Heat exchanger

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:

a plurality of fins defining a flow path for a refrigerant to flow, each fin having an opening located in an upper portion thereof and an opening located in a lower portion thereof to allow the refrigerant to flow, each fin having a flow path portion therein to allow the refrigerant to flow, the plurality of fins being arranged at intervals in one direction; and

an upper header provided at the upper portion of the plurality of fins, and a lower header provided at the lower portion of the plurality of fins, each header being in communication with the flow path portion,

wherein at least one fin, among the plurality of fins, is configured such that at least one of the opening in the upper portion and the opening in the lower portion is closed,

wherein each of the plurality of fins further includes a fin collar that surrounds a corresponding one of the openings, each fin collar protruding a predetermined thickness,

wherein each header is defined by fin collars of adjacent fins of the plurality of fins being coupled to one another in a successive manner,

wherein the plurality of fins include:

a plurality of basic fins, in which the opening in the upper portion and the opening in the lower portion are both open; and

a plurality of series flow fins, in which one of the opening in the upper portion and the opening in the lower portion is open, the plurality of series flow fins including:

a first series flow fin;

a second series flow fin;

a third series flow fin disposed between the plurality of basic fins; and

a fourth series flow fin disposed between the plurality of basic fins,

wherein the plurality of basic fins are disposed between the first series flow fin and the second series flow fin,

wherein the opening in the lower portion of the first series flow fin is closed,

wherein the opening in the upper portion of the second series flow fin is closed,

wherein the opening in the upper portion of the third series flow fin is closed, and

wherein the opening in the lower portion of the fourth series flow fin is closed.

2 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fins further comprise a closed fin in which the opening in the upper portion and the opening in the lower portion are both closed.

3 . The heat exchanger of claim 2 , wherein each series flow fin is configured to change a flow of the refrigerant from a parallel flow to a series flow to thereby extend a length of the flow path for the refrigerant.

4 . The heat exchanger of claim 2 , wherein the closed fin defines an end plate of the heat exchanger.

5 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein, when the heat exchanger is operated as an evaporator, each series flow fin is disposed such that, in the flow path for the refrigerant, a section where refrigerant flows from bottom to top is greater than a section where refrigerant flows from top to bottom.

6 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein, when the heat exchanger is operated as an evaporator, at least two series flow fins of the plurality of series flow fins are disposed such that a portion of the flow path for the refrigerant flows from top to bottom.

7 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein each fin includes:

a first panel having a plurality of first grooves protruding outward from the first panel and extending in a direction inclined with respect to a longitudinal direction of the first panel, the plurality of first grooves being arranged along the longitudinal direction of the first panel, and

a second panel coupled to the first panel, the second panel having a plurality of second grooves protruding outward from the second panel and extending in a direction intersecting the plurality of first grooves while being inclined with respect to a longitudinal direction of the second panel, the plurality of second grooves being arranged along the longitudinal direction of the second panel to face the plurality of first grooves to thereby define the flow path portion.

8 . The heat exchanger of claim 7 , wherein each fin collar includes:

a first fin collar on the first panel; and

a second fin collar on the second panel.

9 . The heat exchanger of claim 8 , wherein the first panel comprises a first bending section where the first grooves are bent in a first direction with respect to an air flow direction, and

wherein the second panel comprises a second bending section where the second grooves are bent in a second direction opposite to the first direction at a position corresponding to the first bending section.

10 . The heat exchanger of claim 9 , wherein the first bending section and the second bending section are arranged parallel to a longitudinal direction of the fin.

11 . A heat exchanger comprising:

a plurality of fins provided therein with a flow path through which a refrigerant is configured to flow, the plurality of fins being arranged at intervals in one direction; and

an upper header provided at an upper portion of the plurality of fins, and a lower header provided at a lower portion of the plurality of fins, each header being in communication with the flow path,

wherein each of the plurality of fins has an opening in the upper portion and the lower portion thereof, and

wherein each header is defined by the openings of adjacent fins, of the plurality of fins, being coupled to one another in a successive manner,

wherein each of the plurality of fins further includes a fin collar that surrounds a corresponding one of the openings, each fin collar protruding a predetermined thickness,

wherein each header is defined by fin collars of adjacent fins of the plurality of fins being coupled to one another in a successive manner,

wherein the plurality of fins include:

a plurality of basic fins, in which the opening in the upper portion and the opening in the lower portion are both open; and

a plurality of series flow fins, in which one of the opening in the upper portion and the opening in the lower portion is open, the plurality of series flow fins including:

a first series flow fin;

a second series flow fin;

a third series flow fin disposed between the plurality of basic fins; and

a fourth series flow fin disposed between the plurality of basic fins,

wherein the plurality of basic fins are disposed between the first series flow fin and the second series flow fin,

wherein the opening in the lower portion of the first series flow fin is closed,

wherein the opening in the upper portion of the second series flow fin is closed,

wherein the opening in the upper portion of the third series flow fin is closed, and

wherein the opening in the lower portion of the fourth series flow fin is closed.