Heat exchange unit and refrigeration cycle system

Abstract

This heat exchange unit is provided with: a heat exchanger having a header formed of metal; a casing that accommodates the heat exchanger and is formed of a metal having a smaller ionization tendency than that of the header; and an electrically insulating securing member that is secured to both the header and the casing so as to separate the header and the casing from each other. A drainage channel is formed in a contact surface of the securing member in contact with the header.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a heat exchange unit and a refrigeration cycle device. This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-155547 filed in Japan on September 24, 2021, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Background Art

[0002] Corrosion countermeasures for heat exchangers formed of metals such as aluminum are essential. Particularly when dissimilar metals come into contact via electrolyzed water, ions move from a material with a large (high) ionization tendency (base material) to a material with a small (low) ionization tendency (noble material), causing corrosion of the base material. In a heat exchanger, when material corrosion occurs, refrigerant leakage occurs, and there is a problem that the refrigeration cycle does not function. In particular, currently, refrigerant pipes and housings mainly used in refrigeration cycle devices are formed of copper or steel. Since copper and steel have a smaller ionization tendency than aluminum, aluminum corrodes. As described above, in a heat exchanger formed of aluminum, it is necessary to avoid contact with dissimilar metals. At the same time, in order to prevent corrosion, it is necessary to avoid water from staying around the heat exchanger.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a heat exchange unit and a refrigeration cycle device capable of suppressing damage to the header due to corrosion while fixing the header and the housing to each other.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The heat exchange unit of the embodiment comprises a heat exchanger, a housing, and a fixing member. The heat exchanger has a header made of metal. The housing is made of a metal with a lower ionization tendency than the header and houses the heat exchanger. The fixing member is electrically insulating and is fixed to the header and the housing, respectively, so that the header and the housing are spaced apart from each other. A drainage groove is formed in the contact surface of the fixing member that contacts the header. The header is a plate header. The contact surface has a first contact surface and a second contact surface that face each other. The first contact surface and the second contact surface are each provided with a plurality of drainage grooves. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0006] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram of a refrigeration cycle device according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] A plan view showing a partially cutaway section of the outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle system according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] A perspective view of the main parts of the outdoor heat exchanger and the first support member of a refrigeration cycle device according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] A partially cutaway perspective view of a flat-plate heat exchanger in a refrigeration cycle device according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] A plan view of the main parts of the outdoor heat exchanger and the first support member of a refrigeration cycle device according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] A perspective view of the main part of the fins of a flat heat exchanger in a refrigeration cycle device according to one embodiment. [Figure 7] A perspective view of a fixing member of a refrigeration cycle device according to one embodiment. [Figure 8] A plan view of the main parts of the flat heat exchanger and the first support member in an outdoor unit of a first modified embodiment of one embodiment. [Figure 9] A perspective view of a fixing member in an outdoor unit of a second modified example of one embodiment. [Figure 10] A plan view of the main parts of an outdoor unit of a third modified example of one embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] The heat exchange unit and refrigeration cycle device of the embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0008] As shown in Figure 1, the refrigeration cycle device 1 includes a compressor 10, a four-way valve 11, an outdoor unit (heat exchange unit) 12 of this embodiment, an expansion device 13, and an indoor unit (heat exchange unit) 14 of this embodiment. The components of the refrigeration cycle device 1, such as the compressor 10, are sequentially connected by piping 15. In Figure 1, the flow direction of the refrigerant (heat transfer medium) during cooling operation is indicated by a solid arrow, and the flow direction of the refrigerant during heating operation is indicated by a dashed arrow. Figure 1 shows the state in which the compressor 10, four-way valve 11, and expansion device 13 have been removed from the outdoor housing 20 of the outdoor unit 12, which will be described later.

[0009] The compressor 10 comprises a compressor body 10a and an accumulator 10b. The compressor body 10a compresses the low-pressure gaseous refrigerant taken inside to make it a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant. The accumulator 10b separates the gaseous and liquid two-phase refrigerant and supplies the gaseous refrigerant to the compressor body 10a.

[0010] The four-way valve 11 reverses the direction of refrigerant flow, switching between cooling and heating operation. As shown in Figure 2, the outdoor unit 12 includes the compressor 10, the four-way valve 11, and the expansion device 13, as well as the outdoor housing (housing) 20, the outdoor heat exchanger (heat exchanger) 21, the outdoor blower 22, and the fixing member 23. The four-way valve 11 and the expansion device 13 are not shown in Figure 2. The exterior of the enclosure 20 is rectangular. The outdoor enclosure 20 has a bottom plate 26, side plates 27, partition plates 28, a top plate (not shown), a first support member 29A, and a second support member 29B.

[0011] The base plate 26 is formed as a flat plate that has a rectangular shape when viewed from above. The base plate 26 is positioned so that its thickness direction is aligned with the horizontal plane. Support frames 32 are fixed to both ends of the longitudinal direction on the lower surface of the base plate 26. Each support frame 32 is positioned on the installation surface F of the outdoor unit 12. Hereinafter, the longitudinal direction of the bottom plate 26 is referred to as the longitudinal direction U, and the lateral direction of the bottom plate 26 is referred to as the lateral direction V.

[0012] The side plate 27 has a rectangular frame shape in plan view. The side plate 27 has a front side plate 34, a rear side plate 35, a right side plate 36, and a left side plate 37. The front side plate 34, the rear side plate 35, the right side plate 36, and the left side plate 37 extend upward from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom plate 26, respectively. The front side plate 34 and the rear side plate 35 are provided at the edges in the lateral direction V of the bottom plate 26. Hereinafter, in the lateral direction V, the side of the front side plate 34 with respect to the rear side plate 35 is referred to as the first side V1. In the lateral direction V, the side of the rear side plate 35 with respect to the front side plate 34 is referred to as the second side V2. The right side plate 36 and the left side plate 37 are provided at the edges in the longitudinal direction U of the bottom plate 26. Hereinafter, in the longitudinal direction U, the side of the right side plate 36 with respect to the left side plate 37 is referred to as the first side U1. In the longitudinal direction U, the side of the left side plate 37 with respect to the right side plate 36 is referred to as the second side U2.

[0013] The top plate seals an opening formed at the upper end of the side plate 27. Vent holes (not shown) are formed in the front side plate 34, the rear side plate 35, the right side plate 36, and the left side plate 37, respectively. The partition plate 28 partitions the space on the bottom plate 26 in the longitudinal direction U. The partition plate 28 is disposed at a position closer to the first side U1 than the center in the longitudinal direction U of the bottom plate 26. The compressor 10 is fixed on the bottom plate 26 at a position between the partition plate 28 and the right side plate 36.

[0014] In this embodiment, the configuration of the first support member 29A and the configuration of the second support member 29B are the same as each other. Therefore, the configuration of the first support member 29A is indicated by adding the capital letter "A" to the reference numeral, or the numeral and the small letter. The configuration of the second support member 29B corresponding to the first support member 29A is indicated by adding the capital letter "B" to the same numeral, or the numeral and the small letter as the reference numeral of the first support member 29A. Thereby, duplicate descriptions are omitted. For example, the first part first support piece 40A of the first support member 29A to be described later and the second part first support piece 40B of the second support member 29B have the same configuration as each other.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 3, the first support member 29A has a first part first support piece 40A and a first part second support piece 41A. In FIG. 3 and FIGS. 5 and 8 described later, the fins 62 described later are not shown. The first part first support piece 40A has a support piece main body 44A and a connection piece 45A. The support piece main body 44A is formed in a flat plate shape that presents a rectangular shape when viewed in the thickness direction of the support piece main body 44A. The support piece main body 44A is arranged such that the thickness direction of the support piece main body 44A is orthogonal to the short side direction V. The support piece main body 44A extends in the vertical direction. A notch 44aA is formed at the upper end of the support piece main body 44A at the end of the second side U2. A plurality (three in this embodiment) of through holes 44bA are formed in the portion of the support piece main body 44A below the notch 44aA. The plurality of through holes 44bA are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction.

[0016] The connection piece 45A protrudes from the edge of the first side U1 of the notch 44aA of the support piece main body 44A to the second side V2.

[0017] The first part second support piece 41A has a support piece main body 48A and a connection piece 49A. The support piece main body 48A is formed in a flat plate shape that presents a rectangular shape when viewed in the thickness direction of the support piece main body 48A, similar to the support piece main body 44A. The support piece main body 48A is arranged such that the thickness direction of the support piece main body 48A is orthogonal to the short side direction V. The support piece main body 48A extends in the vertical direction. A notch 48aA is formed at the upper end of the support piece main body 48A at the end of the second side U2. A plurality (three in this embodiment) of through holes (not shown) are formed in the portion of the support piece main body 48A below the notch 48aA. The plurality of through holes are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction. The connection piece 49A protrudes from the edge of the first side U1 of the notch 48aA of the support piece main body 48A to the first side V1.

[0018] The support pieces 40A and 41A, and their support body pieces 44A and 48A, are arranged to face each other. The second side V2 portion of the connecting piece 45A of the first support piece 40A of the first part is arranged to overlap the first side V1 portion of the connecting piece 49A of the second support piece 41A of the first part in the longitudinal direction U. The second side V2 portion of the connecting piece 45A and the first side V1 portion of the connecting piece 49A are fixed to each other by a fastening material 51A such as a screw. As shown in Figure 2, the first part of the first support member 29A and the second support piece 41A are fixed to the rear side plate 35 of the side plate 27 by a fixing member (not shown). The first support member 29A is positioned first V1 to the rear side plate 35 and second U2 to the partition plate 28.

[0019] The second support member 29B has a second first support piece 40B and a second second support piece 41B, which have the same configuration as the first first support piece 40A and the first second support piece 41A of the first support member 29A. The first support piece 40B of the second part is fixed to the left side plate 37 of the side plate 27 by a fixing member (not shown). The second support member 29B is positioned on the first side U1 relative to the left side plate 37.

[0020] The bottom plate 26, side plates 27, and top plate, as well as the partition plate 28 and support members 29A and 29B that constitute the outdoor enclosure 20, are each formed in the shape of a plate out of steel.

[0021] As shown in Figure 2, the outdoor heat exchanger 21 has an L-shape in plan view. The outdoor heat exchanger 21 has a first partial heat exchanger 55 and a second partial heat exchanger 56. The first partial heat exchanger 55 is formed in a flat plate shape, and is positioned so that the thickness direction of the first partial heat exchanger 55 is aligned with the short side direction V. The second partial heat exchanger 56 is formed in a flat plate shape, and is positioned so that its thickness direction is aligned with the longitudinal direction U. The second partial heat exchanger 56 extends from the end of the second side U2 of the first partial heat exchanger 55 toward the first side V1.

[0022] In this embodiment, the entire outdoor heat exchanger 21 is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, which is a metal. The outdoor heat exchanger 21 is formed by bending a flat plate-shaped heat exchanger (heat exchanger) 21a shown in Figures 4 and 5 into an L-shape. The flat-plate heat exchanger 21a has a first header 59, a second header 60, a plurality of heat transfer tubes 61, a plurality of fins 62, a first refrigerant port 63, and a second refrigerant port 64.

[0023] In this example, the first header 59 and the second header 60 are plate headers. A plate header is formed by stacking multiple plates. Each of the multiple plates has a hole that penetrates through in the thickness direction of the plate header. For example, by joining the multiple plates together by brazing, a refrigerant space is formed within the multiple plates through which the refrigerant flows. The headers 59 and 60 are rectangular parallelepipeds extending in the first direction X. In this embodiment, the headers 59 and 60 are arranged such that the first direction X is aligned with the vertical direction. In headers 59 and 60, multiple plates are stacked in a second direction Y that is perpendicular to the first direction X. The second direction Y may also be a direction that intersects the first direction X. The second direction Y is the shorter direction of the first header 59. Headers 59 and 60 are spaced apart from each other in the second direction Y. Hereafter, the side of the second direction Y that is adjacent to the first header 59 will be referred to as the first side Y1. The side of the second direction Y that is adjacent to the second header 60 will be referred to as the second side Y2. In this embodiment, the second direction Y is the direction along the horizontal plane.

[0024] Each heat transfer tube 61 extends in the second direction Y. Flattened tubes are used for the heat transfer tubes 61. That is, the outer diameter of the heat transfer tube 61 in the first direction X is shorter than the outer diameter in the third direction Z, which is perpendicular to the first direction X and the second direction Y, respectively. Hereafter, one side of the third direction Z will be referred to as the first side Z1, and the other side of the third direction Z will be referred to as the second side Z2. Furthermore, the third direction Z may be a direction that intersects the first direction X and the second direction Y, respectively. Multiple heat transfer tubes 61 are arranged in a row in a first direction X with gaps between them. Multiple heat transfer tubes 61 are also arranged in a row (two rows in this embodiment) in a third direction Z with gaps between them. The headers 59 and 60 are provided at the ends of the multiple heat transfer tubes 61 in the second direction Y.

[0025] As shown in Figure 6, the fin 62 is formed in a plate shape that exhibits a rectangular shape when viewed in the second direction Y. The fin 62 extends in the first direction X. Multiple slits 62a are formed in the fin 62. The multiple slits 62a are arranged side by side with spacing between them in the first direction X. The multiple slits 62a reach the end of the second side Z2 of the fin 62. The peripheral edges of multiple slits 62a in the fin 62 are fitted into multiple heat transfer tubes 61. As shown in Figure 4, the multiple fins 62 are arranged in a line in the second direction Y.

[0026] The first refrigerant port 63 and the second refrigerant port 64 are each formed in a tubular shape. The refrigerant ports 63 and 64 are fixed to the second header 60. The piping of the first refrigerant port 63 is connected to the piping of the second refrigerant port 64 via the refrigerant space of the headers 59 and 60 and the piping of the multiple heat transfer tubes 61. Refrigerant ports 63 and 64 are connected to piping 15.

[0027] The outdoor enclosure 20 is made of a metal (steel) with a lower ionization tendency than the headers 59 and 60. As shown in Figure 2, the outdoor enclosure 20 houses the outdoor heat exchanger 21. An axial flow fan is used as the outdoor fan 22. The outdoor fan 22 is positioned opposite the first partial heat exchanger 55 of the outdoor heat exchanger 21. The axis of the outdoor fan 22 is along the shorter direction V. In particular, the outdoor fan 22 is positioned opposite the multiple heat transfer tubes 61 of the first partial heat exchanger 55. The outdoor fan 22 is located on the first side V1 of the first partial heat exchanger 55 and on the first side U1 of the second partial heat exchanger 56.

[0028] As shown in Figure 4, multiple fixing members 23 are fixed to the headers 59 and 60 of the flat plate heat exchanger 21a (outdoor heat exchanger 21). In this embodiment, three fixing members 23 are arranged on the first header 59 with spacing between them in the vertical direction, and three fixing members 23 are arranged on the second header 60 with spacing between them in the vertical direction. Multiple fixing members 23 are identical in shape to one another. Below, we will describe the fixing member 23 that is fixed to the upper end of the first header 59.

[0029] As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the fixing member 23 has a first fixing piece 67 and a second fixing piece 68. In other words, the fixing member is composed of two members. The first fixing piece 67 has a first body 71, a first arm 72 of the first part, a second arm 73 of the first part, a third arm 74 of the first part, and a fourth arm 75 of the first part. The first body 71 is formed in a flat plate shape that exhibits a rectangular shape when viewed in the third direction Z. The first body 71 extends in the second direction Y. A through hole 71a is formed at the end of the first body 71 on the second side Y2, penetrating the first body 71 in the third direction Z. The surface of the first body 71 facing the second side Z2 is the contact surface 71b that contacts the first header 59. The contact surface 71b contacts the surface of the first header 59 facing the first side Z1.

[0030] As shown in Figure 7, the first arm 72 of the first part has a first body 72a of the first part, a first small diameter portion 72b of the first part, and a first large diameter portion 72c of the first part. The first body 72a of the first part is a rectangular parallelepiped extending in the third direction Z. The first body 72a of the first part is the upper end of the first body 71 and extends from the end of the first side Y1 toward the second side Z2. The lengths of the first small diameter portion 72b and the first large diameter portion 72c of the first part in the first direction X are equal to the length of the first main body 72a of the first part in the first direction X. The positions of the second side Y2 end of the first main body 72a of the first part, the second side Y2 end of the first small diameter portion 72b of the first part, and the second side Y2 end of the first large diameter portion 72c of the first part are the same. The first small-diameter portion 72b of the first part protrudes toward the second side Z2 from the portion of the second side Y2 at the end of the second side Z2 of the first main body 72a of the first part.

[0031] The first large-diameter portion 72c of the first part protrudes toward the second side Z2 from the end of the first small-diameter portion 72b of the first part toward the second side Z2. The first large-diameter portion 72c of the first part protrudes toward the first side Y1 than the first small-diameter portion 72b of the first part. In other words, a step is formed in the second direction Y between the first large-diameter portion 72c of the first part and the first small-diameter portion 72b of the first part. The end face 72c1 on the second side Z2 of the first large diameter section 72c of the first part is inclined so that it gradually approaches the first side Y1 as it approaches the first side Z1. In other words, the end face 72c1 is an inclined surface that is inclined at an acute angle with respect to both the first side Z1 and the first side Y1. The surface of the first arm 72 of the first part facing the second side Y2 is the contact surface 72d that contacts the first header 59.

[0032] The second arm 73 of the first part is the upper end of the first body 71 and extends toward the second side Z2 from the middle of the second direction Y. The second arm 73 of the first part and the first arm 72 of the first part are spaced apart from each other in the second direction Y. Here, a first reference plane S1 is defined, which is located between the first arm 72 of the first part and the second arm 73 of the first part and is perpendicular to the second direction Y. The second arm 73 of the first part is symmetrical with respect to the first arm 72 of the first part with respect to the first reference plane S1. The first part second arm 73 has a first part second body, a first part second small diameter portion, and a first part second large diameter portion (reference numerals omitted), which are formed in correspondence with the first part first body 72a, first part first small diameter portion 72b, and first part first large diameter portion 72c of the first part first arm 72. An end face 73c1 is formed on the first part second large diameter portion. The first arm 72 of the first part is positioned on the first side Y1 from which multiple heat transfer tubes 61 extend from the first header 59, more so than the second arm 73 of the first part. As shown in Figure 5, the distance between the first arm 72 and the second arm 73 of the first part, and the length of the first header 59 in the second direction Y are equal to each other. The first arm 72 and the second arm 73 of the first part sandwich the first header 59 in the second direction Y.

[0033] As shown in Figure 7, the third arm 74 of the first part is the lower end of the first body 71 and extends from the end of the first side Y1 toward the second side Z2. Here, a second reference plane S2 is defined, which is positioned between the first arm 72 of the first part and the third arm 74 of the first part and is perpendicular to the first direction X. The third arm 74 of the first part is symmetric with respect to the first arm 72 of the first part with respect to the second reference plane S2. The fourth arm 75 of the first part is symmetrical with respect to the second arm 73 of the first part, with respect to the second reference plane S2. Multiple drainage grooves 71c are formed on the contact surface 71b of the first body 71, in the portion between arms 72, 74 and arms 73, 75, extending in a first direction X (vertical direction) along the contact surface 71b. The multiple drainage grooves 71c penetrate the first body 71 in the vertical direction. The length (width) in the second direction Y and the length (depth) in the third direction Z of each drainage groove 71c are constant regardless of the position in the first direction X. The number of drainage channels 71c formed in the first main body 71 may be just one.

[0034] The first fixing piece 67 consists of a first body 71, a first arm 72, a second arm 73, a third arm 74, and a fourth arm 75, all integrally formed from an electrically insulating material such as polypropylene resin.

[0035] The second fixing piece 68 has a second body 81, a second part first arm 82, a second part second arm 83, a second part third arm 84, and a second part fourth arm 85. The second body 81 is formed in a flat plate shape that exhibits a rectangular shape when viewed in the third direction Z. The second body 81 extends in the second direction Y. A through hole 81a is formed at the end of the second body 81 on the second side Y2, penetrating the second body 81 in the third direction Z. As shown in Figure 5, the surface of the second body 81 facing the first side Z1 is the contact surface 81b that contacts the first header 59. The contact surface 81b contacts the surface of the first header 59 facing the second side Z2.

[0036] As shown in Figure 7, the second part first arm 82 has a second part first body 82a, a second part first small diameter portion 82b, and a second part first large diameter portion 82c. The second part, first body 82a, is a rectangular parallelepiped extending in the third direction Z. The second part, first body 82a is the upper end of the second body 81 and extends from the end of the first side Y1 toward the first side Z1. The lengths of the first small diameter portion 82b and the first large diameter portion 82c of the second part in the first direction X are equal to the length of the first main body 82a of the second part in the first direction X. The positions of the first side Y1 end of the first main body 82a of the second part, the first side Y1 end of the first small diameter portion 82b of the second part, and the first side Y1 end of the first large diameter portion 82c of the second part are the same. The second part's first small-diameter portion 82b protrudes toward the first side Z1 from the portion of the first side Y1 at the end of the first side Z1 of the second part's first body 82a.

[0037] The first large-diameter portion 82c of the second part protrudes toward the first side Z1 from the end of the first small-diameter portion 82b of the second part toward the first side Z1. The first large-diameter portion 82c of the second part protrudes toward the second side Y2 than the first small-diameter portion 82b of the second part. In other words, a step is formed in the second direction Y between the first large-diameter portion 82c of the second part and the first small-diameter portion 82b of the second part. The surface of the first arm 82 of the second part facing the second side Y2 is the contact surface 82d that contacts the first header 59.

[0038] The second arm 83 of the second part is the upper end of the second body 81 and extends toward the first side Z1 from the middle of the second direction Y. The second arm 83 and the first arm 82 of the second part are spaced apart from each other in the second direction Y. The second arm 83 of the second part is symmetrical with respect to the first arm 82 of the second part with respect to the first reference plane S1. The second arm 83 of the second part has a second body, a second small diameter portion, and a second large diameter portion, which are formed in correspondence with the first body 82a, the first small diameter portion 82b, and the first large diameter portion 82c of the first arm 82 of the second part (symbols omitted). The first arm 82 of the second part is positioned on the first side Y1 than the second arm 83 of the second part. As shown in Figure 5, the distance between the first arm 82 and the second arm 83 of the second part, and the length of the first header 59 in the second direction Y are equal to each other. The first arm 82 and the second arm 83 of the second part sandwich the first header 59 in the second direction Y.

[0039] As shown in Figure 7, the third arm 84 of the second part is the lower end of the second body 81 and extends from the end of the first side Y1 toward the first side Z1. The third arm 84 of the second part is symmetric with respect to the first arm 82 of the second part with respect to the second reference plane S2. The fourth arm 85 of the second part is symmetric with respect to the second arm 83 of the second part, with respect to the second reference plane S2. Multiple drainage grooves 81c are formed on the contact surface 81b of the second body 81, in the portion between arms 82, 84 and arms 83, 85, extending vertically along the contact surface 81b. The multiple drainage grooves 81c penetrate the second body 81 in the vertical direction. The length (width) in the second direction Y and the length (depth) in the third direction Z of each drainage groove 81c are constant, regardless of the position in the first direction X. The number of drainage channels 81c formed in the second main body 81 may be as small as one.

[0040] The second fixing piece 68 consists of a second body 81, a second part first arm 82, a second part second arm 83, a second part third arm 84, and a second part fourth arm 85, all integrally formed from the same electrically insulating material as the first fixing piece 67.

[0041] The second fixing piece 68 is detachably fitted to the first fixing piece 67. Specifically, the step of the first arm 72 of the first part of the first fixing piece 67 engages with the step of the first arm 82 of the second part of the second fixing piece 68 in the third direction Z. This engagement of the steps can be released by separating the two steps in the second direction Y. In this way, the first arm 72 of the first part is detachably fitted to the first arm 82 of the second part. Similarly, the second arm 73 of the first part is detachably fitted to the second arm 83 of the second part. The third arm 74 of the first part is detachably fitted to the third arm 84 of the second part. The fourth arm 75 of the first part is detachably fitted to the fourth arm 85 of the second part.

[0042] As shown in Figure 3, heat transfer tubes 61 are arranged in the third direction Z of the outdoor heat exchanger 21 between the arms 72 and 74 of the first fixing piece 67 and between the arms 82 and 84 of the second fixing piece 68. The first fixing piece 67 is fixed to the first support piece 40A of the first part by fixing materials 88 such as screws, which are placed in the through hole 44bA of the first support piece 40A of the first part and the through hole 71a of the first fixing piece 67, respectively. Similarly, the second fixing piece 68 is fixed to the second support piece 41A of the first part. As described above, the fixing member 23 is fixed to the first header 59 and the outdoor housing 20, respectively, so that the first header 59 and the outdoor housing 20 are spaced apart from each other. The second fixing piece 68 is fixed to the first header 59 and the outdoor housing 20, respectively, together with the first fixing piece 67.

[0043] As shown in Figure 1, the indoor unit 14 includes an indoor housing 91, an indoor heat exchanger (heat exchanger) 92, and an indoor blower (not shown). The indoor housing 91 and the indoor heat exchanger 92 have known configurations. The indoor housing 91 and the indoor heat exchanger 92 may be fixed to each other by the fixing member 23. The indoor fan is positioned opposite the indoor heat exchanger 92.

[0044] The compressor 10, four-way valve 11, outdoor unit 12, expansion device 13, and indoor unit 14 are filled with a refrigerant (not shown).

[0045] In the refrigeration cycle device 1 configured as described above, the following steps are taken to fix the fixing member 23 to the first header 59. For example, first, the first fixing piece 67 is attached to the first header 59. At this time, the first header 59 is sandwiched in the second direction Y between arms 72, 74 and arms 73, 75. Furthermore, the heat transfer tubes 61 of the outdoor heat exchanger 21 are sandwiched in the first direction X between the first arm 72 of the first part and the third arm 74 of the first part. The arms 82, 83, 84, and 85 of the second fixing piece 68 are abutted against the arms 72, 73, 74, and 75 of the first fixing piece 67, respectively. Since inclined end faces 72c1 and 73c1 are formed on the arms 72, 73, 74, and 75, the arms 82 and 83 deform elastically so as to open apart from each other in the second direction Y, as shown by the dashed lines in Figure 7, and the arms 84 and 85 deform elastically so as to open apart from each other in the second direction Y.

[0046] When arms 82, 83, 84, and 85 overcome the step between arms 72, 73, 74, and 75, arms 82, 83, 84, and 85 elastically return to their original position. Arms 82, 83, 84, and 85 then fit into arms 72, 73, 74, and 75. Through the above steps, the fixing member 23 is fixed to the first header 59.

[0047] In the refrigeration cycle system 1 configured as described above, when cooling operation is performed, the refrigerant flows in the following order: compressor 10, four-way valve 11, outdoor heat exchanger 21, expansion device 13, and indoor heat exchanger 92. The outdoor fan 22 and indoor fan operate. At this time, the refrigeration cycle system 1 makes the outdoor heat exchanger 21 function as a condenser and the indoor heat exchanger 92 function as an evaporator to cool the room. When the outdoor fan 22 is operated, the air drawn in through the vents in the side panel 27 exchanges heat with the refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger 21 and is discharged to the outside of the housing 20 through the vents in the side panel 27. When the refrigeration cycle unit 1 performs heating operation, the refrigerant flows in the following order: compressor 10, four-way valve 11, indoor heat exchanger 92, expansion device 13, and outdoor heat exchanger 21. At this time, the refrigeration cycle unit 1 uses the indoor heat exchanger 92 as a condenser and the outdoor heat exchanger 21 as an evaporator to heat the room.

[0048] When the refrigeration cycle unit 1 is operating in heating mode, condensation may occur on the outdoor heat exchanger 21. The water droplets due to condensation tend to adhere to the region R1, shown in Figure 5, which includes the surface facing the first side Y1, the surface facing the first side Z1, and the surface facing the second side Z2 of the first header 59, through which air flows from the outdoor fan 22.

[0049] As explained above, in the outdoor unit 12, the fixing member 23 is fixed to the first header 59 and the outdoor housing 20, respectively, so that the first header 59 and the outdoor housing 20 are spaced apart from each other. Therefore, it is possible to fix the first header 59 and the outdoor housing 20 to each other while suppressing damage to the first header 59 due to corrosion. Furthermore, drainage channels 71c, 81c are formed on the contact surfaces 71b, 81b of the fixing member 23. As a result, water that accumulates above the fixing member 23 flows downward through the drainage channels 71c, 81c. This makes it less likely for water to accumulate in the first header 59. Since corrosion is more easily caused by water, damage to the first header 59 due to corrosion can be more reliably suppressed.

[0050] The first header 59 is a plate header. Therefore, the first header 59 can be constructed by joining multiple plates together. The drainage channels 71c and 81c extend in the first direction X, which is the direction in which the first header 59 extends. Therefore, by positioning the outdoor heat exchanger 21 such that the first direction X is vertical, water accumulated on the fixing member 23 can be easily drained downward through the drainage channels 71c and 81c.

[0051] The fixing member 23 has a first fixing piece 67 and a second fixing piece 68 that are detachably fitted together. The first header 59 and the outdoor housing 20 can be easily fixed by fixing them using the first fixing piece 67 and the second fixing piece 68, which are detached from each other. The first fixing piece 67 has a first body 71, a first arm 72 of the first part, and a second arm 73 of the first part. The second fixing piece 68 has a second body 81, a first arm 82 of the second part, and a second arm 83 of the second part. For example, with the first header 59 sandwiched between arms 72 and 73 in the second direction Y, arms 82 and 83 are fitted into arms 72 and 73. This makes it easy to fit the fixing pieces 67 and 68 together.

[0052] Furthermore, in the refrigeration cycle device 1 of this embodiment, the refrigeration cycle device 1 can be configured using an outdoor unit 12 that can fix the first header 59 and the housing together while suppressing damage to the header due to corrosion.

[0053] As described below, the configuration of the outdoor unit 12 in this embodiment can be modified in various ways. In the fixing member 96 of the outdoor unit 95 of the first modified example shown in Figure 8, in addition to the configuration of the fixing member 23 of the above embodiment, a drainage groove 72e is formed. The drainage groove 72e is formed on the contact surface 72d of the first arm 72 of the first part of the first fixing piece 67. The drainage groove 72e extends in the first direction X and penetrates the first arm 72 of the first part in the first direction X. Furthermore, in the fixing member 96 of the outdoor unit 95 of the first modified example, the length of the multiple drainage grooves 81c formed in the second fixing piece 68 in the second direction Y gradually increases as it approaches the first side Y1.

[0054] Water droplets tend to adhere to the surface included in region R1 of the first header 59. Because a drainage channel 72e is formed, water that accumulates above the fixing member 23 in region R1 where water droplets tend to adhere flows downward through the drainage channel 72e. Therefore, damage to the first header 59 due to corrosion can be more reliably suppressed. Furthermore, the longer the length of the drain channel 81c in the second direction Y, the easier it is for water to flow through it. Since the length of the second direction Y of the multiple drain channels 81c gradually increases towards the first side Y1, water droplets adhering to the region R1 in the first header 59 where water droplets tend to adhere can be easily drained downwards using the drain channels 81c with a longer length in the second direction Y. In addition, in the outdoor unit 95 of the first modified example, the multiple drainage channels 71c and 81c do not need to be formed.

[0055] The fixing member 101 of the outdoor unit 100 in the second modified example shown in Figure 9 has a first fixing piece 102 and a second fixing piece 103. The first fixing piece 102 has a first arm 106 and a second arm 107 in place of the first arm 72 and second arm 73 of the first fixing piece 67. The first arm 106 of the first part has a first body 106a of the first part, a first small diameter portion 106b of the first part, and a first large diameter portion 106c of the first part. The first body 106a of the first part is a rectangular parallelepiped extending in the third direction Z. The first body 106a of the first part is the upper end of the first body 71 and extends from the end of the first side Y1 toward the second side Z2.

[0056] The lengths of the first small diameter portion 106b and the first large diameter portion 106c of the first part in the first direction X are equal to the length of the first main body 106a of the first part in the first direction X. The positions of the first side Y1 end of the first main body 106a of the first part, the first side Y1 end of the first small diameter portion 106b of the first part, and the first side Y1 end of the first large diameter portion 106c of the first part are the same. The first small-diameter portion 106b of the first part protrudes toward the second side Z2 from the portion on the first side Y1 at the end of the second side Z2 of the first main body 106a of the first part.

[0057] The first large-diameter portion 106c of the first part protrudes from the first small-diameter portion 106b of the first part toward the second side Z2. The first large-diameter portion 106c of the first part protrudes further toward the second side Y2 than the first small-diameter portion 106b of the first part. In other words, a step is formed in the second direction Y between the first large-diameter portion 106c of the first part and the first small-diameter portion 106b of the first part. The end face 106c1 on the second side Z2 of the first large diameter section 106c of the first part is inclined so that it gradually slopes toward the second side Y2 as it approaches the first side Z1. In other words, the end face 106c1 is an inclined surface that slopes at an acute angle with respect to both the first side Z1 and the second side Y2.

[0058] The second arm 107 of the first part is the upper end of the first body 71 and extends from the middle of the second direction Y toward the second side Z2. The second arm 107 of the first part and the first arm 106 of the first part are spaced apart from each other in the second direction Y. The second arm 107 of the first part is symmetrical with respect to the first arm 106 of the first part with respect to the first reference plane S1.

[0059] The second fixing piece 103 has a second part first arm 111 and a second part second arm 112, instead of the second part first arm 82 and second arm 83 of the second fixing piece 68. The second part's first arm 111 includes the second part's first body 111a, the second part's first small diameter portion 111b, and the second part's first large diameter portion 111c. The second part, first body 111a, is a rectangular parallelepiped extending in the third direction Z. The second part, first body 111a is the upper end of the second body 81 and extends from the end of the first side Y1 toward the first side Z1.

[0060] The lengths of the first small diameter portion 111b and the first large diameter portion 111c of the second part in the first direction X are equal to the length of the first main body 111a of the second part in the first direction X. The positions of the second side Y2 end of the first main body 111a of the second part, the second side Y2 end of the first small diameter portion 111b of the second part, and the second side Y2 end of the first large diameter portion 111c of the second part are the same. The second part's first small-diameter portion 111b protrudes toward the first side Z1 from the portion of the second side Y2 at the end of the first side Z1 of the second part's first body 111a. The first large-diameter portion 111c of the second part protrudes toward the first side Z1 from the end of the first small-diameter portion 111b of the second part toward the first side Z1. The first large-diameter portion 111c of the second part protrudes toward the first side Y1 than the first small-diameter portion 111b of the second part. In other words, a step is formed in the second direction Y between the first large-diameter portion 111c of the second part and the first small-diameter portion 111b of the second part.

[0061] The second arm 112 of the second part is the upper end of the second body 81 and extends from the middle of the second direction Y toward the first side Z1. The second arm 112 and the first arm 111 of the second part are spaced apart from each other in the second direction Y. The second arm 112 of the second part is symmetrical with respect to the first arm 111 of the second part with respect to the first reference plane S1. Here, a first reference line L1 is defined which lies on the second reference plane S2 and is positioned at the center of the first body 71 and the second body 81. The second fixing piece 103 is rotationally symmetric with respect to the first fixing piece 102 with respect to the first reference line L1. That is, the first fixing piece 102 and the second fixing piece 103 are identical in shape to each other. In the second modified outdoor unit 100 configured as described above, the fixing pieces 102 and 103 can be made to have the same shape, thus enabling the commonality of parts.

[0062] In the third modified example shown in Figure 10, the fixing member 116 of the outdoor unit 115 is equipped with a first fixing piece 117 instead of the first fixing piece 67 of the fixing member 23 in this embodiment. In the first fixing piece 117, a retaining member 118 made of an elastic material such as rubber is provided at the tip of the second side Z2 of the protrusion formed between the multiple drainage grooves 71c. In the third modified outdoor unit 115 configured in this way, the fixing member 116 can be more securely fixed to the first header 59.

[0063] The shape of the outdoor heat exchanger 21 and the material from which the outdoor heat exchanger 21 is formed are not limited to the materials described above. For example, at least a part of the outdoor heat exchanger 21 may be made of copper, a copper alloy, or the like. The headers 44 and 45 are not limited to plate headers and may be formed of cylindrical tubes or the like. In the fixing member, the first fixing piece and the second fixing piece may be formed to be connected to each other. That is, the fixing member may be composed of a single member.

[0064] In the fixing member 23, the first fixing piece 67 does not need to have the first part second arm 73 and the first part third arm 74. The second fixing piece 68 does not need to have the second part second arm 83 and the second part third arm 84. The same applies to the fixing members 96 and 101.

[0065] According to at least one embodiment described above, by having a fixing member and a drainage groove, the first header 59 and the outdoor enclosure 20 can be fixed to each other while preventing the first header 59 from being damaged by corrosion.

[0066] While several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be carried out in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0067] 1...Refrigeration cycle device, 12,115...Outdoor unit (heat exchange unit), 20...Outdoor housing (housing), 21,95...Outdoor heat exchanger (heat exchanger), 21a...Flat plate heat exchanger (heat exchanger), 23,96,116...Fixing member, 59...First header (header), 60...Second header (header), 61...Heat transfer tube, 67,102,117...First fixing piece, 68,103...Second fixing piece, 71...First main body, 71b,71d,81b...Contact surface, 71c,72e,81c...Drainage groove, 72,106...First arm of first part, 73,107...Second arm of first part, 81...Second main body, 82,111...First arm of second part 83,112...Second arm of the second part, X...First direction, Y...Second direction, Y1,Z1...First side, Z...Third direction, Z2...Second side

Claims

1. A heat exchanger having heat transfer tubes and a header made of metal, A housing for the heat exchanger, which is made of a metal having a lower ionization tendency than the header, A fixing member having electrical insulation properties is fixed to the header and the housing, respectively, so that the header and the housing are spaced apart from each other. Equipped with, A drainage groove is formed in the contact surface of the fixing member that contacts the header. The aforementioned header is a plate header, The header is a rectangular parallelepiped extending in a first direction, The header is formed by stacking multiple plates, In the header, the plurality of plates are stacked in a second direction intersecting the first direction, The contact surface comprises a first contact surface and a second contact surface facing each other in a third direction intersecting the first and second directions, respectively, and a third contact surface located on the first side where the heat transfer tube is provided in the second direction. The first and second contact surfaces are each provided with a plurality of drainage grooves, and the third contact surface is provided with at least one drainage groove. The drainage channel extends in the first direction, In at least one of the first contact surface or the second contact surface, the length of the drainage groove in the second direction gradually increases as it moves toward the first side in the second direction. Heat exchange unit.

2. The aforementioned fixing member is First fixing piece and A second fixing piece is detachably fitted to the first fixing piece and is fixed together with the first fixing piece to the header and the housing, respectively. Having, The heat exchange unit according to claim 1.

3. The heat exchanger has the header provided at its end and the heat transfer tubes extending in the second direction, The first fixing piece is, A first body that contacts the first side facing the third direction with respect to the header, The first part has a first arm and a second arm extending from the first body in the third direction, and sandwiching the header in the second direction, It has, The first arm of the first part is positioned on the first side in the second direction compared to the second arm of the first part. The second fixing piece is, A second body that contacts the surface of the header facing the second side opposite to the first side in the third direction, The second body extends in the third direction and the second part first arm and second arm of the second part sandwich the header in the second direction, It has, The first arm of the second part is positioned on the first side in the second direction compared to the second arm of the second part. The first arm of the first part is detachably fitted onto the first arm of the second part. The second arm of the first part is detachably fitted into the second arm of the second part. The heat exchange unit according to claim 2.

4. A heat exchange unit as described in claim 1, Refrigeration cycle device.

Images