Air conditioning apparatus for vehicle

An air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

• an air conditioning case defining an air passage therein, the air conditioning case including an upstream portion defining an air intake space upstream in the air passage;
• and
• a heat exchanger provided in the air passage downstream from the upstream portion, the heat exchanger defining a core surface through which air flows, the core surface having a dimension H2 in a predetermined direction;
• wherein the upstream portion defines an air intake port through which the air flows into the upstream portion substantially parallel to the core surface, the air intake port has a dimension H1 in a direction substantially parallel to the predetermined direction, the dimension H1 is smaller than the dimension H2 of the core surface, the air intake space includes a first space that corresponds to the air intake port in the predetermined direction and a second space, such that air passed through the air intake port partially flows into the second space and the air partially turns in a direction substantially parallel to the core surface, and
• wherein the upstream portion has an air flow direction changing portion protruding within the second space at a position opposing the core surface with a predetermined clearance, the air flow direction changing portion is arranged such that the air turned substantially parallel to the core surface strikes the air flow direction changing portion, thereby changing its flow direction toward the core surface.