Heat exchanger module, heat exchanger, and air conditioning system

Abstract

A heat exchanger module, a heat exchanger provided with said heat exchanger module, and an air conditioning system provided with said heat exchanger module or said heat exchanger. The heat exchanger module (100) comprises: heat exchange tubes (1); main headers (2) which are connected to and in fluid communication with end portions of the heat exchange tubes (1); and auxiliary headers (3), the auxiliary headers (3) being connected to and in fluid communication with the main headers (2), and the lengths of the auxiliary headers (3) being less than the lengths of the main headers (2). The heat exchanger can be formed by means of connecting a plurality of heat exchanger modules by using the auxiliary headers.

Description

Heat exchanger modules, heat exchangers and air conditioning systems

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of Chinese patent application No. 202322652162.0 filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on September 27, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a heat exchanger module, a heat exchanger having the heat exchanger module, and an air conditioning system having the heat exchanger module or the heat exchanger. Background Art

[0004] Typically, a heat exchanger needs to include multiple heat exchanger modules to meet heat exchange requirements, and the heat exchanger modules need to be connected together through pipes.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] An object of the embodiments of the present disclosure is to provide a heat exchanger module, a heat exchanger having the same, and an air conditioning system having the same, whereby a heat exchanger can be formed by connecting a plurality of heat exchanger modules using a sub-manifold, for example.

[0007] An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a heat exchanger module, comprising: a heat exchange tube; a main header connected to the end of the heat exchange tube and in fluid communication; and a secondary header, the secondary header being connected to the main header and in fluid communication, the length of the secondary header being less than the length of the main header.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the secondary collecting pipes are two secondary collecting pipes, the main collecting pipes are two main collecting pipes, the two ends of the heat exchange tube are respectively connected to the two main collecting pipes and fluidically communicated, and the two secondary collecting pipes are respectively connected to the two main collecting pipes and fluidically communicated.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the length of the secondary header is less than half of the length of the primary header.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the length of the secondary header is less than or equal to one third of the length of the primary header.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the secondary header is located at an end of the primary header.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an inclination angle of the secondary header relative to the primary header is within a range of 0 degrees to 15 degrees.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the hydraulic radius of the secondary header is smaller than or equal to the hydraulic radius of the primary header.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the secondary header is connected to the primary header via a connecting pipe and is in fluid communication with the secondary header.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the sub-manifolds are connected and fluidically communicated with the main manifold through a plurality of connecting tubes, and the plurality of connecting tubes are spaced apart in an axial direction of the main manifold.

[0016] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, relative to the axis of the main header, the angle between the angular position where the secondary header is connected to the main header and the angular position where the end of the heat exchange tube is connected to the main header is within 135 degrees to 180 degrees.

[0017] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the two secondary headers are located at ends of the two primary headers, and are respectively located on opposite sides of the heat exchanger module in the axial direction of one or the other of the two headers.

[0018] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the sub-manifold includes a flange located at an end portion of the sub-manifold.

[0019] An embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a heat exchanger, comprising: a plurality of the above-mentioned heat exchanger modules; and connecting pipes between heat exchanger modules, wherein the connecting pipes between heat exchanger modules are used to connect the secondary collecting pipes of the plurality of heat exchanger modules, thereby connecting the plurality of heat exchanger modules in series.

[0020] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the secondary collecting pipe of the heat exchanger module has a flange located at the end of the secondary collecting pipe, and the connecting pipe between the heat exchanger modules has flanges located at both ends of the connecting pipe between the heat exchanger modules. The heat exchanger also includes a clamping device, which clamps the flange of the secondary collecting pipe of the heat exchanger module and the flange of the connecting pipe between the heat exchanger modules together to connect multiple heat exchanger modules in series.

[0021] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the heat exchanger further comprises a sealing gasket provided between the flange of the secondary header of the heat exchanger module and the flange of the inter-heat exchanger module connecting pipe clamped together by the clamping device.

[0022] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the sealing gasket has annular protrusions on two opposite surfaces, and the flange of the secondary collecting pipe of the heat exchanger module and the flange of the connecting pipe between the heat exchanger modules have annular recesses on the surfaces that cooperate with the annular protrusions of the sealing gasket.

[0023] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the clamping device includes two arc-shaped clamping members and at least one fixing member, the clamping member includes: a first end; a second end; and a clamping groove extending from the first end to the second end on the radial inner side of the clamping member, a portion of the outer edge of the flange of the auxiliary collecting pipe and the flange of the connecting pipe between the heat exchanger modules is arranged in the clamping groove of the clamping member, and the fixing member fixes the two clamping members together when the two clamping members clamp the flange of the auxiliary collecting pipe and the flange of the connecting pipe between the heat exchanger modules.

[0024] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the clamping member also includes: a clamping rod extending from the second end toward the radially outer side of the clamping member, the first ends of the two clamping members are hingedly connected, and the fixing member fixes the clamping rods of the two clamping members together when the two clamping members clamp the flange of the auxiliary collecting pipe and the flange of the connecting pipe between the heat exchanger modules.

[0025] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cross section of the clamping groove of the clamping member in the radial direction of the clamping member has a wedge shape; and / or the cross section of the flange of the connecting pipe between the auxiliary collecting pipe and the heat exchanger module in the radial direction of the flange has a wedge shape.

[0026] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a plurality of heat exchanger modules are arranged side by side in a thickness direction of the heat exchanger modules.

[0027] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of heat exchanger modules are arranged substantially in one plane.

[0028] An embodiment of the present disclosure further provides an air-conditioning system, comprising: the above-mentioned heat exchanger module or the above-mentioned heat exchanger.

[0029] With the heat exchanger module according to embodiments of the present disclosure, a heat exchanger having the same, and an air conditioning system having the same, for example, a heat exchanger can be formed by connecting a plurality of heat exchanger modules using a sub-manifold. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] FIG1 is a schematic perspective view of a heat exchanger including a plurality of heat exchanger modules according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG2 is another schematic perspective view of the heat exchanger shown in FIG1 ;

[0032] FIG3 is a schematic front view of the heat exchanger shown in FIG1 ;

[0033] FIG4 is a schematic top view of the heat exchanger shown in FIG1 ;

[0034] 5 is a schematic perspective view of a heat exchanger including a plurality of heat exchanger modules according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0035] FIG6 is a schematic front view of a heat exchanger module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0036] 7 is a schematic perspective view of a sub-manifold of a heat exchanger module and components connected thereto according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0037] FIG8 is a schematic exploded perspective view of one of the sub-manifolds shown in FIG7 and some components connecting the sub-manifolds; and

[0038] FIG. 9 is a schematic exploded perspective view of some components of the connecting sub-manifold shown in FIG. 7 . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The present disclosure will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods.

[0040] 1 to 9 , a heat exchanger module 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a heat exchange tube 1; a main header 2 connected to and in fluid communication with the end 11 of the heat exchange tube 1; and a secondary header 3 connected to and in fluid communication with the main header 2, wherein the secondary header 3 is shorter than the main header 2. The heat exchanger module 100 also includes: fins 9 arranged alternately with the heat exchange tubes 1. For example, the secondary header 3 may be located at the end 21 of the main header 2 or in the middle between the two ends 21 of the main header 2. The heat exchange tube 1 may be a flat tube.

[0041] Referring to Figures 1 to 6, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the secondary headers 3 are two secondary headers 3, the primary headers 2 are two primary headers 2, the two ends 11 of the heat exchange tubes 1 are respectively connected to and in fluid communication with the two primary headers 2, and the two secondary headers 3 are respectively connected to and in fluid communication with the two primary headers 2. According to an example of the present disclosure, the two secondary headers 3 are located at the ends 21 of the two main headers 2, and are located on opposite sides of the heat exchanger module 100 in the axial direction of one or the other of the two headers.

[0042] Referring to Figures 1 to 6, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the length of the secondary manifold 3 is less than half of the length of the main manifold 2. For example, the length of the secondary manifold 3 is less than or equal to one third of the length of the main manifold 2. The inclination angle of the secondary manifold 3 relative to the main manifold 2 can be within a range of 0 degrees to 15 degrees. The hydraulic radius of the secondary manifold 3 can be less than or equal to the hydraulic radius of the main manifold 2. The hydraulic radius of the secondary manifold 3 can also be greater than the hydraulic radius of the main manifold 2. Relative to the axis of the main manifold 2, the angle between the angular position at which the secondary manifold 3 is connected to the main manifold 2 and the angular position at which the end 11 of the heat exchange tube 1 is connected to the main manifold 2 can be within a range of 135 degrees to 180 degrees.

[0043] 1 to 6 , in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the secondary manifold 3 is connected to and in fluid communication with the primary manifold 2 via a connecting pipe 4. For example, the secondary manifold 3 is connected to and in fluid communication with the primary manifold 2 via a plurality of connecting pipes 4, and the plurality of connecting pipes 4 are spaced apart in the axial direction of the primary manifold 2.

[0044] 7 to 9 , in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the secondary manifold 3 includes a flange 30 located at an end 31 of the secondary manifold 3. The flange 30 of the secondary manifold 3 can be connected to the secondary manifold 3 via a tube 32. That is, the flange 30 is connected to the tube 32, and the end 31 of the secondary manifold 3 is inserted into the tube 32.

[0045] Referring to Figures 1 to 9 , a heat exchanger 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: heat exchanger modules 100; and inter-module connecting pipes 5 . Multiple heat exchanger modules 100 are connected in series by connecting the sub-manifolds 3 of the multiple heat exchanger modules 100 using the inter-module connecting pipes 5 . According to one example of the present disclosure, referring to Figures 1 to 4 , the multiple heat exchanger modules 100 are arranged side by side in the thickness direction of the heat exchanger modules 100. According to another example of the present disclosure, referring to Figure 5 , the multiple heat exchanger modules 100 are arranged substantially in a single plane.

[0046] Referring to Figures 7 to 9 , in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the secondary header 3 of the heat exchanger module 100 has a flange 30 located at an end 31 of the secondary header 3. The flange 30 of the secondary header 3 can be connected to the secondary header 3 via a tube 32. Specifically, the flange 30 is connected to the tube 32, and the end 31 of the secondary header 3 is inserted into the tube 32. The inter-module connecting pipe 5 has flanges 50 located at both ends 51 of the inter-module connecting pipe 5. The flanges 50 of the inter-module connecting pipe 5 can be connected to the inter-module connecting pipe 5 via tubes 52. Specifically, the flanges 50 are connected to the tube 52, and the end 51 of the inter-module connecting pipe 5 is inserted into the tube 52. The heat exchanger 200 also includes a clamping device 7 that clamps the flange 30 of the secondary header 3 of the heat exchanger module 100 and the flange 50 of the inter-module connecting pipe 5 together, thereby connecting multiple heat exchanger modules 100 in series. The heat exchanger 200 may further include a sealing gasket 6 disposed between the flange 30 of the secondary header 3 of the heat exchanger module 100 and the flange 50 of the inter-module connecting pipe 5, which are clamped together by a clamping device 7. The sealing gasket 6 may be made of rubber. The inter-module connecting pipe 5, pipe 52, flange 50, secondary header 3, flange 30, pipe 32, and clamping device 7 may be made of metal. The sealing gasket 6 has annular protrusions 61 on two opposing surfaces 60. The surface of the flange 30 of the secondary header 3 of the heat exchanger module 100 and the surface 54 of the flange 50 of the inter-module connecting pipe 5 have annular recesses 53 that mate with the annular protrusions 61 of the sealing gasket 6.

[0047] Referring to Figures 7 to 9, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the clamping device 7 includes two arc-shaped clamping members 70 and at least one fixing member 78, the clamping member 70 includes: a first end 71; a second end 72; and a clamping groove 73 extending from the first end 71 to the second end 72 on the radial inner side of the clamping member 70, a portion of the outer edge of the flange 30 of the auxiliary manifold 3 and the flange 50 of the connecting pipe 5 between the heat exchanger modules is arranged in the clamping groove 73 of the clamping member 70, and the fixing member 78 fixes the two clamping members 70 to each other when the two clamping members 70 clamp the flange 30 of the auxiliary manifold 3 and the flange 50 of the connecting pipe 5 between the heat exchanger modules. According to one example of the present disclosure, the clamping member 70 further includes: a clamping rod 74 extending from the second end 72 toward the radially outer side of the clamping member 70; the first ends 71 ​​of the two clamping members 70 are hingedly connected; and the fixing member 78 fixes the clamping rods 74 of the two clamping members 70 together when the two clamping members 70 clamp the flange 30 of the auxiliary manifold 3 and the flange 50 of the heat exchanger module connecting pipe 5. According to another example of the present disclosure, the clamping member 70 further includes: a clamping rod extending from the first end 71 toward the radially outer side of the clamping member 70; the first ends 71 ​​of the two clamping members 70 are not hingedly connected, but the two clamping rods of the first ends 71 ​​are fixedly connected together by the fixing member 78. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the clamping groove 73 of the clamping member 70 has a wedge-shaped cross-section in the radial direction of the clamping member 70; and / or the flange 30 of the auxiliary manifold 3 has a wedge-shaped cross-section in the radial direction of the flange 30, and the flange 50 of the heat exchanger module connecting pipe 5 has a wedge-shaped cross-section in the radial direction of the flange 50. The fixing member 78 can be threadedly engaged so that the two clamping members 70 clamp the flange 30 of the auxiliary manifold 3 and the flange 50 of the heat exchanger module connecting pipe 5, and the clamping rods 74 of the two clamping members 70 are fixedly connected to each other.

[0048] An air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes the aforementioned heat exchanger 200 or the aforementioned heat exchanger module 100. More specifically, the air conditioning system includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, an expansion valve, etc. At least one of the condenser and the evaporator is the aforementioned heat exchanger 200 or includes the aforementioned heat exchanger module 100.

[0049] With the heat exchanger module according to embodiments of the present disclosure, a heat exchanger having the same, and an air conditioning system having the same, for example, a heat exchanger can be formed by connecting a plurality of heat exchanger modules using a sub-manifold.

[0050] With the heat exchanger module according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the main header is used to distribute / collect the refrigerant, and the sub-header may be used to assist in distributing / collecting the refrigerant.

[0051] By using the heat exchanger modules according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the heat exchanger modules can be combined in the length direction of the heat exchange tube to form a heat exchanger (see Figure 5), and the heat exchanger modules can be combined in the thickness direction of the heat exchanger to form a heat exchanger (see Figures 1 to 4). The secondary header can be formed with an inlet for the heat exchange medium of the heat exchanger to flow into the heat exchanger and an outlet for the heat exchange medium to flow out of the heat exchanger. By using the secondary header to connect the heat exchanger modules, the space in the length direction of the heat exchange tube is saved to the maximum extent. In addition, the secondary header has the function of collecting and redistributing the refrigerant, thereby increasing the heat exchange capacity of the heat exchanger.

[0052] By using the heat exchanger module according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the application range of the heat exchanger can be expanded without being limited by the capacity of production equipment.

[0053] The heat exchanger modules according to the embodiments of the present disclosure optimize their connection structure, making them easier to connect in terms of length and thickness. Furthermore, secondary manifolds are provided between the modules to collect and distribute the refrigerant. This mixing and distribution of the refrigerant facilitates uniform refrigerant distribution and improves heat exchanger performance. Furthermore, the use of heat exchanger modules expands the application range of the heat exchanger and addresses the size limitations of the production process.

[0054] Furthermore, although an example of connection between sub-headers 3 and inter-heat exchanger module connection pipes 5 has been described, connection between sub-headers 3 and inter-heat exchanger module connection pipes 5 may be any appropriate connection such as welding.

[0055] Although the above embodiments have been described, some features of the above embodiments may be combined to form new embodiments.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger module, comprising: Heat exchange tubes; a main header connected to and in fluid communication with the ends of the heat exchange tubes; as well as The secondary current collector is connected to the main current collector and is in fluid communication with the main current collector. The length of the secondary current collector is shorter than that of the main current collector.

2. The heat exchanger module according to claim 1, wherein: The secondary headers are two secondary headers, the main headers are two main headers, the two ends of the heat exchange tube are respectively connected to the two main headers and are in fluid communication, and the two secondary headers are respectively connected to the two main headers and are in fluid communication.

3. The heat exchanger module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The length of the secondary header is less than half of the length of the primary header.

4. The heat exchanger module according to claim 3, wherein: The length of the secondary header is less than or equal to one third of the length of the primary header.

5. The heat exchanger module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The sub-collector is located at an end of the main collector.

6. The heat exchanger module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The inclination angle of the secondary header relative to the primary header is within a range of 0 to 15 degrees.

7. The heat exchanger module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The hydraulic radius of the secondary header is smaller than or equal to the hydraulic radius of the main header.

8. The heat exchanger module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The secondary header is connected to the primary header through a connecting pipe and is in fluid communication with the secondary header.

9. The heat exchanger module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The sub-collectors are connected and fluidly communicated with the main collectors through a plurality of connection tubes, and the plurality of connection tubes are spaced apart in an axial direction of the main collector.

10. The heat exchanger module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: Relative to the axis of the main header, an angle between an angular position where the secondary header is connected to the main header and an angular position where the end of the heat exchange tube is connected to the main header is within a range of 135 to 180 degrees.

11. The heat exchanger module according to claim 2, wherein: The two sub-headers are located at ends of the two main headers, and in the axial direction of one or the other of the two headers, the two sub-headers are respectively located at opposite sides of the heat exchanger module.

12. The heat exchanger module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The sub-manifold includes a flange at an end of the sub-manifold.

13. A heat exchanger comprising: A plurality of heat exchanger modules according to any one of claims 1 to 11; as well as The heat exchanger module inter-connecting pipe is used to connect the sub-collecting pipes of the plurality of heat exchanger modules, thereby connecting the plurality of heat exchanger modules in series.

14. The heat exchanger according to claim 13, wherein: The secondary collecting pipe of the heat exchanger module has a flange located at the end of the secondary collecting pipe, and the connecting pipe between the heat exchanger modules has flanges located at both ends of the connecting pipe between the heat exchanger modules. The heat exchanger also includes a clamping device, which clamps the flange of the secondary collecting pipe of the heat exchanger module and the flange of the connecting pipe between the heat exchanger modules together to connect multiple heat exchanger modules in series.

15. The heat exchanger according to claim 14, wherein: The heat exchanger further comprises a sealing gasket arranged between the flange of the secondary header of the heat exchanger module and the flange of the connecting pipe between the heat exchanger modules clamped together by the clamping device.

16. The heat exchanger according to claim 15, wherein: The sealing gasket has annular protrusions on two opposite surfaces, and the flange of the secondary header of the heat exchanger module and the flange of the connecting pipe between the heat exchanger modules have annular recesses on the surfaces thereof that match the annular protrusions of the sealing gasket.

17. The heat exchanger according to claim 14, wherein: The clamping device includes two arc-shaped clamping members and at least one fixing member, the clamping member includes: a first end; a second end; and a clamping groove extending from the first end to the second end on the radial inner side of the clamping member, a portion of the outer edge of the flange of the auxiliary collecting pipe and the flange of the connecting pipe between the heat exchanger modules is arranged in the clamping groove of the clamping member, and the fixing member fixes the two clamping members together when the two clamping members clamp the flange of the auxiliary collecting pipe and the flange of the connecting pipe between the heat exchanger modules.

18. The heat exchanger according to claim 17, wherein: The clamping member also includes: a clamping rod extending from the second end toward the radial outside of the clamping member, the first ends of the two clamping members are hingedly connected, and the fixing member fixes the clamping rods of the two clamping members together when the two clamping members clamp the flange of the auxiliary collecting pipe and the flange of the connecting pipe between the heat exchanger modules.

19. The heat exchanger according to claim 17, wherein: The cross section of the clamping groove of the clamping member in the radial direction of the clamping member has a wedge shape; and / or the cross section of the flange of the secondary header and the connecting pipe between the heat exchanger modules in the radial direction of the flange has a wedge shape.

20. The heat exchanger according to claim 13, wherein: The plurality of heat exchanger modules are arranged side by side in a thickness direction of the heat exchanger modules.

21. The heat exchanger according to claim 13, wherein: The plurality of heat exchanger modules are arranged approximately in one plane.

22. An air conditioning system, comprising: A heat exchanger module according to any one of claims 1 to 12 or a heat exchanger according to any one of claims 13 to 21.

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