Heat exchanger and refrigeration device

Abstract

Provided are a heat exchanger and a refrigeration device in which a liquid header part and a gas header part can be combined. The present invention comprises a plurality of flat tubes (28) arranged in the vertical direction, and an inlet / outlet header (40) to which the flat tubes (28) are connected. The inlet / outlet header (40) has a gas header part (50) and a liquid header part (60) arranged in the vertical direction. The inlet / outlet header (40) is provided with: a gas space formation member (51) that is one or a plurality of gas members; a first liquid member (61), a second liquid member (62), a third liquid member (63), a fourth liquid member (64), and a fifth liquid member (65) that are one or a plurality of liquid members; and a first common member (41) extending across the gas header part (50) and the liquid header part (60). The first common member (41) and the gas space formation member (51) form the gas header part (50). The first common member (41) and the liquid members (61-65) form the liquid header part (60). The first common member (41) integrates a first prescribed number of gas members and a second prescribed number of liquid members different from the first prescribed number.

Description

Heat exchangers and refrigeration equipment

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a heat exchanger and a refrigeration device.

[0002] Conventionally, for example, a heat exchanger such as that described in Patent Document 1 (JP 2022-043207 A) has been proposed in which a header is formed by stacking a plurality of plate-like members.

[0003] One such heat exchanger has a gas header through which gaseous refrigerant flows and a liquid header through which liquid or gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows, arranged side by side in the direction in which the flat tubes are arranged. Because the refrigerant flows through the gas header and the liquid header in different states, the required functions differ, and the number of components constituting the gas header may differ from the number of components constituting the liquid header. When the number of components constituting the gas header differs from the number of components constituting the liquid header, it is difficult to integrate the gas header and the liquid header.

[0004] A heat exchanger according to a first aspect includes a plurality of flat tubes and a header. The plurality of flat tubes are aligned in a first direction. The flat tubes are connected to the header. The header has a gas header section and a liquid header section. The gas header section and the liquid header section are aligned in the first direction. The header has one or more gas members, one or more liquid members, and a first member. The first member extends across the gas header section and the liquid header section. The first member and the gas member form the gas header section. The first member and the liquid member form the liquid header section. The first member integrates a first predetermined number of gas members and a second predetermined number of liquid members different from the first predetermined number.

[0005] In this heat exchanger, even if the number of gas members and the number of liquid members are different, the first member can integrate the gas members and the liquid members.

[0006] A heat exchanger according to a second aspect is the heat exchanger of the first aspect, wherein the first member and the gas member are stacked in a second direction, the second direction being a direction in which the flat tubes extend, and the first member and the liquid member are stacked in the second direction.

[0007] In this heat exchanger, the gas header section and the liquid header section can be provided in the second direction relative to the flat tubes.

[0008] A heat exchanger according to a third aspect is the heat exchanger according to the second aspect, wherein the header further includes one or more intermediate members extending between the first member and the gas member and between the first member and the liquid member.

[0009] In this heat exchanger, a part of the intermediate member can be used to form a part of the gas header section, and another part of the intermediate member can be used to form a part of the liquid header section.

[0010] A heat exchanger according to a fourth aspect is the heat exchanger of the third aspect, wherein the first member integrates the gas member, the liquid member, and the intermediate member.

[0011] In this heat exchanger, even if the number of gas members and the number of liquid members are different, the first member can integrate the gas members, the liquid members, and the intermediate members.

[0012] A heat exchanger according to a fifth aspect is the heat exchanger according to the third or fourth aspect, wherein the one or more intermediate members include a second member. The second member has a plurality of first openings. When viewed in the second direction, the contours of the first openings have portions that overlap with the contours of the flat tubes.

[0013] In this heat exchanger, when the flat tubes are inserted into the header, the flat tubes cannot pass through the first opening, making it possible to determine the insertion position of the flat tubes.

[0014] A heat exchanger according to a sixth aspect is the heat exchanger according to the fifth aspect, wherein the one or more intermediate members further include a third member. The third member is stacked between the first member and the second member in the second direction. The third member has a plurality of second openings. When viewed in the second direction, the contours of the second openings are located outside the contours of the flat tubes.

[0015] In this heat exchanger, when the flat tubes are inserted into the header, the flat tubes can be passed through the second openings.

[0016] A heat exchanger according to a seventh aspect is the heat exchanger according to any one of the second aspect to the sixth aspect, wherein the first member has a first portion, a pair of first clamping portions, and a pair of second clamping portions. The first portion is a portion extending in a plane perpendicular to the second direction. The pair of first clamping portions extend from the first portion in the second direction. The pair of second clamping portions extend from the first portion in the second direction. When a direction intersecting both the first direction and the second direction is defined as a third direction, the first clamping portions clamp a first predetermined number of gas members in the third direction. The second clamping portions clamp a second predetermined number of liquid members in the third direction. The length of the first clamping portions in the second direction is different from the length of the second clamping portions in the second direction.

[0017] In this heat exchanger, even if the number of gas members and liquid members is different, the first member has a shape corresponding to the second-direction length of the first predetermined number of gas members and the second-direction length of the second predetermined number of liquid members, making it easy to integrate the gas members and liquid members.

[0018] A heat exchanger according to an eighth aspect is the heat exchanger according to the seventh aspect, wherein the first clamping portion has a first crimping portion at an end opposite to the first portion in the second direction, and the second clamping portion has a second crimping portion at an end opposite to the first portion in the second direction.

[0019] In this heat exchanger, the gas member and the liquid member can be crimped and integrated by the first crimping portion and the second crimping portion.

[0020] A heat exchanger according to a ninth aspect is the heat exchanger according to any one of the second to eighth aspects, wherein the gas member includes a gas space forming member. The gas space forming member has a protruding portion that protrudes, as viewed in the first direction, toward a side away from a connection portion between the flat tube and the first member in the second direction.

[0021] This heat exchanger uses a gas space forming member having a protrusion, making it easy to ensure a space through which the gas refrigerant flows.

[0022] A heat exchanger according to a tenth aspect is the heat exchanger according to the eighth aspect, wherein the gas member includes a gas space forming member. The gas space forming member has a protruding portion that protrudes in a direction away from a connection portion between the flat tube and the first member in the second direction as viewed in the first direction. The gas space forming member has a flat portion that extends in a plane perpendicular to the second direction. The flat portion is crimped by a first crimping portion and a second crimping portion.

[0023] In this heat exchanger, the use of a gas space forming member having a protrusion makes it easy to ensure a space for the gas refrigerant to flow in. Furthermore, by stacking the flat portion of the gas space forming member on another gas member, it is possible to increase the strength with which the members are fixed to each other when they are crimped by the first crimping portion and the second crimping portion.

[0024] A heat exchanger according to an eleventh aspect is the heat exchanger according to any one of the first to tenth aspects, wherein the gas member and the liquid member have plate-shaped portions.

[0025] In this heat exchanger, the gas member and the liquid member can be easily stacked on the first member.

[0026] A heat exchanger according to a twelfth aspect is the heat exchanger according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects, further comprising a turn-back header. The turn-back header is connected to the end of the flat tubes opposite to the end on the gas header section and liquid header section side. The turn-back header guides the refrigerant that has passed through the gas header section to the liquid header section side, or guides the refrigerant that has passed through the liquid header section to the gas header section side.

[0027] This heat exchanger allows the refrigerant to flow in a turn-around manner in the turn-around header.

[0028] A refrigeration device according to a thirteenth aspect includes the heat exchanger according to any one of the first to twelfth aspects.

[0029] This refrigeration device can perform a refrigeration cycle using a heat exchanger in which the gas member and the liquid member are integrated by the first member.

[0030] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an air conditioning apparatus. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an outdoor heat exchanger. FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged view of a heat exchange section of the outdoor heat exchanger. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the attachment state of heat transfer fins to flat tubes in the heat exchange section. FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory view showing the state of refrigerant flow when the outdoor heat exchanger functions as a refrigerant radiator or condenser. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the exterior of an inlet / outlet header. FIG. 7 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a gas header section. FIG. 8 is a schematic horizontal cross-sectional configuration diagram of a gas header section. FIG. 9 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a liquid header section. FIG. 10 is a schematic horizontal cross-sectional configuration diagram of a liquid header section. FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram of a fourth liquid member as viewed in the plate thickness direction. FIG. 12 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a liquid header section of another embodiment C.

[0031] Hereinafter, embodiments of a heat exchanger according to the present disclosure and a refrigeration device in which the heat exchanger is employed will be described.

[0032] (1) Configuration of Air Conditioning Apparatus An air conditioning apparatus 1, which is one embodiment of a refrigeration apparatus, will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0033] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an air conditioning apparatus 1 having a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present disclosure as an outdoor heat exchanger 11.

[0034] The air conditioning apparatus 1 is an apparatus that cools and heats a space to be air-conditioned by operating a vapor compression refrigeration cycle. The space to be air-conditioned is, for example, a space inside a building such as an office building, a commercial facility, or a residence. Note that the air conditioning apparatus is merely one example of a refrigeration cycle apparatus, and the heat exchanger of the present disclosure may be used in other refrigeration cycle apparatuses, such as refrigerators, freezers, water heaters, and floor heating apparatuses. Note that the refrigerant used in the air conditioning apparatus 1 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, R290, CO ２ , R32, etc.

[0035] 1 , the air conditioning apparatus 1 mainly comprises an outdoor unit 2, indoor units 9, a liquid refrigerant connection pipe 4, a gas refrigerant connection pipe 5, and a control unit 3 that controls the equipment that makes up the outdoor unit 2 and the indoor units 9. The liquid refrigerant connection pipe 4 and the gas refrigerant connection pipe 5 are refrigerant connection pipes that connect the outdoor unit 2 and the indoor units 9. In the air conditioning apparatus 1, the outdoor unit 2 and the indoor units 9 are connected via the liquid refrigerant connection pipe 4 and the gas refrigerant connection pipe 5 to form a refrigerant circuit 6.

[0036] 1, the air conditioning apparatus 1 has one indoor unit 9, but the air conditioning apparatus 1 may have multiple indoor units 9 connected in parallel to the outdoor unit 2 by liquid refrigerant connection pipes 4 and gas refrigerant connection pipes 5. The air conditioning apparatus 1 may also have multiple outdoor units 2. The air conditioning apparatus 1 may also be an integrated air conditioning apparatus in which the outdoor unit 2 and the indoor unit 9 are formed integrally.

[0037] (1-1) Outdoor Unit The outdoor unit 2 is installed outside the space to be air-conditioned, for example, on the roof of a building or near a wall of a building.

[0038] The outdoor unit 2 mainly includes an accumulator 7 , a compressor 8 , a four-way switching valve 10 , an outdoor heat exchanger 11 , an outdoor expansion valve 12 , a liquid-side shut-off valve 13 , a gas-side shut-off valve 14 , and an outdoor fan 16 .

[0039] The outdoor unit 2 mainly has refrigerant pipes connecting various devices that make up the refrigerant circuit 6, including a suction pipe 17, a discharge pipe 18, a first gas refrigerant pipe 19, a liquid refrigerant pipe 20, and a second gas refrigerant pipe 21. The suction pipe 17 connects the four-way switching valve 10 and the suction side of the compressor 8. The suction pipe 17 is provided with an accumulator 7. The discharge pipe 18 connects the discharge side of the compressor 8 and the four-way switching valve 10. The first gas refrigerant pipe 19 connects the four-way switching valve 10 and the gas side of the outdoor heat exchanger 11. The liquid refrigerant pipe 20 connects the liquid side of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 and the liquid-side shut-off valve 13. The liquid refrigerant pipe 20 is provided with an outdoor expansion valve 12. The second gas refrigerant pipe 21 connects the four-way switching valve 10 and the gas-side shut-off valve 14.

[0040] The compressor 8 is a device that draws in low-pressure refrigerant in a refrigeration cycle from a suction pipe 17 , compresses the refrigerant using a compression mechanism (not shown), and discharges the compressed refrigerant to a discharge pipe 18 .

[0041] The four-way switching valve 10 is a mechanism that switches the flow direction of the refrigerant to change the state of the refrigerant circuit 6 between cooling operation and heating operation. When the refrigerant circuit 6 is in cooling operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 11 functions as a refrigerant radiator or condenser, and the indoor heat exchanger 91 functions as a refrigerant evaporator. When the refrigerant circuit 6 is in heating operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 11 functions as a refrigerant evaporator, and the indoor heat exchanger 91 functions as a refrigerant radiator or condenser. When the four-way switching valve 10 sets the refrigerant circuit 6 in cooling operation, the four-way switching valve 10 connects the suction pipe 17 to the second gas refrigerant pipe 21 and the discharge pipe 18 to the first gas refrigerant pipe 19 (see the solid lines in the four-way switching valve 10 in FIG. 1 ). When the four-way switching valve 10 sets the refrigerant circuit 6 to a heating operation state, the four-way switching valve 10 connects the suction pipe 17 to the first gas refrigerant pipe 19 and the discharge pipe 18 to the second gas refrigerant pipe 21 (see the dashed lines within the four-way switching valve 10 in Figure 1).

[0042] The outdoor heat exchanger 11 is a device that performs heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing therein and a fluid such as air in the installation location of the outdoor unit 2. Details of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 will be described later.

[0043] The outdoor expansion valve 12 is disposed in the refrigerant circuit 6 between the outdoor heat exchanger 11 and the indoor heat exchanger 91. In this embodiment, the outdoor expansion valve 12 is disposed in the liquid refrigerant pipe 20 between the outdoor heat exchanger 11 and the liquid-side shut-off valve 13. The outdoor expansion valve 12 has a mechanism for adjusting the pressure and flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the liquid refrigerant pipe 20.

[0044] The accumulator 7 is a container having a gas-liquid separation function that separates the refrigerant flowing in into a gas refrigerant and a liquid refrigerant, and also has a function of storing excess refrigerant that occurs in response to fluctuations in the operating load, etc.

[0045] The liquid-side shut-off valve 13 is a valve provided at the connection between the liquid refrigerant pipe 20 and the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 4. The gas-side shut-off valve 14 is a valve provided at the connection between the second gas refrigerant pipe 21 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 5. The liquid-side shut-off valve 13 and the gas-side shut-off valve 14 are open when the air conditioning apparatus 1 is operating.

[0046] The outdoor fan 16 is a fan that draws external heat source air into the casing of the outdoor unit 2 (not shown), supplies it to the outdoor heat exchanger 11, and discharges the air that has exchanged heat with the refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger 11 to the outside of the casing of the outdoor unit 2. The outdoor fan 16 is, for example, a propeller fan.

[0047] (1-2) Indoor Unit The indoor unit 9 is a unit installed in the space to be air-conditioned. The indoor unit 9 is, for example, a ceiling-mounted unit, but may also be a ceiling-suspended, wall-mounted, or floor-standing unit. The indoor unit 9 may also be installed outside the space to be air-conditioned. For example, the indoor unit 9 may be installed in an attic, a machine room, a garage, or the like. In this case, an air passage is installed that supplies air that has exchanged heat with the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger 91 from the indoor unit 9 to the space to be air-conditioned. The air passage is, for example, a duct.

[0048] The indoor unit 9 mainly includes an indoor heat exchanger 91 , an indoor expansion valve 93 , and an indoor fan 92 .

[0049] In the indoor heat exchanger 91, heat is exchanged between the refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchanger 91 and the air in the space to be air-conditioned. The indoor heat exchanger 91 is, for example, a fin-and-tube heat exchanger having a plurality of heat transfer tubes and fins (not shown). One end of the indoor heat exchanger 91 is connected to the indoor expansion valve 93 via a refrigerant piping. The other end of the indoor heat exchanger 91 is connected to the gas refrigerant communication pipe 5 via a refrigerant piping.

[0050] The indoor expansion valve 93 is disposed in the refrigerant circuit 6 between the indoor heat exchanger 91 and the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 4. The indoor expansion valve 93 has a mechanism for adjusting the pressure and flow rate of the refrigerant passing through the indoor expansion valve 93.

[0051] The indoor fan 92 is a mechanism that draws air from the space to be air-conditioned into a casing (not shown) of the indoor unit 9, supplies it to the indoor heat exchanger 91, and blows the air that has exchanged heat with the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger 91 into the space to be air-conditioned. The indoor fan 92 is, for example, a turbofan.

[0052] (1-3) Control Unit The control unit 3 is a functional unit that controls the operations of the various devices that make up the air conditioning apparatus 1.

[0053] The control unit 3 is configured, for example, by connecting an outdoor control unit (not shown) of the outdoor unit 2 and an indoor control unit (not shown) of the indoor unit 9 so that they can communicate with each other via a transmission line (not shown). The outdoor control unit and the indoor control unit are units that have, for example, a microcomputer including a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and memories such as ROM and RAM in which various programs for controlling the air conditioning apparatus 1 that can be executed by the processor are stored. For convenience, the control unit 3 is depicted in FIG. 1 at a position separate from the outdoor unit 2 and the indoor unit 9.

[0054] The control unit 3 is electrically connected to various devices in the outdoor unit 2 and the indoor unit 9, including the compressor 8, four-way switching valve 10, outdoor expansion valve 12, outdoor fan 16, indoor fan 92, and indoor expansion valve 93. The control unit 3 is also electrically connected to various sensors provided in the outdoor unit 2 and the indoor unit 9. The control unit 3 is also configured to be able to communicate with a remote control (not shown) operated by a user of the air conditioning apparatus 1.

[0055] The control unit 3 controls the operation and shutdown of the air conditioner 1 and the operation of the various devices that make up the air conditioner 1 based on measurement signals from various sensors and commands received from a remote control (not shown).

[0056] (2) Configuration of Outdoor Heat Exchanger The configuration of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0057] Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the outdoor heat exchanger 11. Fig. 3 is a partial enlarged view of a heat exchange section 27 (described later) of the outdoor heat exchanger 11. Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing the attachment state of fins 29 (described later) to flat tubes 28 in the heat exchange section 27. Fig. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of the outdoor heat exchanger 11. The arrows in the heat exchange section 27 shown in Fig. 5 indicate the flow of refrigerant during cooling operation or defrosting operation (when the outdoor heat exchanger 11 functions as a refrigerant radiator or condenser). Fig. 6 shows an external perspective view of the inlet / outlet header 40.

[0058] In the following description, expressions such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front (front face)," and "rear (back face)" may be used to describe directions and positions. These expressions correspond to the directions of the arrows drawn in FIG. 2 unless otherwise specified. These expressions indicating directions and positions are used for the convenience of explanation, and do not specify the directions and positions of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 as a whole or each component of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 as the directions and positions of the expressions unless otherwise specified.

[0059] In the following description, an example is given in which the direction in which the flat tubes 28 are arranged, the longitudinal direction of the inlet / outlet header 40, the longitudinal direction of the gas header section 50, and the longitudinal direction of the liquid header section 60 are the up-down direction (an example of a "first direction"). Also, the direction in which the connection portions of the flat tubes 28 with the inlet / outlet header 40 extend, the direction in which the tube sheet section 411 of the first common member 41, the second common member 42, the third common member 43, and the flat portions 51 a of the gas space forming member 51 are stacked, the tube sheet section 411 of the first common member 41, the second common member 42, the third common member 43, the first liquid member 61, the second liquid member 62, the third liquid member 63, the fourth liquid member 64, the fifth liquid member 65, the fifth liquid member 66, the fifth liquid member 67, the fifth liquid member 68, the fifth liquid member 69, the fifth liquid member 70, the fifth liquid member 71, the fifth liquid member 72, the fifth liquid member 73, the fifth liquid member 74, the fifth liquid member 75, the fifth liquid member 76, the fifth liquid member 77, the fifth liquid member 78, the fifth liquid member 79, the fifth liquid member 80, the fifth liquid member 81, the fifth liquid member 82, the fifth liquid member 83, the fifth liquid member 84, the fifth liquid member 85, the fifth liquid member 86, the fifth liquid member 87, the fifth liquid member 88, the fifth liquid member 89, the fifth liquid member 90, the fifth liquid member 91, the fifth liquid member 92, the fifth liquid member 93, the fifth liquid member 94, the fifth liquid member 95, the fifth liquid member 96, the fifth liquid member 97, the fifth liquid member 98, the fifth liquid member In the following description, the direction in which the liquid members 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 are stacked, the thickness direction of the tube sheet 411, the second common member 42, the third common member 43, the flat portion 51 a of the gas space forming member 51, and the thickness directions of the tube sheet 411, the second common member 42, the third common member 43, the first liquid member 61, the second liquid member 62, the third liquid member 63, the fourth liquid member 64, and the fifth liquid member 65 are the left-right direction (an example of the "second direction"). Furthermore, the direction perpendicular to both the up-down direction and the left-right direction is the front-rear direction (an example of the "third direction").

[0060] The outdoor heat exchanger 11 is a device that performs heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing therein and the air.

[0061] The outdoor heat exchanger 11 mainly includes a plurality of flat tubes 28, a plurality of fins 29, a turn-back header 30, and an inlet / outlet header 40. In this embodiment, the flat tubes 28, the fins 29, the turn-back header 30, and the inlet / outlet header 40 are all made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

[0062] The flat tubes 28 and the fins 29 fixed to the flat tubes 28 form a heat exchange section 27. In the outdoor heat exchanger 11, air flows through an air passage formed by the flat tubes 28 and the fins 29 of the heat exchange section 27, whereby heat is exchanged between the refrigerant flowing through the flat tubes 28 and the air flowing through the air passage.

[0063] (2-1) Flat Tubes The flat tubes 28 are flat heat transfer tubes having flat surfaces 28a on the top and bottom that serve as heat transfer surfaces, as shown in Fig. 3 . The flat tubes 28 are formed with a plurality of refrigerant passages 28b through which the refrigerant flows, as shown in Fig. 3 . For example, the flat tubes 28 are flat multi-hole tubes formed with a large number of refrigerant passages 28b, each with a small cross-sectional area through which the refrigerant flows. In this embodiment, these multiple refrigerant passages 28b are arranged side by side in the air flow direction.

[0064] 5, in the outdoor heat exchanger 11, flat tubes 28 extending horizontally between the return header 30 side and the inlet / outlet header 40 side are arranged in multiple rows one above the other. Note that each flat tube 28 is arranged with its flat surface facing up or down.

[0065] In this embodiment, the flat tubes 28 extending between the return header 30 side and the inlet / outlet header 40 side are bent at one location, and the heat exchange section 27 formed by the flat tubes 28 is formed into a substantially L-shape in a plan view. In this embodiment, the plurality of flat tubes 28 are arranged vertically at regular intervals.

[0066] When the outdoor fan 16 is driven, an air flow passes over the main surface of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 from the rear to the front, and an air flow passes over the left side portion of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 from the left to the right.

[0067] The outdoor heat exchanger 11 has a first flow path group X, a second flow path group Y, and a third flow path group Z, which are arranged in the vertical direction. In the outdoor heat exchanger 11, each of the flat tubes 28 arranged in the vertical direction belongs to one of the multiple flow path groups X, Y, and Z. The first flow path group X is the lowest flow path group and includes multiple first flat tubes 28x. The second flow path group Y is a flow path group that is located above the first flow path group X and below the third flow path group Z and includes multiple second flat tubes 28y. The third flow path group Z is the highest flow path group and includes multiple third flat tubes 28z.

[0068] (2-2) Fins The multiple fins 29 are components for increasing the heat transfer area of ​​the outdoor heat exchanger 11. Each fin 29 is a plate-shaped component extending in the row direction in which the flat tubes 28 are arranged. The outdoor heat exchanger 11 is used in a configuration in which multiple horizontally extending flat tubes 28 are arranged in a vertical direction. Therefore, when the outdoor heat exchanger 11 is installed in the outdoor unit 2, each fin 29 extends in the vertical direction.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 4 , each fin 29 has a plurality of notches 29 a extending along the insertion direction of the flat tubes 28 so that multiple flat tubes 28 can be inserted. The notches 29 a extend in the extension direction of the fins 29 and in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the fins 29. When the outdoor heat exchanger 11 is installed in the outdoor unit 2, the notches 29 a formed in each fin 29 extend horizontally. The notches 29 a are formed in the fins 29 at intervals corresponding to the arrangement spacing of the flat tubes 28. In the outdoor heat exchanger 11, the multiple fins 29 are arranged side by side along the extension direction of the flat tubes 28. By inserting the flat tubes 28 into each of the multiple notches 29 a of the multiple fins 29, the space between adjacent flat tubes 28 is divided into a plurality of ventilation passages through which air flows.

[0070] Each fin 29 has a communication portion 29b that communicates in the vertical direction, on the upstream side or downstream side in the air flow direction relative to the flat tube 28. In this embodiment, the communication portion 29b of the fin 29 is located on the upwind side of the flat tube 28.

[0071] (2-3) Inlet / Outlet Header As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the inlet / outlet header 40 has a gas header section 50 located at the top and a liquid header section 60 located at the bottom. The gas header section 50 and the liquid header section 60 are separated by openings formed in the stacked members that do not allow communication between the gas side and the liquid side. The gas header section 50 has a gas space 50S therein, the longitudinal direction of which is vertical. The liquid header section 60 has a liquid space 60S therein, the longitudinal direction of which is vertical, as a space isolated from the gas space 50S.

[0072] A gas refrigerant connection pipe 19a that constitutes one end of the first gas refrigerant pipe 19 is connected to the liquid header section 60. In the present embodiment, the gas refrigerant connection pipe 19a is connected to a portion of the liquid header section 60 opposite to the side to which the flat tubes 28 are connected.

[0073] A liquid refrigerant connection pipe 20a that constitutes one end of the liquid refrigerant pipe 20 is connected to the gas header section 50. In the present embodiment, the liquid refrigerant connection pipe 20a is connected to a portion of the gas header section 50 opposite to the side to which the flat tubes 28 are connected.

[0074] 5 , one end of each flat tube 28 is connected to the gas header section 50 and the liquid header section 60 of the inlet / outlet header 40, and the other end of each flat tube 28 is connected to the turn-back header 30. The outdoor heat exchanger 11 is disposed in a casing (not shown) of the outdoor unit 2 so that the longitudinal direction of the turn-back header 30 and the inlet / outlet headers 40 roughly coincides with the vertical direction. Here, the number of flat tubes 28 connected to the gas header section 50 is greater than the number of flat tubes 28 connected to the liquid header section 60.

[0075] The inlet / outlet header 40 has a first common member 41, a second common member 42, and a third common member 43. The first common member 41, the second common member 42, and the third common member 43 extend in the vertical direction across the gas header section 50 and the liquid header section 60. More specifically, the first common member 41, the second common member 42, and the third common member 43 partially constitute part of the gas header section 50, and the other partially constitute part of the liquid header section 60, and are shared by both the gas header section 50 and the liquid header section 60.

[0076] The first common member 41 has a tube sheet 411, a plurality of flat tube connection openings 412, a first side plate 413, a second side plate 414, a first crimping claw 415, and a second crimping claw 416. The tube sheet 411 is a plate-like member that extends in the up-down and front-rear directions. The plurality of flat tube connection openings 412 are openings that penetrate the tube sheet 411 in the thickness direction and are arranged in a row in the up-down direction. The flat tubes 28 are connected to these flat tube connection openings 412. When viewed in the thickness direction of the tube sheet 411, the contours of the flat tube connection openings 412 match the contours of the flat tubes 28. The first side plate 413 is a plate-like portion that extends rightward from the front end of the tube sheet 411. The second side plate 414 is a plate-like portion that extends rightward from the rear end of the tube plate 411 and faces the first side plate 413. A plurality of first crimping claws 415 are provided in a vertically aligned manner on the right end of the first side plate 413. A plurality of second crimping claws 416 are provided in a vertically aligned manner on the right end of the second side plate 414.

[0077] The second common member 42 has an insertion plate portion 421 and multiple insertion openings 422. The insertion plate portion 421 is a plate-shaped member that extends in the vertical and front-to-rear directions, and is stacked so as to be in contact with the tube plate portion 411. The multiple insertion openings 422 are openings that penetrate the insertion plate portion 421 in the plate thickness direction, and are arranged in a row in the vertical direction. When viewed in the plate thickness direction of the insertion plate portion 421, the outline of the insertion openings 422 is located outside the outline of the flat tubes 28. The flat tubes 28 are inserted into these insertion openings 422.

[0078] The third common member 43 has a restricting plate portion 431 and a plurality of restricting openings 432. The restricting plate portion 431 is a plate-shaped member that extends in the vertical and front-to-rear directions and is stacked so as to be in contact with the insertion plate portion 421. The plurality of restricting openings 432 are openings that penetrate the restricting plate portion 431 in the plate thickness direction and are arranged in a row in the vertical direction. When viewed in the plate thickness direction of the restricting plate portion 431, the outline of the restricting opening 432 has a portion that overlaps with the outline of the flat tube 28. Specifically, both longitudinal end portions of the cross section of the flat tube 28 overlap with both longitudinal end portions of the restricting opening 432. As a result, the restricting opening 432 determines the insertion position of the flat tube 28 by restricting the insertion of the flat tube 28.

[0079] The first common member 41, the second common member 42, and the third common member 43 all have the same vertical length. The longitudinal direction of the first common member 41, the tube plate portion 411, excluding the first side plate portion 413 and the second side plate portion 414, is the same as the longitudinal length of the third common member 43 and the second common member 42. The first side plate portion 413 has a first gas side plate portion 413a corresponding to the length of the gas header portion 50 and a first liquid side plate portion 413b corresponding to the length of the liquid header portion 60 in the left-right direction, which is the direction in which the flat tubes 28 extend. The second side plate portion 414 has a second gas side plate portion 414a corresponding to the length of the gas header portion 50 and a second liquid side plate portion 414b corresponding to the length of the liquid header portion 60 in the left-right direction, which is the direction in which the flat tubes 28 extend.

[0080] The inlet / outlet header 40 also has a gas space forming member 51, which is a gas member that constitutes part of the gas header section 50. The inlet / outlet header 40 also has a first liquid member 61, a second liquid member 62, a third liquid member 63, a fourth liquid member 64, and a fifth liquid member 65, which are liquid members that constitute part of the liquid header section 60. These will be described in detail later.

[0081] (2-4) Turn-around header The turn-around header 30 is connected to ends of each flat tube 28 that are different from the ends of each flat tube 28 that are connected to the gas header section 50 and liquid header section 60 of the inlet / outlet header 40.

[0082] The folded header 30 is constructed by surrounding and crimping a stack of multiple plate-like members with crimping members 31 that are U-shaped in plan view and to which the flat tubes 28 are connected. The plate-like members stacked on the crimping members 31 include a member having the same shape as the second common member 42 of the inlet / outlet header 40 and a member having the same shape as the third common member 43. This makes it possible to standardize the members.

[0083] (3) Each Operation and Refrigerant Flow in the Outdoor Heat Exchanger The control unit 3 receives detection information from various sensors or commands from a remote controller or the like, and switches between and executes cooling operation, heating operation, defrosting operation, and the like.

[0084] When the air conditioner 1 performs heating operation, the control unit 3 switches the connection state of the four-way switching valve 10 to the state shown by the dashed line in Figure 1 and operates the compressor 8. The refrigerant discharged from the compressor 8 releases heat or condenses by exchanging heat with indoor air in the indoor heat exchanger 91, is decompressed in the indoor expansion valve 93 or the outdoor expansion valve 12, and is then sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 11. The refrigerant sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 11 evaporates by exchanging heat with outdoor air and is then drawn into the compressor 8 again.

[0085] Thus, when the outdoor heat exchanger 11 functions as a refrigerant evaporator during heating operation, the refrigerant in a liquid state or a two-phase gas-liquid state that reaches the liquid header section 60 from the liquid refrigerant tubes 20 is divided into refrigerant flowing through the first flow path group X and refrigerant flowing through the second flow path group Y in the internal space of the liquid header section 60. The divided refrigerant then flows through the plurality of first flat tubes 28x belonging to the first flow path group X and the plurality of second flat tubes 28y belonging to the second flow path group Y, respectively. The refrigerant flowing through the plurality of first flat tubes 28x and the second flat tubes 28y exchanges heat with the air, causing a portion of the refrigerant to evaporate and reach a lower region of the internal space of the return header 30. The refrigerant sent to the lower region of the internal space of the return header 30 is sent to an upper region of the internal space of the return header 30. The refrigerant sent to the upper region of the return header 30 flows through the plurality of third flat tubes 28z belonging to the third flow path group Z, which is connected to the upper region of the return header 30. The refrigerant flowing through the plurality of third flat tubes 28z further evaporates by exchanging heat with the air again, and reaches the gas header unit 50. The refrigerant that has reached the gas header unit 50 merges and then flows through the first gas refrigerant pipes 19.

[0086] When the air conditioning apparatus 1 performs cooling operation, the control unit 3 switches the connection state of the four-way switching valve 10 to the state shown by the solid line in Figure 1 and operates the compressor 8. The refrigerant discharged from the compressor 8 releases heat or condenses by exchanging heat with outside air in the outdoor heat exchanger 11, is decompressed in the outdoor expansion valve 12 or the indoor expansion valve 93, and is then sent to the indoor heat exchanger 91. The refrigerant sent to the indoor heat exchanger 91 evaporates by exchanging heat with the indoor air and is then drawn into the compressor 8 again.

[0087] Furthermore, when the air conditioner 1 is performing heating operation and predetermined defrost start conditions are met, the control unit 3 switches the connection state of the four-way selector valve 10 to the state shown by the solid lines in Figure 1 to operate the compressor 8 and perform defrosting operation in which high-temperature, high-pressure discharge refrigerant is supplied to the outdoor heat exchanger 11. This defrosting operation melts frost that has adhered to the outdoor heat exchanger 11. The predetermined defrost termination conditions are determined by the control unit 3 based on the detection value of a temperature sensor 99, which will be described later.

[0088] When the outdoor heat exchanger 11 functions as a refrigerant radiator or condenser during cooling or defrosting operation, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 8 flows through the first gas refrigerant pipe 19 and then flows into the gas header section 50. The gaseous refrigerant that reaches the gas header section 50 is divided in the internal space of the gas header section 50 and then flows through the plurality of third flat tubes 28z belonging to the third flow path group Z connected to the gas header section 50. The refrigerant flowing through the plurality of third flat tubes 28z exchanges heat with the air, partially radiating heat or condensing, and reaches an upper region of the internal space of the return header 30. The refrigerant sent to the upper region of the internal space of the return header 30 is sent to a lower region of the return header 30. The refrigerant sent to the lower region of the return header 30 is divided and flows through the plurality of first flat tubes 28x belonging to the first flow path group X and the plurality of second flat tubes 28y belonging to the second flow path group Y, both of which are connected to the lower region of the return header 30. The refrigerant flowing through the plurality of first flat tubes 28x and the second flat tubes 28y exchanges heat with the air again, thereby further releasing heat or condensing, and reaches the liquid header section 60. The refrigerant that has flowed through the plurality of first flat tubes 28x belonging to the first flow path group X and the refrigerant that has flowed through the plurality of second flat tubes 28y belonging to the second flow path group Y join together in the liquid header section 60 and then flow through the liquid refrigerant pipes 20.

[0089] (4) Details of the Gas Header Fig. 7 shows a schematic exploded perspective view of the gas header section 50. Fig. 8 shows a schematic horizontal cross-sectional view of the gas header section 50. Note that Fig. 8 shows a horizontal cross-section taken horizontally at the center in the thickness direction (vertical direction) of the lowest flat tube 28 among the plurality of flat tubes 28 connected to the gas header section 50. Also, Fig. 8 omits connecting members and the like for connecting the gas refrigerant connection pipe 19a to a gas space forming member 51, which will be described later.

[0090] The gas header section 50 is composed of a gas space forming member 51, a gas side portion of the third common member 43, a gas side portion of the second common member 42, a gas side portion of the first common member 41, a bottom plate 58, and a top plate 59.

[0091] The gas header section 50 is made up of a gas space forming member 51, a gas side portion of the third common member 43, a gas side portion of the second common member 42, a gas side portion of the first common member 41, a bottom plate 58, and a top plate 59, which are joined together by brazing.

[0092] (4-1) Gas Space Forming Member The gas space forming member 51 is a member laminated so as to be joined to the right surface of the gas regulation plate portion 431a of the third common member 43. The front-to-rear length of the gas space forming member 51 is the same as the front-to-rear lengths of the third common member 43 and the second common member 42, and is also the same as the front-to-rear length of the tube plate portion 411 of the first common member 41 excluding the first side plate portion 413 and the second side plate portion 414.

[0093] The gas space forming member 51 has a flat portion 51a and a protruding portion 51b.

[0094] The flat portion 51 a includes a plate-like portion that extends in the up-down and front-rear directions at the front portion of the gas space forming member 51 , and a plate-like portion that extends in the up-down and front-rear directions at the rear portion of the gas space forming member 51 .

[0095] The protruding portion 51b is provided to connect the front portion of the flat portion 51a with the rear portion of the flat portion 51a. The protruding portion 51b has a semicircular arc shape that protrudes to the right side when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the gas header portion 50. The protruding portion 51b protrudes from the flat portion 51a toward the side opposite to the third common member 43. The protruding portion 51b is provided with a connection opening 51x that is connected to the gas refrigerant connection piping 19a of the first gas refrigerant pipe 19.

[0096] The front portion of the flat portion 51a of the gas space forming member 51 is crimped by the first gas crimping claws 415a of the first common member 41, and the rear portion of the flat portion 51a is crimped by the second gas crimping claws 416a.

[0097] (4-2) Bottom Plate The bottom plate 58 is provided between the gas space forming member 51 and the third common member 43, at the lower end of the gas space forming member 51. In plan view, the bottom plate 58 is a plate-like member configured in a semicircular arc shape so as to be in contact with the inner periphery of the semicircular arc shape of the protruding portion 51b of the gas space forming member 51 and to be in contact with the flat surface of the restricting plate portion 431 of the third common member 43. The bottom plate 58 functions as a lower lid for the gas space 50S.

[0098] (4-3) Top Plate The top plate 59 is provided between the gas space forming member 51 and the third common member 43 and at the upper end of the gas space forming member 51. Like the bottom plate 58, the top plate 59 is a plate-like member configured in a semicircular arc shape in plan view so as to fit along and contact the inner periphery of the semicircular arc shape of the protruding portion 51b of the gas space forming member 51 and to contact the flat surface of the restricting plate portion 431 of the third common member 43. The top plate 59 functions as an upper lid for the gas space 50S.

[0099] (4-4) Gas Side Portion of Third Common Member The third common member 43 has, as the gas side portion of the third common member 43, a gas regulating plate portion 431a that constitutes part of the gas header portion 50 of the regulating plate portion 431.

[0100] The gas regulation plate 431a is stacked so as to face and contact the right surface of the gas insertion plate 421a of the second common member 42 and face and contact the left surface of the flat portion 51a of the gas space forming member 51. The gas regulation plate 431a has a plurality of gas regulation openings 432a that constitute part of the gas header section 50 among the plurality of regulation openings 432.

[0101] The multiple gas restriction openings 432a are arranged side by side in the vertical direction and are openings that penetrate the gas restriction plate portion 431a in the plate thickness direction. When viewed in the plate thickness direction of the gas restriction plate portion 431a, the front and rear edges of the gas restriction openings 432a are located inside the front and rear edges of the gas insertion opening 422a. The front and rear widths of the multiple gas restriction openings 432a are narrower than the front and rear widths of the flat tubes 28. As a result, the leading ends of the flat tubes 28 in the insertion direction abut the edges of the gas restriction openings 432a, thereby determining their insertion position. Note that the top and bottom edges of the multiple gas restriction openings 432a are located outside the front and rear edges of the flat tubes 28.

[0102] In addition, in the refrigerant flow direction when the outdoor heat exchanger 11 functions as a refrigerant radiator or condenser, the refrigerant that flows into the gas space 50S between the gas space forming member 51 and the gas regulating plate portion 431a via the gas refrigerant connection pipe 19a branches off and flows into multiple gas regulating openings 432a.

[0103] (4-5) Gas Side Portion of Second Common Member The second common member 42 has, as its gas side portion, a gas insertion plate portion 421 a that constitutes part of the gas header portion 50 of the insertion plate portion 421 .

[0104] The gas insertion plate 421a is stacked so as to face and contact the right side of the gas tube plate 411a of the first common member 41 and face and contact the left side of the gas regulation plate 431a. The gas insertion plate 421a has a plurality of gas insertion openings 422a, among the plurality of insertion openings 422, which constitute part of the gas header section 50.

[0105] The multiple gas insertion openings 422a are arranged in a vertical direction and are openings that penetrate the gas insertion plate portion 421a in the plate thickness direction. When viewed in the plate thickness direction of the gas insertion plate portion 421a, the front and rear edges of the gas insertion openings 422a are located outside the front and rear edges of the gas connection opening 412a, which is the opening of the gas header portion 50 among the flat tube connection openings 412. Furthermore, when viewed in the plate thickness direction of the gas insertion plate portion 421a, the upper and lower edges of the multiple gas insertion openings 422a are located outside the upper and lower edges of the gas connection opening 412a. When viewed in the plate thickness direction of the gas insertion plate portion 421a, the outline of the gas insertion openings 422a does not overlap with the outline of the flat tubes 28 and is located outside the outline of the flat tubes 28. This allows the leading end of the flat tube 28 in the insertion direction to pass through the gas insertion opening 422a. Furthermore, even if excess brazing material is produced during brazing, a gap is secured between the flat tube 28 and the gas insertion opening 422a, allowing the excess brazing material to be guided, thereby preventing the flow path of the flat tube 28 from being blocked by excess brazing material.

[0106] (4-6) Gas-Side Portion of First Common Member The first common member 41 has, as its gas-side portion, a gas tube plate portion 411a that constitutes part of the gas header section 50 of the tube plate portion 411, a first gas side plate portion 413a that constitutes part of the gas header section 50 of the first side plate portion 413, a second gas side plate portion 414a that constitutes part of the gas header section 50 of the second side plate portion 414, a first gas crimping claw 415a that constitutes part of the gas header section 50 of the first crimping claws 415, and a second gas crimping claw 416a that constitutes part of the gas header section 50 of the second crimping claws 416. The gas-side portion of the first common member 41, together with the gas space forming member 51, mainly constitutes the periphery of the outer shape of the gas header section 50.

[0107] The gas tube plate 411a is stacked on the gas insertion plate 421a so as to face the left side of the gas insertion plate 421a. The gas tube plate 411a has a plurality of gas connection openings 412a among the plurality of flat tube connection openings 412, which constitute part of the gas header 50.

[0108] The gas connection openings 412a are arranged in a line in the vertical direction and are openings that penetrate the gas pipe plate portion 411a in the plate thickness direction. The contours of the gas connection openings 412a have a shape that follows the contours of the flat tubes 28. As a result, the flat tubes 28 are brazed to each other with the outer periphery of the flat tube 28 in contact with the inner periphery of the gas connection opening 412a when the leading end of the flat tube 28 in the insertion direction has passed through the gas connection opening 412a.

[0109] The plate thickness of the gas tube plate 411a is smaller than the plate thickness of the gas insertion plate 421a. Therefore, the contour of the gas connection opening 412a is shaped to follow the contour of the flat tubes 28. Even if friction occurs between the circumferential surface of the flat tubes 28 and the inner periphery of the gas connection opening 412a when inserting the flat tubes 28, the degree of friction is kept small, making it easy to insert the flat tubes 28. On the other hand, the gas insertion plate 421a stacked on the gas tube plate 411a has a plate thickness greater than that of the gas tube plate 411a. This increases the pressure resistance of the gas header 50 at the insertion portion of the flat tubes 28.

[0110] The first gas side plate 413a is a plate-like portion extending rightward from the front edge of the gas tube plate 411a. The second gas side plate 414a is a plate-like portion extending rightward from the rear edge of the tube plate 411. The first gas side plate 413a and the second gas side plate 414a are arranged opposite each other in the front-rear direction, thereby sandwiching the gas insertion plate 421a, the gas restriction plate 431a, and the flat portion 51a of the gas space forming member 51 from the front-rear direction.

[0111] The first gas crimping claws 415a are crimping claws provided at a predetermined interval in the vertical direction on the right end of the first gas side plate portion 413a. The second gas crimping claws 416a are crimping claws provided at a predetermined interval in the vertical direction on the right end of the second gas side plate portion 414a. Before crimping, the first gas crimping claws 415a extend to the right along an extension of the first gas side plate portion 413a, and the second gas crimping claws 416a extend to the right along an extension of the second gas side plate portion 414a. Then, with the gas tube plate 411a, the gas insertion plate 421a, the gas regulating plate 431a, and the flat portion 51a of the gas space forming member 51 stacked together, the first gas crimping claws 415a and the second gas crimping claws 416a are woven together so as to approach each other in the front-to-rear direction, thereby crimping and integrating the gas insertion plate 421a, the gas regulating plate 431a, and the gas space forming member 51. In this state, brazing is performed in a furnace or the like, and the components are joined and completely fixed by brazing.

[0112] Therefore, the length of the first gas side plate portion 413a and the second gas side plate portion 414a in the left-right direction in which the flat tube 28 extends corresponds to the length in the front-to-back direction when the gas insertion plate portion 421a, the gas regulating plate portion 431a, and the flat portion 51a of the gas space forming member 51 are stacked on the gas pipe plate portion 411a.

[0113] (5) Details of the Liquid Header Figure 9 shows a schematic exploded perspective view of the liquid header section 60. Figure 10 shows a schematic horizontal cross-sectional configuration diagram of the liquid header section 60. Note that Figure 10 shows a horizontal cross-section taken horizontally at the center in the thickness direction (vertical direction) of the flat tube 28 located at the lowest level among the plurality of flat tubes 28 connected to the liquid header section 60. Also, a first connecting pipe 71 and a second connecting pipe 72, which will be described later, are omitted from Figure 10.

[0114] The liquid header section 60 is configured to include a first connecting pipe 71, a second connecting pipe 72, a first liquid member 61, a second liquid member 62, a third liquid member 63, a fourth liquid member 64, a fifth liquid member 65, a liquid side portion of the third common member 43, a liquid side portion of the second common member 42, and a liquid side portion of the first common member 41.

[0115] The liquid header section 60 is made up of a first connecting pipe 71, a second connecting pipe 72, a first liquid member 61, a second liquid member 62, a third liquid member 63, a fourth liquid member 64, a fifth liquid member 65, a liquid side portion of the third common member 43, a liquid side portion of the second common member 42, and a liquid side portion of the first common member 41, all joined together by brazing.

[0116] Furthermore, the liquid header section 60 is connected to the liquid refrigerant connection pipe 20a.

[0117] In the liquid header section 60, when the outdoor heat exchanger 11 functions as a refrigerant evaporator, the refrigerant that flows in via the liquid refrigerant connection pipe 20a passes through the merging flow path C and is then divided into a first refrigerant flow path A and a second refrigerant flow path B. The first refrigerant flow path A is a flow path from the connection with the merging flow path C to the first flat tube 28x included in the first flow path group X, and has first flow path portions A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, and A6. The second refrigerant flow path B is a flow path from the connection with the merging flow path C to the second flat tube 28y included in the second flow path group Y, and has second flow path portions B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, and B7. In the refrigerant flow when the outdoor heat exchanger 11 functions as a refrigerant evaporator, the refrigerant flows through the first flow path portions A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, and A6 in this order in the first refrigerant flow path A, and through the second flow path portions B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, and B7 in this order in the second refrigerant flow path B. Then, in the liquid header section 60, the refrigerant that has flowed through the first refrigerant flow path A is diverted to the plurality of first flat tubes 28x included in the first flow path group X among the plurality of flat tubes 28. The refrigerant that has flowed through the second refrigerant flow path B in the liquid header section 60 is diverted to the plurality of second flat tubes 28y included in the second flow path group Y among the plurality of flat tubes 28.

[0118] (5-1) First Liquid Member, First Communication Pipe, and Second Communication Pipe The first liquid member 61 is a plate-like member that forms the outer wall portion on the right side of the liquid header portion 60, and is connected to the liquid refrigerant connection pipe 20a.

[0119] The first liquid member 61 has a first plate-like portion 61a, a pipe connection opening 61x, and first, second, third, and fourth outer wall openings 61b, 61c, 61d, and 61e. The first plate-like portion 61a is a plate-like member that extends in the up-down, front-rear, and rear directions, with its thickness direction being the left-right direction, which is the direction in which the flat tubes 28 extend. The pipe connection opening 61x is an opening that penetrates the first liquid member 61 in the thickness direction near the lower end thereof, and is connected to the liquid refrigerant connection pipe 20a. The first, second, third, and fourth outer wall openings 61b, 61c, 61d, and 61e are each openings that penetrate the first liquid member 61 in the thickness direction.

[0120] The first communication pipe 71 connects the first outer wall opening 61b and the second outer wall opening 61c on the right side of the first liquid member 61. The first communication pipe 71 is provided with a temperature sensor 99 that detects the temperature of the refrigerant flowing therethrough.

[0121] The second communication pipe 72 connects the third outer wall opening 61 d and the fourth outer wall opening 61 e on the right side of the first liquid member 61 .

[0122] The flow path length of the first communication pipe 71 and the flow path length of the second communication pipe 72 are the same, and the pressure loss of the refrigerant passing through the first communication pipe 71 and the pressure loss of the refrigerant passing through the second communication pipe 72 can be made approximately equal. This makes it easy to adjust the flow division state of the refrigerant flowing through the first communication pipe 71 and the second communication pipe 72, for example, by adjusting the flow so that approximately the same amount of refrigerant flows through them. As described above, in the liquid header section 60 of this embodiment, it is possible to evenly distribute the refrigerant to the first flat tubes 28x included in the first flow path group X and the second flat tubes 28y included in the second flow path group Y.

[0123] The first communication pipe 71, the first outer wall opening 61b, and the second outer wall opening 61c constitute a first flow path portion A2 included in the first refrigerant flow path A. The second communication pipe 72, the third outer wall opening 61d, and the fourth outer wall opening 61e constitute a second flow path portion B2 included in the second refrigerant flow path B.

[0124] (5-2) Second Liquid Member The second liquid member 62 is provided between the first liquid member 61 and the third liquid member 63 in the plate thickness direction. The second liquid member 62 has a second plate-like portion 62a, a branching opening 62b, a first communicating opening 62c, and a second communicating opening 62d. The second plate-like portion 62a is a plate-like member whose plate thickness direction is the left-right direction and which extends in the up-down and front-rear directions. The branching opening 62b, the first communicating opening 62c, and the second communicating opening 62d are all openings that penetrate the second liquid member 62 in the plate thickness direction.

[0125] When viewed from the stacking direction of the first liquid member 61 and the second liquid member 62, which is the plate thickness direction of the second liquid member 62, the branch opening 62b is a single opening that connects a portion where the piping connection opening 61x of the first liquid member 61 and the branch opening 62b overlap, a portion where the second outer wall opening 61c of the first liquid member 61 and the branch opening 62b overlap, and a portion where the third outer wall opening 61d of the first liquid member 61 and the branch opening 62b overlap. The branch opening 62b extends upward from the portion where it overlaps with the piping connection opening 61x of the first liquid member 61, and then branches, in a narrow portion that functions as a nozzle, into a flow path that extends toward the portion where the second outer wall opening 61c of the first liquid member 61 and the branch opening 62b overlap, and a flow path that extends toward the portion where the third outer wall opening 61d of the first liquid member 61 and the branch opening 62b overlap. Here, the portion of the branch opening 62b from the portion where the piping connection opening 61x of the first liquid member 61 and the branch opening 62b overlap to the portion that functions as a nozzle constitutes the confluent flow path C. Furthermore, the portion of the branch opening 62b that extends from the portion that functions as a nozzle toward the portion where the second outer wall opening 61c of the first liquid member 61 and the branch opening 62b overlap constitutes a first flow path portion A1 included in the first refrigerant flow path A. Furthermore, the portion of the branch opening 62b that extends from the portion that functions as a nozzle toward the portion where the third outer wall opening 61d of the second liquid member 62 and the branch opening 62b overlap constitutes a second flow path portion B1 included in the second refrigerant flow path B.

[0126] The first communication opening 62c is an opening that extends from a portion where the first outer wall opening 61b of the first liquid member 61 and the first communication opening 62c overlap toward a portion where the third lower opening 63b of the third liquid member 63 and the first communication opening 62c overlap when viewed in the plate thickness direction of the second liquid member 62. The first communication opening 62c constitutes a first flow path portion A3 included in the first refrigerant flow path A.

[0127] The second communication opening 62d is an opening that extends from a portion where the fourth outer wall opening 61e of the first liquid member 61 and the second communication opening 62d overlap toward a portion where the third upper opening 63c of the third liquid member 63 and the second communication opening 62d overlap when viewed in the plate thickness direction of the second liquid member 62. The second communication opening 62d constitutes a second flow path portion B3 included in the second refrigerant flow path B.

[0128] (5-3) Third Liquid Member The third liquid member 63 is provided between the second liquid member 62 and the fourth liquid member 64 in the plate thickness direction. The third liquid member 63 has a third plate-like portion 63a, a third lower opening 63b, and a third upper opening 63c. The third plate-like portion 63a is a plate-like member whose plate thickness direction is the left-right direction and which extends in the up-down and front-rear directions. The third lower opening 63b and the third upper opening 63c are both openings that penetrate the third liquid member 63 in the plate thickness direction.

[0129] The third lower opening 63b is an opening that overlaps with the introduction area of ​​the lower circulation opening 64b of the fourth liquid member 64 when viewed from the stacking direction of the third liquid member 63 and the fourth liquid member 64, which is the thickness direction of the third liquid member 63.

[0130] The third upper opening 63c is an opening where the introduction area of ​​the upper circulation opening 64c of the third liquid member 63 overlaps with the third lower opening 63b when viewed from the stacking direction of the third liquid member 63 and the fourth liquid member 64, which is the thickness direction of the third liquid member 63.

[0131] (5-4) Fourth Liquid Member The fourth liquid member 64 is located between the third liquid member 63 and the fifth liquid member 65 in the plate thickness direction, and has a fourth plate-like portion 64a, a lower circulation opening 64b, and an upper circulation opening 64c. The fourth plate-like portion 64a is a plate-like member whose plate thickness direction is the left-right direction and which extends in the up-down and front-rear directions. The lower circulation opening 64b and the upper circulation opening 64c are both openings that penetrate the fourth liquid member 64 in the plate thickness direction.

[0132] The plate thickness of the fourth liquid member 64 is thinner than the plate thickness of the liquid insertion plate portion 421b, which is the plate thickness of the second common member 42. Therefore, when the lower circulation opening 64b and the upper circulation opening 64c are formed in the fourth liquid member 64 by punching, it is possible to prevent the punch member from breaking.

[0133] 11 , the lower circulation opening 64b has an inlet region 81b, a narrow region 82b, and a circulation region 83b. In the refrigerant flow when the outdoor heat exchanger 11 functions as a refrigerant evaporator, the refrigerant that flows into the inlet region 81b from the third lower opening 63b of the third liquid member 63 increases its flow velocity as it passes through the narrow region 82b, which is a nozzle, and is then sent out to the circulation region 83b.

[0134] The introduction region 81b is provided at the rear lower end of the lower circulation opening 64b. As shown in Figure 11, when viewed in the thickness direction of the fourth liquid member 64, the introduction region 81b is provided at a position overlapping with the third lower opening 63b of the third liquid member 63.

[0135] The narrow region 82b is located between the inlet region 81b and the rising region 831b of the circulation region 83b. The front-to-rear width of the narrow region 82b is narrower than the front-to-rear width of the inlet region 81b, narrower than the front-to-rear width of the circulation region 83b, and narrower than the front-to-rear width of the rising region 831b. This increases the flow rate of the refrigerant passing through the narrow region 82b. When the outdoor heat exchanger 11 functions as a refrigerant evaporator, the refrigerant sent from the narrow region 82b to the rising region 831b easily reaches the upper end of the rising region 831b. As described above, the thickness of the fourth liquid member 64 is thinner than the thickness of the liquid insertion plate portion 421b, which is the thickness of the second common member 42. This reduces the width of the narrow region 82b in the left-to-right direction, which is the direction in which the flat tubes 28 extend, further increasing the flow rate of the refrigerant passing through the narrow region 82b.

[0136] The circulation region 83b is located above the narrow region 82b and includes an ascending region 831b, a forward region 832b, a descending region 833b, and a return region 834b. When viewed in the thickness direction of the fourth liquid member 64, the ascending region 831b overlaps with a plurality of liquid diversion openings 65x provided in the fifth liquid member 65, and is therefore in communication with the plurality of liquid diversion openings 65x. The ascending region 831b and the descending region 833b are separated in the front-rear direction by a partition portion 64p, the longitudinal direction of which is the vertical direction of the fourth liquid member 64. The forward region 832b, located above the partition portion 64p, connects the vicinity of the upper end of the ascending region 831b with the vicinity of the upper end of the descending region 833b. The return region 834b connects the vicinity of the lower end of the rising region 831b to the vicinity of the lower end of the falling region 833b below the partition portion 64p. The partition portion 64p is supported by being connected by a connecting portion 64q of the fourth liquid member 64. The connecting portion 64q extends from the front end of the falling region 833b toward a portion of the partition portion 64p. To allow refrigerant descending in the falling region 833b to reach the lower end of the falling region 833b while avoiding the connecting portion 64q, the fifth liquid member 65, on which the fourth liquid member 64 is stacked, is provided with a descending-side opening 65y. With the above-described configuration, when the outdoor heat exchanger 11 functions as a refrigerant evaporator, the refrigerant sent to the introduction region 81b increases its flow velocity in the narrow region 82b and is sent to the circulation region 83b. In the rising region 831b of the circulation region 83b, the refrigerant flows upward and can be diverted to the plurality of liquid diversion openings 65x corresponding to the first flow path portion A5 among the plurality of liquid diversion openings 65x formed in the fifth liquid member 65. Here, even if the refrigerant ascending in the rising region 831b reaches the vicinity of the upper end of the rising region 831b without flowing toward the plurality of liquid diversion openings 65x, the refrigerant can be returned to the rising region 831b again via the forward region 832b, the descending region 833b, and the return region 843b, and can be merged with the refrigerant with a high flow rate that passed through the narrowed region 82b.

[0137] The upper circulation opening 64c has a shape similar to that of the lower circulation opening 64b and includes an inlet region 81c, a narrowed region 82c, and a circulation region 83c. In the refrigerant flow when the outdoor heat exchanger 11 functions as a refrigerant evaporator, the refrigerant that flows into the inlet region 81c from the third upper opening 63c of the third liquid member 63 increases its flow velocity as it passes through the narrowed region 82c, which is a nozzle, and is then sent out to the circulation region 83c. In the rising region of the upper circulation opening 64c, the refrigerant also flows upward and is diverted to one of the liquid diversion openings 65x formed in the fifth liquid member 65 that corresponds to the second flow path portion B5.

[0138] (5-5) Fifth Liquid Member The fifth liquid member 65 is located between the fourth liquid member 64 and the liquid regulating plate portion 431b of the third common member 43 in the plate thickness direction. The fifth liquid member 65 has a fifth plate-shaped portion 65a, multiple liquid diversion openings 65x, and a downward-side opening 65y. The fifth plate-shaped portion 65a is a plate-shaped member whose plate thickness direction is the left-right direction and which extends in the up-down and front-rear directions. All of the multiple liquid diversion openings 65x are openings that penetrate the fifth liquid member 65 in the plate thickness direction.

[0139] The plurality of liquid dividing openings 65x are arranged in a vertical line at positions biased toward the rear of the fifth liquid member 65. Here, the rear of the fifth liquid member 65 corresponds to the upwind side of the air flow F when the outdoor fan 16 is driven. This allows a large amount of refrigerant to be guided to the upwind sides of the plurality of flat tubes 28, thereby improving heat exchange efficiency.

[0140] The liquid diversion openings 65x corresponding to the first flow path portion A5 overlap and communicate with the rising region 831b of the lower circulation opening 64b corresponding to the first flow path portion A4 in the thickness direction of the fifth liquid member 65. The liquid diversion openings 65x corresponding to the second flow path portion B5 overlap and communicate with the rising region 831c of the upper circulation opening 64c corresponding to the second flow path portion B4 in the thickness direction of the fifth liquid member 65.

[0141] (5-6) Liquid side portion of the third common member The third common member 43 has, as the liquid side portion of the third common member 43, a liquid regulating plate portion 431b that constitutes part of the liquid header portion 60 of the regulating plate portion 431.

[0142] The liquid regulating plate 431b is stacked so as to face and contact the left side surface of the fifth liquid member 65 and the right side surface of the liquid insertion plate 421b of the second common member 42. The liquid regulating plate 431b has a plurality of liquid regulating openings 432b that constitute part of the liquid header portion 60 out of the plurality of regulating openings 432.

[0143] The multiple liquid restriction openings 432b are arranged in a vertical line and are openings that penetrate the liquid restriction plate 431b in the plate thickness direction. When viewed in the plate thickness direction of the liquid restriction plate 431b, the front and rear edges of the liquid restriction openings 432b are located inside the front and rear edges of the liquid insertion opening 422b. The front and rear widths of the multiple liquid restriction openings 432b are narrower than the front and rear widths of the flat tubes 28. As a result, the leading ends of the flat tubes 28 in the insertion direction abut the edges of the liquid restriction openings 432b, thereby determining the insertion position. The top and bottom edges of the multiple liquid restriction openings 432b are located outside the front and rear edges of the flat tubes 28.

[0144] The liquid restriction openings 432b corresponding to the first flow path portion A6 overlap and communicate with the liquid diversion openings 65x corresponding to the first flow path portion A5 in the thickness direction of the liquid restriction plate 431b. The liquid restriction openings 432b corresponding to the second flow path portion B6 overlap and communicate with the liquid diversion openings 65x corresponding to the second flow path portion B5 in the thickness direction of the liquid restriction plate 431b.

[0145] (5-7) Liquid Side Portion of Second Common Member The second common member 42 has, as the liquid side portion of the second common member 42, a liquid insertion plate portion 421b that constitutes part of the liquid header portion 60 of the insertion plate portion 421.

[0146] The liquid insertion plate 421b is stacked so as to face and contact the right side of the liquid tube plate 411b of the first common member 41, and face and contact the left side of the liquid regulating plate 431b. The liquid insertion plate 421b has a plurality of liquid insertion openings 422b that constitute part of the liquid header section 60 out of the plurality of insertion openings 422.

[0147] The multiple liquid insertion openings 422b are arranged in a vertical direction and are openings that penetrate the liquid insertion plate section 421b in the plate thickness direction. When viewed in the plate thickness direction of the liquid insertion plate section 421b, the front and rear edges of the liquid insertion openings 422b are located outside the front and rear edges of the liquid connection opening 412b, which is the opening of the liquid header section 60 among the flat tube connection openings 412. Furthermore, when viewed in the plate thickness direction of the liquid insertion plate section 421b, the upper and lower edges of the multiple liquid insertion openings 422b are located outside the upper and lower edges of the liquid connection opening 412b. When viewed in the plate thickness direction of the liquid insertion plate section 421b, the outline of the liquid insertion openings 422b does not overlap with the outline of the flat tubes 28 and is located outside the outline of the flat tubes 28. This allows the leading end of the flat tube 28 in the insertion direction to be inserted so that it passes through the liquid insertion opening 422b. Furthermore, even if excess brazing material is produced during brazing, a gap is secured between the flat tube 28 and the liquid insertion opening 422b, allowing the excess brazing material to be guided, thereby preventing the flow path of the flat tube 28 from being blocked by excess brazing material.

[0148] The liquid insertion openings 422b corresponding to the first flow path portion A7 overlap and communicate with the liquid restriction openings 432b corresponding to the first flow path portion A6 in the thickness direction of the liquid insertion plate portion 421b. The liquid insertion openings 422b corresponding to the second flow path portion B7 overlap and communicate with the liquid restriction openings 432b corresponding to the second flow path portion B6 in the thickness direction of the liquid insertion plate portion 421b.

[0149] (5-8) Liquid Side Portion of First Common Member The liquid side portion of the first common member 41 includes a liquid tube plate portion 411b that constitutes part of the liquid header section 60 of the tube plate portion 411, a first liquid side plate portion 413b that constitutes part of the liquid header section 60 of the first side plate portion 413, a second liquid side plate portion 414b that constitutes part of the liquid header section 60 of the second side plate portion 414, a first liquid crimping claw 415b that constitutes part of the liquid header section 60 of the first crimping claws 415, and a second liquid crimping claw 416b that constitutes part of the liquid header section 60 of the second crimping claws 416. This liquid side portion of the first common member 41, together with the first liquid member 61, mainly constitutes the periphery of the outer shape of the liquid header section 60.

[0150] The liquid tube plate 411b is stacked on the liquid insertion plate 421b so as to face the left side of the liquid insertion plate 421b. The liquid tube plate 411b has a plurality of liquid connection openings 412b among the plurality of flat tube connection openings 412, which constitute part of the liquid header 60.

[0151] The liquid connection openings 412b are arranged in a line in the vertical direction and are openings that penetrate the liquid tube plate portion 411b in the plate thickness direction. The outline of the liquid connection openings 412b has a shape that follows the outline of the flat tubes 28. As a result, the flat tubes 28 are brazed to each other with the outer periphery of the flat tube 28 in contact with the inner periphery of the liquid connection opening 412b when the tip of the flat tube 28 in the insertion direction has passed through the liquid connection opening 412b.

[0152] The thickness of the liquid tube plate 411b is smaller than the thickness of the liquid insertion plate 421b. Therefore, the contour of the liquid connection opening 412b has a shape that follows the contour of the flat tubes 28. Even if friction occurs between the circumferential surface of the flat tubes 28 and the inner periphery of the liquid connection opening 412b when inserting the flat tubes 28, the degree of friction is kept small, making it easy to insert the flat tubes 28. On the other hand, the liquid insertion plate 421b stacked on the liquid tube plate 411b has a thickness greater than that of the liquid tube plate 411b. This increases the pressure resistance of the liquid header section 60 where the flat tubes 28 are inserted.

[0153] The first liquid side plate 413b is a plate-like portion extending rightward from the front edge of the liquid tube plate 411b. The second liquid side plate 414b is a plate-like portion extending rightward from the rear edge of the tube plate 411. The first liquid side plate 413b and the second liquid side plate 414b are arranged opposite each other in the front-to-rear direction, thereby sandwiching the liquid insertion plate 421b, the liquid regulating plate 431b, the fifth liquid member 65, the fourth liquid member 64, the third liquid member 63, the second liquid member 62, and the first liquid member 61 from the front-to-rear direction.

[0154] The first liquid crimping claws 415b are crimping claws provided at a predetermined interval in the vertical direction on the right end of the first liquid side plate portion 413b. The second liquid crimping claws 416b are crimping claws provided at a predetermined interval in the vertical direction on the right end of the second liquid side plate portion 414b. Before crimping, the first liquid crimping claws 415b extend to the right along the extension of the first liquid side plate portion 413b, and the second liquid crimping claws 416b extend to the right along the extension of the second liquid side plate portion 414b. Then, with the liquid tube plate 411b, liquid insertion plate 421b, liquid regulating plate 431b, fifth liquid member 65, fourth liquid member 64, third liquid member 63, second liquid member 62, and first liquid member 61 stacked together, the first liquid crimping claws 415b and second liquid crimping claws 416b are woven together so as to approach each other in the front-to-back direction, thereby crimping and integrating the liquid insertion plate 421b, liquid regulating plate 431b, fifth liquid member 65, fourth liquid member 64, third liquid member 63, second liquid member 62, and first liquid member 61. In this state, brazing is performed in a furnace or the like, and the components are joined and completely fixed by brazing.

[0155] Therefore, the length of the first liquid side plate portion 413b and the second liquid side plate portion 414b in the left-right direction in which the flat tube 28 extends corresponds to the length in the front-to-back direction when the liquid tube plate portion 411b, the liquid insertion plate portion 421b, the liquid regulating plate portion 431b, the fifth liquid member 65, the fourth liquid member 64, the third liquid member 63, the second liquid member 62, and the first liquid member 61 are stacked on top of each other.

[0156] In the inlet / outlet header 40 of this embodiment, the lengths of the first gas side plate portion 413a and the second gas side plate portion 414a are different from the lengths of the first liquid side plate portion 413b and the second liquid side plate portion 414b in the left-right direction, which is the direction in which the flat tubes 28 extend. Specifically, the lengths of the first gas side plate portion 413a and the second gas side plate portion 414a are shorter than the lengths of the first liquid side plate portion 413b and the second liquid side plate portion 414b in the left-right direction, which is the direction in which the flat tubes 28 extend.

[0157] (6) Features of the embodiment The inlet / outlet header 40 of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 of the air conditioning unit 1 has a gas header section 50 located above the inlet / outlet header 40 and a liquid header section 60 located below the inlet / outlet header 40, which are arranged side by side. In this inlet / outlet header 40, a first common member 41 integrally crimps together the multiple members that make up the gas header section 50 and the multiple members that make up the liquid header section 60. This increases the strength of the inlet / outlet header 40, which has the gas header section 50 and the liquid header section 60.

[0158] Here, the gas header section 50 is configured to divide the refrigerant that flows through a single gas refrigerant connection pipe 19a and enters the gas space 50S into multiple flat tubes 28 connected to the gas header section 50. The liquid header section 60 is configured to divide the refrigerant that flows through a single liquid refrigerant connection pipe 20a and enters the liquid space 60S into a first refrigerant flow path A and a second refrigerant flow path B before being divided into the multiple flat tubes 28 connected to the liquid header section 60. By dividing the refrigerant into multiple stages, it is possible to prevent the refrigerant in a gas-liquid two-layer state from separating into liquid refrigerant and gas refrigerant. In this way, the number of constituent components of the gas header section 50 and the number of constituent components of the liquid header section 60 are made different to enable the gas header section 50 and the liquid header section 60 to achieve different functions. Specifically, the gas header section 50 is formed by stacking four members: a gas tube plate section 411a of the first common member 41, a gas insertion plate section 421a of the second common member 42, a gas regulating plate section 431a of the third common member 43, and a gas space forming member 51. The liquid header section 60 is formed by stacking eight members: a liquid tube plate section 411b of the first common member 41, a liquid insertion plate section 421b of the second common member 42, a liquid regulating plate section 431b of the third common member 43, a fifth liquid member 65, a fourth liquid member 64, a third liquid member 63, a second liquid member 62, and a first liquid member 61.

[0159] In this way, even if the number of constituent members of the gas header section 50 differs from the number of constituent members of the liquid header section 60, the first common member 41 has the left-right lengths of the first gas side plate section 413a and the second gas side plate section 414a set to lengths corresponding to the number of stacked sheets of the gas header section 50, and the left-right lengths of the first liquid side plate section 413b and the second liquid side plate section 414b set to lengths corresponding to the number of stacked sheets of the liquid header section 60, thereby providing a difference in length between the gas header section 50 and the liquid header section 60. As a result, even if the number of constituent members of the gas header section 50 differs from the number of constituent members of the liquid header section 60, the gas header section 50 and the liquid header section 60 can be easily integrated by the single first common member 41, thereby enabling an increase in strength. Furthermore, since the first common member 41, which is a single member, makes it possible to integrate the gas header section 50 and the liquid header section 60, it is possible to reduce the number of parts compared to when separate members are provided for integrating the gas header section 50 and the liquid header section 60.

[0160] Furthermore, in the inlet / outlet header 40, not only the first common member 41 but also the second common member 42 and the third common member 43 are shared by the gas header section 50 and the liquid header section 60. This further increases the strength of the inlet / outlet header 40.

[0161] Furthermore, by using gas space forming members 51 having protrusions 51b, the gas header unit 50 of this embodiment can easily ensure a wide gas space 50S with just one gas space forming member 51. In this manner, the gas space forming member 51 having protrusions 51b has flat portions 51a that contact the first gas crimping claws 415a and the second gas crimping claws 416a when the gas space forming member 51 is crimped by the first common member 41, and these flat portions 51a extend parallel to the flat surface of the gas regulating plate 431a. Therefore, the gas space forming member 51 not only ensures a wide gas space 50S with a single member, but also makes it easy to ensure sufficient fixing strength when crimped by the first common member 41.

[0162] As described above, in the liquid header section 60, the refrigerant that flows in via the liquid refrigerant connection pipe 20a can be divided within the liquid header section 60 before being divided among the flat tubes 28. This eliminates the need to provide a conventionally known flow divider separately from the liquid header section 60, making it possible to make the installation space more compact, reduce parts costs, and eliminate the need for the work of connecting a conventionally known flow divider.

[0163] (7) Other Embodiments (7-1) Other Embodiment A In the above embodiment, an outdoor heat exchanger 11 was described as an example having an inlet / outlet header 40 in which one gas header section 50 and one liquid header section 60 are arranged side by side in each longitudinal direction, and in which the refrigerant flows by making one turn in the return header 30.

[0164] However, the outdoor heat exchanger 11 is not limited to this, and may be an outdoor heat exchanger in which the refrigerant flows in a double turn. In this case, by providing a header section having a structure corresponding to the turn-back header 30 above the liquid header section 60 and below the gas header section 50, it is possible to form a heat exchanger in which the refrigerant flows in a double turn.

[0165] (7-2) Other Embodiment B In the above embodiment, the first common member 41 has been described using an example in which the left-right lengths of the first gas side plate portion 413a and the second gas side plate portion 414a are shorter than the left-right lengths of the first liquid side plate portion 413b and the second liquid side plate portion 414b.

[0166] In contrast, the first common member 41 is not particularly limited, and if the stacked portion of the gas header section 50 is longer in the left-right direction than the stacked portion of the liquid header section 60, the left-right length of the first gas side plate section 413a and the second gas side plate section 414a may be longer than the left-right length of the first liquid side plate section 413b and the second liquid side plate section 414b.

[0167] (7-3) Other embodiment C In the above embodiment, an example was given in which the liquid header section 60 is provided with a first connecting pipe 71 and a second connecting pipe 72 each equipped with a temperature sensor 99, and the refrigerant flows from the first liquid member 61 toward the opposite side of the connection portion of the flat tube 28.

[0168] 12 , for example, the first communication pipe 71 and the second communication pipe 72 provided with the temperature sensor 99 in the above embodiment may be omitted, and a liquid header section 60 may be provided with a second liquid member 62 provided with a branch communication opening 62b' that replaces the branch opening 62b, first communication opening 62c, and second communication opening 62d in the above embodiment. This branch communication opening 62b' is a single opening that integrally connects the branch opening 62b and the first communication opening 62c in the above embodiment (forming an A1' that directly connects A1 and A3 of the first flow path portion), and that integrally connects the branch opening 62b and the second communication opening 62d in the above embodiment (forming a B1' that directly connects B1 and B3 of the second flow path portion). In this embodiment, the first liquid member 61 does not have the first outer wall opening 61b, the second outer wall opening 61c, the third outer wall opening 61d, or the fourth outer wall opening 61e, and blocks the branch connecting opening 62b' of the second liquid member 62 from the right side.

[0169] (Note) Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it will be understood that various changes in form and details can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined in the claims.

[0170] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air conditioner (refrigeration device) 2 Outdoor unit 3 Control unit 11 Outdoor heat exchanger (heat exchanger) 19 First gas refrigerant pipe 19a Gas refrigerant connection pipe 20 Liquid refrigerant pipe 20a Liquid refrigerant connection pipe 27 Heat exchange unit 28 Flat tube 28x First flat tube 28y Second flat tube 28z Third flat tube 30 Turned header 40 Inlet / outlet header (header) 41 First common member (first member) 42 Second common member (intermediate member, third member) 43 Third common member (intermediate member, second member) 50 Gas header portion 51 Gas space forming member 51a Flat portion 51b Protruding portion 58 Bottom plate 59 Top plate 60 Liquid header portion 61 First liquid member (liquid member) 62 Second liquid member (liquid member) 62b Branch opening 63 Third liquid member (liquid member) 64 Fourth liquid member (liquid member) 65 Fifth liquid member (liquid member) 65x Liquid branch opening 71 First connecting pipe 72 Second connecting pipe 99 Temperature sensor 411 Tube plate portion (first portion) 411a Gas pipe plate portion (first portion) 411b Liquid pipe plate portion (first portion) 412 Flat tube connection opening 412a Gas connection opening 412b Liquid connection opening 413 First side plate portion (first clamping portion, second clamping portion) 413a First gas side plate portion (first clamping portion) 413b First liquid side plate portion (second clamping portion) 414 Second side plate portion (first clamping portion, second clamping portion) 414a Second gas side plate portion (first clamping portion) 414b Second liquid side plate portion (second clamping portion) 415 First crimping claw 415a First gas crimping claw (first crimping portion) 415b First liquid crimping claw (second crimping portion) 416 Second crimping claw 416a Second gas crimping claw (first crimping portion) 416b Second liquid crimping claw (second crimping portion) 421 Insertion plate portion 421a Gas insertion plate portion 421b Liquid insertion plate portion 422 Insertion opening (second opening) 422a Gas insertion opening (second opening) 422b Liquid insertion opening (second opening) 431 Restriction plate portion 431a Gas restriction plate portion 431b Liquid restriction plate portion 432 Restriction opening (first opening) 432a Gas restriction opening (first opening) 432b Liquid restriction opening (first opening) A First refrigerant flow pathB Second refrigerant flow path C Confluence flow path

[0171] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-043207

Claims

1. A heat exchanger (11), comprising: a plurality of flat tubes (28) arranged in a first direction; and a header (40) to which the flat tubes are connected, wherein the header has a gas header section (50) and a liquid header section (60) arranged in the first direction, wherein the header has one or more gas members (51), one or more liquid members (61, 62, 63, 64, 65), and a first member (41) extending across the gas header section and the liquid header section, wherein the first member and the gas member form the gas header section, and the first member and the liquid member form the liquid header section, and the first member integrates a first predetermined number of the gas members and a second predetermined number of the liquid members different from the first predetermined number.

2. A heat exchanger as described in claim 1, wherein the first member and the gas member are arranged in a stacked manner in a second direction which is the direction in which the flat tubes extend, and the first member and the liquid member are arranged in a stacked manner in the second direction.

3. The heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein the header further comprises one or more intermediate members (42, 43) extending between the first member and the gas member and between the first member and the liquid member.

4. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein the first member integrates the gas member, the liquid member, and the intermediate member.

5. A heat exchanger as described in claim 3 or 4, wherein one or more of the intermediate members includes a second member (43), the second member has a plurality of first openings (432, 432a, 432b), and when viewed in the second direction, the contour of the first openings has a portion that overlaps with the contour of the flat tube.

6. The heat exchanger described in claim 5, wherein the one or more intermediate members further include a third member (42), which is stacked between the first member and the second member in the second direction and has a plurality of second openings (422, 422a, 422b), and when viewed in the second direction, the contours of the second openings are located outside the contours of the flat tubes.

7. A heat exchanger as described in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the first member has a first portion (411, 411a, 411b) extending in a plane perpendicular to the second direction, and a pair of first clamping portions (413a, 414a) and a pair of second clamping portions (413b, 414b) extending from the first portion in the second direction, and when a direction intersecting both the first direction and the second direction is defined as a third direction, the first clamping portions clamp the first predetermined number of gas members in the third direction, and the second clamping portions clamp the second predetermined number of liquid members in the third direction, and the length of the first clamping portions in the second direction is different from the length of the second clamping portions in the second direction.

8. A heat exchanger as described in claim 7, wherein the first clamping portion has a first crimping portion (415a, 416a) at an end opposite the first portion side in the second direction, and the second clamping portion has a second crimping portion (415b, 416b) at an end opposite the first portion side in the second direction.

9. A heat exchanger as described in any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the gas member includes a gas space forming member (51) having a protrusion (51b) that, when viewed in the first direction, protrudes toward a side away from the connection portion between the flat tube and the first member in the second direction.

10. A heat exchanger as described in claim 8, wherein the gas member includes a gas space forming member (51) having a protrusion (51b) that, when viewed in the first direction, protrudes toward a side away from the connection portion between the flat tube and the first member in the second direction, the gas space forming member has a flat portion extending in a plane perpendicular to the second direction, and the flat portion is crimped by the first crimp portion and the second crimp portion.

11. A heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the gas member and the liquid member have plate-shaped portions.

12. A heat exchanger as described in any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a turn-back header (30) connected to the end of the flat tube opposite to the end on the gas header section and liquid header section side, and directing refrigerant that has passed through the gas header section to the liquid header section side, or directing refrigerant that has passed through the liquid header section to the gas header section side.

13. A refrigeration system (1) comprising a heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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