bent portion 64 flows to the second bent portion 66, and the flow direction of the refrigerant is reversed at the second bent portion 66. The refrigerant having passed through the second bent portion 66 flows to the first bent portion 64 and the flow direction of the refrigerant is again reversed at the first bent portion 64 so as to flow to the second bent portion 66.

The second heat exchanger 60 has a second heat exchange region 70 in which the refrigerant inside the second heat exchanger 60 undergoes heat exchange with the air stream. The second heat exchange region 70 may be defined between the first bent portion 64 and the second bent portion 66 in consideration of the fact that most heat exchange occurs in the heat exchange pipe 62 between the first bent portion 64 and the second bent portion 66.

Fins 68 to facilitate heat exchange are coupled to the heat exchange pipe 62. The fins 68 may be press-fitted into the heat exchange pipe 62. The fins 68 are made of thin metal plates having superior heat transfer characteristics and may be arranged between the first bent portion 64 and the second bent portion 66.

As shown in FIG. 3, the second heat exchanger 60, the first heat exchanger 40 and the axial flow fan 84 are arranged sequentially in the blowing direction F. To allow the air blown by the axial flow fan 84 to pass through the second heat exchanger 60 and the first heat exchanger 40 in sequence, the first heat exchange region 50 of the first heat exchanger 40 and the second heat exchange region 70 of the second heat exchanger 60 may overlap each other. This arrangement may provide the outdoor unit 3 with compactness and the second heat exchanger 60 with enhanced efficiency, causing enhanced super-cooling performance and cooling capability of the air conditioner 1.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first heat exchange region 50 and the second heat exchange region 70 may have substantially the same shape and size. A distance D1 between the first header 42 and the second header 44 of the first heat exchanger 40 may be substantially equal to a distance D2 between the first bent portion 64 and the second bent portion 66 of the second heat exchanger 60. Also, a distance H1 between the uppermost and lowermost tubes of the first heat exchanger 40 (i.e. a height of the first heat exchange region 50) may be substantially equal to a distance H2 between upper and lower ends of the heat exchange pipe 62 of the second heat exchanger 60 (i.e. a height of the second heat exchange region 70).

In the meantime, as shown in FIG. 2, the second connection pipe 4c may be connected to the first header 42 at one side of the first heat exchanger 40 and also, may be connected to the second heat exchanger 60 at one side of the second heat exchanger 60 corresponding to the side of the first heat exchanger 40. This configuration simplifies piping between the first heat exchanger 40 and the second heat exchanger 60, realizing compactness of the outdoor unit 3.

As apparent from the above description, the air conditioner according to the embodiment having the above described configuration may exhibit enhanced capability and efficiency, resulting in excellent performance without using a large size outdoor unit.

Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An air conditioner, comprising:

a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant;

a first heat exchanger arranged to exchange heat with the surrounding air and connected to the compressor through a first connection pipe so as to condense the gas-phase refrigerant compressed by the compressor;

a second heat exchanger arranged to exchange heat with the surrounding air and connected to the first heat exchanger through a second connection pipe so as to super-cool the refrigerant condensed by the first heat exchanger, the super-cooled refrigerant being discharged through a third connection pipe; and

a blower arranged to generate air flow toward the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger,

wherein the first heat exchanger includes a first header in communication with the first connection pipe for introduction of the refrigerant, a plurality of tubes each having one end in communication with the first header, and a second header in communication with the other end of each of the plurality of tubes, and

wherein the second heat exchanger includes a heat exchange pipe that is bent plural times between the second connection pipe and the third connection pipe.

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the second heat exchanger is arranged upstream of the first heat exchanger in a blowing direction of the blower.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein:

the first heat exchanger includes a plurality of baffles arranged in the first header and the second header to divide the plurality of tubes into a plurality of groups;

each of the groups includes the plurality of tubes; and

the refrigerant of the first heat exchanger flows in the same direction through the tubes of the same group.

4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein some of the plurality of groups arranged downstream in a refrigerant flow direction include a lower number of tubes than others arranged upstream in the refrigerant flow direction.

5. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the second connection pipe is connected to the first header at one side of the first heat exchanger, and is connected to the second heat exchanger at one side of the second heat exchanger corresponding to the side of the first heat exchanger.

6. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein:

the first heat exchanger includes a first heat exchange region defined between the first header and the second header;

the second heat exchanger includes a first bent portion and a second bent portion arranged at opposite sides, and a second heat exchange region defined between the first bent portion and the second bent portion; and

the first heat exchange region and the second heat exchange region overlap each other.

7. The air conditioner according to claim 6, wherein the first heat exchange region and the second heat exchange region have the same shape.

8. The air conditioner according to claim 6, wherein a distance between the first bent portion and the second bent portion of the second heat exchanger is substantially equal to a distance between the first header and the second header of the first heat exchanger.

9. The air conditioner according to claim 6, wherein a height of the first heat exchange region is substantially equal to a height of the second heat exchange region.

10. An outdoor unit of an air conditioner, the outdoor unit comprising:

a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant;

a first heat exchanger connected to the compressor so as to condense the gas-phase refrigerant compressed by the compressor and including a first header, a second header and a plurality of tubes arranged between the first header and the second header to define a first heat exchange region;

a second heat exchanger connected to the first heat exchanger so as to super-cool the refrigerant condensed by the first heat exchanger and including a heat exchange pipe that is bent plural times to define a second heat exchange region; and

a blower arranged to generate air flow passing through the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger,

wherein the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are arranged parallel to each other in a blowing direction of the blower.

11. The outdoor unit according to claim 10, wherein:

the blower includes an axial flow fan; and

the second heat exchanger, the first heat exchanger and the axial flow fan are arranged sequentially in the blowing direction.

12. The outdoor unit according to claim 10, wherein the first heat exchange region and the second heat exchange region have substantially the same shape and size.

13. The outdoor unit according to claim 10, wherein:

the first heat exchanger includes a plurality of baffles arranged in the first header and the second header to divide the plurality of tubes into a plurality of groups;

each of the groups includes the plurality of tubes; and

the refrigerant of the first heat exchanger flows in the same given direction when passing through the tubes of the same group, and flows in different directions when passing through the tubes of the neighboring two groups.

14. The outdoor unit according to claim 10, further comprising a box-shaped case, the case being formed by coupling a front plate, a rear plate, two lateral plates, a top plate and a bottom plate.

15. The outdoor unit according to claim 14, wherein the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger and the blower are arranged inside the case.

16. The outdoor unit according to claim 15, wherein the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are arranged between the rear plate and the blower in a blowing direction of the blower.