IP Library Granted Patent US 12,422,152
Granted Patent B2
US 12,422,152 · App. 17/922,376 · Granted Sep 23, 2025

Heat exchanger, electric control box and air conditioning system

Inventors: Zhaohui Li (Foshan, CN); Feng Li (Foshan, CN); Hongwei Li (Foshan, CN); Guochun Wang (Foshan, CN); Yuzhao Luo (Foshan, CN)
Assignees: GD MIDEA HEATING & VENTILATING EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.; MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
F24F1/24F24F13/30F28D7/0025F28D7/1653H05K7/202H05K7/20245F28D2021/0029F28D2021/0068F28F2260/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,422,152
App. No.
17/922,376
Granted
Sep 23, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A heat exchanger includes: a heat exchanger body, the heat exchanger body being provided with first micro-channels and second micro-channels; and a header assembly, including a first header and a second header. The first header is provided with a first header channel which is used for providing a first refrigerant flow to the first micro-channels and/or collecting a first refrigerant flow flowing through the first micro-channels, and the second header is provided with a second header channel which is used for providing a second refrigerant flow to the second micro-channels and/or collecting a second refrigerant flow flowing through the second micro-channels, and heat is exchanged between the first refrigerant flow flowing through the first micro-channels and the second refrigerant flow flowing through the second micro-channels.

Claims (51)

1. A heat exchanger, comprising:

a heat exchanging body, defining a plurality of first micro-channels and a plurality of second micro-channels; and

a fluid-collecting tube assembly, comprising a first fluid-collecting tube and a second fluid-collecting tube, wherein the first fluid-collecting tube defines a first fluid-collecting channel, the first fluid-collecting channel is configured to provide a first cooling medium to the plurality of first micro-channels and/or to collect the first cooling medium that flows through the plurality of first micro-channels; the second fluid-collecting tube defines a second fluid-collecting channel, the second fluid-collecting channel is configured to provide a second cooling medium to the plurality of second micro-channels and/or to collect the second cooling medium that flows through the plurality of second micro-channels, and heat is exchanged between the first cooling medium flowing through the plurality of first micro-channels and the second cooling medium flowing through the plurality of second micro-channels;

wherein the heat exchanging body comprises a plate body, the plurality of first micro-channels and the plurality of second micro-channels are arranged alternately in a same row in the plate body.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the second cooling medium absorbs heat from the first cooling medium to sub-cool the first cooling medium while the second cooling medium is flowing along the plurality of second micro-channels; or

the first cooling medium absorbs heat from the second cooling medium to sub-cool the second cooling medium while the first cooling medium is flowing along the plurality of first micro-channels.

3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the first fluid-collecting tube and the second fluid-collecting tube are spaced apart from each other along an extension direction of the heat exchanging body; and

the second micro-channels extend through the first fluid-collecting tube and are inserted into the second fluid-collecting tube, or the first micro-channels extend through the second fluid-collecting tube and are inserted into the first fluid-collecting tube.

4. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid-collecting tube assembly comprises a master fluid-collecting tube and a flow divider arranged inside the master fluid-collecting tube; and

the master fluid-collecting tube is configured as the first fluid-collecting tube and the second fluid-collecting tube separated from the first fluid-collecting tube by the flow divider, or configured as two first fluid-collecting tubes and two second fluid-collecting tubes separated from the two first fluid-collecting tubes by the flow divider.

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 4 , wherein the master fluid-collecting tube is configured as the first fluid-collecting tube and the second fluid-collecting tube separated from the first fluid-collecting tube by the flow divider;

the first micro-channels extend through a side wall of the master fluid-collecting tube and are inserted into the first fluid-collecting tube, the second micro-channels extend through the side wall of the master fluid-collecting tube and the flow divider, and are inserted into the second fluid-collecting tube; or

the second micro-channels extend through the side wall of the master fluid-collecting tube and are inserted into the second fluid-collecting tube, the first micro-channels extend through the side wall of the master fluid-collecting tube and the flow divider, and are inserted into the first fluid-collecting tube.

6. The heat exchanger according to claim 4 , wherein the master fluid-collecting tube is configured as the two first fluid-collecting tubes and two second fluid-collecting tubes separated from the two first fluid-collecting tubes by the flow divider; and an end of each of the plurality of first micro-channels extends through a side wall of the master fluid-collecting tube and is inserted into one of the two first fluid-collecting tubes, the other end of each of the plurality of first micro-channels extends through the side wall of master fluid-collecting tube and the divider, and is inserted into the other one of the two first fluid-collecting tubes; or

the master fluid-collecting is configured as the two first fluid-collecting tubes and two second fluid-collecting tubes separated from the two first fluid-collecting tubes by the flow divider; and an end of each of the plurality of second micro-channels extends through the side wall of the master fluid-collecting tube and is inserted into one of the two second fluid-collecting tubes, the other end of each of the plurality of second micro-channels extends through the side wall of master fluid-collecting tube and the divider, and is inserted into the other one of the two second fluid-collecting tubes.

7. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the first fluid-collecting tube sleeves an outside of the second fluid-collecting tube; the plurality of first micro-channels extend through a side wall of the first fluid-collecting tube and are inserted into the first fluid-collecting tube; and the plurality of second micro-channels extend through the side wall of the first fluid-collecting tube and a side wall of the second fluid-collecting tube and are inserted into the second fluid-collecting tube; or

the second fluid-collecting tube sleeves an outside of the first fluid-collecting tube; the plurality of second micro-channels extend through the side wall of the second fluid-collecting tube and are inserted into the second fluid-collecting tube; and the plurality of first micro-channels extend through the side wall of the second fluid-collecting tube and the side wall of the first fluid-collecting tube and are inserted into the first fluid-collecting tube.

8. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein a flowing direction of the first cooling medium is the same as, opposite to or perpendicular to a flowing direction of the second cooling medium.

9. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein a number of first fluid-collecting tubes is two, one of the two first fluid-collecting tubes is configured to supply the first cooling medium to the plurality of first micro-channels, and the other of the two first fluid-collecting tubes is configured to collect the first cooling medium that flows through the plurality of first micro-channels; and

a number of second fluid-collecting tubes is two, one of the two second fluid-collecting tubes is configured to supply the second cooling medium to the plurality of second micro-channels, and the other of the two second fluid-collecting tubes is configured to collect the second cooling medium that flows through the plurality of second micro-channels.

10. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein an extension direction of the plurality of first micro-channels is parallel to an extension direction of the plurality of second micro-channels;

the heat exchanging body comprises at least two sets of first micro-channels and second micro-channels;

one set of the at least two sets of first micro-channels and second micro-channels is spaced apart from another set of the at least two sets of first micro-channels and second micro-channels, in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction;

ends of the first micro-channels of the at least two sets of first micro-channels and second micro-channels are connected to a same first fluid-collecting tube, and ends of the second micro-channels of the at least two sets of first micro-channels and second micro-channels are connected to a same second fluid-collecting tube.

11. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanging body comprises a first plate body and a second plate body, the first plate body and the second plate body are laminated on each other; and

the first plate body defines the plurality of first micro-channels, and the second plate body defines the plurality of second micro-channels.

12. The heat exchanger according to claim 11 , wherein the first fluid-collecting tube and the second fluid-collecting tube are spaced apart from each other along an extension direction of the first plate body; and

the second plate body extends through the first fluid-collecting tube and is connected to the second fluid-collecting tube; or the first plate body extends through the second fluid-collecting tube and is connected to the first fluid-collecting tube.

13. The heat exchanger according to claim 11 , wherein the fluid-collecting tube assembly comprises a master fluid-collecting tube and a flow divider arranged inside the master fluid-collecting tube; and

the master fluid-collecting tube is configured as the first fluid-collecting tube and the second fluid-collecting tube separated from the first fluid-collecting tube by the flow divider, or configured as two first fluid-collecting tubes and two second fluid-collecting tubes separated from the two first fluid-collecting tubes by the flow divider.

14. The heat exchanger according to claim 13 , wherein the master fluid-collecting tube is configured as the first fluid-collecting tube and the second fluid-collecting tube separated from the first fluid-collecting tube by the flow divider;

the first micro-channels extend through a side wall of the master fluid-collecting tube and are inserted into the first fluid-collecting tube, the second micro-channels extend through the side wall of the master fluid-collecting tube and the flow divider, and are inserted into the second fluid-collecting tube; or

the second micro-channels extend through the side wall of the master fluid-collecting tube and are inserted into the second fluid-collecting tube, the first micro-channels extend through the side wall of the master fluid-collecting tube and the flow divider, and are inserted into the first fluid-collecting tube.

15. The heat exchanger according to claim 13 , wherein the master fluid-collecting tube is configured as the two first fluid-collecting tubes and two second fluid-collecting tubes separated from the two first fluid-collecting tubes by the flow divider; and an end of each of the plurality of first micro-channels extends through a side wall of the master fluid-collecting tube and is inserted into one of the two first fluid-collecting tubes, the other end of each of the plurality of first micro-channels extends through the side wall of master fluid-collecting tube and the divider, and is inserted into the other one of the two first fluid-collecting tubes; or

the master fluid-collecting is configured as the two first fluid-collecting tubes and two second fluid-collecting tubes separated from the two first fluid-collecting tubes by the flow divider; and an end of each of the plurality of second micro-channels extends through the side wall of the master fluid-collecting tube and is inserted into one of the two second fluid-collecting tubes, the other end of each of the plurality of second micro-channels extends through the side wall of master fluid-collecting tube and the divider, and is inserted into the other one of the two second fluid-collecting tubes.

16. The heat exchanger according to claim 11 , wherein the first fluid-collecting tube sleeves an outside of the second fluid-collecting tube; the plurality of first micro-channels extend through a side wall of the first fluid-collecting tube and are inserted into the first fluid-collecting tube; and the plurality of second micro-channels extend through the side wall of the first fluid-collecting tube and a side wall of the second fluid-collecting tube and are inserted into the second fluid-collecting tube; or

the second fluid-collecting tube sleeves an outside of the first fluid-collecting tube; the plurality of second micro-channels extend through the side wall of the second fluid-collecting tube and are inserted into the second fluid-collecting tube; and the plurality of first micro-channels extend through the side wall of the second fluid-collecting tube and the side wall of the first fluid-collecting tube and are inserted into the first fluid-collecting tube.

17. The heat exchanger according to claim 11 , wherein a number of first fluid-collecting tubes is two, the two first fluid-collecting tubes are connected to two ends of the first plate body respectively;

one of the two first fluid-collecting tubes is configured to supply the first cooling medium to the plurality of first micro-channels, and the other of the two first fluid-collecting tubes is configured to collect the first cooling medium that flows through the plurality of first micro-channels;

a number of second fluid-collecting tubes is two, the two second fluid-collecting tubes are connected to two ends of the second plate body respectively; and

one of the two second fluid-collecting tubes is configured to supply the second cooling medium to the plurality of second micro-channels, and the other of the two second fluid-collecting tubes is configured to collect the second cooling medium that flows through the plurality of second micro-channels.

18. An electric control box, comprising a box body and a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is arranged on the box body, and the heat exchanger is configured to dissipate heat from the electric control box; and

wherein the heat exchanger comprises:

a heat exchanging body, defining a plurality of first micro-channels and a plurality of second micro-channels; and

a fluid-collecting tube assembly, comprising a first fluid-collecting tube and a second fluid-collecting tube, wherein the first fluid-collecting tube defines a first fluid-collecting channel, the first fluid-collecting channel is configured to provide a first cooling medium to the plurality of first micro-channels and/or to collect the first cooling medium that flows through the plurality of first micro-channels; the second fluid-collecting tube defines a second fluid-collecting channel, the second fluid-collecting channel is configured to provide a second cooling medium to the plurality of second micro-channels and/or to collect the second cooling medium that flows through the plurality of second micro-channels, and heat is exchanged between the first cooling medium flowing through the plurality of first micro-channels and the second cooling medium flowing through the plurality of second micro-channels;

wherein the heat exchanging body comprises a plate body, the plurality of first micro-channels and the plurality of second micro-channels are arranged alternately in a same row in the plate body.

19. An air conditioning system, comprising: a compressor, a four-way valve, an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger and a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger, the compressor is configured to provide a circulating cooling medium flowing between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger through the four-way valve; and

wherein the heat exchanger comprises:

a heat exchanging body, defining a plurality of first micro-channels and a plurality of second micro-channels; and

a fluid-collecting tube assembly, comprising a first fluid-collecting tube and a second fluid-collecting tube, wherein the first fluid-collecting tube defines a first fluid-collecting channel, the first fluid-collecting channel is configured to provide a first cooling medium to the plurality of first micro-channels and/or to collect the first cooling medium that flows through the plurality of first micro-channels; the second fluid-collecting tube defines a second fluid-collecting channel, the second fluid-collecting channel is configured to provide a second cooling medium to the plurality of second micro-channels and/or to collect the second cooling medium that flows through the plurality of second micro-channels, and heat is exchanged between the first cooling medium flowing through the plurality of first micro-channels and the second cooling medium flowing through the plurality of second micro-channels;

wherein the heat exchanging body comprises a plate body, the plurality of first micro-channels and the plurality of second micro-channels are arranged alternately in a same row in the plate body.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2022
From: LI, ZHAOHUI; LI, FENG; LI, HONGWEI; WANG, GUOCHUN; LUO, YUZHAO
To: GD MIDEA HEATING & VENTILATING EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.; MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 061588/0076 →
Priority Claims (4)
CN 202010872927.X · Aug 26, 2020 · national
CN 202021821900.X · Aug 26, 2020 · national
CN 202110180310.6 · Feb 8, 2021 · national
CN 202120368964.7 · Feb 8, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230213216A1 · Jul 6, 2023
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