HEAT EXCHANGER AND AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a heat exchanger and an air-conditioning system. The heat exchanger includes heat exchange tubes. The heat exchange tubes include first heat exchange tubes configured to form a first circuit, and second heat exchange tubes configured to form a second circuit. With the heat exchanger according to the embodiments of the present invention, if one of two circuits of a two-circuit air-conditioning system is turned off, a heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger can be improved.
This application claims foreign priority benefits under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Chinese Patent Application No. 201811538891.0 filed on Dec. 14, 2018, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDEmbodiments of the present invention relate to a heat exchanger and an air-conditioning system.
BACKGROUNDHeat exchangers for two circuits are separate from each other in a conventional air-conditioning system.
SUMMARYAn object of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger and an air-conditioning system. Thereby, for example, if one of two circuits of a two-circuit air-conditioning system is turned off, at least some of fins for the one circuit may be used for the other circuit to improve a heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a heat exchanger including: heat exchange tubes, wherein the heat exchange tubes include first heat exchange tubes configured to form a first circuit, and second heat exchange tubes configured to form a second circuit.
According to embodiments of the present invention, the first heat exchange tubes have a greater total heat exchange capability than the second heat exchange tubes.
According to embodiments of the present invention, the heat exchanger further includes: first fins, at least a portion of each of which extends in a first direction, which are arranged in a row in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and which are arranged alternately with the heat exchange tubes.
According to embodiments of the present invention, first heat exchange tube sets each composed of at least one of the first heat exchange tubes, and second heat exchange tube sets each composed of at least one of the second heat exchange tubes are arranged alternately in the second direction.
According to embodiments of the present invention, the first heat exchange tubes, the second heat exchange tubes, and the first fins are aligned, on at least one side in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, with one another in the second direction.
According to embodiments of the present invention, a number of the first heat exchange tubes is greater than a number of the second heat exchange tubes, the first heat exchange tube has a greater length than the second heat exchange tube, the first heat exchange tube has a greater width than the second heat exchange tube, the first heat exchange tube has a greater thickness than the second heat exchange tube, and/or a total cross sectional area of internal channels of the first heat exchange tube is greater than a total cross sectional area of internal channels of the second heat exchange tube.
According to embodiments of the present invention, the heat exchange tubes are arranged in the second direction such that a plurality of same repeating units are arranged in the second direction, each of the repeating units is composed of a predetermined number of heat exchange tubes, and in each of the repeating units, the first heat exchange tubes and the second heat exchange tubes are arranged alternately in the second direction.
According to embodiments of the present invention, each of the repeating units is composed of three first heat exchange tubes and two second heat exchange tubes, and each of the two second heat exchange tubes is located between two adjacent ones of the three first heat exchange tubes; each of the repeating units is composed of two first heat exchange tubes and one second heat exchange tube, and the one second heat exchange tube is located between the two first heat exchange tubes; or each of the repeating units is composed of four first heat exchange tubes and three second heat exchange tubes, and each of the three second heat exchange tubes is located between two adjacent ones of the four first heat exchange tubes.
According to embodiments of the present invention, the first heat exchange tube includes: a first heat exchange tube part and a second heat exchange tube part arranged in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction; and a connection part connecting and fluidly communicating the first heat exchange tube part and the second heat exchange tube part with each other, and the first heat exchange tube part and the second heat exchange tube part are in contact with a same first fin located on one side of the first heat exchange tube part and the second heat exchange tube part in the second direction and are in contact with a same first fin located on the other side of the first heat exchange tube part and the second heat exchange tube part in the second direction.
According to embodiments of the present invention, the heat exchanger further includes: first fins, at least a portion of each of which extends in a first direction, and which are arranged in a row in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and second fins, at least a portion of each of which extends in the first direction, and which are arranged in a row in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the first heat exchange tube includes: a first heat exchange tube part and a second heat exchange tube part arranged in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction; and a connection part connecting and fluidly communicating the first heat exchange tube part and the second heat exchange tube part with each other, wherein the first fins and a first set of heat exchange tubes composed of both the first heat exchange tube parts and the second heat exchange tubes are arranged alternately in a row in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein the second fins and a second set of heat exchange tubes composed of the second heat exchange tube parts are arranged alternately in a row in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
According to embodiments of the present invention, the first heat exchange tube part, the second heat exchange tube part, and the connection part of the first heat exchange tube are formed by bending a single heat exchange tube.
According to embodiments of the present invention, the heat exchanger further includes: first manifolds respectively disposed at two ends of each of the first heat exchange tubes; and second manifolds respectively disposed at two ends of each of the second heat exchange tubes.
According to embodiments of the present invention, the first fin has a same size in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction as a bigger one of a portion of the first heat exchange tube in contact with the first fin and a portion of the second heat exchange tube in contact with the first fin.
According to embodiments of the present invention, the heat exchanger further includes: first fins, at least a portion of each of which extends in a first direction, which are arranged in a row in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and which are arranged alternately with the heat exchange tubes, wherein the heat exchanger is bent in an L shape, a U shape, or a C shape when viewed in the second direction.
Embodiments of the present invention further provide an air-conditioning system including the above heat exchanger.
With the heat exchanger according to the embodiments of the present invention, for example, if one of two circuits of a two-circuit air-conditioning system is turned off, at least some of fins for the one circuit may be used for the other circuit to improve a heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger.
An air-conditioning system according to embodiments of the present invention includes a heat exchanger. Specifically, the air-conditioning system according to the embodiments of the present invention includes a compressor, a heat exchanger as an evaporator, a heat exchanger as a condenser, an expansion valve, and the like. The air-conditioning system may include two or more circuits. Each circuit is constituted by a portion of a heat exchanger configured to form this circuit. A plurality of portions of the heat exchanger respectively configured to form the circuits are connected in parallel and are independent of one another.
Referring to
According to embodiments of the present invention, the first circuit and the second circuit may be two circuits connected in parallel and are independent of each other. The first circuit has a greater heat exchange capability than the second circuit. For example, the first heat exchange tubes 1A have a greater total heat exchange capability than the second heat exchange tubes 1B. Referring to
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In the embodiment shown in
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According to embodiments of the present invention, referring to
According to the embodiments of the present invention, at least some of the plurality of first fins 2 are shared by the first heat exchange tubes 1A and the second heat exchange tubes 1B. Therefore, if one of two circuits of a two-circuit air-conditioning system is turned off, at least some of the first fins for the one circuit may be used for the other circuit to improve a heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger.
According to embodiments of the present invention, referring to
According to the embodiments of the present invention, the heat exchange capacity of the heat exchanger in the part load condition is improved, the heat exchanger can maintain an enough flow rate of a refrigerant for returning an oil in the part load condition, and in the case where one circuit fails, the air-conditioning system can continue to operate through another circuit.
According to the embodiments of the present invention, the heat exchanger is more compact. In addition, the first heat exchange tubes 1A and the second heat exchange tubes 1B are arranged alternately to the utmost extent, while achieving heat exchange capabilities of two circulation circuits which are different in ratio.
In addition, the above embodiments of the present invention may be combined into new embodiments.
While the present disclosure has been illustrated and described with respect to a particular embodiment thereof, it should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications to this disclosure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
Claims
1. A heat exchanger comprising:
- heat exchange tubes,
- wherein the heat exchange tubes comprise first heat exchange tubes configured to form a first circuit, and second heat exchange tubes configured to form a second circuit.
2. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein:
- the first heat exchange tubes have a greater total heat exchange capability than the second heat exchange tubes.
3. The heat exchanger of claim 2, further comprising:
- first fins, at least a portion of each of which extends in a first direction, which are arranged in a row in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and which are arranged alternately with the heat exchange tubes.
4. The heat exchanger of claim 3, wherein:
- first heat exchange tube sets each composed of at least one of the first heat exchange tubes, and second heat exchange tube sets each composed of at least one of the second heat exchange tubes are arranged alternately in the second direction.
5. The heat exchanger of claim 3, wherein:
- the first heat exchange tubes, the second heat exchange tubes, and the first fins are aligned, on at least one side in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, with one another in the second direction.
6. The heat exchanger of claim 4, wherein:
- a number of the first heat exchange tubes is greater than a number of the second heat exchange tubes,
- the first heat exchange tube has a greater length than the second heat exchange tube,
- the first heat exchange tube has a greater width than the second heat exchange tube,
- the first heat exchange tube has a greater thickness than the second heat exchange tube, and/or
- a total cross sectional area of internal channels of the first heat exchange tube is greater than a total cross sectional area of internal channels of the second heat exchange tube.
7. The heat exchanger of claim 3, wherein:
- the heat exchange tubes are arranged in the second direction such that a plurality of same repeating units are arranged in the second direction, each of the repeating units is composed of a predetermined number of heat exchange tubes, and in each of the repeating units, the first heat exchange tubes and the second heat exchange tubes are arranged alternately in the second direction.
8. The heat exchanger of claim 7, wherein:
- each of the repeating units is composed of three first heat exchange tubes and two second heat exchange tubes, and each of the two second heat exchange tubes is located between two adjacent ones of the three first heat exchange tubes;
- each of the repeating units is composed of two first heat exchange tubes and one second heat exchange tube, and the one second heat exchange tube is located between the two first heat exchange tubes; or
- each of the repeating units is composed of four first heat exchange tubes and three second heat exchange tubes, and each of the three second heat exchange tubes is located between two adjacent ones of the four first heat exchange tubes.
9. The heat exchanger of claim 3, wherein:
- the first heat exchange tube comprises: a first heat exchange tube part and a second heat exchange tube part arranged in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction; and a connection part connecting and fluidly communicating the first heat exchange tube part and the second heat exchange tube part with each other, and the first heat exchange tube part and the second heat exchange tube part are in contact with a same first fin located on one side of the first heat exchange tube part and the second heat exchange tube part in the second direction and are in contact with a same first fin located on the other side of the first heat exchange tube part and the second heat exchange tube part in the second direction.
10. The heat exchanger of claim 2, further comprising:
- first fins, at least a portion of each of which extends in a first direction, and which are arranged in a row in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and
- second fins, at least a portion of each of which extends in the first direction, and which are arranged in a row in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction,
- wherein the first heat exchange tube comprises: a first heat exchange tube part and a second heat exchange tube part arranged in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction; and a connection part connecting and fluidly communicating the first heat exchange tube part and the second heat exchange tube part with each other,
- wherein the first fins and a first set of heat exchange tubes composed of both the first heat exchange tube parts and the second heat exchange tubes are arranged alternately in a row in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and
- wherein the second fins and a second set of heat exchange tubes composed of the second heat exchange tube parts are arranged alternately in a row in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
11. The heat exchanger of claim 9, wherein:
- the first heat exchange tube part, the second heat exchange tube part, and the connection part of the first heat exchange tube are formed by bending a single heat exchange tube.
12. The heat exchanger of claim 2, further comprising:
- first manifolds respectively disposed at two ends of each of the first heat exchange tubes; and
- second manifolds respectively disposed at two ends of each of the second heat exchange tubes.
13. The heat exchanger of claim 2, wherein:
- the first fin has a same size in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction as a bigger one of a portion of the first heat exchange tube in contact with the first fin and a portion of the second heat exchange tube in contact with the first fin.
14. The heat exchanger of claim 1, further comprising:
- first fins, at least a portion of each of which extends in a first direction, which are arranged in a row in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and which are arranged alternately with the heat exchange tubes,
- wherein the heat exchanger is bent in an L shape, a U shape, or a C shape when viewed in the second direction.
15. An air-conditioning system comprising:
- the heat exchanger of claim 1.
16. The heat exchanger of claim 5, wherein:
- a number of the first heat exchange tubes is greater than a number of the second heat exchange tubes,
- the first heat exchange tube has a greater length than the second heat exchange tube,
- the first heat exchange tube has a greater width than the second heat exchange tube,
- the first heat exchange tube has a greater thickness than the second heat exchange tube, and/or
- a total cross sectional area of internal channels of the first heat exchange tube is greater than a total cross sectional area of internal channels of the second heat exchange tube.
17. The heat exchanger of claim 10, wherein:
- the first heat exchange tube part, the second heat exchange tube part, and the connection part of the first heat exchange tube are formed by bending a single heat exchange tube.
18. The heat exchanger of claim 3, further comprising:
- first manifolds respectively disposed at two ends of each of the first heat exchange tubes; and
- second manifolds respectively disposed at two ends of each of the second heat exchange tubes.
19. The heat exchanger of claim 3, wherein:
- the first fin has a same size in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction as a bigger one of a portion of the first heat exchange tube in contact with the first fin and a portion of the second heat exchange tube in contact with the first fin.
20. The heat exchanger of claim 2, further comprising:
- first fins, at least a portion of each of which extends in a first direction, which are arranged in a row in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and which are arranged alternately with the heat exchange tubes,
- wherein the heat exchanger is bent in an L shape, a U shape, or a C shape when viewed in the second direction.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 11, 2019
Publication Date: Jun 18, 2020
Inventors: Junfeng Jin (Nordborg), Pierre Olivier Pelletier (Nordborg), Yanxing Li (Nordborg)
Application Number: 16/710,084