Heat Exchanger

Abstract

A heat-exchanger header tank of a gas cooler includes a tank formation member, a tube-connecting plate joined to the tank formation member outer surface, and a partition disposed within and joined to the tank formation member to divide the tank formation member interior into plural refrigerant channels extending in the longitudinal direction of the tank formation member and arranged in the front-rear direction. Tube insertion holes are formed in a wall of the tank formation member and in the tube-connecting plate at mutually aligned positions. Tube-end fit cutouts partially receiving corresponding end portions of heat exchange tubes are formed on the partition to align with corresponding tube insertion holes. The cross-sectional profile of the header tank can be appropriately selected for an installation space for the gas cooler, and the cross-sectional shape and area of a refrigerant channel can be readily changed.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is an application filed under 35 U.S.C. § 111(a) claiming the benefit pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e)(1) of the filing dates of Provisional Application Nos. 60 / 580,145 and 60 / 662,360 filed Jun. 17, 2004 and Mar. 17, 2005, respectively, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 111(b).TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates to a heat exchanger, and more particularly to a heat exchanger favorably usable as a gas cooler or an evaporator of a supercritical refrigeration cycle in which a CO2 (carbon dioxide) refrigerant or a like supercritical refrigerant is used. [0003] Herein and in the appended claims, the downstream side of flow (represented by arrow X in FIGS. 1 and 13) of air in a heat exchanger is referred to as the “front,” and the opposite side as the “rear,” and the term “aluminum” encompasses aluminum alloys in addition to pure aluminum. BACKGROUND ART [0004] A conventionally known heat exchanger for use in a supercriti...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0025] With the heat exchanger according to par. 1), the header tank comprises the hollow tank formation member, and the partition member disposed within and joined to the tank formation member and adapted to divide the interior of the tank formation member into a plurality of refrigerant channels extending in the longitudinal direction of the tank formation member and arranged in the front-rear direction, so that the partition member functions to enhance withstand pressure of the header tank. This enables the header tank, or the tank formation member, to assume an appropriate cross-sectional profile in accordance with, for example, an installation space for an associated heat exchanger. Also, by means of changing the shape and cross-sectional area of the partition member, the cross-sectional shape and area of the refrigerant channels in the header tank can be readily changed so as to enhance heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger in various applications. As compared with the case where various types of tank formation members having different cross-sectional sizes are prepared, costs become lower.

[0026] With the heat exchanger according to par. 2), a plurality of tube insertion holes are formed in the tank formation member, and a plurality of tube-end fit cutouts for partially receiving corresponding end portions of the heat exchange tubes are formed on the partition member in such a manner as to align with the corresponding tube insertion holes. Accordingly, in the course of assembling the heat exchanger, the heat exchange tubes can be connected to the header tank in a relatively easy manner by utilizing the tube insertion holes of the tank formation member. Further, since the end portions of the heat exchange tubes are fitted into the corresponding tube-end fit cutouts of the partition member, all of the end portions of the heat exchange tubes can readily assume a predetermined length of projection into the header tank, or the tank formation member. Therefore, the length of projection can be set to an appropriate value for enhancing the performance of the heat exchanger.

[0028] With the heat exchanger according to pars. 7) and 8), the flow of refrigerant can be appropriately set for enhancing heat exchange performance. For example, when the heat exchanger is used as a gas cooler of a supercritical refrigeration cycle, the gas cooler exhibits enhanced heat exchange performance.

[0029] With the heat exchanger according to par. 9), the flow of refrigerant can be appropriately set for enhancing heat exchange performance. For example, when the heat exchanger is used as an evaporator of a supercritical refrigeration cycle, the evaporator exhibits enhanced heat exchange performance.

Problems solved by technology

However, the header tanks fail to assume an appropriate cross-sectional profile in accordance with, for example, an installation space for the heat exchanger.

In order to provide, in various applications, appropriate cross-sectional shapes and areas of the refrigerant channel of the header tank so as to enhance heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger described in the above-mentioned publication, various types of tank formation members having different inside diameters must be prepared beforehand by extrusion, resulting in an increase in cost.

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