Heat exchanger, heat pump system, and drying device

Abstract

The present application provides a heat exchanger, a heat pump system, and a drying device. The area of the cross section of the heat exchanger increases in a first direction, and the cross section is perpendicular to the first direction. The heat exchanger has a windward side and a leeward side, and the first direction refers to a direction from the windward side to the leeward side. The present application can improve the overall heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger.

Description

Heat exchangers, heat pump systems and drying equipment

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 2024115871916, filed on November 7, 2024, entitled "A Heat Exchanger, Heat Pump System, and Drying Equipment," the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. This application also claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 2024227191590, filed on November 7, 2024, entitled "A Heat Exchanger, Heat Pump System, and Drying Equipment," the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. [Technical Field]

[0002] This application relates to the field of household appliance technology, and in particular to a heat exchanger, heat pump system and drying equipment. [Background Technology]

[0003] In today's society, heat pump systems are widely used in various household appliances that require heat exchange functions. For example, heat pump systems are used in drying equipment to achieve a drying effect. In existing technologies, common heat pump systems include heat exchangers, and how to further improve the heat exchange efficiency of heat exchangers is a key issue of concern to those skilled in the art. [Summary of the Invention]

[0004] This application provides a heat exchanger, a heat pump system, and a drying device that can improve the overall heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this application provides a heat exchanger in which the cross-sectional area of ​​the heat exchanger increases along a first direction and the cross-section is perpendicular to the first direction; wherein the heat exchanger has a windward side and a leeward side, and the first direction points from the windward side to the leeward side.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this application further provides a heat pump system, which includes a compressor, an evaporator, and a condenser. The condenser includes the heat exchanger mentioned above, and the compressor, condenser, and evaporator form a refrigerant circulation channel.

[0007] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this application further provides a drying device, which includes a drying chamber, an air duct shell, and the aforementioned heat pump system. The air duct shell forms a heat exchange chamber that communicates with the drying chamber. At least an evaporator and a condenser are disposed in the heat exchange chamber.

[0008] The beneficial effects of this application are as follows: the airflow flows through the heat exchanger in the first direction, so the heat exchange between the airflow and the leeward side of the heat exchanger is lower than that between the airflow and the windward side of the heat exchanger. By setting the cross-sectional area of ​​the heat exchanger to increase in the first direction, it is beneficial to increase the contact area between the airflow and the heat exchanger in the first direction, thereby increasing the heat exchange between the airflow and the leeward side of the heat exchanger. Therefore, this application can improve the uniformity of heat exchange in each area of ​​the heat exchanger and improve the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger as a whole. [Attached Image Description]

[0009] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort. Wherein:

[0010] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the drying equipment of this application;

[0011] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a heat pump system according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0012] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the embodiment in Figure 2;

[0013] Figure 4 is a structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the heat exchanger of this application;

[0014] Figure 5 is a structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the evaporator and condenser of this application;

[0015] Figure 6 is a structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the heat exchanger of this application;

[0016] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow pattern in the condenser.

Detailed Implementation Methods

[0017] In the following description, specific details such as particular system architectures and techniques are set forth for illustrative purposes and not for limitation, in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of this application. However, those skilled in the art will understand that this application may also be implemented in other embodiments without these specific details. In other instances, detailed descriptions of well-known systems, apparatuses, circuits, and methods have been omitted so as not to obscure the description of this application with unnecessary detail.

[0018] The terms "first," "second," etc., used in this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. It should be understood that, when used in this specification, the term "comprising" indicates the presence of the described feature, integral, step, operation, element, and / or component, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or collections thereof. It should also be understood that the terminology used in this specification is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application. As used in this specification, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms. It should also be further understood that the term "and / or," as used in this specification, refers to any combination and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items, and includes such combinations.

[0019] As used in this specification, the term "if" may be interpreted, depending on the context, as "when," "once," "in response to determination," or "in response to detection." Similarly, the phrase "if determination" or "if [the described condition or event] is detected" may be interpreted, depending on the context, as "once determination," "in response to determination," "once [the described condition or event] is detected," or "in response to detection of [the described condition or event]."

[0020] It should be noted that when one element is fixed to another element, this includes fixing the element directly to the other element or fixing the element to the other element through at least one other intermediate element. When one element is connected to another element, this includes connecting the element directly to the other element or connecting the element to the other element through at least one other intermediate element.

[0021] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0022] This application first proposes a heat exchanger, as shown in Figures 1 to 6. Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the drying equipment 10 of this application; Figure 2 is a structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the heat pump system of this application; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of the embodiment of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the heat exchanger of this application; Figure 5 is a structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the evaporator and condenser of this application; Figure 6 is a structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the heat exchanger of this application. The cross-sectional area of ​​the heat exchanger 400 increases along a first direction x, and the cross-section is perpendicular to the first direction x; wherein, the heat exchanger 400 has a windward side and a leeward side, and the first direction x points from the windward side to the leeward side.

[0023] It should be noted that the cross section of heat exchanger 400 refers to the cross section of heat exchanger 400 in the vertical plane of the first direction x. The cross section of heat exchanger 400 includes multiple cross sections that are spaced apart and arranged in parallel along the first direction x. The area of ​​the cross section of at least a portion of heat exchanger 400 increases along the first direction x, which may be a gradual increase or a step-like increase, etc.

[0024] The beneficial effect of the above configuration is that, since the airflow passes through the heat exchanger 400 along the first direction x, the heat exchange between the airflow and the leeward side of the heat exchanger 400 is lower than that between the airflow and the windward side. By increasing the cross-sectional area of ​​the heat exchanger 400 along the first direction x, it is beneficial to increase the contact area between the airflow and the heat exchanger 400 along the first direction x, thereby increasing the heat exchange between the airflow and the leeward side of the heat exchanger 400. This improves the uniformity of heat exchange in all areas of the heat exchanger 400, thus improving the overall heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 400. In one application scenario, according to simulation results, using the above method, within a limited space, it is possible to increase the heat exchanger efficiency by 24%, reduce drying time by 20%, reduce duct resistance, and achieve a 100m... 3 / h-140m 3 The heat exchanger provides an airflow of / h; and its application in a washer-dryer integrated heat pump system can effectively improve space utilization, making the product design more reasonable and compact; its application in the washer-dryer integrated heat pump system can also reduce the temperature of the heat pump system, keeping the maximum temperature of the entire heat pump system below 90℃, thus improving safety.

[0025] In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 400 is used in the drying equipment 10, and the side of the heat exchanger 400 facing the drum of the drying equipment 10 is stepped.

[0026] Specifically, the heat exchanger 400 is arranged in a stepped manner on the side near the drum to further conform to the shape of the drum. That is, in all cross sections of the heat exchanger 400, the areas of some adjacent cross sections are equal, and the area of ​​the cross section of the heat exchanger 400 increases in a stepped manner along the first direction x. This arrangement facilitates structural design and assembly.

[0027] In other embodiments, the heat exchanger 400 may be configured with an arc shape on the side near the drum, that is, the cross-section of the heat exchanger 400 gradually increases along the first direction x, so as to better fit the shape of the drum, make full use of the space around the drum, and improve the compactness of the overall structure.

[0028] In some embodiments, the projection of the heat exchanger 400 toward the first direction x, the projection of the large cross-section can completely cover the projection of the small cross-section, the side of the heat exchanger 400 away from the drum is located in a plane parallel to the first direction x, the side of the heat exchanger 400 near the drum is stepped, and the axis of the drum is perpendicular to the first direction x.

[0029] This configuration allows the heat exchanger 400 to be flush with the side away from the drum, while the side close to the drum conforms to the shape of the drum as much as possible. This improves the overall aesthetics of the structure and makes full use of the space around the drum, increasing the heat exchange space of the heat exchanger 400.

[0030] In some embodiments, referring to FIG6, the heat exchanger 400 includes a plurality of spaced-apart fins 410 extending along a first direction x, with the cross-section located between the two farthest fins 410.

[0031] The refrigerant pipe 420 of the heat exchanger 400 is mounted on the fins 410.

[0032] For example, in some application scenarios, fins 410 extend in the first direction x and the second direction y to form the main heat exchange surface. Therefore, the main heat exchange surface is parallel to the first direction x and the second direction y. Multiple fins 410 are spaced apart in a third direction z that is perpendicular to both the first direction x and the second direction y. The product of the distance Lf between the two fins 410 with the farthest distance in the third direction z and the dimension Hf of the fin 410 in the second direction y can be used as the area of ​​the cross section of the heat exchanger 400, which increases along the first direction x.

[0033] In other embodiments, the heat exchanger may also include a single fin, which may have a groove extending along a first direction x to facilitate airflow through the heat exchanger.

[0034] In some embodiments, referring to FIG6, the heat exchanger 400 includes a serpentine refrigerant pipe 420 disposed on fins 410. The refrigerant pipe 420 extends at least partially in the third direction z. The product of the length L of the refrigerant pipe 420 in the third direction z and the dimension Hf of the fins 410 in the second direction y can be used as the area of ​​the cross section of the heat exchanger 400, and the area is configured to increase along the first direction x.

[0035] In some embodiments, the ratio between the areas of adjacent cross sections with different areas is 1.1 to 2.

[0036] It should be noted that the heat exchanger 400 includes at least two cross-sections with different areas. The area ratio between two adjacent cross-sections is 1.1, 1.15, 1.2, 1.25, 1.3, 1.35, 1.4, 1.45, 1.5, 1.55, 1.6, 1.65, 1.7, 1.75, 1.8, 1.85, 1.86, 1.9, or 2, etc. In some application scenarios, the area of ​​the heat exchanger 400 cross-section increases in a stepwise manner, and the area ratio between two adjacent cross-sections is 1.1 to 2. This setting facilitates structural design and assembly; it can be adjusted according to the product's usage requirements; other values ​​may also be used in other embodiments.

[0037] In other embodiments, the cross-section of the heat exchanger may also increase gradually and continuously. For example, the cross-sectional area of ​​the heat exchanger can be gradually increased by setting the dimensions of the fins to gradually increase along a first direction in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0038] In some embodiments, the ratio of the area between two adjacent cross sections can be set to 4 / 3, which can further optimize the overall heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 400 and improve the convenience of production and assembly, making it easier for the heat exchanger 400 to better fit the shape of the drum.

[0039] In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 400 of this application is used in the heat pump system 11 and the drying equipment 10. The ratio can also be adjusted according to the structural design of the product to optimize the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger 400 and make fuller use of the internal space of the drying equipment 10 to further improve the compactness of the overall structure.

[0040] This application further proposes a heat pump system, as shown in Figures 1 to 7. The heat pump system 11 includes a compressor, an evaporator 100, and a condenser 500. The condenser 500 includes the aforementioned heat exchanger 400. The compressor, condenser 500, and evaporator 100 form a refrigerant circulation channel.

[0041] The specific implementation method and working principle of the heat exchanger 400 can be found in the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0042] The heat pump system 11 of this application can be used in the drying equipment 10. For example, the heat pump system 11 of this application can be used to dry humid airflow. The refrigerant circulates in the refrigerant circulation channel and can exchange heat with the external airflow through the refrigerant pipes, fins, etc. of the evaporator 100 and condenser 500 respectively.

[0043] In one application scenario, referring to Figures 1 and 2, the drying equipment 10 includes a drying chamber 200 connected to a heat exchange cavity. The drying chamber 200 is used to hold the object to be dried. An evaporator 100 and a condenser 500 are disposed in the heat exchange cavity. The condenser 500 and the evaporator 100 are connected in series between the outlet and inlet of the compressor to achieve refrigerant circulation through the compressor, condenser 500 and evaporator 100. The humid airflow in the drying chamber 200 flows into the heat exchange cavity. When the humid airflow flows through the evaporator 100, water droplets condense on the surface of the evaporator 100, exchange heat with the evaporator 100, and are converted into dry airflow. The dry airflow flows through the condenser 500 to absorb heat and become a high-temperature dry airflow. The high-temperature dry airflow flows into the drying chamber 200 to achieve heating and drying of the object to be dried during the drying process. The airflow circulation between the heat exchange cavity and the drying chamber 200, and the refrigerant circulation in the heat exchange cavity, can achieve drying of the object to be dried in the drying chamber 200.

[0044] The heat pump system 11 also includes a throttling device located between the condenser 500 and the evaporator 100. The compressor is the power source of the heat pump system 11, used to adiabatically compress the low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant vapor from the evaporator 100 into high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant vapor and supply it to the condenser 500. The condenser 500 condenses the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant vapor from the compressor under isobaric conditions and dissipates heat to the heat exchange chamber, that is, it exchanges heat with the airflow in the heat exchange chamber, and the refrigerant in the condenser 500 becomes a high-pressure subcooled liquid. The high-pressure subcooled liquid from the condenser 500 is throttled by the throttling device and becomes low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant vapor, which enters the evaporator 100 for evaporation. The low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant wet vapor after throttling boils in the evaporator 100 under isobaric conditions, absorbs heat from the humid heat medium (such as the humid airflow entering the heat exchange chamber) in the heat exchange chamber, and becomes low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant vapor to the compressor, and causes the water vapor in the humid heat medium in the heat exchange chamber to be condensed into condensate and discharged.

[0045] During the normal operation of the heat pump system 11, such as during a complete dehumidification and heating process of the airflow, the heat exchange capacity of the condenser 500 is usually greater than that of the evaporator 100 because the condenser 500 needs to heat the dry airflow to make it a high-temperature dry airflow.

[0046] The condenser 500 of the heat pump system 11 in this embodiment includes the heat exchanger 400 described above, which can improve the heat exchange performance of the heat pump system 11. The heat pump system 11 in this embodiment can be used in the drying equipment 10. Therefore, the cross-sectional area of ​​the heat exchanger 400 increases along the first direction x, which can not only improve the overall heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 400, but also make full use of the space inside the drying equipment 10 as much as possible, thereby improving the compactness of the overall structure.

[0047] This application further proposes a drying device, as shown in Figures 1 to 7. The drying device 10 includes a drying chamber 200, an air duct housing 13, and the aforementioned heat pump system 11. The air duct housing 13 forms a heat exchange chamber communicating with the drying chamber 200. At least an evaporator 100 and a condenser 500 are disposed in the heat exchange chamber.

[0048] It should be noted that the drying equipment 10 of this application can be, for example, a clothes dryer, a washer-dryer combo, a dryer, or other equipment with at least a drying function; the drying chamber 200 is used to hold the items to be dried. The drying chamber 200 of this application can be a separate drying chamber 200 or a washer-dryer, and is not specifically limited.

[0049] The specific implementation method and working principle of the heat pump system 11 can be found in the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0050] The heat exchange chamber is connected to the drying chamber 200. The evaporator 100 and condenser 500 are located in the heat exchange chamber, which facilitates heat exchange between the evaporator 100 and condenser 500 and the drying chamber 200, improves the drying efficiency of the drying chamber 200, and reduces the interference of the external environment on the evaporator 100 and condenser 500, thereby improving their working efficiency and reducing the probability of damage. Furthermore, using the heat exchanger 400 in the drying equipment 10 facilitates the improvement of the drying efficiency of the drying equipment 10 and makes the overall structure of the drying equipment 10 more compact.

[0051] In some embodiments, the drying chamber 200 includes a drum, and the drum and condenser 500 are distributed radially along the drum. When the axis of the drum is parallel to the horizontal plane, the perpendicular line from the condenser 500 to the axis of the drum is set at an acute or obtuse angle with the direction of gravity of the drum.

[0052] It should be noted that when the axis of the drum is parallel to the horizontal plane, the line connecting the condenser 500 and the axis of the drum is set at an acute or obtuse angle with the direction of gravity of the drum. That is, the arrangement direction of the condenser 500 and the drum is set at an acute or obtuse angle with the direction of gravity. For example, the condenser is set at an angle above or below the drum.

[0053] The above arrangement allows the condenser 500 to be located on the periphery of the drum, and at an angle above or below the drum, thus making full use of the outer periphery of the drum. This facilitates a reduction in the overall size of the drying equipment 10 in the direction of gravity and improves the structural compactness of the drying equipment 10.

[0054] In some embodiments, referring to FIG4, the condenser 500 (i.e., heat exchanger 400) includes three or more cross sections with different areas, and the ratio between the areas of adjacent cross sections is 1.1 to 2; optionally, the ratio between the areas of adjacent cross sections is different, for example, the ratio can be increased along the first direction x, so that the condenser 500 fits the outer periphery of the drum as closely as possible, thereby improving the structural compactness.

[0055] In other embodiments, the evaporator can also be modified in a similar way to the condenser, so that the overall structure of the evaporator and / or condenser is adapted to the installation space and is no longer a regular cuboid or cubic structure. This not only makes full use of the installation space in the shell, but also ensures heat exchange efficiency.

[0056] In other embodiments, the direction of the axis can be adjusted to be at an angle to the horizontal direction according to the product structure requirements. The position of the condenser can be adjusted accordingly with reference to the above embodiments to optimize the overall structure of the drying equipment and improve the structural compactness.

[0057] In some embodiments, the diameter of the roller is 540 mm to 570 mm, and the dimension of the condenser 500 along the first direction x is 50 mm to 100 mm.

[0058] Specifically, the diameter of the roller can be 540mm, 542mm, 545mm, 546mm, 548mm, 550mm, 553mm, 555mm, 557mm, 560mm, 565mm, 568mm or 570mm, etc., which can be adjusted according to the product's usage requirements; of course, other values ​​can also be used in other embodiments.

[0059] Specifically, the dimensions of the condenser 500 along the first direction x are 50mm, 53mm, 55mm, 60mm, 65mm, 66mm, 68mm, 6mm, 70mm, 75mm, 77mm, 80mm, 85mm, 86mm, 90mm, 95mm, 99mm, or 100mm, which can be adjusted according to the usage requirements of the product; other values ​​may also be used in other embodiments.

[0060] The dimensions of the condenser 500 along the first direction x can be adjusted according to the diameter of the drum, so that the projection of the condenser 500 in the direction of gravity coincides with the projection of the drum in the direction of gravity as much as possible. Therefore, the dimensions of the drying equipment 10 in the first direction x can be reduced, and the overall structure can be made more compact.

[0061] In some embodiments, the axis of the drum is perpendicular to the first direction x and the arrangement direction of the evaporator 100 and the drum, respectively, and the evaporator 100 and the condenser 500 are arranged along the first direction x.

[0062] The evaporator 100 and the drum are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the drum. The evaporator 100 and the drum are distributed radially along the drum. Therefore, the above arrangement facilitates the evaporator 100 and the condenser 500 to be arranged circumferentially along the drum, making full use of the space around the drum and improving space utilization.

[0063] In one application scenario, when the evaporator 100 is located directly above the drum, it is convenient to place the condenser 500 diagonally above the drum, so that the drum can provide certain support for the evaporator 100 and the condenser 500, and it is also convenient for the design and assembly of the overall structure.

[0064] In some embodiments, the evaporator 100 and the drum are arranged in the second direction y, and the axis of the drum, the first direction x, and the second direction y are perpendicular to each other, which can optimize the overall structure.

[0065] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 4 and 5, the axis of the drum is parallel to the horizontal plane, the axis of the drum, the first direction x, and the arrangement direction of the evaporator 100 and the drum are perpendicular to each other, the side of the condenser 500 away from the drum and the side of the evaporator 100 away from the drum are located in the same horizontal plane, and the height difference between the side of the condenser 500 near the drum and the center point of the drum decreases along the first direction x.

[0066] It should be noted that the height difference between the side of the condenser 500 near the drum and the center point of the drum refers to the distance between the side of the condenser 500 near the drum and the center point of the drum in the arrangement direction of the evaporator 100 and the drum (i.e., the second direction y). For example, when the second direction y is parallel to the direction of gravity, this height difference is the height difference between the bottom of the condenser 500 and the center point of the drum in the direction of gravity.

[0067] The above-mentioned arrangement facilitates increasing the size of the condenser 500 along the arrangement direction of the evaporator 100 and the drum (i.e., the second direction y), thereby increasing the heat exchange between the airflow and the leeward side of the condenser 500, thus improving the heat exchange uniformity of each area of ​​the condenser 500. Furthermore, the side of the condenser 500 away from the drum and the side of the evaporator 100 away from the drum are located on the same horizontal plane, which facilitates the structural design and assembly of the drying equipment 10 and improves the aesthetics of the overall structure. Furthermore, the decrease in height difference along the first direction x facilitates that the bottom of the condenser 500 can fit as close as possible to the drum wall, that is, the bottom of the condenser 500 is not a plane, for example, it can be set as a stepped or arc shape. This arrangement facilitates maximizing the heat exchange space of the condenser 500, which facilitates improving the heat exchange efficiency of the condenser 500, and can also improve the utilization rate of the internal space of the drying equipment 10, improve the compactness of the overall structure, and facilitate the miniaturization design of the overall structure.

[0068] It should be noted that the arrangement of the drum and the evaporator 100 along the second direction y means that the projection of the evaporator 100 in the direction perpendicular to the second direction y is completely offset from and does not overlap with the projection of the drying chamber 200 in that direction; in this application, the projection refers to the orthographic projection.

[0069] In some embodiments, the diameter of the drum is 540 mm to 570 mm; along the first direction x, the dimension of the condenser 500 along the arrangement direction (i.e., the arrangement direction of the evaporator 100 and the drum) increases from 63 mm to 84 mm.

[0070] In one application scenario, the evaporator 100 is positioned directly above the drum. Therefore, the arrangement direction of the evaporator 100 and the drum is parallel to the direction of gravity, i.e., the second direction y is parallel to the direction of gravity. Since the condenser 500 and the evaporator 100 are arranged along the first direction x, which is perpendicular to the axis of the drum, the above arrangement facilitates the placement of the condenser 500 diagonally above the drum. Therefore, by increasing the dimension of the condenser 500 along the direction of gravity of the drum from 63mm to 84mm, it is easier to make full use of the space around the drum and improve the heat exchange efficiency on the leeward side of the condenser 500, thereby improving the overall heat exchange uniformity of the condenser 500.

[0071] Specifically, the diameter of the roller can be 540mm, 542mm, 545mm, 546mm, 548mm, 550mm, 553mm, 555mm, 557mm, 560mm, 565mm, 568mm or 570mm, etc., which can be adjusted according to the product's usage requirements; of course, other values ​​can also be used in other embodiments.

[0072] The increase in the dimension of the condenser 500 from 63mm to 84mm along the arrangement direction of the evaporator 100 and the drum in the first direction x means that the cross-sectional area of ​​the condenser 500 is increased along the first direction x by increasing the dimension of the condenser 500 along the arrangement direction of the evaporator 100 and the drum.

[0073] It should be noted that the increase in size from 63mm to 84mm can be gradual or step-wise. When it is a step-wise increase, it can be increased according to the corresponding ratio. For example, the ratio between two adjacent sizes can be set to any value between 1.1 and 2, such as 4 / 3, so as to achieve a ratio between the areas of adjacent cross sections with different areas of 1.1 to 2.

[0074] In other embodiments, the axis of the roller may not be perpendicular to the first direction, which can be adjusted according to the actual use requirements of the product, and will not be elaborated here.

[0075] In other embodiments, the axis of the drum may be parallel to the direction of gravity, etc. The positions of the evaporator and condenser can be set accordingly with reference to the above embodiments to improve the structural compactness.

[0076] In some embodiments, the air-facing area of ​​the condenser 500 can be increased and the heat exchange capacity of the condenser 500 can be improved by setting the size of the condenser 500 along the second direction y to be larger than the size of the evaporator 100.

[0077] In some embodiments, referring to FIG3, the heat pump system 11 further includes a fan 12, which is disposed at the air outlet of the air duct housing 13 to guide the gas in the heat exchange chamber into the drying chamber 200. The fan 12 is located on the side of the condenser 500 away from the evaporator 100.

[0078] The fan 12 is used to promote airflow circulation in the heat exchange chamber and the drying chamber 200. The fan 12 is located on the side of the condenser 500 away from the evaporator 100, which facilitates the optimization of the structural design. It can make its air inlet connected to the heat exchange chamber and its air outlet connected to the drying chamber, so that the fan 12 can guide the airflow from the evaporator 100 to the condenser 500, and then guide the airflow from the condenser 500 to the drying chamber 200.

[0079] In other embodiments, the duct structure and fan position can be adjusted as needed. For example, the fan can be located on the side of the evaporator away from the condenser, with the fan outlet connected to the heat exchange chamber and the fan inlet connected to the drying chamber.

[0080] In some embodiments, the air volume of the fan 12 is 120m³. 3 / h. This configuration facilitates sufficient airflow for air exchange between the heat exchange chamber and the drying chamber 200, thereby improving the drying efficiency of the drying equipment 10.

[0081] In other embodiments, the airflow design of the fan can be adjusted according to the usage requirements of the product.

[0082] In some embodiments, referring to FIG1, the air duct housing 13 is disposed above the drum, and one or more of the evaporator 100, condenser 500, compressor, and fan 12 are connected to the air duct housing 13. The air duct housing 13 supports one or more of the evaporator 100, condenser 500, compressor, and fan 12 to improve the structural stability of the drying equipment 10, etc.

[0083] It should be noted that the specific connection method between it and the air duct housing 13 is not limited, such as fixed connection such as adhesive bonding or detachable connection.

[0084] In some embodiments, the duct housing 13 may have an installation position outside the heat exchange chamber for installing a compressor, fan 12, etc.

[0085] By integrating the compressor, fan 12, condenser 500, and evaporator 100 into the air duct housing 13, the structural layout can be optimized, the structural stability improved, and the structural volume reduced.

[0086] In some embodiments, the evaporator 100 is positioned near the air inlet of the heat exchange chamber, and the condenser 500 is positioned near the air outlet of the heat exchange chamber. The air inlet of the heat exchange chamber is connected to the air outlet of the drying chamber 200, which can optimize the structure of the entire drying equipment 10.

[0087] In some embodiments, the axis of the drum is perpendicular to both the first direction x and the second direction y, and the third direction z is parallel to the axis of the drum; wherein, the second direction y is parallel to the direction of gravity, the drum and the evaporator 100 are arranged along the second direction y, and the evaporator 100 is located directly above the drum; the evaporator 100, the condenser 500 and the fan 12 are arranged sequentially along the first direction x, and the condenser 500 is located obliquely above the drum; along the first direction x, the area of ​​the second windward surface of the condenser 500 is larger than the area of ​​the first windward surface of the evaporator 100; wherein, the ratio of the area of ​​the second windward surface to the area of ​​the first windward surface is between 1.05 and 2 (the direct contact area between the windward side of the condenser 500 and the airflow is larger than the direct contact area between the windward side of the evaporator 100 and the airflow, which facilitates improving the heat exchange capacity of the condenser 500).

[0088] Furthermore, the diameter of the drum ranges from 540mm to 570mm, the distance between the evaporator 100 and the condenser 500 along the first direction x ranges from 5mm to 35mm, the height difference between the bottom of the evaporator 100 and the bottom of the condenser 500 along the second direction y ranges from 3mm to 60mm, the height difference between the bottom of the evaporator 100 and the center point of the drum ranges from 270mm to 315mm, and the height difference between the bottom of the condenser 500 and the center point of the drum ranges from 210mm to 267mm.

[0089] Furthermore, the condenser 500 is located on the side of the fan 12 closer to the evaporator 100. The height difference along the second direction y between the center of the condenser 500 and the fan shaft 123 of the fan 12 ranges from -10mm to 30mm; the height of the condenser 500 along the second direction y ranges from 60mm to 100mm; the impeller diameter of the fan 12 is from 100mm to 170mm; the outer diameter of the first refrigerant pipe of the evaporator 100 is 5mm; the outer diameter of the second refrigerant pipe of the condenser 500 is 7mm; and the air volume of the fan 12 is 120m³. 3 / h.

[0090] Furthermore, the evaporator 100 includes a plurality of first fins spaced apart along the third direction z, with the spacing between two adjacent first fins along the third direction z being 1.5 mm, and the condenser 500 includes a plurality of second fins spaced apart along the third direction z, with the spacing between adjacent second fins being 1.2 mm.

[0091] The above-mentioned configuration facilitates the overall improvement of the heat exchange efficiency of the drying equipment 10, thereby making it more energy-efficient and improving the overall structural compactness.

[0092] In some embodiments, the height of the condenser 500 along the second direction y can be adjusted according to the impeller diameter of the fan 12 to maximize the overlap of the projection of the condenser 500 and the impeller of the fan 12 in the horizontal direction. This facilitates the reduction of air resistance from the condenser 500 to the fan 12 and increases the airflow velocity.

[0093] In some embodiments, the refrigerant flows from the condenser 500 to the evaporator 100, with its refrigerant outlet located close to the evaporator 100 and its refrigerant inlet located away from the evaporator 100. As shown in Figure 7, which is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow pattern within the condenser, when the refrigerant flows within the condenser 500, in a direction parallel to the first direction x, the refrigerant flow direction is opposite to the first direction x, flowing from the side of the condenser 500 away from the evaporator 100 towards the side of the condenser 500 close to the evaporator 100. In the row of refrigerant pipes furthest from the evaporator 100 in the condenser 500, the refrigerant flows along the second direction y from the side of the condenser 500 away from the drying chamber 200 towards the side of the condenser 500 close to the drying chamber 200. This arrangement can improve the overall heat exchange uniformity and heat exchange efficiency.

[0094] In some embodiments, referring to FIG3, the bottom of the condenser 500 is fixed to the air duct housing 13. The height of the portion of the air duct housing 13 located at the bottom of the condenser 500 in the second direction y is 10mm to 40mm (e.g., it can be 10mm, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm, 15mm, 20mm, 21mm, 25mm, 28mm, 30mm, 35mm or 40mm, etc.), which makes the distance between the bottom of the condenser 500 and the roller 10mm to 40mm, which facilitates the installation and fixing of the condenser 500.

[0095] Unlike existing technologies, the airflow passes through the heat exchanger along the first direction. Therefore, the heat exchange between the airflow and the leeward side of the heat exchanger is lower than that between the airflow and the windward side of the heat exchanger. By increasing the cross-sectional area of ​​the heat exchanger along the first direction, it is beneficial to increase the contact area between the airflow and the heat exchanger along the first direction, thereby increasing the heat exchange between the airflow and the leeward side of the heat exchanger. This can improve the uniformity of heat exchange in various areas of the heat exchanger and improve the overall heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger.

[0096] This application further proposes a heat exchanger, as shown in Figures 1 to 6. The heat exchanger 400 has multiple cross-sections arranged in parallel along a first direction x, the area of ​​the multiple cross-sections increasing along the first direction x, and the cross-sections being perpendicular to the first direction x; wherein, the heat exchanger 400 has a windward side and a leeward side, and the first direction x points from the windward side to the leeward side.

[0097] Similar improvements can be made to the heat exchanger 400 in this embodiment, referring to the above embodiments, and will not be described in detail again.

[0098] It is worth noting that the accompanying drawings are only for illustrating the structural and connection relationships of the product in this application, and do not limit the specific structural dimensions of the product in this application.

[0099] The above description is merely an embodiment of this application and does not limit the patent scope of this application. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made using the content of this application's specification and drawings, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger, wherein, The area of ​​the heat exchanger's cross-section increases along a first direction, and the cross-section is perpendicular to the first direction; The heat exchanger has a windward side and a leeward side, and the first direction points from the windward side to the leeward side.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein, The heat exchanger has multiple cross-sections arranged in parallel along a first direction, the area of ​​which increases along the first direction.

3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, For use in drying equipment, the heat exchanger is arranged in a stepped configuration on the side facing the drum of the drying equipment.

4. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein, The ratio between the areas of adjacent cross sections of different areas is 1.1 to 2.

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein, The ratio is 4 / 3.

6. The heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The heat exchanger includes a plurality of spaced-apart fins that extend along the first direction, and the cross-section is located between the two fins that are furthest apart.

7. A heat pump system, wherein, The heat pump system includes: compressor; Evaporator; A condenser comprising a heat exchanger as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator form a refrigerant circulation channel.

8. A drying apparatus, wherein, The drying equipment includes: Drying room; The air duct shell has a heat exchange chamber that communicates with the drying chamber; The heat pump system of claim 7, wherein at least the evaporator and the condenser are disposed in the heat exchange chamber.

9. The drying equipment according to claim 8, wherein, The drying chamber includes a drum, and the drum and the condenser are arranged radially along the drum. When the axis of the drum is parallel to the horizontal plane, the perpendicular line from the condenser to the axis is set at an acute or obtuse angle with the direction of gravity of the drum.

10. The drying equipment according to claim 9, wherein, The diameter of the roller is 540 mm to 570 mm, and the dimension of the condenser along the first direction is 50 mm to 100 mm.

11. The drying equipment according to claim 8, wherein, The drying chamber includes a drum, the axis of which is perpendicular to the first direction and the arrangement direction of the evaporator and the drum, respectively, and the evaporator and the condenser are arranged along the first direction.

12. The drying equipment according to claim 11, wherein, The axis of the roller is parallel to the horizontal plane, and the axis, the first direction, and the arrangement direction are perpendicular to each other. The side of the condenser away from the roller and the side of the evaporator away from the roller are located in the same horizontal plane. The height difference between the side of the condenser near the roller and the center point of the roller decreases along the first direction.

13. The drying equipment according to claim 12, wherein, The diameter of the roller is 540 mm to 570 mm; along the first direction, the dimension of the condenser along the arrangement direction increases from 63 mm to 84 mm.

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