Micro-channel heat exchanger
There is disclosed a micro-channel heat exchanger, comprising a first header formed with an inlet; a second header spaced apart from the first header, one of the first and second headers being formed with an outlet; flat tubes, two ends of each flat tube being connected with the first and second headers respectively such that a plurality of micro-channels of each flat tube communicate with the first and second headers; fins, each fin being disposed between two adjacent flat tubes; and a return pipe, a first end of which being connected to the outlet formed in one of the first and second headers and a second end thereof being extended towards the other of the first and second headers. The location of the outlet of the micro-channel heat exchanger is easy to change, and the micro-channel heat exchanger is low in cost, compact in structure and easy to install.
1. A micro-channel heat exchanger, comprising:
a first header formed with an inlet;
a second header spaced apart from the first header by a predetermined distance, in which one of the first and second headers is formed with an outlet;
flat tubes, in which two ends of each flat tube are connected with the first and second headers respectively such that a plurality of micro-channels of each flat tube communicate with the first and second headers;
fins, in which each fin is disposed between two adjacent flat tubes; and
a return pipe, a first end of which is connected to the outlet formed in one of the first and second headers and a second end thereof is extended towards the other of the first and second headers;
wherein the second end of the return pipe passes through the first or second header by by-passing the first or second header so that the return pipe is formed around a portion of the first or second header being by-passed and conforms to the shape thereof.
2. The micro-channel heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the return pipe is extended along an outermost side of the micro-channel heat exchanger.
3. The micro-channel heat exchanger according to claim 2 , wherein the return pipe is welded to an outermost fin adjacent to the return pipe.
4. The micro-channel heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the micro-channel heat exchanger comprises an odd number of flow paths and the outlet is formed in the second header.
5. The micro-channel heat exchanger according to claim 4 , wherein partition plates are disposed in the first and second headers respectively such that the micro-channel heat exchanger comprises at least three flow paths.
6. The micro-channel heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the micro-channel heat exchanger comprises an even number of flow paths and the outlet is formed in the first header.
7. The micro-channel heat exchanger according to claim 6 , wherein partition plates are disposed in the first and second headers respectively such that the micro-channel heat exchanger comprises at least four flow paths.
8. The micro-channel heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the micro-channel heat exchanger is used as a condenser and the return pipe can be further used as a container for storing a fluid.
9. The micro-channel heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein at least one rib is disposed in the return pipe therein such that interior of the return pipe is divided into at least two passages.