Heat exchanger

Abstract

To provide a heat exchanger capable of inhibiting falling of a thermistor from a heat transmission pipe or pipe which is made of aluminum.SOLUTION: A heat exchanger (10) includes: a heat transmission pipe (11) which is made of aluminum and in which a refrigerant flows; a pipe (70) which is connected to the heat transmission pipe (11), extends downward in a vertical direction from the heat transmission pipe (11), and is made of aluminum; and a thermistor (12) which detects a temperature of a refrigerant. The pipe (70) has: a branch part (72); and a connection pipe (73) which is connected to the branch part (72) and the heat transmission pipe (11) and extends upward in the vertical direction from the branch part (72) to the heat transmission pipe (11). The thermistor (12) is disposed in the connection pipe (73).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a heat exchanger. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a heat exchanger having a tube through which a refrigerant flows and fins attached to the tube. In this heat exchanger, a temperature sensor for detecting the refrigerant temperature is attached to the tube via a fixing member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-194968 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above heat exchanger, the fixing member is made of a material that does not cause electrolytic corrosion in the tube, and therefore if the fixing member corrodes, the temperature sensing element may fall off from the tube.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a heat exchanger capable of preventing a thermistor from falling off from an aluminum heat transfer tube or piping. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The heat exchanger according to the first aspect of the present disclosure comprises: An aluminum heat transfer tube with a refrigerant flowing inside, an aluminum pipe connected to the heat transfer tube and extending vertically downward from the heat transfer tube; a thermistor for detecting the temperature of the refrigerant; Equipped with the piping has a branching portion and a communication piping that is connected to the branching portion and the heat transfer tube and extends vertically upward from the branching portion toward the heat transfer tube, The thermistor is disposed in the communication pipe.

[0007] According to the first aspect of the heat exchanger, the thermistor is disposed in the interconnecting pipe that extends vertically upward from the branching portion toward the heat transfer pipe. This configuration can prevent moisture from adhering to the surface of the pipe, and therefore, for example, can prevent corrosion of the fixing member that fixes the thermistor to the heat transfer pipe. As a result, a heat exchanger can be realized that can prevent the thermistor from falling off the aluminum pipe.

[0008] The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to a second aspect of the present disclosure includes: A blower fan that generates an air flow; above The flow of air generated by the blower fan is above a heat exchanger arranged in the flow direction; Equipped with above The heat exchanger, An aluminum heat transfer tube with a refrigerant flowing inside, Each of the heat transfer tubes is connected to above A plurality of aluminum pipes arranged in a line in a flow direction of the air generated by the blower fan; A fin attached to the heat transfer tube; A thermistor for detecting the temperature of the refrigerant; Equipped with The thermistor is attached to one of the plurality of pipes that is disposed on the upwind side of the air flow.

[0009] Outdoor of the air conditioner of the second embodiment Machine According to the invention, the thermistor is attached to a pipe that is located on the windward side of the air flow among a plurality of pipes. This configuration can prevent moisture from adhering to the surface of the pipe, and therefore, for example, can prevent corrosion of a fixing member that fixes the thermistor to the pipe. As a result, a heat exchanger can be realized that can prevent the thermistor from falling off the aluminum pipe.

[0010] The heat exchanger according to the third aspect of the present disclosure comprises: a heat exchanger body having an aluminum heat transfer tube through which a refrigerant flows; A thermistor for detecting the temperature of the refrigerant; Equipped with The thermistor is disposed at the vertical upper end of the heat exchanger body.

[0011] According to the third aspect of the heat exchanger, the thermistor is disposed at the upper end of the heat exchanger body in the vertical direction. This configuration can prevent moisture from adhering to the surface of the heat transfer tube, and therefore, for example, can prevent corrosion of the fixing member that fixes the thermistor to the heat transfer tube. As a result, a heat exchanger can be realized that can prevent the thermistor from falling off the aluminum heat transfer tube.

[0012] An indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure includes: a main body casing having a suction port at a vertically upper end; A heat exchanger having a heat exchanger body having an aluminum heat transfer tube through which a refrigerant flows, and a thermistor for detecting the temperature of the refrigerant. Equipped with The thermistor is disposed in a portion of the heat exchanger body facing the suction port.

[0013] A heat exchanger according to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure includes: An aluminum heat transfer tube with a refrigerant flowing inside, an aluminum pipe connected to the heat transfer tube and constituting a heat exchange path together with the heat transfer tube; A thermistor for detecting the temperature of the refrigerant; Equipped with the heat exchange paths include a first path that is generally vertically upwardly convex; The heat transfer tubes include a first heat transfer tube and a second heat transfer tube that is adjacent to the first heat transfer tube and is arranged with a gap between the first heat transfer tube and the second heat transfer tube, the piping constituting the first path has a bend pipe connecting one end of the first heat transfer tube and one end of the second heat transfer tube, The thermistor is disposed in the bent pipe.

[0014] According to the fifth aspect of the heat exchanger, the thermistor is disposed in a bend pipe that is connected to the heat transfer pipe and that constitutes a heat exchange path together with the heat transfer pipe and that constitutes a part of the first path that is convex upward in the vertical direction. This configuration can prevent moisture from adhering to the surface of the bend pipe, and therefore, for example, can prevent corrosion of a fixing member that fixes the thermistor to the bend pipe. As a result, a heat exchanger can be realized that can prevent the thermistor from falling off the aluminum bend pipe.

[0015] A heat exchanger according to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure includes: An aluminum heat transfer tube with a refrigerant flowing inside, an aluminum pipe connected to the heat transfer tube and constituting a heat exchange path together with the heat transfer tube; A thermistor for detecting the temperature of the refrigerant; Equipped with the heat exchange paths include a second path that is generally vertically downwardly convex; The heat transfer tubes include a third heat transfer tube and a fourth heat transfer tube that is adjacent to the third heat transfer tube and is arranged with a gap therebetween, the piping constituting the second path has a bend pipe connecting the third heat transfer pipe and the fourth heat transfer pipe, The thermistor is disposed in the bent pipe.

[0016] According to the sixth aspect of the heat exchanger, the thermistor is disposed in a bend pipe that is connected to the heat transfer pipe and that constitutes a heat exchange path together with the heat transfer pipe and that constitutes a part of the second path that is convex downward in the vertical direction. This configuration can prevent moisture from adhering to the surface of the bend pipe, and therefore, for example, can prevent corrosion of a fixing member that fixes the thermistor to the bend pipe. As a result, a heat exchanger can be realized that can prevent the thermistor from falling off the aluminum bend pipe. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a circuit diagram of a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner including a heat exchanger according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the heat transfer tubes and fins of the outdoor unit in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 5 is a circuit diagram of a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner including a heat exchanger according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an indoor unit of the air conditioner of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] Cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in Figure 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a partial rear view of a heat exchanger according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a partial top view of the heat exchanger of FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a heat exchange path of a heat exchanger according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a partial enlarged view of the heat exchange path of the heat exchanger of FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a heat exchange path of a heat exchanger according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a partial enlarged view of the heat exchange path of the heat exchanger of FIG. 11 . DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] An example of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, terms indicating specific directions or positions (e.g., terms including "upper", "lower", "right", "left", "front" and "rear") are used as necessary, but the use of these terms is for the purpose of facilitating understanding of the present disclosure with reference to the drawings, and the meanings of these terms do not limit the technical scope of the present disclosure. In addition, the following description is merely illustrative in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its application, or its uses. Furthermore, the drawings are schematic, and the ratios of the dimensions do not necessarily correspond to the real ones.

[0019] (First embodiment) As shown in FIG. 1, an outdoor unit 2 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure constitutes a part of an air conditioner 1, for example.

[0020] The air conditioner 1 has a refrigerant circuit RC in which a compressor 21, a four-way switching valve 22, an outdoor heat exchanger 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as heat exchanger 10), an electric expansion valve 23, an indoor heat exchanger 24, and an accumulator 25 are connected in a ring shape. The refrigerant circuit RC is configured so that the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 21 passes through the four-way switching valve 22, the heat exchanger 10, the electric expansion valve 23, the indoor heat exchanger 24, and the accumulator 25, and is sucked into the compressor 21.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the outdoor unit 2 has a main casing 31. The main casing 31 houses the heat exchanger 10, the compressor 21, and an outdoor fan 32, which is an example of a blower fan. The inside of the main casing 31 is divided into a machine chamber 34 and an air blowing chamber 35 by a partition plate 33. The compressor 21 is disposed in the machine chamber 34, and the heat exchanger 10 and the outdoor fan 32 are disposed in the air blowing chamber 35. By driving the outdoor fan 32, air outside the outdoor unit 2 is sucked into the air blowing chamber 35 from the directions of arrows A and B, exchanges heat with the heat exchanger 10, and is blown out from the air blowing chamber 35 to the outside of the outdoor unit 2 along the direction of arrow C. In other words, the outdoor fan 32 For heat exchanger 10 It is disposed downstream of the air flow generated by the outdoor fan 32 (hereinafter simply referred to as the air flow).

[0022] 2, the heat exchanger 10 includes an aluminum heat transfer tube 11 through which a refrigerant flows, a plurality of aluminum pipes 70 connected to the heat transfer tube 11, fins 13 attached to the heat transfer tube 11, and a thermistor 12 that detects the temperature of the refrigerant. As an example, the heat exchanger 10 includes a plurality of heat transfer tubes 11 and a plurality of fins 13.

[0023] Each heat transfer tube 11 is made of aluminum such as A3003, and has, for example, a substantially circular cross section. Each heat transfer tube 11 has a substantially L-shape, and is disposed so that a longitudinal portion faces the outdoor fan 32. Also, as shown in FIG. 3, each heat transfer tube 11 is disposed with a gap 111 in the vertical direction. A plurality of fins 13 are attached to an area 112 of each heat transfer tube 11 except for one end in the longitudinal direction, and a flow of air blown from the outdoor fan 32 is formed in this area 112. That is, the longitudinal portion of each heat transfer tube 11 is disposed on the windward side of the wind flowing from the direction of arrow A to the direction of arrow C, and the short side of each heat transfer tube 11 is disposed on the windward side of the wind flowing from the direction of arrow B to the direction of arrow C.

[0024] Each pipe 70 is made of the same material as the heat transfer tube 11 (aluminum such as A3003), and constitutes a heat exchange path 80 together with the heat transfer tube 11. In the first embodiment, each pipe 70 is connected to one end of the longitudinal portion of the heat transfer tube 11 and disposed in the machine room 34. Each pipe 70 is made of a first pipe 701 and a second pipe 702 arranged side by side in the flow direction of air flowing through the longitudinal portion of each heat transfer tube 11 (i.e., the direction of arrow A). In the plan view shown in FIG. 2, the first pipe 701 and the second pipe 702 extend along the longitudinal direction of each heat transfer tube 11 and are arranged with a gap therebetween in the direction of arrow A. In this embodiment, the first pipe 701 is arranged upstream of the second pipe 702 in the flow of air.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 3, each fin 13 has a thin plate shape, extends in a direction intersecting the extension direction of the heat transfer tube 11, and is disposed with a gap 111 therebetween along the extension direction of the heat transfer tube 11.

[0026] The thermistor 12 is made of aluminum such as A3003, and is attached to a first pipe 701 that is arranged on the upwind side of the air flow among the multiple pipes 70. In the heat exchanger 10 of the first embodiment, as an example, the thermistor 12 is attached to the upper end of the first pipe 701 in the vertical direction (for example, the direction penetrating the paper surface of FIG. 2) via a fixing member (not shown) made of aluminum such as A3003.

[0027] When the heat exchanger 10 is used as an evaporator, the temperature of the windward heat transfer tube 11 is likely to increase due to evaporation of the liquid refrigerant inside after the operation of the heat exchanger 10 as an evaporator is stopped. In addition, among the multiple pipes 70 connected to the windward heat transfer tube 11, the surface of the first pipe 701 arranged on the windward side of the air flow is more likely to dry than the second pipe 702 arranged on the leeward side. In other words, by attaching the thermistor 12 to the first pipe 701, it is possible to suppress adhesion of moisture to the surface of the pipe 70, and therefore, for example, corrosion of the fixing member that fixes the thermistor 12 to the pipe 70 can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to realize a heat exchanger 10 that can suppress the thermistor 12 from falling off from the aluminum pipe 70. Note that pipes made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy tend to have inferior corrosion resistance to pipes made of copper or a copper alloy, for example. For this reason, in general, a heat exchanger having aluminum heat transfer tubes and pipes may have a shorter life than a heat exchanger having copper heat transfer tubes and pipes. However, by configuring the outdoor unit 2 as described above, not only can the thermistor 12 be prevented from falling off, but also corrosion of the aluminum piping 70 can be suppressed, so that an outdoor unit 2 with a long life can be realized even if it is equipped with a heat exchanger 10 having an aluminum heat transfer tube 11 and piping 70.

[0028] The heat exchanger 10 of the first embodiment is not limited to the outdoor unit 2, but can also be applied to other refrigeration devices such as the indoor unit 3, a hot water supply device, and a heat pump chiller.

[0029] The thermistor 12 can be placed anywhere on the first piping 701 that is placed on the upwind side of the air flow. Since the machine room 34 is unlikely to receive air from the outdoor fan 32 and is unlikely to corrode, attaching the thermistor 12 to the piping 70 placed in the machine room 34 can more reliably suppress corrosion of the fixing member that fixes the thermistor 12 to the piping 70, for example. The thermistor 12 is preferably placed at the upper end of the piping 70 in the vertical direction. Since the refrigerant is unlikely to remain at the upper end of the piping 70 in the vertical direction, adhesion of moisture to the surface of the piping 70 can be more reliably suppressed.

[0030] Second embodiment 4, a heat exchanger 10 of the second embodiment of the present disclosure, as an example, constitutes part of an indoor unit 3 of an air conditioner 1, and differs from the heat exchanger 10 of the first embodiment in that a thermistor 12 is disposed at the vertical upper end of a heat exchanger body 51. In the second embodiment, the same parts as in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof will be omitted, and only the points different from the first embodiment will be described.

[0031] The air conditioner 1 has a refrigerant circuit RC in which a compressor 21, a four-way switching valve 22, an outdoor heat exchanger 24, an electric expansion valve 23, an indoor heat exchanger 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as heat exchanger 10), and an accumulator 25 are connected in a ring shape. The refrigerant circuit RC is configured so that the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 21 passes through the four-way switching valve 22, the outdoor heat exchanger 24, the electric expansion valve 23, the heat exchanger 10, and the accumulator 25, and is sucked into the compressor 21.

[0032] As an example, as shown in Fig. 5, the indoor unit 3 is a wall-mounted indoor unit and includes a main body casing 100. As shown in Fig. 6, the indoor unit 3 further includes an indoor fan 40, a heat exchanger 10, and a filter 60 arranged inside the main body casing 100. The indoor fan 40 is arranged approximately in the center of a cross section intersecting the left-right direction of the indoor unit 3. The heat exchanger 10 is arranged in front of and above the indoor fan 40, and the filter 60 is arranged between the main body casing 100 and the heat exchanger 10.

[0033] 6, main body casing 100 has air outlet 104 provided on the bottom surface and air inlet 106 provided on the top surface. Air outlet 104 is provided with a horizontal flap 121. Horizontal flap 121 opens and closes air outlet 104 by pivoting.

[0034] As shown in Fig. 6, the indoor fan 40 is driven by a fan motor (not shown). When the indoor fan 40 is driven, air outside the main body casing 100 is sucked into the main body casing 100 through the lower suction port 105 and the upper suction port 106. The air sucked into the main body casing 100 passes through the heat exchanger 10 and is cooled, for example. The cooled air passes through the blow-out passage 126 and is blown out of the main body casing 100 from the blow-out port 104.

[0035] The heat exchanger 10 has, for example, a heat exchanger body 51 and a thermistor 12. For example, the heat exchanger body 51 is composed of three members (hereinafter, referred to as a first heat exchanger body 53, a second heat exchanger body 54, and a third heat exchanger body 55). The heat exchanger bodies 53, 54, and 55 are connected to each other and have a plurality of aluminum heat transfer tubes 11 through which a refrigerant flows. Each heat transfer tube 11 is made of aluminum such as A3003. The first heat exchanger body 53 is disposed in front of the indoor fan 40. The second heat exchanger body 54 is disposed in front of and above the indoor fan 40. The third heat exchanger body 55 is disposed in the rear of and above the indoor fan 40.

[0036] The thermistor 12 is made of aluminum such as A3003, and is disposed at the upper end of the heat exchanger body 51 in the vertical direction. More specifically, the thermistor 12 is disposed at a portion facing the upper suction port 106 at the upper end of the heat exchanger body 51 in the vertical direction. In the heat exchanger 10 of the second embodiment, as an example, the thermistor 12 is attached to the heat transfer tube 11 at the upper end of the second heat exchanger body 54 via a fixing member (not shown) made of aluminum such as A3003. Note that the portion facing the upper suction port 106 at the upper end of the heat exchanger body 51 in the vertical direction refers to the portion of each of the heat exchanger bodies 53, 54, 55 facing the suction port 106 when the suction port 106 is viewed from above in the vertical direction.

[0037] When the heat exchanger 10 is used as an evaporator, the heat transfer tube 11 at the upper part of the heat exchanger body 51 is less likely to retain liquid refrigerant after the operation of the heat exchanger 10 as an evaporator is stopped, and the surface of the heat transfer tube 11 is easily dried. This makes it possible to prevent moisture from adhering to the surface of the heat transfer tube 11, thereby making it possible to prevent, for example, corrosion of a fixing member that fixes the thermistor 12 to the heat transfer tube 11. As a result, it is possible to realize a heat exchanger 10 that can prevent the thermistor 12 from falling off the aluminum heat transfer tube 11.

[0038] The heat exchanger 10 of the second embodiment is not limited to being applied to the indoor unit 3, but can also be applied to other refrigeration devices such as the outdoor unit 2, a hot water supply device, and a heat pump chiller.

[0039] Third embodiment 7 and 8, a heat exchanger 10 according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure differs from the heat exchanger 10 according to the first embodiment in that a thermistor 12 is disposed in a communication pipe 73 extending vertically upward from a branching portion 72. In the third embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof will be omitted, and only the points different from the first embodiment will be described.

[0040] 7 and 8, the pipe 70 has a branching section 72 and a communication pipe 73. The branching section 72 branches or merges the refrigerant flowing through the pipe 70. The communication pipe 73 is connected to the branching section 72 and the heat transfer tube 11, and extends vertically upward from the branching section 72 toward the heat transfer tube 11. In the heat exchanger 10 of the third embodiment, as an example, the thermistor 12 is attached to the communication pipe 73 via a fixing member (not shown) made of aluminum such as A3003.

[0041] 8, the heat exchanger 10 of the third embodiment includes a heat exchange section 71 that is configured with a plurality of heat transfer tubes 11 and a plurality of fins 13. Each fin 13 is plate-shaped and arranged with a gap therebetween in the plate thickness direction.

[0042] When the heat exchanger 10 is used as an evaporator, the connecting pipe 73 extending vertically upward from the branch 72 toward the heat transfer tube 11 is less likely to retain liquid refrigerant after the operation of the heat exchanger 10 as an evaporator is stopped, and its surface is easily dried. This makes it possible to prevent moisture from adhering to the surface of the connecting pipe 73, thereby making it possible to prevent, for example, corrosion of a fixing member that fixes the thermistor 12 to the connecting pipe 73. As a result, it is possible to realize a heat exchanger 10 that can prevent thermistor 12 from falling off the aluminum connecting pipe 73.

[0043] The heat exchanger 10 of the third embodiment is not limited to being applied to the outdoor unit 2, but can also be applied to other refrigeration devices such as the indoor unit 3, a hot water supply device, and a heat pump chiller.

[0044] (Fourth embodiment) 9, a heat exchanger 10 according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure differs from the heat exchanger 10 according to the first embodiment in that a thermistor 12 is disposed in a bent pipe 95. In the fourth embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof will be omitted, and only the differences from the heat exchanger 10 according to the first embodiment will be described.

[0045] As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the pipe 90 is made of, for example, the same material as the heat transfer tube 11 (for example, aluminum such as A3003), and constitutes the heat exchange path 80 together with the heat transfer tube 11. The bend tube 95 (for example, a U-shaped bend tube) constitutes a part of the pipe 90 and also constitutes a part of the first path 81 that is convex upward in the vertical direction as a whole. The heat exchanger 10 shown in Figs. 9 and 10 has a first heat transfer tube 131 and a second heat transfer tube 132 as the heat transfer tube 11. The second heat transfer tube 132 is disposed adjacent to the first heat transfer tube 131 with a gap therebetween. The bend tube 95 connects one end of the first heat transfer tube 131 and one end of the second heat transfer tube 132.

[0046] The thermistor 12 can be attached to any position of any bend pipe 95. In order to more reliably reduce the influence of the refrigerant remaining in the piping 90, it is preferable to attach the thermistor 12 to a bend pipe 95 that is located as high in the vertical direction as possible. In addition, the thermistor 12 is attached to the bend pipe 95 via a fixing member (not shown) made of aluminum such as A3003, for example.

[0047] 10, the heat exchanger 10 of the fourth embodiment includes a heat exchange section 71 that is configured with a plurality of heat transfer tubes 11 and a plurality of fins 13. Each fin 13 is plate-shaped and arranged with a gap therebetween in the plate thickness direction.

[0048] When the heat exchanger 10 is used as an evaporator, the bent pipe 95 constituting a part of the first path 81 that is convex upward in the vertical direction is less likely to retain liquid refrigerant after the operation of the heat exchanger 10 as an evaporator is stopped, and its surface is easily dried. This makes it possible to suppress moisture from adhering to the surface of the bent pipe 95, thereby suppressing, for example, corrosion of a fixing member that fixes the thermistor 12 to the bent pipe 95. As a result, it is possible to realize a heat exchanger 10 that can suppress the thermistor 12 from falling off the aluminum bent pipe 96. Furthermore, the heat exchanger 10 makes it possible to realize an indoor unit 3 of an air conditioner that can more reliably detect the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger 10.

[0049] The heat exchanger 10 of the fourth embodiment is not limited to being applied to the outdoor unit 2, but can also be applied to other refrigeration devices such as the indoor unit 3, a hot water supply device, and a heat pump chiller.

[0050] Fifth embodiment 11, a heat exchanger 10 according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure differs from the heat exchanger 10 according to the first embodiment in that a thermistor 12 is disposed in a bent pipe 96. In the fifth embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof will be omitted, and only the points different from the heat exchanger 10 according to the first embodiment will be described.

[0051] As shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the pipe 90 is made of, for example, the same material as the heat transfer tube 11 (for example, aluminum such as A3003), and constitutes the heat exchange path 80 together with the heat transfer tube 11. The bent pipe 96 (for example, a U-shaped bent pipe) constitutes a part of the pipe 90 and also constitutes a part of the second path 82 that is convex downward in the vertical direction as a whole. The heat exchanger 10 shown in Figs. 11 and 12 has a third heat transfer tube 133 and a fourth heat transfer tube 134 as the heat transfer tube 11. The fourth heat transfer tube 134 is disposed adjacent to the third heat transfer tube 133 with a gap therebetween. The bent pipe 96 connects one end of the third heat transfer tube 133 and one end of the fourth heat transfer tube 134.

[0052] The thermistor 12 is disposed vertically above the vertical center line CL of the second path 82. In order to more reliably reduce the influence of the refrigerant remaining in the pipe 90, it is preferable that the thermistor 12 be attached to the bend pipe 96 which is disposed as far above the center line CL as possible in the vertical direction. The thermistor 12 is attached to the bend pipe 96 via a fixing member (not shown) made of aluminum such as A3003, for example.

[0053] 12, the heat exchanger 10 of the fifth embodiment includes a heat exchange section 71 including a plurality of heat transfer tubes 11 and a plurality of fins 13. Each fin 13 is plate-shaped and arranged with a gap therebetween in the plate thickness direction.

[0054] When the heat exchanger 10 is used as an evaporator, the bend pipe 96 located above the vertical center line CL of the second path 82 that is convex downward in the vertical direction is less likely to retain liquid refrigerant after the operation of the heat exchanger 10 as an evaporator is stopped, and its surface is easily dried. This makes it possible to prevent moisture from adhering to the surface of the bend pipe 96, thereby making it possible to prevent, for example, corrosion of a fixing member that fixes the thermistor 12 to the bend pipe 96. As a result, it is possible to realize a heat exchanger 10 that can prevent the thermistor 12 from falling off the aluminum bend pipe 96.

[0055] The heat exchanger 10 of the fifth embodiment is not limited to being applied to the outdoor unit 2, but can also be applied to other refrigeration devices such as the indoor unit 3, a hot water supply device, and a heat pump chiller.

[0056] Any of the above-mentioned various embodiments or modifications may be combined as appropriate to achieve the effects of each of them. In addition, combinations of embodiments, combinations of examples, or combinations of embodiments and examples are possible, and combinations of features of different embodiments or examples are also possible. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 1. Air conditioner 2 Outdoor unit 3 Indoor unit 10 Outdoor heat exchanger 11 Heat transfer tube 111 Gap 112 areas 12 Thermistor 13. Finn 21 Compressor 22 Four-way valve 23 Electric expansion valve 24 Indoor heat exchanger 25 Accumulator 31 Main casing 32 Outdoor fan 33 Partition 34 Machine room 35 Ventilation chamber 40 Indoor Fan 51 Heat exchanger body 52 1st heat exchanger body 53 Second heat exchanger body 54 Third heat exchanger body 60 Filters 70 Piping 701 First Pipe 701 Second Pipe 71 Heat exchange section 72 Branch 73 Connecting piping 80 Heat Exchange Path 81 1st pass 82 2nd pass 90, 91, 92, 93, 94 Piping 95, 96 Bend pipe 100 Main casing 104 Air outlet 106 Intake port 121 Horizontal flap 126 Air outlet passage RC refrigerant circuit

Claims

1. An aluminum heat transfer tube (11) through which a refrigerant flows; an aluminum pipe (70) connected to a first portion of the heat transfer tube (11) extending along a horizontal direction and extending vertically downward from the first portion of the heat transfer tube (11); a thermistor (12) for detecting the temperature of the refrigerant; Equipped with the piping (70) has a branch portion (72) and a communication piping (73) that is connected to the branch portion (72) and the heat transfer tube (11) and extends vertically upward from the branch portion (72) toward the heat transfer tube (11); The heat exchanger (10), wherein the thermistor (12) is attached to a portion of the communication pipe (73) that extends downward in a plurality of vertical directions in a plan view including the vertical direction and the direction in which the first portion extends, and is closest to the heat transfer pipe (11).

2. The heat exchanger (10) of claim 1, The heat exchanger (10) has the heat transfer tube (11) positioned higher in the vertical direction than the thermistor (12).

3. The heat exchanger (10) according to claim 1 or 2, A heat exchange section (71) including a plurality of the heat transfer tubes (11) and a plurality of fins, The heat exchanger (10), wherein the heat transfer pipe (11) to which the communication pipe (73) is connected is located at a position higher than the vertical center of the heat exchange section (71).

4. A heat exchanger (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The heat exchanger (10), wherein the thermistor (12) is attached to an upper portion of the connecting pipe (73).

5. A heat exchanger (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The heat transfer tube (11) includes a first heat transfer tube and a second heat transfer tube located lower than the first heat transfer tube in the vertical direction, the piping (70) includes a first interconnection pipe connected to the branching portion (72) and the first heat transfer tube, and a second interconnection pipe connected to the branching portion (72) and the second heat transfer tube, The heat exchanger (10), wherein the thermistor is attached to the first connecting pipe.

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