Indoor units and HVAC systems

Abstract

This application discloses an indoor unit and a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The indoor unit includes a casing, a fan, and a heat exchanger. The casing contains a fan chamber, a diffuser chamber, and a heat exchanger chamber that are sequentially connected. The fan is disposed within the fan chamber, and the heat exchanger is disposed within the heat exchanger chamber. A vent is provided on the wall of the diffuser chamber, closer to the heat exchanger than the fan, connecting the diffuser chamber to the outside. This technical solution allows the low-speed airflow within the diffuser chamber to flow out through the vent to the outside, thereby reducing the possibility of airflow flowing back to the fan chamber and effectively mitigating the surge phenomenon of the indoor unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technology, and in particular to an indoor unit and an HVAC system using the indoor unit. Background Technology

[0002] In related technologies, the indoor unit of a heating and ventilation system includes a casing, inside which are formed a fan chamber, a diffuser chamber and a heat exchange chamber connected in sequence. The fan chamber contains a fan, the heat exchange chamber contains a heat exchanger, and the diffuser chamber is used to receive the airflow blown from the fan chamber and diffuse it to increase the pressure and flow rate of the airflow, thereby improving the cooling or heating effect.

[0003] However, in the indoor unit of the aforementioned HVAC system, a low-speed backflow zone is easily formed in the area near the side walls of the two chambers of the diffuser, which makes the airflow resistance inside the casing greater, resulting in a more serious surge phenomenon in the indoor unit and affecting the user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides an indoor unit and a heating and ventilation system that allows low-speed airflow in the diffuser chamber to flow out to the outside through the vent, thereby reducing the possibility of airflow flowing back to the fan through the diffuser chamber and effectively alleviating the surge phenomenon of the indoor unit.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide an indoor unit, which includes a housing, a fan, and a heat exchanger, characterized in that a fan cavity, a diffuser cavity, and a heat exchange cavity are formed in sequence within the housing, the fan is disposed within the fan cavity, and the heat exchanger is disposed within the heat exchange cavity;

[0006] The diffuser chamber has a vent hole located closer to the heat exchanger than the fan, and the vent hole connects the diffuser chamber to the outside.

[0007] In some embodiments, the vent is located below the centerline of the diffuser chamber.

[0008] Based on the above embodiments, the vent hole can correspond to the lower half of the diffuser chamber along its height direction, so that the low-speed airflow can quickly flow from the vent hole to the outside, and the occurrence of high-speed airflow in the high-speed region flowing from the vent hole to the outside is reduced.

[0009] In some embodiments, the vent is disposed on the cavity sidewall of the diffuser.

[0010] Based on the above embodiments, the outflow efficiency of low-speed airflow can be effectively improved, and the surge phenomenon of the indoor unit can be better alleviated.

[0011] In some embodiments, multiple vent holes are spaced apart, and the length of the bottom wall of the diffuser chamber in the direction from the fan chamber to the heat exchange chamber is defined as H1;

[0012] Define the length of the line connecting the projection of the vent closest to the fan cavity onto the bottom wall of the diffuser cavity along the height direction of the shell and the projection point of the vent closest to the heat exchange cavity onto the bottom wall of the diffuser cavity along the height direction of the shell as H2.

[0013] Among them, the condition that must be met is: H2:H1≤1:3.

[0014] Based on the above embodiments, multiple vents can be positioned closer to the outlet end of the diffuser chamber. This allows the vent positions to be set accordingly for situations where the boundary layer at the outlet end of the diffuser chamber is thicker, so that low-speed airflow can flow better to the outside.

[0015] In some embodiments, the vent holes are spaced out in multiple rows, and the multiple rows of vent holes are spaced out in the direction from the fan cavity to the heat exchange cavity, and each row includes multiple vent holes spaced out in the direction of the shell height.

[0016] Among them, at least one column has more vent holes than other columns, and the column with more vent holes is closer to the heat exchange chamber than the columns with more vent holes.

[0017] Based on the above embodiments, the number of vents in each row is positively correlated with the resistance of the gas flowing through the low-speed region, thereby enabling the low-speed airflow to flow out of the diffuser chamber in a better manner and effectively alleviating the surge phenomenon of the indoor unit.

[0018] In some embodiments, multiple vent holes are spaced apart, and the opening area of ​​the vent holes is increased in the arrangement direction from the fan chamber to the heat exchange chamber.

[0019] Based on the above embodiments, the increasing trend of the opening area of ​​multiple vents is positively correlated with the resistance of the gas flowing through the low-speed region, thereby enabling the low-speed airflow to flow out of the diffuser chamber in a better manner, effectively alleviating the surge phenomenon of the indoor unit.

[0020] In some embodiments, the vent hole is also provided on the bottom wall of the diffuser cavity, and the vent hole on the bottom wall of the diffuser cavity is located in the edge region of the bottom wall of the diffuser cavity adjacent to the side wall of the diffuser cavity.

[0021] Based on the above embodiments, by combining the vent holes provided on the bottom wall of the diffuser cavity and the vent holes provided on the side wall of the diffuser cavity, the low-speed airflow can flow out to the outside from both directions, and the overall area of ​​the vent holes for the low-speed airflow to flow out is increased, thereby further improving the efficiency of the low-speed airflow.

[0022] In some embodiments, the connection between the wall of the vent hole and the wall of the diffuser chamber is a smooth transition.

[0023] Based on the above embodiments, the low-speed airflow can flow more smoothly, reducing the noise caused by friction between the low-speed airflow and the connection between the vent wall and the diffuser wall.

[0024] In some embodiments, the heat exchange cavity has a connecting hole on its wall, which connects the heat exchange cavity to the outside and is located upstream of the heat exchanger in the direction of airflow.

[0025] Based on the above embodiments, the low-speed airflow in the low-speed region of the heat exchange cavity can flow to the outside as much as possible, avoiding the low-speed airflow remaining in the heat exchange cavity, reducing the range of the low-speed region in the heat exchange cavity, thereby alleviating the phenomenon of airflow blockage in the heat exchange cavity.

[0026] In some embodiments, the connecting hole is disposed on the sidewall of the heat exchange chamber.

[0027] Based on the above embodiments, the path of the low-speed airflow to the outside is shortened, so that the low-speed airflow can more effectively flow out to the outside through the vents provided on the bottom wall of the diffuser.

[0028] In some embodiments, the connecting holes are spaced in multiples, and the number of connecting holes is greater than the number of vent holes.

[0029] Based on the above embodiments, the number of connecting holes is set to be greater than the number of vent holes, which is positively correlated with the resistance of the gas flowing through the low-speed region. This allows the low-speed airflow to flow out of the heat exchange chamber more effectively, thus alleviating the surge phenomenon of the indoor unit.

[0030] In some embodiments, multiple connecting holes are spaced apart, and the area occupied by the multiple connecting holes on the cavity wall of the heat exchange chamber is greater than the area occupied by the multiple vent holes on the cavity wall of the diffuser chamber.

[0031] Based on the above embodiments, the area occupied by multiple connecting holes on the cavity wall of the heat exchange chamber is set to be larger than the area occupied by multiple vent holes on the cavity wall of the diffuser chamber. This is positively correlated with the resistance of the gas flowing through the low-speed region, thereby enabling the low-speed airflow to flow out of the heat exchange chamber better and effectively alleviating the surge phenomenon of the indoor unit.

[0032] In some embodiments, the bottom wall of the diffuser chamber slopes from top to bottom in the direction from the fan chamber to the heat exchange chamber;

[0033] In the longitudinal section of the indoor unit along the airflow direction, the connection point between the bottom wall of the diffuser cavity and the fan cavity is defined as A, the connection point between the bottom wall of the diffuser cavity and the heat exchange cavity is defined as B, and the center point of the outlet end connecting the diffuser cavity and the heat exchange cavity in the vertical direction is defined as C.

[0034] The connecting holes are spaced in multiples, and the multiple connecting holes are located within the area defined by the projection of the straight line passing through points A and B and the straight line passing through points A and C onto the cavity sidewall of the heat exchange cavity.

[0035] And / or, the vent holes are provided in a plurality of spaced intervals, wherein the plurality of vent holes are provided in the area defined between the projections of the straight line passing through points A and B and the straight line passing through points A and C on the cavity sidewall of the diffuser.

[0036] Based on the above embodiments, multiple connecting holes are set in the area defined on the side wall of the heat exchange chamber, so that the multiple connecting holes can allow the low-speed airflow in the area of ​​the heat exchange chamber to flow out to the outside as a whole. In addition, multiple vent holes are set in the area defined on the side wall of the diffuser chamber, so that the multiple vent holes can allow the low-speed airflow in the area of ​​the diffuser chamber to flow out to the outside as a whole. This effectively alleviates the surge phenomenon of the indoor unit.

[0037] In some embodiments, the connecting holes are arranged in multiple rows, each row including multiple connecting holes spaced apart in the height direction of the housing, and the multiple rows of connecting holes are spaced apart in the direction from the diffuser to the heat exchanger;

[0038] In two adjacent columns of connecting holes, the number of connecting holes in the column closer to the heat exchanger is greater than the number of connecting holes in the remaining column.

[0039] Based on the above embodiments, the number of connecting holes in each row is positively correlated with the resistance of the gas flowing through the low-speed region, thereby enabling the low-speed airflow to flow out of the diffuser chamber in a better manner, effectively alleviating the surge phenomenon of the indoor unit.

[0040] In some embodiments, the connection between the wall of the connecting hole and the wall of the heat exchange cavity is a smooth transition.

[0041] Based on the above embodiments, when the low-speed airflow flows through the connection between the wall of the connecting hole and the cavity wall of the heat exchange chamber, the smooth transition at the connection point reduces the resistance to the low-speed airflow, allowing the low-speed airflow to flow more smoothly and reducing the noise caused by friction between the low-speed airflow and the connection between the wall of the connecting hole and the cavity wall of the heat exchange chamber.

[0042] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, which includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit as described above, wherein the indoor unit and the outdoor unit form a refrigerant circulation path.

[0043] The indoor unit and HVAC system based on the embodiments of this application have vents provided in the diffuser cavity wall at a position closer to the heat exchanger than the fan, with the vents connecting the diffuser cavity to the outside. This allows the indoor unit of the embodiments of this application to have at least the following technical effects:

[0044] Because the pressure inside the indoor unit is greater than the external pressure, ventilation holes are provided in the wall of the diffuser chamber to allow the low-speed airflow in the low-speed region of the diffuser chamber to flow to the outside as much as possible, preventing low-speed airflow from remaining in the diffuser chamber and reducing the range of the low-speed region. This can alleviate the phenomenon of airflow blockage in the diffuser chamber, thereby reducing the possibility of airflow flowing through the diffuser chamber back to the fan, effectively alleviating the surge phenomenon of the indoor unit, and reducing the overall noise and vibration of the indoor unit.

[0045] Next, when the low-speed airflow flows through the diffuser, it first flows through the part of the diffuser closer to the fan, and then flows to the part of the diffuser closer to the heat exchanger. Therefore, the resistance of the low-speed airflow in the part of the diffuser closer to the heat exchanger is greater than that in the part of the diffuser closer to the fan. In other words, the thickness of the boundary layer in the part of the diffuser closer to the heat exchanger is greater than that in the part of the diffuser closer to the fan. Based on this, by setting the vent hole in the cavity wall of the diffuser closer to the heat exchanger than the fan, the low-speed airflow can flow to the outside as a whole, which can more effectively alleviate the airflow blockage in the diffuser. Attached Figure Description

[0046] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0047] Figure 1 This is a partial structural diagram of an indoor unit according to an embodiment of this application;

[0048] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A structural schematic diagram of the indoor unit from one perspective;

[0049] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A magnified view of a section at point D;

[0050] Figure 4 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the indoor unit from another perspective.

[0051] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A schematic cross-sectional view of EE is shown.

[0052] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A magnified view of a section at point F.

[0053] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0054] 1. Indoor unit; 10. Housing; 11. Fan cavity; 12. Diffuser cavity; 121. Side wall of diffuser cavity; 13. Heat exchange cavity; 131. Side wall of heat exchange cavity; 14. Return air vent; 15. Air outlet; 16. Vent hole; 17. Connecting hole; 20. First housing; 21. Top cover; 211. Fan cavity housing; 212. Top housing of diffuser cavity; 213. Top housing of heat exchange cavity; 22. Side panel; 30. Second housing; 40. Volute; 50. Bottom housing of diffuser cavity; 60. Drain tray; 90. Fan; 91. Heat exchanger; 98. Grille.

[0055] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of this application will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0056] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0057] Where the following description relates to the accompanying drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this application. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this application as detailed in the appended claims.

[0058] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances. Furthermore, in the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0059] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this application. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0060] In related technologies, the indoor unit of a heating and ventilation system includes a casing, inside which are formed a fan chamber, a diffuser chamber and a heat exchange chamber connected in sequence. The fan chamber contains a fan, the heat exchange chamber contains a heat exchanger, and the diffuser chamber is used to receive the airflow blown from the fan chamber and diffuse it to increase the pressure and flow rate of the airflow, thereby improving the cooling or heating effect.

[0061] However, in the indoor unit of the aforementioned HVAC system, a low-speed backflow zone is easily formed in the area near the side walls of the two chambers of the diffuser, which makes the airflow resistance inside the casing greater, resulting in a more serious surge phenomenon in the indoor unit and affecting the user experience.

[0062] To resolve the above issues, please refer to the following: Figures 1 to 2 One aspect of this application proposes a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. In this embodiment, the HVAC system includes, but is not limited to, air conditioners, multi-split systems, and heat pumps, and can be applied to large-scale locations such as shopping malls and office buildings. The HVAC system may include an indoor unit 1, an outdoor unit, and connecting pipes. The indoor unit 1 is connected to the outdoor unit via connecting pipes to form a refrigerant circulation between the two units. In some practical applications, the indoor unit 1 can be installed indoors, while the outdoor unit is responsible for cooling or heating and transports refrigerant through connecting pipes. The refrigerant exchanges heat with both indoor and outdoor air. The indoor unit 1 is responsible for delivering cool or warm air into the room to achieve cooling or heating effects.

[0063] Specifically, indoor unit 1 can be, but is not limited to, ducted air conditioners, wall-mounted air conditioner indoor units, and floor-standing air conditioner indoor units, etc. Among these, ducted air conditioners are typically ceiling-mounted and concealed within the ceiling, resulting in better concealment and a more aesthetically pleasing appearance compared to other indoor unit 1 structures. Furthermore, ducted air conditioners utilize distributed airflow, providing a more comfortable airflow experience. Please refer to the relevant documentation. Figures 1 to 5 The indoor unit 1 may include a housing 10, a fan 90, a heat exchanger 91, and an electrical control box assembly.

[0064] The housing 10 is used to construct an air duct suitable for the indoor unit 1 for gas flow. The outer contour of the housing 10 may be longitudinally elongated. A fan chamber 11, a diffuser chamber 12 and a heat exchange chamber 13 are formed in sequence inside the housing 10, and the housing 10 also forms a return air port 14 connected to the fan chamber 11 and an air outlet 15 connected to the heat exchange chamber 13.

[0065] Understandably, the fan chamber 11 is configured to house the fan 90. The diffuser chamber 12 receives the airflow from the fan chamber 11 and diffuses it to increase the pressure and flow rate of the airflow, thereby improving the cooling or heating effect. The heat exchange chamber 13 is configured to house the heat exchanger 91. Thus, the external airflow can flow in through the return air inlet 14 under the action of the fan 90, and flow sequentially through the fan chamber 11, the diffuser chamber 12, and the heat exchange chamber 13. After heat exchange through the heat exchanger 91 in the heat exchange chamber 13, the external airflow is heated or cooled before flowing out through the air outlet 15.

[0066] A fan 90 is housed within a fan chamber 11 and includes a rotor and a motor. The rotor is housed within the fan chamber 11, and the motor is mounted on a housing 10. The motor's output shaft is connected to the rotor to drive its rotation. The rotor can be a cylindrical elongated shape. The fan 90 can be a cross-flow fan, a centrifugal fan, or an axial fan, etc. When configured as a cross-flow fan, it offers advantages such as small radial dimensions, low speed, low noise, and uniform airflow. Its axial length can be arbitrarily increased without affecting gas flow. Furthermore, cross-flow fans are less expensive than centrifugal or axial fans. The fan 90 can be positioned directly opposite the return air inlet 14, allowing external airflow to reach the fan 90 via a shorter path, reducing losses during the flow process.

[0067] The heat exchanger 91 can be in various shapes, such as straight, V-shaped, arc-shaped, or wavy. The heat exchanger 91 is used to exchange heat with the gas flowing through the heat exchange chamber 13 and passing through the heat exchanger 91, thus cooling or heating the gas. For example, multiple refrigerant pipes are installed inside the heat exchanger 91. As the gas passes through the heat exchanger 91, it exchanges heat with the refrigerant inside the pipes, thereby changing the gas temperature. Specifically, during cooling, the gas exchanges heat with the refrigerant in the heat exchanger 91 to form low-temperature air; while during heating, the gas exchanges heat with the refrigerant in the heat exchanger 91 to form heated air.

[0068] The electrical control box assembly can be mounted on the surface of the housing 10 for fixed installation. The electrical control box assembly can be electrically connected to the motor of the fan 90 and the heat exchanger 91 respectively, so as to control or regulate the fan 90 and the heat exchanger 91. For example, when the temperature in the environment where the ducted air conditioner operates reaches the set value, the electrical control box assembly can send a command to shut down the motor and the heat exchanger 91, thereby reducing energy consumption and preventing the indoor temperature from being too low or too high.

[0069] Furthermore, the electrical control box assembly can be installed on the surface of the housing 10 away from the diffuser chamber 12, and is located near and facing the return air vent 14. In this way, maintenance personnel can directly disassemble and install the electrical control box assembly near the return air vent 14. Since there are no other structures blocking the area near the return air vent 14, it is more convenient for maintenance personnel to disassemble and install the electrical control box assembly.

[0070] In some structural configurations, the indoor unit 1 also includes a grille 98, which may be installed at the return air vent 14. The grille 98 prevents users or maintenance personnel from touching the impeller of the fan 90, reducing the risk of injury from accidental contact with the impeller blades. Furthermore, the grille 98 also blocks external debris, preventing it from entering the fan chamber 11 and heat exchange chamber 13 and affecting the impeller of the fan 90 and the heat exchanger 91. This extends the service life of the indoor unit 1.

[0071] In practical use, taking the cross-flow fan 90 as an example, the eccentric vortex intensity of the cross-flow fan impeller along its axial direction is inconsistent. This causes the airflow delivered by the cross-flow fan impeller to have a higher flow velocity and a lower flow velocity when it flows through the diffuser chamber 12. This results in a low-speed region within the diffuser chamber 12, which causes airflow blockage. Consequently, the airflow that subsequently flows through the low-speed region will flow back to the impeller, leading to surge in the indoor unit 1. Especially when the indoor unit 1 faces high back pressure, the internal resistance of the indoor unit 1 will increase, causing the range of the low-speed region to increase. Correspondingly, the range of the high-speed region will decrease, making the airflow blockage in the diffuser chamber 12 more obvious.

[0072] Based on this, please refer to the following: Figures 1 to 5 This application provides a vent 16 in the diffuser 12, located closer to the heat exchanger 91 than the fan 90, on the cavity wall. The vent 16 connects the diffuser 12 to the outside. This allows the indoor unit 1 of this embodiment to have at least the following technical effects:

[0073] Since the pressure inside the indoor unit 1 is greater than the external pressure, the ventilation holes 16 provided in the cavity wall of the diffuser 12 allow the low-speed airflow in the low-speed region of the diffuser 12 to flow to the outside as much as possible, preventing the low-speed airflow from remaining in the diffuser 12 and reducing the range of the low-speed region. This can alleviate the phenomenon of airflow blockage in the diffuser 12, thereby reducing the possibility of airflow flowing through the diffuser 12 back to the fan 90, effectively alleviating the surge phenomenon of the indoor unit 1, and reducing the overall noise and vibration of the indoor unit 1.

[0074] Next, when the low-speed airflow flows through the diffuser 12, it first flows through the position of the diffuser 12 near the fan 90, and then flows to the position of the diffuser 12 near the heat exchanger 91. Therefore, the resistance of the low-speed airflow in the position of the diffuser 12 near the heat exchanger 91 is greater than that in the position of the diffuser 12 near the fan 90. That is, the thickness of the boundary layer in the position of the diffuser 12 near the heat exchanger 91 is greater than that in the position of the diffuser 12 near the fan 90. Based on this, by setting the vent 16 in the cavity wall of the diffuser 12 closer to the heat exchanger 91 than the fan 90, the low-speed airflow can flow to the outside as a whole, which can more effectively alleviate the airflow blockage phenomenon in the diffuser 12. In other embodiments, the vent may also be located in the middle region of the cavity wall of the diffuser 12 along the extension direction of the diffuser 12, or it may be located in the cavity wall of the diffuser 12 closer to the fan 90 than the heat exchanger 91. This application does not limit this.

[0075] Please see Figure 1 In some structural configurations, the housing 10 includes a first housing 20 and a second housing 30. The first housing 20 and the second housing 30 cooperate to define a communicating diffuser chamber 12, a fan chamber 11, and a heat exchange chamber 13. The first housing 20 and the second housing 30 can be made of alloys or metals such as aluminum or steel to meet requirements such as structural strength and long service life. Of course, the first housing 20 and the second housing 30 can also be made of plastic to meet requirements such as lighter weight, and this application does not limit this. Of course, it is also possible to have a combination in which one of the first housing 20 and the second housing 30 is made of alloy or metal, while the other is made of plastic.

[0076] It should be noted that the first housing 20 and the second housing 30 can serve as outer shells, thus eliminating the need for additional outer shells or other structures. This reduces the number of structures in the housing 10 and its size, enabling miniaturization of the ducted air conditioner to better suit environments with limited installation space. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the indoor unit 1 may also include an outer shell, which can be configured to cover the outer surfaces of the first housing 20 and the second housing 30, exposing only the air vent 15 and the return air vent 14 for external communication. This provides protection for the first housing 20 and the second housing 30.

[0077] Please see Figure 5 The first housing 20 may include a top cover 21 and two side panels 22. The two side panels 22 are connected to opposite sides of the top cover 21 along its width direction. The top cover 21 includes a fan cavity shell 211, a diffuser top shell 212 and a heat exchanger top shell 213 connected in sequence. The second housing 30 includes a volute tongue 40, a diffuser bottom shell 50 and a water receiving tray 60 connected in series. The opposite sides of the diffuser bottom shell 50 are connected to the volute tongue 40 and the water receiving tray 60, respectively.

[0078] The fan cavity shell 211 of the first housing 20 defines the fan cavity 11, and the diffuser top shell 212, volute tongue 40, and diffuser bottom shell 50 of the first housing 20 cooperate to define the diffuser cavity 12. Furthermore, the fan cavity shell 211, the diffuser top shell 212, and the upper shell of the heat exchange cavity 13 can be an integral structure to improve the connection strength and reduce assembly steps.

[0079] The water receiving tray 60 is located below the heat exchanger 91 and is used to collect the condensate flowing out of the heat exchanger 91. It cooperates with the diffuser chamber top shell 212 of the first housing 20 to define the heat exchange chamber 13. Furthermore, the diffuser chamber bottom shell 50 and the water receiving tray 60 can be an integral structure, making the connection between the two more secure and reducing assembly steps to improve assembly efficiency. Of course, in other structural forms, the diffuser chamber bottom shell 50 and the water receiving tray 60 can be separate structures, and the two can be fixed by snap-fit ​​connection or threaded connection. This application does not limit this.

[0080] The housing 10 also includes insulation layers, specifically a first insulation layer and a second insulation layer. The first insulation layer is disposed on the surface of the top shell 213 of the heat exchange chamber facing the inside of the heat exchange chamber 13, while the second insulation layer is disposed on the outer surface of the water receiving tray 60. To protect the second insulation layer, the housing 10 also includes a sheet metal part attached to the outside of the water receiving tray 60 by means of bolts or other methods, with the second insulation layer sandwiched between the sheet metal part and the water receiving tray 60. The insulation layer can be insulation sponge, foam, or insulation adhesive. Thus, by setting the insulation layer, the temperature inside the air duct assembly can be maintained to a certain extent, reducing the probability of energy dissipation from the indoor unit 1 through the first housing 20 and the second housing 30. It can also effectively isolate noise and abnormal sounds from the outside and dampen the propagation of internal noise, thereby protecting the internal components from interference by external noise and improving the stability and reliability of the entire system.

[0081] Please see Figure 5 In some embodiments, the vent 16 is located below the centerline of the diffuser 12. In actual flow field conditions, low-speed airflow in the low-speed region tends to concentrate in the lower half of the diffuser 12 along its height. Therefore, by positioning the vent 16 below the centerline of the diffuser 12, the vent 16 corresponds to the lower half of the diffuser 12 along its height, allowing low-speed airflow to quickly flow to the outside through the vent 16 and reducing the occurrence of high-speed airflow in the high-speed region flowing to the outside through the vent 16.

[0082] Of course, in other embodiments, when the low-speed airflow is more concentrated in the middle region of the diffuser 12 along its height direction, it can be configured such that the center line of the diffuser 12 passes through the vent 16. When the low-speed airflow is more concentrated in the upper half region of the diffuser 12 along its height direction, the vent 16 can be positioned above the center line of the diffuser 12, and this application embodiment does not limit this.

[0083] To improve the efficiency of low-speed fluid flow to the outside, please refer to [the relevant documentation / reference]. Figures 5 to 6 In some structural configurations, the vent 16 can be located on the sidewall of the diffuser 12. Thus, compared to having the vent 16 located on the bottom wall of the diffuser 12, since the sidewall of the diffuser 12 is thicker than the bottom wall, the path of the low-speed airflow exiting through the vent 16 on the sidewall of the diffuser 12 is shorter than that exiting through the vent 16 on the bottom wall. This effectively improves the exit efficiency of the low-speed airflow and better alleviates the surge phenomenon of the indoor unit 1. In other structural configurations, the vent 16 can also be located on the bottom wall of the diffuser 12; this application does not impose any limitations on this.

[0084] Furthermore, in addition to the vent 16 being located on the sidewall of the diffuser 12, a vent 16 is also provided on the bottom wall of the diffuser 12, with the vent 16 on the bottom wall of the diffuser 12 located in the edge region adjacent to the sidewall of the diffuser 12. Thus, the combination of the vent 16 on the bottom wall of the diffuser 12 and the vent 16 on the sidewall of the diffuser 12 allows low-speed airflow to exit from both directions, increasing the overall area of ​​the vent 16 for low-speed airflow exit and further improving the efficiency of low-speed airflow exit.

[0085] Understandably, in actual flow field conditions, the low-velocity region will be adjacent to the cavity sidewall of the diffuser 12. Therefore, the vent 16 located on the cavity bottom wall of the diffuser 12 is correspondingly set in the edge region of the cavity bottom wall of the diffuser 12 adjacent to the cavity sidewall of the diffuser 12, so that the low-velocity airflow can flow out to the outside more effectively from the vent 16 set on the cavity bottom wall of the diffuser 12.

[0086] Please see Figure 5 In some embodiments, multiple vent holes 16 are spaced apart. The length of the bottom wall of the diffuser chamber 12 in the direction from the fan chamber 11 to the heat exchange chamber 13 is defined as H1. The length of the line connecting the projection of the vent hole 16 closest to the fan chamber 11 onto the bottom wall of the diffuser chamber 12 along the height direction of the housing 10 and the projection of the vent hole 16 closest to the heat exchange chamber 13 onto the bottom wall of the diffuser chamber 12 along the height direction of the housing 10 is defined as H2.

[0087] The condition H2:H1 ≤ 1:3 is satisfied. This arrangement allows the multiple vents 16 to be positioned closer to the outlet of the diffuser 12, thus better matching the situation where the resistance downstream of the low-speed airflow is greater than the resistance upstream during its flow through the diffuser 12. This addresses the issue of a thicker boundary layer at the outlet of the diffuser 12 by strategically positioning the vents 16 to facilitate better outward flow of the low-speed airflow. For example, the specific ratio of H2:H1 can be 1:3, 1:3.5, 1:4, or 1:4.5, etc., and this embodiment does not impose any limitations on this.

[0088] Please refer to the following: Figures 5 to 6 In some embodiments, multiple vent holes 16 are spaced apart and arranged in multiple rows. The multiple rows of vent holes 16 are spaced apart in the direction from the fan chamber 11 to the heat exchange chamber 13, and each row includes multiple vent holes 16 spaced apart in the height direction of the housing 10.

[0089] In this configuration, at least one column has more vent holes 16 than other columns, and the column with more vent holes 16 is closer to the heat exchange chamber 13 than the other columns. In the actual flow field, the area near the outlet of the diffuser 12 (i.e., the position of the diffuser 12 closest to the heat exchange chamber 13) is the downstream position of the airflow passing through the diffuser 12. The resistance of the low-speed airflow is greatest at the downstream position, meaning that the boundary layer is thickest at the downstream position. Based on this, by setting the column with more vent holes 16 to be closer to the heat exchange chamber 13 than other columns, the number of vent holes 16 in each column is positively correlated with the resistance of the gas flowing through the low-speed region. This allows the low-speed airflow to flow out of the diffuser 12 more effectively, thus mitigating the surge phenomenon of the indoor unit 1.

[0090] For example, such as Figures 5 to 6 As shown, the vents 16 are arranged in three rows, with one row having four vents 16 and the other two rows having three vents 16. Furthermore, the row with four vents 16 is closer to the heat exchanger 91 than the other two rows.

[0091] In some embodiments, multiple vent holes 16 are spaced apart, and the opening area of ​​the vent holes 16 is increased in the arrangement direction from the fan cavity 11 to the heat exchange cavity 13. Similarly, in the actual flow field, the position near the outlet end of the diffuser cavity 12 (that is, the position of the diffuser cavity 12 closest to the heat exchange cavity 13) is the downstream position when the airflow flows through the diffuser cavity 12. The resistance of the low-speed airflow is the greatest at the downstream position, that is, the boundary layer is the thickest at the downstream position. Based on this, by adapting the opening area of ​​the vent holes 16 to be increased, the increasing trend of the opening area of ​​the multiple vent holes 16 is positively correlated with the resistance of the gas flowing through the low-speed region, so that the low-speed airflow can flow out of the diffuser cavity 12 better, effectively alleviating the surge phenomenon of the indoor unit 1.

[0092] In some structural configurations, the connection between the wall of the vent 16 and the wall of the diffuser 12 is a smooth transition. Thus, as the low-speed airflow flows through the vent 16 to the outside, the smooth transition at the connection between the vent 16 and the diffuser 12 reduces resistance to the airflow, allowing it to flow more smoothly and reducing noise caused by friction between the low-speed airflow and the connection between the vent 16 and the diffuser 12. Of course, in other structural configurations, the connection between the vent 16 and the diffuser 12 can be a sharp transition; this embodiment does not impose such limitations.

[0093] In actual flow field conditions, before the low-speed airflow exits the outlet end of the diffuser chamber 12 and flows into the heat exchanger 91, the area where the low-speed airflow is located in the heat exchange chamber 13 is also a low-speed area. This low-speed area will cause airflow blockage in the heat exchange chamber 13, causing airflow backflow, which in turn causes the indoor unit 1 to surge, affecting the user's experience.

[0094] Based on this, please refer to the following: Figures 5 to 6 In some embodiments, a connecting hole 17 is provided on the cavity wall of the heat exchange cavity 13, connecting the heat exchange cavity 13 to the outside, and located upstream of the heat exchanger 91 in the airflow direction. Since the pressure inside the indoor unit 1 is greater than the external pressure, the connecting hole 17 in the cavity wall of the heat exchange cavity 13 allows the low-speed airflow in the low-speed region inside the heat exchange cavity 13 to flow to the outside as much as possible, avoiding the low-speed airflow remaining in the heat exchange cavity 13, reducing the range of the low-speed region inside the heat exchange cavity 13, thereby alleviating the phenomenon of airflow blockage in the heat exchange cavity 13. In this way, the possibility of airflow flowing through the heat exchange cavity 13 flowing back to the fan 90 can be reduced, effectively alleviating the surge phenomenon of the indoor unit 1, and achieving a reduction in the overall noise and vibration of the indoor unit 1.

[0095] Furthermore, in actual flow field conditions, the low-velocity region is adjacent to the sidewall of the heat exchange cavity 13. Therefore, in this embodiment, the connecting hole 17 is disposed on the sidewall of the heat exchange cavity 13, so that the vent hole 16 located on the sidewall of the heat exchange cavity 13 can be adjacent to the low-velocity region. Compared to the form where the connecting hole 17 is disposed on the bottom wall of the heat exchange cavity 13, the path of the low-velocity airflow to the outside is shorter, thus the low-velocity airflow can more effectively flow out to the outside from the vent hole 16 disposed on the bottom wall of the diffuser cavity 12. In other forms, the connecting hole 17 can also be disposed on the bottom wall of the heat exchange cavity 13, and this application does not limit this.

[0096] During the flow of low-speed airflow, it first passes through the diffuser 12 and then the heat exchanger 13. Therefore, the heat exchanger 13 is downstream of the diffuser 12. Consequently, based on the above, the resistance to low-speed airflow downstream is greater than that upstream. Therefore, this application can have at least two methods to improve the effect of low-speed airflow towards the outside:

[0097] In the first form, such as Figures 5 to 6 As shown, multiple connecting holes 17 are spaced apart, and the number of connecting holes 17 is greater than the number of vent holes 16. Thus, setting the number of connecting holes 17 to be greater than the number of vent holes 16 is positively correlated with the resistance of gas flowing through the low-speed region, thereby allowing the low-speed airflow to flow out of the heat exchange chamber 13 better and effectively alleviating the surge phenomenon of the indoor unit 1.

[0098] In the second configuration, multiple connecting holes 17 are spaced apart, and the area occupied by these connecting holes 17 on the wall of the heat exchange chamber 13 is larger than the area occupied by the multiple vent holes 16 on the wall of the diffuser chamber 12. This setting of the area occupied by the multiple connecting holes 17 on the wall of the heat exchange chamber 13 to be larger than the area occupied by the multiple vent holes 16 on the wall of the diffuser chamber 12 is positively correlated with the resistance of gas flowing through the low-speed region. This allows the low-speed airflow to exit the heat exchange chamber 13 more effectively, thus mitigating the surge phenomenon in the indoor unit 1.

[0099] It should be noted that, in at least the above two forms, the indoor unit 1 of this application can take any one form, or a combination of two or more forms, and the embodiments of this application do not limit this.

[0100] Please refer to the following: Figures 5 to 6 In some structural configurations, the bottom wall of the diffuser 12 slopes downwards from top to bottom in the direction from the fan chamber 11 to the heat exchange chamber 13. In the longitudinal section of the indoor unit 1 along the airflow direction, the connection point between the bottom wall of the diffuser 12 and the fan chamber 11 is defined as A, the connection point between the bottom wall of the diffuser 12 and the heat exchange chamber 13 is defined as B, and the center point of the outlet end connecting the diffuser 12 and the heat exchange chamber 13 in the vertical direction is defined as C.

[0101] Based on this, please refer to the following: Figures 5 to 6 In some embodiments, multiple connecting holes 17 are spaced apart, wherein the multiple connecting holes 17 are disposed within the area defined by the projection of the straight line L0 passing through points A and B and the straight line L1 passing through points A and C onto the cavity sidewall of the heat exchange cavity 13. It is understood that the low-speed zone formed by the low-speed airflow within the heat exchange cavity 13 is the area defined in this embodiment. Therefore, by distributing multiple connecting holes 17 within this defined area, the multiple connecting holes 17 allow the low-speed airflow within this area to flow entirely to the outside, thereby effectively alleviating the surge phenomenon of the indoor unit 1. Exemplarily, the multiple connecting holes 17 may be evenly distributed within the area defined by the projection of the straight line L0 passing through points A and B and the straight line L1 passing through points A and C onto the cavity sidewall of the heat exchange cavity 13.

[0102] Please refer to the following: Figures 5 to 6In other embodiments, multiple vents 16 are spaced apart, wherein the multiple vents 16 are disposed within the area defined by the projections of the straight line L0 passing through points A and B and the straight line L1 passing through points A and C onto the cavity sidewall of the diffuser 12. It is understood that the low-speed zone formed by the low-speed airflow within the diffuser 12 is the area defined in this embodiment. Therefore, by distributing multiple vents 16 within this defined area, the multiple vents 16 allow the low-speed airflow within this area to flow out to the outside as a whole, thereby effectively alleviating the surge phenomenon of the indoor unit 1. Exemplarily, the multiple vents 16 may be evenly distributed within the area defined by the projections of the straight line L0 passing through points A and B and the straight line L1 passing through points A and C onto the cavity sidewall of the diffuser 12.

[0103] Please refer to the following: Figures 5 to 6 In other embodiments, multiple connecting holes 17 are spaced apart, and multiple vent holes 16 are spaced apart. The multiple connecting holes 17 are located within the area defined by the projection of the straight line L0 passing through points A and B and the straight line L1 passing through points A and C onto the cavity sidewall of the heat exchange cavity 13, and the multiple vent holes 16 are located within the area defined by the projection of the straight line L0 passing through points A and B and the straight line L1 passing through points A and C onto the cavity sidewall of the diffuser cavity 12.

[0104] It is understood that the low-speed zone formed by the low-speed airflow within the heat exchange chamber 13 is the area defined on the sidewall of the heat exchange chamber 13 in this embodiment, and the low-speed zone formed by the low-speed airflow within the diffuser chamber 12 is the area defined on the sidewall of the diffuser chamber 12 in this embodiment. Therefore, by setting multiple connecting holes 17 within the area defined on the sidewall of the heat exchange chamber 13, the multiple connecting holes 17 allow the low-speed airflow within this area of ​​the heat exchange chamber 13 to flow out to the outside as a whole, and by setting multiple vent holes 16 within the area defined on the sidewall of the diffuser chamber 12, the multiple vent holes 16 allow the low-speed airflow within this area of ​​the diffuser chamber 12 to flow out to the outside as a whole, thereby effectively alleviating the surge phenomenon of the indoor unit 1.

[0105] Please continue to refer to the following: Figures 5 to 6 For example, the plurality of connecting holes 17 may be evenly distributed in the area defined between the projections of the straight line L0 passing through points A and B and the straight line L1 passing through points A and C on the cavity sidewall of the heat exchange cavity 13, and the plurality of vent holes 16 are disposed in the area defined between the projections of the straight line L0 passing through points A and B and the straight line L1 passing through points A and C on the cavity sidewall of the diffuser cavity 12.

[0106] Please refer to the following: Figures 5 to 6In some embodiments, the connecting holes 17 are arranged in multiple rows, each row including multiple connecting holes 17 spaced apart in the height direction of the housing 10, and the multiple rows of connecting holes 17 are spaced apart in the direction from the diffuser 12 to the heat exchanger 91.

[0107] Among the two adjacent columns of connecting holes 17, the number of connecting holes 17 in the column closer to the heat exchanger 91 is greater than the number of connecting holes 17 in the remaining column.

[0108] In the actual flow field, the area near heat exchanger 91 is the downstream position of the low-speed airflow when it flows through heat exchange cavity 13. The resistance of the low-speed airflow is the greatest at the downstream position, which means that the boundary layer is the thickest at the downstream position. Based on this, by setting the number of connecting holes 17 in the row closer to heat exchanger 91 in two adjacent rows of connecting holes 17 to be more than the number of connecting holes 17 in the remaining row, the number of connecting holes 17 in each row is positively correlated with the resistance of the gas flowing through the low-speed region, so that the low-speed airflow can flow out of the diffuser cavity 12 better, effectively alleviating the surge phenomenon of indoor unit 1.

[0109] For example, such as Figures 5 to 6 As shown, the vents 16 are arranged in three rows, one row has four vents 16, one row has five vents 16, and the remaining row has six vents 16. The row with five vents 16 is closer to one side of the heat exchanger 91 than the row with four vents 16, and the row with six vents 16 is also closer to one side of the heat exchanger 91 than the row with five vents 16.

[0110] In some structural configurations, the connection between the wall of the connecting hole 17 and the wall of the heat exchange chamber 13 is a smooth transition. Thus, as the low-speed airflow flows through the connecting hole 17 to the outside, the smooth transition at the connection between the wall of the connecting hole 17 and the wall of the heat exchange chamber 13 reduces resistance to the low-speed airflow, allowing it to flow more smoothly and reducing noise caused by friction between the low-speed airflow and the connection between the wall of the connecting hole 17 and the wall of the heat exchange chamber 13. Of course, in other structural configurations, the connection between the wall of the connecting hole 17 and the wall of the heat exchange chamber 13 can be a sharp transition; this embodiment does not impose such limitations.

[0111] In the accompanying drawings of this embodiment, the same or similar reference numerals correspond to the same or similar components. In the description of this application, it should be understood that if terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, they are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, the terms used to describe positional relationships in the accompanying drawings are only for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting this patent. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0112] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. An indoor unit, the indoor unit comprising a casing, a fan, and a heat exchanger, characterized in that, The shell contains a fan chamber, a diffuser chamber, and a heat exchange chamber that are connected in sequence. The fan is disposed in the fan chamber and the heat exchanger is disposed in the heat exchange chamber. The diffuser chamber has a vent hole located closer to the heat exchanger than the fan, and the vent hole connects the diffuser chamber to the outside. The vent is located below the centerline of the diffuser chamber; The vent is located on the side wall of the diffuser chamber; The ventilation holes are spaced out in multiple rows, and the ventilation holes are arranged in multiple columns. The multiple columns of ventilation holes are spaced out in the direction from the fan cavity to the heat exchange cavity, and each column includes multiple ventilation holes spaced out in the direction of the shell height. Among them, at least one column has more vent holes than other columns, and the column with more vent holes is closer to the heat exchange chamber than the columns with more vent holes.

2. The indoor unit as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The ventilation holes are spaced out in multiple places, and the length of the bottom wall of the diffuser chamber in the direction from the fan chamber to the heat exchange chamber is defined as H1; Define the length of the line connecting the projection of the vent closest to the fan cavity onto the bottom wall of the diffuser cavity along the height direction of the shell and the projection point of the vent closest to the heat exchange cavity onto the bottom wall of the diffuser cavity along the height direction of the shell as H2. Among them, the condition that must be met is: H2:H1≤1:

3.

3. The indoor unit as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The ventilation holes are spaced out in multiples, and the opening area of ​​the ventilation holes is increased in the arrangement direction from the fan cavity to the heat exchange cavity.

4. The indoor unit as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The vent is also provided on the bottom wall of the diffuser chamber, and the vent on the bottom wall of the diffuser chamber is located in the edge region of the bottom wall of the diffuser chamber adjacent to the side wall of the diffuser chamber.

5. The indoor unit as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The connection between the wall of the vent hole and the wall of the diffuser chamber is a smooth transition.

6. The indoor unit as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The heat exchange chamber has a connecting hole on its wall, which connects the heat exchange chamber to the outside and is located upstream of the heat exchanger in the direction of airflow.

7. The indoor unit as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The connecting hole is located on the side wall of the heat exchange chamber.

8. The indoor unit as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The connecting holes are spaced in multiples, and the number of connecting holes is greater than the number of vent holes.

9. The indoor unit as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The connecting holes are spaced in multiples, and the area occupied by the multiple connecting holes on the cavity wall of the heat exchange chamber is greater than the area occupied by the multiple vent holes on the cavity wall of the diffuser chamber.

10. The indoor unit as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The bottom wall of the diffuser chamber slopes from top to bottom in the direction from the fan chamber to the heat exchange chamber; In the longitudinal section of the indoor unit along the airflow direction, the connection point between the bottom wall of the diffuser cavity and the fan cavity is defined as A, the connection point between the bottom wall of the diffuser cavity and the heat exchange cavity is defined as B, and the center point of the outlet end connecting the diffuser cavity and the heat exchange cavity in the vertical direction is defined as C. The connecting holes are spaced in multiples, and the multiple connecting holes are located within the area defined by the projection of the straight line passing through points A and B and the straight line passing through points A and C onto the cavity sidewall of the heat exchange cavity. And / or, the vent holes are provided in a plurality of spaced intervals, wherein the plurality of vent holes are provided in the area defined between the projections of the straight line passing through points A and B and the straight line passing through points A and C on the cavity sidewall of the diffuser.

11. The indoor unit as described in any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that, The connecting holes are arranged in multiple rows, each row including multiple connecting holes spaced apart in the height direction of the shell, and the multiple rows of connecting holes are spaced apart in the direction from the diffuser to the heat exchanger; In two adjacent columns of connecting holes, the number of connecting holes in the column closer to the heat exchanger is greater than the number of connecting holes in the remaining column.

12. The indoor unit as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The connection between the wall of the connecting hole and the wall of the heat exchange cavity is a smooth transition.

13. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, characterized in that, Includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit as described in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the indoor unit and the outdoor unit form a refrigerant circulation path.

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