Distributor, heat exchanger, and refrigeration cycle device

Abstract

The present application discloses a distributor, comprising an inlet flow passage. The distributor is used for distributing and discharging a refrigerant flowing in from the inlet flow passage, wherein branch flow passages are provided on the distributor, and the branch flow passages are provided with branch inflow portions for the refrigerant to flow in and a plurality of branch outflow portions for the refrigerant to branch out and flow out. The branch flow passages comprise: an upstream-side branch flow passage, a branch inflow portion of the upstream-side branch flow passage being communicated with the inlet flow passage; a first intermediate branch flow passage, a branch inflow portion of the first intermediate branch flow passage being communicated with one of branch outflow portions of the upstream-side branch flow passage; and a second intermediate branch flow passage, a branch inflow portion of the second intermediate branch flow passage being communicated with another branch outflow portion of the upstream-side branch flow passage, wherein the first intermediate branch flow passage and the second intermediate branch flow passage extend in a first direction, and the projections of the first intermediate branch flow passage and the second intermediate branch flow passage on a plane perpendicular to an end surface of the distributor and parallel to the first direction partially overlap.

Description

A distributor, heat exchanger and refrigeration cycle device

[0001] Related applications

[0002] The present application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411346284X, filed on September 25, 2024, Chinese Patent Application No. 2024223490470, filed on September 25, 2024, Chinese Patent Application No. 2024223493515, filed on September 25, 2024, Chinese Patent Application No. 2024223490004, filed on September 25, 2024, Chinese Patent Application No. 202411345971X, filed on September 25, 2024, Chinese Patent Application No. 2024113471105, filed on September 25, 2024, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present application relates to the technical field of refrigeration equipment, and in particular to a distributor, heat exchanger and refrigeration cycle device. BACKGROUND

[0004] Micro-channel parallel flow heat exchanger is a common form of heat exchanger, which has multiple heat exchange pipes arranged in the vertical direction. In the circulating system of the refrigeration cycle device, whether the refrigerant can be evenly distributed into the heat exchange pipes on the heat exchanger is a key factor affecting the performance of the heat exchanger. This is because, when the heat exchanger is used as an evaporator, the refrigerant needs to pass through the throttling valve to form a gas-liquid two-phase fluid with a certain dryness before entering the heat exchange pipe. These two-phase fluids will separate into gas and liquid when the flow rate slows down before being distributed from the main pipe of the circulating system to the heat exchange pipe. If the gas-liquid phase separation occurs in the traditional header, it will cause the refrigerant flowing into the lower part of the heat exchange pipe to be pure liquid, while the refrigerant flowing into the upper part of the heat exchange pipe to be gas. This uneven distribution will cause the performance of the heat exchanger to drop sharply. SUMMARY

[0005] According to various embodiments of the present application, a distributor, heat exchanger and refrigeration cycle device are provided to effectively improve the problem of low heat exchange efficiency caused by uneven distribution of refrigerant.

[0006] According to an aspect of the present application, there is provided a distributor including an inlet flow path for distributing and discharging refrigerant flowing from the inlet flow path, wherein a branch flow path having a branch inlet portion for refrigerant to flow in and a plurality of branch outlet portions for refrigerant to branch out is provided on the distributor. The branch flow path includes an upstream side branch flow path whose branch inlet portion communicates with the inlet flow path, a first intermediate branch flow path whose branch inlet portion communicates with one of the branch outlet portions of the upstream side branch flow path, and a second intermediate branch flow path whose branch inlet portion communicates with another branch outlet portion of the upstream side branch flow path. The first intermediate branch flow path and the second intermediate branch flow path extend in a first direction, and the projection portions on a plane perpendicular to the end surface of the distributor and parallel to the first direction overlap.

[0007] According to another aspect of the present application, there is provided a heat exchanger including a distributor as described above, and a plurality of heat exchange tubes including at least one first heat exchange tube, at least one second heat exchange tube, at least one third heat exchange tube, and at least one fourth heat exchange tube arranged in a first direction for heat exchange flow of refrigerant. The distributor is connected to the plurality of heat exchange tubes for distributing refrigerant flowing from the inlet flow path to the plurality of heat exchange tubes. The distributor has at least two flow dividing plates on which a branch flow path is provided. The branch flow path has a branch inlet portion for refrigerant to flow in and a plurality of branch outlet portions for refrigerant to branch out. The flow dividing plates include a first flow dividing plate on which the branch flow path is an upstream side branch flow path whose branch inlet portion communicates with the inlet flow path, and a second flow dividing plate on which the branch flow path is an intermediate branch flow path. The intermediate branch flow path includes a first intermediate branch flow path whose branch inlet portion communicates with one of the plurality of branch outlet portions of the upstream side branch flow path, and a second intermediate branch flow path whose branch inlet portion communicates with another of the plurality of branch outlet portions of the upstream side branch flow path. The branch outlet portion of the first intermediate branch flow path communicates with the first heat exchange tube and the third heat exchange tube, and the branch outlet portion of the second intermediate branch flow path communicates with the second heat exchange tube and the fourth heat exchange tube.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present application, there is provided a distributor including: an inflow plate on which an inlet flow path for inflow of refrigerant is formed; a flow path forming plate on which a loop main body portion that communicates with the inlet flow path is provided, the loop main body portion being in a broken ring shape; a first communication plate on which a plurality of first communication portions through which refrigerant of the loop main body portion flows out are formed; and a second communication plate provided between the inflow plate and the flow path forming plate or between the flow path forming plate and the first communication plate, the second communication plate being formed with a second communication portion that communicates both ends of the loop main body portion that are broken.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present application, there is provided a heat exchanger including a plurality of heat exchange tubes arranged in a first direction for passage of refrigerant, and a distributor for distributing refrigerant to the plurality of heat exchange tubes. The distributor includes: an inflow plate on which an inlet flow path is formed; a flow path forming plate on which a loop main body portion that communicates with the inlet flow path is provided, the loop main body portion being in a broken ring shape; and a first communication plate on which a plurality of first communication portions through which refrigerant of the loop main body portion flows out are formed, the first communication portions respectively communicating with the plurality of heat exchange tubes. The inflow plate or the first communication plate is formed with a second communication portion that communicates both ends of the loop main body portion that are broken.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present application, there is provided a distributor that is connectable to a heat exchange tube. The distributor includes: an inflow plate on which an inlet flow path is formed; and at least one branch plate on which at least one branch flow path for branching refrigerant flowing in from the inlet flow path to pass to the heat exchange tube is formed. The branch flow path has a branch inflow portion into which refrigerant flows, and a plurality of branch flow-out portions through which refrigerant branches out. The branch plate closest to the heat exchange tube is a downstream side branch plate. In the downstream side branch plate, the branch flow-out portions extend in a direction orthogonal to a first direction, the first direction being a length direction of the downstream side branch plate, and the branch inflow portion is disposed close to a windward side of the heat exchanger at a position where the branch inflow portion and the branch flow-out portions are connected.

[0011] According to another aspect of the present application, a heat exchanger is provided, comprising: a plurality of heat exchange tubes arranged in a first direction for circulation of refrigerant, the heat exchange tubes being flat tubes; and a distributor for distributing refrigerant to the plurality of heat exchange tubes. The distributor comprises: an inflow plate having an inlet flow path formed thereon; at least one branch flow plate having at least one branch flow path formed thereon for branching refrigerant flowing from the inlet flow path for circulation, the branch flow path having a branch inflow portion for inflow of refrigerant and a plurality of branch outflow portions for outflow of refrigerant, the branch flow plate closest to the heat exchange tubes being a downstream branch flow plate; and an outflow plate having a plurality of outlet flow paths formed thereon, the outlet flow paths communicating the branch outflow portions of the downstream branch flow plate and the heat exchange tubes. The branch outflow portions have branch outflow ends for outflow of refrigerant on the downstream branch flow plate. The branch outflow ends are disposed close to a windward side of the heat exchanger.

[0012] According to yet another aspect of the present application, a refrigeration cycle device is provided, comprising the heat exchanger according to any one of the above aspects.

[0013] According to the embodiments of the present application, since the first intermediate branch flow path and the second intermediate branch flow path respectively communicate with one branch outflow portion of the upstream branch flow path, the two paths of refrigerant branched for the first time in the upstream branch flow path flow to the first intermediate branch flow path and the second intermediate branch flow path, respectively. Since the first intermediate branch flow path and the second intermediate branch flow path extend in the first direction and the projection parts thereof on a plane perpendicular to the end surface of the distributor overlap, the two paths of refrigerant branched for the first time form an alternating distribution pattern in the first direction at the heat exchange tubes. The alternating distribution of the two paths of refrigerant at the heat exchange tubes makes the two paths of refrigerant relatively close to each other at different parts of the heat exchanger, and the heat conduction and heat exchange speed between the heat exchange tubes is relatively fast, which can effectively reduce the problem of low heat exchange efficiency caused by uneven distribution of the two paths of refrigerant, thereby effectively improving the heat exchange efficiency.

[0014] According to the embodiments of the present application, the flow path forming plate is provided with a ring main body portion in the form of a broken ring, and the inflow plate or the second communication plate is provided with a recess-shaped second communication portion for communicating the two ends of the ring main body portion broken by the ring main body portion. Thus, the ring main body portion and the second communication portion form a complete annular circulation flow path, and the refrigerant forms self-circulation in the circulation flow path by its own impact, which can make the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant mixture more uniform, and then branched to each first communication portion, which can ensure that the refrigerant is distributed more uniformly, thereby effectively improving the heat exchange efficiency.

[0015] According to the embodiments in the present application, the branch flow-out portion of the downstream side flow distribution plate extends along a direction orthogonal to the first direction (i.e., the length direction of the downstream side flow distribution plate), and the connection position of the branch flow-in portion and the branch flow-out portion is arranged close to the windward side of the heat exchanger, so that the distance from the branch flow-in portion to the windward side portion of the heat exchange tube is shorter than the distance to the leeward side portion of the heat exchange tube. Therefore, the refrigerant in the branch flow-in port flow path will flow to the windward side portion of the heat exchange tube first, so that more refrigerant is obtained in the hole close to the windward side in the heat exchange tube, and the temperature of the air gradually decreases when flowing from the windward end to the leeward end of the heat exchange tube, for example when the heat exchanger is an evaporator, and the refrigerant flow in the heat exchange tube close to the windward side is more, which can adapt to the energy of the air in the windward direction, so that the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger is higher. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or the prior art, the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments or the prior art description will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only embodiments of the present application, and other drawings can also be obtained according to the disclosed drawings without creative labor for those skilled in the art.

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a diagram of the appearance of a refrigeration cycle device according to some embodiments.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a diagram of a refrigerant system in a refrigeration cycle device according to some embodiments.

[0019] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a refrigeration cycle device according to some embodiments.

[0020] FIG. 4 shows a structural schematic diagram of a heat exchanger in a refrigeration cycle device according to some embodiments.

[0021] FIG. 5 shows a side view of a heat exchanger in a refrigeration cycle device according to some embodiments.

[0022] FIG. 6 shows a partial schematic diagram of a micro-channel heat exchanger in a refrigeration cycle device according to some embodiments.

[0023] FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view at a gas header in a heat exchanger according to some embodiments.

[0024] FIG. 8 shows an exploded perspective view of a distributor according to some embodiments.

[0025] FIG. 9 shows a diagram of the distributor shown in FIG. 8 in an exploded flat state according to some embodiments.

[0026] FIG. 10 shows a diagram of the branch flow path of a distributor and a heat exchange tube in an exploded flat state according to related art.

[0027] FIG. 11 shows a schematic view of a first flow splitter plate in a distributor, according to some embodiments.

[0028] FIG. 12 shows a front view partial view of an inlet flow path and branch inflow in a distributor, according to some embodiments.

[0029] FIG. 13 shows a schematic view of an intermediate branch flow path in a distributor, according to some embodiments.

[0030] FIG. 14 shows a schematic view of a downstream side branch flow path in a distributor, according to some embodiments.

[0031] FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of a distributor in a disassembled state, according to some embodiments.

[0032] FIG. 16 shows a view of a distributor in a disassembled tiled state, according to some other embodiments.

[0033] FIG. 17 shows a view of a distributor in a disassembled tiled state, according to some other embodiments.

[0034] FIG. 18 shows a view of a distributor in a disassembled tiled state, according to yet other embodiments.

[0035] FIG. 19 shows a perspective view of a distributor, according to yet other embodiments.

[0036] FIG. 20 shows a perspective view of a tee, according to some embodiments.

[0037] FIG. 21 shows a front view of a tee, according to some embodiments.

[0038] FIG. 22 shows a top view of a distributor, according to some other embodiments.

[0039] FIG. 23 shows a view of a distributor in a disassembled tiled state, according to some embodiments.

[0040] FIG. 24 shows a schematic view of a flow path forming plate in the distributor of FIG. 23, according to some embodiments.

[0041] FIG. 25 shows a view of a distributor in a disassembled tiled state, according to some other embodiments.

[0042] FIGS. 26 and 27 show schematic views of branch flow paths in the distributor of FIG. 25, according to some embodiments.

[0043] FIG. 28 shows a perspective view of a distributor in a disassembled state, according to some other embodiments.

[0044] FIG. 29 shows a view of a distributor in a disassembled tiled state, according to yet other embodiments.

[0045] FIG. 30 shows a schematic view of the flow path forming plate in the distributor shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, according to some embodiments.

[0046] FIG. 31 shows a view of the distributor in an exploded, laid-flat state, according to yet other embodiments.

[0047] FIG. 32 shows a schematic view of the flow path forming plate in the distributor, according to yet other embodiments.

[0048] FIG. 33 shows a view of the distributor in an exploded, laid-flat state, according to yet other embodiments.

[0049] FIG. 34 shows a perspective view of the flow-in plate in the distributor shown in FIG. 33, according to some embodiments.

[0050] FIG. 35 shows a top view of the distributor, according to still other embodiments.

[0051] FIG. 36 shows a perspective view of the distributor in an exploded state, according to some embodiments.

[0052] FIG. 37 shows a view of the distributor shown in FIG. 36 in an exploded, laid-flat state, according to some embodiments.

[0053] FIG. 38 shows a schematic view I of the branch flow path shown in FIGS. 36 and 37, according to some embodiments.

[0054] FIG. 39 shows a front, partial view of the downstream-side branch flow path and heat exchange tubes of the distributor shown in FIGS. 36 and 37, according to some embodiments.

[0055] FIG. 40 shows a schematic view II of the branch flow path shown in FIGS. 36 and 37, according to some embodiments.

[0056] FIG. 41 shows a view of the distributor in an exploded, laid-flat state, according to other embodiments.

[0057] FIG. 42 shows a schematic view of the branch flow path shown in FIG. 41, according to some embodiments.

[0058] FIG. 43 shows a front, partial view of the downstream-side branch flow path and heat exchange tubes of the distributor shown in FIG. 41, according to some embodiments.

[0059] FIG. 44 shows a schematic view of the branch flow path, according to other embodiments.

[0060] FIG. 45 shows a top view of the distributor, according to yet other embodiments.

[0061] FIG. 46 shows a graph of heat exchanger height vs. air velocity / refrigerant flow rate.

[0062] FIG. 47 shows a partial view of a heat exchanger, according to some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0063] For the purpose of clarity and a thorough understanding of the application, the application will be described in greater detail with reference to the drawings, wherein:

[0064] In the description of the application, it needs to be understood that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer" and the like indicate the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and are only for the purpose of facilitating the description of the application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the application.

[0065] The terms "first", "second", "third", etc. are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the technical features indicated. Therefore, the features defined with "first", "second" can explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the application, unless otherwise specified, the meaning of "a plurality of" is two or more.

[0066] In the description of the application, it needs to be explained that unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "mounting", "connecting", "connection" should be understood broadly, for example, it can be fixed connection, or detachable connection, or integral connection; it can be mechanical connection, or electrical connection; it can be directly connected, or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or the communication inside two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0067] In the related art, whether the refrigerant in the circulation system of the refrigeration cycle device can be more evenly distributed into the heat exchange pipes on the heat exchanger is a key factor affecting the performance of the heat exchanger. After condensation, the refrigerant needs to pass through the throttling device to reduce pressure before evaporation, forming gas-liquid two-phase fluid with a certain dryness. Before these two-phase fluids are distributed into the heat exchange pipes, there may be gas-liquid separation, which can lead to uneven distribution, and further lead to low heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger.

[0068] To this end, conventional heat exchangers usually adopt a manner of configuring a distributor at the inlet of each heat exchange tube to evenly distribute refrigerant to each heat exchange tube by the distributor. For example, in Chinese Patent Application CN105492855A, a laminated header (i.e., a distributor) is formed by laminating multiple plates, and branch flow paths are provided on the middle plate to distribute refrigerant into multiple paths.

[0069] Conventional distributors usually distribute refrigerant into two paths at the inlet side, and the refrigerant in the upper path finally flows into the upper heat exchange tubes, and the refrigerant in the lower path finally flows into the lower heat exchange tubes. In actual situations, due to manufacturing process problems, for example, during welding of multiple plates, it is inevitable that some solder flows into a certain part of the flow path of the distributor, thereby reducing the refrigerant in this part, and further causing the flow distribution of the upper heat exchange tubes and the lower heat exchange tubes of the heat exchanger to be uneven, which finally affects the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger.

[0070] According to various embodiments of the present application, a distributor, a heat exchanger, and a refrigeration cycle device are provided, which can effectively reduce the problem of low heat exchange efficiency caused by uneven refrigerant distribution, thereby effectively improving the heat exchange efficiency.

[0071] <Structure of refrigeration cycle device>

[0072] Referring to FIG. 1, a refrigeration cycle device according to an embodiment of the present application includes an outdoor unit 100 located in an outdoor space to perform heat exchange between refrigerant and outdoor air, and an indoor unit 200 located in an indoor space to perform heat exchange between refrigerant and indoor air.

[0073] As an example, FIG. 1 shows a multi-split type refrigeration cycle device, in which case the indoor unit 200 has multiple indoor units. However, the refrigeration cycle device of the present application is also applicable to the case of one indoor unit 200.

[0074] Referring to FIG. 2, the outdoor unit 100 includes a compressor 111 to compress refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger 112 to perform heat exchange between outdoor air and refrigerant, a four-way valve 113 to selectively guide refrigerant compressed by the compressor 111 to the outdoor heat exchanger 112 or the indoor unit 200 according to a heating mode or a cooling mode, an outdoor throttling device 114 to decompress refrigerant guided to the outdoor heat exchanger 112 in the heating mode, and a receiver 115 to prevent liquid refrigerant that is not evaporated from flowing to the compressor 111.

[0075] The compressor 111 compresses low-pressure gaseous refrigerant into high-pressure gaseous refrigerant using the rotational force of a compressor motor (not shown) when the compressor 111 is powered on.

[0076] The four-way valve 113 guides the refrigerant compressed in the compressor 111 to the outdoor heat exchanger 112 in the cooling mode, and guides the refrigerant compressed in the compressor 111 to the indoor unit 200 in the heating mode.

[0077] The outdoor heat exchanger 112 condenses the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 111 in the cooling mode, and evaporates the refrigerant decompressed by the indoor unit 200 in the heating mode.

[0078] The outdoor unit 100 according to an embodiment of the present application further includes an outdoor fan 116 that blows outdoor air to the outdoor heat exchanger 112.

[0079] The outdoor throttling device 114 decompresses the refrigerant by using a throttling action on the refrigerant. When the refrigerant passes through a narrow passage, the pressure of the refrigerant is reduced without heat exchange with the outside. The outdoor throttling device 114 can be specifically an expansion valve or a capillary tube, etc.

[0080] The indoor unit 200 includes an indoor heat exchanger 211 that performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and indoor air, and an indoor throttling device 212 that decompresses the refrigerant supplied to the indoor heat exchanger 211 in the cooling mode.

[0081] The indoor heat exchanger 211 evaporates the refrigerant in a gas-liquid two-phase state in the cooling mode, and condenses the refrigerant in a high-pressure gas state in the heating mode.

[0082] Hereinafter, the flow of the refrigerant in the cooling mode or the heating mode of the refrigeration cycle device will be described.

[0083] When the refrigeration cycle device operates in the cooling mode, the refrigerant is compressed to a high-pressure state by the compressor 111 of the outdoor unit 100. As the refrigerant is compressed, the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant increase.

[0084] The compressed refrigerant is guided to the outdoor heat exchanger 112 through the four-way valve 113. The refrigerant is condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger 112, and heat exchange between the refrigerant and outdoor air is performed at the same time as the refrigerant is condensed. Specifically, the state of the refrigerant changes from a gas state to a liquid state.

[0085] The condensed refrigerant is supplied to the indoor unit 200 after passing through the outdoor throttling device 114.

[0086] The refrigerant provided to the indoor unit 200 is decompressed by the indoor throttling device 212, so that the refrigerant becomes a low-temperature, low-pressure, two-phase refrigerant.

[0087] The reduced-pressure refrigerant is evaporated by the indoor heat exchanger 211, and heat exchange between the refrigerant and indoor air is performed at the same time as the refrigerant is evaporated. In this way, the state of the refrigerant becomes a gaseous state.

[0088] The evaporated gaseous refrigerant is supplied to the outdoor unit 100 after passing through the indoor heat exchanger 211, and is supplied to the accumulator 115 via the four-way valve 113. In the accumulator 115, the refrigerant is separated into liquid refrigerant that is not evaporated and gaseous refrigerant that is evaporated, and the gaseous refrigerant is again supplied to the compressor 111, thereby completing one cycle of the refrigerant.

[0089] As described above, in the cooling mode, the refrigeration cycle device can cool indoor air using heat exchange between the refrigerant and indoor air generated in the indoor heat exchanger 211.

[0090] When the refrigeration cycle device operates in the heating mode, the refrigerant is compressed to a high pressure by the compressor 111 of the outdoor unit 100, and the temperature of the refrigerant increases as the pressure of the refrigerant increases.

[0091] The compressed refrigerant is guided to the indoor unit 200 after passing through the four-way valve 113.

[0092] The refrigerant is condensed by the indoor heat exchanger 211, and heat exchange between the refrigerant and indoor air is performed at the same time as the refrigerant is condensed. In this way, the state of the refrigerant changes from a gaseous state to a liquid state.

[0093] The condensed refrigerant is again supplied to the outdoor unit 100 after passing through the indoor heat exchanger 211.

[0094] The refrigerant supplied to the outdoor unit 100 is reduced in pressure by the outdoor throttling device 114, and in this way the refrigerant becomes a low-temperature, low-pressure, two-phase state.

[0095] The reduced-pressure refrigerant is evaporated by the outdoor heat exchanger 112, and heat exchange between the refrigerant and outdoor air is performed at the same time as the refrigerant is evaporated. In this way, the state of the refrigerant becomes a gaseous state.

[0096] The gaseous refrigerant evaporated by the outdoor heat exchanger 112 is supplied to the accumulator 115 via the four-way valve 113. In the accumulator 115, the refrigerant is separated into liquid refrigerant that is not evaporated and gaseous refrigerant that is evaporated, and the gaseous refrigerant is again supplied to the compressor 111, thereby completing one cycle of the refrigerant.

[0097] As described above, in the heating mode, the refrigeration cycle device can heat indoor air using heat exchange between the refrigerant and indoor air generated in the indoor heat exchanger 211.

[0098] In this application, the outdoor heat exchanger 112 and the indoor heat exchanger 211 are collectively referred to as a heat exchanger 300. The outdoor fan 116 and the indoor fan 213 are collectively referred to as a fan 510. The outdoor throttling device 114 and the indoor throttling device 212 are collectively referred to as a throttling device.

[0099] As an example, FIG. 3 is a view showing a top air discharge type outdoor unit. That is, the fan 510 is located above the heat exchanger 300. The arrows in FIG. 3 schematically show the flow of air. When the fan 510 is operated, air enters the outdoor unit 100 from the lower side, and is discharged through the top of the outdoor unit 100 after exchanging heat with the heat exchanger 300.

[0100] The end of the heat exchanger 300 extends a plurality of heat exchange tubes 310 (which will be described in detail below) arranged from top to bottom to serve as an inlet for the flow of refrigerant and an outlet for the flow of refrigerant.

[0101] When the heat exchanger 300 is used as an evaporator, two-phase refrigerant that has passed through the throttling device is introduced into the evaporator, and the two-phase refrigerant can be separated into a gas phase and a liquid phase when the space or flow rate is large, thereby causing uneven distribution. In particular, for the outdoor unit shown in FIG. 3, the heat exchanger 300 has a large volume and a high height, and a large number of heat exchange tubes 310 are arranged in the vertical direction. According to embodiments of the present application, a refrigeration cycle device having a large volume and a high height can also effectively reduce the problem of uneven distribution of refrigerant.

[0102] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the structure of the heat exchanger 300.

[0103] <Structure of the heat exchanger 300>

[0104] Referring to FIGS. 4 to 7, the heat exchanger 300 includes a heat exchanger main body 340. The heat exchanger main body 340 has a plurality of heat exchange tubes 310 and fins 320.

[0105] Refrigerant flows in the heat exchange tubes 310. The fins 320 are connected to the heat exchange tubes 310. The heat exchange efficiency between the refrigerant and air can be improved by increasing the surface area of the heat exchange tubes 310.

[0106] The heat exchange tubes 310 can be flat tubes or round tubes.

[0107] When the heat exchange tubes 310 are round tubes, the heat exchanger 300 is a fin-pass heat exchanger. When viewed from the side of the heat exchanger 300, the heat exchange tubes 300 extend in an "S" shape from top to bottom. The heat exchange tubes 310 are passed through the fins 320.

[0108] When the heat exchange tube 310 is a flat tube, the heat exchanger 300 is a microchannel heat exchanger. The plurality of flat tubes are arranged in a first direction, for example, the first direction can be from top to bottom, or can be from bottom to top. The fins 320 are connected between the flat tubes.

[0109] The following is described by taking the microchannel heat exchanger as an example. The heat exchange tube 310 can be made of aluminum, and the fin 320 can be made of aluminum. The heat exchange tube 310 and the fin 320 are connected by welding.

[0110] The heat exchange tube 310 is a porous tube having a plurality of holes 310a, which form refrigerant flow paths. The refrigerant exchanges heat with air when flowing through each hole 310a of the heat exchange tube 310. The plurality of holes 310a are arranged in the heat exchange tube 310 along the flow direction of the air relative to the heat exchanger body 340.

[0111] At both ends of the heat exchanger body 340 in the transverse direction, a plurality of heat exchange tubes 310 extend relative to the fins 320 for connection to the refrigerant system.

[0112] The heat exchanger 300 includes a pair of headers connected to both ends of the heat exchanger body 340, and the headers are connected to the extended heat exchange tubes 310.

[0113] One of the headers is a distributor 400 through which a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows. The other header is a gas header 330 through which a gas refrigerant flows. A flow divider 600 having a plurality of capillary tubes 610 is connected to the distributor 400.

[0114] The refrigerant needs to be divided into the plurality of heat exchange tubes 310 of the heat exchanger 300. If the refrigerant entering the heat exchange tube 310 is not evenly distributed, the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 300 will be affected.

[0115] The distributor 400 is connected to the heat exchange tube 310 to ensure that the refrigerant entering each heat exchange tube 310 of the heat exchanger 300 is substantially uniform, thereby effectively improving the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 300.

[0116] When the heat exchanger 300 is used as a condenser, because the refrigerant entering the condenser is a superheated gas after being compressed by the compressor 111, the refrigerant generally needs to be evenly distributed at the inlet of the condenser. When the end of the heat exchanger 300 connected to the four-way valve 113 is used as an inflow end, there is generally no uneven distribution, so this end of the heat exchanger 300 can be provided with a conventional gas header 330, and the distributor 400 is only provided at the end of the heat exchanger 300 connected to the throttling device. In other embodiments, the gas header 330 can also be in the form of a distributor structure.

[0117] The distributor 400 is provided with a refrigerant inflow portion as a flow inlet of the refrigerant and a plurality of refrigerant outflow portions as flow outlets of the refrigerant.

[0118] Referring to FIG. 7, the gas header 330 can have a closed cylindrical shape or a rectangular cylindrical shape. A cavity in the gas header 330 forms a converging flow path 331. A plurality of heat exchange tubes 310 are connected at an inflow side of the converging flow path 331. A refrigerant pipe is connected at an outflow side of the converging flow path 331.

[0119] A plurality of refrigerant inflow portions and one or more refrigerant outflow portions are provided on the gas header 330. Capillary tubes 610 are connected at the refrigerant inflow portions of the distributor 400, and a refrigerant pipe of a refrigerant system is connected at the refrigerant outflow portions of the gas header 330. The heat exchange tubes 310 are connected at the refrigerant outflow portions of the distributor 400 and the refrigerant inflow portions of the gas header 330.

[0120] When the heat exchanger 300 functions as an evaporator, the refrigerant flowing into the distributor 400 via the refrigerant inflow portions is divided and flows out to the plurality of heat exchange tubes 310 via the plurality of refrigerant outflow portions. The refrigerant flowing in the plurality of heat exchange tubes 310 exchanges heat with air driven by the fan 510. The refrigerant flowing in the plurality of heat exchange tubes 310 converges in the gas header 330 via the plurality of refrigerant inflow portions and flows out to the refrigerant pipe via the refrigerant outflow portion.

[0121] In addition, when the heat exchanger 300 functions as a condenser, the refrigerant flows in the opposite direction.

[0122] <Structure of the distributor 400>

[0123] Hereinafter, first, the structure of the distributor 400 shown in FIGS. 8 to 22 according to some embodiments of the present application will be described in detail, and the distributor 400 will be described as an example of a laminated distributor.

[0124] FIGS. 8 and 9 show a distributor 400 according to some embodiments of the present application. Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the distributor 400 is laminated by a plurality of plate bodies. In the present application, a direction in which the heat exchange tubes 310 are arranged is set as a first direction Z, a direction in which the plate bodies are laminated, which is also a direction in which the refrigerant flows into the heat exchange tubes 310, is set as a second direction X, and a direction orthogonal to the first direction Z and the second direction X is set as a third direction Y. That is, in FIGS. 8 and 9, the distributor 400 is disposed in the first direction Z, also referred to as an up-down direction Z, in the second direction X, also referred to as a front-rear direction X, and in the third direction Y, also referred to as a left-right direction Y.

[0125] Hereinafter, the flow direction of the refrigerant at the distributor 400 when the heat exchanger functions as an evaporator will be described.

[0126] In some embodiments of the present application, referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the distributor 400 can further include an inflow plate 410. The inflow plate 410 is a rectangular plate having a long length in the up-down direction Z. The plate surface of the inflow plate 410 is parallel to the plane formed by the up-down direction Z and the left-right direction Y.

[0127] The inflow plate 410 is provided with a through hole penetrating therethrough in the front-rear direction X to form an inlet flow path 411. The inlet flow path 411 can be used as a refrigerant inflow portion of the distributor 400.

[0128] The inflow plate 410 can include one or a plurality of plates stacked.

[0129] The flow path cross section of the inlet flow path 411 is circular, so the inlet flow path 411 can be connected to the capillary tube 610 (or refrigerant pipe). The inlet flow path 411 can be directly connected to the capillary tube 610 (or refrigerant pipe) by welding. Alternatively, a pipe joint can be connected at the inlet flow path 411, and the capillary tube 610 can be connected through the pipe joint.

[0130] Note that the flow path cross section here refers to a cross section obtained by cutting the flow path orthogonally in the flow direction of the refrigerant. The flow direction of the refrigerant refers to the direction in which the refrigerant flows in the inlet flow path 411.

[0131] The distributor 400 can further include at least one flow dividing plate. The flow dividing plate is provided with a branch flow path for realizing branch flow-out of the refrigerant.

[0132] In some embodiments of the present application, referring to FIGS. 8, 9, and 11, the distributor 400 can further include a first flow dividing plate 420. The first flow dividing plate 420 is a rectangular plate having a long length in the up-down direction Z. The length of the first flow dividing plate 420 in the up-down direction Z and the width in the left-right direction Y are substantially the same as the length of the inflow plate 410 in the up-down direction Z and the width in the left-right direction Y. The plate surface of the first flow dividing plate 420 is parallel to the plane formed by the up-down direction Z and the left-right direction Y.

[0133] The first flow dividing plate 420 is provided with at least one through groove penetrating therethrough in the front-rear direction X to form at least one branch flow path.

[0134] The branch flow path has a branch inflow portion 401 and at least two branch flow-out portions 402a. After the refrigerant flows into the branch flow path from the branch inflow portion 401, it is divided into multiple paths and flows out from the branch flow-out portions 402a, respectively.

[0135] In order to distinguish the branch flow path on the first flow dividing plate 420 from the branch flow path on the second flow dividing plate 430 described later, the branch flow path on the first flow dividing plate 420 will be referred to herein as an upstream side branch flow path 421. Thus, the first flow dividing plate 420 can also be referred to as an upstream side flow dividing plate 420.

[0136] The upstream-side branch flow passage 421 has a branch inflow portion 401 and at least two branch portions 402. One end of the branch portion 402 is connected to the branch inflow portion 401, and the other end of the branch portion 402 forms a branch outflow portion 402a. The branch inflow portion 401 is in communication with the inlet flow passage 411 of the inflow plate 410.

[0137] The branch portion 402 extends from the branch inflow portion 401 in the substantially vertical direction Z.

[0138] In the embodiment of the present application, with reference to FIG. 11, the branch inflow portion 401 includes a first branch inflow portion 401a and a second branch inflow portion 401b separated by a partition portion 422. The first branch inflow portion 401a and the second branch inflow portion 401b are arranged along the horizontal direction Y symmetrically with respect to the partition portion 422.

[0139] With reference to FIG. 12, in the horizontal direction Y, the width w of the first branch inflow portion 401a is not greater than the width u of the branch portion 402. The width w of the first branch inflow portion 401a is not greater than the diameter D of the inlet flow passage 411.

[0140] Since the width w of the first branch inflow portion 401a in the horizontal direction Y is relatively small, the refrigerant flowing into the first branch inflow portion 401a can flow in the vertical direction Z.

[0141] In the horizontal direction Y, the width w of the second branch inflow portion 401b is not greater than the width u of the branch portion 402. The width w of the second branch inflow portion 401b is not greater than the diameter D of the inlet flow passage 411.

[0142] Since the width w of the second branch inflow portion 401b in the horizontal direction Y is relatively small, the refrigerant flowing into the second branch inflow portion 401b can flow in the vertical direction Z.

[0143] The overlapping portion of the first branch inflow portion 401a and the inlet flow passage 411 of the inflow plate 410 and the overlapping portion of the second branch inflow portion 401b and the inlet flow passage 411 of the inflow plate 410 have the same area in the plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction X, i.e., in the YZ plane. The present application provides the partition portion 422 at the branch inflow portion 401, so that the first branch inflow portion 401a and the second branch inflow portion 401b are arranged along the horizontal direction, which can prevent the flow deviation caused by the gas-liquid stratification in the capillary tube 610.

[0144] In the embodiment of the present application, with continued reference to FIGS. 8 to 11, in the upstream-side branch flow passage 421, the plurality of branch portions 402 connected at the same branch inflow portion 401 extend in the same direction. Exemplarily, both of the two branch portions 402 extend upward from the branch inflow portion 401.

[0145] The same direction extension of the branch portion 402 can make the end branch outflow portion 402a closer in the extension direction, and can make the positions between the plurality of branch inflow portions 401 of the second distribution plate 430 described later closer.

[0146] With reference to FIG. 11 in detail, in the upstream side branch flow path 421, the branch portion 402 includes a transition portion 403 and an outflow portion 404. The transition portion 403 is connected between the branch inflow portion 401 and the outflow portion 404. The free end of the outflow portion 404 is the branch outflow portion 402a.

[0147] The outflow portion 404 is not on the extension line of the branch inflow portion 401 in the up-down direction Z, and the transition portion 403 is inclined with respect to the outflow portion 404.

[0148] As shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, the branch inflow portion 401 and the outflow portion 404 each extend in the up-down direction Z.

[0149] In the direction from the branch inflow portion 401 to the outflow portion 404, the left transition portion 403 is inclined away from the right branch portion 402. In the direction from the branch inflow portion 401 to the outflow portion 404, the right transition portion 403 is inclined away from the left branch portion 402. In this way, the branch outflow portions 402a of the two branch portions 402 are separated by a certain distance in the left-right direction Y, and the plurality of branch inflow portions 401 of the second distribution plate 430 described later can be separated by a certain distance in the left-right direction Y.

[0150] In other embodiments, the upstream side branch flow path 421 can also be configured in other shapes, such as a "Z" shape, etc.

[0151] In some embodiments of the present application, with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the distributor 400 can further include a second distribution plate 430. The second distribution plate 430 is a rectangular plate having a relatively long length in the up-down direction Z. The length in the up-down direction Z and the width in the left-right direction Y of the second distribution plate 430 are substantially the same as the length in the up-down direction Z and the width in the left-right direction Y of the inflow plate 410, and the plate surface of the second distribution plate 430 is parallel to the plane formed by the up-down direction Z and the left-right direction Y.

[0152] The second distribution plate 430 is provided with at least two through grooves penetrating therethrough in the front-rear direction X to form at least two branch flow paths. In order to distinguish the branch flow paths on the second distribution plate 430 from the branch flow paths on the first distribution plate 420, the branch flow paths on the second distribution plate 430 are also referred to as intermediate branch flow paths 431.

[0153] The intermediate branch flow path 431 has the branch inflow portion 401 and at least two branch portions 402, like the upstream side branch flow path 421. The plurality of branch portions 402 are connected with the branch inflow portion 401. The free end (the end away from the branch inflow portion 401) of the branch portion 402 is the branch outflow portion 402a.

[0154] The second flow distribution plate 430 has at least two intermediate branch flow paths 431. Among them, the two intermediate branch flow paths 431 are respectively the first intermediate branch flow path 432 and the second intermediate branch flow path 433.

[0155] The branch inflow portion 401 of each intermediate branch flow path 431 is in communication with one branch outflow portion 402a of the corresponding first flow distribution plate 420.

[0156] The first intermediate branch flow path 432 includes two branch outflow portions 402a, which are respectively the first branch outflow portion 402a_1 and the third branch outflow portion 402a_3.

[0157] The second intermediate branch flow path 433 includes two branch outflow portions 402a, which are respectively the second branch outflow portion 402a_2 and the fourth branch outflow portion 402a_4.

[0158] In the related art, referring to FIG. 10, the refrigerant is distributed into two paths at the upstream side branch flow path 421: the first path refrigerant and the second path refrigerant. The first path refrigerant continues to flow to the first intermediate branch flow path 432; the second path refrigerant continues to flow to the second intermediate branch flow path 433.

[0159] After the first path refrigerant is again divided into two paths at the first intermediate branch flow path 432, it flows out from the first branch outflow portion 402a_1 and the third branch outflow portion 402a_3 respectively.

[0160] After the second path refrigerant is again divided into two paths at the second intermediate branch flow path 433, it flows out from the second branch outflow portion 402a_4 and the fourth branch outflow portion 402a_4 respectively.

[0161] Therefore, in the related art shown in FIG. 10, in the up-down direction Z, the first branch outflow portion 402a_1, the third branch outflow portion 402a_3, the second branch outflow portion 402a_2, and the fourth branch outflow portion 402a_4 are arranged in turn, and are in communication with the first heat exchange tube 310_1, the second heat exchange tube 310_2, the third heat exchange tube 310_3, and the fourth heat exchange tube 310_4 respectively.

[0162] Thus, the refrigerant flowing out of each branch flow-out portion 402a is corresponded to the refrigerant flowing in the downstream-side heat exchange tube 310, and the refrigerant flowing in the first heat exchange tube 310_1, the second heat exchange tube 310_2, the third heat exchange tube 310_3, and the fourth heat exchange tube 310_4 is the first-path refrigerant, the first-path refrigerant, the second-path refrigerant, and the second-path refrigerant in sequence.

[0163] In addition, during manufacturing of the distributor having the configuration as shown in FIG. 10, a certain part of the flow path of the distributor can be blocked, for example, due to the flow of solder inevitably generated in the welding process, thereby causing uneven distribution of the first-path refrigerant and the second-path refrigerant. Assuming that the flow path of the first-path refrigerant is blocked, so that the first-path refrigerant distributed at the heat exchanger is reduced, it can cause low heat exchange efficiency of the upper part of the heat exchanger where the first-path refrigerant flows.

[0164] However, the distributor according to the present application can effectively avoid the problem of low heat exchange efficiency described above, and achieve higher heat exchange efficiency. Specifically, in the present application, the plurality of branch flow-out portions 402a of the first intermediate branch flow path 432 respectively communicate with the first heat exchange tube 310_1 and the third heat exchange tube 310_3, and the plurality of branch flow-out portions 402a of the second intermediate branch flow path 433 respectively communicate with the second heat exchange tube 310_2 and the fourth heat exchange tube 310_4. Thus, the first-path refrigerant flowing in the first intermediate branch flow path 432 can flow to the first heat exchange tube 310_1 and the third heat exchange tube 310_3, and the second-path refrigerant flowing in the second intermediate branch flow path 433 can flow to the second heat exchange tube 310_2 and the fourth heat exchange tube 310_4.

[0165] The refrigerant flowing in the first heat exchange tube 310_1, the second heat exchange tube 310_2, the third heat exchange tube 310_3, and the fourth heat exchange tube 310_4 is the first-path refrigerant, the second-path refrigerant, the first-path refrigerant, and the second-path refrigerant in sequence.

[0166] Since the first-path refrigerant and the second-path refrigerant are alternately distributed in the up-down direction Z, the first-path refrigerant and the second-path refrigerant are close to each other in the up-down direction in each part of the heat exchanger, and the problem of low heat exchange efficiency caused by uneven distribution of the refrigerant can be effectively reduced by heat conduction and heat exchange between the fins.

[0167] According to the embodiment of the present application, referring to FIG. 8, the plurality of branch flow-out portions 402a of the first intermediate branch flow path 432 and the branch flow-out portions 402a of the second intermediate branch flow path 433 are alternately arranged in the up-down direction Z.

[0168] In the up-down direction Z, the second branch flow-out portion 402a_2 is located between the first branch flow-out portion 402a_1 and the third branch flow-out portion 402a_3. The fourth branch flow-out portion 402a_4 is located on the side of the third branch flow-out portion 402a_3 away from the second branch flow-out portion 402a_2, that is, in the up-down direction Z, the first branch flow-out portion 402a_1, the second branch flow-out portion 402a_2, the third branch flow-out portion 402a_3, and the fourth branch flow-out portion 402a_4 are arranged in sequence.

[0169] The first branch flow-out portion 402a_1 communicates with the first heat exchange pipe 310_1, the second branch flow-out portion 402a_2 communicates with the second heat exchange pipe 310_2, the third branch flow-out portion 402a_3 communicates with the third heat exchange pipe 310_3, and the fourth branch flow-out portion 402a_4 communicates with the fourth heat exchange pipe 310_4.

[0170] Since the first branch flow-out portion 402a_1 and the third branch flow-out portion 402a_3 flow out the first refrigerant, and the second branch flow-out portion 402a_2 and the fourth branch flow-out portion 402a_4 flow out the second refrigerant, the refrigerants flowing in the first heat exchange pipe 310_1, the second heat exchange pipe 310_2, the third heat exchange pipe 310_3, and the fourth heat exchange pipe 310_4 in the up-down direction Z are in sequence the first refrigerant, the second refrigerant, the first refrigerant, and the second refrigerant.

[0171] In other embodiments of the present application, the fourth branch flow-out portion 402a_4 can be located on the side of the first branch flow-out portion 402a_1 away from the second branch flow-out portion 402a_2. That is, in the up-down direction Z, the fourth branch flow-out portion 402a_4, the first branch flow-out portion 402a_1, the second branch flow-out portion 402a_2, and the third branch flow-out portion 402a_3 are arranged in sequence, and the first branch flow-out portion 402a_1 and the third branch flow-out portion 402a_3 and the second branch flow-out portion 402a_2 and the fourth branch flow-out portion 402a_4 are alternately distributed in the up-down direction Z, so that the two refrigerants branched by the upstream branch flow path 420 are alternately distributed in the up-down direction at the heat exchanger.

[0172] In the present application, the two refrigerants branched for the first time at the distributor are finally alternately distributed and located close to each other on the heat exchanger 300, so that through the heat conduction and heat exchange between the fins, the problem of low heat exchange efficiency caused by uneven distribution of refrigerant can be effectively reduced.

[0173] In addition, in the present application, the two branch flow-out portions 402a of the first intermediate branch flow path 432 and the two branch flow-out portions 402a of the second intermediate branch flow path 433 are arranged alternately along the up-down direction Z, and the first intermediate branch flow path 432 and the second intermediate branch flow path 433 extend along the up-down direction Z and the projection parts thereof on the XZ plane overlap, which can make the intermediate branch flow path 431 more compact in the up-down direction, and the space occupied in the up-down direction can be reduced, so that the arrangement of the heat exchange pipes 310 in the up-down direction can be more compact. In this way, for the same area of the heat exchanger, more heat exchange pipes 310 can be arranged, so that the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger is higher.

[0174] In other embodiments of the present application, the branch flow-in portion 401 of the intermediate branch flow path 431 can have the same structure as the branch flow-in portion 401 at the upstream side branch flow path 421, which will not be described here.

[0175] In this case, the two branch portions 402 of each intermediate branch flow path 431 extend in different directions relative to the branch flow-in portion 401 thereof. For example, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, one of the two branch portions 402 extends upward along the up-down direction Z, and the other extends downward along the up-down direction Z.

[0176] Since the two branch flow-in portions 401 of the intermediate branch flow path 431 are close in position in the up-down direction Z, the two intermediate branch flow paths 431 can be more compact in the up-down direction Z, so that the distributor 400 with fewer distribution flow paths can also be arranged in the up-down direction Z.

[0177] In embodiments of the present application, the two intermediate branch flow paths have the same structure size. The branch flow-in portion 401 of the first intermediate branch flow path 432 and the branch flow-in portion 401 of the second intermediate branch flow path 433 are arranged alternately in the up-down direction Z. For example, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the branch flow-in portion 401 of the first intermediate branch flow path 432 is located above the branch flow-in portion 401 of the second intermediate branch flow path 433; the second branch flow-out portion 402a_2 of the second intermediate branch flow path 433 is located above the third branch flow-out portion 402a_3 of the first intermediate branch flow path 432, so that the branch flow-out portions 402a of the two intermediate branch flow paths 431 can extend along the up-down direction Z and the projection parts thereof on the XZ plane overlap.

[0178] The branch flow-in portion 401 of the first intermediate branch flow path 432 and the branch flow-in portion 401 of the second intermediate branch flow path 433 are arranged alternately in the left-right direction Y, so that the first intermediate branch flow path 432 and the second intermediate branch flow path 433 can be staggered and will not overlap in the up-down direction.

[0179] In the embodiment of the present application, referring to FIG. 13, the branch flow path 431 includes the branch portion 402, the transition portion 403, and the outflow portion 404. The transition portion 403 is connected between the branch inflow portion 401 and the outflow portion 404. The free end of the outflow portion 404 is the branch outflow portion 402a.

[0180] The outflow portion 404 is not on the extension line of the branch inflow portion 401 along the vertical direction Z, and the transition portion 403 is inclined relative to the outflow portion 404.

[0181] In each of the intermediate branch flow paths 431, the transition portion 403 is inclined toward the other branch portion 402 in the direction from the branch inflow portion 401 to the outflow portion 404. In this way, the two branch portions 402 are more compact in the lateral direction Y, and the plurality of intermediate branch flow paths 431 can be arranged in the lateral direction Y.

[0182] In some embodiments of the present application, referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the distributor 400 can further include a third flow distribution plate 440. The third flow distribution plate 440 is a rectangular plate having a long length in the vertical direction Z. The length of the third flow distribution plate 440 in the vertical direction Z and the width of the third flow distribution plate 440 in the lateral direction Y are substantially the same as the length of the inflow plate 410 in the vertical direction Z and the width of the inflow plate 410 in the lateral direction Y, and the plate surface of the third flow distribution plate 440 is parallel to the plane formed by the vertical direction Z and the lateral direction Y.

[0183] At least four through grooves are provided in the third flow distribution plate 440 to pass through the third flow distribution plate 440 along the front-rear direction X, so as to form at least four branch flow paths. In order to distinguish the branch flow paths on the third flow distribution plate 440 from the branch flow paths on the first flow distribution plate 420 and the second flow distribution plate 430, the branch flow paths on the third flow distribution plate 440 are referred to as downstream branch flow paths 441. Thus, the third flow distribution plate 440 can also be referred to as a downstream flow distribution plate 440.

[0184] In combination with FIG. 14, the downstream branch flow path 441 has a branch inflow portion 401 and a branch outflow portion 402a.

[0185] The branch inflow portion 401 of the downstream branch flow path 441 is in communication with the branch outflow portion 402a of the intermediate branch flow path 431. The branch outflow portion 402a of the downstream branch flow path 441 is in communication with the outlet flow path 461 of the outflow plate 460 described below.

[0186] The structure of the branch inflow portion 401 of the downstream branch flow path 441 can be the same as that of the branch inflow portion 401 of the upstream branch flow path 421, which will not be described again here.

[0187] The branch flow-out portions 402a of the downstream-side branch flow passages 441 extend linearly in the left-right direction Y. The shape of the branch flow-out portions 402a can be the same as the shape of the heat exchange tubes 310, and the branch flow-out portions 402a communicate with the outlet flow passages 461 of the flow-out plate 460 described later.

[0188] The third flow distribution plate 440 includes a plurality of downstream-side branch flow passages 441. In each of the downstream-side branch flow passages 441, two branch flow-out portions 402a are respectively located on the upper and lower sides of the branch flow-in portion 401.

[0189] In some embodiments of the present application, referring to Figs. 8 and 9, the distributor 400 can further include a communication plate 450. The communication plate 450 is a rectangular plate having a long length in the up-down direction Z. The length in the up-down direction Z and the width in the left-right direction Y of the communication plate 450 are substantially the same as the length in the up-down direction Z and the width in the left-right direction Y of the flow-in plate 410, and the plate surface of the communication plate 450 is parallel to the plane formed by the up-down direction Z and the left-right direction Y.

[0190] The communication plate 450 is provided with a plurality of through holes that penetrate the communication plate 450 along the front-rear direction X to form a plurality of communication portions 451.

[0191] The communication plate 450 can be disposed between the first flow distribution plate 420 and the second flow distribution plate 430. The communication portions 451 communicate the branch flow-out portions 402a of the first flow distribution plate 420 and the branch flow-in portions 401 of the second flow distribution plate 430.

[0192] The overlapping portions of the first branch flow-in portion 401a and the second branch flow-in portion 401b of the second flow distribution plate 430 with the communication portions 451 of the communication plate 450 have the same area when projected on a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction X (i.e., on the YZ plane).

[0193] The communication plate 450 can be disposed between the second flow distribution plate 430 and the third flow distribution plate 440. The communication portions 451 communicate the branch flow-out portions 402a of the second flow distribution plate 430 and the branch flow-in portions 401 of the third flow distribution plate 430.

[0194] The overlapping portions of the first branch flow-in portion 401a and the second branch flow-in portion 401b of the third flow distribution plate 440 with the communication portions 451 of the communication plate 450 have the same area when projected on a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction X.

[0195] The shape of the flow passage cross section of the communication portions 451 can be the same as the shape of the flow passage cross section of the branch flow-out portions 402a.

[0196] Note that the flow path cross section here refers to a cross section obtained by cutting the flow path orthogonally to the flow direction of the refrigerant. The flow direction of the refrigerant refers to the direction in which the refrigerant flows in the communication portion 451.

[0197] In other embodiments of the present application, the communication plate 450 can be omitted, i.e., the distributor 400 can not include the communication plate 450.

[0198] In some embodiments of the present application, referring to Figs. 8 and 9, the distributor 400 can further include an outflow plate 460. The outflow plate 460 is a rectangular plate having a long length in the up-down direction Z. The length in the up-down direction Z and the width in the left-right direction Y of the outflow plate 460 are substantially the same as the length in the up-down direction Z and the width in the left-right direction Y of the inflow plate 410, and the plate surface of the outflow plate 460 is parallel to the plane formed by the up-down direction Z and the left-right direction Y.

[0199] The outflow plate 440 is provided with a plurality of through grooves that pass therethrough in the front-rear direction X to form a plurality of outlet flow paths 461. The outlet flow paths 461 are in communication with the branch outflow portions 402a of the downstream-side branch flow paths 441. The outlet flow paths 461 are in communication with the heat exchange tubes 310 on the heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 described later. Thus, the outlet flow paths 461 communicate the branch outflow portions 402a of the downstream-side branch flow paths 441 with the heat exchange tubes 310.

[0200] The flow path cross section shape of the outlet flow paths 461 can be the same as the cross section shape of the heat exchange tubes 310.

[0201] Note that the flow path cross section here refers to a cross section obtained by cutting the flow path orthogonally to the flow direction of the refrigerant. The flow direction of the refrigerant refers to the direction in which the refrigerant flows in the outlet flow paths 461.

[0202] In other embodiments of the present application, the outflow plate 460 can be omitted, i.e., the distributor 400 can not include the outflow plate 460.

[0203] The branch outflow portions 402a of the downstream-side branch flow paths 441 are directly in communication with the heat exchange tubes 310 on the heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 described later.

[0204] Alternatively, the heat exchange tubes 310 are directly welded to the third flow dividing plate 440 corresponding to the branch outflow portions 402a so that the branch outflow portions 402a of the downstream-side branch flow paths 441 are in communication with the heat exchange tubes 310.

[0205] In some embodiments of the present application, referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the distributor 400 can further include a heat exchange tube mounting plate 470. The heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 is a rectangular plate having a long length in the up-down direction Z. The length in the up-down direction Z and the width in the left-right direction Y of the heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 are substantially the same as those of the inflow plate 410, and the plate surface of the heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 is parallel to the plane formed by the up-down direction Z and the left-right direction Y.

[0206] The heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 is provided with a plurality of through grooves that penetrate the heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 in the front-rear direction X to form a plurality of heat exchange tube insertion portions 471. The heat exchange tube insertion portions 471 are provided corresponding to the outlet flow paths 461 of the outflow plate 440.

[0207] The heat exchange tube 310 can be mounted to the heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 through the heat exchange tube insertion portions 471, and then communicate with the outlet flow paths 461.

[0208] The heat exchange tube 310 can be connected to the heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 by welding.

[0209] In other embodiments of the present application, the heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 can be omitted, i.e., the distributor 400 can not include the heat exchange tube mounting plate 470. The heat exchange tube 310 is directly connected to the outflow plate 460 or the third flow distribution plate 440.

[0210] <Flow of refrigerant>

[0211] Referring to FIG. 15, the refrigerant flows from the inlet flow path 411 of the inflow plate 410 to the upstream branch flow path 421 of the first flow distribution plate 420. The refrigerant is divided into two paths, the left second path refrigerant_0 and the right first path refrigerant_0, at the branch inflow portion 401 of the upstream branch flow path 421.

[0212] The left second path refrigerant_0 flows upward along the branch portion 402 on the left side of the upstream branch flow path 421, continues to flow through the communication portion 451_2 of the communication plate 450 after passing through the first flow distribution plate 420, and flows to the left intermediate branch flow path 431_1 of the second flow distribution plate 430. The left intermediate branch flow path 431_1 is divided into two paths, the second path refrigerant_1 and the second path refrigerant_2, at the branch inflow portion 401 of the left intermediate branch flow path 431_1.

[0213] The second route refrigerant_2 flows upward along the right branch portion 402 of the left intermediate branch flow path 431_1 to the branch flow-out portion 402a, and then flows to the downstream side branch flow path 441_2 of the third distribution plate 440 through the communication portion 451_2 of the communication plate 450, and then is divided into two routes, the second route refrigerant_5 and the second route refrigerant_6, at the branch flow-in portion 401 of the downstream side branch flow path 441_2. The second route refrigerant_5 flows to the upper side second heat exchange tube 310_2 through the outlet flow path 461_3 of the flow-out plate 460. The second route refrigerant_6 flows to the lower side second heat exchange tube 310_2 through the outlet flow path 461_4 of the flow-out plate 460.

[0214] The second route refrigerant_2 flows upward along the right branch portion 402 of the left intermediate branch flow path 431_1 to the branch flow-out portion 402a, and then flows to the downstream side branch flow path 441_2 of the third distribution plate 440 through the communication portion 451_2 of the communication plate 450, and then is divided into two routes, the second route refrigerant_5 and the second route refrigerant_6, at the branch flow-in portion 401 of the downstream side branch flow path 441_2. The second route refrigerant_5 flows to the upper side second heat exchange tube 310_2 through the outlet flow path 461_3 of the flow-out plate 460. The second route refrigerant_6 flows to the lower side second heat exchange tube 310_2 through the outlet flow path 461_4 of the flow-out plate 460.

[0215] The right side first route refrigerant_0 flows upward along the branch portion 402 of the upstream side branch flow path 421 right side, and then continues to flow to the intermediate branch flow path 431_2 of the second distribution plate 430 right side through the communication portion 451_1 of the communication plate 450 after passing through the first distribution plate 420, and is divided into two routes, the first route refrigerant_1 and the first route refrigerant_2, at the branch flow-in portion 401 of the intermediate branch flow path 431_2 right side.

[0216] The first route refrigerant_1 flows downward along the left branch portion 402 of the right intermediate branch flow path 431_2 to the branch flow-out portion 402a, and then flows to the downstream side branch flow path 441_3 of the third distribution plate 440 through the communication portion 451_3 of the communication plate 450, and is divided into two routes, the first route refrigerant_3 and the first route refrigerant_4, at the branch flow-in portion 401 of the downstream side branch flow path 441_3. The first route refrigerant_3 flows to the upper side third heat exchange tube 310_3 through the outlet flow path 461_5 of the flow-out plate 460. The first route refrigerant_4 flows to the lower side third heat exchange tube 310_3 through the outlet flow path 461_6 of the flow-out plate 460.

[0217] The first refrigerant_2 flows upward from the right branch part 402 along the right middle branch flow path 431_2 to the branch flow-out part 402a, and then flows to the lower side branch flow path 441_1 of the third distribution plate 440 through the communication part 451_1 of the communication plate 450, and is divided into two paths at the branch flow-in part 401 of the lower side branch flow path 441_1: the first refrigerant_5 and the first refrigerant_6. The first refrigerant_5 flows to the upper first heat exchange tube 310_1 through the outlet flow path 461_1 of the flow-out plate 460. The first refrigerant_6 flows to the lower heat exchange tube first heat exchange tube 310_1 through the outlet flow path 461_2 of the flow-out plate 460.

[0218] As described above, from top to bottom, the first refrigerant flows in two first heat exchange tubes 310_1; the second refrigerant flows in two second heat exchange tubes 310_2; the first refrigerant flows in two third heat exchange tubes 310_3; and the second refrigerant flows in two fourth heat exchange tubes 310_4.

[0219] If the first refrigerant and the second refrigerant are not evenly distributed, due to the alternating distribution of the first refrigerant and the second refrigerant on the heat exchanger 300, the positions of the first refrigerant and the second refrigerant are relatively close, so that the heat exchange efficiency caused by uneven distribution of the refrigerant can be effectively reduced by heat conduction and heat exchange between the fins 320.

[0220] In the present application, the number of heat exchange tube insertion parts 471 on the heat exchange tube mounting plate 470, that is, the number of heat exchange tubes 310 to be connected by the distributor 400, is defined as the outlet number of the distributor.

[0221] In the above embodiment, the first middle branch flow path 432 and the second middle branch flow path 433 are provided on the same second distribution plate 430.

[0222] In other embodiments, referring to FIG. 16, the distributor 400 includes two second distribution plates 430: the second distribution plate 430_1 and the second distribution plate 430_2, which are stacked. The second distribution plate 430_2 is located on the side of the second distribution plate 430_1 away from the first distribution plate 420, that is, on the downstream side of the second distribution plate 430_1.

[0223] The first middle branch flow path 432 is provided on the second distribution plate 430_1, and the second middle branch flow path 433 is provided on the second distribution plate 430_2.

[0224] The first middle branch flow path 432 is in communication with the branch flow-out part 402a on the right side of the upstream side branch flow path 421.

[0225] The first through portion 434 on the second flow distribution plate 430_1 can be provided. The first through portion 434 is in communication with the branch flow outlet portion 402a on the left side of the upstream side branch flow path 421. The first through portion 434 is in communication with the branch flow inlet portion 401 of the second intermediate branch flow path 433. Thus, the first through portion 434 on the second flow distribution plate 430_1 communicates the branch flow outlet portion 402a of one of the upstream side branch flow paths 421 with the branch flow inlet portion 401 of the second intermediate branch flow path 433.

[0226] The second through portion 435 on the second flow distribution plate 430_2 can be provided. The second through portion 435 is in communication with the branch flow outlet portion 402a of the first intermediate branch flow path 432. The second through portion 435 is in communication with the communication portion 451 of the flow communication plate 450 downstream thereof. Thus, the second through portion 435 communicates the branch flow outlet portion 402a of the first intermediate branch flow path 432 with the communication portion 451 of the flow communication plate 450.

[0227] In actual applications, when the first intermediate branch flow path 432 and the second intermediate branch flow path 433 are provided on the same second flow distribution plate 430, the arrangement of the intermediate branch flow paths can be relatively crowded due to the limited space of the second flow distribution plate 430. Even the branch flow paths can be designed to be relatively narrow in order to realize the arrangement of the first intermediate branch flow path 432 and the second intermediate branch flow path 433 on the same second flow distribution plate 430, which increases the processing difficulty. When the first intermediate branch flow path 432 and the second intermediate branch flow path 433 are provided on two second flow distribution plates 430 respectively, the arrangement space is relatively large, the design range of the size of the branch flow paths is wider, and the processing difficulty can be reduced.

[0228] The distributor shown in FIG. 8 and the distributor shown in FIG. 16 both have eight outlets. However, the present application is not limited thereto, and the distributor can also include other numbers of outlets.

[0229] According to some other embodiments of the present application, a four-outlet distributor 400 is provided. Hereinafter, only the differences from the above-described embodiments will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 17, and the same parts as the above-described embodiments will not be described again.

[0230] Compared with the distributor 400 shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the third flow distribution plate 440 is omitted in the four-outlet distributor 400 shown in FIG. 17. The four-outlet distributor 400 can also omit the communication plate 450 between the second flow distribution plate 430 and the third flow distribution plate 440.

[0231] Since the four-outlet distributor 400 only needs to branch four outlet flow paths 461 and four heat exchange tubes 310 at the end, the size of the four-outlet distributor 400 in the up-down direction Z is relatively small.

[0232] The length of the intermediate branch flow path 431 in the up-down direction Z is shortened with respect to the eight-outlet distributor.

[0233] According to some other embodiments of the present application, a sixteen-outlet distributor 400 is provided. The sixteen-outlet distributor refers to a flow path structure in which two groups of eight-outlet distributors are arranged in the up-down direction Z on the basis of the eight-outlet distributor.

[0234] Hereinafter, only the differences from the above-described embodiments will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 18, and the same parts as those of the above-described embodiments will not be described again.

[0235] Referring to FIG. 18, two inlet flow paths 411 are provided in the inflow plate 410. The two inlet flow paths 411 are arranged in the up-down direction Z.

[0236] The first flow distribution plate 420 has two upstream-side branch flow paths 421 arranged in the up-down direction Z. In the upper upstream-side branch flow path 421, the branch path portion 402 extends upward with respect to the branch inflow portion 401. In the lower upstream-side branch flow path 421, the branch path portion 402 extends downward with respect to the branch inflow portion 401.

[0237] The second flow distribution plate 430 has four intermediate branch flow paths 431. Two intermediate branch flow paths 431 form one group, and one group of intermediate branch flow paths 431 is distributed on the upper side, and one group of intermediate branch flow paths 431 is distributed on the lower side. The distribution forms of the two groups of intermediate branch flow paths 431 are the same as those of the intermediate branch flow paths 431 of the eight-outlet distributor 400, respectively.

[0238] With respect to the distributor 400 shown in FIG. 8, the communication portions 451 of the communication plate 450, the downstream-side branch flow paths 441 of the third flow distribution plate 440, the outlet flow paths 461 of the outflow plate 460, and the heat exchange tube insertion portions 471 of the heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 shown in FIG. 18 are adjusted in a corresponding number.

[0239] According to another embodiment provided in the present application, as shown in FIG. 16, the distributor 400 comprises a first distribution plate 420, on which at least one upstream branch flow path 421 is formed; and a second distribution plate 430, on which at least two intermediate branch flow paths 431 are formed. For example, the branch flow-in portion 401 of the intermediate branch flow path 431 is in communication with the branch flow-out portion 402a of the upstream branch flow path 421; and the two intermediate branch flow paths 431 are respectively a first intermediate branch flow path 432 and a second intermediate branch flow path 433. The plurality of branch flow-out portions 402a of the first intermediate branch flow path 432 are respectively in communication with the first heat exchange tube 310_1 and the third heat exchange tube 310_3; and the plurality of branch flow-out portions 402a of the second intermediate branch flow path 433 are respectively in communication with the second heat exchange tube 310_2 and the fourth heat exchange tube 310_4. By analogy, until the distributor 400 is connected with sixteen heat exchange tubes. Thus, the two refrigerant streams branched for the first time on the distributor 400 are finally alternately distributed on the heat exchanger, so that when the two refrigerant streams branched for the first time are unevenly distributed, the characteristics of the two refrigerant streams being close to each other on the heat exchanger and easy to heat and conduct can be used to effectively reduce the problem of low heat exchange efficiency caused by uneven distribution of the refrigerant streams.

[0240] In the distributor with sixteen outlets, the two inlet flow paths 411 on the flow-in plate 410 are arranged close to the middle of the flow-in plate 410.

[0241] According to some embodiments of the present application, with reference to FIGS. 19 to 21, the refrigeration cycle device of the present application can further comprise a tee joint 700. The tee joint 700 is installed at the flow-in plate 410 connected with the distributor 400. The flow path cross section of the tee joint 700 is circular. The tee joint 700 comprises a tee joint body 710. The tee joint body 710 can be the same as the conventional tee joint structure, for example, the tee joint body 710 is generally in the shape of “Y”.

[0242] The tee joint body 710 comprises a first interface 711, a first extension end 712 and a second extension end 713. The tee joint body 710 comprises the first extension end 712 and the second extension end 713 extending in two different directions from the first interface 711. The axis of the first interface 711, the axis of the first extension end 712 and the axis of the second extension end 713 constitute a plane U, as shown in FIG. 21.

[0243] The tee joint 700 further comprises a first branch 720. The first branch 720 is connected between the first extension end 712 and a second interface 721. The axis of the first branch 720 is arranged at an angle with the plane U. The free end of the first branch 720 forms the second interface 721.

[0244] The three-way joint 700 further comprises a second branch 730. The second branch 730 is connected between the second extension end 713 and a third interface 731. The axis of the second branch 730 is arranged at an angle to the plane U. The free end of the second branch 730 forms the third interface 731.

[0245] The first branch 720 and the second branch 730 are respectively located on two sides of the plane U. The second interface 721 and the third interface 731 are distributed along the up-down direction Z.

[0246] Supposing that the plane U is a horizontal plane, when an operator installs the distributor 400, the first extension end 712 is located at the right end of the three-way joint body 710, and the second extension end 713 is located at the left end of the three-way joint body 710. The first branch 720 extends obliquely leftward and upward relative to the plane U from the first extension end 712. The second branch 730 extends obliquely rightward and downward relative to the plane U from the second extension end 713.

[0247] The first interface 711 of the three-way joint 700 is connected to the capillary tube 610, the second interface 721 is connected to the upper one of the two inlet flow paths 411, and the third interface 731 is connected to the lower one of the two inlet flow paths 411.

[0248] When the three-way joint 700 is installed in the inflow plate 410 of the distributor 400, the plane U is a horizontal plane and is orthogonal to the direction of gravity.

[0249] After the refrigerant flows into the first interface 711 of the three-way joint 700, it is divided into two branches in the horizontal direction, one branch flows to the second interface 721, and the other branch flows to the third interface 731.

[0250] In the present application, the three-way joint 700 adopts a horizontal branch structure, which can avoid the problem of uneven distribution of refrigerant flow that occurs when the refrigerant is branched into an upper flow path and a lower flow path in a traditional three-way joint that is in the shape of “Y” after being connected to a distributor.

[0251] In the above embodiment, the distributor 400 is in the shape of a cuboid. However, in some other embodiments of the present application, with reference to FIG. 22, the outer shape of the distributor 400 can also be made in the shape of a cylinder. The outer side surface of each plate in the plate body is a circular arc surface that forms a cylinder.

[0252] Therefore, the present application does not limit the outer shape of the distributor.

[0253] Next, the distributor 400 according to some embodiments of the present application is taken as an example to be described as an integrated structure.

[0254] In the above embodiment, the distributor 400 is made by molding. A first mold with the same shape as the distribution flow path is placed in a second mold corresponding to the outer shape of the distributor 400, and then aluminum liquid is injected into the second mold; after the aluminum solidifies, the first mold is melted and flows out. In this embodiment, the distributor 400 is a one-piece structure, and is the same as the above embodiment except that the distributor 400 is made by laminating a plurality of plate bodies.

[0255] In the embodiments provided in the present application, the distributor 400 has at least one upstream branch flow path 421; at least two intermediate branch flow paths 431, the branch flow-in portion 401 of the intermediate branch flow path 431 communicates with the branch flow-out portion 402a of the upstream branch flow path 421; the intermediate branch flow path 431 can be further divided into a first intermediate branch flow path 432 and a second intermediate branch flow path 433. The plurality of branch flow-out portions 402a of the first intermediate branch flow path 432 respectively communicate with the first heat exchange tube 310_1 and the third heat exchange tube 310_3; the plurality of branch flow-out portions 402a of the second intermediate branch flow path 433 respectively communicate with the second heat exchange tube 310_2 and the fourth heat exchange tube 310_4. Thus, the two refrigerant streams branched first on the distributor 400 form an alternating distribution on the heat exchanger, and when the two refrigerant streams are unevenly branched, the characteristics of the two refrigerant streams being close to each other on the heat exchanger and easy to heat and conduct heat can be used to effectively reduce the problem of low heat exchange efficiency caused by uneven branching.

[0256] For the refrigeration cycle device with top-out air, referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 46, the fan 510 is located above the heat exchanger 300, which causes the air speed at the upper part of the heat exchanger 300 close to the fan 510 to be higher than the air speed at the lower part far from the fan 510.

[0257] As the height of the heat exchanger 300 increases, the air speed on the heat exchanger 300 also tends to increase. When the refrigerant flow on the heat exchanger 300 matches the air speed distribution trend, the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 300 can be maximized.

[0258] In the embodiments of the present application, referring to FIG. 47, in the heat exchanger 300, the distributor 400 has at least one first distributor 400_1, at least one second distributor 400_2, …, and at least one Nth distributor 400_n distributed from top to bottom; the number of heat exchange tubes 310 connected by the first distributor 400_1, the second distributor 400_2, …, and the Nth distributor 400_n increases.

[0259] For example, the first distributor 400_1 is a four-outlet distributor connected to four heat exchange tubes 310, the second distributor 400_2 is an eight-outlet distributor connected to eight heat exchange tubes 310, and the third distributor 400_3 is a sixteen-outlet distributor connected to sixteen heat exchange tubes 310.

[0260] From top to bottom, the number of heat exchange pipes 310 connected to the distributor 400 increases, the refrigerant flow rate of each capillary tube 610 at the point of being branched by the distributor 600 is close, and the refrigerant dryness at the outlet of the heat exchanger is close, thereby effectively improving the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger.

[0261] Next, in the following, the structure of the distributor 400 shown in FIGS. 23 to 35 according to some embodiments of the present application will be described in detail, and the distributor 400 will be taken as a laminated distributor as an example for description.

[0262] Referring to FIG. 28, the distributor 400 is laminated by a plurality of plate bodies. In some embodiments of the present application, the length direction of the plate body of the distributor 400 is set as a first direction Z, the direction (also the direction of the refrigerant flowing into the heat exchange pipe 310) of the lamination of the plate bodies orthogonal to the first direction Z is set as a second direction X, and the direction orthogonal to the first direction Z and the second direction X is set as a third direction Y. That is, the distributor 400 in the present application is configured in the first direction Z, also referred to as the up-down direction Z, in the second direction X, also referred to as the front-rear direction X, and in the third direction Y, also referred to as the left-right direction Y. In other words, in the following description, the first direction Z can be referred to as the up-down direction, the second direction X can be referred to as the front-rear direction, and the third direction Y can be referred to as the left-right direction.

[0263] The following description is based on the flow direction of the refrigerant at the distributor 400 when the heat exchanger is used as an evaporator.

[0264] Referring to FIG. 25, the plurality of plate bodies further include an inflow plate 410. The inflow plate 410 is a rectangular plate having a relatively long length in the up-down direction Z. The plate surface of the inflow plate 410 is parallel to the plane formed by the up-down direction Z and the left-right direction Y.

[0265] The inflow plate 410 is provided with a through hole penetrating therethrough along the front-rear direction X to form an inlet flow path 411. The inlet flow path 411 can be used as a refrigerant inflow portion of the distributor 400.

[0266] The inflow plate 410 can include one or a plurality of plates laminated.

[0267] The flow path section of the inlet flow path 411 is circular, so the inlet flow path 411 can be connected to the capillary tube 610 (or the refrigerant pipe). The inlet flow path 411 can be directly connected to the capillary tube 610 (or the refrigerant pipe) by welding. Alternatively, a pipe joint can be connected at the inlet flow path 411, and the capillary tube 610 is connected through the pipe joint.

[0268] Note that the flow path cross section here refers to a cross section obtained by cutting the flow path orthogonally to the flow direction of the refrigerant. The flow direction of the refrigerant refers to the direction in which the refrigerant flows in the inlet flow path 411.

[0269] In some embodiments of the present application, the distributor 400 can further include a second communication plate 450B. The second communication plate 450B is a rectangular plate material having a long length in the up-down direction Z. The length in the up-down direction Z and the width in the left-right direction Y of the second communication plate 450B are substantially the same as the length in the up-down direction Z and the width in the left-right direction Y of the inflow plate 410, and the plate surface of the second communication plate 450B is parallel to the plane formed by the up-down direction Z and the left-right direction Y.

[0270] The second communication plate 450B is provided with a through hole. The through hole forms an inflow extension 451B, and the inflow extension 451B communicates with the inlet flow path of the inflow plate 410.

[0271] The flow path cross section shape of the inflow extension 451B can be the same as that of the inlet flow path 411. The inflow extension 451B can serve as an extension of the inlet flow path 411, and function to allow the refrigerant to flow in.

[0272] The second communication plate 450B is provided with a through groove. The through groove forms a second communication portion 452B, and the second communication portion 452B serves as a part of a circulation flow path described later, and is used to communicate the disconnected portion of a loop main body portion 481 of a flow path forming plate 480 described later.

[0273] The second communication portion 452B can be in the shape of a rectangular groove, and the flow path cross section shape thereof can be the same as that of the corresponding portion of the loop main body portion 481 described later.

[0274] Note that the flow path cross section here refers to a cross section obtained by cutting the flow path orthogonally to the flow direction of the refrigerant. The flow direction of the refrigerant refers to the direction in which the refrigerant flows in the second communication portion 452B.

[0275] In some embodiments of the present application, the distributor 400 can further include a flow path forming plate 480. The flow path forming plate 480 is a rectangular plate material having a long length in the up-down direction Z. The length in the up-down direction Z and the width in the left-right direction Y of the flow path forming plate 480 are substantially the same as the length in the up-down direction Z and the width in the left-right direction Y of the inflow plate 410, and the plate surface of the flow path forming plate 480 is parallel to the plane formed by the up-down direction Z and the left-right direction Y.

[0276] The flow path forming plate 480 is provided with a through groove, and the through groove forms a loop main body portion 481, so that the refrigerant can flow in a circulation manner in the loop main body portion 481. The loop main body portion 481 is a disconnected loop.

[0277] The disconnected portion of the loop main portion 481, i.e., the partition portion 482, corresponds to the second communication portion 452B of the second communication plate 450B. The second communication portion 452B allows the loop main portion 481 to communicate at the disconnected portion.

[0278] When projected onto the flow path forming plate 480, the two ends of the second communication portion 452B respectively communicate with the two ends of the loop main portion 481, and the middle portion of the second communication portion 452B is located between the two ends of the loop main portion 481.

[0279] The loop main portion 481 and the second communication portion 452B communicate to form a circulation flow path. The refrigerant circulates in the circulation flow path, and the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant can be mixed more uniformly.

[0280] The loop main portion 481 is a disconnected ring when viewed in the YZ plane. The loop main portion 481 has a long length extending along the up-down direction Z and has a rectangular shape. The loop main portion 481 has a first portion 481a, a second portion 481b, a third portion 481c, and a fourth portion 481d. As shown in FIG. 24, the first portion 481a is disposed on the right side in FIG. 24, and the second portion 481b is disposed on the left side in FIG. 24. The first portion 481a and the second portion 481b have lengths in the up-down direction Z. The first portion 481a (or the second portion 481b) can communicate with the inlet flow path 411.

[0281] The third portion 481c of the loop main portion 481 connects the upper end portions of the first portion 481a and the second portion 481b. The fourth portion 481d connects the lower end portions of the first portion 481a and the second portion 481b.

[0282] After the refrigerant enters the circulation flow path from the inlet flow path 411, the circulation is formed by the impact of the refrigerant.

[0283] The portion of the loop main portion 481 corresponding to the inlet flow path 411 is defined as a loop inflow portion 4811.

[0284] In the present application, the loop inflow portion 4811 can be disposed on the first portion 481a or the second portion 481b of the loop main portion 481. The first portion 481a and the second portion 481b extend vertically, and the refrigerant flows downward under the action of gravity after entering the loop main portion 481. In this way, the problem that the refrigerant cannot circulate around the loop when the loop inflow portion 4811 is disposed on the third portion 481c or the fourth portion 481d, because the third portion 481c or the fourth portion 481d extends horizontally, and the refrigerant flows in two directions, left and right, after entering the loop main portion 481, can be avoided.

[0285] In some embodiments of the present application, the distributor 400 can further include a first communication plate 450A. The first communication plate 450A is a rectangular plate having a longer length in the up-down direction Z. The length in the up-down direction Z and the width in the left-right direction Y of the first communication plate 450A are substantially the same as the length in the up-down direction Z and the width in the left-right direction Y of the inflow plate 410, and the plate surface of the first communication plate 450A is parallel to the plane formed by the up-down direction Z and the left-right direction Y.

[0286] A plurality of through grooves are provided on the first communication plate 450A. The plurality of through grooves form a plurality of first communication portions 451A. The first communication portions 451A communicate with the loop main body portion 481 and are used to divide the refrigerant in the circulating flow path into multiple outflows.

[0287] The communication portions 451A can communicate with the heat exchange tubes 310, so that the refrigerant in the circulating flow path flows to different heat exchange tubes 310 through the plurality of first communication portions 451A, respectively.

[0288] In the present application, the static pressure is used to achieve self-balancing of the refrigerant at each heat exchange tube 310. Since the flow direction of the refrigerant in the circulating flow path is perpendicular to the direction of the refrigerant flowing into the first communication portions 451A of the first communication plate 450A, the flow of the refrigerant has no kinetic energy impact on each first communication portion 451A, thus avoiding the impact of dynamic pressure, and the flow rate of each downstream branch is completely dependent on the flow resistance of the refrigerant in the downstream heat exchange tube 310. When the refrigerant flow rate in the heat exchange tube 310 is small, its flow resistance is also small, and due to the action of downstream suction, the flow will automatically increase, thereby achieving self-balancing of the refrigerant at the heat exchange tube 310.

[0289] In addition, since the number of first communication portions 451A on the first communication plate 450A is flexible, the number of terminal branches of the distributor 400 can be even or odd, avoiding the problem that the number of branches of the distributor 400 in the related art can only be even, which limits its range of use.

[0290] When viewed from the front, or from the direction of the refrigerant flowing into the first communication plate 450A, the first communication portions 451A are rectangular. The width of the first communication portions 451A in the left-right direction Y can be close to the width of the circulating flow path in the left-right direction Y. The length of the first communication portions 451A in the up-down direction Z can be close to the thickness of the outlet flow path 461 of the outflow plate 460 in the up-down direction Z.

[0291] According to the embodiments of the present application, the projection of the first communication portion 451A on the plate surface of the flow path forming plate 480 is offset from the position of the loop inflow portion 4811, so that the portion of the refrigerant flowing into the loop main body portion 481 from the loop inflow portion 4811 can not flow directly to the first communication portion 451A without passing through the circulation flow path, thereby ensuring more refrigerant to circulate in the circulation flow path.

[0292] According to the embodiments of the present application, in the projection of the first communication portion 451A on the plate surface of the flow path forming plate 480, the projection of one of the loop inflow portion 4811 and the first communication portion 451A is located at the first portion 481a of the loop main body portion 481, and the projection of the other of the loop inflow portion 4811 and the first communication portion 451A is located at the second portion 481b of the loop main body portion 481.

[0293] It is assumed that the first portion 481a of the loop main body portion 481 is closer to the windward side of the heat exchanger 300 than the second portion 481b. In this case, the first communication portion 451A can communicate with the first portion 481a of the loop main body portion 481. In this way, when the refrigerant flows to the heat exchange tube 310 through the first communication portion 451A, the refrigerant can first flow into the hole 310a of the heat exchange tube 310 close to the windward side. Thus, more refrigerant flow is obtained in the hole 310a of the heat exchange tube 310 close to the windward side. The relevant description can be found in the description of FIG. 39 below.

[0294] Due to the heat exchange between the air and the refrigerant in the heat exchange tube 310, the temperature of the air gradually decreases when the air flows from the windward end to the leeward end of the heat exchange tube 310, for example when the heat exchanger is an evaporator. According to the embodiments of the present application, the refrigerant flow in the heat exchange tube 310 close to the windward side is more, so that the heat exchanger including the distributor 400 according to the present application can adapt to the energy of the air in the windward direction, so that the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 300 is higher.

[0295] In some embodiments of the present application, the distributor 400 can further include an outflow plate 460. The outflow plate 460 is a rectangular plate having a longer length in the up-down direction Z. The length of the outflow plate 460 in the up-down direction Z and the width of the outflow plate 460 in the left-right direction Y are substantially the same as the length of the inflow plate 410 in the up-down direction Z and the width of the inflow plate 410 in the left-right direction Y, and the plate surface of the outflow plate 460 is parallel to the plane formed by the up-down direction Z and the left-right direction Y.

[0296] The outflow plate 460 is provided with a plurality of through grooves penetrating therethrough. The plurality of through grooves form an outlet flow path 461. The outlet flow path 461 communicates with the first communication portion 451A of the first communication plate 450A. The outlet flow path 461 communicates with the heat exchange tube 310 on the heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 described below. Thus, the outlet flow path 461 communicates the first communication portion 451A with the heat exchange tube 310.

[0297] The flow path cross-sectional shape of the outlet flow path 461 can be the same as the cross-sectional shape of the heat exchange tube 310.

[0298] Note that the flow path cross section here refers to a cross section obtained by cutting the flow path orthogally to the flow direction of the refrigerant. The flow direction of the refrigerant refers to the direction in which the refrigerant flows in the outlet flow path 461.

[0299] In other embodiments of the present application, the outflow plate 460 can be omitted, i.e., the distributor 400 can not include the outflow plate 460.

[0300] The communication portion 451A of the first communication plate 450A directly communicates with the heat exchange tube 310 on the heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 described later.

[0301] In some embodiments of the present application, the distributor 400 can further include a heat exchange tube mounting plate 470. The heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 is an oblong plate having a long length in the up-down direction Z. The length in the up-down direction Z and the width in the left-right direction Y of the heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 are substantially the same as the length in the up-down direction Z and the width in the left-right direction Y of the inflow plate 410, and the plate surface of the heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 is parallel to the plane formed by the up-down direction Z and the left-right direction Y.

[0302] The heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 is provided with a plurality of through grooves to form a plurality of heat exchange tube insertion portions 471. The heat exchange tube insertion portions 471 are provided corresponding to the outlet flow paths 461 of the outflow plate 460.

[0303] The heat exchange tube 310 can be mounted to the heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 from the heat exchange tube insertion portion 471, and then communicate with the outlet flow path 461.

[0304] The heat exchange tube 310 can be connected to the heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 by welding. In other embodiments of the present application, the heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 can be omitted, i.e., the distributor 400 can not include the heat exchange tube mounting plate 470. The heat exchange tube 310 is directly connected to the outflow plate 460 or the first communication plate 450A.

[0305] In some embodiments of the present application, along the stacking direction of the plurality of plates of the distributor 400, the inflow plate 410, the second communication plate 450B, the flow path forming plate 480, the first communication plate 450A, the outflow plate 460, and the heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 can be sequentially provided, as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24.

[0306] In other embodiments of the present application, referring to FIG. 25, in order to increase the number of branches of the distributor, a flow dividing plate 490 can also be provided between the first communication plate 450A and the outflow plate 460.

[0307] In another embodiment of the present application, referring to FIG. 25, the distributor 400 can further include a flow distribution plate 490. The flow distribution plate 490 is disposed between the first communication plate 450A and the outflow plate 460. The flow distribution plate 490 is a rectangular plate having a long length in the up-down direction Z. The length in the up-down direction Z and the width in the left-right direction Y of the flow distribution plate 490 are substantially the same as the length in the up-down direction Z and the width in the left-right direction Y of the inflow plate 410, and the plate surface of the flow distribution plate 490 is parallel to the plane formed by the up-down direction Z and the left-right direction Y.

[0308] A plurality of through grooves are provided in the flow distribution plate 490 to pass through the flow distribution plate 490 in the front-rear direction X, so as to form a plurality of branch flow paths 491.

[0309] Referring to FIGS. 26 and 27, the branch flow path 491 has a branch inflow portion 492 and at least two branch outflow portions 493.

[0310] The branch inflow portion 492 of the branch flow path 491 is in communication with the first communication portion 451A of the first communication plate 450A. The branch outflow portion 493 of the branch flow path 491 is in communication with the outlet flow path 461 of the outflow plate 460.

[0311] In the embodiment of the present application, the branch inflow portion 492 includes a first branch inflow portion 492a and a second branch inflow portion 492b separated by a separation portion 494. The first branch inflow portion 492a and the second branch inflow portion 492b are arranged along the left-right direction Y and symmetrical with respect to the separation portion 494.

[0312] In a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction X, i.e., in the YZ plane, the coincident portion of the first branch inflow portion 492a with the first communication portion 451A of the first communication plate 450A and the coincident portion of the second branch inflow portion 492b with the first communication portion 451A of the first communication plate 450A have the same area.

[0313] The width w of the first branch inflow portion 492a in the left-right direction Y is not greater than the length u of the branch outflow portion 493 in the up-down direction.

[0314] Since the width w of the first branch inflow portion 492a in the left-right direction Y is relatively small, the refrigerant flows in the up-down direction X after flowing into the first branch inflow portion 492a.

[0315] The width w of the second branch inflow portion 492b in the left-right direction Y is not greater than the length u of the branch outflow portion 493 in the up-down direction Z.

[0316] Since the width w of the second branch inflow portion 492b in the left-right direction Y is relatively small, the refrigerant flows in the up-down direction X after flowing into the second branch inflow portion 492b.

[0317] The application can prevent the deflection caused by the gas-liquid stratification in the capillary 610 by arranging the first branch inflow part 492a and the second branch inflow part 492b along the horizontal direction through arranging the partition part 494 at the branch inflow part 492.

[0318] The branch outflow part 493 of the branch flow path 491 extends linearly along the left-right direction Y. The shape of the branch outflow part 493 can be the same as the shape of the heat exchange tube 310, and the branch outflow part 493 is connected to the outlet flow path 461 of the outflow plate 460.

[0319] For each branch flow path 491, two branch outflow parts 493 are respectively located on the upper and lower sides of the branch inflow part 492.

[0320] The distributor 400 according to another embodiment of the application will be described below with reference to FIGS. 28 to 30, and only the differences from the above-described embodiments will be described in detail, and the same parts as the above-described embodiments will not be described again.

[0321] Compared with the distributor 400 shown in FIG. 23, the distributor 400 shown in FIG. 28 mainly has a jet structure arranged on the loop main body part 481. Compared with the distributor 400 shown in FIG. 25, the distributor 400 shown in FIG. 29 mainly has a jet structure arranged on the loop main body part 481. With reference to FIGS. 28 and 29, according to the jet structure arranged on the loop main body part 481, the arrangement positions of the inflow extension part 451B and the second communication part 452B on the second communication plate 450B and the number and arrangement positions of the first communication parts 451A on the first communication plate 450A are adjusted accordingly to adapt to the structural change of the loop main body part 481, and to ensure the smooth flow of the refrigerant flow path, which will not be described in detail here. The jet structure of the loop main body part 481 will be described in detail below.

[0322] With reference to FIGS. 28 to 30, the part of the loop main body part 481 connected to the inlet flow path 411 of the inflow plate 410 is the loop inflow part 4811.

[0323] The loop main body part 481 is provided with a neck part 4812 with a reduced flow path cross section. The neck part 4812 is connected to the loop inflow part 4811.

[0324] Here, the flow path cross section refers to the cross section obtained by cutting the flow path orthogonally to the flow direction of the refrigerant. The flow direction of the refrigerant refers to the direction of the flow of the refrigerant in the neck part 4812.

[0325] The inflow cross section of the neck part 4812 is smaller than that of the loop inflow part 4811, i.e., the width of the neck part 4812 in the left-right direction Y is smaller than that of the loop inflow part 4811 in the left-right direction Y.

[0326] The neck portion 4812 is located on the downstream side of the loop inflow portion 4811, where the downstream side is referenced with respect to the flow direction of the refrigerant. The refrigerant flowing into the loop inflow portion 4811 increases in flow rate in the neck portion 4812, and then continues to flow in the circulation flow path, and thus the neck portion 4812 can promote circulation of the refrigerant in the circulation flow path.

[0327] The loop main body portion 481 can include a first loop segment 483. The first loop segment 483 is in a broken ring shape.

[0328] The loop inflow portion 4811 and the neck portion 4812 are located at one end portion of the first loop segment 483. The other end portion of the first loop segment 483 is a first broken end 483a.

[0329] The loop main body portion 481 can include a second loop segment 484. One end of the second loop segment 484 is connected to the neck portion 4812; the other end of the second loop segment 484 is located between the two end portions of the first loop segment 483, and is defined as a second broken end 484a. Alternatively, the other end of the second loop segment 484 is located between the loop inflow portion 4811 and the first broken end 483a.

[0330] The first broken end 483a and the second broken end 484a form the broken ends of the loop main body portion 481. The portion of the flow path forming plate 480 located between the first broken end 483a and the second broken end 484a is a partition portion 482.

[0331] The second communication portion 452B is provided corresponding to the partition portion 482.

[0332] According to some embodiments of the present application, in the up-down direction Z, the loop inflow portion 4811 is located below the first broken end 483a, and the neck portion 4812 is located below the loop inflow portion 4811.

[0333] The second loop segment 484 includes a first flow path portion 484b. The first flow path portion 484b is connected to the neck portion 4812. The first flow path portion 484b extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction of gravity, i.e., the first flow path portion 484b extends horizontally. Alternatively, the first flow path portion 484b extends away from the neck portion 4812 and gradually rises.

[0334] The refrigerant affected by gravity at the neck portion 4812 will continue to flow downward in the first loop segment 483, and will not enter the first flow path portion 484b of the second loop segment 484.

[0335] A second communication plate 450B of the dispenser 400 according to further embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to FIGS. 31 and 32, and only the differences from the above-described embodiments will be described in detail, and the same parts as those of the above-described embodiments will not be described again. The second communication plate 450B of the dispenser 400 shown in FIG. 31 is disposed between the flow path forming plate 480 and the first communication plate 450A, compared to the dispenser 400 shown in FIG. 23. The second communication plate 450B of the dispenser 400 shown in FIG. 32 is disposed between the flow path forming plate 480 and the first communication plate 450A, compared to the dispenser 400 shown in FIG. 29.

[0336] The second communication plate 450B is provided with a through groove. The through groove forms a second communication part 452B for communicating the disconnected part of the loop main part 481.

[0337] The second communication plate 450B is provided with a plurality of through holes. The plurality of through holes form a shunt port 453B, which is in communication with the first communication part 451A of the first communication plate 450A.

[0338] A second communication part 452B of the dispenser 400 according to further embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to FIGS. 33 and 34, and only the differences from the above-described embodiments will be described in detail, and the same parts as those of the above-described embodiments will not be described again.

[0339] The dispenser 400 shown in FIG. 33 can not include the second communication plate 450B, but the second communication part 452B is disposed on the inflow plate 410, compared to the dispenser 400 shown in FIG. 25.

[0340] Referring to FIGS. 33 and 34, the inflow plate 410 is provided with a recess on the side facing the flow path forming plate 480, and the recess forms the second communication part 452B.

[0341] By disposing the second communication part 452B in the recess of the inflow plate 410, one plate (i.e., the second communication plate 450B) can be omitted while achieving the communication of the loop main part 481 by the second communication part 452B.

[0342] In other embodiments according to the present application, the second communication part 452B can also be disposed on the first communication plate 450A.

[0343] The first communication plate 450A is provided with a recess on the side facing the flow path forming plate 480, and the recess forms the second communication part 452B.

[0344] By disposing the second communication part 452B in the recess of the first communication plate 450A, one plate (i.e., the second communication plate 450B) can be omitted while achieving the communication of the loop main part 481 by the second communication part 452B.

[0345] In the above embodiment, the distributor 400 is cuboid. However, in other embodiments of the present application, referring to FIG. 35, the shape of the distributor 400 can also be cylindrical. The outer side surface of each plate in the plate body is a circular arc surface forming a cylinder.

[0346] Therefore, the present application does not limit the shape of the distributor.

[0347] Next, taking the distributor 400 as an integrated structure as an example for description.

[0348] In this embodiment, the distributor 400 is made by a mold. A first mold with the same shape as the distribution flow path is placed in a second mold corresponding to the shape of the distributor 400, and then aluminum liquid is injected into the second mold; after the aluminum solidifies, the first mold is melted and flows out.

[0349] In this embodiment, the distributor 400 is an integrated structure, which is different from the above embodiment in that the distributor 400 is stacked by multiple plate bodies.

[0350] For the refrigeration cycle device of the ejector, referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 46, the fan 510 is located above the heat exchanger 300, which will cause the wind speed of the upper part of the heat exchanger 300 close to the fan 510 to be higher than that of the lower part far from the fan 510.

[0351] With the increase of the height of the heat exchanger 300, the wind speed on the heat exchanger 300 also shows an increasing trend. When the refrigerant flow rate on the heat exchanger 300 matches the wind speed distribution, the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 300 can be maximized.

[0352] In the embodiments of the present application, referring to FIG. 47, in the heat exchanger 300, the distributor 400 has at least one first distributor 400_1, at least one second distributor 400_2, …, at least one Nth distributor 400_n distributed from top to bottom;

[0353] The number of the first distributor 400_1, the second distributor 400_2, …, the Nth distributor 400_n connected to the heat exchange pipes 310 increases.

[0354] In the present application, the number of the distributors 400 connected to the heat exchange pipes 310 is defined as the number of outlets of the distributors.

[0355] Exemplarily, the first distributor 400_1 is a four-outlet distributor connected to four heat exchange pipes 310, the second distributor 400_2 is an eight-outlet distributor connected to eight heat exchange pipes 310, and the Nth distributor 400_n is a sixteen-outlet distributor connected to sixteen heat exchange pipes 310.

[0356] From top to bottom, the number of heat exchange pipes 310 connected to the distributor 400 increases, which can make the refrigerant flow rate of each capillary tube 610 in the flow divider 600 close to each other, and the refrigerant dryness at the outlet of the heat exchanger close to each other, thereby effectively improving the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger.

[0357] As described above, in the embodiments of the present application, the distributor 400 includes an inflow plate 410, an inlet flow path 411 is formed on the inflow plate 410 for the refrigerant to flow in; a flow path forming plate 480, a loop main body part 481 in communication with the inlet flow path 411 is provided on the flow path forming plate 480, and the loop main body part 481 is in the form of a broken ring; a first communication plate 450A, a plurality of first communication parts 451A for the refrigerant in the loop main body part 481 to flow out are formed on the first communication plate 450A; a second communication plate 450B, provided between the inflow plate 410 and the flow path forming plate 480, or provided between the flow path forming plate 480 and the first communication plate 450A, a second communication part 452B is formed on the second communication plate 450B, and the second communication part 452B communicates the two ends of the loop main body part 481. Thus, the loop main body part 481 and the second communication part 452B form a circulating flow path, the refrigerant circulates in the circulating flow path, and then is divided into each first communication part 451A, which can ensure that the refrigerant is distributed more uniformly.

[0358] In addition, the distributor 400 includes an inflow plate 410, an inlet flow path 411 is formed on the inflow plate 410 for the refrigerant to flow in; a flow path forming plate 480, a loop main body part 481 in communication with the inlet flow path 411 is provided on the flow path forming plate 480, and the loop main body part 481 is in the form of a broken ring; a first communication plate 450A, a plurality of first communication parts 451A for the refrigerant in the loop main body part 481 to flow out are formed on the first communication plate 450A; a second communication plate 450B, provided between the inflow plate 410 and the flow path forming plate 480, or provided between the flow path forming plate 480 and the first communication plate 450A, a second communication part 452B is formed on the second communication plate 450B, and the second communication part 452B communicates the two ends of the loop main body part 481. Thus, the loop main body part 481 and the second communication part 452B form a circulating flow path, the refrigerant circulates in the circulating flow path, and then is divided into each first communication part 451A, which can ensure that the refrigerant is distributed more uniformly.

[0359] In addition, a neck part 4812 connected with the loop inflow part 4811 is provided on the loop main body part 481, and the neck part 4812 can accelerate the refrigerant and promote the circulation of the refrigerant in the circulating flow path.

[0360] Next, in the following, the structure of the distributor 400 according to some embodiments of the present application will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 37 to 47, and the distributor 400 will be taken as an example of a laminated distributor.

[0361] Referring to FIGS. 36 and 37, the distributor 400 is layered by a plurality of plate bodies. In some embodiments of the present application, a length direction of the plurality of plate bodies is set as a first direction Z, a direction in which the plate bodies are layered orthogonally to the first direction is set as a second direction X, and a direction orthogonal to the first direction Z and the second direction X is set as a third direction Y. The distributor 400 of the present embodiment is configured in the first direction Z, also referred to as the up-down direction Z, in the second direction X, also referred to as the front-rear direction X, and in the third direction Y, also referred to as the left-right direction Y.

[0362] In some embodiments of the present application, referring to FIGS. 36 and 37, the distributor 400 includes an inflow plate 410. The inflow plate 410 is a rectangular plate having a long length in the up-down direction Z. In the inflow plate 410, a plate surface is parallel to a plane formed by the up-down direction Z and the left-right direction Y.

[0363] The inflow plate 410 is provided with a through-hole that penetrates the inflow plate 410 in the front-rear direction X to form an inlet flow path 411. The inlet flow path 411 corresponds to a refrigerant inlet flow path of the distributor 400.

[0364] The inflow plate 410 can include one or a plurality of plates layered.

[0365] The flow path cross section of the inlet flow path 411 is circular, and thus the inlet flow path 411 can be connected to the capillary tube 610 (or the refrigerant pipe). The inlet flow path 411 can be directly connected to the capillary tube 610 (or the refrigerant pipe) by welding; or a pipe joint can be connected at the inlet flow path 411, and the capillary tube 610 can be connected through the pipe joint. Here, the flow path cross section refers to a cross section obtained by cutting the flow path orthogonally to the flow direction of the refrigerant. The flow direction of the refrigerant refers to a direction in which the refrigerant flows in the inlet flow path 411.

[0366] In some embodiments of the present application, referring to FIGS. 36 and 37, the distributor 400 can further include a heat exchange tube mounting plate 470. The heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 is a rectangular plate having a long length in the up-down direction Z. The length of the heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 in the up-down direction Z and the width of the heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 in the left-right direction Y are substantially the same as the length of the inflow plate 410 in the up-down direction Z and the width of the inflow plate 410 in the left-right direction Y, and a plate surface of the heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 is parallel to a plane formed by the up-down direction Z and the left-right direction Y.

[0367] The heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 is provided with a plurality of through grooves to form a plurality of heat exchange tube insertion portions 471.

[0368] The heat exchange tube 310 can be mounted to the heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 from the heat exchange tube insertion portion 471. The heat exchange tube 310 can be connected to the heat exchange tube mounting plate 470 by welding.

[0369] The heat exchange pipe 310 communicates with a branch flow path 491 of a flow distribution plate 500 described later.

[0370] In other embodiments of the present application, the heat exchange pipe mounting plate 470 can be omitted, that is, the distributor 400 can not include the heat exchange pipe mounting plate 470, and the heat exchange pipe 310 is directly connected to the flow distribution plate 500 or the outflow plate 460 described later.

[0371] Continuing to refer to FIGS. 36, 37, and 41, the distributor 400 can further include an outflow plate 460. The outflow plate 460 is a rectangular plate material having a long length in the up-down direction Z. The length in the up-down direction Z and the width in the left-right direction Y of the outflow plate 460 are substantially the same as the length in the up-down direction Z and the width in the left-right direction Y of the inflow plate 410, and the plate surface of the outflow plate 460 is parallel to the plane formed by the up-down direction Z and the left-right direction Y.

[0372] The outflow plate 460 is provided with a plurality of through grooves that penetrate therethrough. The plurality of through grooves form an outlet flow path 461.

[0373] The outflow plate 460 is located on the upstream side of the heat exchanger mounting plate 470. The outlet flow path 461 communicates with the heat exchange pipe 310 on the heat exchange pipe mounting plate 470.

[0374] The flow path cross-sectional shape of the outlet flow path 461 can be the same as the cross-sectional shape of the heat exchange pipe 310.

[0375] It should be noted that the flow path cross section here refers to a cross section obtained by cutting the flow path orthogonally in the flow direction of the refrigerant. The flow direction of the refrigerant refers to the direction in which the refrigerant flows in the outlet flow path 461.

[0376] According to some embodiments of the present application, the distributor 400 can further include a flow distribution plate 500. The flow distribution plate 500 is a rectangular plate material having a long length in the up-down direction Z. The length in the up-down direction Z and the width in the left-right direction Y of the flow distribution plate 500 are substantially the same as the length in the up-down direction Z and the width in the left-right direction Y of the inflow plate 410, and the plate surface of the flow distribution plate 500 is parallel to the plane formed by the up-down direction Z and the left-right direction Y.

[0377] The flow distribution plate 500 is provided with at least one through groove that penetrates the flow distribution plate 500 in the front-rear direction X. The through groove forms a branch flow path 491.

[0378] The flow distribution plate 500 can have at least one. The one closest to the heat exchange pipe 310 among the flow distribution plates 500 is a downstream flow distribution plate 440A.

[0379] If the distributor 400 includes only one flow splitter 500, the flow splitter 500 can be a downstream-side flow splitter 440A. If the distributor 400 includes multiple flow splitters 500, the multiple flow splitters 500 can include one or more downstream-side flow splitters 440A and one or more upstream-side flow splitters 420A located between the inflow plate 410 and the downstream-side flow splitter 440A.

[0380] For the sake of distinction, the branch flow path 491 of the downstream-side flow splitter 440A can also be referred to as a downstream-side branch flow path 441A. The branch flow path of the upstream-side flow splitter 420A can also be referred to as an upstream-side branch flow path 421A.

[0381] According to some embodiments of the present application, with reference to FIGS. 37-40, the flow splitter 500 can include a downstream-side flow splitter 440A. The downstream-side branch flow path 441A has a branch inflow portion 492 and at least two branch outflow portions 493. The branch outflow portions 493 of the downstream-side branch flow path 441A are in communication with the heat exchange tubes 310. The two branch outflow portions 493 are connected on both sides of the branch inflow portion 492 in the vertical direction Z.

[0382] For the sake of description, the side of the distributor 400 on the same side as the windward side of the heat exchanger 300 is also referred to as the windward side of the distributor 400.

[0383] In some embodiments, with reference to FIG. 39, the branch outflow portions 493 of the downstream-side branch flow path 441A extend generally in the left-right direction Y, as indicated by the arrows showing the direction of air flow.

[0384] The connection position of the branch inflow portion 492 and the branch outflow portion 493 of the downstream-side branch flow path 441A is disposed close to the windward side of the distributor 400. In this way, the refrigerant flows first to the holes 310a of the heat exchange tubes 310 close to the windward side. As a result, more refrigerant flow is obtained in the holes 310a of the heat exchange tubes 310 close to the windward side.

[0385] Due to the heat exchange between the air and the refrigerant in the heat exchange tubes 310, the temperature of the air gradually decreases as it flows from the windward end to the leeward end of the heat exchange tubes 310, for example when the heat exchanger is an evaporator. According to embodiments of the present application, more refrigerant flow is obtained in the holes 310a of the heat exchange tubes 310 close to the windward side, so that the heat exchanger including the distributor 400 according to the present application can adapt to the energy of the air in the windward direction, so that the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 300 is higher.

[0386] According to embodiments of the present application, the shape of the branch outflow portion 493 can be the same as the shape of the heat exchange tubes 310.

[0387] Referring to FIG. 40, the branch inflow portion 492 of the downstream side branch baffle plate 440A includes a first branch inflow portion 492a and a second branch inflow portion 492b separated by a separation portion 494. The first branch inflow portion 492a and the second branch inflow portion 492b are arranged along the left-right direction Y.

[0388] The width w of the first branch inflow portion 492a in the left-right direction is not greater than the length u of the branch outflow portion 493 in the up-down direction Z. Since the width w of the first branch inflow portion 492a in the left-right direction Y is relatively small, the refrigerant flows to the branch outflow portion 493 along the up-down direction Z after flowing into the first branch inflow portion 492a.

[0389] The width w of the second branch inflow portion 492b in the left-right direction is not greater than the length u of the branch outflow portion 493 in the up-down direction Z. Since the width w of the second branch inflow portion 492b in the left-right direction Y is relatively small, the refrigerant flows to the branch outflow portion 493 along the up-down direction Z after flowing into the first branch inflow portion 492a.

[0390] The separation portion 494 at the branch inflow portion 492 causes the first branch inflow portion 492a and the second branch inflow portion 492b to be arranged along the horizontal direction, which can prevent the flow deviation caused by the gas-liquid stratification in the capillary tube 610.

[0391] Referring to FIG. 40, for example, for the downstream side branch flow path 441A, the length h of the branch inflow portion 492 in the up-down direction Z is not greatly different from the length of the communication portion 451 in the up-down direction Z. Since the length h of the branch inflow portion 492 in the up-down direction Z is relatively small, the refrigerant directly flows to the branch outflow portion 493 after flowing into the branch inflow portion 492. In addition, since the length h of the branch inflow portion 492 in the up-down direction Z is relatively small, the distance between the two branch outflow portions 493 can be set to be relatively compact, so that a larger number of heat exchange tubes 310 can be arranged in the up-down direction Z, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency.

[0392] In addition, when projected onto the plate surface of the downstream side branch baffle plate 440A, the heat exchange tube 310 is located in the branch outflow portion 493.

[0393] According to some embodiments of the present application, referring to FIGS. 36-37, the branch baffle plate 500 can further include two upstream side branch baffle plates 420A. The two upstream side branch baffle plates 420A are provided with a communication plate 450 to be described later between the two upstream side branch baffle plates 420A and between the upstream side branch baffle plate 420A and the downstream side branch flow path 441A. The upstream side branch flow paths 421A of the two upstream side branch baffle plates 420A can have substantially the same shape, except that the arrangement direction of the shape is different.

[0394] Specifically, in some embodiments, with reference to FIG. 44, the branch flow-out portion 493 of the upstream side branch flow path 421A of the upstream side distribution plate 420A extends substantially in the left-right direction Y. The upstream side branch flow path 421A has a transition connection portion 495 connected between the branch flow-in portion 492 and the branch flow-out portion 493. The transition connection portion 495 extends substantially in the up-down direction Z. The two transition connection portions 495 are center-symmetrical in shape.

[0395] In the upstream side branch flow path 421A, the branch flow-in portion 492 is coplanar with the outer side of the transition connection portion 495 in the left-right direction Y. The shape of the branch flow path 421A is relatively regular, which is conducive to processing.

[0396] In some embodiments of the present application, with reference to FIGS. 36, 37 and 41, the distributor 400 can further include a communication plate 450. The communication plate 450 can be provided between two adjacent upstream side distribution plates 420A and between the upstream side distribution plate 420A and the downstream side distribution plate 440A. The communication plate 450 is a rectangular plate with a relatively long length in the up-down direction Z. The length in the up-down direction Z and the width in the left-right direction Y of the communication plate 450 are substantially the same as the length in the up-down direction Z and the width in the left-right direction Y of the inflow plate 410, and the plate surface of the communication plate 450 is parallel to the plane formed by the up-down direction Z and the left-right direction Y.

[0397] A plurality of through holes are provided in the communication plate 450 to pass through the communication plate 450 in the front-rear direction X, so as to form a plurality of communication portions 451.

[0398] The communication plate 450 can be provided between the downstream side distribution plate 440A and the outflow plate 460 described later. The communication portion 451 is in communication with the branch flow-out end 493a of the downstream side distribution plate 440A. The communication portion 451 is in communication with the outlet flow path 461 of the outflow plate 460. Thus, the communication portion 451 communicates the branch flow-out end 493a of the downstream side distribution plate 440A with the outlet flow path 461 of the outflow plate 460.

[0399] With reference to FIGS. 36, 37 and 41, when the distributor 400 includes a plurality of distribution plates 500, the communication plate 450 can be provided between two adjacent distribution plates 500. The communication portion 451 communicates the branch flow-in portion 492 of the previous distribution plate 500 with the branch flow-out portion 493 of the next distribution plate 500.

[0400] The shape of the flow path cross section of the communication portion 451 can be the same as the cross-sectional shape of the branch flow-out end 402a.

[0401] It should be noted that the flow path cross section here refers to a cross section obtained by cutting the flow path orthogonally to the flow direction of the refrigerant. The flow direction of the refrigerant refers to the direction in which the refrigerant flows in the communication portion 451.

[0402] The distributor 400 shown in Figs. 41 and 42 according to some embodiments of the present application will be described below. Referring to Figs. 41 and 42, the free end of the branch outflow portion 493 of the downstream side flow splitter plate 440A of the distributor 400 is a branch outflow end 493a. Refrigerant flows along the branch outflow portion 493 toward the branch outflow end 493a, and flows toward the next plate from the branch outflow end 493a.

[0403] Compared with the distributor 400 shown in Figs. 36 and 37, the flow path shape of the downstream side flow splitter plate 440A of the distributor 400 shown in Fig. 41 is changed, and accordingly, the arrangement direction of the shape of the upstream side branch flow path 421A of the upstream side flow splitter plate 420A and the number and arrangement positions of the communication portions 451 of the communication plate 450 are adjusted to adapt to the shape change of the downstream side branch flow path 441A of the downstream side flow splitter plate 440A, and to ensure smooth flow of the refrigerant flow path.

[0404] Referring to Fig. 42, the branch inflow portion 492 of the downstream side flow splitter plate 440A includes a first branch inflow portion 492a and a second branch inflow portion 492b separated by a separation portion 494. The first branch inflow portion 492a and the second branch inflow portion 492b extend substantially in the left-right direction Y. A first gradual change portion 492c is provided between the first branch inflow portion 492a and the lower side branch outflow portion 493. The first gradual change portion 492c is generally trapezoidal in shape. In the direction from the first branch inflow portion 492a to the lower side branch outflow portion 493, the width of the first gradual change portion 492c in the left-right direction Y gradually increases. A second gradual change portion 492d is provided between the second branch inflow portion 492b and the upper side branch outflow portion 493. The second gradual change portion 492d is generally trapezoidal in shape. In the direction from the second branch inflow portion 492b to the upper side branch outflow portion 493, the width of the second gradual change portion 492c in the left-right direction Y gradually increases. The first gradual change portion 492c and the second gradual change portion 492d extend substantially in the up-down direction Z. The shape of the first gradual change portion 492c is centrally symmetrical to the shape of the second gradual change portion 492d.

[0405] In the downstream side branch flow path 441A of the downstream side flow splitter plate 440A, the outer side surface of the branch inflow portion 492 in the left-right direction Y is coplanar with the outer side surfaces of the first gradual change portion 492c and the second gradual change portion 492d. The shape of the downstream side branch flow path 441A is relatively regular, which is conducive to processing and manufacturing.

[0406] In a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction X, i.e., in the YZ plane, the overlapping portion of the first branch inflow portion 492a and the communication portion 451 of the communication plate 450 and the overlapping portion of the second branch inflow portion 492b and the communication portion 451 of the communication plate 450 can have the same area.

[0407] Referring to FIG. 43, the arrow shows the air flow direction, and the branch flow-out end 493a of the downstream-side distribution plate 440A is disposed close to the windward side of the distributor 400 in the left-right direction Y. In this way, the refrigerant will flow into the hole 310a close to the windward side of the heat exchange pipe 310 from the refrigerant flow-out end 493a first. Thus, the hole 310a close to the windward side of the heat exchange pipe 310 can obtain more refrigerant flow.

[0408] Due to the heat exchange between the air and the refrigerant in the heat exchange pipe 310, the temperature of the air gradually decreases when the air flows from the windward end to the leeward end of the heat exchange pipe 310, for example, when the heat exchanger is an evaporator. The refrigerant flow close to the windward side of the heat exchange pipe 310 according to the embodiments of the present application is more, so the heat exchanger including the distributor 400 according to the present application can adapt to the energy of the air in the windward direction, so that the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 300 is higher.

[0409] In the embodiments of the present application, a plurality of distribution plates 500 can be provided. The shape of the branch flow-in part 492 and the shape of the branch flow-out part 493 of the plurality of distribution plates 500 can be flexibly designed according to requirements.

[0410] In the distributors shown in FIGS. 36 to 45 according to some embodiments of the present application, for the distribution plate 500 closest to the flow-in plate 410, for example, for the upstream-side distribution plate 420A, the overlapping part of the first branch flow-in part 492a of the branch flow-in part 492 and the inlet flow path 411 of the flow-in plate 410 and the overlapping part of the second branch flow-in part 492b and the inlet flow path 411 of the flow-in plate 410 can have the same area when projected on a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction X, i.e., projected on the YZ plane.

[0411] In the distributors shown in FIGS. 36 to 45 according to some embodiments of the present application, for the distribution plate 500 other than the distribution plate 500 closest to the flow-in plate 410, the overlapping part of the first branch flow-in part 492a of the branch flow-in part 492 and the communication part 451 of the communication plate 450 and the overlapping part of the second branch flow-in part 492b and the communication part 451 of the communication plate 450 can have the same area when projected on a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction X, i.e., projected on the YZ plane.

[0412] In the above embodiments, the distributor 400 is in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. However, in other embodiments, referring to FIG. 45, the outer shape of the distributor 400 can also be made in the shape of a cylinder. The outer side surface of each plate in the plate body is a circular arc surface forming a cylindrical shape.

[0413] Therefore, the present application does not limit the outer shape of the distributor.

[0414] Next, the distributor 400 is taken as an example to illustrate the integrated structure.

[0415] In this embodiment, the distributor 400 is made by molding. A first mold with the same shape as the distribution flow path is placed in a second mold corresponding to the outer shape of the distributor 400, and then aluminum liquid is injected into the second mold; after the aluminum solidifies, the first mold is melted and flowed out.

[0416] In this embodiment, the distributor 400 is a one-piece structure, except that it is different from the distributor 400 in the above embodiment in that it is made by laminating a plurality of plate bodies.

[0417] For the refrigeration cycle device of the ejector, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 46, the fan 510 is located above the heat exchanger 300, which causes the wind speed at the upper part of the heat exchanger 300 close to the fan 510 to be higher than the wind speed at the lower part far from the fan 510.

[0418] As the height of the heat exchanger 300 increases, the wind speed on the heat exchanger 300 also tends to increase. When the refrigerant flow rate on the heat exchanger 300 matches the wind speed distribution, the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 300 can be maximized.

[0419] In the embodiment of the present application, with reference to FIG. 47, in the heat exchanger 300, the distributor 400 has at least one first distributor 400_1, at least one second distributor 400_2, …, and at least one Nth distributor 400_n distributed from top to bottom;

[0420] The number of heat exchange tubes 310 connected by the first distributor 400_1, the second distributor 400_2, …, and the Nth distributor 400_n increases.

[0421] For example, the first distributor 400_1 is a four-outlet distributor connecting four heat exchange tubes 310, the second distributor 400_2 is an eight-outlet distributor connecting eight heat exchange tubes 310, and the Nth distributor 400_n is a sixteen-outlet distributor connecting sixteen heat exchange tubes 310.

[0422] From top to bottom, the number of heat exchange tubes 310 connected by the distributor 400 increases, which can make the refrigerant flow rates of the capillary tubes 610 at the distribution point of the flow divider 600 close to each other, and the refrigerant dryness at the outlet of the heat exchanger close to each other, thereby effectively improving the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger.

[0423] As described above, in some embodiments, the distributor 400 includes an inflow plate 410 having an inlet flow path 411 formed thereon; at least one shunt plate 500 having at least one branch flow path 491 formed thereon for branching and passing the refrigerant flowing from the inlet flow path 411, the one of the shunt plates 500 closest to the heat exchange tube 310 is a downstream side shunt plate 440A, and the branch flow path on the downstream side shunt plate 440A is a downstream side branch flow path 441A; wherein the branch flow path 441A has a branch flow-out portion 493 extending in a direction different from the first direction Z, and the connection position of the branch flow-in portion 492 and the branch flow-out portion 493 is disposed close to the windward side of the heat exchanger 300, so that more refrigerant can be obtained in the hole 310a close to the windward side in the heat exchange tube 310, and the air temperature gradually decreases when flowing from the windward end to the leeward end of the heat exchange tube 310 (when the heat exchanger is an evaporator), and the refrigerant flow in the heat exchange tube 310 close to the windward side is more, which can adapt to the energy of the air in the windward direction, so that the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 300 is higher.

[0424] In addition, in some embodiments, the distributor 400 includes an inflow plate 410 having an inlet flow path 411 formed thereon; at least one shunt plate 500 having at least one branch flow path 491 formed thereon for branching and passing the refrigerant flowing from the inlet flow path 411, the one of the shunt plates 500 closest to the heat exchange tube 310 is a downstream side shunt plate 440A, and the branch flow path on the downstream side shunt plate 440A is a downstream side branch flow path 441A; the downstream side branch flow path 441A has a branch flow-out portion 493, and the downstream side branch flow path 441A causes the refrigerant to flow out from the branch flow-out end 493a of the branch flow-out portion 493; the branch flow-out end 493a is disposed close to the windward side of the distributor 400, so that more refrigerant can be obtained in the hole 310a close to the windward side in the heat exchange tube 310. The air temperature gradually decreases when flowing from the windward end to the leeward end of the heat exchange tube 310, for example, when the heat exchanger is an evaporator, and the refrigerant flow in the heat exchange tube 310 close to the windward side is more, which can adapt to the energy of the air in the windward direction, so that the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 300 is higher.

[0425] In some embodiments of the present application, as a refrigeration cycle device, it can be a water heater, a refrigeration machine, an air conditioner, a refrigerator, etc., and in any case, the performance of the heat exchanger can be maximized, and the heat exchange efficiency is improved.

[0426] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, and are not intended to limit the present application; although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that the technical solutions recorded in the foregoing embodiments can still be modified, or some or all of the technical features can be replaced by equivalents; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

[0427] The technical features of the above-described embodiments can be combined in any manner. In order to make the description simple, all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-described embodiments are not described, however, as long as the combinations of the technical features do not exist contradictory, they should be considered as the scope recorded in the present specification.

Claims

1. A distributor comprising an inlet flow path, the distributor being used to distribute and flow out refrigerant flowing in from the inlet flow path, wherein, The distributor is provided with a branch flow path having a branch inflow portion for inflow of refrigerant and a plurality of branch outflow portions for outflow of refrigerant; The branch flow path includes: An upstream-side branch flow path whose branch inflow portion communicates with the inlet flow path; A first intermediate branch flow path whose branch inflow portion communicates with one of the branch outflow portions of the upstream-side branch flow path; A second intermediate branch flow path whose branch inflow portion communicates with another branch outflow portion of the upstream-side branch flow path; The first intermediate branch flow path and the second intermediate branch flow path extend in a first direction, and the projection portions on a plane perpendicular to the end surface of the distributor and parallel to the first direction overlap.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein, The branch outflow portions of the first intermediate branch flow path include first and third branch outflow portions arranged in the first direction; and the branch outflow portions of the second intermediate branch flow path include second and fourth branch outflow portions arranged in the first direction; In the first direction, the second branch outflow portion is located between the first and third branch outflow portions, and the fourth branch outflow portion is located on the side of the third branch outflow portion away from the second branch outflow portion.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 or 2, wherein, The branch inflow portions of the first and second intermediate branch flow paths are arranged apart in the first direction, and the branch inflow portions of the first and second intermediate branch flow paths are arranged apart in a direction orthogonal to the first direction; Preferably, the first and second intermediate branch flow paths each extend in the first direction; In the first direction, the branch outflow portions of the upstream-side branch flow path are each located on the same side of the branch inflow portion of the upstream-side branch flow path.

4. The dispenser of claim 1 or 2, wherein, In a second direction parallel to the end surface of the distributor and perpendicular to the first direction, the first and second intermediate branch flow paths are arranged apart.

5. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein, The branch inflow portion of the upstream-side branch flow path includes first and second branch inflow portions arranged apart in a second direction parallel to the end surface of the distributor and perpendicular to the first direction; In the second direction, the first or second branch inflow portion has a width smaller than that of the branch outflow portion.

6. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein, The branch flow path further has two branch portions connected to the branch inflow portion; each of the branch portions includes: A transition portion connected to the branch inflow portion; An outflow portion located on opposite sides of the transition portion from the branch inflow portion, respectively, a free end of the outflow portion being the branch outflow portion; In the first or second intermediate branch flow path, the two branch portions extend in different directions relative to the branch inflow portion, and in the direction from the branch inflow portion to the branch portions, the transition portion of one of the two branch portions is inclined toward the other of the two branch portions.

7. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein, The branch flow path comprises: a downstream side branch flow path, a branch inflow portion of the downstream side branch flow path being in communication with the branch outflow portion of the first intermediate branch flow path and the branch outflow portion of the second intermediate branch flow path; the branch outflow portion of the downstream side branch flow path extends linearly in a direction orthogonal to the first direction.

8. A heat exchanger comprising: the distributor according to any one of claims 1-7; and a plurality of heat exchange tubes comprising at least one first heat exchange tube, at least one second heat exchange tube, at least one third heat exchange tube and at least one fourth heat exchange tube arranged in the first direction, for heat exchange flow of refrigerant; the distributor is connected to the plurality of heat exchange tubes for distributing refrigerant flowing from the inlet flow path to the plurality of heat exchange tubes; the distributor has at least two flow distribution plates, the flow distribution plates being provided with branch flow paths, the branch flow paths having a branch inflow portion for refrigerant inflow and a plurality of branch outflow portions for refrigerant branch outflow; wherein the flow distribution plates comprise: a first flow distribution plate, the branch flow path thereon being an upstream side branch flow path, a branch inflow portion of the upstream side branch flow path being in communication with the inlet flow path; a second flow distribution plate, the branch flow path thereon being an intermediate branch flow path, the intermediate branch flow path comprising: a first intermediate branch flow path, a branch inflow portion of the first intermediate branch flow path being in communication with one of the plurality of branch outflow portions of the upstream side branch flow path; a branch outflow portion of the first intermediate branch flow path being in communication with the first heat exchange tube, the third heat exchange tube; and a second intermediate branch flow path, a branch inflow portion of the second intermediate branch flow path being in communication with another of the plurality of branch outflow portions of the upstream side branch flow path; a branch outflow portion of the second intermediate branch flow path being in communication with the second heat exchange tube, the fourth heat exchange tube.

9. The heat exchanger of claim 8, wherein, The distributor comprises two second flow distribution plates stacked, the first intermediate branch flow path is provided on one of the two second flow distribution plates, and the second intermediate branch flow path is provided on the other of the two second flow distribution plates.

10. The heat exchanger according to claim 8, further comprising a tee, the tee comprising a tee body, the distributor comprising two inlet flow paths, the tee body comprising: a first interface, a first extended end portion and a second extended end portion, the axes of the first interface, the first extended end portion and the second extended end portion being in the same plane U; a first branch portion connected to the first extended end portion, the axis of the first branch portion being arranged at an angle to the plane U, a free end of the first branch portion forming a second interface for communication with one of the two inlet flow paths; a second branch portion connected to the second extended end portion, the axis of the second branch portion being arranged at an angle to the plane U, the second branch portion being located on opposite sides of the plane U from the first branch portion, a free end of the second branch portion forming a second interface for communication with the other of the two inlet flow paths.

11. A refrigeration cycle apparatus wherein, The heat exchanger according to any one of claims 8-10 can be used as at least one of an evaporator and a condenser.

12. A dispenser wherein, comprises: an inflow plate on which an inlet flow path is formed for allowing refrigerant to flow in; a flow path forming plate on which a loop main body portion that communicates with the inlet flow path is provided, the loop main body portion being in a broken ring shape; a first communication plate on which a plurality of first communication portions through which refrigerant flows out of the loop main body portion are formed; and a second communication plate provided between the inflow plate and the flow path forming plate or between the flow path forming plate and the first communication plate, the second communication plate being formed with a second communication portion that communicates both ends of the loop main body portion that are broken.

13. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein, a portion of the loop main body portion that communicates with the inlet flow path is a loop inflow portion; a neck portion that has a reduced cross section is provided on the loop main body portion, the neck portion being connected to a downstream side of the loop inflow portion.

14. The dispenser of claim 13, wherein, both ends of the loop main body portion that are in a broken position are a first broken end and a second broken end, respectively; the loop main body portion includes: a first loop segment that is in a broken ring shape, both ends of the first loop segment being the first broken end and the loop inflow portion, respectively; a second loop segment that communicates with the neck portion at one end thereof and has the second broken end between both ends of the first loop segment at the other end thereof.

15. The dispenser of claim 14, wherein, the neck portion is located on a lower side of the loop inflow portion; a portion of the second loop segment that connects the neck portion is a first flow path portion; the first flow path portion extends in a direction orthogonal to a first direction or extends obliquely upward in the direction away from the neck portion, the first direction being a length direction of the flow path forming plate.

16. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein, both ends of the loop main body portion that are in a broken position are a first broken end and a second broken end, respectively; when projected onto the flow path forming plate, both ends of the second communication portion coincide with the first broken end and the second broken end, respectively, and a middle portion of the second communication portion is located between the first broken end and the second broken end.

17. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein, the loop main body portion has a first portion and a second portion that extend in a first direction, the inlet flow path communicates with the first portion, and the first communication portion communicates with the second portion, the first direction being a length direction of the flow path forming plate.

18. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein, the loop main body portion has a first portion and a second portion that extend in a first direction, the first portion being close to a windward side of the heat exchanger, and the first communication portion communicates with the first portion.

19. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein, the distributor further includes: a flow dividing plate on which a plurality of branch flow paths that branch refrigerant flowing in from the first communication portion are formed; wherein the branch flow path includes a branch inflow portion that communicates with the first communication portion; the branch inflow portion includes two branch inflow portions that are arranged at intervals and in a direction orthogonal to a first direction; the branch flow path includes a plurality of branch outflow portions through which refrigerant branches out; the branch outflow portions extend linearly in a direction orthogonal to a first direction, the first direction being a length direction of the flow dividing plate.

20. A heat exchanger, wherein, including: a plurality of heat exchange tubes arranged in a first direction for refrigerant to flow through; and a distributor for distributing refrigerant to the plurality of heat exchange tubes; wherein the distributor includes: an inflow plate on which an inlet flow path is formed; a flow path forming plate on which a loop main body portion that communicates with the inlet flow path is provided, the loop main body portion being in a broken ring shape; and a first communication plate on which a plurality of first communication portions that cause refrigerant flowing out of the loop main body portion to branch are formed, the first communication portions each communicating with a plurality of the heat exchange pipes; wherein a second communication portion that communicates both ends of the loop main body portion that are broken is provided on the inflow plate or the first communication plate.

21. The heat exchanger of claim 20, wherein, The heat exchanger is connected to a plurality of distributors; the number of the heat exchange pipes connected to the distributor is the number of outlets of the distributor; and the number of outlets of the distributor increases from top to bottom for the plurality of distributors having different numbers of outlets.

22. A refrigeration cycle apparatus wherein, The heat exchanger according to any one of claims 20 to 21 can be used as at least one of an evaporator and a condenser.

23. A distributor connected to a heat exchange pipe, comprising: an inflow plate on which an inlet flow path is formed; and at least one branch plate on which at least one branch flow path for causing refrigerant flowing in from the inlet flow path to branch and flow to the heat exchange pipe is formed, the branch flow path having a branch inflow portion into which refrigerant flows and a plurality of branch flow out portions from which refrigerant branches; and a downstream side branch plate that is closest to the heat exchange pipe among the branch plates; wherein, on the downstream side branch plate, the branch flow out portions extend in a direction orthogonal to a first direction, the first direction being a length direction of the downstream side branch plate, and the connection positions of the branch inflow portion and the branch flow out portions are disposed close to a windward side of the heat exchanger.

24. The dispenser of claim 23, wherein, The heat exchange pipe is located within the branch flow out portion when projected onto the plate surface of the downstream side branch plate.

25. The dispenser of claim 24, wherein, On the downstream side branch plate, the branch flow out portions extend in a direction orthogonal to a first direction; The distributor further comprises: an outflow plate having an outlet flow path; and a communication plate provided between the downstream side branch plate and the outflow plate, the communication plate having a plurality of communication portions for communicating branch flow out ends of the branch flow out portions and the outlet flow path.

26. The dispenser of any one of claims 23-25, wherein, The branch inflow portion includes a first branch inflow portion and a second branch inflow portion that are provided at intervals and arranged in a direction orthogonal to the first direction.

27. The dispenser of claim 26, wherein, The first branch inflow portion and the second branch inflow portion each have a width w in the direction orthogonal to the first direction that is not greater than a length u of the branch flow out portion in the first direction.

28. The dispenser of claim 26, wherein, The distributor includes at least two branch plates; The distributor further comprises: a communication plate provided between the two branch plates, the communication plate having a plurality of communication portions for communicating the branch flow out portions of the upstream branch plate and the branch inflow portions of the downstream branch plate; The first branch inflow portion and the second branch inflow portion of the downstream branch plate coincide with the communication portions when projected onto the plate surface of the communication plate, and the first branch inflow portion and the second branch inflow portion have the same area.

29. The dispenser of any one of claims 23-26, wherein, The branch plates include an upstream side branch plate between the downstream side branch plate and the inflow plate; The branch flow-out portion extends in a direction orthogonal to the first direction on the upstream side distribution plate, and the transition connection portion is connected between the branch flow-in portion and the branch flow-out portion and extends in the first direction.

30. The dispenser of claim 29, wherein, The outer end surface P of the branch flow-in portion extending in the first direction is coplanar with the transition connection portion.

31. A heat exchanger comprising: a plurality of heat exchange tubes arranged in a first direction for circulation of refrigerant, the heat exchange tubes being flat tubes; and a distributor for distributing refrigerant to the plurality of heat exchange tubes; wherein the distributor comprises: an inflow plate on which an inlet flow path is formed; at least one distribution plate on which at least one branch flow path is formed for branching and circulating refrigerant flowing in from the inlet flow path, the branch flow path having a branch flow-in portion for refrigerant to flow in and a plurality of branch flow-out portions for refrigerant to branch and flow out, the distribution plate closest to the heat exchange tubes being a downstream side distribution plate; and an outflow plate on which a plurality of outlet flow paths are provided, the outlet flow paths communicating with the branch flow-out portions of the downstream side distribution plate and the heat exchange tubes; wherein, on the downstream side distribution plate, the branch flow-out portions have branch flow-out ends from which refrigerant flows out, and the branch flow-out ends are disposed close to a windward side of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is connected to a plurality of distributors, the number of heat exchange tubes connected by the distributor is the number of outlets of the distributor, and the number of outlets of the distributor increases from top to bottom for distributors having different numbers of outlets.

32. The heat exchanger of claim 31, wherein, 33. A refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising the heat exchanger according to any one of claims 31 to 32 as at least one of an evaporator and a condenser. ​

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