A heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat exchange tube segments defining a plurality of fluid pathways therein and a bend formed in the plurality of heat exchange tube segments defining a first leg of the heat exchanger positioned at a first side of the bend, and a second leg of the heat exchanger positioned at a second side of the bend opposite the first side. The heat exchanger is positioned relative to a flow direction of an incoming airflow such that the bend is closer to a source of the incoming airflow than the first leg and the second leg.

The present invention relates to a heat exchanger for cooling an electrical element and a heat exchanger assembly for cooling an electrical element, and more particularly, to a heat exchanger for cooling an electrical element and a heat exchanger assembly for cooling an electrical element into which the electrical element may be easily inserted and in which both surfaces of the electrical element and a tube through which a coolant flows are formed to contact each other to improve cooling performance.

Provided is a heat exchanger that is capable of avoiding a bridge phenomenon caused by water droplets between a plurality of flat tubes and is easily manufactured. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of plate-like fins arranged in parallel at intervals, the plurality of flat tubes inserted into the plurality of plate-like fins, and at least one water-guiding member arranged between adjacent ones of the plurality of flat tubes projecting from at least one of both outermost ones of the plurality of plate-like fins and having both end portions held in contact with projecting flat surfaces of the adjacent ones of the plurality of flat tubes.

An inward gas/liquid distribution structure used in microchannel heat exchangers is disclosed. The inward gas/liquid distribution structure can help optimizing refrigerant distribution for a microchannel heat exchanger with long distribution pipe or a microchannel heat exchanger having significant wind field differences. The inward gas/liquid distribution structure includes an inlet header component. The inlet header component has n inlets that are configured to allow gas/liquid to enter the inlet header component, and n is an integer that is greater than or equal to 2. The inward gas/liquid distribution structure also includes m distribution components. The m distribution components are located in the inlet header component and connected to the n inlets, respectively. In an example, the number m equals to the number n.

A heat exchanger includes: flat pipes disposed in multiple stages in a stage direction corresponding to an up-down direction; and fins that partition a space between adjacent two of the flat pipes into air flow passages through which air flows. Each of the flat pipes includes a passage for a refrigerant inside thereof. The flat pipes are divided into heat exchange paths arrayed in multiple stages in the stage direction. One of the heat exchange paths that includes a lowermost one of the flat pipes is defined as a first heat exchange path. A length of the passage from a first end to a second end of a flow of the refrigerant in each of the heat exchange paths is defined as a path effective length.

An outdoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus is configured to suppress damage on hairpin portions at an end portion of an outdoor heat exchanger due to freezing. The outdoor unit includes: an air passage defined inside a casing; an outdoor heat exchanger, which is installed in the air passage, and includes a plurality of heat exchange portions; an outdoor unit fan configured to introduce air into the outdoor heat exchanger; and an air passage blocking object installed in the air passage, and configured to block air flow. The outdoor heat exchanger includes: a heat transfer tube configured to allow refrigerant to pass therein; and a fin connected to the heat transfer tube. The heat transfer tube includes a hairpin portion, which is bent and folded back and to which no fin is connected. The air passage blocking object is configured to cover the hairpin portion.

A heat exchanger includes: flat pipes vertically arrayed and fins that partition a space between adjacent ones of the flat pipes into air flow passages. Each of the flat pipes includes a passage for a refrigerant. The flat pipes are divided into heat exchange sections. Each of the heat exchange sections includes: a main heat exchange section connected to a gas-side entrance communication space, and a sub heat exchange section that is connected in series to the main heat exchange section at a vertical position different from the main heat exchange section and to a liquid-side entrance communication space.

A collector tube for a heat exchanger, which may have at least one flat tube, may include a base and a cover arranged opposite one another and embodying a longitudinal duct. The base may have at least one passage having an opening for accommodating the at least one flat tube of the heat exchanger. The at least one passage may have a collar, which may extend away from the longitudinal duct. The cover may have at least one notch, which may be located opposite the at least one passage and which may be embodied for accommodating a subarea of the at least one flat tube.

A microchannel evaporator includes a plurality of microchannels. Each of the plurality of microchannels includes a first end and a second end. A first end-tank is coupled to each first end of the plurality of microchannels and a second end-tank is coupled to each second end of the plurality of microchannels. An inlet is coupled to the first end-tank for receiving a fluid into the microchannel evaporator and an outlet is coupled to the second end-tank for expelling the fluid from the microchannel evaporator. Each microchannel of the plurality of microchannels is substantially U-shaped.

A collector tube for a heat exchanger, which may have at least one flat tube, may include at least one recess, through which a separator may be inserted into the collector tube in an insertion position. The separator may have a separating wall comprising a separating wall thickness, wherein a clearance fit may be present between the separating wall and the recess in response to the insertion of the separator. The separating wall may provide at least one elevation to attain an increase of the separating wall thickness in a subarea of the separator. In the insertion position of the separator, the at least one elevation may be arranged in an area of the recess. In the insertion position, a press fit may be present between the at least one elevation and the recess.