A heat exchanger includes fins arranged in parallel with each other with a
predetermined spacing along the rotational axis direction of a blower.
Heat exchanger tubes are inserted into the fins to form rows along a
longitudinal direction of the fins connected to each other along the
airflow direction, to form refrigerant channels. A branch portion is
provided to connection portions of the heat exchanger tubes to increase
or decrease the number of paths in the refrigerant channels. Refrigerant
flows through each of the refrigerant channels passing through paths
mutually different at least at one portion between the refrigerant inlet
and the refrigerant outlets, flows along one direction from the
windward-side row to the leeward-side row, or from the leeward-side row
to the windward-side row in the airflow direction, in sequence between
rows. One-path portion is provided in the most windward-side row heat
exchanger tubes. The fins are in close contact with a refrigerant outlet
case when the heat exchanger is operated as a condenser, and a connection
piping are thermally separated by separation means.