Electric box cooling structure, outdoor unit and air conditioner

Abstract

The invention provides an electric appliance box cooling structure, an outdoor unit and an air conditioner, the electric appliance box cooling structure comprises an electric appliance box and a cooling device, the cooling device is assembled outside the electric appliance box, the cooling device comprises a shell and a cooling assembly, the shell is provided with a flow guide channel, and the cooling assembly is at least partially located in the flow guide channel. The diversion channel is provided with an inlet and an outlet, the electrical box is provided with an air outlet and an air return port, the air outlet is communicated with the inlet, and the outlet is communicated to the air return port. According to the electric appliance box, hot air formed by heat generated by components in the electric appliance box in the working process rises, enters the shell through the air outlet and becomes cold air after being cooled by the cooling assembly in the shell, and then at least part of the cold air descends and flows back into the electric appliance box through the air return opening to form circulation. Therefore, continuous cooling of the electric appliance box is realized. As the whole cooling process is carried out outside the electric appliance box, no condensation is generated in the electric appliance box, and potential safety hazards of electricity utilization of the electric appliance box are caused.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of air conditioners, and in particular relates to an electrical box cooling structure, an outdoor unit, and an air conditioner. Background Art

[0002] The components loaded in the electrical box of mainstream air-conditioning products on the market generate a lot of heat, and the heat cannot be dissipated naturally, which will cause the temperature of the components to be too high, causing the air conditioner to run at a reduced frequency, thus failing to meet people's demand for cooling. Therefore, it is necessary to cool these components. The cooling concept in the prior art is to construct a refrigerant flow channel in the electrical box, so that the refrigerant cooled by the condenser flows through the refrigerant flow channel to cool the components. Although this method has a good cooling effect on the components, it has a major defect, that is, the refrigerant is prone to condensation in the electrical box during the heat exchange process with the hot air in the electrical box, which leads to electrical safety hazards in the electrical box. Summary of the invention

[0003] Therefore, the present invention provides an electrical box cooling structure, which can solve the technical problem that the method of using cooled refrigerant to flow through the flow channel in the electrical box to cool the components is prone to condensation in the electrical box, thereby causing electrical safety hazards in the electrical box.

[0004] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a cooling structure for an electrical box, including an electrical box and a cooling device, wherein the cooling device is assembled on the outside of the electrical box, and the cooling device includes a shell and a cooling component, the shell has a guide channel, the cooling component is at least partially in the guide channel, the guide channel has an inlet and an outlet, the electrical box has an air outlet and an air return port, the air outlet is connected to the inlet, and the outlet is connected to the air return port, the hot air in the electrical box rises and enters the guide channel through the air outlet, the air cooled by the cooling component descends and at least partially flows back to the electrical box through the air return port to form a circulation.

[0005] In some embodiments, the shell includes a main body portion and a guide portion on the main body portion, the guide portion extends to a side away from the main body portion, the guide portion is covered on the air outlet, the side of the guide portion facing the electrical box forms the inlet, and the end of the main body portion away from the guide portion forms the outlet.

[0006] In some embodiments, in a direction from a side of the guide portion away from the main body portion to a side where the main body portion is located, a space enclosed by the guide portion and the electrical box tends to increase.

[0007] In some embodiments, the guide portion is sealed and buckled on the electrical box.

[0008] In some embodiments, the air outlet is formed at the top of the electrical box.

[0009] In some embodiments, the outlet is located higher than the bottom of the electrical box, and the outlet faces downward of the electrical box, and the air return port is formed at the bottom of the electrical box; and / or a fan is provided in the guide channel.

[0010] The present invention also provides an outdoor unit, comprising the aforementioned electrical box cooling structure.

[0011] In some embodiments, the outdoor unit further includes a condenser, the cooling component includes a heat exchange tube, the heat exchange tube is at least partially located in the flow guide channel, and the refrigerant flowing out of the condenser at least partially flows through the heat exchange tube.

[0012] In some embodiments, the cooling component further includes a plurality of heat exchange fins, each of the heat exchange fins is mounted on the heat exchange tube, and each of the heat exchange fins is located in the guide channel.

[0013] In some embodiments, each of the heat exchange fins has a downward pointed corner, a water receiving groove is formed on the shell, and the water receiving groove is located below each of the pointed corners; and / or a throttling element is provided on the flow path between the condenser and the heat exchange tube.

[0014] The present invention also provides an air conditioner, comprising the aforementioned outdoor unit.

[0015] The present invention provides an electrical box cooling structure, an outdoor unit, and an air conditioner, which have the following beneficial effects:

[0016] The present application assembles a cooling device on the outside of the electrical box, and the inlet of the shell of the cooling device is connected to the air outlet of the electrical box, and the outlet of the shell is connected to the air return port of the electrical box. Then, the hot air generated by the heat generated by the components in the electrical box during the working process will rise and enter the shell of the cooling device through the air outlet of the electrical box, and become cold air after being cooled by the cooling component in the shell. Then, at least part of the cold air descends and flows back into the electrical box through the air return port of the electrical box to form a cycle, thereby achieving continuous cooling of the electrical box. That is, the present application utilizes the principle of air rising when heated and falling when cooled to realize the circulation of airflow between the electrical box and the cooling device, thereby achieving effective cooling of the components in the electrical box. Since the entire cooling process is carried out on the outside of the electrical box, condensation will not be generated in the electrical box, which will cause electrical safety hazards in the electrical box. At the same time, compared with assembling a cooling device outside the electrical box and directly exchanging heat with the electrical box to cool the electrical box, the present application has a better cooling effect on the electrical box by allowing hot air to flow out of the electrical box and be cooled by the cooling device and then allowing cold air to flow back into the electrical box. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In order to more clearly illustrate the implementation methods of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for the implementation methods or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only exemplary, and for ordinary technicians in this field, other implementation drawings can be derived from the provided drawings without creative work.

[0018] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a cooling structure of an electrical box according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of an electrical box of an electrical box cooling structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of a cooling device of the cooling structure of an electrical box according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 A partial schematic diagram of a cooling device of the cooling structure of an electrical box according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a cooling component of a cooling device of a cooling structure for an electrical box according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of an outdoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of an outdoor unit after removing a cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] The reference numerals are:

[0026] 1. Electrical box; 2. Shell; 21. Main part; 22. Guide part; 23. Water tank; 3. Cooling component; 31. Heat exchange tube; 32. Heat exchange fin; 4. Inlet; 5. Outlet; 6. Air outlet; 7. Fan; 8. Air return port; 9. Condenser; 10. Throttling element; 11. Temperature sensing package; 12. Gas-liquid separator. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is actually only illustrative and is by no means intended to limit the present invention and its application or use. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0028] In the description of the present invention, it is necessary to understand that the directions or positional relationships indicated by directional words such as "front, back, up, down, left, right", "lateral, vertical, perpendicular, horizontal" and "top, bottom" are usually based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise specified, these directional words do not indicate or imply that the devices or elements referred to must have a specific direction or be constructed and operated in a specific direction. Therefore, they cannot be understood as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention. The directional words "inside and outside" refer to the inside and outside relative to the contours of each component itself.

[0029] For ease of description, spatially relative terms such as "above", "above", "on the upper surface of", "above", etc. may be used here to describe the spatial positional relationship between a device or feature and other devices or features as shown in the figure. It should be understood that spatially relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation described in the figure. For example, if the device in the accompanying drawings is inverted, the device described as "above other devices or structures" or "above other devices or structures" will be positioned as "below other devices or structures" or "below other devices or structures". Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below". The device can also be positioned in other different ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptions used here are interpreted accordingly.

[0030] In addition, it should be noted that the use of terms such as "first" and "second" to limit components is only for the convenience of distinguishing the corresponding components. If not otherwise stated, the above terms have no special meaning and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0031] See also Figures 1 to 7 As shown, according to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electrical box cooling structure, including an electrical box 1 and a cooling device, the cooling device being assembled on the outside of the electrical box 1, the cooling device including a shell 2 and a cooling component 3, the shell 2 having a guide channel, the cooling component 3 being at least partially in the guide channel, the guide channel having an inlet 4 and an outlet 5, the electrical box 1 having an air outlet 6 and an air return port 8, the air outlet 6 being connected to the inlet 4, the outlet 5 being connected to the air return port 8, the hot air in the electrical box 1 rises and enters the guide channel through the air outlet 6, the air cooled by the cooling component 3 descends and at least partially flows back to the electrical box 1 through the air return port 8 to form a circulation.

[0032] In this technical solution, the present application assembles the cooling device outside the electrical box 1, and the inlet 4 of the housing 2 of the cooling device is connected to the air outlet 6 of the electrical box 1, and the outlet 5 of the housing 2 is connected to the air return port 8 of the electrical box 1, then the hot air generated by the components in the electrical box 1 during the working process will rise and enter the housing 2 of the cooling device through the air outlet 6 of the electrical box 1, and become cold air after being cooled by the cooling component 3 in the housing 2, and then at least part of the cold air descends and flows back to the electrical box 1 through the air return port 8 of the electrical box 1 to form a cycle, thereby achieving continuous cooling of the electrical box 1. That is, the present application uses the principle of air rising when heated and falling when cooled to realize the circulation of air flow between the electrical box 1 and the cooling device, thereby achieving effective cooling of the components in the electrical box 1, and since the entire cooling process is carried out outside the electrical box 1, condensation will not be generated in the electrical box 1, causing electrical safety hazards in the electrical box 1. At the same time, compared with assembling a cooling device outside the electrical box 1 and directly exchanging heat with the electrical box 1 to cool the electrical box 1, the present application has a better cooling effect on the electrical box 1 by allowing the hot air to flow out of the electrical box 1 and be cooled by the cooling device and then allowing the cold air to flow back into the electrical box 1.

[0033] See also Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the shell 2 includes a main body part 21 and a guide part 22 on the main body part 21, the guide part 22 extends to a side away from the main body part 21, the guide part 22 is covered on the air outlet 6, the side of the guide part 22 facing the electrical box 1 forms an inlet 4, and the end of the main body part 21 away from the guide part 22 forms an outlet 5.

[0034] In this embodiment, the guide part 22 can guide the hot air flowing out of the air outlet 6, so that the hot air can better enter the main body 21 and be cooled by the cooling component 3. At the same time, the guide part 22 is arranged on the air outlet 6 to protect the electrical box 1, and can prevent external water from entering the electrical box 1 from the air outlet 6, which has a waterproof effect.

[0035] See also Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 6 As shown, the space enclosed between the air guiding part 22 and the electrical box 1 tends to increase from the side of the air guiding part 22 away from the main body part 21 to the side where the main body part 21 is located. This makes it easier for hot air to diffuse toward the side where the main body part 21 is located, so that it is easier for hot air to enter the main body part 21 and be cooled by the cooling component 3, that is, the air guiding part 22 is designed in this way to better guide the hot air.

[0036] As a specific implementation, the sealing buckle of the guide part 22 is installed on the electrical box 1, so that the hot air can enter the cooling device as much as possible to be cooled, thereby improving the cooling effect. At the same time, the sealing buckle of the guide part 22 installed on the electrical box 1 can also ensure the waterproof effect of the electrical box 1. Further, when the electrical box cooling structure is applied to the outdoor unit of the air conditioner, the sealing buckle of the guide part 22 installed on the electrical box 1 can also prevent the hot air in the electrical box 1 from freely diffusing outwards and affecting the operation of other components.

[0037] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the air outlet 6 is formed at the top of the electrical box 1. Hot air has the property of floating due to its low density. When the air outlet 6 is formed at the top of the electrical box 1, the hot air can escape from the electrical box 1 more easily and enter the cooling device. It can be understood that when the air outlet 6 is formed at the top of the electrical box 1, the guide part 22 is also sealed and buckled at the top of the electrical box 1.

[0038] See also Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the position of the outlet 5 of the housing 2 is higher than the bottom of the electrical box 1 , and the outlet 5 faces downward of the electrical box 1 , and the air return port 8 is formed at the bottom of the electrical box 1 .

[0039] In this technical solution, cold air has the characteristic of sinking due to its high density. After the hot air is cooled into cold air by the cooling component 3, it will flow downward along the outlet 5 of the shell 2. Since the outlet 5 of the shell 2 is located higher than the bottom of the electrical box 1, the cold air flowing out of the outlet 5 will also flow to the bottom of the electrical box 1. Because the hot air flows out of the electrical box 1, the internal pressure of the electrical box 1 is reduced. Therefore, when the cold air sinks to the bottom of the electrical box 1, it will be automatically sucked into the electrical box 1 through the return air port 8 to fill the area with reduced pressure, thereby realizing air flow circulation and further realizing continuous cooling of the electrical box 1. It should be noted that the electrical box 1 also has a side opening, and the cold air can also flow back into the electrical box 1 through the side opening.

[0040] See also Figure 4 As shown, a fan 7 is provided in the guide channel. When the fan 7 is started, the hot air flow can be accelerated, thereby accelerating the heat dissipation of the electrical box 1. Preferably, there are two fans 7, and the two fans 7 are distributed on the left and right sides of the guide channel, and the middle position is kept away to reduce the obstruction of the fan 7 to the hot air flow. Further, a temperature sensing bag 11 can also be provided in the guide channel, and the temperature sensing bag 11 is connected to the main board. The temperature sensing bag 11 is used to detect the temperature of the hot air. When the detected temperature is greater than or equal to the set temperature, the main board controls the fan 7 to start, so that the fan 7 can be turned on when it is most needed, thereby improving the use efficiency of the fan 7. It should be noted that the hot air rises due to its own low density. The present application does not need to set up a fan 7 separately to realize the circulation of airflow between the electrical box 1 and the cooling device. The fan 7 is now set only to use the fan 7 to accelerate the flow of hot air when the temperature in the electrical box 1 is high in order to prevent untimely heat dissipation.

[0041] The present invention also provides an outdoor unit, comprising the aforementioned electrical box cooling structure.

[0042] See also Figure 6 As shown, the outdoor unit further includes a condenser 9 , and the cooling component 3 includes a heat exchange tube 31 . The heat exchange tube 31 is at least partially located in the flow guide channel, and the refrigerant flowing out of the condenser 9 at least partially flows through the heat exchange tube 31 .

[0043] In this embodiment, the refrigerant becomes a low-temperature refrigerant after the condenser 9 dissipates heat, and a path of the low-temperature refrigerant flows through the heat exchange tube 31, thereby cooling the hot air entering the housing 2. Among them, one end of the heat exchange tube 31 is connected to the outlet pipeline of the condenser 9, and the other end of the heat exchange tube 31 is connected to the inlet pipeline of the gas-liquid separator 12 of the outdoor unit. It can be understood that there is a large installation space between the electrical box 1 and the condenser 9, so the main part of the cooling device is on the back of the electrical box 1.

[0044] See also Figures 3 to 5As shown, the cooling component 3 further includes a plurality of heat exchange fins 32 , each of the heat exchange fins 32 is sleeved on the heat exchange tube 31 , and each of the heat exchange fins 32 is located in the guide channel.

[0045] In this technical solution, the heat exchange tube 31 includes an inlet section, a U-shaped bending section and an outlet section, and each heat exchange fin 32 is sleeved on the U-shaped bending section, and each heat exchange fin 32 is arranged at intervals along the width direction of the guide channel and basically covers the width direction of the guide channel. The heat exchange fin 32 can increase the heat exchange area of ​​the cooling component 3, so as to achieve a better cooling effect on the hot air.

[0046] See also Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, each heat exchange fin 32 has a downward pointed corner, and a water receiving groove 23 is formed on the housing 2, and the water receiving groove 23 is located below each pointed corner. In the process of heat exchange between hot air and the heat exchange tube 31 and each heat exchange fin 32, the hot air flow is cooled and condensation is easily generated on the heat exchange fin 32. The condensation water drips into the water receiving groove 23 under the guidance of the pointed corner of the heat exchange fin 32, so that the condensation water is collected, which can prevent the condensation water from dripping directly onto the components under the cooling device. Finally, the condensation water is drained to the chassis of the outdoor unit to achieve proper treatment of the condensation water.

[0047] See also Figure 1 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, a throttling element 10 is provided on the flow path between the condenser 9 and the heat exchange tube 31. The throttling element 10 can throttle the refrigerant flowing out of the condenser 9, thereby further cooling the refrigerant, allowing the refrigerant with a lower temperature to flow through the heat exchange tube 31, thereby better cooling the hot air entering the cooling device. Among them, the throttling element 10 can be a capillary tube or an electronic expansion valve. Preferably, the throttling element 10 is an electronic expansion valve, which can not only achieve precise control, but also control the electronic expansion valve to close when the cooling device is not needed in winter. At this time, the refrigerant does not pass through the cooling device, which can reduce unnecessary losses and improve the energy efficiency of the air conditioner.

[0048] It should be noted that in the prior art, there is also a method of cooling the electrical box 1 by using aluminum fins + air cooling. Specifically, one end of the heat dissipation fin is close to the components that need heat dissipation, and the other end is extended into the air duct of the air conditioner, and the airflow blown out by the fan is used to dissipate heat. The disadvantage of this method is that when the temperature is high in summer, the air flow temperature is also very high, and the heat dissipation effect is poor. The cooling device of the present application can be installed and used independently, that is, the electrical box 1 does not need to be provided with heat dissipation fins extending into the air duct, and mainly relies on the circulation of hot and cold air between the electrical box 1 and the cooling device to achieve heat dissipation of the whole machine, thereby improving the disadvantage of poor heat dissipation effect of air cooling when the temperature is high in summer.

[0049] The present invention also provides an air conditioner, comprising the aforementioned outdoor unit.

[0050] It is easy for those skilled in the art to understand that, without conflict, the advantageous technical features of the above-mentioned methods can be freely combined and superimposed.

[0051] The above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention shall be included in the protection scope of the present invention. The above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this technical field, several improvements and variations can be made without departing from the technical principles of the present invention, and these improvements and variations should also be regarded as the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An electrical box cooling structure, characterized in that: The invention comprises an electrical box (1) and a cooling device, wherein the cooling device is assembled outside the electrical box (1), and comprises a shell (2) and a cooling component (3). The shell (2) has a guide channel, and the cooling component (3) is at least partially located in the guide channel. The guide channel has an inlet (4) and an outlet (5). The electrical box (1) has an air outlet (6) and an air return port (8). The air outlet (6) is connected to the inlet (4), and the outlet (5) is connected to the air return port (8). Hot air in the electrical box (1) rises and enters the guide channel through the air outlet (6). The air cooled by the cooling component (3) descends and at least partially flows back to the electrical box (1) through the air return port (8) to form a circulation.

2. The electrical box cooling structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The housing (2) comprises a main body (21) and a flow guide portion (22) located on the main body (21); the flow guide portion (22) extends to a side away from the main body (21); the flow guide portion (22) is arranged to cover the air outlet (6); the side of the flow guide portion (22) facing the electrical box (1) forms the inlet (4); and the end of the main body (21) away from the flow guide portion (22) forms the outlet (5).

3. The cooling structure of the electrical box according to claim 2, characterized in that: In a direction from the side of the guide portion (22) away from the main body portion (21) to the side where the main body portion (21) is located, the space enclosed between the guide portion (22) and the electrical box (1) tends to increase.

4. The electrical box cooling structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The flow guide part (22) is sealed and buckled on the electrical appliance box (1).

5. The electrical box cooling structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air outlet (6) is formed at the top of the electrical box (1).

6. The electrical box cooling structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The position of the outlet (5) is higher than the bottom of the electrical box (1), and the outlet (5) faces downward of the electrical box (1); the air return port (8) is formed at the bottom of the electrical box (1); and / or a fan (7) is provided in the guide channel.

7. An outdoor unit, characterized in that: It comprises the electrical box cooling structure as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The outdoor unit according to claim 7, characterized in that: It also includes a condenser (9), the cooling component (3) includes a heat exchange tube (31), the heat exchange tube (31) is at least partially located in the flow guide channel, and the refrigerant flowing out of the condenser (9) at least partially flows through the heat exchange tube (31).

9. The outdoor unit according to claim 8, characterized in that: The cooling component (3) further comprises a plurality of heat exchange fins (32), each of the heat exchange fins (32) being mounted on the heat exchange tube (31), and each of the heat exchange fins (32) being located in the flow guide channel.

10. The outdoor unit according to claim 9, characterized in that: Each of the heat exchange fins (32) has a downward pointed corner, a water receiving groove (23) is formed on the shell (2), and the water receiving groove (23) is located below each of the pointed corners; and / or a throttling element (10) is provided on the flow path between the condenser (9) and the heat exchange tube (31).

11. An air conditioner, characterized by comprising the outdoor unit according to any one of claims 7 to 10.

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