Heat exchanger and refrigeration device

Abstract

This heat exchanger is provided with a plurality of flat tubes (28) and a header. The plurality of flat tubes are arranged in a first direction. The flat tubes are connected to the header. The header includes a first member and a second member. The first member communicates with refrigerant flow paths (28b) of the flat tubes. The first member has a plurality of first openings. The plurality of first openings are arranged in the vertical direction. The second member is stacked on the first member in a second direction in which the flat tubes extend. The second member has a second opening. The second opening forms a flow path for the refrigerant. When viewed from the second direction, the second opening overlaps the plurality of first openings. When viewed from the second direction, inner edge sections (33a) forming the first openings in the first member overlap the flat tubes. Each first opening has a first region (331) and a second region (332). The vertical-direction length of the first region is shorter than a prescribed length. The vertical-direction length of the second region is longer than the prescribed length.

Description

Heat exchangers and refrigeration equipment

[0001] This invention relates to a heat exchanger and a refrigeration device.

[0002] Conventionally, a heat exchanger including a flat tube and a header has been known. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2021-25718 (Patent Document 1) discloses such a heat exchanger.

[0003] The liquid side header 52 of the heat exchanger of Patent Document 1 is a stacked header in which an outer plate material 61, an inner plate material 62, an inner plate material 63, an inner plate material 64, an inner plate material 65, and an outer plate material 66 are joined by brazing.

[0004] In a stacked header such as that in Patent Document 1, the cost increases as the number of plate materials increases.

[0005] 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 includes a first member and a second member. The first member is in communication with a refrigerant flow path of the flat tubes. The first member has a plurality of first openings. The plurality of first openings are aligned in the first direction. The second member is stacked on the first member in a second direction in which the flat tubes extend. The second member has a second opening. The second opening forms a refrigerant flow path. When viewed in the second direction, the second opening overlaps with the plurality of first openings. When viewed in the second direction, an inner edge portion of the first member that forms the first opening overlaps with the flat tubes. The first opening has a first region and a second region. The length of the first region in the first direction is shorter than a predetermined length. The length of the second region in the first direction is longer than the predetermined length.

[0006] According to the heat exchanger of the first aspect, the inner edge portion that forms the first opening overlaps with the flat tube, so that the flat tube can be abutted against the inner edge portion, thereby making it possible to determine the insertion position of the flat tube within the header.

[0007] Furthermore, since the second opening overlaps with the plurality of first openings, the coolant can flow from the second opening that forms the coolant flow path to the plurality of first openings. The amount of coolant flowing from the second opening of the second member can be adjusted by the first region of the first opening that is short in the first direction.

[0008] As described above, the first member has the functions of both determining the insertion position of the flat tubes and adjusting the amount of refrigerant, thereby reducing the number of components constituting the header.

[0009] A heat exchanger according to a second aspect is the heat exchanger according to the first aspect, wherein the first region overlaps with the second opening when viewed in the second direction.

[0010] In the heat exchanger of the second aspect, the first region of the first opening that is short in the first direction overlaps with the second opening, making it easy to adjust the amount of refrigerant flowing from the second opening.

[0011] A heat exchanger according to a third aspect is the heat exchanger according to the first or second aspect, wherein the longitudinal direction of the first opening is a third direction that intersects with the first and second directions.

[0012] In the heat exchanger of the third aspect, the longitudinal direction of the first opening is the same as the width direction of the flat tube, so that the amount of refrigerant can be easily adjusted.

[0013] A heat exchanger according to a fourth aspect is the heat exchanger according to the third aspect, wherein the first region is located at the center of the first opening in the third direction.

[0014] As in the heat exchanger of the fourth aspect, the first region may be provided at the center in the third direction.

[0015] A heat exchanger according to a fifth aspect is the heat exchanger according to the third aspect, wherein the center of the first opening in the third direction is different from the center of the first region in the third direction.

[0016] As in the heat exchanger of the fifth aspect, the first region may be provided at a position displaced from the center of the first opening in the third direction.

[0017] A heat exchanger according to a sixth aspect is the heat exchanger according to the third aspect, wherein the inner edge of the first member has a first inner edge on one side in the first direction and a second inner edge on the other side, and the first inner edge has a convex portion protruding toward the other side, or the second inner edge has a convex portion protruding toward the one side.

[0018] As in the heat exchanger of the sixth aspect, the inner edge portion that forms the first opening may have a protrusion on one side in the longitudinal direction.

[0019] A heat exchanger according to a seventh aspect is the heat exchanger according to the third aspect, wherein the first region is located at one end of the first opening in the third direction.

[0020] As in the heat exchanger of the seventh aspect, the first region may be provided at one end in the longitudinal direction.

[0021] A heat exchanger according to an eighth aspect is the heat exchanger according to the third aspect, wherein a plurality of first regions are formed in the third direction of the first opening.

[0022] As in the heat exchanger of the eighth aspect, a plurality of first regions may be provided in the longitudinal direction.

[0023] A heat exchanger according to a ninth aspect is the heat exchanger according to any one of the third aspect to the eighth aspect, wherein one end of the inner edge in the third direction has a first recess.

[0024] In the heat exchanger of the ninth aspect, when brazing is performed with the first recess facing downward in the direction of gravity, the molten brazing material can move to the protruding portion of the first opening defined by the recess, thereby preventing the brazing material from clogging.

[0025] A heat exchanger according to a tenth aspect is the heat exchanger according to the ninth aspect, wherein the inner edge portion further has a second recess, a third recess, and a fourth recess. The first recess is located at one end of the inner edge portion in the third direction and at one end of the inner edge portion in the first direction. The second recess is located at one end of the inner edge portion in the third direction and at the other end of the inner edge portion in the first direction. The third recess is located at the other end of the inner edge portion in the third direction and at one end of the inner edge portion in the first direction. The fourth recess is located at the other end of the inner edge portion in the third direction and at the other end of the inner edge portion in the first direction.

[0026] In the heat exchanger of the tenth aspect, when brazing is performed with the first recess and the second recess, or the third recess and the fourth recess, facing downward in the direction of gravity, the molten brazing material can move to the two protruding parts of the first opening defined by the recess on the downward side in the direction of gravity, thereby further suppressing brazing clogging.

[0027] A heat exchanger according to an eleventh aspect is the heat exchanger according to the third aspect, wherein the first region is symmetrical with respect to a center line of the first opening in the third direction.

[0028] In the heat exchanger of the eleventh aspect, since the first region has symmetry in the longitudinal direction, the first member can be applied to other locations.

[0029] A heat exchanger according to a twelfth aspect is the heat exchanger according to any one of the third to sixth aspects and the eighth to eleventh aspects, wherein the second region is located at both ends of the first opening in the third direction.

[0030] In the heat exchanger of the twelfth aspect, the molten brazing material is likely to move to the second regions located at both ends in the longitudinal direction during brazing, so that clogging of the brazing material can be suppressed.

[0031] A heat exchanger according to a thirteenth aspect is the heat exchanger according to any one of the third aspect to the twelfth aspect, wherein, when viewed in the second direction, both ends of the first region are located outside the second opening in the third direction.

[0032] In the heat exchanger of the thirteenth aspect, the longitudinal length of the first region is greater than that of the second opening, so that when the first region is positioned so as to overlap with the second opening, misalignment between the first member and the second member can be tolerated.

[0033] A heat exchanger according to a fourteenth aspect is the heat exchanger according to any one of the third aspect to the thirteenth aspect, wherein the length of the first opening in the third direction is shorter than the length of the flat tube.

[0034] In the heat exchanger of the fourteenth aspect, since the length of the first opening in the third direction is shorter than the length of the flat tube, the flat tube can be placed on the outside of both longitudinal ends of the first opening in the first member. In this way, the insertion position of the flat tube may be determined by both longitudinal ends of the first opening.

[0035] A heat exchanger according to a fifteenth aspect is the heat exchanger according to any one of the first to fourteenth aspects, wherein the second opening of the second member forms a loop structure in which the refrigerant circulates within the header.

[0036] In a heat exchanger according to a fifteenth aspect, the header has a loop structure to which the second member is applied, and therefore, it is possible to realize a heat exchanger that suppresses variations in the amount of refrigerant flowing through the plurality of flat tubes.

[0037] A heat exchanger according to a sixteenth aspect is the heat exchanger according to the fifteenth aspect, wherein the second opening forms a blow-up space through which the refrigerant flows from below to above.

[0038] In the heat exchanger of the sixteenth aspect, the second opening of the second member forms a blow-up space, and therefore the refrigerant can flow from the second opening to the plurality of first openings, thereby realizing a heat exchanger that further suppresses variation in the amount of refrigerant flowing through the plurality of flat tubes.

[0039] A heat exchanger according to a seventeenth aspect is the heat exchanger according to any one of the first to sixteenth aspects, wherein the refrigerant contains carbon dioxide.

[0040] In the heat exchanger of the seventeenth aspect, it is possible to use a refrigerant containing carbon dioxide.

[0041] A refrigeration device according to an eighteenth aspect includes the heat exchanger according to any one of the first to seventeenth aspects.

[0042] The refrigeration apparatus of the eighteenth aspect is provided with a heat exchanger that can reduce the number of components constituting the header, thereby reducing costs.

[0043] 1 is a configuration diagram of an air conditioning apparatus including a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an outdoor heat exchanger as a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of a heat exchange section of the outdoor heat exchanger; FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an attachment state of heat transfer fins to flat tubes in the heat exchange section; FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a refrigerant flow in an outdoor heat exchanger functioning as a refrigerant evaporator; FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of an inlet / outlet header; FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a liquid header section; FIG. 8 is a plan view of the liquid header section; FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid header; FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state in which a liquid refrigerant connecting tube and flat tubes are connected to the liquid header section; FIG. 11 is a front view showing the vicinity of an opening of a second liquid member and the flat tubes; FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged view of the second liquid member; FIG. 13 is a partially enlarged view showing the vicinity of the third opening of a third liquid member, the flat tubes, and the fourth opening; FIG. 14 is a partially enlarged view of the third liquid member, the fourth liquid member, and the flat tubes; FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of a gas header section; FIG. 16 is a partially enlarged view showing the vicinity of the third opening of the third liquid member and the flat tubes of Modification 1; 10 is a partially enlarged view showing the vicinity of the third opening of the third liquid member and the flat tubes of Modification 3. FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged view showing the vicinity of the third opening of the third liquid member and the flat tubes of Modification 4. FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged view showing the vicinity of the third opening of the third liquid member and the flat tubes of Modification 5. FIG. 13 is a partially enlarged view showing the vicinity of the second opening of the second liquid member and the flat tubes of Modification 14. FIG. 14 is a partially enlarged view showing the vicinity of the second opening of the second liquid member and the flat tubes of Modification 15. FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged view showing the vicinity of the second opening of the second liquid member and the flat tubes of Modification 16. FIG. 16 is a partially enlarged view showing the vicinity of the second opening of the second liquid member and the flat tubes of Modification 17. FIG. 17 is a partially enlarged view showing the vicinity of the third opening of the third liquid member and the flat tubes of Modification 6. FIG. 18 is a partially enlarged view showing the vicinity of the third opening of the third liquid member and the flat tubes of Modification 7. FIG. 19 is a partially enlarged view showing the vicinity of the third opening of the third liquid member and the flat tubes of Modification 8. FIG. 19 is a partially enlarged view showing the vicinity of the third opening of the third liquid member and the flat tubes of Modification 9. FIG. 19 is a partially enlarged view showing the vicinity of the third opening of the third liquid member and the flat tubes of Modification 10. Fig. 11 is a partially enlarged view showing the flat tubes and the vicinity of the third opening of the third liquid member of Modification 11. Fig. 12 is a partially enlarged view showing the flat tubes and the vicinity of the third opening of the third liquid member of Modification 12. Fig. 13 is a partially enlarged view showing the flat tubes and the vicinity of the third opening of the third liquid member of Modification 13. Fig. 18 is a partially enlarged view showing the flat tubes and the vicinity of the second opening of the second liquid member of Modification 18.FIG. 20 is a partially enlarged view showing the vicinity of the second opening of the second liquid member and the flat tube of Modification 19.

[0044] 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.

[0045] (1) Configuration of the 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. Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the air conditioning apparatus 1 as a refrigeration apparatus, which has a heat exchanger according to one embodiment of the present disclosure as an outdoor heat exchanger 11.

[0046] The air conditioning apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 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 systems. Note that the refrigerant used in the air conditioning apparatus 1 is not particularly limited and includes, for example, carbon dioxide, R290, R32, etc. In this embodiment, a carbon dioxide refrigerant is used.

[0047] The air conditioning apparatus 1 mainly comprises an outdoor unit 2, an indoor unit 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 unit 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 unit 9. In the air conditioning apparatus 1, a refrigerant circuit 6 is formed by connecting the outdoor unit 2 and the indoor unit 9 via the liquid refrigerant connection pipe 4 and the gas refrigerant connection pipe 5.

[0048] 1, the air conditioning apparatus 1 has one indoor unit 9, but it may also have a plurality of indoor units 9 connected in parallel to the outdoor unit 2 by the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 4 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 5. The air conditioning apparatus 1 may also have a plurality of 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.

[0049] (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.

[0050] 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 .

[0051] 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.

[0052] 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 .

[0053] The four-way switching valve 10 is a mechanism that switches the direction of refrigerant flow 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, 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. 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 connects 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).

[0054] The outdoor heat exchanger 11 is a device that performs heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing inside 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.

[0055] 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.

[0056] The accumulator 7 is a container having a gas-liquid separation function that separates the incoming refrigerant into gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant, and also has a function of storing excess refrigerant that occurs in response to fluctuations in operating load, etc.

[0057] 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.

[0058] 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.

[0059] (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.

[0060] The indoor unit 9 mainly includes an indoor heat exchanger 91 , an indoor expansion valve 93 , and an indoor fan 92 .

[0061] 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.

[0062] 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.

[0063] 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.

[0064] (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.

[0065] 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.

[0066] The control unit 3 is electrically connected to various devices in the outdoor unit 2 and the indoor unit 9, such as 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.

[0067] 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).

[0068] (2) Configuration of the Outdoor Heat Exchanger The configuration of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 (an example of a "heat exchanger") will be described with reference to the drawings. 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) in 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 (when the outdoor heat exchanger 11 functions as a refrigerant evaporator). FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of the inlet / outlet header 40.

[0069] In the following description, expressions such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," and "rear" 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, unless otherwise specified.

[0070] The following description takes as an example a case where the direction in which the flat tubes 28 are arranged, the longitudinal direction of the inlet / outlet headers 40, the longitudinal direction of the gas header section 50, and the longitudinal direction of the liquid header section 30 are the up-down direction (an example of a "first direction"). The following description takes as an example a case where the extension direction of the flat tubes 28, more specifically, the extension direction of the connection portions of the flat tubes 28 with the inlet / outlet headers 40, and the direction in which the plate-like members constituting the liquid header section 30 are stacked are the front-rear direction (an example of a "second direction"). The following description takes as an example a case where the direction intersecting (perpendicular in this embodiment) the up-down direction and the front-rear direction is the left-right direction (an example of a "third direction").

[0071] The outdoor heat exchanger 11 is a device that performs heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing inside and the outdoor air.

[0072] 2 to 5, the outdoor heat exchanger 11 mainly includes a plurality of flat tubes 28, a plurality of fins 29, a folded header 60, and an inlet / outlet header 40. In this embodiment, the flat tubes 28, the fins 29, the folded header 60, and the inlet / outlet header 40 are made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

[0073] 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.

[0074] (2-1) Flat Tubes The flat tubes 28 are flat heat transfer tubes having flat surfaces 28a on the top and bottom, which serve as heat transfer surfaces, as shown in FIG. 3 . The flat tubes 28 are formed with a plurality of flow paths 28b through which the refrigerant flows. For example, the flat tubes 28 are flat multi-hole tubes in which a large number of flow paths 28b with small cross-sectional areas through which the refrigerant flows are formed. In this embodiment, these plurality of flow paths 28b are arranged side by side in the air flow direction.

[0075] In the outdoor heat exchanger 11, as shown in FIG. 5, flat tubes 28 extending horizontally between the return header 60 side and the inlet / outlet header 40 side are arranged in a plurality of rows, one above the other.

[0076] In this embodiment, the flat tubes 28 extending between the return header 60 side and the inlet / outlet header 40 side are bent at two locations, and the heat exchange section 27 formed by the flat tubes 28 is formed in a C-shape in a plan view. In this embodiment, the plurality of flat tubes 28 are arranged vertically at regular intervals.

[0077] In addition, 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, an air flow passes over the left side portion of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 from the left to the right, and an air flow passes over the right side portion of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 from the right to the left.

[0078] As shown in Fig. 5 , 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.

[0079] (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 a first direction on which the flat tubes 28 are arranged. Here, the outdoor heat exchanger 11 is used in a mode in which the 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.

[0080] As shown in FIG. 4 , each fin 29 has a plurality of notches 29a extending along the insertion direction of the flat tubes 28 so that the plurality of flat tubes 28 can be inserted. The notches 29a 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 29a formed in each fin 29 extend horizontally. The notches 29a 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 plurality of 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 plurality of notches 29a of the plurality of fins 29, the space between adjacent flat tubes 28 is divided into a plurality of ventilation passages through which air flows.

[0081] 3 and 4 , 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.

[0082] (2-3) Inlet / Outlet Headers 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 30 located at the bottom. The gas header section 50 and the liquid header section 30 are separated into upper and lower sections by a partition plate 41. The gas header section 50 has an internal space, and the liquid header section 30 has a space that is isolated from the internal space of the gas header section 50 by the partition plate 41. The upper end of the gas header section 50 is closed by an upper lid 42. The partition plate 41 also functions as the bottom plate of the gas header section 50.

[0083] A gas refrigerant connection pipe 19a that constitutes one end of the first gas refrigerant pipe 19 is connected to the gas header section 50. A liquid refrigerant connection pipe 20a that constitutes one end of the liquid refrigerant pipe 20 is connected to the liquid header section 30.

[0084] 5 , one end of each flat tube 28 is connected to the gas header section 50 and the liquid header section 30 of the inlet / outlet header 40, and the other end of each flat tube 28 is connected to the turn-back header 60. 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 60 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 30.

[0085] The gas header section 50 and the liquid header section 30 will be described in detail later.

[0086] (2-4) Folded Header The folded header 60 is connected to ends different from the ends of the flat tubes 28 connected to the gas header section 50 and liquid header section 30 of the inlet / outlet header 40. The outdoor heat exchanger 11 is disposed in a casing (not shown) of the outdoor unit 2 so that the longitudinal direction of the folded header 60 and the inlet / outlet header 40 roughly coincides with the vertical direction.

[0087] The folded header 60 is constructed by surrounding and crimping a stack of multiple plate-like members with crimping members 61 that are C-shaped in plan view and to which the flat tubes 28 are connected. The plate-like members stacked on the crimping members 61 include members that have the same shape as the members that make up the liquid header section 30 and the gas header section 50. This makes it possible to standardize the members.

[0088] (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, and the like.

[0089] When the air conditioning apparatus 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 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 the outdoor air and is then drawn into the compressor 8 again.

[0090] 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 30 from the liquid refrigerant pipe 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 30. 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 air, causing a portion of the refrigerant to evaporate and reach a lower region of the internal space of the return header 60. The refrigerant sent to the lower region of the internal space of the return header 60 is sent to an upper region of the internal space of the return header 60. The refrigerant sent to the upper region of the return header 60 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 60. 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.

[0091] 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 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.

[0092] When the outdoor heat exchanger 11 functions as a refrigerant radiator during cooling 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 radiates a portion of its heat by exchanging heat with the air and reaches an upper region of the internal space of the return header 60. The refrigerant sent to the upper region of the internal space of the return header 60 is sent to a lower region of the return header 60. The refrigerant sent to the lower region of the return header 60 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 60. The refrigerant flowing through the plurality of first flat tubes 28x and the second flat tubes 28y dissipates more heat by exchanging heat with the air again, and reaches the liquid header section 30. 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 30 and then flow through the liquid refrigerant pipes 20.

[0093] (4) Details of the Liquid Header Section Figure 7 shows a schematic exploded perspective view of the liquid header section 30. In Figure 7, the dashed double-dashed arrows indicate the refrigerant flow when the outdoor heat exchanger 11 functions as a refrigerant evaporator. Figure 8A shows a plan view of the liquid header section 30. Figure 8B shows a cross-sectional plan view of the liquid header section 30 at a position where the first opening 310, the second opening 320, and the third opening 330 overlap. Figure 9 shows a plan view showing the liquid refrigerant pipes 20 and the flat tubes 28 connected to the liquid header section 30.

[0094] As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 , the liquid header section 30 includes a first liquid member 31, a second liquid member 32, a third liquid member 33 (an example of a “first member”), a fourth liquid member 34 (an example of a “second member”), a fifth liquid member 35, a sixth liquid member 36, and a seventh liquid member 37. The liquid header section 30 is configured by joining the first liquid member 31, the second liquid member 32, the third liquid member 33, the fourth liquid member 34, the fifth liquid member 35, the sixth liquid member 36, and the seventh liquid member 37 together by brazing. Specifically, before brazing, the first liquid member 31, the third liquid member 33, and the fifth liquid member 35 have a clad layer containing a brazing material formed on their surfaces. Before brazing, the second liquid member 32, the fourth liquid member 34, the sixth liquid member 36, and the seventh liquid member 37 do not have a clad layer containing a brazing material formed on their surfaces. When these components are brazed, the brazing material melts and moves, thereby joining them together.

[0095] In this embodiment, the first liquid member 31, the second liquid member 32, the third liquid member 33, the fourth liquid member 34, the fifth liquid member 35, the sixth liquid member 36, and the seventh liquid member 37 are all members whose thickness in the plate thickness direction (front-rear direction in FIG. 7 , an example of the second direction) is shorter than their length in the vertical direction (up-down direction in FIG. 7 , an example of the first direction) and shorter than their length in the left-right direction (an example of the third direction). Also, the first liquid member 31, the second liquid member 32, the third liquid member 33, the fourth liquid member 34, the fifth liquid member 35, the sixth liquid member 36, and the seventh liquid member 37 are all members whose length in the vertical direction (up-down direction in FIG. 7 , an example of the first direction) is longer than their length in the left-right direction (an example of the third direction). In addition, the first liquid member 31, the second liquid member 32, the third liquid member 33, the fourth liquid member 34, the fifth liquid member 35, the sixth liquid member 36, and the seventh liquid member 37 are stacked in this order in the stacking direction, which is the plate thickness direction (the front-to-back direction in Figure 7, an example of the second direction).

[0096] (4-1) First Liquid Member The first liquid member 31 is a member that integrates the second liquid member 32, the third liquid member 33, the fourth liquid member 34, the fifth liquid member 35, the sixth liquid member 36, and the seventh liquid member 37. The first liquid member 31, together with the seventh liquid member 37, forms the outer shell of the liquid header portion 30.

[0097] The first liquid member 31 has a laminated portion 31a, a first wall portion 31b, a second wall portion 31c, a first claw portion 31d, and a second claw portion 31e. Although not particularly limited, the first liquid member 31 of this embodiment can be formed by bending a single sheet metal obtained by rolling, with the crease extending along the longitudinal direction of the liquid header portion 30. In this case, the thickness of each portion of the first liquid member 31 is constant.

[0098] The laminated portion 31a extends in the vertical direction. In this example, the laminated portion 31a is a flat plate that extends in both the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0099] The stacked portion 31a has first openings 310 that run along the outer edges of the flat tubes 28. Therefore, here, the first openings 310 have a flat shape when viewed in the front-to-rear direction (an example of a second direction view). In FIG. 7 , the stacked portion 31a has a plurality of first openings 310 arranged side by side in the vertical direction. The plurality of first openings 310 have the same shape. Each of the first openings 310 is an opening that penetrates the stacked portion 31a in the thickness direction. The flat tubes 28 are inserted into the first openings 310 so that one end of the flat tubes 28 completely passes through the first openings 310, and then the flat tubes 28 are joined by brazing. In the brazed state, the entire inner circumferential surface of the first opening 310 and the entire outer circumferential surface of the flat tubes 28 are in contact with each other.

[0100] The first liquid member 31 is formed to have a relatively thin thickness of, for example, about 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm, and therefore the length in the plate thickness direction of the inner edge portion that forms the first opening 310 is short. Therefore, in the step prior to joining by brazing, when inserting the flat tube 28 into the first opening 310, friction that occurs between the inner edge portion that forms the first opening 310 and the outer circumferential surface of the flat tube 28 can be kept small, making it possible to facilitate the insertion operation.

[0101] The first wall 31b is a planar portion extending forward from the right end of the stacked portion 31a (inside the outdoor unit 2). The second wall 31c is a planar portion extending forward from the left end of the stacked portion 31a (outside the outdoor unit 2).

[0102] The first claws 31d are provided in a plurality of rows in the vertical direction at the front end of the first wall 31b, and the second claws 31e are provided in a plurality of rows in the vertical direction at the front end of the second wall 31c.

[0103] The manufacturing process will now be described. Before the second liquid member 32, the third liquid member 33, the fourth liquid member 34, the fifth liquid member 35, the sixth liquid member 36, and the seventh liquid member 37 are arranged inside the first liquid member 31 in a plan view (an example of a view from the first direction), the first claw portion 31d and the second claw portion 31e are extended along the extensions of the first wall portion 31b and the second wall portion 31c, respectively, as shown in FIG. Then, with the second liquid member 32, the third liquid member 33, the fourth liquid member 34, the fifth liquid member 35, the sixth liquid member 36, and the seventh liquid member 37 arranged inside the first liquid member 31 in a plan view, the first claw portion 31d and the second claw portion 31e are bent so as to approach each other, so that the second liquid member 32, the third liquid member 33, the fourth liquid member 34, the fifth liquid member 35, the sixth liquid member 36, and the seventh liquid member 37 are caulked and fixed to each other by the first liquid member 31, as shown in Figures 8A and 8B. Then, by performing brazing in a furnace or the like in this state, the components are joined by brazing and completely fixed to each other.

[0104] (4-2) Second Liquid Member The second liquid member 32 is stacked on the first liquid member 31 on the side opposite the fins 29 in the front-rear direction (an example of the second direction). Specifically, the second liquid member 32 is stacked so as to be in contact with the stacked portion 31a. The second liquid member 32 extends parallel to the stacked portion 31a and has a plate-like shape with its thickness direction aligned with the extension direction of the flat tubes 28.

[0105] The second liquid member 32 extends in the vertical direction (an example of a first direction). Here, the second liquid member 32 is a flat plate that extends in both the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0106] The second liquid member 32 has a plurality of second openings 320. The second openings 320 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction. The second openings 320 are formed by the inner edge portion 32a.

[0107] The flat tubes 28 are inserted into the second openings 320, which are openings that penetrate the second liquid member 32 in the thickness direction. The multiple second openings 320 have the same shape. The center of each second opening 320 in the left-right direction coincides with the center of the second liquid member 32 in the left-right direction.

[0108] FIG. 10 is a view of the vicinity of the second opening 320 of the second liquid member 32 and the flat tubes 28 as viewed from the rear. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 , when viewed in the stacking direction (an example of a second direction view), the outer edges of the second openings 320 are located outside the outer edges of the flat tubes 28. In other words, when viewed in the front-rear direction (an example of a second direction view), the inner edge portion 32a forming the second opening 320 encompasses the flat tubes 28. Therefore, the second openings 320 are larger than the first openings 310. More specifically, when the second liquid member 32 is stacked on the stack portion 31a of the first liquid member 31, the outer edges of the second openings 320 are configured to be located outside the outer edges of the first openings 310 as viewed in the front-rear direction. In this way, the second openings 320 encompass the first openings 310 as viewed in the front-rear direction.

[0109] The flat tube 28 is joined by brazing in a state where one end of the flat tube 28 is inserted into the second opening 320 so that it passes completely through the second opening 320. In the brazed joined state, the entire inner circumferential surface of the second opening 320 and the entire outer circumferential surface of the flat tube 28 are in contact with each other.

[0110] The thickness of the second liquid member 32 is adjusted to be greater than the thickness of any of the first liquid member 31, third liquid member 33, fourth liquid member 34, fifth liquid member 35, sixth liquid member 36, and seventh liquid member 37 that constitute the liquid header section 30. As a result, even if an error occurs in the degree of insertion of the flat tubes 28 into the liquid header section 30, as long as it is within the range of the length in the front-to-rear direction of the second liquid member, problems such as blockages or areas where the refrigerant is difficult to flow are unlikely to occur in the refrigerant flow when the liquid header section 30 is completed. In addition, it is possible to prevent the brazing material from moving due to capillary action during brazing and blocking the flow paths 28b of the flat tubes 28.

[0111] The thickness of the second liquid member 32 may be smaller than the thickness of the first liquid member 31. Specifically, as shown in Figures 8A and 8B, the ratio (L31 / L32) of the length (plate thickness) L31 in the front-rear direction of the laminated portion 31a of the first liquid member 31 to the length (plate thickness) L32 in the front-rear direction of the second liquid member 32 is preferably 1 / 2 or more and 3 / 2 or less, and more preferably 1 / 2 or more and 3 / 4 or less.

[0112] The shape of the second opening 320 will now be described with reference to Figures 10 and 11. Figure 11 is a view of a portion of the second liquid member 32 as seen from the rear side. In this embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the second opening 320 is the left-right direction (an example of a third direction). The longitudinal direction of the second opening 320 is the width direction of the flat tube 28.

[0113] 10 and 11 , the second opening 320 has a first region 321 and a second region 322. In this embodiment, the second opening 320 is made up of the first region 321 and the second region 322. The length of the first region 321 in the up-down direction (an example of the first direction) is shorter than the length of the second region 322 in the up-down direction (an example of the first direction). In other words, the length of the first region 321 in the up-down direction is shorter than a predetermined length, and the length of the second region 322 in the up-down direction is longer than a predetermined length. In this way, the length of the second opening 320 in the up-down direction is not constant.

[0114] The first region 321 has a short vertical length and therefore functions to improve pressure resistance, whereas the second region 322 has a long vertical length and therefore serves as a space through which the molten brazing material moves during brazing.

[0115] The first region 321 is located in the center of the second opening 320 in the left-right direction (an example of a third direction). In other words, the first region 321 includes the center of the second opening 320 in the left-right direction. The center is the center of the left-right length, and the center portion is a region that includes the center. Here, the first region 321 overlaps with the center of the second liquid member 32 in the left-right direction. Furthermore, in the longitudinal direction of the second opening 320, the center of the first region 321 coincides with the center of the second opening 320. The first region 321 is not located at both ends of the second opening 320 in the left-right direction. For example, it is preferable to provide the first region 321 within a range of one-third or less from the center to the left or right end of the second opening 320.

[0116] The second region 322 is located at both left-right ends of the second opening 320. In other words, the second region 322 includes both left-right ends of the second opening 320. Here, the second region 322 is not located at the center of the second opening 320 in the longitudinal direction of the second opening 320.

[0117] The ratio (L321 / L322) of the vertical length L321 of the first region 321 to the vertical length L322 of the second region 322 is preferably 1 / 4 or more and less than 1, and more preferably 1 / 2 or more and 3 / 4 or less. In this case, pressure resistance can be improved even when a high-pressure refrigerant such as carbon dioxide is used.

[0118] Furthermore, when viewed in the front-rear direction, the first region 321 overlaps with a fourth opening 340 (an example of a second opening) of the fourth liquid member 34, which will be described later. In this embodiment, when viewed in the front-rear direction, the center of the first region 321 overlaps with an ascending space 343 of the fourth opening 340, which will be described later. In other words, the left and right ends of the first region 321 do not overlap with the fourth opening 340 in the front-rear direction.

[0119] As described above, the second liquid member 32 has an inner edge 32a that forms the second opening 320. The inner edge 32a forms a periphery and has a portion that extends in the left-right direction and a portion that extends in the up-down direction. Specifically, the inner edge 32a has a first inner edge 32b and a second inner edge 32c. The first inner edge 32b and the second inner edge 32c extend in the left-right direction. Here, the first inner edge 32b and the second inner edge 32c extend in the longitudinal direction of the second opening 320. The first inner edge 32b is located on the upper side in the up-down direction (an example of one side in the first direction). The second inner edge 32c is located on the lower side in the up-down direction (an example of the other side in the first direction).

[0120] The first inner edge 32b has a protrusion 32b1 that protrudes downward in the vertical direction. The second inner edge 32c has a protrusion 32c1 that protrudes upward in the vertical direction. In Figures 10 and 11, the first inner edge 32b has one protrusion 32b1, and the second inner edge 32c has one protrusion 32c1. Here, the protrusions 32b1 and 32c1 are located in the center of the second opening 320 in the longitudinal direction. The positions and lengths of the protrusions 32b1 and 32c1 in the left-right direction are similar. The corners of the protrusions 32b1 and 32c1 are curved in an arc shape.

[0121] In the up-down direction of second opening 320, the region facing protrusions 32b1 and 32c1 is first region 321. Here, the region sandwiched between protrusions 32b1 and 32c1 is first region 321. In the up-down direction of second opening 320, the region not facing protrusion 32b1 is second region 322.

[0122] The second opening 320 is symmetrical with respect to the center line L in the left-right direction. Here, the second opening 320 is symmetrical in the longitudinal direction. Here, the second opening 320 is also symmetrical with respect to the center line L in the up-down direction.

[0123] (4-3) Third Liquid Member The third liquid member 33 has both the function of stopping the flat tubes 28 to regulate their insertion clearance, and the function of adjusting the amount of refrigerant flowing from the refrigerant flow path of the liquid header section 30 to the flat tubes 28.

[0124] 7 to 9 , the third liquid member 33 is stacked on the second liquid member 32 on the opposite side to the first liquid member 31 in the front-to-rear direction (an example of the second direction). Specifically, the third liquid member 33 is stacked so as to be in contact with the front surface of the second liquid member 32. The third liquid member 33 extends parallel to the second liquid member 32 and has a plate-like shape with its thickness direction aligned with the extension direction of the flat tubes 28.

[0125] The third liquid member 33 extends in the vertical direction (an example of a first direction). Here, the third liquid member 33 is a flat plate that extends in both the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0126] The third liquid member 33 has a plurality of third openings 330 (an example of a first opening). The third openings 330 are arranged in a line in the vertical direction. Fig. 12 is a rear view of the vicinity of the third openings 330 of the third liquid member 33, the flat tube 28, and a fourth opening 340 of the fourth liquid member 34 (described later). As shown in Fig. 12, the third openings 330 are formed by the inner edge portion 33a.

[0127] The third openings 330 communicate with the refrigerant flow paths 28b of the flat tubes 28. As shown in Fig. 7 , the third openings 330 are openings that penetrate the third liquid member 33 in the plate thickness direction. The multiple third openings 330 have the same shape. The center of each third opening 330 in the left-right direction coincides with the center of the third liquid member 33 in the left-right direction.

[0128] Each third opening 330 overlaps with each second opening 320 of the second liquid member 32 when viewed in the front-rear direction. Here, as shown in Figures 8A, 8B, and 9, when viewed in the front-rear direction (an example of a view in the second direction), the third openings 330 are contained within the second openings 320. Therefore, each third opening 330 is in communication with each second opening 320. This allows the refrigerant flowing through the ascending space 343 of the fourth liquid member 34 (described later) to branch off and flow toward each third opening 330, and the refrigerant can be diverted to each flat tube 28 connected to each third opening 330.

[0129] The front surface of the third liquid member 33 other than the portion where the third opening 330 is formed defines the contour of an ascending space 343, which will be described later.

[0130] 13 is a partial perspective view showing the third liquid member 33, the fourth liquid member 34, and the flat tube 28. As shown in Figures 12 and 13, when viewed in the plate thickness direction (an example of a view in the second direction), the inner edge portion 33a forming the third opening 330 overlaps with the flat tube 28. As a result, the third opening 330 determines the insertion position of the flat tube 28 by restricting the insertion of the flat tube 28.

[0131] In this embodiment, both longitudinal ends of the cross section of the flat tube 28 overlap the inner edge portions 33a that form the third opening 330. In other words, the length of the third opening 330 in the left-right direction is shorter than the length of the flat tube 28. Note that in Fig. 12, the length of the third opening 330 in the up-down direction is longer than the length of the flat tube 28. As a result, the flat tube 28 abuts against the inner edge portions 33a located outside both left-right ends of the third opening 330, restricting the insertion of the flat tube 28 and determining the insertion position of the flat tube 28.

[0132] The shape of the third opening 330 will now be described with reference to Fig. 12. In this embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the third opening 330 is the left-right direction (an example of a third direction). The longitudinal direction of the third opening 330 is the width direction of the flat tube 28.

[0133] 12 , the third opening 330 has a first region 331 and a second region 332. In this embodiment, the third opening 330 is made up of the first region 331 and the second region 332. The length of the first region 331 in the up-down direction (an example of the first direction) is shorter than the length of the second region 332 in the up-down direction (an example of the first direction). In other words, the length of the first region 331 in the up-down direction is shorter than a predetermined length, and the length of the second region 332 in the up-down direction is longer than a predetermined length. In this way, the length of the third opening 330 in the up-down direction is not constant.

[0134] The first region 331 has a short vertical length and overlaps with the fourth opening 340 of the fourth liquid member 34, so it adjusts the amount of coolant flowing from the fourth opening 340. The flow rate of the coolant can be controlled by adjusting the vertical length of the first region 331. The second region 332 serves as a space through which the molten brazing material moves during brazing.

[0135] The first region 331 is located in the center of the third opening 330 in the left-right direction (an example of the third direction). In other words, the first region 331 includes the center of the third opening 330 in the left-right direction. The center is the center of the left-right length, and the center portion is a region that includes the center. Here, the first region 331 overlaps with the center of the third liquid member 33 in the left-right direction. Furthermore, in the longitudinal direction of the third opening 330, the center of the first region 331 coincides with the center of the third opening 330.

[0136] The second region 332 is located at both left-right ends of the third opening 330. In other words, the second region 332 includes both left-right ends of the third opening 330. Here, the second region 332 is not located at the center of the third opening 330 in the longitudinal direction of the third opening 330.

[0137] The ratio (L331 / L332) of the vertical length L331 of the first region 331 to the vertical length L332 of the second region 332 is preferably 1 / 4 or more and less than 1, and more preferably 2 / 5 or more and 3 / 5 or less. In this case, pressure resistance can be improved even when a high-pressure refrigerant such as carbon dioxide is used.

[0138] The third opening 330 is symmetrical with respect to the center line L in the left-right direction. Here, the third opening 330 is symmetrical in the longitudinal direction. Here, the third opening 330 is also symmetrical with respect to the center line L in the up-down direction.

[0139] As described above, the third liquid member 33 has an inner edge 33a that forms the third opening 330. The inner edge 33a forms a periphery and has a portion that extends in the left-right direction and a portion that extends in the up-down direction. Specifically, the inner edge 33a has a first inner edge 33b and a second inner edge 33c. The first inner edge 33b and the second inner edge 33c extend in the left-right direction. Here, the first inner edge 33b and the second inner edge 33c extend in the longitudinal direction of the third opening 330. The first inner edge 33b is located on the upper side in the up-down direction (an example of one side in the first direction). The second inner edge 33c is located on the lower side in the up-down direction (an example of the other side in the first direction).

[0140] The first inner edge 33b has a convex portion 33b1 that protrudes downward in the vertical direction. The second inner edge 33c has a convex portion 33c1 that protrudes upward in the vertical direction. In FIG. 12, the first inner edge 33b has one convex portion 33b1, and the second inner edge 33c has one convex portion 33c1. Here, the convex portions 33b1 and 33c1 are located in the longitudinal center of the third opening 330. The positions and lengths of the convex portions 33b1 and 33c1 in the left-right direction are the same. The corners of the convex portions 33b1 and 33c1 are curved in an arc shape.

[0141] In the up-down direction of the third opening 330, the region facing the protrusions 33b1 and 33c1 is the first region 331. Here, the region sandwiched between the protrusions 33b1 and 33c1 is the first region 331. In the up-down direction of the third opening 330, the region not facing the protrusion 33b1 is the second region 332.

[0142] As shown in FIG. 12 , a region R1 where the inner edge 33a overlaps the flat tube 28 is different from a region R2 where the inner edge 33a overlaps the fourth opening 340 (described later). Here, region R1 is a region where the vertically extending portion of the inner edge 33a overlaps both left-right ends of the flat tube 28. The inner edge 33a constituting region R1 functions to determine the insertion position of the flat tube 28 in the third liquid member 33. Region R2 is a region where the portions of the first inner edge 33b and second inner edge 33c extending left-right that form the first region 331 overlap with the rising space 343 of the fourth opening 340 (described later). Region R2 functions to adjust the amount of refrigerant flowing through the fourth opening 340. In this manner, in this embodiment, the function of stopping the flat tube 28 and the function of adjusting the amount of refrigerant are realized by different portions of the third opening 330.

[0143] 7 to 9, the fourth liquid member 34 is stacked on the third liquid member 33 on the side opposite to the second liquid member 32 in the front-rear direction (an example of the second direction). Specifically, the fourth liquid member 34 is stacked so as to be in contact with the front surface of the third liquid member 33. The fourth liquid member 34 extends parallel to the third liquid member 33 and has a plate-like shape with its thickness direction aligned with the extension direction of the flat tubes 28.

[0144] The fourth liquid member 34 extends in the vertical direction (an example of a first direction). Here, the fourth liquid member 34 is a flat plate that extends in both the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0145] The fourth liquid member 34 has a fourth opening 340 (an example of a second opening) that forms a flow path for the coolant. The fourth opening 340 is an opening formed so as to penetrate the fourth liquid member 34 in the plate thickness direction.

[0146] In this embodiment, the fourth opening 340 has an introduction space 341, a nozzle 342, and an ascending space 343. The introduction space 341, the nozzle 342, and the ascending space 343 are arranged vertically in this order from the bottom.

[0147] The introduction space 341, the nozzle 342, and the rising space 343 are spaces sandwiched in the front-to-rear direction between the front surface of the third liquid member 33 and the rear surface of a fifth liquid member 35 (described later). The introduction space 341, the nozzle 342, and the rising space 343 form a blow-up space through which the refrigerant flows from below (an example of one first direction) to above (an example of the other first direction).

[0148] The introduction space 341 faces the third liquid member 33, and does not overlap the third opening 330 in the front-rear direction view, and is not in communication with the third opening 330. Note that, in the front-rear direction view, the introduction space 341 overlaps a second communication opening 351 of the fifth liquid member 35, which will be described later, and is in communication with the second communication opening 351. As described above, the rear side of the introduction space 341 is covered with the plate-like portion of the third liquid member 33, and the gas-phase refrigerant and liquid-phase refrigerant that have flowed into the introduction space 341 are mixed when they hit the third liquid member 33, and it is possible to send a refrigerant in a mixed state of gas-phase refrigerant and liquid-phase refrigerant to the nozzle 342.

[0149] The nozzle 342 faces the third liquid member 33, does not overlap the third opening 330 in the front-rear view, and does not communicate with the third opening 330. The nozzle 342 faces the fifth liquid member 35, which will be described later, and does not overlap the second communication opening 351, the return flow path 352, or the forward flow path 353 in the front-rear view, and does not communicate with any of these. The nozzle 342 is provided near the center of the fourth liquid member 34 in the left-right direction.

[0150] The rise space 343 overlaps with the plurality of third openings 330 in a front-rear view and is in communication with the plurality of third openings 330. Note that the rise space 343 does not overlap with a second communication opening 351 (described later) in a front-rear view, but overlaps with a return flow path 352 and an outward flow path 353. Therefore, the rise space 343 does not communicate with the second communication opening 351, but communicates with the return flow path 352 and the outward flow path 353. Note that the longitudinal length of the liquid header section 30 in the rise space 343 is longer than the longitudinal length of the liquid header section 30 in the introduction space 341 and is longer than the longitudinal length of the liquid header section 30 in the nozzle 342. This makes it possible to increase the number of flat tubes 28 in communication via the rise space 343.

[0151] The rising space 343 defines a flow path for the refrigerant to flow upward along the longitudinal direction of the liquid header section 30, and is made up of the front surface of the third liquid member 33, the rear surface of the fifth liquid member 35 (described later), and the thickness portions of the left and right edges of the fourth opening 340 of the fourth liquid member 34. This makes it difficult for manufacturing errors in the flow path cross-sectional area to occur, and provides a structure that makes it easy to obtain a liquid header section 30 that allows the refrigerant to flow by rising stably.

[0152] The length of the nozzle 342 in the left-right direction is shorter than the length of the introduction space 341 in the left-right direction and is also shorter than the length of the rising space 343 in the left-right direction. As a result, when the outdoor heat exchanger 11 is used as a refrigerant evaporator, the flow velocity of the refrigerant sent to the introduction space 341 is increased as it passes through the nozzle 342, making it easier for the refrigerant to reach the upper part of the rising space 343. Note that the left-right width of the rising space 343 is narrower than the left-right width of the introduction space 341, which reduces the cross-sectional area through which the refrigerant passes in the rising space 343, making it possible to maintain a high flow velocity of the refrigerant flowing upward in the rising space 343.

[0153] In addition, in a front-rear view, the liquid refrigerant connection pipe 20a is connected to the center of the introduction space 341 in the left-right direction. In a front-rear view, the connection point between the introduction space 341 and the corresponding liquid refrigerant connection pipe 20a, the nozzle 342, and the rising space 343 are aligned vertically. Therefore, the refrigerant flowing through the liquid refrigerant connection pipe 20a flows through the seventh opening 370 of the seventh liquid member 37, the first communication opening 361 of the sixth opening 360 of the sixth liquid member 36, and the second communication opening 351, described below, into the left-right center of the introduction space 341 of the fourth opening 340 of the fourth liquid member 34, and then blows up vertically from the introduction space 341 through the nozzle 342 toward the rising space 343 without or with little left-right movement. In this way, the fourth opening 340 forms a blow-up space through which the refrigerant flows from below upward.

[0154] Here, the relationship between the third opening 330 and the fourth opening 340 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0155] 12 and 13 , when viewed in the front-rear direction (an example of a second direction view), the fourth opening 340 overlaps with the plurality of third openings 330. Specifically, when viewed in the front-rear direction, the rising space 343 of the fourth opening 340 overlaps with the first regions 331 of the plurality of third openings 330. Furthermore, when viewed in the front-rear direction (the second direction), the second region 332 of the third opening 330 overlaps with the portion of the fourth liquid member 34 other than the fourth opening 340. Here, when viewed in the front-rear direction, the entire second region 332 overlaps with the portion of the fourth liquid member 34 other than the fourth opening 340. In other words, when viewed in the front-rear direction, the fourth opening 340 does not overlap with the second region 332.

[0156] Furthermore, when viewed in the front-rear direction, both ends of the first region 331 in the left-right direction are located outside the fourth opening 340. Here, when viewed in the front-rear direction, both ends of the first region 331 in the left-right direction are located outside both ends of the ascending space 343 of the fourth opening 340 in the left-right direction. In other words, the left-right length of the first region 331 is longer than the left-right length of the ascending space 343. Here, the left-right length of the first region 331 is longer than the left-right length of the fourth opening 340.

[0157] (4-5) Fifth Liquid Member The fifth liquid member 35 is stacked on the fourth liquid member 34 on the side opposite to the third liquid member 33 in the front-rear direction (an example of the second direction). Specifically, the fifth liquid member 35 is stacked so as to be in contact with the front surface of the fourth liquid member 34. The fifth liquid member 35 extends in parallel to the fourth liquid member 34 and has a plate-like shape with its thickness direction aligned with the extension direction of the flat tubes 28.

[0158] The fifth liquid member 35 extends in the vertical direction (an example of a first direction). Here, the fifth liquid member 35 is a flat plate that extends in both the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0159] The fifth liquid member 35 has a fifth opening 350 that forms a flow path for the coolant. The fifth opening 350 is an opening formed so as to penetrate the fifth liquid member 35 in the plate thickness direction.

[0160] In this embodiment, the fifth opening 350 has a second communication opening 351, a return flow path 352, and a forward flow path 353. The second communication opening 351, the return flow path 352, and the forward flow path 353 are independent openings arranged side by side in this order from the bottom up.

[0161] The second communication opening 351 overlaps with the introduction space 341 of the fourth opening 340 of the fourth liquid member 34 in a front-rear view, and they are in communication with each other. Furthermore, the second communication opening 351 overlaps with the first communication opening 361 of the sixth liquid member 36, which will be described later, in a front-rear view, and they are in communication with each other. The second communication opening 351 does not overlap with or communicate with the nozzle 342 and the ascending space 343 of the fourth opening 340 of the fourth liquid member 34 in a front-rear view, and they are not in communication with the descending space 362 of the sixth liquid member 36, which will be described later, in a front-rear view.

[0162] When viewed in the front-rear direction, the return flow path 352 overlaps with a portion of the first opening of the fourth liquid member 34 near the lower end of the ascending space 343, and is in communication with the portion near the lower end of the ascending space 343. When viewed in the front-rear direction, the return flow path 352 does not overlap with the nozzle 342, and is not in communication with the nozzle 342.

[0163] When viewed in the front-rear direction, the forward flow path 353 overlaps a portion of the fourth opening 340 of the fourth liquid member 34 near the upper end of the ascending space 343, and is in communication with the portion near the upper end of the ascending space 343. In this embodiment, when the liquid header section 30 is viewed in the stacking direction of the components, the area of ​​the forward flow path 353 is larger than the area of ​​the return flow path 352. This makes it easier for the refrigerant that rises in the ascending space 343 and reaches near the upper end to pass through the forward flow path 353. In this embodiment, when the liquid header section 30 is viewed in the stacking direction of the components, the area of ​​the return flow path 352 is smaller than the area of ​​the forward flow path 353. This prevents the refrigerant from flowing back from the ascending space 343 to the return flow path 352.

[0164] (4-6) Sixth Liquid Member The sixth liquid member 36 is stacked on the fifth liquid member 35 on the opposite side to the fourth liquid member 34 in the front-rear direction (an example of the second direction). Specifically, the sixth liquid member 36 is stacked so as to be in contact with the front surface of the fifth liquid member 35. The sixth liquid member 36 extends in parallel with the fifth liquid member 35 and has a plate-like shape with its thickness direction being the extension direction of the flat tubes 28.

[0165] The sixth liquid member 36 extends in the vertical direction (an example of a first direction). Here, the sixth liquid member 36 is a flat plate that extends in both the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0166] The sixth liquid member 36 has a sixth opening 360 that constitutes a flow path for the coolant. The sixth opening 360 is an opening formed so as to penetrate the sixth liquid member 36 in the plate thickness direction.

[0167] In this embodiment, the sixth opening 360 has a first communication opening 361 and a descending space 362. The first communication opening 361 and the descending space 362 are independent openings arranged side by side in order from the bottom, and both are openings that penetrate in the plate thickness direction.

[0168] The first communication opening 361 overlaps with the second communication opening 351 of the fifth liquid member 35 when viewed in the front-rear direction, and they are in communication with each other. In addition, the first communication opening 361 overlaps with the seventh opening 370 of the seventh liquid member 37 (described later) when viewed in the front-rear direction, and they are in communication with each other.

[0169] When viewed in the front-rear direction, the descending space 362 overlaps with the return flow path 352 and the forward flow path 353, and is in communication with the return flow path 352 and the forward flow path 353. When viewed in the front-rear direction, the descending space 362 does not overlap with a seventh opening 370 of a seventh liquid member 37 (described later), and they are not in communication with each other.

[0170] In the longitudinal direction of the liquid header section 30, the length of the downflow space 362 is the same as the length of the upflow space 343, and the downflow space 362 communicates with the upflow space 343 via the forward flow path 353 near the upper end and via the return flow path 352 near the lower end. The left-right width of the downflow space 362 is greater than the left-right width of the upflow space 343. This makes it possible to suppress a decrease in the flow rate of the refrigerant as it ascends in the upflow space 343, while reducing pressure loss when the refrigerant passes through the downflow space 362.

[0171] (4-7) Seventh Liquid Member The seventh liquid member 37 is stacked on the sixth liquid member 36 on the opposite side to the fifth liquid member 35 in the front-rear direction (an example of the second direction). Specifically, the seventh liquid member 37 is stacked so as to be in contact with the front surface of the sixth liquid member 36. The seventh liquid member 37 extends in parallel to the sixth liquid member 36 and has a plate-like shape with its thickness direction aligned with the extension direction of the flat tubes 28.

[0172] The seventh liquid member 37 extends in the vertical direction (an example of a first direction). Here, the seventh liquid member 37 is a flat plate that extends in both the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0173] The seventh liquid member 37 forms the outer periphery of the liquid header portion 30. By making the seventh liquid member 37 plate-shaped, it is possible to improve pressure resistance.

[0174] The seventh liquid member 37 has a front surface that is in contact with the first claw portion 31d and the second claw portion 31e of the first liquid member 31 and is crimped.

[0175] The seventh liquid member 37 has a seventh opening 370. The seventh opening 370 is an opening that penetrates in the plate thickness direction. When viewed in the front-rear direction, the seventh opening 370 overlaps with a portion of the first communication opening 361 of the sixth liquid member 36, and the seventh opening 370 is in a state of communication with the first communication opening 361 of the sixth liquid member 36. When viewed in the front-rear direction, the seventh opening 370 does not overlap with or communicate with the descending space 362 of the sixth liquid member 36.

[0176] The seventh opening 370 is a circular opening into which the liquid refrigerant connection pipe 20a is inserted and connected. As a result, when the outdoor heat exchanger 11 functions as a refrigerant evaporator, the refrigerant flowing through the liquid refrigerant connection pipe 20a is sent to the inlet space 341 of the fourth opening 340 via the first communication opening 361 and the second communication opening 351.

[0177] (5) Refrigerant Flow in the Liquid Header Section The following describes the refrigerant flow in the liquid header section 30 when the outdoor heat exchanger 11 functions as a refrigerant evaporator. When the outdoor heat exchanger 11 functions as a refrigerant radiator, the refrigerant flow is generally reversed from when the outdoor heat exchanger 11 functions as an evaporator.

[0178] Liquid refrigerant or refrigerant in a gas-liquid two-phase state flows through the liquid refrigerant connecting pipe 20a, passes through the seventh opening 370 of the seventh liquid member 37, and flows into the first communication opening 361 of the sixth liquid member 36. The refrigerant that flows into the first communication opening 361 flows through the second communication opening 351 of the fifth liquid member 35 and into the introduction space 341 of the fourth opening 340 of the fourth liquid member 34. The refrigerant that flows into the introduction space 341 increases its flow velocity as it passes through the nozzle 342, and rises in the ascending space 343. Note that because the width of the ascending space 343 in the left-right direction is narrower than that of the introduction space 341, the refrigerant that flows into the ascending space 343 is more likely to reach the multiple third openings 330 of the third liquid member 33 located near the upper end of the ascending space 343, even when the refrigerant circulation amount in the refrigerant circuit 6 is low, such as when the driving frequency of the compressor 8 is low.

[0179] The refrigerant that flows into the ascending space 343 branches off and flows toward the first region 331 of each third opening 330, heading toward the vicinity of the upper end of the ascending space 343. When the amount of refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit 6 is large, such as when the driving frequency of the compressor 8 is high, more refrigerant reaches the vicinity of the upper end of the ascending space 343, and the refrigerant reaches the descending space 362 of the sixth liquid member 36 via the forward flow path 353 of the fifth liquid member 35. The refrigerant that reaches the descending space 362 descends and is returned again via the return flow path 352 of the fifth liquid member 35 to the space above the nozzle 342, near the bottom of the ascending space 343 of the fourth liquid member 34. In the ascending space 343, the flow velocity of the refrigerant increases as it passes through the nozzle 342, so the static pressure in the portion of the ascending space 343 near the return flow path 352 is lower than that in the portion of the descending space 362 near the return flow path 352. Therefore, the refrigerant that has descended in the descending space 362 is easily returned to the ascending space 343 via the return flow path 352. In this way, the refrigerant can be circulated through the ascending space 343, the forward flow path 353, the descending space 362, and the return flow path 352. Therefore, even if some of the refrigerant branches off and does not flow into any of the third openings 330 while flowing upward in the ascending space 343, it can be returned to the ascending space 343 again via the forward flow path 353, the descending space 362, and the return flow path 352, making it easy for the refrigerant to flow into any of the third openings 330.

[0180] Because the fourth openings 340 constituting the refrigerant flow path overlap with the plurality of third openings 330, the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing out from the fourth openings 340 constituting the refrigerant flow path is adjusted and flows into each of the first regions 331 of each of the third openings 330. The refrigerant that is divided and flows into each of the first regions 331 flows into the flow paths 28b of each of the flat tubes 28 via the second openings 320 of the second liquid member 32 while maintaining its divided state.

[0181] As described above, the fourth opening 340 of the fourth liquid member 34, the fifth opening 350 of the fifth liquid member 35, and the sixth opening 360 of the sixth liquid member 36 form a loop structure in which the refrigerant circulates within the liquid header section 30. The fourth opening 340 forms a blow-up space in which the refrigerant flows from below to above.

[0182] (6) Gas Header Section Fig. 14 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the gas header section 50. In Fig. 14, the two-dot chain arrows indicate the flow of refrigerant when the outdoor heat exchanger 11 functions as a refrigerant radiator.

[0183] The gas header section 50 has a first gas member 51, a second gas member 52, and a third gas member 53. The gas header section 50 is configured by joining the first gas member 51, the second gas member 52, and the third gas member 53 to one another by brazing.

[0184] The first gas member 51 is similar to the first liquid member 31. Therefore, the first gas member 51 has openings 510 for inserting the flat tubes 28. In this embodiment, the first gas member 51 is continuous with the first liquid member 31 in the up-down direction. Therefore, the first liquid member 31 and the first gas member 51 are plate-like members that extend from the upper end to the lower end of the inlet / outlet header 40.

[0185] The second gas member 52 is similar to the second liquid member 32. Therefore, the second gas member 52 has openings 520 for inserting the flat tubes 28. In the present embodiment, the second gas member 52 is continuous with the second liquid member 32 in the up-down direction. Therefore, the second liquid member 32 and the second gas member 52 are plate-like members that extend from the upper end to the lower end of the inlet / outlet header 40.

[0186] The third gas member 53 is stacked on the second gas member 52 on the opposite side in the front-rear direction to the first gas member 51. Specifically, the third gas member 53 is stacked so as to be in contact with the front surface of the second gas member 52. The third gas member 53 extends parallel to the second gas member 52 and has a plate-like shape with its thickness direction aligned with the extension direction of the flat tubes 28.

[0187] The third gas member 53 has a plurality of openings 530. The plurality of openings 530 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction and penetrate the third gas member 53 in the plate thickness direction.

[0188] When viewed in the front-rear direction, the left and right edges of each opening 530 are located more inward than the opening 520 of the second gas member 52 and more inward than the openings 510 of the first gas member 51. The left-right width of the multiple openings 530 of the third gas member 53 is narrower than the left-right width of the flat tube 28.

[0189] The upper and lower edges of the plurality of openings 530 of the third gas member 53 are located outside the openings 510 of the first gas member 51 when viewed in the front-rear direction.

[0190] This allows the vicinity of both ends of the tip of each flat tube 28 inserted into the gas header section 50 in the left-right direction to be abutted against the inner edge forming each opening 530 of the third gas member 53, thereby determining the degree of insertion of the flat tube 28 into the gas header section 50.

[0191] The fourth gas member 54 has a plate-shaped portion 54a and a semicircular portion 54b. The plate-shaped portion 54a is a plate-shaped portion that extends in the vertical and horizontal directions on both the left and right sides of the semicircular portion 54b.

[0192] The semicircular portion 54b is provided to connect the right and left portions of the plate-shaped portion 54a. The semicircular portion 54b is a semicircular arc-shaped portion formed by half of an arc whose axial direction is the longitudinal direction of the gas header portion 50. The semicircular portion 54b bulges outward from the plate-shaped portion 54a toward the side opposite to the first gas member 51. The semicircular portion 54b is provided with an opening 510 that is connected to the gas refrigerant connection pipe 19a of the first gas refrigerant pipe 19.

[0193] The left and right portions of the plate-shaped portion 54 a of the fourth gas member 54 are in contact with the claw portions 51 c of the first gas member 51 and are crimped by the claw portions of the first gas member 51 .

[0194] The partition plate 41 and the upper lid 42 are provided between the second gas member 52 and the fourth gas member 54 and function as a lower lid and an upper lid for forming the internal space of the gas header section 50 .

[0195] (7) Features (7-1) The outdoor heat exchanger 11 as a heat exchanger of this embodiment includes a plurality of flat tubes 28 and a liquid header section 30 (header). The plurality of flat tubes 28 are aligned in the up-down direction (first direction). The flat tubes 28 are connected to the liquid header section 30. The liquid header section 30 includes a third liquid member 33 (first member) and a fourth liquid member 34 (second member). The third liquid member 33 communicates with the refrigerant flow paths 28b of the flat tubes 28. The third liquid member 33 has a plurality of third openings 330 (first openings). The plurality of third openings 330 are aligned in the up-down direction. The fourth liquid member 34 is stacked on the third liquid member 33 in the front-rear direction (second direction) in which the flat tubes 28 extend. The fourth liquid member 34 has a fourth opening 340 (second opening). The fourth opening 340 forms a flow path for the refrigerant. When viewed in the front-rear direction (when viewed in the second direction), the fourth opening 340 overlaps with the multiple third openings 330. When viewed in the front-rear direction, the inner edge portion 33a of the third liquid member 33 that forms the third opening 330 overlaps with the flat tube 28. The third opening 330 has a first region 331 and a second region 332. The first region 331 has a length in the up-down direction that is shorter than a predetermined length. The second region 332 has a length in the up-down direction that is longer than a predetermined length.

[0196] According to the heat exchanger of this embodiment, the inner edge 33 a that forms the third opening 330 overlaps with the flat tube 28, so that the flat tube 28 can be brought into contact with the inner edge 33 a. This makes it possible to determine the insertion position of the flat tube 28 within the liquid header section 30.

[0197] Furthermore, since the fourth opening 340 overlaps with the plurality of third openings 330, the refrigerant can flow from the fourth opening 340 constituting the refrigerant flow path 28b to the plurality of third openings 330. The amount of refrigerant flowing from the fourth opening 340 of the fourth liquid member 34 can be adjusted by the first region 331 in the third opening 330 that is short in the vertical direction.

[0198] As described above, the third liquid member 33 functions both as a member that determines the insertion position of the flat tubes 28 (internal plate member 63 in Patent Document 1) and as a member that adjusts the amount of refrigerant (internal plate member 64 in Patent Document 1). Therefore, the number of members that make up the liquid header section 30 can be reduced.

[0199] Furthermore, when the third liquid member 33 and the fourth liquid member 34 are brazed, the molten brazing material can move to the second region 332, which has a longer vertical length in the third opening 330. This prevents the brazing material from clogging the flow path 28b of the flat tube 28.

[0200] Furthermore, the second region 332 having a long length in the vertical direction can prevent the weight of the third liquid member 33 from increasing.

[0201] Furthermore, by reducing the number of components that make up the liquid header portion 30, the heat capacity is reduced, and the brazing time can be shortened.

[0202] (7-2) In the outdoor heat exchanger 11 serving as the heat exchanger of this embodiment, the first region 331 overlaps with the fourth opening 340 when viewed in the front-rear direction (when viewed in the second direction).

[0203] Here, the first region 331 of the third opening 330 that is short in the vertical direction overlaps with the fourth opening 340, so that the amount of refrigerant flowing from the fourth opening 340 can be easily adjusted.

[0204] (7-3) In the outdoor heat exchanger 11 serving as the heat exchanger of this embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the third opening 330 is the left-right direction (third direction) that intersects the up-down direction and the front-rear direction.

[0205] Here, the longitudinal direction of the third opening 330 is the same as the width direction of the flat tube 28, making it easy to adjust the amount of refrigerant.

[0206] (7-4) In the outdoor heat exchanger 11 serving as a heat exchanger of this embodiment, the first region 331 is located at the center in the left-right direction (third direction) of the third opening 330. In this manner, the first region 331 may be provided at the center in the left-right direction.

[0207] (7-5) In the outdoor heat exchanger 11 serving as a heat exchanger of this embodiment, the inner edge 33a of the third liquid member 33 has a first inner edge 33b on the upper side (one side) in the vertical direction and a second inner edge 33c on the lower side (the other side). The first inner edge 33b has a convex portion 33b1 that protrudes downward, and the second inner edge 33c has a convex portion 33c1 that protrudes upward.

[0208] In this way, the inner edge portion 33a forming the third opening 330 may have the protrusions 33b1 and 33c1 on both sides in the longitudinal direction.

[0209] (7-6) In the outdoor heat exchanger 11 serving as the heat exchanger of this embodiment, the first region 331 is symmetrical with respect to the center line L of the third opening 330 in the left-right direction (third direction).

[0210] Here, since the first region 331 has symmetry in the longitudinal direction, the third liquid member 33 can be applied to other locations.

[0211] (7-7) In the outdoor heat exchanger 11 serving as a heat exchanger of this embodiment, the second regions 332 are located at both ends of the third opening 330 in the left-right direction (third direction).

[0212] Here, during brazing, the molten brazing material easily moves to the second regions 332 located at both ends in the longitudinal direction, so clogging of the brazing material can be suppressed.

[0213] (7-8) In the outdoor heat exchanger 11 serving as a heat exchanger of this embodiment, when viewed from the front-to-back direction (second direction), both ends of the first region 331 are located outside the fourth opening 340 in the left-to-right direction (third direction).

[0214] Here, since the longitudinal length of the first region 331 is greater than that of the fourth opening 340, when the first region 331 is positioned so as to overlap with the fourth opening 340, misalignment between the third liquid member 33 and the fourth liquid member 34 can be tolerated.

[0215] (7-9) In the outdoor heat exchanger 11 serving as a heat exchanger of this embodiment, the length of the third opening 330 in the left-right direction (third direction) is shorter than the length of the flat tubes 28 .

[0216] Here, since the length of the third opening 330 is shorter than the length of the flat tube 28 in the left-right direction, the flat tube 28 can be placed on the outside of both longitudinal ends of the third opening 330 in the third liquid member 33. In this way, the insertion position of the flat tube 28 may be determined at both longitudinal ends of the third opening 330.

[0217] (7-10) In the outdoor heat exchanger 11 serving as the heat exchanger of this embodiment, the fourth opening 340 (second opening) of the fourth liquid member 34 (second member) forms a loop structure in which the refrigerant circulates within the liquid header portion 30 (header).

[0218] Here, the outdoor heat exchanger 11 includes a liquid header section 30 having a loop structure to which the fourth liquid member 34 is applied. Therefore, it is possible to realize the outdoor heat exchanger 11 that suppresses variations in the amount of refrigerant flowing through the plurality of flat tubes 28.

[0219] (7-11) In the outdoor heat exchanger 11 serving as a heat exchanger of this embodiment, the fourth opening 340 (second opening) forms a blow-up space through which the refrigerant flows from below to above.

[0220] Here, the fourth opening 340 of the fourth liquid member 34 forms a blow-up space, allowing the refrigerant to flow from the fourth opening 340 to the plurality of third openings 330. This makes it possible to realize the outdoor heat exchanger 11 that further suppresses variation in the amount of refrigerant flowing through the plurality of flat tubes 28.

[0221] (7-12) In the outdoor heat exchanger 11 serving as the heat exchanger of this embodiment, the refrigerant contains carbon dioxide. Here, a refrigerant containing carbon dioxide, which is a high-pressure refrigerant, can be used.

[0222] (7-13) The air conditioning apparatus 1 as a refrigeration apparatus of this embodiment is equipped with any one of the above outdoor heat exchangers 11. Here, the outdoor heat exchanger 11 is provided, which can reduce the number of components that make up the liquid header section 30, thereby reducing costs.

[0223] Furthermore, the refrigeration system including the outdoor heat exchanger 11 of this embodiment is configured to be able to operate using a high-pressure refrigerant having a pressure exceeding 5 MPa.

[0224] (8) Modifications (8-1) Modification 1 In the above embodiment, the third opening 330 has one first region 331, but this is not limiting. In this modification, as shown in Fig. 15, the third opening 330 has a plurality of first regions 331. Note that Fig. 15 is a view of the vicinity of the third opening 330 of the third liquid member 33 of modification 1 and the flat tube 28 as viewed from the rear side.

[0225] 15 , the third opening 330 has two first regions 331 and three second regions 332. The first regions 331 and the second regions 332 are alternately positioned in the left-right direction (an example of the third direction). In this example, the second region 332, the first region 331, the second region 332, the first region 331, and the second region 332 are positioned from one side to the other in the left-right direction.

[0226] In this modification, the first regions 331 have the same length in the left-right direction, and the second regions 332 have the same length in the left-right direction. The first regions 331 may have the same or different shapes. The second regions 332 may have the same or different shapes.

[0227] In this modification, the second region 332 is located in the center of the third opening 330 in the longitudinal direction.

[0228] Furthermore, the first inner edge 33b located on the upper side forming the third opening 330 has multiple protrusions 33b1, and the second inner edge 33c located on the lower side has multiple protrusions 33c1. Here, the first inner edge 33b has two protrusions 33b1, and the second inner edge 33c has two protrusions 33c1. The two protrusions 33b1 on the upper side and the two protrusions 33c1 on the lower side face each other.

[0229] In the outdoor heat exchanger 11 (heat exchanger) of this modified example, a plurality of first regions 331 are formed in the left-right direction (third direction) of the third opening 330. In this manner, a plurality of first regions 331 may be provided in the longitudinal direction.

[0230] (8-2) Modification 2 In the above embodiment, the third opening 330 is symmetrical with respect to the center line in the up-down direction and the left-right direction, but this is not limiting. In this modification, as shown in Fig. 16 , the third opening 330 is symmetrical with respect to the center line L in the left-right direction, but is not symmetrical with respect to the center line in the up-down direction. Note that Fig. 16 is a rear view of the vicinity of the third opening 330 of the third liquid member 33 and the flat tube 28 in modification 2.

[0231] Specifically, the protruding length of the convex portion 33b1 of the first inner edge portion 33b located on the upper side that forms the third opening 330 is shorter than the protruding length of the convex portion 33c1 of the second inner edge portion 33c located on the lower side.

[0232] As in this modification, the third opening 330 does not have to be symmetrical in the up-down direction (first direction).

[0233] (8-3) Modification 3 In the above embodiment, the first inner edge portion 33b has one convex portion 33b1, and the second inner edge portion 33c has one convex portion 33c1, but this is not limited to this. As shown in Figure 17, one of the inner edge portions may not have a convex portion. Note that Figure 17 is a rear view of the vicinity of the third opening 330 of the third liquid member 33 and the flat tube 28 in Modification 3.

[0234] Specifically, the first inner edge 33b located on the upper side forming the third opening 330 has a protrusion 33b1. On the other hand, the second inner edge 33c located on the lower side extends linearly in the left-right direction and does not have a protrusion.

[0235] As in the second modification, the third opening 330 shown in FIG. 17 is symmetrical with respect to the center line in the left-right direction, but is not symmetrical with respect to the center line in the up-down direction.

[0236] In the outdoor heat exchanger 11 (heat exchanger) of this modified example, the inner edge 33a of the third liquid member 33 (first member) has a first inner edge 33b on the upper side (one side) in the up-down direction (first direction) and a second inner edge 33c on the lower side (the other side). The first inner edge 33b has a convex portion 33b1 that protrudes downward, or the second inner edge 33c has a convex portion 33c1 that protrudes upward. In this way, the inner edge 33a that forms the third opening 330 may have a convex portion on one side in the longitudinal direction.

[0237] (8-4) Modification 4 In the above embodiment, the third opening 330 is symmetrical with respect to the center line (center line) in the up-down and left-right directions, but this is not limiting. In this modification, as shown in Fig. 18 , the third opening 330 is symmetrical with respect to the center line in the up-down direction, but is not symmetrical with respect to the center line L in the left-right direction. Note that Fig. 18 is a view of the vicinity of the third opening 330 of the third liquid member 33 of Modification 4 and the flat tube 28 as viewed from the rear.

[0238] Specifically, the center in the left-right direction of the third opening 330 is different from the center in the left-right direction of the first region 331. In Fig. 18, the center in the left-right direction of the first region 331 is located closer to one end than the center in the left-right direction of the third opening.

[0239] In this modification, the second regions 332 are located at both ends in the left-right direction, and the lengths of the second regions 332 located at both ends in the left-right direction are different. In this modification, the first region 331 is located in the center of the third opening 330 in the longitudinal direction.

[0240] Furthermore, the left-right center of the protrusion 33b1 of the first inner edge 33b that forms the third opening 330 is different from the left-right center of the first inner edge 33b. The left-right center of the protrusion 33c1 of the second inner edge 33c that forms the third opening 330 is different from the left-right center of the second inner edge 33c.

[0241] In the outdoor heat exchanger 11 of this modified example, the center of the third opening 330 in the left-right direction (third direction) is different from the center of the first region 331 in the third direction. In this way, the first region 331 may be provided at a position shifted from the center of the third opening 330 in the left-right direction.

[0242] (8-5) Modification 5 In the above embodiment, the second region 332 is located at both ends in the left-right direction, but this is not limiting. In this modification, as shown in Fig. 19, the second region 332 is located only at one end of the third opening 330. Note that Fig. 19 is a rear view of the third liquid member 33 in Modification 5, near the third opening 330, and the flat tube 28.

[0243] Specifically, the first region 331 is located at one end in the left-right direction of the third opening 330. The left-right length of the first region 331 is longer than the left-right length of the second region 332. In this modification, the first region 331 is located in the center of the third opening 330 in the longitudinal direction.

[0244] Similarly to the fourth modification, the third opening 330 of this modification is symmetrical with respect to the center line in the up-down direction, but is not symmetrical with respect to the center line L in the left-right direction. The center of the third opening 330 in the left-right direction and the center of the first region 331 in the third direction are different.

[0245] In the outdoor heat exchanger 11 (heat exchanger) of this modified example, the first region 331 is located at one end in the left-right direction (third direction) of the third opening 330 (first opening). In this manner, the first region 331 may be provided at one end in the longitudinal direction.

[0246] (8-6) Modification 6 (8-6-1) Configuration In the above embodiment, one end and the other end of the third opening 330 in the third direction do not have any irregularities, but this is not limited to this. In the third opening 330 of this modification, as shown in FIG. 24 , one end of the inner edge portion 33a in the third direction has a recess 33d. The recess 33d is a brazing material reservoir for accumulating brazing material. Note that FIG. 24 is a rear view of the vicinity of the third opening 330 of the third liquid member 33 of Modification 6 and the flat tube 28.

[0247] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 24, the inner edge portion 33a has, as the recesses 33d, a first recess 33d1, a second recess 33d2, a third recess 33d3, and a fourth recess 33d4.

[0248] The first recess 33d1 is located at the right end of the inner edge 33a in the left-right direction and at the upper end of the inner edge 33a in the up-down direction. The first recess 33d1 is recessed toward the right.

[0249] The second recess 33d2 is located at the right end of the inner edge 33a in the left-right direction and at the lower end of the inner edge 33a in the up-down direction. The second recess 33d2 is recessed toward the right.

[0250] The third recess 33d3 is located at the left end of the inner edge 33a in the left-right direction and at the upper end of the inner edge 33a in the up-down direction. The third recess 33d3 is recessed toward the left.

[0251] The fourth recess 33d4 is located at the left end of the inner edge 33a in the left-right direction and at the lower end of the inner edge 33a in the up-down direction. The fourth recess 33d4 is recessed toward the left.

[0252] Furthermore, the third opening 330 does not have to have a point-symmetric shape, but preferably has a point-symmetric shape.

[0253] Although the inner edge 33a forming the first region 331 may have the recess 33d, it is preferable that the inner edge 33a forming the second region 332 has the recess 33d.

[0254] The recess 33 d may be located in the center in the left-right direction, but is preferably located at at least one of the left-right ends. In the latter case, the third liquid member 33 has a function of abutting the flat tube 28 against the inner edge 33 a, and when the flat tube 28 abuts against the inner edge 33 a in the vertical direction (when the length of the third opening 330 is shorter than the length of the flat tube 28 in the vertical direction), the protruding portion of the third opening 330 defined by the recess 33 d can be prevented from being blocked by the flat tube 28.

[0255] (8-6-2) Characteristics In the outdoor heat exchanger 11 serving as the heat exchanger of this modified example, one end of the inner edge portion 33a in the left-right direction (third direction) has a first recess 33d1.

[0256] Here, when brazing is performed with the first recess 33d1 of the third liquid member 33 (first member) facing downward in the direction of gravity, the molten brazing material can move to the protruding portion of the third opening 330 (first opening) defined by the recess 33d, thereby preventing the brazing material from clogging.

[0257] In the outdoor heat exchanger 11 serving as a heat exchanger of this modified example, the inner edge portion 33a further includes a second recess 33d2, a third recess 33d3, and a fourth recess 33d4. The first recess 33d1 is located at one end of the inner edge portion 33a in the left-right direction (third direction) and at one end of the inner edge portion 33a in the up-down direction (first direction). The second recess 33d2 is located at one end of the inner edge portion 33a in the left-right direction and at the other end of the inner edge portion 33a in the up-down direction. The third recess 33d3 is located at the other end of the inner edge portion 33a in the left-right direction and at one end of the inner edge portion 33a in the up-down direction. The fourth recess 33d4 is located at the other end of the inner edge portion 33a in the left-right direction and at the other end of the inner edge portion 33a in the up-down direction.

[0258] Here, when brazing is performed with the first recess 33d1 and the second recess 33d2, or the third recess 33d3 and the fourth recess 33d4 facing downward in the direction of gravity, the molten brazing material can move to the two protruding parts of the third opening 330 defined by the recess 33d facing downward in the direction of gravity, thereby further preventing brazing clogging.

[0259] (8-7) Modification 7 In Modification 6, the third opening 330 has four recesses 33d, but is not limited to this. In this modification, as shown in Fig. 25, the third opening 330 has a first recess 33d1 and a second recess 33d2. Note that Fig. 25 is a rear view of the vicinity of the third opening 330 of the third liquid member 33 and the flat tube 28 in Modification 7.

[0260] According to this modified example, when brazing is performed with the first recess 33d1 and the second recess 33d2 facing downward in the direction of gravity, the molten brazing material can move to the two protruding parts of the third opening 330 defined by the first recess 33d1 and the second recess 33d2, thereby further suppressing brazing clogging.

[0261] (8-8) Modification 8 In Modification 6, the third opening 330 has four recesses 33d, but this is not limited to this. In this modification, as shown in Fig. 26, it has a first recess 33d1 and a fourth recess 33d4. Note that Fig. 26 is a rear view of the vicinity of the third opening 330 of the third liquid member 33 and the flat tube 28 in Modification 8.

[0262] According to this modified example, when brazing is performed with the first recess 33d1 or the fourth recess 33d4 facing downward in the direction of gravity, the molten brazing material can move to the protruding portion of the third opening 330 defined by the first recess 33d1 or the fourth recess 33d4, thereby further suppressing brazing clogging.

[0263] (8-9) Modification 9 In the above-described modification 6, the recess 33d is recessed toward one side or the other in the left-right direction (third direction), but is not limited to this. In this modification, as shown in Fig. 27, the recess is recessed toward one side or the other in the up-down direction (first direction). Note that Fig. 27 is a rear view of the vicinity of the third opening 330 of the third liquid member 33 and the flat tube 28 in modification 9.

[0264] Here, the first recess 33d1 and the third recess 33d3 are recessed upward, and the second recess 33d2 and the fourth recess 33d4 are recessed downward.

[0265] (8-10) Modification 10 In Modification 9, the third opening 330 has four recesses 33d, but is not limited to this. In this modification, as shown in Fig. 28, it has a first recess 33d1 and a second recess 33d2. Note that Fig. 28 is a view of the vicinity of the third opening 330 of the third liquid member 33 and the flat tube 28 of Modification 10 as viewed from the rear side.

[0266] (8-11) Modification 11 In the above-described modifications 6 and 9, each recess 33d is recessed in one direction, but this is not limiting. In this modification, as shown in FIG. 29, the first recess 33d1 and the second recess 33d2 are recessed toward the right. The third recess 33d3 is recessed toward the upper side. The fourth recess 33d4 is recessed toward the lower side. Note that FIG. 29 is a rear view of the vicinity of the third opening 330 of the third liquid member 33 and the flat tube 28 in modification 11.

[0267] (8-12) Modification 12 In Modification 9, the width of the recess 33d in the left-right direction is small, but this is not limiting. In this modification, the width of the recess 33d in the left-right direction is increased, as shown in Fig. 30. Note that Fig. 30 is a rear view of the vicinity of the third opening 330 of the third liquid member 33 and the flat tube 28 in Modification 12.

[0268] (8-13) Modification 13 In the above-described modifications 6 and 9, the recesses 33d are recessed in one direction, but this is not limiting. In this modification, as shown in Fig. 31, each recess 33d is recessed in the up-down direction and the left-right direction. Note that Fig. 31 is a view of the vicinity of the third opening 330 of the third liquid member 33 and the flat tube 28 of modification 13 as viewed from the rear.

[0269] Specifically, the first recess 33d1 is recessed upward and toward the right, the second recess 33d2 is recessed downward and toward the right, the third recess 33d3 is recessed upward and toward the left, and the fourth recess 33d4 is recessed downward and toward the left.

[0270] (8-14) Modification 14 In the above embodiment, the upper first inner edge portion 32b forming the second opening 320 has one protrusion 32b1, and the lower second inner edge portion 32c has one protrusion 32c1, but this is not limited to this. In this modification, as shown in Figure 20, at least one of the first inner edge portion 32b and the second inner edge portion 32c has multiple protrusions. Note that Figure 20 is a view of the vicinity of the second opening 320 of the second liquid member 32 and the flat tube 28 of Modification 14 as viewed from the rear.

[0271] Specifically, the first inner edge 32b located on the upper side forming the second opening 320 has multiple protrusions 32b1, and the second inner edge 32c located on the lower side has multiple protrusions 32c1. Here, the first inner edge 32b has two protrusions 32b1, and the second inner edge 32c has two protrusions 32c1. The two upper protrusions 32b1 and the two lower protrusions 32c1 face each other. The two upper protrusions 32b1 have the same length in the left-right direction. The two lower protrusions 32c1 have the same length in the left-right direction.

[0272] The second opening 320 has two first regions 321 and three second regions 322. The first regions 321 and the second regions 322 are alternately positioned in the left-right direction (an example of a third direction). In this example, the second region 322, the first region 321, the second region 322, the first region 321, and the second region 322 are positioned from one side to the other in the left-right direction.

[0273] In the outdoor heat exchanger 11 of this modified example, at least one of the first inner edge portion 32b and the second inner edge portion 32c that form the second opening 320 has a plurality of protrusions 32b1, 32c1. In this manner, the inner edge portion 32a that forms the second opening 320 may have a plurality of protrusions 32b1, 32c1 on at least one side in the longitudinal direction.

[0274] (8-15) Modification 15 In the above-described modification 14, the lengths of the multiple protrusions in the left-right direction were the same, but this is not limited to this. In this modification, the lengths of the multiple protrusions in the left-right direction are different, as shown in Fig. 21. Note that Fig. 21 is a view of the vicinity of the second opening 320 of the second liquid member 32 and the flat tube 28 in modification 15, as viewed from the rear.

[0275] Specifically, the first inner edge 32b has three protrusions 32b1, and the second inner edge 32c has three protrusions 32c1. The three upper protrusions 32b1 face each other, and the three lower protrusions 32c1 face each other. The two upper protrusions 32b1 near both ends have the same left-right length. However, the two upper protrusions 32b1 near both ends have a shorter left-right length than the central protrusion 32b1. The two lower protrusions 32c1 near both ends have the same left-right length. However, the two lower protrusions 32c1 near both ends have a shorter left-right length than the central protrusion 32c1.

[0276] In the outdoor heat exchanger 11 of this modified example, the lengths of the plurality of protrusions 32b1, 32c1 in the left-right direction (third direction) are different. In this manner, the inner edge portion 32a forming the second opening 320 may have the protrusions 32b1, 32c1 with different longitudinal lengths.

[0277] (8-16) Modification 16 In the above embodiment, the second opening 320 is symmetrical with respect to the center line in the up-down direction and the left-right direction, but this is not limiting. In this modification, as shown in FIG. 22 , the second opening 320 is symmetrical with respect to the center line L in the left-right direction, but not with respect to the center line in the up-down direction. Note that FIG. 22 is a rear view of the second opening 320 and the flat tube 28 of the second liquid member 32 in Modification 16. Specifically, the left-right position of the protruding portion 32b1 of the first inner edge portion 32b located on the upper side that forms the second opening 320 is different from the left-right position of the protruding portion 32c1 of the second inner edge portion 33c located on the lower side. In other words, the protruding portion 32b1 of the first inner edge portion 32b and the second inner edge portion 32c do not face each other.

[0278] In the second opening 320 , the region formed by at least one of the protrusions 32 b 1 and 32 c 1 is the first region 321 , and the region formed by parts other than the protrusions 32 b 1 and 32 c 1 is the second region 322 .

[0279] In the outdoor heat exchanger 11 of this modified example, the second openings 320 are asymmetric with respect to the center line in the up-down direction (first direction). In this manner, the second openings 320 may be provided asymmetric in the short-side direction.

[0280] (8-17) Modification 17 In the above embodiment, the second opening 320 is symmetrical with respect to the center line in the up-down direction and the left-right direction, but this is not limiting. In this modification, as shown in FIG. 23 , the second opening 320 is symmetrical with respect to the center line in the up-down direction but not with respect to the center line L in the left-right direction. Note that FIG. 23 is a rear view of the second opening 320 and the flat tube 28 of the second liquid member 32 of Modification 17. Specifically, the left-right center of the second opening 320 is different from the left-right center of the first region 321. In this modification, the second region 322 is located at both ends in the left-right direction, and the left-right lengths of the second regions 322 located at both ends are different. Note that in this modification, the first region 321 is located at the longitudinal center of the second opening 320.

[0281] Furthermore, the left-right center of the protruding portion 32b1 of the first inner edge portion 32b that forms the second opening 320 is different from the center of the first inner edge portion 32b. Furthermore, the left-right center of the protruding portion 32c1 of the second inner edge portion 32c that forms the second opening 320 is different from the left-right center of the second inner edge portion 32c.

[0282] The outdoor heat exchanger 11 of this modified example is asymmetric with respect to the center line L in the left-right direction (third direction). In this manner, the second openings 320 may be provided asymmetrically in the longitudinal direction.

[0283] It is preferable that the first region 321 of the second opening 320 is arranged so as to overlap with the fourth opening 340 that constitutes the refrigerant flow path of the fourth liquid member 34 when viewed in the front-rear direction (viewed in the second direction). For this reason, this modified example is preferably used when the center of the fourth opening 340 in the left-right direction is shifted toward the end.

[0284] (8-18) Modification 18 In the above embodiment, an example of the shape of the second opening 320 is illustrated in Fig. 10, but this is not limiting. As shown in Fig. 32, the second opening 320 of this modification has a larger ratio (L321 / L322) of the length L321 of the first region 321 to the length L322 of the second region 322 in the up-down direction (first direction) than in the above embodiment. Note that Fig. 32 is a view of the vicinity of the second opening 320 of the second liquid member 32 of Modification 18 and the flat tube 28 as viewed from the rear.

[0285] In addition, in the left-right direction (third direction), the ratio (L'322 / L'321) of the length L'322 of the second region 322 on one side to the length L'321 of the first region 321 is smaller than in the above embodiment. In the left-right direction (third direction), the ratio (L'322 / L'321) of the length L'322 of the second region 322 on one side to the length L'321 of the first region 321 is, for example, 1 / 20 or more and less than 1 / 2.

[0286] (8-19) Modification 19 (8-19-1) Configuration In the above embodiment, one end and the other end of the second opening 320 in the third direction do not have any irregularities, but this is not limited to this. In the second opening 320 of this modification, as shown in FIG. 33, one end of the inner edge portion 32a in the third direction has a recess 32d. The recess 32d is a brazing material reservoir for accumulating brazing material. Note that FIG. 33 is a rear view of the second opening 320 and the flat tube 28 of the second liquid member 32 of Modification 19.

[0287] In detail, as shown in FIG. 33, the inner edge portion 32a has, as the recesses 32d, a first recess 32d1, a second recess 32d2, a third recess 32d3, and a fourth recess 32d4.

[0288] The first recess 32d1 is located at the right end of the inner edge 32a in the left-right direction and at the upper end of the inner edge 32a in the up-down direction. The first recess 32d1 is recessed upward.

[0289] The second recess 32d2 is located at the right end of the inner edge 32a in the left-right direction and at the lower end of the inner edge 32a in the up-down direction. The second recess 32d2 is recessed downward.

[0290] The third recess 32d3 is located at the left end of the inner edge 32a in the left-right direction and at the upper end of the inner edge 32a in the up-down direction. The third recess 32d3 is recessed upward.

[0291] The fourth recess 32d4 is located at the left end of the inner edge 32a in the left-right direction and at the lower end of the inner edge 32a in the up-down direction. The fourth recess 32d4 is recessed downward.

[0292] Furthermore, second opening 320 does not have to have a point-symmetric shape, but preferably has a point-symmetric shape.

[0293] The inner edge 32a forming the first region 321 may have the recess 32d, but it is preferable that the inner edge 32a forming the second region 322 has the recess 32d.

[0294] (8-19-2) Characteristics In the outdoor heat exchanger 11 serving as the heat exchanger of this modified example, one end of the inner edge portion 32a in the third direction has a first recess 32d1.

[0295] Here, when brazing is performed with the first recess 32d1 facing downward in the direction of gravity, the molten brazing material can move to the protruding portion of the second opening 320 defined by the first recess 32d1, thereby preventing the brazing material from clogging.

[0296] In the outdoor heat exchanger 11 as a heat exchanger of this modified example, the inner edge portion 32a further includes a second recess 32d2, a third recess 32d3, and a fourth recess 32d4. The first recess 32d1 is located at one end of the inner edge portion 32a in the left-right direction (third direction) and at one end of the inner edge portion 32a in the up-down direction (first direction). The second recess 32d2 is located at one end of the inner edge portion 32a in the left-right direction and at the other end of the inner edge portion 32a in the up-down direction. The third recess 32d3 is located at the other end of the inner edge portion 32a in the left-right direction and at one end of the inner edge portion 32a in the up-down direction. The fourth recess 32d4 is located at the other end of the inner edge portion 32a in the left-right direction and at the other end of the inner edge portion 32a in the up-down direction.

[0297] Here, when brazing is performed with the first recess 32d1 and the second recess 32d2, or the third recess 32d3 and the fourth recess 32d4 facing downward in the direction of gravity, the molten brazing material can move to the two protruding parts of the second opening 320 defined by the recess 32d facing downward in the direction of gravity, thereby further preventing brazing clogging.

[0298] 33 illustrates four recesses 32d, but the number of recesses 32d may be 1 to 3. Also, although the recesses 32d are illustrated as being located at one end and the other end in the left-right direction, they may be located in the center in the left-right direction.

[0299] Although the recess 32d has been exemplified as having a shape recessed in the vertical direction (first direction), it may have a shape recessed in the horizontal direction (third direction). However, since the second opening 320 is for inserting the flat tube 28, the length between the horizontal ends of the second liquid member 32 and the horizontal ends of the second opening 320 is short, so it is preferable that the first recess 31d1, the second recess 32d2, the third recess 32d3, and the fourth recess 32d4 have a shape recessed in the vertical direction (first direction).

[0300] (8-20) Modification 20 In the above embodiment, the first to seventh liquid members 31 to 37 constituting the liquid header portion 30 are plate-shaped, but this is not limitative and any shape can be adopted.

[0301] (8-21) Modification 21 In the above embodiment, the liquid header section 30 has a loop structure through which the refrigerant circulates, but is not limited to this. The heat exchanger of the present disclosure may also include a header that does not have a loop structure.

[0302] (8-22) Modification 22 In the above embodiment, the heat exchange section 27 of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 is formed in a C-shape in plan view, but is not limited to this. In this modification, the heat exchange section 27 is formed in an L-shape.

[0303] (8-23) Modification 23 In the above embodiment, the opening 530 of the third gas member 53 of the gas header section 50 and the third opening 330 of the third liquid member 33 of the liquid header section 30 have different shapes, but this is not limiting. The third gas member 53 may have the same shape as the third liquid member 33, and they may be used as a common member.

[0304] (8-24) Modification 24 In the above embodiment, the heat exchanger of the present disclosure is applied to an outdoor heat exchanger 11 including a liquid header section 30, but is not limited to this. The heat exchanger of the present disclosure may be applied to an outdoor heat exchanger 11 including a gas header section 50, an outdoor heat exchanger 11 including a folded header 60, or an indoor heat exchanger 91.

[0305] (8-25) Modification 25 In the above-described embodiment, the heat exchanger is applied to the air conditioning apparatus 1, but is not limited to this. The heat exchanger may also be applied to a water heater, a floor heating apparatus, a refrigeration apparatus such as a refrigerator, or the like.

[0306] It is intended from the beginning that the features of the above-described embodiment and modified examples will be combined as appropriate.

[0307] 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.

[0308] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1: Air conditioning apparatus (refrigeration apparatus) 11: Outdoor heat exchanger (heat exchanger) 28: Flat tube 28b: Flow path 30: Liquid header portion (header) 33: Third liquid member (first member) 33a: Inner edge portion 33b: First inner edge portion 33b1: Convex portion 33c: Second inner edge portion 33c1: Convex portion 33d1: First recess 33d2: Second recess 33d3: Third recess 33d4: Fourth recess 34: Fourth liquid member (second member) 330: Third opening (first opening) 331: First region 332: Second region 340: Fourth opening (second opening)

[0309] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-25718

Claims

1. A heat exchanger (11) comprising: a plurality of flat tubes (28) arranged in a first direction; and a header (30) to which the flat tubes are connected, wherein the header includes: a first member (33) communicating with a refrigerant flow path (28b) of the flat tubes and having a plurality of first openings (330) arranged in the first direction; and a second member (34) stacked on the first member in a second direction in which the flat tubes extend and having a second opening (340) that constitutes a refrigerant flow path, wherein the second openings overlap the plurality of first openings when viewed in the second direction; an inner edge portion (33a) that forms the first opening in the first member overlaps the flat tubes when viewed in the second direction; and the first opening has: a first region (331) whose length in the first direction is shorter than a predetermined length; and a second region (332) whose length in the first direction is longer than the predetermined length.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the first region overlaps with the second opening when viewed in the second direction.

3. A heat exchanger according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the longitudinal direction of the first opening is a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction.

4. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein the first region is located at the center of the first opening in the third direction.

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein the center of the first opening in the third direction is different from the center of the first region in the third direction.

6. A heat exchanger as described in claim 3, wherein the inner edge portion of the first member has a first inner edge portion (33b) on one side in the first direction and a second inner edge portion (33c) on the other side, and the first inner edge portion has a convex portion (33b1) that protrudes toward the other side, or the second inner edge portion has a convex portion (33c1) that protrudes toward the one side.

7. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein the first region is located at one end of the first opening in the third direction.

8. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of the first regions are formed in the third direction of the first opening.

9. A heat exchanger according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein one end of the inner edge portion in the third direction has a first recess (33d1).

10. A heat exchanger as described in claim 9, wherein the inner edge portion further has a second recess (33d2), a third recess (33d3), and a fourth recess (33d4), the first recess being located at one end of the inner edge portion in the third direction and one end of the inner edge portion in the first direction, the second recess being located at one end of the inner edge portion in the third direction and the other end of the inner edge portion in the first direction, the third recess being located at the other end of the inner edge portion in the third direction and one end of the inner edge portion in the first direction, and the fourth recess being located at the other end of the inner edge portion in the third direction and the other end of the inner edge portion in the first direction.

11. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein the first region is symmetrical with respect to a center line (L) of the first opening in the third direction.

12. A heat exchanger according to any one of claims 3 to 6 and 8 to 11, wherein the second region is located at both ends of the first opening in the third direction.

13. A heat exchanger according to any one of claims 3 to 12, wherein, when viewed in the second direction, both ends of the first region are located outside the second opening in the third direction.

14. A heat exchanger according to any one of claims 3 to 13, wherein the length of the first opening in the third direction is shorter than the length of the flat tube.

15. A heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the second opening of the second member forms a loop structure in which the refrigerant circulates within the header.

16. The heat exchanger according to claim 15, wherein the second opening forms a blow-up space through which the refrigerant flows from below to above.

17. A heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the refrigerant includes carbon dioxide.

18. A refrigeration device (1) comprising a heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

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