Heat exchanger and laundry treating apparatus including same

Abstract

The invention provides a heat exchanger and a laundry treating apparatus including the same. The heat exchanger comprises a first heat exchange part, a second heat exchange part and a third heat exchange part; each of the first to third heat exchange parts includes a plurality of refrigerant tubes through which a refrigerant flows and which extend in a first direction, a pair of headers connected to both ends of the plurality of refrigerant tubes and which extend in a second direction, and a fin for conducting heat of the plurality of refrigerant tubes, and is provided with a plurality of heat transfer fins for transferring heat of the plurality of refrigerant tubes. The refrigerant discharged from the first heat exchange part is supplied to the lower part of the second heat exchange part, the refrigerant subjected to heat exchange in the second heat exchange part is discharged from the upper part of the second heat exchange part, and the refrigerant discharged from the second heat exchange part is supplied to the upper part of the third heat exchange part. The refrigerant subjected to heat exchange in the third heat exchange part is discharged from the lower part of the third heat exchange part.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat exchanger and a clothes processing device including the heat exchanger, which can prevent compressor oil accumulation, thereby ensuring the reliability and performance of the compressor, and can additionally ensure heat exchange performance, increase heat exchange capacity, and fully ensure supercooling. Background Art

[0002] Generally, a heat exchanger can be used as a condenser or an evaporator in a refrigeration cycle device composed of a compressor, a condenser, an expansion mechanism, and an evaporator.

[0003] In addition, the heat exchanger is installed in a vehicle, a refrigerator, a clothes processing device, etc., and performs heat exchange between a refrigerant and air.

[0004] Generally, a clothes treating apparatus is an apparatus that dries the laundry by blowing hot air generated by a heater into a drum to evaporate moisture contained in the laundry.

[0005] The clothes treating apparatus may be divided into an exhaust type clothes treating apparatus and a condensation type clothes treating apparatus according to the way of treating the moist air passing through the drum after drying the laundry.

[0006] The exhaust type clothing treatment device discharges the air with high humidity flowing out through the drum to the outside of the clothing treatment device, while the condensation type clothing treatment device does not discharge the air with high humidity flowing out through the drum to the outside of the clothing treatment device, but circulates the air with high humidity and cools it to below the dew point temperature through the condenser, thereby condensing the moisture contained in the air with high humidity.

[0007] In the condensation type laundry processing apparatus, before the condensed water condensed in the condenser is supplied to the drum again, the heated air is heated by the heater and then flows into the drum. Here, since the air with high humidity is cooled during the condensation process, the heat energy of the air is lost, and an additional heater or the like is required to heat the air to the temperature required for drying.

[0008] Exhaust-type clothes processing apparatuses also need to exhaust high-temperature and high-humidity air to the outside, so that normal-temperature outside air flows in and is heated to a desired temperature level by a heater, etc. In particular, as drying progresses, the humidity of the air exhausted from the drum outlet decreases, so the heat of the air exhausted to the outside is not used to dry the dried items in the drum, resulting in heat loss and reduced thermal efficiency.

[0009] Therefore, in recent years, there have appeared clothes treating apparatuses having a heat pump cycle that recovers energy exhausted from the drum and uses the energy for heating air flowing into the drum, thereby being able to improve energy efficiency.

[0010] The condensing type clothes processing device of patent document 1 comprises: a drum 1 into which the clothes to be dried are put; a circulation duct 2 which provides a flow path so that air circulates through the drum 1; a circulation fan 3 which makes the circulating air flow along the circulation duct 2; and a heat pump cycle 4 which has an evaporator 5 and a condenser 6 which are connected in series with the circulation duct 2 so that the air circulating along the circulation duct 2 can pass through.

[0011] The heat pump cycle 4 may include: a circulation pipe forming a circulation flow path for circulating the refrigerant through the evaporator 5 and the condenser 6 ; and a compressor 7 and an expansion valve 8 provided in the circulation pipe between the evaporator 5 and the condenser 6 .

[0012] The heat pump cycle 4 configured as described above transfers the heat energy of the air passing through the drum 1 to the refrigerant via the evaporator 5 , and then transfers the heat energy of the refrigerant to the air flowing into the drum 1 via the condenser 6 .

[0013] Here, both the evaporator and the condenser use ordinary heat exchangers, but since fiber fluff is mixed in the air flowing in the circulation duct, there is a disadvantage that when the fluff is caught in the louvers of the heat exchanger, the flow resistance of the air flowing in the circulation duct is increased, thereby reducing the heat exchange efficiency.

[0014] If multiple rows of microchannel heat exchangers are used to improve the heat exchange efficiency of the laundry processing device, the oil sinks to the bottom due to the density difference and accumulates at the lower end of the vertical header, causing the refrigerant to not be evenly distributed to each tube and only flow on the upper side.

[0015] Since oil exists in a liquid state unlike refrigerant, there is a problem that latent heat cannot be used, the heat transfer area is reduced, and the heat amount is reduced.

[0016] In the case of Patent Document 2, headers 20 on both sides, a plurality of tubes 30 connected to the headers, and a plurality of fins connecting the tubes are disclosed.

[0017] Patent Document 2 discloses a microchannel heat exchanger, but when the microchannel heat exchanger is configured in a plurality of rows, there is a problem that oil accumulates at the lower end of the header, resulting in a decrease in heat exchange efficiency.

[0018] Prior art literature

[0019] Patent Literature

[0020] Patent Document 1: Korean Publication No. 2016-0069333

[0021] Patent Document 2: Korean Publication No. 2018-0040330 Summary of the invention

[0022] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger using a microchannel type heat exchanger as a condenser of a clothing processing device, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency while preventing droplets from accumulating in the header of the microchannel heat exchanger, thereby improving the heat exchange performance and a clothing processing device including the same.

[0023] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger using a plurality of microchannel type heat exchangers as a condenser of a clothes processing device and supercooling the refrigerant in the last column, and a clothes processing device including the same.

[0024] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger using multiple rows of microchannel type heat exchangers as a condenser of a clothing processing device, and facilitating the connection between the compressor and the expansion valve in the machine room and the refrigerant piping through multiple path structures, thereby optimizing the space utilization and the heat exchanger and the clothing processing device including the same.

[0025] Another problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a clothing processing device that adjusts the distance between the evaporator and the condenser at an optimal distance in the air flow path of the mechanical room, thereby preventing condensed water generated in the evaporator from splashing onto the condenser, causing the heat exchange efficiency of the condenser to decrease, and the efficiency of the clothing processing device to decrease.

[0026] Another problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a clothes treating apparatus in which a heat exchanger using microchannels is constructed in a plurality of rows to form a condenser, thereby improving heat exchange performance.

[0027] The subject of the present invention is not limited to the subject mentioned above, and those skilled in the art can clearly understand other subjects not mentioned through the following description.

[0028] The heat exchanger and clothing processing device of the present invention are characterized in that the condenser includes a first heat exchange part to a third heat exchange part, the refrigerant discharged from the first heat exchange part is supplied to the lower part of the second heat exchange part, the refrigerant that has undergone heat exchange in the second heat exchange part is discharged from the upper part of the second heat exchange part, the refrigerant discharged from the second heat exchange part is supplied to the upper part of the third heat exchange part, and the refrigerant that has undergone heat exchange in the third heat exchange part is discharged from the lower part of the third heat exchange part.

[0029] Specifically, the present invention is characterized in that it includes: a first heat exchange part, including a plurality of refrigerant tubes for refrigerant to flow and extend in a first direction, a pair of headers connected to both ends of the plurality of refrigerant tubes and extending in a second direction, and fins for conducting heat of the plurality of refrigerant tubes; a second heat exchange part, including a plurality of refrigerant tubes for refrigerant to flow and extend in the first direction, a pair of headers connected to both ends of the plurality of refrigerant tubes and extending in the second direction, and fins for conducting heat of the plurality of refrigerant tubes, and the refrigerant discharged from the first heat exchange part flows in the second heat exchange part; and a third heat exchange part, including a plurality of refrigerant tubes for refrigerant to flow and extend in the first direction, a pair of headers connected to both ends of the plurality of refrigerant tubes and extending in the second direction, and fins for conducting heat of the plurality of refrigerant tubes. A plurality of refrigerant tubes flowing and extending in a first direction, a pair of headers connected to both ends of the plurality of refrigerant tubes and extending in a second direction, and fins for conducting heat of the plurality of refrigerant tubes; the refrigerant discharged from the second heat exchange part flows in the third heat exchange part; the refrigerant discharged from the first heat exchange part is supplied to the lower part of the second heat exchange part, and the refrigerant that has undergone heat exchange in the second heat exchange part is discharged from the upper part of the second heat exchange part; the refrigerant discharged from the second heat exchange part is supplied to the upper part of the third heat exchange part, and the refrigerant that has undergone heat exchange in the third heat exchange part is discharged from the lower part of the third heat exchange part.

[0030] In addition, the present invention may further include: an inlet pipe for supplying the refrigerant to the first heat exchange part; and an outlet pipe for discharging the refrigerant from the third heat exchange part.

[0031] The inlet pipe may be connected to the header of the first heat exchange unit; the outlet pipe may be connected to the header of the third heat exchange unit located at a position overlapping the header of the first heat exchange unit connected with the inlet pipe in the third direction.

[0032] The inlet pipe may be located at a higher position than the outlet pipe.

[0033] The first connecting pipe through which the refrigerant discharged from the first heat exchange part flows into the second heat exchange part may be located at a lower position than the inlet pipe.

[0034] The second connecting pipe that discharges the refrigerant having undergone heat exchange in the second heat exchange portion may be located at a higher position than the outlet pipe.

[0035] The second connecting pipe that discharges the refrigerant having undergone heat exchange in the second heat exchange portion may be located at a higher position than the first connecting pipe.

[0036] The first connecting pipe may be connected to any header of the second heat exchange part, and the second connecting pipe may be connected to another header of the second heat exchange part.

[0037] The second connecting pipe and the outlet pipe may be located in the same header of the third heat exchange unit.

[0038] In the air flow direction, the third heat exchange portion may be located more upstream than the second heat exchange portion; in the air flow direction, the second heat exchange portion may be located more upstream than the first heat exchange portion.

[0039] The first heat exchange portion, the second heat exchange portion, and the third heat exchange portion may be located at overlapping positions in a flow direction of air.

[0040] The second heat exchange part may include: a 2-1 path, which causes the refrigerant discharged from the first heat exchange part to flow in the first direction; a 2-2 path, which is located above the 2-1 path, and causes the refrigerant discharged from the 2-1 path to flow in a direction opposite to the first direction; and a 2-3 path, which is located above the 2-2 path, and causes the refrigerant discharged from the 2-2 path to flow in the first direction.

[0041] The third heat exchange part may include: a 3-1 path, which causes the refrigerant discharged from the second heat exchange part to flow in the first direction; a 3-2 path, which is located at the lower part of the 3-1 path, and causes the refrigerant discharged from the 3-1 path to flow in a direction opposite to the first direction; a 3-3 path, which is located at the lower part of the 3-2 path, and causes the refrigerant discharged from the 3-2 path to flow in the first direction; and a 3-4 path, which is located at the lower part of the 3-3 path, and causes the refrigerant discharged from the 3-3 path to flow in a direction opposite to the first direction.

[0042] In addition, the present invention is characterized in that it includes a plurality of heat exchange parts, each of the plurality of heat exchange parts includes a plurality of refrigerant tubes for refrigerant flow and extending in a first direction, a pair of headers connected to both ends of the plurality of refrigerant tubes and extending in a second direction, and fins for conducting heat of the plurality of refrigerant tubes; the plurality of heat exchange parts are arranged in a plurality of rows, N in number, along a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, and the refrigerant flows in order from the first heat exchange part to the Nth heat exchange part; the refrigerant flowing in the N-1th heat exchange part flows from bottom to top; and the refrigerant flowing in the Nth heat exchange part flows from top to bottom.

[0043] The present invention may further include: an inlet pipe for supplying the refrigerant to the first heat exchange part; and an outlet pipe for discharging the refrigerant from the Nth heat exchange part.

[0044] The inlet pipe may be connected to the header of the first heat exchange unit; the outlet pipe may be connected to the header of the Nth heat exchange unit located at a position overlapping with the header of the first heat exchange unit connected with the inlet pipe in the third direction.

[0045] The inlet pipe may be located at a higher position than the outlet pipe.

[0046] The refrigerant discharged from the N-2 heat exchange part can be supplied to the lower part of the N-1 heat exchange part, and the refrigerant that has undergone heat exchange in the N-1 heat exchange part can be discharged from the upper part of the N-1 heat exchange part. The refrigerant discharged from the N-1 heat exchange part can be supplied to the upper part of the N heat exchange part, and the refrigerant that has undergone heat exchange in the N heat exchange part can be discharged from the lower part of the N heat exchange part.

[0047] In the flow direction of air, the Nth heat exchange portion may be located upstream of the N-1th heat exchange portion.

[0048] In addition, the present invention is characterized in that it includes: a heat pump having an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser and an expansion valve, which applies heat to the air circulating in the drum; and an air flow path, which forms a moving path so that the air circulates through the drum; the condenser includes a plurality of heat exchange parts, each of the plurality of heat exchange parts includes a plurality of refrigerant tubes for refrigerant flow and extending in a first direction, a pair of headers connected to both ends of the plurality of refrigerant tubes and extending in a second direction, and fins for conducting heat of the plurality of refrigerant tubes; the plurality of heat exchange parts are arranged in a plurality of rows, N in number, along a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, and the refrigerant flows in order from the first heat exchange part to the Nth heat exchange part; the refrigerant flowing in the N-1th heat exchange part flows from bottom to top; and the refrigerant flowing in the Nth heat exchange part flows from top to bottom. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of air and refrigerant in a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a machine room and an air flow path portion of a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] Figure 4 It is shown Figure 3 Diagram of the evaporator and condenser.

[0053] Figure 5 It is shown Figure 3 A perspective view of the condenser.

[0054] Figure 6 It is shown Figure 3 Top view of the condenser.

[0055] Figure 7a It is used to illustrate Figure 3 Diagram of the condenser path.

[0056] Figure 7b It is shown Figure 7a FIG. 1 is a diagram of a second heat exchange section.

[0057] Figure 7c It is shown Figure 7a Figure 2 is a diagram of a third heat exchange section.

[0058] Figure 8 yes Figure 4 A longitudinal sectional view of a first heat exchange portion of a condenser.

[0059] Fig. 9 yes Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of a first heat exchange portion.

[0060] Fig.10 It is shown Figure 3 A perspective view of the evaporator.

[0061] Fig.11 is a diagram of a condenser according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] The advantages and features of the present invention and the methods for implementing the present invention will become apparent after referring to the embodiments described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below and can be implemented in different ways. The embodiments are provided to fully disclose the contents of the present invention and inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the present invention. Throughout the specification, the same reference numerals may refer to the same constituent elements.

[0063] Spatially related terms such as "below", "beneath", "lower", "above" or "upper" are used in the drawings to describe the relationship of one feature to another feature. It is understood that the spatially related terms include different orientations of the device in addition to the orientations described in the drawings. For example, if the device in one of the drawings is turned over, the feature that can be described as "below" or "beneath" can be "above" other elements. Therefore, the terms "below" or "beneath" can include both the orientations of "below" and "above". Therefore, the spatial terms can be interpreted based on the orientation of the device.

[0064] The terms used in this disclosure are only used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, singular expressions used in this specification and the appended claims include plural expressions. In addition, in this specification, terms such as "including" or "having" are only used to specify the existence of features, numbers, steps, actions, constituent elements, parts or combinations thereof recorded in the specification, and do not exclude the possibility of the existence or addition of one or more other features or numbers, steps, actions, constituent elements, parts or combinations thereof.

[0065] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. Terms defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having the same meaning as in the context of the relevant technology, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless clearly defined in this application.

[0066] In the drawings, for the convenience of description and clarity, the thickness or size of each layer is exaggerated, omitted or schematically shown. In addition, the size or area of ​​each component does not completely reflect the actual size.

[0067] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0068] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of air and refrigerant in a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 The clothing processing device 100 of the present invention illustrates a drum-type dryer, which may include a housing 110, a drum 130, a driving unit (not shown), an air supply fan 170, and a heat pump 160. The air in the drum 130 is connected to the heat pump 160 via an air flow path 150.

[0070] Here, the housing 110 forms the appearance of the product and may include a door 112 provided at the front for inputting clothes, and a base 114 on which the internal structure of the clothes treating apparatus 100 is provided.

[0071] On the other hand, the drum 130 can rotate around a rotation axis disposed inside the housing in a horizontal direction or in a direction inclined at a predetermined angle. On the other hand, the drum 130 is in a hollow cylindrical shape and provides a storage space for inputting and drying clothes as drying objects.

[0072] The drum 130 is formed in a cylindrical shape with the front and rear open. The drum 130 is provided with a front support part 132 that can rotatably support the drum 130 at the front. In addition, the drum 130 is provided with a rear support part 133 that can rotatably support the drum 130 at the rear.

[0073] In addition, front rollers 142 and rear rollers 143 that support the drum 130 in a rotatable roller form may be additionally provided at the front and rear lower parts of the drum 130. That is, the front support part 132 and the rear support part 133 block the front and rear sides of the drum 130 to form a drying space for drying objects, and also play a role in supporting the front and rear ends of the drum 130.

[0074] On the other hand, an inlet 132b for putting drying objects into the drum 130 is formed in the front support portion 132, and the inlet is selectively opened and closed by the door 112. In addition, an air outlet 132a connected to the air flow path 150 described later is provided at the lower part of the front support portion 132. The suction flow path 151 of the air flow path 150 described later is connected to the air outlet 132a.

[0075] In addition, an air introduction port 133a formed as a plurality of through holes is formed in the rear support portion 133 so that air is supplied to the drum 130. An exhaust flow path 152 of an air flow path 150 described later communicates with the air introduction port 133a.

[0076] Here, in order to effectively dry the clothes as drying objects, the inner peripheral surface of the drum 130 may be provided with lifting ribs 131 a for tumbling the put clothes.

[0077] In addition, the driving unit uses a motor (not shown) to provide a rotational force. The output shaft of the motor and the drum 130 are connected by a power transmission mechanism such as a transmission belt. The rotational force of the motor is transmitted to the drum 130, so that the drum 130 can be rotated.

[0078] The air passage 150 may be connected to the drum 130 to form a closed loop for circulating air. For example, the air passage 150 may be formed in a duct form. An intake passage 151 for exhausting air is formed at the lower portion of the front support portion 132 of the drum 130, and an exhaust passage 152 for supplying air is formed at the rear support portion 133 of the drum 130.

[0079] On the other hand, the air supply fan 170 may be disposed inside a portion of the air flow path 150 extending from the suction flow path 151 to the evaporator 300 of the heat pump 160 or inside a portion of the air flow path 150 extending from the condenser 400 of the heat pump 160 to the exhaust flow path 152 .

[0080] Here, the air supply fan 170 may be driven by an additional fan motor, and may apply power to the air to allow the air to pass through the inside of the drum 130 , so that the air exhausted from the drum 130 may be circulated to the drum 130 again.

[0081] In addition, a lint filter 162 (see Figure 3 When the air sucked from the drum 130 to the suction flow path 151 passes through the lint filter 162, the lint filter 162 can capture the lint contained in the air.

[0082] Therefore, moisture in the clothes (also referred to as "laundry") is evaporated by the hot air supplied to the inside of the drum 130, and the air passing through the drum 130 is discharged from the drum 130 in a state containing moisture evaporated from the clothes. The high-temperature and high-humidity air discharged from the drum 130 moves along the air flow path 150, receives heat from the heat pump 160, and is heated, and then circulates to the drum 130.

[0083] On the other hand, the heat pump 160 includes an evaporator 300, a compressor 163, a condenser 400, and an expansion valve 164. The heat pump 160 can use a refrigerant as a working fluid. The refrigerant moves along a refrigerant pipe 165, and the refrigerant pipe 165 forms a closed loop for the circulation of the refrigerant. The evaporator 300, the compressor 163, the condenser 400, and the expansion valve 164 are connected by the refrigerant pipe 165, and the refrigerant passes through the evaporator 300, the compressor 163, the condenser 400, and the expansion valve 164 in sequence.

[0084] Here, the evaporator 300 is provided in the air flow path 150 to communicate with the drum outlet, and recovers heat of the air exhausted from the drum 130 by exchanging heat between the air exhausted from the drum outlet and the refrigerant, without exhausting the heat to the outside of the dryer.

[0085] The condenser 400 is provided in the air flow path 150 to communicate with the drum inlet, and transfers the heat of the refrigerant absorbed in the evaporator 300 to the air to flow into the drum 130 by exchanging heat between the air passing through the evaporator 300 and the refrigerant.

[0086] The compressor 163 compresses the refrigerant evaporated in the evaporator 300 to produce high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant, and moves the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant along the refrigerant pipe 165 to the condenser 400. The compressor 163 may be an inverter compressor 163 capable of changing the frequency so as to control the discharge amount of the refrigerant.

[0087] The expansion valve 164 is provided in a refrigerant pipe 165 extending from the condenser 400 to the evaporator 300 , and produces a low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant by expanding the refrigerant condensed in the condenser 400 , and transfers the refrigerant to the evaporator 300 .

[0088] The movement path of the refrigerant constructed as described above is explained. The refrigerant flows into the compressor 163 in a gaseous state and becomes a high-temperature and high-pressure state through compression by the compressor 163. The high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant flows into the condenser 400 and heats the air in the condenser 400, thereby changing from a gaseous state to a liquid state.

[0089] Next, the refrigerant in liquid state flows into the expansion valve 164 and becomes a low-temperature and low-pressure state through the throttling effect of the expansion valve 164 (or including a capillary tube, etc.). The low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant flows into the evaporator 300 and absorbs heat from the air in the evaporator 300, thereby evaporating the refrigerant from a liquid state to a gaseous state.

[0090] As described above, the heat pump 160 repeatedly circulates the refrigerant in the order of the compressor 163 , the condenser 400 , the expansion valve 164 , and the evaporator 300 , and provides a heat source to the air circulated through the drum 130 .

[0091] On the other hand, the clothing processing device 100 of the present invention can supply pressurized air to the interior of the drum 130 separately from the circulating supply of heated air through the heat pump 160, thereby applying impact to the drying objects inside the drum 130 while converting the movement path of the heated air inside the drum 130.

[0092] That is, the drying object put into the drum 130 may contain various forms of moisture depending on the material of the drying object. By supplying pressurized air, larger moisture contained in the drying object can be dropped from the drying object or crushed into smaller moisture, thereby making the drying of moisture by heated air faster.

[0093] In addition, the heated air supplied to the drum 130 dries the drying object inside the drum 130 as it moves from the air inlet 133a at the rear of the drum 130 to the air outlet 132a at the front of the drum 130, and circulates in the drum 130 and the heat pump 160 through the air flow path 150. In the case of such a moving path of the heated air, the larger the contact area with the drying object and the longer the contact time, the higher the drying degree of the drying object. Here, the pressure air supplied separately from the heated air can be supplied at a higher pressure than the heated air at a different position and a different path, thereby applying an impact to the drying object while changing the path of the heated air moving inside the drum 130, thereby making it possible to dry faster based on the moisture of the heated air.

[0094] On the other hand, in order to supply pressurized air into the drum 130 , a pressurized air generator 200 for generating pressurized air and a pressurized air nozzle for injecting the pressurized air generated by the pressurized air generator 200 into the drum 130 may be provided.

[0095] Hereinafter, the arrangement of the evaporator 300 and the condenser 400 will be described in detail.

[0096] Figure 3 1 is a diagram showing a machine room and an air flow path portion of a clothes treating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 It is shown Figure 3 FIG. 4 is a diagram of an evaporator 300 and a condenser 400 .

[0097] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 , the evaporator 300 and the condenser 400 may be disposed inside the air flow path 150. The evaporator 300 may be connected to the drum outlet, and the condenser 400 may be connected to the drum inlet.

[0098] On the other hand, the present invention may include a machine room 161 in which a compressor 163 , an expansion valve, and a refrigerant pipe 165 are located. The machine room 161 may be disposed beside the air flow path 150 .

[0099] Since the temperature of the high-temperature and high-humidity air discharged from the drum 130 is higher than the temperature of the refrigerant of the evaporator 300, the heat of the air is transferred to the refrigerant of the evaporator 300 when passing through the evaporator 300, so that the air condenses and generates condensed water. Thus, the high-temperature and high-humidity air is dehumidified by the evaporator 300, and the condensed water generated by condensation can be collected in an additional condensed water tank (not shown) and discharged.

[0100] On the other hand, the heat source of the air absorbed in the evaporator 300 can be moved to the condenser 400 using the refrigerant as a medium. In order to move the heat source from the evaporator 300 (low heat source part) to the condenser 400 (high heat source part), the compressor 163 can also be located between the evaporator 300 and the condenser 400.

[0101] On the other hand, the evaporator 300 may be a fin & tube type heat exchanger. The fin & tube type is a form in which a plurality of fins in a flat plate form are attached to a hollow tube, and the refrigerant flows along the inside of the tube. When the air passes between the plurality of fins attached to the tube, the refrigerant can exchange heat with the air. Here, the fin is used to increase the heat exchange area between the air and the refrigerant.

[0102] For example, the evaporator 300 may include: a plurality of evaporation refrigerant tubes 310 for refrigerant to flow; and evaporation fins 320 for conducting heat of the evaporation refrigerant. The evaporator 300 may include: an evaporation inlet pipe 391 for supplying refrigerant to the evaporation refrigerant tube 310; and an evaporation outlet pipe 392 for refrigerant to flow out of the evaporation refrigerant tube 310.

[0103] The evaporation inlet pipe 391 is connected to the expansion valve 164 and the evaporation refrigerant pipe 310, and the evaporation outlet pipe 392 is connected to the compressor 163 and the evaporation refrigerant pipe 310. The specific structure of the evaporator 300 will be referred to later. Fig.10 Provide explanation.

[0104] The condenser 400 may include a micro-channel type heat exchanger. The condenser 400 includes: a condensing refrigerant tube 410 including a plurality of channels 410 a through which the refrigerant flows; and a condensing fin 420 for conducting heat of the condensing refrigerant tube 410 .

[0105] The condenser 400 may include a condensation inlet pipe 491 for supplying refrigerant to the condensation refrigerant pipe 410, and a condensation outlet pipe 492 for allowing the refrigerant to flow out of the condensation refrigerant pipe 410. The condensation inlet pipe 491 is connected to the compressor 163 and the condensation refrigerant pipe 410, and the condensation outlet pipe 492 is connected to the expansion valve 164 and the condensation refrigerant pipe 410. The condensation inlet pipe 491 may be used together with the inlet pipe, and the condensation outlet pipe 492 may be used together with the outlet pipe.

[0106] The specific structure of the condenser 400 will refer to Figures 5 to 9 Provide explanation.

[0107] If the condenser 400 uses a microchannel type heat exchanger, the temperature of the air passing through the condenser 400 can be higher than that when the fin tube heat exchanger is used, and the air can be heated to the target temperature in a significantly short heat exchange time. Therefore, if the condenser 400 uses a microchannel type heat exchanger, the drying efficiency of the clothes treating apparatus can be improved.

[0108] Here, the cross-sectional area of ​​each channel 410a of the refrigerant tube of the condenser 400 is smaller than that of the refrigerant tube of the evaporator 300. Since the evaporator 300 does not require a large heat exchange capacity, a fin tube heat exchanger is preferably used rather than a microchannel heat exchanger.

[0109] The air flowing in the air flow path 150 exchanges heat with the evaporator 300 and then flows into the condenser 400. At this time, if the evaporator 300 and the condenser 400 are arranged too close, condensed water generated in the evaporator 300 flows into the condenser 400, resulting in reduced heat exchange efficiency of the condenser 400.

[0110] In order to prevent condensed water generated in the evaporator 300 from flowing into the condenser 400 , a distance D1 between the evaporator 300 and the condenser 400 may be greater than a width W1 of the evaporator 300 in the air flow direction.

[0111] A width W1 of the evaporator 300 in the air flow direction may be greater than a width W2 of the condenser 400 in the air flow direction. A height H1 of the evaporator 300 may be smaller than a height H2 of the condenser 400 .

[0112] Preferably, the separation distance D1 of the condenser 400 may be greater than the sum of the width W1 of the evaporator 300 in the air flow direction and the width W2 of the condenser 400 in the air flow direction.

[0113] More preferably, the separation distance D1 of the condenser 400 may be 100 mm to 250 mm.

[0114] If the separation distance D1 of the condenser 400 is greater than the sum of the width W1 of the evaporator 300 in the air flow direction and the width W2 of the condenser 400 in the air flow direction, condensed water generated in the evaporator 300 due to air flow falls into the space between the condenser 400 and the evaporator 300 .

[0115] The condensation inlet pipe 491 and the condensation outlet pipe 492 may be located in the same direction relative to the condensation refrigerant pipe 410. Specifically, the condensation inlet pipe 491 and the condensation outlet pipe 492 may extend from the condensation refrigerant pipe 410 toward the machine room.

[0116] More specifically, if the flow direction of air is defined as the front-rear direction, the condensation inlet piping 491 and the condensation outlet piping 492 extend from the condensation refrigerant pipe 410 to the right.

[0117] If the condensation inlet piping 491 and the condensation outlet piping 492 are located in the same direction relative to the condensation refrigerant pipe 410, the space for configuring the refrigerant piping can be reduced, the length of the refrigerant piping can be reduced, and sufficient space for the air flow path 150 can be ensured.

[0118] The evaporation inlet pipe 391 and the evaporation outlet pipe 392 may be located in the same direction relative to the evaporation refrigerant pipe 310. Specifically, the evaporation inlet pipe 391 and the evaporation outlet pipe 392 may extend from the evaporation refrigerant pipe 310 toward the machine room.

[0119] More specifically, the evaporation inlet pipe 391 and the evaporation outlet pipe 392 extend from the evaporation refrigerant pipe 310 to the right.

[0120] If the evaporation inlet piping 391 and the evaporation outlet piping 392 are located in the same direction relative to the evaporation refrigerant pipe 310, the space for configuring the refrigerant piping can be reduced, the length of the refrigerant piping can be reduced, and the space for the air flow path 150 can be sufficiently ensured.

[0121] Preferably, the evaporation inlet pipe 391, the evaporation outlet pipe 392, the condensation inlet pipe 491, and the condensation outlet pipe 492 may extend in the same direction from the air flow path 150. The evaporation inlet pipe 391, the evaporation outlet pipe 392, the condensation inlet pipe 491, and the condensation outlet pipe 492 extend from the air flow path 150 in the right direction.

[0122] Hereinafter, the structure of the condenser 400 will be described in detail. The condenser 400 includes the heat exchanger of the present invention. Hereinafter, the description of the condenser is the same as the description of the heat exchanger.

[0123] Figure 5 It is shown Figure 3 A perspective view of the condenser 400, Figure 6 It is shown Figure 3 A top view of the condenser 400, Figure 7a It is used to illustrate Figure 3 Diagram of the condenser path, Figure 7b It is shown Figure 7a A diagram of the second heat exchange section, Figure 7c It is shown Figure 7a Figure 2 is a diagram of a third heat exchange section.

[0124] Reference Figure 5 7 , the condenser 400 is a microchannel type heat exchanger and is formed of aluminum.

[0125] The condenser 400 may be composed of a first heat exchange portion P1, a second heat exchange portion P2, and a third heat exchange portion P3. Different from the present embodiment, the condenser 400 may also be composed of three or more stacked heat exchange portions.

[0126] The first heat exchange part P1, the second heat exchange part P2, and the third heat exchange part P3 may be arranged in a front-rear direction as an air flow direction. The first heat exchange part P1, the second heat exchange part P2, and the third heat exchange part P3 may be arranged to overlap each other in one direction.

[0127] The condenser 400 includes: a first heat exchange part P1; a second heat exchange part P2, located at a position overlapping with the first heat exchange part P1 in the front-to-back direction; a third heat exchange part P3, located at a position overlapping with the second heat exchange part P2 in the front-to-back direction; a condensation inlet piping 491, connected to the first heat exchange part P1, to supply refrigerant; a condensation outlet piping 492, connected to the third heat exchange part P3, to discharge refrigerant; a first connecting pipe 493, connecting the first heat exchange part P1 and the second heat exchange part P2, so that the refrigerant flows from the first heat exchange part P1 to the second heat exchange part P2; and a second connecting pipe 494, connecting the second heat exchange part P2 and the third heat exchange part P3, so that the refrigerant flows from the second heat exchange part P2 to the third heat exchange part P3.

[0128] The first heat exchange part P1 is configured to perform heat exchange with the air that has performed heat exchange with the second heat exchange part P2, and the second heat exchange part P2 is configured to perform heat exchange with the air that has performed heat exchange with the third heat exchange part P3. That is, the air that has performed heat exchange in the third heat exchange part P3 performs heat exchange in the second heat exchange part P2, and then performs heat exchange in the first heat exchange part P1.

[0129] Specifically, a first heat exchange part P1, a second heat exchange part P2 and a third heat exchange part P3 are arranged on the path of external air flow. The external air first exchanges heat with the third heat exchange part P3, then with the second heat exchange part P2, and finally with the first heat exchange part P1.

[0130] More specifically, the refrigerant discharged from the first heat exchange part P1 is supplied to the lower part of the second heat exchange part P2, and the refrigerant that has undergone heat exchange in the second heat exchange part P2 is discharged from the upper part of the second heat exchange part P2. The refrigerant discharged from the second heat exchange part P2 is supplied to the upper part of the third heat exchange part P3, and the refrigerant that has undergone heat exchange in the third heat exchange part P3 is discharged from the lower part of the third heat exchange part P3.

[0131] If the refrigerant discharged from the first heat exchange part P1 is supplied to the lower part of the second heat exchange part P2, the refrigerant that has undergone heat exchange in the second heat exchange part P2 is discharged from the upper part of the second heat exchange part P2, the refrigerant discharged from the second heat exchange part P2 is supplied to the upper part of the third heat exchange part P3, and the refrigerant that has undergone heat exchange in the third heat exchange part P3 is discharged from the lower part of the third heat exchange part P3, then droplets will not accumulate when passing through the second heat exchange part P2 and the third heat exchange part P3, but move in the heat exchange part together with the refrigerant, thereby reducing the accumulation of droplets.

[0132] In detail, if the refrigerant flows in from the center of the second heat exchange part P2 and is discharged from the center or the upper part of the second heat exchange part P2, the oil is gathered at the lower part due to gravity due to the difference in specific gravity between the oil discharged from the compressor and the refrigerant. The oil gathered at the lower part of the second heat exchange part P2 will block the inflow of the refrigerant, so the refrigerant flows only in a part of the second heat exchange part P2 instead of the entire second heat exchange part P2, resulting in a decrease in heat exchange efficiency. The flow path efficiency of the third heat exchange part P3 is also reduced in the same way as the second heat exchange part P2.

[0133] Therefore, if the second heat exchange part P2 and the third heat exchange part P3 are constructed as in the present invention, the oil is prevented from gathering at the lower part of each heat exchange part, so that the refrigerant flows throughout each heat exchange part, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency.

[0134] In the air flow direction, the third heat exchange portion P3 may be located more upstream than the second heat exchange portion P2, and the second heat exchange portion P2 may be located more upstream than the first heat exchange portion P1.

[0135] Specifically, the third heat exchange part P3 may be disposed closer to the intake passage 151 through which air flows in than the second heat exchange part P2, and the first heat exchange part P1 may be disposed closer to the exhaust passage 152 through which air flows out than the second heat exchange part P2.

[0136] Therefore, the first heat exchange part P1 where high-temperature refrigerant flows is arranged in a region where the outside air temperature is high, and the third heat exchange part P3 where low-temperature refrigerant flows is arranged in a region where the outside air temperature is low, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the condenser 400.

[0137] The first heat exchange part P1 , the second heat exchange part P2 , and the third heat exchange part P3 may include: a plurality of condensing refrigerant tubes 410 ; and condensing fins 420 located between the condensing refrigerant tubes 410 adjacent to each other to conduct heat.

[0138] The first heat exchange part P1, the second heat exchange part P2, and the third heat exchange part P3 are manufactured by stacking a plurality of condensing refrigerant tubes 410. Each condensing refrigerant tube 410 extends in a horizontal direction (left-right direction) to move the refrigerant horizontally.

[0139] Specifically, when the air flows in the front-to-back direction, the condensing refrigerant tubes 410 of the first heat exchange part P1, the second heat exchange part P2, and the third heat exchange part P3 may be arranged long in the horizontal direction (lateral direction), and the plurality of condensing refrigerant tubes 410 may be stacked in the vertical direction. When the air passes through the space between the plurality of condensing refrigerant tubes 410 stacked in the vertical direction (longitudinal direction), heat is exchanged with the refrigerant in the condensing refrigerant tubes 410. The plurality of vertically stacked condensing refrigerant tubes 410 define a heat exchange surface together with the condensing fins 420 described later.

[0140] The first heat exchange part P1 may include: a plurality of refrigerant tubes for refrigerant flow, extending in a first direction (horizontal direction); a pair of headers connected to both ends of the plurality of refrigerant tubes, extending in a second direction (vertical direction); and fins for conducting heat from the plurality of refrigerant tubes. The refrigerant tubes, the pair of headers, and the fins of the first heat exchange part P1 are defined as a first condensing refrigerant tube 411, a first left header 431, a first right header 441, and a first condensing fin 421.

[0141] The first heat exchange part P1 may include a first condensing refrigerant tube 411, a first left header 431, a first right header 441, and a first condensing fin 421. Specifically, the first heat exchange part P1 may include: a plurality of first condensing refrigerant tubes 411, in which a plurality of flow paths are formed; a first condensing fin 421, which conducts heat by connecting the first condensing refrigerant tubes 411; a first left header 431, which is combined with one side of the plurality of first condensing refrigerant tubes 411 and communicates with one side of the plurality of first condensing refrigerant tubes 411 to allow refrigerant to flow; and a first right header 441, which is combined with the other side of the plurality of first condensing refrigerant tubes 411 and communicates with the other side of the plurality of first condensing refrigerant tubes 411 to allow refrigerant to flow.

[0142] The first condensing refrigerant tube 411 is horizontally arranged, and a plurality of first condensing refrigerant tubes 411 are stacked in the up-down direction. A plurality of channels 410 a may be formed inside the first condensing refrigerant tube 411 .

[0143] The first condensing fin 421 is formed by bending in the up-down direction, and conducts heat by connecting two first condensing refrigerant tubes 411 stacked in the up-down direction.

[0144] The inlet pipe may be connected to the header of the first heat exchange unit P1. Specifically, the first left header 431 is connected to one side of the plurality of first condensing refrigerant pipes 411. The first left header 431 is arranged to be long and extended in the up-down direction and is connected to the condensing inlet pipe 491. The interior of the first left header 431 is formed into a space, and the refrigerant flowing in through the condensing inlet pipe 491 is distributed and supplied to the plurality of first condensing refrigerant pipes 411.

[0145] The first right header 441 is connected to the other side of the plurality of first condensing refrigerant tubes 411. The first right header 441 is arranged to be long and extend in the up-down direction and is connected to the first connecting tube 493. The interior of the first right header 441 is formed as a space, and the refrigerant discharged from the other side of the plurality of first condensing refrigerant tubes 411 is guided to the first connecting tube 493.

[0146] Preferably, the first connecting pipe 493 may be connected to the lower end of the first right header 441 , and the condensation inlet piping 491 may be connected to the upper end of the first left header 431 .

[0147] One side of the first connection pipe 493 is connected to the first right header 441 of the first heat exchange part P1 , and the other side of the first connection pipe 493 is connected to the second right header 442 of the second heat exchange part P2 .

[0148] The refrigerant flowing in through the condensation inlet pipe 491 is supplied to each first condensation refrigerant pipe 411 through the first left header 431. The refrigerant passing through the first condensation refrigerant pipe 411 exchanges heat with the air and is supplied to the first connection pipe 493 through the first right header 441. The condensation inlet pipe 491 is connected to the compressor 163 to supply high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant to the first heat exchange unit P1.

[0149] In particular, refer to Figure 7b The second heat exchange part P2 includes: a plurality of refrigerant tubes for refrigerant to flow, extending in the first direction; a pair of headers connected to both ends of the plurality of refrigerant tubes and extending in the second direction; and fins for conducting heat of the plurality of refrigerant tubes. The second heat exchange part P2 is for the refrigerant discharged from the first heat exchange part P1 to flow.

[0150] The refrigerant tubes, a pair of headers, and fins of the second heat exchange portion P2 are defined as a second condensing refrigerant tube 412 , a second left header 432 , a second right header 442 , and a second condensing fin 422 .

[0151] The second heat exchange part P2 may include a second condensing refrigerant tube 412, a second left header 432, a second right header 442, and a second condensing fin 422. Specifically, the second heat exchange part P2 includes: a plurality of second condensing refrigerant tubes 412, in which a plurality of flow paths are formed; second condensing fins 422, which conduct heat by connecting the second condensing refrigerant tubes 412; a second left header 432, which is combined with one side of the plurality of second condensing refrigerant tubes 412 and communicates with one side of the plurality of second condensing refrigerant tubes 412 to allow refrigerant to flow; and a second right header 442, which is combined with the other side of the plurality of second condensing refrigerant tubes 412 and communicates with the other side of the plurality of second condensing refrigerant tubes 412 to allow refrigerant to flow.

[0152] The second condensing refrigerant tube 412 is horizontally arranged, and a plurality of second condensing refrigerant tubes 412 are stacked in the up-down direction. A plurality of channels 410a may be formed inside the second condensing refrigerant tube 412.

[0153] The second condensing fin 422 is formed by bending in the up-down direction, and conducts heat by connecting two second condensing refrigerant tubes 412 stacked in the up-down direction.

[0154] The second right header 442 is connected to the other side of the plurality of second condensing refrigerant tubes 412. The second right header 442 is arranged to be long and extended in the up-down direction and is connected to the first connecting pipe 493. The interior of the second right header 442 can be formed into a space, and the refrigerant flowing in through the condensing inlet pipe 491 is distributed and supplied to the plurality of second condensing refrigerant tubes 412.

[0155] Preferably, the interior of the second right header 442 is formed as two spaces so that the refrigerant flowing in through the first connecting pipe 493 can change direction multiple times while flowing through the plurality of second condensing refrigerant pipes 412 .

[0156] Specifically, the second right header 442 may include a first partition plate 442a that divides the internal space of the second right header 442 into two areas in the upper and lower directions. The first partition plate 442a may be located at a position deviated from the center of the second right header 442 to the lower end. The first connecting pipe 493 is connected to the lower space of the second right header 442 located below the first partition plate 442a. The first connecting pipe 493 is connected to a portion of the second right header 442 located below the first partition plate 442a.

[0157] The second left header 432 is connected to one side of the plurality of second condensing refrigerant tubes 412. The second left header 432 is arranged to be long and extend in the up-down direction, and is connected to the second connecting tube 494. The interior of the second left header 432 may be formed as a space, and the refrigerant discharged from one side of the plurality of second condensing refrigerant tubes 412 is guided to the second connecting tube 494.

[0158] Preferably, the interior of the second left header 432 is formed as two spaces so that the refrigerant flowing in through the second condensing refrigerant tubes 412 can change direction multiple times while flowing through the plurality of second condensing refrigerant tubes 412 .

[0159] Specifically, the second left header 432 may include a second partition plate 442a that divides the internal space of the second left header 432 into two areas in the upper and lower directions. The second partition plate 432a may be located at the center of the second left header 432. The second connecting pipe 494 is connected to the upper space of the second left header 432 located above the second partition plate 432a.

[0160] The second partition plate 432a may be located at a higher position than the first partition plate 442a. Thus, the second heat exchange part P2 can make the refrigerant flowing in the left-right direction flow in the right-left direction again through the two partition plates, and then flow in the left-right direction again.

[0161] The second heat exchange part P2 includes: a 2-1 path P2-1, which causes the refrigerant discharged from the first heat exchange part P1 to flow in a first direction; a 2-2 path P2-2, which is located on the upper part of the 2-1 path P2-1, and causes the refrigerant discharged from the 2-1 path P2-1 to flow in a direction opposite to the first direction; and a 2-3 path P2-3, which is located on the upper part of the 2-2 path P2-2, and causes the refrigerant discharged from the 2-2 path P2-2 to flow in the first direction.

[0162] Here, the concept of the path includes the condensing refrigerant tube, the condensing fin, and a part of the header divided by the partition plate, and means dividing each heat exchange part in the vertical direction.

[0163] The 2-1 path P2-1 allows the refrigerant discharged from the first heat exchange part P1 to flow in the first direction (left and right). The 2-1 path P2-1 is a part of the second heat exchange part P2 from the lower end of the second heat exchange part P2 to the first partition plate 442a. The 2-1 path P2-1 includes three second condensing refrigerant pipes 412.

[0164] The 2-2 path P2-2 is located above the 2-1 path P2-1 and allows the refrigerant discharged from the 2-1 path P2-1 to flow in the direction opposite to the first direction (right to left). The 2-2 path P2-2 is a portion of the second heat exchange part P2 from the first partition 442a to the second partition 432a of the second heat exchange part P2. The 2-2 path P2-2 includes four second condensing refrigerant pipes 412.

[0165] The 2-3 path P2-3 is located above the 2-2 path P2-2 and allows the refrigerant discharged from the 2-2 path P2-2 to flow in the first direction (left and right). The 2-3 path P2-3 is a portion of the second heat exchange part P2 from the second partition plate 432a of the second heat exchange part P2 to the upper end of the second heat exchange part P2. The 2-3 path P2-3 includes six second condensing refrigerant pipes 412.

[0166] The 2-3 path P2-3 has a greater width than the 2-2 path P2-2, which has a greater width than the 2-1 path P2-1. The number of the second condensing refrigerant tubes 412 of the 2-3 path P2-3 is greater than the number of the second condensing refrigerant tubes 412 of the 2-2 path P2-2, which has a greater number of the second condensing refrigerant tubes 412 of the 2-2 path P2-2 than the number of the second condensing refrigerant tubes 412 of the 2-1 path P2-1.

[0167] Since the second heat exchange portion P2 is divided into three paths in the vertical direction, even if the refrigerant travels from the lower part to the upper part, since the height difference between the paths is small, accumulation of liquid droplets caused by gravity can be prevented.

[0168] The third heat exchange part P3 includes: a plurality of refrigerant tubes through which the refrigerant flows and extends in a first direction; a pair of headers connected to both ends of the plurality of refrigerant tubes and extending in a second direction; and fins for conducting heat of the plurality of refrigerant tubes. The third heat exchange part P3 allows the refrigerant discharged from the second heat exchange part P2 to flow.

[0169] The refrigerant tubes, a pair of headers, and fins of the third heat exchange part P3 are defined as a third condensing refrigerant tube 413 , a third left header 433 , a third right header 443 , and a third condensing fin 423 .

[0170] The third heat exchange part P3 may include a third condensing refrigerant tube 413, a third left header 433, a third right header 443, and a third condensing fin 423. Specifically, the third heat exchange part P3 includes: a plurality of third condensing refrigerant tubes 413, in which a plurality of flow paths are formed; a third condensing fin 423, which conducts heat by connecting the third condensing refrigerant tubes 413; a third left header 433, which is combined with one side of the plurality of third condensing refrigerant tubes 413 and communicates with one side of the plurality of third condensing refrigerant tubes 413 to allow refrigerant to flow; and a third right header 443, which is combined with the other side of the plurality of third condensing refrigerant tubes 413 and communicates with the other side of the plurality of third condensing refrigerant tubes 413 to allow refrigerant to flow.

[0171] The third condensing refrigerant tube 413 is horizontally arranged, and a plurality of third condensing refrigerant tubes 413 are stacked in the up-down direction. A plurality of channels 410 a may be formed inside the third condensing refrigerant tube 413 .

[0172] The third condensing fin 423 is formed by bending in the up-down direction, and conducts heat by connecting two third condensing refrigerant tubes 413 stacked in the up-down direction.

[0173] The third left header 433 is communicated with one side of the plurality of third condensing refrigerant pipes 413. The third left header 433 is arranged to extend long in the up-down direction and is connected to the second connecting pipe 494 and the condensing outlet pipe 492.

[0174] The outlet pipe can be connected to the header of the third heat exchange unit P3 at a position overlapping with the header connected to the inlet pipe of the first heat exchange unit P1 in the front-to-back direction. Specifically, the condensation outlet pipe 492 can be arranged on the third left header 433 at a position overlapping with the first left header 491 in the front-to-back direction.

[0175] Preferably, the interior of the third left header 433 is formed into three spaces so that the refrigerant flowing in through the second connecting pipe 494 can change direction multiple times while flowing through the plurality of third condensing refrigerant pipes 413 .

[0176] Specifically, the third left header 433 may include a third partition plate 433a and a fourth partition plate 433b that divide the inner space of the third left header 433 into three areas in the upper and lower directions. The third partition plate 433a may be located at a higher position than the fourth partition plate 433b.

[0177] The second connecting pipe 494 is connected to the upper space of the third left header 433 located above the third partition plate 433a, and the condensation outlet piping 492 is connected to the lower space of the third left header 433 located below the fourth partition plate 433b. The second connecting pipe 494 is located at a higher position than the condensation outlet piping 492.

[0178] The condensation inlet pipe 491 may be located at a higher position than the condensation outlet pipe 492. The condensation inlet pipe 491 may be located at a higher position than the first connection pipe 493. The second connection pipe 494 may be arranged higher than the first connection pipe 493.

[0179] The first connection pipe 493 may be connected to any header of the second heat exchange part P2, and the second connection pipe 494 may be connected to another header of the second heat exchange part P2.

[0180] A central space of the third left header 433 may be located between the third partition plate 433 a and the fourth partition plate 433 b .

[0181] The third right header 443 is connected to the other side of the plurality of third condensing refrigerant pipes 413. The third right header 443 is arranged to be long and extend in the up-down direction. The interior of the third right header 443 can be formed into a space to guide the refrigerant discharged from the other side of the plurality of third condensing refrigerant pipes 413 to the third connecting pipe 494.

[0182] Preferably, the interior of the third right header 443 is formed as two spaces so that the refrigerant flowing in through the third condensing refrigerant tubes 413 can change direction multiple times while flowing through the plurality of third condensing refrigerant tubes 413 .

[0183] Specifically, the third right header 443 may include a fifth partition plate 443 a that divides the inner space of the third right header 443 into two areas in the upper and lower directions. The fifth partition plate 443 a may be located at the center of the third right header 443 .

[0184] The fifth partition plate 443a may be located higher than the fourth partition plate 433b and lower than the third partition plate 433a. Thus, the third heat exchange part P3 may cause the refrigerant flowing in the right-left direction to flow in the left-right direction again through the three partition plates, and then flow in the right-left direction again.

[0185] The third heat exchange part P3 includes: a 3-1 path P3-1, which makes the refrigerant discharged from the second heat exchange part P2 flow in a first direction; a 3-2 path P3-2, which is located at the lower part of the 3-1 path P3-1, and makes the refrigerant discharged from the 3-1 path P3-1 flow in a direction opposite to the first direction; a 3-3 path P3-3, which is located at the lower part of the 3-2 path P3-2, and makes the refrigerant discharged from the 3-2 path P3-2 flow in the first direction; and a 3-4 path P3-4, which is located at the lower part of the 3-3 path P3-3, and makes the refrigerant discharged from the 3-3 path P3-3 flow in a direction opposite to the first direction.

[0186] The 3-1 path P3-1 allows the refrigerant discharged from the second heat exchange part P2 to flow in the first direction (left and right). The 3-1 path P3-1 is a partial area of ​​the third heat exchange part P3 from the upper end of the third heat exchange part P3 to the third partition plate 433a. The 3-1 path P3-1 includes four third condensing refrigerant pipes 413.

[0187] The 3-2 path P3-2 is located at the lower part of the 3-1 path P3-1, and makes the refrigerant discharged from the 3-1 path P3-1 flow in the direction opposite to the first direction (right to left). The 3-2 path P3-2 is a part of the third heat exchange part P3 from the third partition plate 433a to the fifth partition plate 443a of the third heat exchange part P3. The 3-2 path P3-2 includes four third condensing refrigerant pipes 413.

[0188] The 3-3 path P3-3 is located at the lower part of the 3-2 path P3-2, and allows the refrigerant discharged from the 3-2 path P3-2 to flow in the first direction (left and right). The 3-3 path P3-3 is a part of the third heat exchange part P3 from the fifth partition plate 443a to the fourth partition plate 433b of the third heat exchange part P3. The 3-3 path P3-3 includes three third condensing refrigerant pipes 413.

[0189] The 3-4 path P3-4 is located at the lower part of the 3-3 path P3-3, and makes the refrigerant discharged from the 3-3 path P3-3 flow in the direction opposite to the first direction (right to left). The 3-4 path P3-4 is a part of the third heat exchange part P3 from the fourth partition plate 433b of the third heat exchange part P3 to the lower end of the third heat exchange part P3. The 3-4 path P3-4 includes two third condensing refrigerant pipes 413.

[0190] The 3-1 path P3-1 and the 3-2 path P3-2 have a greater width than the 3-3 path P3-3, and the 3-3 path P3-3 has a greater width than the 3-4 path P3-4. The number of the third condensing refrigerant tubes 413 of the 3-1 path P3-1 and the 3-2 path P3-2 is greater than the number of the third condensing refrigerant tubes 413 of the 3-3 path P3-3, and the number of the third condensing refrigerant tubes 413 of the 3-3 path P3-3 is greater than the number of the third condensing refrigerant tubes 413 of the 3-4 path P3-4.

[0191] The third heat exchange portion P3 is divided into four paths in the vertical direction, and the number of refrigerant tubes decreases toward the lower portion, whereby the refrigerant is sufficiently supercooled.

[0192] Hereinafter, the structures of the condensing refrigerant pipe 410 and the condensing fin 420 of each heat exchange unit will be described in detail.

[0193] Figure 8 yes Figure 4 A longitudinal cross-sectional view of the first heat exchange portion P1 of the condenser 400, Fig. 9 yes Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of the first heat exchange portion P1.

[0194] Although Figure 8 and Fig. 9 The first heat exchange part P1 is shown, but the structures of the condensing refrigerant tubes 410 and the condensing fins 420 of the second and third heat exchange parts P2 and P3 are the same as those of the first heat exchange part P1.

[0195] Reference Figure 8 and Fig. 9 The condensing refrigerant tube 410 may include a plurality of channels 410 a inside thereof. The plurality of channels 410 a provide spaces for the refrigerant to pass through. The plurality of channels 410 a may extend in a direction parallel to the condensing refrigerant tube 410 .

[0196] Specifically, the cross-sectional shape of the condensing refrigerant pipe 410 may be a quadrilateral shape that is longer left and right than up and down, and the cross-sectional shape of the channel 410a may be a quadrilateral shape.

[0197] Generally, the channels 410a are stacked in a row in a direction (front-rear direction) intersecting the length direction of the condensing refrigerant tube 410. The cross-sectional area of ​​the channels 410a may be smaller than that of the evaporating refrigerant tube 310.

[0198] The condensing fins 420 transfer heat of the condensing refrigerant pipe 410. The condensing fins 420 may improve heat dissipation performance by increasing an area in contact with air.

[0199] The condensing fins 420 are disposed between the condensing refrigerant tubes 410 adjacent to each other. The condensing fins 420 may have various shapes and may be formed by bending a plate having the same width as the condensing refrigerant tubes 410. The condensing fins 420 may be coated with a cladding (not shown).

[0200] The condensing fin 420 can conduct heat by connecting two condensing refrigerant tubes 410 stacked in the vertical direction. The condensing fin 420 can be in direct contact with the condensing refrigerant tube 410, or can be connected to the condensing refrigerant tube 410 using a sacrificial plate (not shown).

[0201] The condensing fin 420 may include a plurality of inclined surfaces inclined relative to the flow direction (front-rear direction) of the air. If the condensing fin 420 is inclined, the heat exchange efficiency can be improved by increasing the contact area between the air and the condensing fin 420.

[0202] If the condensing fin 420 has louvers, the louvers protrude from the condensing fin 420 and have a space between the condensing fin 420, so fluff may be caught, resulting in reduced heat exchange efficiency. Therefore, when the condensing fin 420 has an inclined surface, such lint can be prevented from being caught.

[0203] Hereinafter, the structure of the evaporator 300 will be described in detail.

[0204] Fig.10 It is shown Figure 3 A perspective view of the evaporator 300 is shown.

[0205] Reference Fig.10 The evaporator 300 includes: a plurality of evaporation refrigerant tubes 310 through which the refrigerant flows; and evaporation fins 320 that dissipate heat received from the evaporation refrigerant tubes 310 by being connected to the respective evaporation refrigerant tubes 310 .

[0206] Of course, the evaporator 300 may further include a plurality of collars 42 surrounding at least a portion of the outer surface of each evaporating refrigerant tube 310 . In this case, the evaporating fin 320 may be connected to the plurality of collars 42 .

[0207] The evaporating refrigerant pipe 310 provides a space for the refrigerant to flow. The evaporating refrigerant pipe 310 may be formed as one pipe or may be formed as a plurality of pipes. The present invention is not limited thereto.

[0208] The evaporating refrigerant tube 310 and the evaporating fin 320 may include aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

[0209] The condenser of another embodiment includes a plurality of heat exchange parts, and the plurality of heat exchange parts include: a plurality of refrigerant tubes for refrigerant to flow and extending in a first direction; a pair of headers connected to both ends of the plurality of refrigerant tubes and extending in a second direction; and fins for conducting heat of the plurality of refrigerant tubes; the plurality of heat exchange parts are arranged in a plurality of rows, N in number, in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction; the refrigerant flows in the order of the first heat exchange part P1 to the Nth heat exchange part, the refrigerant flowing in the N-1th heat exchange part flows from bottom to top, and the refrigerant flowing in the Nth heat exchange part flows from top to bottom.

[0210] That is, the refrigerant flowing through the second-to-last heat exchange section among the plurality of heat exchange sections flows from bottom to top, and the refrigerant flowing through the last heat exchange section flows from top to bottom.

[0211] The refrigerant discharged from the N-2 heat exchange part is supplied to the lower part of the N-1 heat exchange part, and the refrigerant that has undergone heat exchange in the N-1 heat exchange part is discharged from the upper part of the N-1 heat exchange part. The refrigerant discharged from the N-1 heat exchange part is supplied to the upper part of the N heat exchange part, and the refrigerant that has undergone heat exchange in the N heat exchange part is discharged from the lower part of the N heat exchange part.

[0212] In the air flow direction, the Nth heat exchange portion is located upstream of the N-1th heat exchange portion.

[0213] The heat exchanger further includes an inlet pipe for supplying the refrigerant to the first heat exchange portion P1 and an outlet pipe for discharging the refrigerant from the Nth heat exchange portion.

[0214] The inlet pipe may be connected to the header of the first heat exchange part P1, and the outlet pipe may be connected to the header of the Nth heat exchange part located at a position overlapping the header connected to the inlet pipe of the first heat exchange part P1 in the third direction (air flow direction).

[0215] Fig.11 FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a condenser 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0216] Reference Fig.11 , Fig.11 The condenser 500 including four heat exchange parts is illustrated, but is not limited thereto.

[0217] The condenser 500 may be composed of a first heat exchange part P11, a second heat exchange part P22, a third heat exchange part P33, and a fourth heat exchange part P44.

[0218] The first heat exchange part P11, the second heat exchange part P22, the third heat exchange part P33, and the fourth heat exchange part P44 may be arranged along the front-rear direction which is the air flow direction.

[0219] The condenser 500 includes: a first heat exchange portion P11; a second heat exchange portion P22, located at a position overlapping with the first heat exchange portion P11 in the front-to-back direction; a third heat exchange portion P33, located at a position overlapping with the second heat exchange portion P22 in the front-to-back direction; a fourth heat exchange portion P44, located at a position overlapping with the third heat exchange portion P33 in the front-to-back direction; a condensation inlet pipe 591, connected to the first heat exchange portion P11 to supply refrigerant; a condensation outlet pipe 592, connected to the fourth heat exchange portion P44 to discharge refrigerant; Refrigerant; a first connecting pipe 593, connecting the first heat exchange part P11 and the second heat exchange part P22, so that the refrigerant flows from the first heat exchange part P11 to the second heat exchange part P22; a second connecting pipe 594, connecting the second heat exchange part P22 and the third heat exchange part P33, so that the refrigerant flows from the second heat exchange part P22 to the third heat exchange part P33; and a third connecting pipe 595, connecting the third heat exchange part P33 and the fourth heat exchange part P44, so that the refrigerant flows from the third heat exchange part P33 to the fourth heat exchange part P44.

[0220] The first heat exchange part P11 is configured to perform heat exchange with the air that has performed heat exchange with the second heat exchange part P22, and the second heat exchange part P22 is configured to perform heat exchange with the air that has performed heat exchange with the third heat exchange part P33. The third heat exchange part P33 is configured to perform heat exchange with the air that has performed heat exchange with the fourth heat exchange part P44. That is, the air that has performed heat exchange in the fourth heat exchange part P44 performs heat exchange in the third heat exchange part P33, and the air that has performed heat exchange in the third heat exchange part P33 performs heat exchange in the second heat exchange part P22, and then performs heat exchange in the first heat exchange part P11.

[0221] Specifically, a first heat exchange part P11, a second heat exchange part P22, a third heat exchange part P33 and a fourth heat exchange part P44 are arranged on the path of external air flow. The external air first exchanges heat with the fourth heat exchange part P44, then with the third heat exchange part P33, for the third time with the second heat exchange part P22, and for the fourth time with the first heat exchange part P11.

[0222] More specifically, the refrigerant discharged from the first heat exchange part P11 is supplied to the upper part of the second heat exchange part P22, the refrigerant that has undergone heat exchange in the second heat exchange part P22 is discharged from the lower part of the second heat exchange part P22, the refrigerant discharged from the second heat exchange part P22 is supplied to the lower part of the third heat exchange part P33, the refrigerant that has undergone heat exchange in the third heat exchange part P33 is discharged from the upper part of the third heat exchange part P33, the refrigerant discharged from the third heat exchange part P33 is supplied to the upper part of the fourth heat exchange part P44, and the refrigerant that has undergone heat exchange in the fourth heat exchange part P44 is discharged from the lower part of the fourth heat exchange part P44.

[0223] In the air flow direction, the fourth heat exchange part P44 can be located further upstream than the third heat exchange part P33, the third heat exchange part P33 can be located further upstream than the second heat exchange part P22, and the second heat exchange part P22 can be located further upstream than the first heat exchange part P11.

[0224] Specifically, the fourth heat exchange part P44 can be configured to be closer to the intake flow path 151 for air to flow in than the third heat exchange part P33, the third heat exchange part P33 can be configured to be closer to the intake flow path 151 for air to flow in than the second heat exchange part P22, and the first heat exchange part P11 can be configured to be closer to the exhaust flow path 152 for air to flow out than the second heat exchange part P22.

[0225] Since the heat exchange efficiency decreases when the temperature difference between the refrigerant and the air is large, the heat exchange efficiency can be improved by properly maintaining the temperature difference between the refrigerant and the air. By arranging the first heat exchange part P1 where the high-temperature refrigerant flows in an area where the temperature of the outside air is relatively high, and arranging the third heat exchange part P3 where the low-temperature refrigerant flows in an area where the temperature of the outside air is relatively low, the temperature difference between the refrigerant in each heat exchange part and the temperature of the outside air is appropriate, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the condenser 400.

[0226] The first heat exchange part P11, the second heat exchange part P22, the third heat exchange part P33, and the fourth heat exchange part P44 may include: a plurality of condensing refrigerant tubes 510; and condensing fins 520 located between the condensing refrigerant tubes 510 adjacent to each other to conduct heat.

[0227] The first heat exchange part P11, the second heat exchange part P22, the third heat exchange part P33, and the fourth heat exchange part P44 are manufactured by stacking a plurality of condensing refrigerant tubes 510. Each condensing refrigerant tube 510 extends in the horizontal direction (left-right direction) to move the refrigerant in the horizontal direction.

[0228] Specifically, when the air flows in the front-to-back direction, the condensing refrigerant tubes 510 of the first heat exchange part P11, the second heat exchange part P22, the third heat exchange part P33, and the fourth heat exchange part P44 can be arranged long in the horizontal direction (lateral direction), and the plurality of condensing refrigerant tubes 510 can be stacked in the vertical direction. When the air passes through the space between the plurality of condensing refrigerant tubes 510 stacked in the vertical direction (longitudinal direction), heat is exchanged with the refrigerant in the condensing refrigerant tubes 510. The plurality of vertically stacked condensing refrigerant tubes 510 define a heat exchange surface together with the condensing fins 520 described later.

[0229] The first heat exchange part P11 may include a first condensing refrigerant tube 511, a first left header 531, a first right header 541, and a first condensing fin 521. Specifically, the first heat exchange part P11 includes: a plurality of first condensing refrigerant tubes 511, in which a plurality of flow paths (channels) are formed; a first condensing fin 521, which conducts heat by connecting the first condensing refrigerant tubes 511; a first left header 531, which is combined with one side of the plurality of first condensing refrigerant tubes 511 and communicates with one side of the plurality of first condensing refrigerant tubes 511 to allow refrigerant to flow; and a first right header 541, which is combined with the other side of the plurality of first condensing refrigerant tubes 511 and communicates with the other side of the plurality of first condensing refrigerant tubes 511 to allow refrigerant to flow.

[0230] The first condensing refrigerant tube 511 is horizontally arranged, and a plurality of first condensing refrigerant tubes 511 are stacked in the up-down direction. A plurality of channels 410 a may be formed inside the first condensing refrigerant tube 511 .

[0231] The first left header 531 is connected to one side of the plurality of first condensing refrigerant tubes 511. The first left header 531 is arranged to be long and extended in the up-down direction and is connected to the condensing inlet piping 591. The interior of the first left header 531 may be formed as a space, and the refrigerant flowing in through the condensing inlet piping 591 is distributed and supplied to the plurality of first condensing refrigerant tubes 511.

[0232] The first right header 541 is connected to the other side of the plurality of first condensing refrigerant tubes 511. The first right header 541 is arranged to be long and extend in the up-down direction and is connected to the first connecting tube 593. The interior of the first right header 541 forms a space, and the refrigerant discharged from the other side of the plurality of first condensing refrigerant tubes 511 is guided to the first connecting tube 593.

[0233] Preferably, the first connection pipe 593 may be connected to the upper end of the first right header 541, and the condensation inlet pipe 591 may be connected to the lower end of the first left header 531. The first connection pipe 593 may be located at a higher position than the condensation inlet pipe 591.

[0234] One side of the first connection pipe 593 is connected to the first right header 541 of the first heat exchange part P11 , and the other side of the first connection pipe 593 is connected to the second right header 542 of the second heat exchange part P22 .

[0235] The refrigerant flowing in through the condensation inlet pipe 591 is supplied to each first condensation refrigerant pipe 511 through the first left header 531, the refrigerant passing through the first condensation refrigerant pipe 511 exchanges heat with the air, and is supplied to the first connection pipe 593 through the first right header 541. The condensation inlet pipe 591 is connected to the compressor 163 to supply high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant to the first heat exchange unit P11.

[0236] The second heat exchange part P22 may include a second condensing refrigerant tube 512, a second left header 532, a second right header 542, and a second condensing fin 522. Specifically, the second heat exchange part P22 includes: a plurality of second condensing refrigerant tubes 512, in which a plurality of flow paths are formed; a second condensing fin 522, which conducts heat by connecting the second condensing refrigerant tubes 512; a second left header 532, which is combined with one side of the plurality of second condensing refrigerant tubes 512 and communicates with one side of the plurality of second condensing refrigerant tubes 512 to allow refrigerant to flow; and a second right header 542, which is combined with the other side of the plurality of second condensing refrigerant tubes 512 and communicates with the other side of the plurality of second condensing refrigerant tubes 512 to allow refrigerant to flow.

[0237] The second condensing refrigerant tube 512 is horizontally arranged, and a plurality of second condensing refrigerant tubes 512 are stacked in the up-down direction. A plurality of channels 410a may be formed inside the second condensing refrigerant tube 512.

[0238] The second right header 542 is connected to the other side of the plurality of second condensing refrigerant tubes 512. The second right header 542 is arranged to be long and extend in the up-down direction, and is connected to the first connecting pipe 593. The interior of the second right header 542 can also be formed as a space, and the refrigerant flowing in through the condensing inlet pipe 591 is distributed and supplied to the plurality of second condensing refrigerant tubes 512.

[0239] Preferably, the interior of the second right header 542 is formed as two spaces so that the refrigerant flowing in through the first connecting pipe 593 can change direction multiple times while flowing through the plurality of second condensing refrigerant pipes 512 .

[0240] Specifically, the second right header 542 may include a first partition plate 542a that divides the internal space of the second right header 542 into two areas in the upper and lower directions. The first partition plate 542a may be located at a position deviated from the center of the second right header 542 to the lower end. The first connecting pipe 593 may be connected to the upper space of the second right header 542 located above the first partition plate 542a.

[0241] The second right header 542 is connected to the second connecting pipe 594. The second connecting pipe 594 is connected to the lower space of the second right header 542 located below the first partition plate 542a. The first connecting pipe 593 is connected to the upper end of the second right header 542 located above the first partition plate 542a, and the second connecting pipe 594 is connected to the lower end of the second right header 542 located below the first partition plate 542a.

[0242] The second left header 532 is arranged to extend long in the up-down direction, and the interior of the second left header 532 forms a single space.

[0243] The refrigerant discharged from one side of the plurality of second condensing refrigerant tubes 512 may be guided to the second connection pipe 594 .

[0244] The second heat exchange part P22 includes: a 2-1 path P22-1, which allows the refrigerant discharged from the first heat exchange part P11 to flow in a first direction; and a 2-2 path P22-2, which is located at the lower part of the 2-1 path P22-1 and allows the refrigerant discharged from the 2-1 path P22-1 to flow in a direction opposite to the first direction.

[0245] The 2-1 path P22-1 allows the refrigerant discharged from the first heat exchange part P11 to flow in the right-left direction. The 2-1 path P22-1 is a partial area of ​​the second heat exchange part P22 from the upper end of the second heat exchange part P22 to the first partition plate 542a. The 2-1 path P22-1 includes seven second condensing refrigerant pipes 512.

[0246] The 2-2 path P22-2 is located at the lower part of the 2-1 path P22-1, and allows the refrigerant discharged from the 2-1 path P22-1 to flow in the left and right directions. The 2-2 path P22-2 is a part of the second heat exchange part P22 from the first partition plate 542a of the second heat exchange part P22 to the lower end of the second heat exchange part P22. The 2-2 path P22-2 includes five second condensing refrigerant pipes 512.

[0247] The 2-2 path P22-2 has a smaller width than the 2-1 path P22-1. The number of the second condensing refrigerant tubes 512 of the 2-2 path P22-2 is smaller than the number of the second condensing refrigerant tubes 512 of the 2-1 path P22-1.

[0248] The third heat exchange part P33 may include a third condensing refrigerant tube 513, a third left header 533, a third right header 543, and a third condensing fin 523. Specifically, the plurality of third heat exchange parts P33 include: a third condensing refrigerant tube 513, in which a plurality of flow paths are formed; a third condensing fin 523, which conducts heat by connecting the third condensing refrigerant tube 513; a third left header 533, which is combined with one side of the plurality of third condensing refrigerant tubes 513 and communicates with one side of the plurality of third condensing refrigerant tubes 513 to allow refrigerant to flow; and a third right header 543, which is combined with the other side of the plurality of third condensing refrigerant tubes 513 and communicates with the other side of the plurality of third condensing refrigerant tubes 513 to allow refrigerant to flow.

[0249] The third condensing refrigerant tube 513 is horizontally arranged, and a plurality of third condensing refrigerant tubes 513 are stacked in the up-down direction. A plurality of channels 410a may be formed inside the third condensing refrigerant tube 513 .

[0250] The third right header 543 is communicated with the other side of the plurality of third condensing refrigerant pipes 513. The third right header 543 is arranged to extend long in the up-down direction and is connected to the second connecting pipe 594.

[0251] The interior of the third right header 543 is formed as two spaces, so that the refrigerant flowing in through the second connecting pipe 594 can change direction multiple times while flowing through the plurality of third condensing refrigerant pipes 513 .

[0252] Specifically, the third right header 543 may include a second partition plate 543a that divides the inner space of the third right header 543 into two areas in the upper and lower directions. The second partition plate 543a may be located at a position deviated from the center of the third right header 543 to the lower end. The second connecting pipe 594 is connected to the lower space of the third right header 543 located below the second partition plate 543a.

[0253] The third right header 543 is connected to the second connection pipe 594. The second connection pipe 594 is connected to the lower space of the third right header 543 located below the second partition plate 543a. The second connection pipe 594 is connected to the lower end of the third right header 543 located below the second partition plate 543a.

[0254] The third left header 533 is communicated with one side of the plurality of third condensing refrigerant pipes 513. The third left header 533 is arranged to extend long in the up-down direction and is connected to the third connecting pipe 595.

[0255] The interior of the third left header 533 is formed as two spaces, so that the refrigerant flowing in through the third condensing refrigerant tubes 513 can change direction multiple times while flowing through the plurality of third condensing refrigerant tubes 513 .

[0256] Specifically, the third left header 533 may include a third partition plate 533a that divides the inner space of the third left header 533 into two areas in the upper and lower directions. The third partition plate 533a may be located at the center of the third left header 533. The third connecting pipe 595 is connected to the upper space of the third left header 533 located above the third partition plate 533a.

[0257] The third partition plate 533a may be located at a higher position than the second partition plate 543a. Thus, the third heat exchange part P33 can make the refrigerant flowing in the right and left directions flow in the left and right directions again through the two partition plates, and then flow in the right and left directions again.

[0258] The third heat exchange part P33 includes: a 3-1 path P33-1, which causes the refrigerant discharged from the second heat exchange part P22 to flow in the right and left directions; a 3-2 path P33-2, which is located on the upper part of the 3-1 path P33-1, and causes the refrigerant discharged from the 3-1 path P33-1 to flow in the left and right directions; and a 3-3 path P33-3, which is located on the upper part of the 3-2 path P33-2, and causes the refrigerant discharged from the 3-2 path P33-2 to flow in the right and left directions.

[0259] The 3-1st path P33-1 is a partial region of the third heat exchange part P33 from the lower end of the third heat exchange part P33 to the second partition plate 543a. The 3-1st path P33-1 includes three third condensing refrigerant pipes 513.

[0260] The 3-2 path P33-2 is a region between the second partition plate 543a and the third partition plate 533a of the third heat exchange portion P33. The 3-2 path P33-2 includes four third condensing refrigerant tubes 513.

[0261] The 3-3rd path P33-3 is a region between the third partition plate 533a of the third heat exchange part P33 and the upper end of the third heat exchange part P33. The 3-3rd path P33-3 includes six third condensing refrigerant tubes 513.

[0262] The 3-3 path P33-3 has a greater width than the 3-2 path P33-2, and the 3-2 path P33-2 has a greater width than the 3-1 path P33-1. The number of the third condensing refrigerant tubes 513 of the 3-3 path P33-3 is greater than the number of the third condensing refrigerant tubes 513 of the 3-2 path P33-2, and the number of the third condensing refrigerant tubes 513 of the 3-2 path P33-2 is greater than the number of the third condensing refrigerant tubes 513 of the 3-1 path P33-1.

[0263] The fourth heat exchange part P44 may include a fourth condensing refrigerant tube 514, a fourth left header 534, a fourth right header 544, and a fourth condensing fin 524. Specifically, the fourth heat exchange part P44 includes: a plurality of fourth condensing refrigerant tubes 514, in which a plurality of flow paths are formed; a fourth condensing fin 524, which conducts heat by connecting the fourth condensing refrigerant tubes 514; a fourth left header 534, which is combined with one side of the plurality of fourth condensing refrigerant tubes 514 and communicates with one side of the plurality of fourth condensing refrigerant tubes 514 to allow refrigerant to flow; and a fourth right header 544, which is combined with the other side of the plurality of fourth condensing refrigerant tubes 514 and communicates with the other side of the plurality of fourth condensing refrigerant tubes 514 to allow refrigerant to flow.

[0264] The fourth condensing refrigerant tube 514 is horizontally arranged, and a plurality of fourth condensing refrigerant tubes 514 are stacked in the up-down direction. A plurality of channels 410a may be formed inside the fourth condensing refrigerant tube 514.

[0265] The fourth left header 534 communicates with one side of the plurality of fourth condensing refrigerant pipes 514. The fourth left header 534 is arranged to extend long in the up-down direction and is connected to the third connecting pipe 595 and the condensing outlet pipe 592.

[0266] The condensation outlet pipe 592 may be disposed in the fourth left header 534 located at a position overlapping with the first left header 591 in the front-rear direction.

[0267] The interior of the fourth left header 534 is formed into three spaces, so that the refrigerant flowing in through the third connecting pipe 595 can change direction multiple times while flowing through the plurality of fourth condensing refrigerant pipes 514 .

[0268] Specifically, the fourth left header 534 may include a fourth partition plate 534a and a fifth partition plate 534b that divide the inner space of the fourth left header 534 into three regions. The fourth partition plate 534a may be located at a higher position than the fifth partition plate 534b.

[0269] The third connecting pipe 595 is connected to the upper space of the fourth left header 534 located above the fourth partition plate 534a, and the condensation outlet piping 592 is connected to the lower space of the fourth left header 534 located below the fifth partition plate 534b. The third connecting pipe 595 is located at a higher position than the condensation outlet piping 592. The third connecting pipe 595 may be arranged higher than the second connecting pipe 594.

[0270] A central space of the fourth left header 534 may be located between the fourth partition plate 534 a and the fifth partition plate 534 b .

[0271] The fourth right header 544 is communicated with the other side of the plurality of fourth condensing refrigerant tubes 514. The fourth right header 544 is arranged to extend long in the up-down direction.

[0272] The interior of the fourth right header 544 is formed as two spaces, so that the refrigerant flowing in through the fourth condensing refrigerant tubes 514 can change direction multiple times while flowing through the plurality of fourth condensing refrigerant tubes 514 .

[0273] Specifically, the fourth right header 544 may include a sixth partition plate 544 a that divides the inner space of the fourth right header 544 into two areas in the upper and lower directions. The sixth partition plate 544 a may be located at the center of the fourth right header 544 .

[0274] The sixth partition plate 544a may be located higher than the fifth partition plate 534b and lower than the fourth partition plate 534a. Therefore, the fourth heat exchange part P44 may cause the refrigerant flowing in the left-right direction to flow in the right-left direction again through three partition plates, and then flow in the left-right direction again.

[0275] The fourth heat exchange part P44 includes: a 4-1 path P44-1, which causes the refrigerant discharged from the third heat exchange part P33 to flow in the left-right direction; a 4-2 path P44-2, which is located at the lower part of the 4-1 path P44-1, and causes the refrigerant discharged from the 4-1 path P44-1 to flow in the right-left direction; a 4-3 path P44-3, which is located at the lower part of the 4-2 path P44-2, and causes the refrigerant discharged from the 4-2 path P44-2 to flow in the left-right direction; and a 4-4 path P44-4, which is located at the lower part of the 4-3 path P44-3, and causes the refrigerant discharged from the 4-3 path P44-3 to flow in the right-left direction.

[0276] The 4-1st path P44-1 is a partial region of the fourth heat exchange part P44 from the upper end of the fourth heat exchange part P44 to the fourth partition plate 534a. The 4-1st path P44-1 includes four fourth condensing refrigerant pipes 514.

[0277] The 4-2 path P44-2 is a partial region of the fourth heat exchange portion P44 from the fourth partition plate 534a to the sixth partition plate 544a of the fourth heat exchange portion P44. The 4-2 path P44-2 includes four fourth condensing refrigerant pipes 514.

[0278] The 4-3rd path P44-3 is a partial region of the fourth heat exchange portion P44 from the sixth partition plate 544a to the fifth partition plate 534b of the fourth heat exchange portion P44. The 4-3rd path P44-3 includes three fourth condensing refrigerant pipes 514.

[0279] The 4-4th path P44-4 is a partial region of the fourth heat exchange part P44 from the fifth partition plate 534 b of the fourth heat exchange part P44 to the lower end of the fourth heat exchange part P44. The 4-4th path P44-4 includes two fourth condensing refrigerant pipes 514.

[0280] The 4-1 path P44-1 and the 4-2 path P44-2 have a greater width than the 4-3 path P44-3, and the 4-3 path P44-3 has a greater width than the 4-4 path P44-4. The number of the fourth condensing refrigerant tubes 514 of the 4-1 path P44-1 and the 4-2 path P44-2 is greater than the number of the fourth condensing refrigerant tubes 514 of the 4-3 path P44-3, and the number of the fourth condensing refrigerant tubes 514 of the 4-3 path P44-3 is greater than the number of the fourth condensing refrigerant tubes 514 of the 4-4 path P44-4.

[0281] The fourth heat exchange portion P44 is divided into four paths in the vertical direction, and the number of refrigerant tubes decreases as approaching the lower portion, so that the refrigerant can be sufficiently supercooled.

[0282] The heat exchanger and the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention have one or more of the following effects.

[0283] First, the present invention uses a plurality of rows of microchannel type heat exchangers as the condenser of the clothing processing device, and makes the refrigerant in the second to last row flow from bottom to top, and makes the refrigerant in the last row flow from top to bottom, thereby preventing droplets from accumulating in the header of the microchannel heat exchanger and improving the heat exchange efficiency.

[0284] Second, the present invention uses a plurality of rows of microchannel type heat exchangers as the condenser of the clothing processing device, and makes the refrigerant in the second to last row flow from bottom to top, and makes the refrigerant in the last row flow from top to bottom, and the paths of the last row are composed of four or more and the number of refrigerant tubes included in each path decreases as approaching the lower part, thereby having the advantage of supercooling the refrigerant in the last row.

[0285] Third, the present invention adopts microchannels and constructs a plurality of rows for the condenser which needs a large amount of heat to reheat the air in the air flow path and supply it to the outer barrel, thereby making it easy to adjust the temperature of the air supplied to the outer barrel and to form convection, thus having the advantage of improving the heat exchange performance.

[0286] Fourth, when the present invention arranges the condensers in multiple rows in a mechanical room with a small space, the pipes for supplying refrigerant to the condensers and the pipes for the refrigerant to flow out of the condensers are arranged in the same direction, and the refrigerant pipes of the evaporator are also arranged in the same direction as the condenser. This has the advantages of minimizing the length of the refrigerant piping connecting the condenser and the evaporator with the compressor and the expansion valve, and reducing the increase in flow resistance caused by the refrigerant piping.

[0287] Fifth, the present invention uses a microchannel heat exchanger as a condenser and a fin-tube heat exchanger as an evaporator in the mechanical room of the clothing processing device. Therefore, since the evaporator requires less energy, a low-cost fin-tube heat exchanger is used, while the condenser that requires a large amount of heat to reheat the air in the air flow path and supply it to the outer barrel uses a microchannel heat exchanger. Therefore, it has the advantages of improving heat exchange performance, reducing air supply resistance, and reducing manufacturing costs.

[0288] Sixth, the evaporator and condenser of the present invention are both made of aluminum, and therefore have the advantages of improving the corrosion resistance in the air flow path of the clothing processing device with high moisture content, improving the reliability of the clothing processing device, and preventing the Giovanni corrosion caused by mixing copper and aluminum.

[0289] The above-mentioned features, structures, effects, etc. are included in at least one embodiment of the present invention, and should not be limited to one embodiment. In addition, the features, structures, effects, etc. in each embodiment can be implemented as other embodiments by those skilled in the art through mutual combination or modification. Therefore, the contents related to these combinations and modifications should be understood to be included in the scope and spirit of the present invention disclosed in the claims.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger, wherein: include: The first heat exchange part includes a plurality of refrigerant tubes through which refrigerant flows and extending in a first direction, a pair of headers connected to both ends of the plurality of refrigerant tubes and extending in a second direction, and fins for conducting heat of the plurality of refrigerant tubes; a second heat exchange part, comprising a plurality of refrigerant tubes through which refrigerant flows and extending in the first direction, a pair of headers connected to both ends of the plurality of refrigerant tubes and extending in the second direction, and fins for conducting heat of the plurality of refrigerant tubes, wherein the refrigerant discharged from the first heat exchange part flows in the second heat exchange part; as well as a third heat exchange part, comprising a plurality of refrigerant tubes through which refrigerant flows and extending in the first direction, a pair of headers connected to both ends of the plurality of refrigerant tubes and extending in the second direction, and fins for conducting heat of the plurality of refrigerant tubes, wherein the refrigerant discharged from the second heat exchange part flows in the third heat exchange part; The refrigerant discharged from the first heat exchange part is supplied to the lower part of the second heat exchange part, and the refrigerant that has undergone heat exchange in the second heat exchange part is discharged from the upper part of the second heat exchange part. The refrigerant discharged from the second heat exchange part is supplied to the upper part of the third heat exchange part, and the refrigerant that has undergone heat exchange in the third heat exchange part is discharged from the lower part of the third heat exchange part.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein: Also includes: an inlet pipe for supplying refrigerant to the first heat exchange part; and The outlet pipe discharges the refrigerant of the third heat exchange unit.

3. The heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein: The inlet pipe is connected to the header of the first heat exchange part; The outlet pipe is connected to a header of the third heat exchange section at a position where the header to which the inlet pipe of the first heat exchange section is connected overlaps in the third direction.

4. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein: The inlet pipe is located at a higher position than the outlet pipe.

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein: The first connecting pipe through which the refrigerant discharged from the first heat exchange portion flows into the second heat exchange portion is located at a lower position than the inlet pipe.

6. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein: The second connecting pipe that discharges the refrigerant having undergone heat exchange in the second heat exchange portion is located at a higher position than the outlet pipe.

7. The heat exchanger according to claim 5, wherein: The second connecting pipe that discharges the refrigerant having exchanged heat in the second heat exchange portion is located at a higher position than the first connecting pipe.

8. The heat exchanger according to claim 7, wherein: The first connecting pipe is connected to any one header of the second heat exchange part, and the second connecting pipe is connected to the other header of the second heat exchange part.

9. The heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein: The second connecting pipe and the outlet pipe are located in the same header of the third heat exchange unit.

10. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein: In the air flow direction, the third heat exchange portion is located at a position more upstream than the second heat exchange portion; The second heat exchange portion is located upstream of the first heat exchange portion in the air flow direction.

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