# US 12,215,932 B2 · Heat exchanger > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,215,932 B2 - Document ID: US12215932B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/823,536 - Filed: 2022-08-31 - Published: 2022-12-29 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-14 - Assignees: Sanhua (Hangzhou) Micro Channel Heat Exchanger Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Sanhua (Hangzhou) Micro Channel Heat Exchanger Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Jianlong Jiang; Qiang Gao; Xiaoming Zhong; Haobo Jiang; Ningjie Huang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12215932B2 ## CPC - F28F 1/022: {with multiple channels} - F25B 39/00: Evaporators; Condensers - F28D 1/05383: {with multiple rows of conduits or with multi-channel conduits (F28D1/05391 takes precedence)} - F28F 1/025: {with variable shape, e.g. with modified tube ends, with different geometrical features (F28F1/06, F28F1/08, F28F9/16, F28F9/18 take precedence)} - F28F 9/02: Header boxes; End plates - F28F 9/0273: {with multiple holes} - F28F 9/0278: {in the form of stacked distribution plates or perforated plates arranged over end plates} - F28D 7/16: the conduits being arranged in parallel spaced relation ({F28D7/0008 - F28D7/0058 take precedence}; F28D7/02 - F28D7/10 take precedence) - F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16) - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS - F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general) ## Abstract A heat exchanger includes a first pipe, a second pipe, a plurality of heat exchange tubes, an inlet/outlet pipe, and a first member. The first pipe has a main channel, and the heat exchange tube is connected between the first pipe and the second pipe. The heat exchange tube includes a plurality of channels disposed to be spaced apart. The plurality of channels include a first channel with a largest flow cross-sectional area and a second channel with a smallest flow cross-sectional area. The first member is located in the main channel of the first pipe to define a first flow channel and a second flow channel. The first flow channel is connected to the inlet/outlet pipe, and the second flow channel is connected to the heat exchange tube. The first member includes through-holes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heat exchanger, comprising: a first pipe and a second pipe, the first pipe comprising a circumferential wall and a main channel surrounded by the circumferential wall; an inlet/outlet pipe connected to the first pipe; a plurality of heat exchange tubes, wherein each of the plurality of heat exchange tubes is connected to the first pipe and the second pipe, each of the plurality of heat exchange tubes comprises a plurality of channels arranged to be spaced apart, each of the plurality of channels is connected to the first pipe and the second pipe, and the plurality of channels comprise a first channel and a second channel, wherein, on a cross section of the plurality of heat exchange tubes taken along a left-right direction, a flow cross-sectional area of the first channel is greater than a flow cross-sectional area of another channel different from the first channel in the plurality of channels, and a flow cross-sectional area of the second channel is less than a flow cross-sectional area of another channel different from the second channel in the plurality of channels; and a first member, wherein the first member is disposed in the main channel of the first pipe, the first member extends by a predetermined distance along a length direction of the first pipe, the main channel comprises a first flow channel and a second flow channel, the first member is disposed between the first flow channel and the second flow channel, the first flow channel is connected to the inlet/outlet pipe, the second flow channel is connected to each of the plurality of heat exchange tubes, the first member comprises a plurality of through-holes, and each of the plurality of through-holes connects the first flow channel and the second flow channel, wherein A1 denotes the flow cross-sectional area of the first channel on the cross section of the plurality of heat exchange tubes taken along the left-right direction, A2 denotes the flow cross-sectional area of the second channel on the cross section of the plurality of heat exchange tubes taken along the left-right direction, and the A1 and A2 satisfy a following expression: 0.15≤(A1−A2)*N/A3<3.8, wherein A3 denotes a sum of flow cross-sectional areas of the plurality of through-holes of the first member taken along the left-right direction, and N denotes a quantity of all of the plurality of heat exchange tubes connected to the main channel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the first member is a third pipe, the third pipe comprises a third circumferential wall, the third circumferential wall is disposed between the first flow channel and the second flow channel, the third circumferential wall has the plurality of through-holes penetrating through the third circumferential wall, the plurality of through-holes connects the first flow channel and the second flow channel, and the third pipe is connected to the inlet/outlet pipe or the third pipe comprises the inlet/outlet pipe. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein a side of the heat exchanger positioned upstream in a wind direction during heat exchange is defined as a windward side, a downstream side of the wind direction of the heat exchanger is defined as a leeward side, and the first channel is disposed on the windward side. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein a side of the heat exchanger positioned upstream in a wind direction during heat exchange is defined as a windward side, a downstream side of the wind direction of the heat exchanger is defined as a leeward side, and a sum of flow cross-sectional areas of channels positioned on the windward side among the plurality of channels of each of the plurality of heat exchange tubes is greater than a sum of flow cross-sectional areas of channels positioned on the leeward side among the plurality of channels. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein some through-holes of the plurality of through-holes in the third pipe are defined on the windward side, other through-holes of the plurality of through-holes in the third pipe are defined on the leeward side, and a sum of flow cross-sectional areas of the some through-holes on the windward side is less than a sum of flow cross-sectional areas of the other through-holes on the leeward side. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein (A1−A2)/A4≤0.09, and A4 denotes a largest flow cross-sectional area of the third pipe taken along a front-rear direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein a distance I between at least two adjacent through-holes of the plurality of through-holes in a length direction of the third pipe satisfies: 20 mm≤I≤150 mm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein the first pipe comprises a first end surface, a through-hole of the plurality of through-holes that is adjacent to the first end surface of the first pipe in the length direction of the first pipe is a first through-hole, a heat exchange tube of the plurality of heat exchange tubes that is adjacent to the first end surface of the first pipe is a first heat exchange tube, the plurality of heat exchange tubes comprise a second heat exchange tube, a quantity of heat exchange tubes located between the first heat exchange tube and the second heat exchange tube in the length direction of the first pipe is greater than or equal to 10 and less than 30, and a smallest distance between the first through-hole and the first end surface in the length direction of the first pipe is less than a smallest distance between the second heat exchange tube and the first end surface in the length direction of the first pipe. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein, on the cross section of the plurality of heat exchange tubes taken along the left-right direction, spacings between two adjacent channels of the plurality of channels in a width direction of each of the plurality of heat exchange tubes are equal to each other, and flow cross-sectional areas of the two adjacent channels are not equal to each other. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein an outer circumferential contour of the cross section of each of the plurality of heat exchange tubes taken along the left-right direction is roughly quadrilateral, and an inner diameter of the second pipe is 1.1 times or more of a width of each of the plurality of heat exchange tubes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein flow cross-sectional areas of at least three channels in the plurality of channels are not equal to each other on the cross section of the plurality of heat exchange tubes taken along the left-right direction. ### Claim 12 A heat exchanger, comprising: a first pipe and a second pipe, wherein the first pipe comprises a circumferential wall and a main channel surrounded by the circumferential wall, an end in a length direction of the first pipe is a first end, the first end of the first pipe comprises a first end surface; an inlet/outlet pipe connected to the first pipe; a plurality of heat exchange tubes, wherein each of the plurality of heat exchange tubes is connected to the first pipe and the second pipe, each of the plurality of heat exchange tubes comprises a plurality of channels arranged to be spaced apart, each of the plurality of channels is connected to the first pipe and the second pipe, the plurality of channels comprise a first channel and a second channel, wherein, on a cross section of the plurality of heat exchange tubes taken along a left-right direction, a flow cross-sectional area of the first channel is greater than a flow cross-sectional area of another channel different from the first channel in the plurality of channels, and a flow cross-sectional area of the second channel is less than a flow cross-sectional area of another channel different from the second channel in the plurality of channels; and a first member, wherein the first member is disposed in the main channel of the first pipe, the first member extends by a predetermined distance along the length direction of the first pipe, the main channel comprises a first flow channel and a second flow channel, the first member is disposed between the first flow channel and the second flow channel, the first flow channel is connected to the inlet/outlet pipe, the second flow channel is connected to each of the plurality of heat exchange tubes, the first member comprises a plurality of through-holes, and each of the plurality of through-holes connects the first flow channel and the second flow channel, wherein a through-hole of the plurality of through-holes that has a smallest distance to the first end surface of the first pipe in the length direction of the first pipe is a first through-hole, d3 denotes the smallest distance between the first through-hole and the first end surface in the length direction of the first pipe, and d3< (10d1+9d2)*A1/A2, wherein d1 denotes an overall tube thickness of each of the plurality of heat exchange tubes, d2 denotes a smallest distance between adjacent heat exchange tubes of the plurality of heat exchange tubes in the length direction of the first pipe, A1 denotes a flow cross-sectional area of the first channel on the cross section of each of the plurality of heat exchange tubes taken along the left-right direction, and A2 denotes a flow cross-sectional area of the second channel on the cross section of each of the plurality of heat exchange tubes taken along the left-right direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The heat exchanger according to claim 12, wherein the first member is a third pipe, the third pipe comprises a third circumferential wall, the third circumferential wall is disposed between the first flow channel and the second flow channel, and the third circumferential wall has the plurality of through-holes penetrating through the third circumferential wall. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The heat exchanger according to claim 13, wherein a side positioned upstream of the heat exchanger in a wind direction is defined as a windward side, a side positioned downstream of the heat exchanger in the wind direction is defined as a leeward side, the first channel is positioned on the windward side, and at least some of the plurality of through-holes are positioned on the leeward side. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The heat exchanger according to claim 13, wherein a side of the heat exchanger positioned upstream in a wind direction is defined as a windward side, a downstream side of the wind direction of the heat exchanger is defined as a leeward side, a sum of flow cross-sectional areas of channels positioned on the windward side among the plurality of channels is greater than a sum of flow cross-sectional areas of channels positioned on the leeward side among the plurality of channels, and at least some of the plurality of through-holes are positioned on the leeward side. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The heat exchanger according to claim 14, wherein some through-holes of the plurality of through-holes are positioned on the windward side, other through-holes of the plurality of through-holes are positioned on the leeward side, and a sum of flow cross-sectional areas of the some through-holes on the windward side is less than a sum of flow cross-sectional areas of the other through-holes on the leeward side. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The heat exchanger according to claim 13, wherein an end of the third pipe is connected to the inlet/outlet pipe, another end of the third pipe has a hole, and a flow cross-sectional area of the hole is less than a flow cross-sectional area of the third pipe. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The heat exchanger according to claim 12, wherein a hydraulic diameter of the second pipe is greater than or equal to 1.1 times of a hydraulic diameter of the first pipe. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The heat exchanger according to claim 12, wherein an outer circumferential contour of the cross section of each of the plurality of heat exchange tubes is roughly quadrilateral, and an inner diameter of the second pipe is 1.1 times or more of a width of each of the plurality of heat exchange tubes. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The heat exchanger according to claim 12, wherein flow cross-sectional areas of at least three of the plurality of channels are not equal on the cross section of the plurality of heat exchange tubes taken along the left-right direction.