Heat exchanger, and outdoor machine

Abstract

To provide a heat exchanger that can easily drain condensed water, and an indoor machine.SOLUTION: A heat exchanger according to the present disclosure comprises: a plurality of flattened tubes mutually arranged in parallel at intervals, and extending in a vertical direction; fins arranged between the adjacent flattened tubes; and a lower header pipe connected to lower ends of the plurality of flattened tubes. The heat exchanger is installed on an installation part, and comprises water guide members between the installation part and the lower header pipe. The water guide members comprise protruding parts protruding upward from an upper surface of the lower header pipe.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a heat exchanger and an outdoor unit. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a heat exchanger that improves the drainage of corrugated fins. This heat exchanger includes corrugated fins with through-hole-shaped drainage slits formed within the longitudinal range of the flat tubes, and the horizontal end positions of the drainage slits are different between adjacent fins.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a heat exchanger that allows condensed water to flow smoothly down. This heat exchanger is equipped with a drainage guide plate that contacts the corrugated fins, the upper end surface and side surfaces of the lower header pipe, and the bottom of the drain pan. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6734002

[0005] [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-25462 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present disclosure provides a heat exchanger and an outdoor unit that allow condensed water to be easily drained. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The heat exchanger of the present disclosure comprises a plurality of flat tubes arranged in parallel at intervals from each other and extending in the vertical direction, fins arranged between adjacent flat tubes, and a lower header pipe connected to the lower ends of the plurality of flat tubes, and is installed on an installation section, and has a water-conducting member between the installation section and the lower header pipe, and the water-conducting member has a protruding portion that protrudes above the upper surface of the lower header pipe.

[0008] The outdoor unit of the present disclosure comprises a heat exchanger having a plurality of flat tubes arranged in parallel at intervals from each other and extending in the vertical direction, fins arranged between adjacent flat tubes, and a lower header pipe connected to the lower ends of the plurality of flat tubes, and an installation section in which the heat exchanger is installed, wherein the heat exchanger has a water-conducting member between the installation section and the lower header pipe, and the water-conducting member has a protruding portion that protrudes above the upper surface of the lower header pipe. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The heat exchanger and outdoor unit according to the present disclosure can guide condensed water adhering to the lower part of the heat exchanger to the water guide member and drain it, thereby making it easier to drain the condensed water from the heat exchanger. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] Refrigeration circuit diagram of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to embodiment 1 [Figure 2] A front view schematically showing a heat exchanger [Figure 3] A perspective view of a water guide member [Figure 4] Front view of the water guide member [Figure 5] VV cross-sectional view of Figure 4 [Figure 6] A perspective view of the lower header pipe and its vicinity in the heat exchanger [Figure 7] 10 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a lower header pipe according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] (Findings that formed the basis of this disclosure) At the time the inventors conceived the present disclosure, a heat exchanger technical field had proposed a configuration in which corrugated fins were provided between multiple flat tubes arranged vertically. However, when a heat exchanger with such a configuration was used as an evaporator, condensed water generated in the heat exchanger was trapped in the corrugated fins due to surface tension, which could lead to a decrease in heat exchanger performance due to blockage of the air flow path and a risk of refrigerant leakage due to corrosion. To address this issue, a technology had been proposed in which drainage slits were formed in the corrugated fins between the flat tubes. Another technology had also been proposed in which a drainage guide plate was provided in the heat exchanger that contacted the corrugated fins, the upper end surface and side surfaces of the lower header pipe, and the bottom of the drain pan. However, even if drainage slits are formed in the corrugated fins, there is a concern that condensed water will originate from the header pipe connected to the lower end of the flat tube and be trapped in the lower corrugated fins. Furthermore, if drainage guide plates are provided in the heat exchanger, they must be incorporated during the heat exchanger manufacturing process, which reduces productivity and raises concerns about performance degradation due to the drainage guide plates reducing the efficiency of heat exchange in the corrugated fins. The inventors discovered these problems and have come to the subject of the present disclosure in order to solve them. Therefore, the present disclosure provides a heat exchanger and an outdoor unit that allow condensed water to be easily drained.

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, unnecessary detailed description may be omitted. For example, detailed description of well-known matters or redundant description of substantially the same configuration may be omitted. This is to avoid unnecessary redundancy in the following description and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art. The accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0013] (Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. [1-1.Configuration] [1-1-1. Overall structure] FIG. 1 is a refrigeration circuit diagram of an outdoor unit 1 of an air conditioner according to the first embodiment. The outdoor unit 1 is a device of the air conditioner that is mainly installed outdoors. As shown in FIG. 1, the outdoor unit 1 includes a compressor 2, a four-way valve 3, and an expansion valve 4. The outdoor unit 1 also includes a heat exchanger 10. The heat exchanger 10 exchanges heat between the refrigerant in the refrigeration circuit of the air conditioner and outside air. The outdoor unit 1 is provided with a blower 5 that flows outside air through the heat exchanger 10 to promote heat exchange in the heat exchanger 10. In this embodiment, the air conditioner can switch between heating operation and cooling operation by switching the flow path of the four-way valve 3, and the heat exchanger 10 can also function as an evaporator.

[0014] [1-1-2. Heat exchanger configuration] 2 is a front view schematically showing the heat exchanger 10 according to embodiment 1. In the following figures, X indicates the left direction, Y indicates the front direction, and Z indicates the vertically upward direction.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, the heat exchanger 10 is placed on a drain pan 6 provided inside the housing of the outdoor unit 1. The drain pan 6 is a tray-shaped member that receives condensed water generated in the heat exchanger 10. The drain pan 6 is formed with a drain port and the like for draining the condensed water. The drain pan 6 is an example of an "installation portion" in the present disclosure.

[0016] The heat exchanger 10 has a plurality of flat tubes 11 arranged parallel to one another in the vertical direction. The flat tubes 11 are tubes with a flat cross-sectional shape in a horizontal cross section and have a plurality of microchannels inside. The plurality of flat tubes 11 are oriented such that the longitudinal directions and lateral directions of the respective cross-sectional shapes are parallel to one another. In this embodiment, the plurality of flat tubes 11 are oriented such that the longitudinal directions in the horizontal cross section are parallel to the front-to-rear direction and the lateral directions are parallel to the left-to-right direction. The plurality of flat tubes 11 are also aligned in the front-to-rear direction and are arranged at equal intervals along the left-to-right direction. Hereinafter, the direction in which the plurality of flat tubes 11 are arranged is referred to as the effective length direction. That is, in this embodiment, the effective length direction is the left-to-right direction.

[0017] The upper ends of the multiple flat tubes 11 are connected to an upper header pipe 12. The lower ends of the multiple flat tubes 11 are connected to a lower header pipe 13. Each header pipe 12, 13 is a hollow pipe connected to the refrigerant piping of the outdoor unit 1 and extends in the effective length direction. In this embodiment, the heat exchanger 10 is provided with one each of the header pipes 12, 13. When the heat exchanger 10 functions as an evaporator, the lower header pipe 13 is upstream of the flat tubes 11 in the refrigerant flow, and the upper header pipe 12 is downstream of the flat tubes 11. The flat tubes 11, the upper header pipe 12, and the lower header pipe 13 are made of a metal material with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum.

[0018] The heat exchanger 10 is provided with corrugated fins 14. The corrugated fins 14 are formed of a metal sheet that is bent in a wave-like shape and has multiple generally horizontal surfaces aligned vertically. The metal sheet that forms the corrugated fins 14 is made of a metal sheet with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum. The corrugated fins 14 are arranged between adjacent flat tubes 11 in contact with the flat tubes 11 and are fixed to the flat tubes 11 by brazing or the like. The heat exchanger 10 is configured to allow ventilation in the front-to-rear direction through the gaps between the flat tubes 11 and the corrugated fins 14. Hereinafter, the direction in which ventilation is possible in the heat exchanger 10 is referred to as the ventilation direction. That is, in this embodiment, the ventilation direction is the front-to-rear direction. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the heat exchanger 10 and the blower 5 are installed so that, when the blower 5 is activated, the front side is the downwind side in the ventilation direction and the rear side is the upwind side in the ventilation direction. The corrugated fin 14 is an example of a "fin" in this disclosure.

[0019] 2, the heat exchanger 10 has a water guide member 30. The water guide member 30 is a member provided between the lower header pipe 13 and the drain pan 6. In this embodiment, the water guide member 30 is made of resin.

[0020] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the water guide member 30. Fig. 4 is a front view of the water guide member 30. The water guide member 30 has a base portion 50 that contacts the drain pan 6 from above, and a protrusion portion 40 that protrudes upward from the base portion 50.

[0021] The base portion 50 has a flat lower surface 51 that faces downward. The lower surface 51 contacts the drain pan 6 from above. The lower surface 51 has a flow path forming portion 52 that is a recess facing upward. The flow path forming portion 52 penetrates the base portion 50 in the effective length direction.

[0022] The protruding portion 40 has a curved portion 41 formed thereon that is connected to the base portion 50. The curved portion 41 extends upward from the base portion 50. The protruding portion 40 has a tip portion 43 formed thereon that extends upward from the upper end of the curved portion 41.

[0023] 4, in this embodiment, the dimension W1 of the protrusion 40 in the effective length direction is equal to or less than the distance between adjacent flat tubes 11, i.e., equal to or less than the dimension of the corrugated fin 14 in the effective length direction. Furthermore, the dimension W2 of the base 50 in the effective length direction is larger than the dimension W1. Specifically, the dimension W2 is equal to the distance between the centers of adjacent flat tubes 11.

[0024] Moreover, the width of the tip portion 43 in the effective length direction decreases toward the tip 44 located at the upper end. In this embodiment, the tip portion 43 has a substantially triangular shape when viewed along the ventilation direction.

[0025] Fig. 5 is a VV cross-sectional view of Fig. 4, showing the water guide member 30 in a cross section perpendicular to the effective length direction. As shown in Fig. 5, the curved portion 41 curves along the outer surface of the lower header pipe 13. In this embodiment, since the lower header pipe 13 has a circular cross section, the curved portion 41 curves along an arc shape. Furthermore, an inner surface 41a of the curved portion 41 contacts the lower header pipe 13. The inner surface 41a is the surface of the curved portion 41 that faces the lower header pipe 13.

[0026] The lower end of the inner surface 41a is connected to a first upper surface 53 of the base portion 50. The first upper surface 53 faces upward and is located below the lower header pipe 13. The first upper surface 53 is curved along the lower header pipe 13 and comes into contact with the lower header pipe 13.

[0027] The inner surface 41a and the first upper surface 53 contact over an area of ​​at least half of the outer periphery of the lower header pipe 13 when viewed along the effective length direction. Therefore, the base portion 50 and the protruding portion 40 fit into the lower header pipe 13. In the present embodiment, the water guide member 30 is detachably attached to the lower header pipe 13 by fitting the base portion 50 and the protruding portion 40 into the lower header pipe 13. In addition, because the base portion 50 contacts the drain pan 6 from above, the water guide member 30 can support the lower header pipe 13 and the entire heat exchanger 10 by means of the base portion 50.

[0028] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the lower header pipe 13 in the heat exchanger 10. As shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, the tip portions 43 are inserted between adjacent flat tubes 11. In this embodiment, the corrugated fins 14 do not protrude from the flat tubes 11 in the ventilation direction, and therefore, by inserting the protruding portions 40 between the adjacent flat tubes 11, the tip portions 43 are brought closer to the corrugated fins 14.

[0029] 5, the tip portion 43 extends above the upper surface 13a of the lower header pipe 13. Therefore, the tip portion 43 is located near the corrugated fins 14. In this specification, "nearby" means a state in which objects are in contact with each other, or a state in which objects are separated from each other but are close enough that water droplets on one object come into contact with the other object.

[0030] More specifically, the tip portion 43 extends above the lower end of the corrugated fin 14. In addition, the tip portion 43 is located on the downwind side of the corrugated fin 14 in the ventilation direction. Specifically, the first surface 43a of the tip portion 43 contacts the downwind end of the corrugated fin 14 from the downwind side.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, the heat exchanger 10 is provided with multiple types of water guide members 30, each having a different length of its distal end 43 in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, two types of water guide members 30 are provided. Hereinafter, only when distinguishing between these, the one with the longer distal end 43 will be referred to as the water guide member 30a and the one with the shorter distal end 43 as the water guide member 30b. As shown in FIG. 2, the water guide member 30a is provided near the center of the heat exchanger 10 in the effective length direction, and the water guide member 30b is provided further outward than the water guide member 30b. In other words, the water guide member 30b is farther from the center of the heat exchanger 10 than the water guide member 30a in the effective length direction. Therefore, the protrusions 40 near the center of the heat exchanger 10 in the effective length direction extend higher than the protrusions 40 located outside the protrusions 40 near the center.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 5, a first water guide groove 45 is formed in the curved portion 41. The first water guide groove 45 is a groove that extends vertically along the inner surface 41a. The first water guide groove 45 also extends to the upper end of the first surface 43a of the tip portion 43. The first surface 43a is a surface that extends upward from the upper end of the inner surface 41a and faces the upwind side in the ventilation direction. The inner surface 41a and the first surface 43a in this embodiment correspond to the "surface of the protrusion" in this disclosure. The first water guide groove 45 in this embodiment corresponds to the "water guide groove" in this disclosure.

[0033] The lower end of the first water guide groove 45 is connected to the first drain groove 54. The first drain groove 54 is a groove that extends in the ventilation direction along the first upper surface 53 in the base portion 50. The base portion 50 also has a first drain hole 55 formed therein. The first drain hole 55 penetrates the base portion 50 in the vertical direction, with its upper end opening to the first upper surface 53 and its lower end opening to the flow path forming portion 52. In detail, the upper end of the base portion 50 is connected to the first drain groove 54 in the first upper surface 53. The first drain groove 54 in this embodiment corresponds to the "drain groove" in this disclosure. The first drain hole 55 in this embodiment corresponds to the "drain hole" in this disclosure.

[0034] Furthermore, a second water guide groove 47 is formed on the outer surface 41b of the protrusion 40, which is the surface opposite the inner surface 41a. The second water guide groove 47 is a groove that extends vertically along the outer surface 41b. The second water guide groove 47 also extends to the upper end of the second surface 43b of the tip portion 43. The second surface 43b is a surface that extends upward from the upper end of the outer surface 41b and faces the downwind side in the ventilation direction. The outer surface 41b and the second surface 43b in this embodiment correspond to the "surface of the protrusion" in this disclosure. The second water guide groove 47 in this embodiment corresponds to the "water guide groove" in this disclosure.

[0035] The lower end of the second water guide groove 47 connects to the second drain groove 57. The second drain groove 57 is a groove that extends in the ventilation direction along the second upper surface 56 of the base portion 50. The second upper surface 56 is an upper surface that extends from the lower end of the outer surface 41b toward the downwind side in the ventilation direction. A damming portion 59 that rises upward is formed on the downwind end of the second upper surface 56. The damming portion 59 blocks condensed water flowing on the second upper surface 56 or the second drain groove 57 so that it does not flow to the downwind side.

[0036] Further, a second drain hole 58 is formed in the base portion 50. The second drain hole 58 penetrates the base portion 50 in the up-down direction, with its upper end opening to the second upper surface 56 and its lower end opening to the flow path forming portion 52. More specifically, the upper end of the second drain hole 58 is connected to the second drain groove 57. That is, the second drain hole 58 is located on the outer side of the curve of the curved portion 41. In other words, the second drain hole 58 is formed at a position opposite the lower header pipe 13 across the curved portion 41. The second drain groove 57 in this embodiment corresponds to the "drain groove" in this disclosure. The second drain hole 58 in this embodiment corresponds to the "drain hole" in this disclosure.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 5, a drainage flow path S is formed between the water guide member 30 and the drain pan 6. In detail, the drainage flow path S is a space that is passable in the effective length direction and is surrounded by the inner surface of the flow path forming portion 52 from above and from both sides in the ventilation direction, and is surrounded by the drain pan 6 from below. The flow path forming portion 52 is formed below a first upper surface 53 that contacts the lower surface 13b of the lower header pipe 13. Therefore, the upper end of the drainage flow path S is located below the lower surface 13b of the lower header pipe 13. In addition, the drainage holes 55, 58 described above connect the drainage grooves 54, 57 to the drainage flow path S.

[0038] 6, in this embodiment, the multiple water guide members 30 attached to the heat exchanger 10 are arranged in the effective length direction with their base portions 50 in close contact with each other. Therefore, the drainage flow paths S formed between each water guide member 30 and the drain pan 6 are connected in the effective length direction, and water flowing through the drainage flow paths S is less likely to leak between the water guide members 30.

[0039] [1-2. Operation] The operation of the outdoor unit 1 and heat exchanger 10 configured as above will be described below. When an air conditioner having the outdoor unit 1 performs heating operation, the heat exchanger 10 provided in the outdoor unit 1 functions as an evaporator. When the heat exchanger 10 functions as an evaporator, the outside air is cooled by the heat exchanger 10, and condensation water is produced in the heat exchanger 10.

[0040] Condensed water adhering to the heat exchanger 10 is drained into the drain pan 6 below, mainly due to gravity. However, because the corrugated fins 14 have a shape with many substantially horizontal surfaces, the condensed water may accumulate on the corrugated fins 14 due to surface tension. In particular, near the lower ends of the corrugated fins 14, the condensed water tends to accumulate on the corrugated fins 14, originating from the lower header pipe 13. In addition, in the effective length direction, the condensed water tends to accumulate particularly near the center of the heat exchanger 10.

[0041] In contrast, in this embodiment, the condensed water adhering to the corrugated fins 14 is guided downward by the water guide member 30 attached to the lower header pipe 13, making it easier to drain into the drain pan 6.

[0042] Condensed water adhering near the lower ends of the corrugated fins 14 flows to the tip portions 43 that contact the corrugated fins 14. Because the tip portions 43 are located on the downwind side of the corrugated fins 14, condensed water carried along with the air blown by the blower 5 easily flows to the tip portions 43. In addition, near the center of the heat exchanger 10 in the effective length direction, a water guide member 30a having a tip portion 43 that protrudes to a higher position is provided, making it easier for condensed water near the center of the heat exchanger 10, where it is particularly prone to stagnation, to flow to the tip portions 43.

[0043] The condensed water that has flowed to the tip 43 flows downward toward the upper surfaces 53, 56 of the base 50 by the action of gravity, while running down the surfaces 41a, 41b, 43a, 43b of the protrusion 40. At this time, the condensed water tends to flow smoothly through the water guide grooves 45, 47 formed in the protrusion 40.

[0044] The condensed water that has flowed onto each of the upper surfaces 53, 56 flows along the upper surfaces 53, 56 into each of the drain holes 55, 58. At this time, the condensed water tends to flow smoothly through each of the drain grooves 54, 57 to each of the drain holes 55, 58. The condensed water flows into the drainage flow path S through each of the drain holes 55, 58.

[0045] The condensed water that flows into the drainage flow path S flows through the drainage flow path S and then flows into the drain outlet of the drain pan 6, and is drained to the outside of the outdoor unit 1. At this time, since the upper end of the drainage flow path S is located below the lower surface 13b of the lower header pipe 13, the condensed water flowing through the drainage flow path S is unlikely to come into contact with the lower header pipe 13 and the flat tubes 11.

[0046] [1-3. Effects, etc.] As described above, in this embodiment, the heat exchanger 10 comprises a plurality of flat tubes 11 arranged in parallel at intervals from each other and extending in the vertical direction, corrugated fins 14 arranged between adjacent flat tubes 11, and a lower header pipe 13 connected to the lower ends of the plurality of flat tubes 11, and may be configured to be installed on the drain pan 6, have a water-conducting member 30 between the drain pan 6 and the lower header pipe 13, and have a protrusion 40 that protrudes above the upper surface 13a of the lower header pipe 13. This allows the condensed water adhering to the lower part of the heat exchanger 10 to be drained by being guided to the water guide member 30. This makes it easier to drain the condensed water from the heat exchanger 10. In particular, in this embodiment, the water guide members 30 are provided in the same number as the corrugated fins 14 between the flat tubes 11, making it easier to drain condensed water that accumulates below all of the corrugated fins 14.

[0047] As in this embodiment, the water guide member 30 may be attached to the lower header pipe 13, and the heat exchanger 10 may be installed relative to the drain pan 6 with the water guide member 30 in contact with the drain pan 6 from above. This allows the water guide member 30 to be used as a support member for supporting the heat exchanger 10 on the drain pan 6. This allows the structure of the heat exchanger 10 to be simplified. In particular, in this embodiment, the water guide member 30 is configured to be detachable from the lower header pipe 13 by fitting, and therefore can be easily attached to the lower header pipe 13 .

[0048] As in this embodiment, the water guide member 30 may be configured such that water guide grooves 45, 47 extending along the surfaces 41a, 41b, 43a, 43b are formed on the surfaces 41a, 41b, 43a, 43b of the protrusion 40. This allows the condensed water running down the surfaces 41a, 41b, 43a, and 43b of the protrusion 40 to flow smoothly, making it easier to drain the condensed water from the heat exchanger 10. In particular, in this embodiment, the water guide grooves 45, 47 are formed on the surfaces of both sides of the protruding portion 40 in the direction of airflow, which makes it easier for condensed water to be drained more smoothly.

[0049] As in this embodiment, the protrusion 40 has a curved portion 41 extending up and down along the lower header pipe 13, and the water guide member 30 is formed with a base portion 50 that is connected to the curved portion 41 and contacts the drain pan 6 from above, and the base portion 50 is formed with a second drainage hole 58 that penetrates the base portion 50 at a position outside the curved portion 41. As a result, the base 50, which is formed to the outside of the curved portion 41, stabilizes the installation of the heat exchanger 10 on the drain pan 6, while allowing the condensed water that has flowed into the base 50 to be drained. This makes it easier to drain the condensed water from the heat exchanger 10.

[0050] As in this embodiment, the base portion 50 may be configured to have a second drain groove 57 extending toward the second drain hole 58. This allows the condensed water that has flowed onto the base portion 50 to efficiently flow into the second drain holes 58. This makes it easier to drain the condensed water from the heat exchanger 10. In particular, in this embodiment, the blocking portion 59 can prevent the condensed water flowing in the second drain groove 57 from flowing down from the second upper surface 56 to the downwind side, so that leakage of the condensed water is unlikely to occur.

[0051] As in this embodiment, the water guide member 30 may be configured to have a first drain hole 55 formed below the lower header pipe 13 and passing through the water guide member 30 . This allows the condensed water adhering to the lower header pipe 13 to be drained through the first drain holes 55. This makes it easier to drain the condensed water from the heat exchanger 10. In particular, in this embodiment, the upper end of the first drain hole 55 is connected to the first drain groove 54 formed on the first upper surface 53, making it easy to guide condensation water adhering to the lower header pipe 13 to the first drain hole 55.

[0052] As in this embodiment, the water guide member 30 may be configured to form a drainage flow path S between itself and the drain pan 6, and the lower ends of the drain holes 55, 58 may be configured to open into the drainage flow path S. This allows the condensed water that has flowed through the drain holes 55, 58 to flow into the drain passage S. This makes it easier to drain the condensed water from the heat exchanger 10. In particular, in this embodiment, the drainage flow paths S formed in adjacent water-guiding members 30 are connected in the effective length direction, so that the drainage flow paths S can guide condensed water over long distances, making it easier to drain from the drain pan 6.

[0053] As in this embodiment, the upper end of the drainage flow path S may be configured to be located below the lower surface 13b of the lower header pipe 13. As a result, the condensed water flowing through the drainage flow path S is less likely to come into contact with the lower header pipe 13 and the flat tubes 11. As a result, the corrosion resistance of the lower header pipe 13 and the flat tubes 11 can be improved.

[0054] As in this embodiment, the protrusions 40 may be configured to come into contact with the corrugated fins 14. This allows the condensed water adhering to the corrugated fins 14 to easily flow along the protrusions 40. This makes it easier to drain the condensed water from the heat exchanger 10.

[0055] As in this embodiment, the heat exchanger 10 may be configured such that multiple protrusions 40 are arranged in a line in the effective length direction, and the protrusions 40 near the center of the heat exchanger 10 in the effective length direction extend higher than the protrusions 40 located outside the protrusions 40 near the center. This makes it easier to drain condensed water, particularly near the center of the heat exchanger 10 in the effective length direction where condensed water is likely to accumulate. This makes it easier to drain condensed water evenly from the entire heat exchanger 10. In particular, in this embodiment, the protrusion 40 of the water-conducting member 30a near the center of the heat exchanger 10 is configured so that the length of the tip 43 that contacts the corrugated fin 14 is long, making it easier for the long tip 43 to guide condensed water from the corrugated fin 14 to the water-conducting member 30a.

[0056] As in this embodiment, the protrusion 40 may be configured to be inserted between the adjacent flat tubes 11. This makes it easier to bring the protrusions 40 closer to the corrugated fins 14, making it easier for condensed water adhering to the corrugated fins 14 to flow to the protrusions 40. This makes it easier to drain condensed water from the heat exchanger 10. In particular, in this embodiment, since the protrusions 40 are inserted between all of the adjacent flat tubes 11, condensed water can be easily drained from each of the corrugated fins 14.

[0057] As in this embodiment, the tip 43 of the protrusion 40 may have a shape in which the width dimension along the effective length direction decreases toward the tip 44. This makes it easier to insert the protruding portion 40 between the adjacent flat tubes 11.

[0058] As in this embodiment, the water guide member 30 may be made of a resin material. This allows the corrosion resistance of the lower header pipe 13, the flat tubes 11 and the water guide member 30 to be improved.

[0059] As in this embodiment, the protruding portion 40 may be configured to be located on the downwind side of the corrugated fin 14. As a result, the condensed water that has flowed to the downwind side of the corrugated fins 14 can be drained by the water guide member 30. This makes it easier to drain the condensed water from the heat exchanger 10.

[0060] In this embodiment, the outdoor unit 1 comprises a heat exchanger 10 having a plurality of flat tubes 11 arranged in parallel at intervals from each other and extending in the vertical direction, corrugated fins 14 arranged between adjacent flat tubes 11, and a lower header pipe 13 connected to the lower ends of the plurality of flat tubes 11, and a drain pan 6 in which the heat exchanger 10 is installed, and the heat exchanger 10 has a water-conducting member 30 between the drain pan 6 and the lower header pipe 13, and the water-conducting member 30 has a protrusion 40 that protrudes above the upper surface 13a of the lower header pipe 13. This allows the condensed water adhering to the lower part of the heat exchanger 10 to be drained by being guided to the water guide member 30. This makes it easier to drain the condensed water from the heat exchanger 10.

[0061] (Other embodiments) As described above, the first embodiment has been described as an example of the technology disclosed in the present application. However, the technology in the present disclosure is not limited to this, and can be applied to embodiments in which modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc. are made. Furthermore, it is also possible to combine the components described in the first embodiment above to create new embodiments. Therefore, other embodiments will be exemplified below.

[0062] In the first embodiment, the water guide member 30 is described as being made of resin, but this is merely an example. For example, the water guide member 30 may be made of a metal such as aluminum. In particular, the water guide member 30 may be made of a material that is electrically less noble than the lower header pipe 13 and the flat tubes 11. This can improve the corrosion resistance of the lower header pipe 13 and the flat tubes 11.

[0063] In the first embodiment, it has been described that the heat exchanger 10 is provided with one lower header pipe 13, but this is just one example. The heat exchanger 10 may be provided with a plurality of lower header pipes 13. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the lower header pipe 13 according to a modified example, showing a cross section perpendicular to the effective length direction.

[0064] The heat exchanger 10 according to the modified example is provided with two lower header pipes 13 aligned in the direction of airflow. A water guide member 30 is attached to each of the two lower header pipes 13. The water guide member 30 attached to one lower header pipe 13 and the water guide member 30 attached to the other header pipe 13 are disposed symmetrically in the direction of airflow. That is, the protruding portion 40 of the water guide member 30 attached to one lower header pipe 13 is located on the downwind side of the corrugated fins 14, and the water guide member 30 attached to the other lower header pipe 13 is located on the upwind side of the corrugated fins 14.

[0065] That is, like the modified example, the heat exchanger 10 may have a plurality of lower header pipes 13, and the water guide member 30 may be attached to each of the lower header pipes 13. This makes it easier to drain condensed water from the heat exchanger 10 having a plurality of lower header pipes 13.

[0066] In the first embodiment, the water guide member 30 is described as being detachable from the lower header pipe 13, but this is just one example. For example, the water guide member 30 may be fixed to the lower header pipe 13 by brazing or the like.

[0067] In the first embodiment, it has been described that one water guide member 30 has one protrusion 40 formed thereon, but this is merely an example. For example, the water guide member may be a single member formed by connecting any number of water guide members 30 according to the first embodiment in the effective length direction. In this case, one water guide member has a plurality of protrusions 40 formed thereon.

[0068] In the first embodiment, it has been described that the protrusions 40 are inserted between all adjacent flat tubes 11, but this is just one example. It is sufficient that one or more protrusions 40 are provided, and they do not have to be inserted between adjacent flat tubes 11.

[0069] In the first embodiment, it has been described that the tip end 43 of the protrusion 40 comes into contact with the corrugated fin 14, but this is just an example. It is sufficient that the protrusion 40 is in close proximity to the corrugated fin 14.

[0070] In the first embodiment, it has been described that the outdoor unit 1 is provided in an air conditioner and the heat exchanger 10 is placed in the drain pan 6, but this is just one example. The outdoor unit 1 may be provided in an apparatus that uses at least the heat exchanger 10 as an evaporator and utilizes a refrigeration cycle. For example, the outdoor unit 1 may be an outdoor unit such as a heat pump water heater. Furthermore, the heat exchanger 10 may be placed in a part of the outdoor unit 1 other than the drain pan 6.

[0071] In the first embodiment, it has been described that the corrugated fins 14 are provided between the adjacent flat tubes 11, but this is just one example. Fins other than the corrugated fins 14 may be provided between the adjacent flat tubes 11.

[0072] In embodiment 1, it has been explained that two types of water-guiding members 30a, 30b having different lengths of tip portion 43 are provided, but this is just one example, and the configuration may also include three or more types of water-guiding members 30 having different lengths of tip portion 43.

[0073] It should be noted that the above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate the technology of the present disclosure, and various modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc. may be made within the scope of the claims or their equivalents.

[0074] (Addendum) The above description of the embodiments discloses the following techniques. (Technology 1) A heat exchanger comprising a plurality of flat tubes arranged in parallel with a gap between them and extending in the vertical direction, fins arranged between adjacent flat tubes, and a lower header pipe connected to the lower ends of the plurality of flat tubes, and installed on an installation section, wherein a water-conducting member is provided between the installation section and the lower header pipe, and the water-conducting member has a protrusion that protrudes above the upper surface of the lower header pipe. This allows condensed water adhering to the lower part of the heat exchanger to be guided to the water guide member and drained, making it easier to drain the condensed water from the heat exchanger.

[0075] (Technology 2) The heat exchanger according to Technology 1, wherein the water guide member is attached to the lower header pipe, and the heat exchanger is installed on the installation section with the water guide member in contact with the installation section from above. This allows the water guide member to also be used as a support member for supporting the heat exchanger on the installation portion, thereby simplifying the structure of the heat exchanger.

[0076] (Technology 3) The heat exchanger according to Technology 1 or 2, wherein a water guide groove extending along the surface is formed on the surface of the protrusion. This allows the condensed water that runs down the surface of the protrusion to flow smoothly, making it easier to drain the condensed water from the heat exchanger.

[0077] (Technology 4) A heat exchanger described in any one of Technologies 1 to 3, wherein the protrusion has a curved portion extending vertically along the lower header pipe, the water guide member has a base portion formed thereon that is connected to the curved portion and contacts the installation portion from above, and the base portion has a drainage hole formed therein at a position outside the curved portion that passes through the base portion. This allows the heat exchanger to be installed stably on the installation part by the base part formed to the outside of the curved part, while allowing condensed water that has flowed onto the base part to be drained, making it easier to drain condensed water from the heat exchanger.

[0078] (Technical Aspect 5) The heat exchanger according to Technical Aspect 4, wherein the base portion is formed with a drain groove extending toward the drain hole. This allows the condensed water that has flowed onto the base to flow efficiently into the drain hole, making it easier to drain the condensed water from the heat exchanger.

[0079] (Technical Aspect 6) The heat exchanger according to any one of Technical Aspects 1 to 6, wherein the water guide member has a drain hole formed below the lower header pipe, the drain hole passing through the water guide member. This allows condensed water adhering to the lower header pipe to be drained through the drain hole, making it easier to drain condensed water from the heat exchanger.

[0080] (Technology 7) The heat exchanger according to any one of Technologies 4 to 6, wherein the water guide member forms a drainage flow path between the water guide member and the installation portion, and the lower end of the drainage hole opens into the drainage flow path. This allows the condensed water that has flowed through the drain hole to flow into the drain passage, making it easier to drain the condensed water from the heat exchanger.

[0081] (Technical Aspect 8) The heat exchanger according to Technical Aspect 7, wherein an upper end of the drainage flow path is positioned below a lower surface of the lower header pipe. This makes it difficult for condensed water flowing through the drainage flow path to come into contact with the lower header pipe and the flat tubes, thereby improving the corrosion resistance of the lower header pipe and the flat tubes.

[0082] (Technology 9) The heat exchanger according to any one of Technologies 1 to 8, wherein the protrusions are in contact with the fins. This allows condensed water adhering to the fins to easily flow along the protrusions, making it easier to drain the condensed water from the heat exchanger.

[0083] (Technology 10) A heat exchanger according to any one of technologies 1 to 9, wherein a plurality of the protrusions are arranged side by side in the effective length direction, and the protrusions near the center of the heat exchanger in the effective length direction extend higher than the protrusions located outside the protrusions near the center. This makes it easier to drain condensed water, particularly near the center of the heat exchanger in the effective length direction where condensed water is likely to accumulate, and therefore makes it easier to drain condensed water evenly from the entire heat exchanger.

[0084] (Technology 11) The heat exchanger according to any one of Technologies 1 to 10, wherein the protrusions are inserted between the adjacent flat tubes. This makes it easier to bring the protrusions closer to the fins, making it easier for condensed water adhering to the fins to flow toward the protrusions, thereby facilitating the drainage of condensed water from the heat exchanger.

[0085] (Technical Technique 12) The heat exchanger according to any one of Technical Techniques 1 to 11, wherein the tip of the protrusion has a shape in which the width dimension along the effective length direction decreases toward the tip. This makes it easier to insert the protrusion between adjacent flat tubes.

[0086] (Technology 13) A heat exchanger according to any one of Technologies 1 to 12, wherein the water guide member is made of a material that is electrically less noble than the lower header pipe and the flat tubes. This allows the water guide member to be used as a corrosion inhibitor for the lower header pipe and the flat tubes, thereby improving the corrosion resistance of the lower header pipe and the flat tubes.

[0087] (Technology 14) The heat exchanger according to any one of Technologies 1 to 12, wherein the water guide member is made of a resin material. This improves the corrosion resistance of the lower header pipe, the flat tubes, and the water guide member.

[0088] (Technology 15) The heat exchanger according to any one of Technologies 1 to 14, further comprising a plurality of the lower header pipes, each of which is fitted with the water guide member. This makes it easier to drain condensed water from a heat exchanger having a plurality of lower header pipes.

[0089] (Technology 16) The heat exchanger according to any one of Technologies 1 to 15, wherein the protrusion is located on the downwind side of the fin. This allows the condensed water that has flowed to the leeward side of the fins to be drained by the water guide member, making it easier to drain the condensed water from the heat exchanger.

[0090] (Technology 17) An outdoor unit comprising: a heat exchanger having a plurality of flat tubes arranged in parallel at intervals from each other and extending in the vertical direction, fins arranged between adjacent flat tubes, and a lower header pipe connected to the lower ends of the plurality of flat tubes; and an installation section in which the heat exchanger is installed, wherein the heat exchanger has a water-conducting member between the installation section and the lower header pipe, and the water-conducting member has a protrusion that protrudes above the upper surface of the lower header pipe. This allows condensed water adhering to the lower part of the heat exchanger to be guided to the water guide member and drained, making it easier to drain the condensed water from the heat exchanger. [Industrial Applicability]

[0091] The present disclosure is applicable to heat exchangers and outdoor units, specifically to heat exchangers that function as at least an evaporator, and outdoor units of devices that use a refrigeration cycle, such as air conditioners or heat pump water heaters. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 1 Outdoor unit 2 Compressor 3 Four-way valve 4 Expansion valve 5. Blower 6 Drain pan (installation part) 10 Heat exchanger 11 Flat tube 12 Upper header pipe 13 Lower header pipe 13a Top side 13b Bottom side 14 Corrugated fin (fin) 30, 30a, 30b Water conducting members 40 Protrusion 41 Curved section 41a Inner surface (surface of protrusion) 41b Outer surface (surface of protrusion) 43 Tip 43a First surface (surface of protrusion) 43b Second surface (surface of protrusion) 44 Tip 45 First Water Channel (Water Channel) 47 Second Water Channel (Water Channel) 50 Base 51 Bottom side 52 Flow path forming section 53 1st top surface 54 First Drain (Drain) 55 1st drain hole (drain hole) 56 2nd top surface 57 Second Drain (Drain) 58 2nd drain hole (drain hole) 59 Dam

Claims

1. a plurality of flat tubes arranged in parallel at intervals from one another and extending in the vertical direction; fins disposed between adjacent flat tubes; a lower header pipe connected to lower ends of the plurality of flat tubes, A heat exchanger installed on a mounting portion, a water guide member between the installation section and the lower header pipe; The water guide member has a protruding portion that protrudes above the upper surface of the lower header pipe. heat exchanger.

2. the water guide member is attached to the lower header pipe, The heat exchanger is installed on the installation part with the water guide member in contact with the installation part from above. The heat exchanger of claim 1 .

3. A water guide groove is formed on the surface of the protrusion, extending along the surface. The heat exchanger of claim 1 .

4. the protruding portion has a curved portion extending vertically along the lower header pipe, The water guide member has a base portion that is connected to the curved portion and contacts the installation portion from above, The base portion has a drain hole formed therethrough at a position outside the curved portion. The heat exchanger of claim 1 .

5. A drain groove extending toward the drain hole is formed in the base portion.

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 4.

6. A drain hole penetrating the water guide member is formed below the lower header pipe in the water guide member. The heat exchanger of claim 1 .

7. The water guide member forms a drainage flow path between the water guide member and the installation portion, The lower end of the drain hole opens into the drainage flow path.

7. A heat exchanger according to claim 4.

8. The upper end of the drainage flow path is located below the lower surface of the lower header pipe.

8. The heat exchanger of claim 7.

9. The protrusion contacts the fin. The heat exchanger of claim 1 .

10. The plurality of protruding portions are arranged side by side in the effective length direction, The protruding portion near the center of the heat exchanger in the effective length direction extends higher than the protruding portions located outside the protruding portion near the center. The heat exchanger of claim 1 .

11. The protrusion is inserted between adjacent flat tubes. The heat exchanger of claim 1 .

12. The tip of the protrusion has a shape in which the width dimension along the effective length direction decreases toward the tip.

12. The heat exchanger of claim 11.

13. The water guide member is made of a material that is electrically less noble than the lower header pipe and the flat tubes. The heat exchanger of claim 1 .

14. The water guide member is made of a resin material. The heat exchanger of claim 1 .

15. a plurality of the lower header pipes; The water guide member is attached to each of the lower header pipes. The heat exchanger of claim 1 .

16. The protrusion is located on the leeward side of the fin. The heat exchanger of claim 1 .

17. a heat exchanger including a plurality of flat tubes arranged in parallel at intervals from one another and extending in the up-down direction, fins arranged between adjacent flat tubes, and a lower header pipe connected to lower ends of the plurality of flat tubes; an installation section in which the heat exchanger is installed, the heat exchanger has a water guide member between the installation portion and the lower header pipe, The water guide member has a protruding portion that protrudes above the upper surface of the lower header pipe. outdoor unit.

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