Heat recycling device, heat recycling method and air conditioner

Abstract

The invention discloses a heat recycling device, a heat recycling method and an air conditioner, the heat recycling device comprises a heat collection cover, a heat conduction pipeline and a heat diffusion plate, the heat collection cover covers the outside of a compressor and is used for collecting heat generated during operation of the compressor, and the heat conduction pipeline is used for conducting heat on the heat diffusion plate; the heat conduction pipeline penetrates through the heat collection cover and extends to an air outlet of a fan of the air conditioner outdoor unit, and the heat diffusion plate is connected with the tail end of the heat conduction pipeline, arranged at the air outlet and used for diffusing conducted heat to prevent freezing. Harmful waste heat is converted into useful anti-icing energy, and the problems of high energy consumption and complex control of an electric heating scheme are solved. When the heat collecting cover achieves the heat collecting function, the heat collecting cover can play a role in blocking and absorbing part of noise. The device actively guides the heat generated by the compressor to the air outlet, not only does not hinder heat dissipation like a traditional sound insulation cover, but also provides an auxiliary heat dissipation path for the compressor, and the contradiction between noise reduction and heat dissipation is ingeniously solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of air conditioner technology, specifically relating to a heat recovery and utilization device, a heat recovery and utilization method, and an air conditioner. Background Technology

[0002] In cold northern regions, the extremely low ambient temperatures during winter make it easy for ice to form at the air outlets of air conditioners. This ice buildup severely impacts fan operation, reduces system heat exchange efficiency, and can even damage the fan. Current technology typically uses electric heating wires to directly heat the air outlets to address the icing problem, but this method is energy-intensive and requires complex control circuitry. On the other hand, the compressor, as the core noise source of the air conditioning system, disturbs users' lives. Adding soundproof enclosures or other noise reduction measures often hinders the dissipation of the large amount of heat generated during operation, causing the compressor to overheat due to heat accumulation. Existing solutions struggle to effectively suppress noise while simultaneously addressing heat dissipation, creating a conflict between noise reduction and heat dissipation. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, the present invention provides a heat recovery and utilization device, a heat recovery and utilization method, and an air conditioner, which can utilize the compressor's own waste heat and simultaneously achieve air outlet anti-icing and compressor noise reduction and cooling.

[0004] To address the aforementioned problems, according to one aspect of this application, an embodiment of the present invention provides a heat recovery and utilization device for collecting heat from a compressor and applying it to an outdoor unit of an air conditioner. The heat recovery and utilization device includes a heat collection cover, a heat-conducting pipe, and a heat diffusion plate. The heat collection cover covers the outside of the compressor and is used to collect the heat generated during compressor operation. The heat-conducting pipe passes through the heat collection cover and extends to the air outlet of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner. The heat diffusion plate is connected to the end of the heat-conducting pipe and is disposed at the air outlet to diffuse the conducted heat to prevent icing.

[0005] In some embodiments, the heat collection cover includes a heat-conducting layer, a sound-insulating layer, and a heat-insulating layer stacked sequentially from the inside to the outside; wherein the heat-conducting layer is used to absorb heat from the compressor, the sound-insulating layer is used to absorb operating noise from the compressor, and the heat-insulating layer is used to reduce heat loss to the outside.

[0006] In some embodiments, the thermally conductive layer is made of a metallic material; the sound insulation layer is made of polyurethane foam; and the thermal insulation layer is made of PE insulation material.

[0007] In some embodiments, the heat-conducting pipeline includes a spiral coil section located inside the heat collection shroud. The spiral coil section is embedded in the heat-conducting layer or closely attached to its inner surface, and forms a heat exchange interface with the heat-conducting layer.

[0008] In some embodiments, the spiral coil section has an inlet end located at the center of its spiral and an outlet end located at the outer periphery of its spiral, the inlet end and the outlet end forming a spiral flow path from the inside to the outside.

[0009] In some embodiments, the heat-conducting pipeline further includes a connecting pipe section, one end of which is connected to the spiral coil section and the other end of which is connected to the heat diffusion plate; the connecting pipe section is covered with an insulation layer.

[0010] In some embodiments, the heat diffusion plate is an aluminum plate with a downward tilt angle relative to the horizontal plane and its surface is coated with a black heat-absorbing coating; and / or the tilt angle is 15° to 30°.

[0011] In some embodiments, the heat recovery and utilization device further includes a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor. The first temperature sensor is disposed inside the heat collection hood to monitor the temperature in the compressor area, and the second temperature sensor is disposed on the heat diffusion plate to monitor the temperature in the air outlet area.

[0012] In some embodiments, the heat recovery and utilization device further includes a control unit, which is signal-connected to the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, and is configured to selectively control the heat conduction pipeline to switch between a defrosting working mode and a compressor cooling working mode based on the compressor zone temperature and the air outlet zone temperature.

[0013] In some embodiments, the control unit is further configured to: switch to the de-icing working mode when the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor is lower than the first preset temperature; and switch to the compressor cooling working mode when the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor is higher than the second preset temperature, thereby controlling the coolant to flow into the heat-conducting pipe.

[0014] According to another aspect of this application, embodiments of the present invention provide a heat recovery and utilization method, the heat recovery and utilization method employing the above-described heat recovery and utilization apparatus, comprising:

[0015] The waste heat generated during compressor operation is collected by the heat collection hood;

[0016] Monitor the temperature in the compressor area at the compressor and the temperature in the air outlet area at the fan outlet;

[0017] When the temperature in the air outlet area is lower than the first preset temperature, the waste heat is guided and diffused to the air outlet area through the heat-conducting pipe; when the temperature in the compressor area is higher than the second preset temperature, the cooling medium is introduced into the heat-conducting pipe and flows through the heat collection cover to absorb and remove the heat from the compressor.

[0018] According to another aspect of this application, an embodiment of the present invention provides an air conditioner that includes the heat recovery and utilization device described above.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the heat recovery and utilization device of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0020] The present invention provides a heat recovery and utilization device for collecting heat from a compressor and applying it to an outdoor unit of an air conditioner. The heat recovery and utilization device includes a heat collection cover, a heat conduction pipe, and a heat diffusion plate. The heat collection cover covers the outside of the compressor and is used to collect the heat generated when the compressor is running. The heat conduction pipe passes through the heat collection cover and extends to the air outlet of the fan of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner. The heat diffusion plate is connected to the end of the heat conduction pipe and is disposed at the air outlet to diffuse the conducted heat to prevent icing.

[0021] To address the issue of icing at the air outlet, this embodiment eliminates the reliance on external electric heating wires described in the background technology. Instead, it innovatively recovers and utilizes the waste heat inevitably generated during compressor operation as a free heat source. Through a series of actions—collection by a heat collection hood, heat transfer via heat-conducting pipes, and release via a heat diffusion plate—harmful waste heat is converted into useful anti-icing energy, fundamentally eliminating the high energy consumption and complex control issues of electric heating solutions. Addressing the conflict between compressor noise reduction and heat dissipation, the heat collection hood in this solution, while fulfilling its core heat collection function, functions as a protective cover over the compressor, effectively blocking and absorbing some operating noise. More importantly, this device actively and continuously guides the heat generated by the compressor to the air outlet. This not only avoids hindering heat dissipation like traditional soundproof covers but also provides an auxiliary heat dissipation path for the compressor, cleverly unifying the conflicting needs of noise reduction and heat dissipation into a simple, low-cost structure, achieving a synergistic solution.

[0022] The heat recovery and utilization method provided by the present invention is designed based on the above-mentioned heat recovery and utilization device, and its beneficial effects are the same as those of the above-mentioned heat recovery and utilization device, which will not be repeated here.

[0023] The air conditioner provided by the present invention is designed based on the above-mentioned heat recovery and utilization device, and its beneficial effects are the same as those of the above-mentioned heat recovery and utilization device, which will not be repeated here.

[0024] The above description is merely an overview of the technical solution of the present invention. In order to better understand the technical means of the present invention and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0025] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the following description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a heat recovery and utilization device applied in a compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 2 This is a longitudinal sectional view of a heat collection hood in a heat recovery and utilization device provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a heat recovery and utilization device provided in an embodiment of the present invention, showing different connecting pipe sections corresponding to different air outlets;

[0029] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A magnified view of a section at point A in the middle;

[0030] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the heat collection hood in a heat recovery and utilization device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the heat conduction pipeline in a heat recovery and utilization device provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 7 This is a schematic block diagram of a heat recovery and utilization device provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 8 This is a flowchart of a heat recovery and utilization method provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] in:

[0035] 1. Heat collection cover; 11. Heat-conducting layer; 12. Sound insulation layer; 13. Thermal insulation layer; 2. Heat-conducting pipe; 21. Spiral coil section; 22. Connecting pipe section; 211. Water inlet; 212. Water outlet; 221. Thermal insulation layer; 222. First connecting pipe section; 223. Second connecting pipe section; 3. Heat diffusion plate; 4. First temperature sensor; 5. Second temperature sensor; 6. Control unit; 7. Fan. Detailed Implementation

[0036] To further illustrate the technical means and effects adopted by the present invention to achieve the intended purpose, the specific embodiments, structures, features, and effects according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments. In the following description, different "an embodiment" or "an embodiment" do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, specific features, structures, or characteristics in one or more embodiments can be combined in any suitable form.

[0037] In the description of this invention, it should be clearly stated that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence; the terms "vertical," "lateral," "longitudinal," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "up," "down," "horizontal," etc., indicate orientation or positional relationships based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are merely for the convenience of describing this invention, and do not mean that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or position, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this invention.

[0038] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0039] Example 1

[0040] This embodiment provides a heat recovery and utilization device, such as... Figures 1-7 As shown, a heat recovery and utilization device is used to collect the heat of the compressor and apply it to the outdoor unit of the air conditioner. The heat recovery and utilization device includes a heat collection cover 1, a heat conduction pipe 2, and a heat diffusion plate 3. The heat collection cover 1 covers the outside of the compressor and is used to collect the heat generated when the compressor is running. The heat conduction pipe 2 passes through the heat collection cover 1 and extends to the air outlet of the fan 7 of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner. The heat diffusion plate 3 is connected to the end of the heat conduction pipe 2 and is set at the air outlet to diffuse the conducted heat to prevent icing.

[0041] The heat collection shroud 1 tightly encloses the exterior of the compressor, with its inner surface in direct contact with the compressor housing to establish an effective heat transfer path. The heat transfer pipe 2 penetrates the internal structure of the heat collection shroud 1, meaning a portion of its pipe is designed within the internal space of the shroud 1, allowing it to directly absorb the heat collected by the shroud 1. The other end of the heat transfer pipe 2 extends out of the heat collection shroud 1, traverses the space inside the outdoor unit of the air conditioner, and finally connects to the heat diffuser plate 3. The heat diffuser plate 3 is fixedly installed at the air outlet of the fan 7, its installation position allowing it to face or approach the airflow, and it is tightly thermally connected to the end of the heat transfer pipe 2, thus forming a complete closed heat flow channel from the heat source to the application point. The core function of the heat collection shroud 1 is as a heat capture unit of the system, efficiently collecting the waste heat generated during compressor operation through its enclosed structure and transferring this heat to the connected heat transfer pipe 2. The core function of heat-conducting pipe 2 is to serve as the system's heat transport trunk line, responsible for the directional, long-distance transmission of heat from heat collection hood 1, ensuring that heat is effectively delivered to the air outlet area requiring heating. The core function of heat diffusion plate 3 is to serve as the system's heat release and distribution terminal. It rapidly diffuses and radiates the concentrated heat delivered by heat-conducting pipe 2 through its plate-like structure, thereby increasing the ambient temperature of the entire air outlet area and ultimately preventing icing.

[0042] During system operation, the heat generated by the compressor is first captured by the heat collection shroud 1 and directed into its internal structure. Subsequently, the heat-conducting pipes 2 running through the heat collection shroud 1 absorb this heat. Due to the natural tendency of heat to flow from high-temperature to low-temperature areas, the heat continuously moves along the heat-conducting pipes 2 towards their end, namely the relatively cooler heat diffuser plate 3. Finally, the heat is transferred to the heat diffuser plate 3. Utilizing the thermal conductivity of its metallic material and its large surface area, the heat diffuser plate 3 converts the incoming heat energy into radiant and convective heat, continuously heating the cold air and metal components at the air outlet, maintaining the temperature in that area above freezing, thereby effectively preventing frost formation.

[0043] To address the issue of icing at the air outlet, this embodiment eliminates the reliance on external electric heating wires described in the background technology. Instead, it innovatively recycles the waste heat inevitably generated during compressor operation as a free heat source. Through a series of actions—collection by the heat collection hood 1, transmission through the heat conduction pipe 2, and release by the heat diffusion plate 3—harmful waste heat is converted into useful anti-icing energy, fundamentally eliminating the high energy consumption and complex control issues of electric heating solutions. Addressing the conflict between compressor noise reduction and heat dissipation, the heat collection hood 1 in this solution, while fulfilling its core heat collection function, functions as a protective cover over the compressor, effectively blocking and absorbing some operating noise. More importantly, this device actively and continuously guides the heat generated by the compressor to the air outlet. This not only avoids hindering heat dissipation like traditional soundproof covers but also provides an auxiliary heat dissipation path for the compressor, cleverly unifying the conflicting needs of noise reduction and heat dissipation into a simple, low-cost structure, achieving a synergistic solution.

[0044] In a specific embodiment, the heat collection cover 1 includes a heat-conducting layer 11, a sound-insulating layer 12, and a heat-insulating layer 13 stacked sequentially from the inside to the outside; wherein, the heat-conducting layer 11 is used to absorb the heat of the compressor, the sound-insulating layer 12 is used to absorb the operating noise of the compressor, and the heat-insulating layer 13 is used to reduce the outward loss of heat.

[0045] The heat-conducting layer 11 is located at the innermost layer, and its inner surface is constructed to directly and tightly contact the outer surface of the compressor, thereby ensuring efficient heat transfer. The sound-insulating layer 12 is firmly attached to the outside of the heat-conducting layer 11, completely covering its outer surface. Furthermore, the thermal insulation layer 13 covers and is attached to the outside of the sound-insulating layer 12, serving as the outermost layer of the entire heat collection cover 1, encapsulating the inner heat-conducting layer 11 and the sound-insulating layer 12. These three layers are tightly bonded together through processes such as bonding, pressing, or molding, forming a multi-layered composite cover structure with both thermal and acoustic functions. As the part that directly contacts the heat source, the core function of the heat-conducting layer 11 is to efficiently absorb the heat generated during the operation of the compressor and rapidly diffuse this heat laterally within its own plane, laying the foundation for subsequent heat transfer to the heat-conducting pipe 2. The core function of the sound-insulating layer 12 lies in its acoustic properties; it can effectively absorb and attenuate the mechanical noise generated by the vibration radiation of the compressor casing, blocking the outward propagation of noise, thereby improving the quietness performance of the system. The core function of the insulation layer 13 lies in its thermal insulation properties. It minimizes the heat loss from the heat-conducting layer 11 to the environment through its extremely low thermal conductivity, confining the heat energy inside the device as much as possible and guiding it to the preset transmission path, namely the heat-conducting pipe 2, thereby ensuring the efficiency of the heat recovery system.

[0046] When the heat-conducting layer 11, the sound-insulating layer 12, and the thermal insulation layer 13 work together, they transform the heat collection shroud 1 from a simple physical enclosure into a highly efficient, multifunctional energy management unit. During system operation, the heat generated by the compressor is quickly captured and diffused by the heat-conducting layer 11, while the noise waves generated are absorbed as they propagate to the sound-insulating layer 12, where their porous or flexible structure converts them into minute amounts of heat energy. The thermal insulation layer 13 forms an effective thermal barrier on the outermost layer, preventing the collected heat from dissipating into the surrounding cold air through convection and radiation, forcing the heat to flow more concentratedly to the connected heat-conducting pipe 2. The structure provided in this embodiment greatly improves the efficiency of waste heat collection and transport, providing a sufficient and stable heat source for air outlet anti-icing; secondly, it significantly reduces the noise interference caused to users by the compressor's operation; finally, it cleverly unifies the originally contradictory needs of noise reduction and thermal insulation. While achieving noise reduction, its thermal insulation function not only does not cause the compressor to overheat, but also indirectly assists in the compressor's heat dissipation management by guiding the directional transfer of heat.

[0047] In a specific embodiment, the heat-conducting layer 11 is made of a metal material; the sound-insulating layer 12 is made of polyurethane foam; and the heat-insulating layer 13 is made of PE heat-insulating material.

[0048] The heat-conducting layer 11 is made of a metallic material, specifically a metal with high thermal conductivity such as aluminum alloy. Its effect is to rapidly and uniformly diffuse the heat gained from the contact point with the compressor across its entire surface, thus providing the heat-conducting pipe 2 with a large area and uniform temperature distribution of a high-temperature heat source surface, greatly improving heat capture and initial conduction efficiency. The sound-insulating layer 12 is made of polyurethane foam, a flexible polymer material filled with fine pores. Its effect is that when the vibration noise of the compressor propagates to this layer, the sound waves undergo multiple reflections and friction within its porous structure, effectively converting sound energy into a small amount of heat energy and consuming it, significantly attenuating noise transmission and achieving excellent sound insulation and noise reduction functions. The insulation layer 13 is made of PE insulation material, a closed-cell plastic foam with extremely low thermal conductivity. Its effect is to maximally block heat loss from the heat-conducting layer 11 through the sound-insulating layer 12 into the surrounding air, acting as a thermal barrier to firmly lock the collected heat energy inside the device. This ensures that the heat is directed to the intended anti-icing purpose to the maximum extent, rather than being wasted, thus fundamentally guaranteeing the energy efficiency of the entire heat recovery system. The combination of these three specific materials is not a simple superposition, but rather produces a synergistic enhancement effect: the metal heat-conducting layer 11 ensures efficient heat collection and lateral transfer; the polyurethane foam sound-insulating layer 12, while fulfilling its primary task of noise reduction, also provides some insulation due to its porous structure; and the PE insulation layer 13 ultimately ensures the directional transmission of heat flow. The combined effect of these three materials enables the heat collection hood 1 to simultaneously achieve the triple technical effects of efficient heat collection, significant noise reduction, and energy-saving insulation, solving the technical problem of the contradiction between noise reduction and heat dissipation in traditional solutions.

[0049] In a specific embodiment, the heat-conducting pipe 2 includes a spiral coil section 21 located inside the heat collection cover 1. The spiral coil section 21 is embedded in the heat-conducting layer 11 or closely attached to its inner surface, and forms a heat exchange interface with the heat-conducting layer 11.

[0050] The spiral coil section 21 is a segment of the heat-conducting pipe 2 that is pre-bent into a continuous spiral or vortex structure. This section of pipe is specifically arranged and fixed inside the cavity of the heat collection shroud 1. Its integration with the heat-conducting layer 11 offers two efficient implementation paths: one is to completely embed the spiral coil section 21 into the metal substrate of the heat-conducting layer 11 through casting or press-fitting processes, thereby achieving a solid-state metal-metal fusion connection; the other is to tightly attach and fix the spiral coil section 21 to the inner surface of the heat-conducting layer 11 through brazing or high thermal conductivity adhesive processes, ensuring that there are no air gaps between it and the heat-conducting layer 11. Regardless of the method used, the core is that a large and continuous heat exchange interface is formed between the entire outer surface of the spiral coil section 21 and the metal material of the heat-conducting layer 11. This specific structure produces several significant technical benefits: First, the spiral shape greatly extends the effective contact length between the pipe and the heat source, i.e., the heat-conducting layer 11, compared to a single straight pipe, thereby maximizing the heat exchange area. This allows heat to be rapidly and fully captured from the vast surface of the heat-conducting layer 11 and transferred into the working fluid inside the pipe. Second, the embedded or tightly attached integration method eliminates traditional contact thermal resistance, establishing an extremely low thermal resistance heat transfer channel from the heat-conducting layer 11 to the working fluid inside the pipe, ensuring rapid heat transfer. Finally, this design ensures that the waste heat generated during compressor operation can be collected with extremely high efficiency and initiate the transfer process, providing a sufficient and stable heat source for the anti-icing function of the entire system, fundamentally improving the efficiency and reliability of the heat recovery and utilization device.

[0051] In a specific embodiment, the spiral coil section 21 has an inlet end 211 located at the center of its spiral and an outlet end 212 located on the outer periphery of its spiral, the inlet end 211 and the outlet end 212 forming a spiral flow path from the inside to the outside.

[0052] The spiral coil section 21, as a complete fluid channel, has its two ports positioned specifically in its geometry: the inlet 211 is precisely located at the geometric center of the spiral structure, while the outlet 212 is correspondingly positioned at the outermost end of the spiral. This arrangement is not arbitrary but deliberately constructs a clear, continuous spiral flow path extending from the spiral center to the outer periphery. When the cooling medium, such as water, is introduced into the pipe, its flow is no longer chaotic or directionless but is forcibly guided by the pipe shape. After being injected from the central inlet 211, it must flow from the inside out along a pre-set, gradually expanding spiral trajectory, circle after circle, finally exiting from the outlet 212 at the outer periphery. This specific flow path design produces a crucial technical effect: it creates a counter-current heat exchange model that is highly coordinated with the heat source distribution. The cooling medium begins its flow journey from the relatively cooler central region of the spiral. As it flows through each spiral loop, it continuously absorbs heat transferred from the surrounding heat-conducting layer 11, causing its own temperature to steadily increase in a gradient. Since the pipes spiral from the inside out, and the cooling medium also flows from the inside out, this means that the freshest cooling medium, at its lowest temperature, is always in contact with and absorbs heat from the relatively cooler central region of the spiral, while the medium that has heated up and whose heat absorption capacity has decreased flows to the warmer outer peripheral region. This maximizes the average temperature difference between the cooling medium and the heat-conducting layer 11, which is the fundamental driving force of heat transfer. This design greatly enhances the intensity and uniformity of heat exchange, avoids localized overheating or insufficient heat exchange, and ensures that every section of the pipe participates in efficient heat exchange. This allows for the rapid and stable removal of excess heat accumulated in the heat-conducting layer 11 with maximum efficiency, providing an extremely reliable and efficient execution structure for the compressor overheat protection function of the entire system.

[0053] In a specific embodiment, the heat-conducting pipe 2 further includes a connecting pipe section 22, one end of which is connected to the spiral coil pipe section 21, and the other end is connected to the heat diffusion plate 3; the connecting pipe section 22 is covered with an insulation layer 221. Additionally, as... Figure 3 As shown, when the compressor has two fans 7, two connecting pipe sections 22 extend from the spiral coil section 21, namely the first connecting pipe section 222 and the second connecting pipe section 223. The first connecting pipe section 222 and the second connecting pipe section 223 act on the corresponding fans 7 through the heat diffusion plate 3.

[0054] Functionally, the heat-conducting pipe 2 is divided into two sections: a spiral coil section 21 responsible for efficient heat absorption, and a connecting pipe section 22 responsible for heat transfer. The connecting pipe section 22, as a straight pipe or a pipe with a specific orientation, has one end connected to the outlet end 212 of the spiral coil section 21 via welding or threaded connection, achieving a sealed and low-thermal-resistance connection. Its other end is connected to the distant heat diffusion plate 3 in the same manner, thus mechanically and thermally bridging the heat collection shroud 1 and the heat diffusion plate 3, forming a complete heat transfer channel. Furthermore, this embodiment emphasizes that the entire connecting pipe section 22 is covered with a continuous insulation layer 221. This insulation layer 221 is typically made of low thermal conductivity materials such as rubber and plastic insulation cotton, completely enclosing the outer wall of the pipe and isolating it from the external ambient air. This specific structure produces crucial technical effects: the connecting pipe section 22 undertakes the core task of long-distance transmission of absorbed heat, while the outer insulation layer 221 provides fundamental assurance for its efficient completion of this task. It significantly reduces heat loss during transmission, which typically occurs through convection, radiation, and conduction between the exposed metal pipe wall and the outside cold air. The insulation layer 221 acts like a heat-insulating sleeve, effectively blocking these unintended heat loss paths and ensuring that the valuable heat collected from the heat collection hood 1 is maximally transferred to the heat diffuser plate 3, rather than being wasted during transmission. This directly improves the overall system's thermal efficiency, allowing the heat diffuser plate 3 to obtain sufficient heat to effectively prevent icing at the air outlet, achieving the energy-saving design goal. Simultaneously, this insulation design also prevents high-temperature pipes from causing thermal damage to other plastic or electronic components inside the outdoor unit, improving the system's safety and reliability.

[0055] In a specific embodiment, the heat diffusion plate 3 is an aluminum plate with a downward tilt angle relative to the horizontal plane and its surface is coated with a black heat-absorbing coating; and / or the tilt angle is 15° to 30°.

[0056] The heat diffusion plate 3 is made of aluminum, meaning it is made of aluminum alloy, a metal that combines excellent thermal conductivity, lightweight, and a certain structural strength. Its effect is to rapidly conduct the concentrated heat from the heat pipes 2 laterally within its surface, eliminating localized hotspots and achieving uniform temperature distribution, thus laying the foundation for subsequent efficient heat radiation and convection heat transfer. Its installation position is designed with a downward tilt relative to the horizontal surface, indicating that the aluminum plate is not installed horizontally but intentionally tilted so that its surface faces downwards or diagonally downwards towards the air outlet area. This allows the heat radiated by the heat diffusion plate 3, and the hot airflow generated after heating the surrounding air, to act more concentratedly and directly on the air outlet of the fan 7—the critical area most prone to icing—greatly enhancing the targeting and efficiency of anti-icing measures and reducing heat loss into unused upward spaces. Furthermore, its surface is coated with a black heat-absorbing coating, which has a high surface thermal emissivity and absorptivity. Its effect is twofold: on the one hand, it enhances the plate's ability to absorb heat from the heat-conducting pipe 2 and reduces contact thermal resistance; on the other hand, and more importantly, it greatly improves the efficiency of the plate in radiating heat energy to the outside in a low-temperature environment, because according to the principle of blackbody radiation, a black surface has the strongest radiation capacity at the same temperature, which can accelerate the melting of frost and prevent condensation.

[0057] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the specific numerical range of the tilt angle is limited to 15° to 30°. This angle range is not arbitrarily set, but is the result of optimization based on the characteristics of hot air flow and engineering practice. More specifically, if the tilt angle is too small, the guidance of hot airflow and radiant heat is insufficient, the effect is close to that of a horizontal plate, and it is difficult to concentrate the coverage of the air outlet; if the tilt angle is too large, although the guidance is strong, it may cause the heat diffuser plate 3 to block too much space above, affecting the air intake of the fan or limiting the installation space. The tilt angle of 15° to 30° has proven to be an ideal range. It can ensure that the heat flow generated by the heat diffuser plate 3 is effectively directionally guided to the air outlet area to achieve efficient anti-icing, while perfectly taking into account the limited space layout constraints inside the air conditioner outdoor unit, avoiding interference with rotating parts such as fan blades, and ensuring the structural rationality and operational safety of the system. This specific angle range optimizes the balance between thermal management performance and mechanical design.

[0058] In a specific embodiment, the heat recovery and utilization device further includes a first temperature sensor 4 and a second temperature sensor 5. The first temperature sensor 4 is disposed inside the heat collection cover 1 to monitor the temperature of the compressor area, and the second temperature sensor 5 is disposed on the heat diffusion plate 3 to monitor the temperature of the air outlet area.

[0059] The first temperature sensor 4 is located inside the heat collection shroud 1, with its sensor probe directly exposed to the air within this sealed space. It continuously and directly monitors the ambient temperature adjacent to the compressor surface, accurately reflecting the compressor's operating thermal state. The second temperature sensor 5 is mounted on the surface of the heat diffuser plate 3, with its sensor probe maintaining close thermal contact with the metal plate. It continuously monitors the real-time temperature of the heat diffuser plate 3 itself, directly characterizing the anti-icing heating effect in the air vent area. The placement of these two sensors has been carefully chosen, located at the beginning and end of the heat flow path, respectively, enabling precise capture of the thermal state information of the two most critical components of the system.

[0060] The design of this embodiment yields a crucial technical effect: it transforms the entire heat recovery and utilization device from a passive, continuously operating thermal management structure into a perceptible, judgmental, and responsive intelligent proactive system. By continuously monitoring the temperature inside the heat collection hood 1, the system can obtain direct data on whether the compressor is overheating and whether the waste heat is sufficient, providing the sole decision-making basis for determining whether to activate the auxiliary cooling function. Simultaneously, by continuously monitoring the temperature of the heat diffusion plate 3, the system can obtain real-time information on the anti-icing status of the air outlet area, accurately determining whether the current heat is sufficient or whether more heat needs to be channeled to prevent icing. These two temperature signals together constitute the core input parameters of the system control logic, enabling subsequent automated control, such as prioritizing anti-icing when heat is sufficient, activating heat dissipation when the compressor is overheating, or entering a low-power state when the temperature is suitable. Ultimately, it achieves on-demand allocation and precise management of thermal energy, maximizing the energy utilization efficiency and operational economy of the entire system while ensuring the reliability of core functions.

[0061] In a specific embodiment, the heat recovery and utilization device further includes a control unit 6, which is connected to the first temperature sensor 4 and the second temperature sensor 5 and is configured to selectively control the heat conduction pipeline 2 to switch between the de-icing working mode and the compressor cooling working mode based on the compressor area temperature and the air outlet area temperature.

[0062] The control unit 6, acting as a central processing module, establishes a bidirectional communication connection with the first temperature sensor 4 and the second temperature sensor 5 via signal lines, continuously receiving real-time temperature data from these two key monitoring points. Its core function lies in its internally pre-configured control logic, which analyzes and judges the received temperature signals and, based on this, issues commands to uniquely control the heat conduction pipe 2 to switch between two distinct operating modes: one is a de-icing mode, in which the system prioritizes heat transfer to the heat diffuser plate 3 to prevent icing at the air outlet; the other is a compressor cooling mode, in which the system prioritizes using the heat conduction pipe 2 as a cooling channel, introducing a fluid to remove excess heat from the heat collection shroud 1 to cool the compressor. Crucially, these two modes are selectively operated, meaning the system can only actively run one mode at a time, thus avoiding functional conflicts and chaotic energy distribution.

[0063] In this embodiment, the control unit 6 continuously compares the temperature of the compressor area and the temperature of the air outlet area to determine whether the most urgent need of the system is anti-icing or cooling. For example, when the second temperature sensor 5 detects that the temperature of the air outlet area is too low and there is a risk of icing, the control unit 6 can prioritize maintaining the de-icing mode even if the temperature of the compressor area is high, ensuring the safe operation of the fan. Conversely, when the first temperature sensor 4 detects that the temperature of the compressor area is too high and may trigger overheat protection, the control unit 6 can decisively switch to the compressor cooling mode, prioritizing the safety of the core equipment compressor even if de-icing is still required. This selective control strategy based on real-time temperature feedback achieves on-demand, precise, and dynamic allocation of limited thermal energy. It ensures that the system always responds to the most urgent needs, not only maximizing the utilization of waste heat energy and achieving extremely high energy efficiency, but more importantly, it automatically solves the problem of anti-icing and cooling, which are difficult to balance in traditional solutions, within a simple integrated device without complex external intervention. This greatly improves the reliability, automation, and user experience of the entire air conditioning system in harsh environments.

[0064] In a specific embodiment, the control unit is further configured to: switch to the de-icing working mode when the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor 5 is lower than the first preset temperature; and switch to the compressor cooling working mode when the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor 4 is higher than the second preset temperature, thereby controlling the coolant to flow into the heat-conducting pipe 2.

[0065] The control unit 6 has two preset core judgment conditions and their corresponding response actions: The first condition is that when the temperature of the air outlet area detected by the second temperature sensor 5 is lower than the first preset temperature, the control unit 6 will immediately respond and switch the system's working state to the de-icing working mode; the second condition is that when the temperature of the compressor area detected by the first temperature sensor 4 is higher than the second preset temperature, the control unit 6 will immediately respond and switch the system's working state to the compressor cooling working mode. In this mode, it will actively issue a command to control an external valve or pump to allow coolant to flow into and through the heat conduction pipe 2.

[0066] The first preset temperature, typically set below freezing (e.g., 0 degrees Celsius), serves as an early warning signal. Once the second temperature sensor 5 detects this low-temperature risk, the control unit 6 knows there is an imminent threat of icing at the air outlet and prioritizes the de-icing mode to direct heat away from the outlet, preventing potential problems. The second preset temperature, typically set near the upper limit of the compressor's allowable operating temperature (e.g., 80 to 90 degrees Celsius), serves as an overheat protection signal. Once the first temperature sensor 4 detects this high temperature, the control unit 6 knows that compressor safety has become the top priority and decisively interrupts simple heat recovery, switching to a cooling mode. This mode utilizes the flow of coolant in the heat-conducting pipe 2 to forcibly remove excess heat, acting as an "emergency radiator" for the compressor. This selective control based on a defined threshold ensures that the system can always automatically and decisively respond optimally to the most urgent operating conditions. It not only achieves fully automated operation without human intervention, but more importantly, it maximizes equipment safety through precise decision-making logic. It prevents fans from being damaged by icing and compressors from shutting down due to overheating. At the same time, it gives a physical piping system two completely different but important functions through intelligent control, greatly improving the adaptability and economy of the entire system.

[0067] The complete working process of the heat recovery and utilization device in this embodiment is an intelligent and automated thermal management cycle based on temperature feedback.

[0068] After the system starts, the compressor begins to run and generate heat. At this time, the heat collection cover 1 immediately begins to work. Its innermost metal heat-conducting layer 11 efficiently absorbs the heat from the compressor surface, the middle polyurethane foam sound insulation layer 12 simultaneously attenuates the operating noise of the compressor, and the outer PE insulation layer 13 minimizes heat loss to the environment, forcing the heat to be conducted inward. This collected heat is quickly transferred to the spiral coil section 21 tightly integrated on the heat-conducting layer 11. This coil efficiently transfers the heat energy into its internal working fluid through its large contact area. Under normal circumstances, the system is in heat recovery mode, and the absorbed heat is transferred through the connecting pipe section 22. The insulation layer 221 covering this pipe section ensures that the heat is not lost during the transmission process, and finally the heat is delivered to the heat diffusion plate 3 located at the air outlet. The aluminum heat diffusion plate 3 diffuses heat evenly due to its excellent thermal conductivity. Its black heat-absorbing coating enhances heat radiation efficiency, while its downward tilt angle of 15° to 30° concentrates heat and directs it to the fan outlet area, effectively raising the temperature of that area and preventing frost formation.

[0069] The entire process relies on a temperature monitoring system. The first temperature sensor 4 continuously monitors the temperature of the compressor area inside the heat collection shroud 1, while the second temperature sensor 5 continuously monitors the temperature of the air outlet area on the heat diffuser plate 3, transmitting the data to the control unit 6 in real time. The control unit 6, acting as the brain, makes judgments and issues commands based on preset logic. When the second temperature sensor 5 detects a temperature lower than the first preset temperature, indicating a risk of icing at the air outlet, the control unit 6 maintains or switches to the de-icing mode, prioritizing the use of system heat for anti-icing. When the first temperature sensor 4 detects a temperature higher than the second preset temperature, indicating that compressor overheating is the primary concern, the control unit 6 selectively switches to the compressor cooling mode. In this mode, it controls the external valve to open, allowing coolant to flow in from the inlet 211 at the center of the spiral coil section 21, flowing from the inside to the outside along the spiral path. After fully absorbing the accumulated heat in the heat-conducting layer 11, it flows out from the outlet 212 on its outer periphery, thus carrying away excess heat. The connecting pipe section 22 serves as the coolant outlet channel in this mode. This series of actions ensures timely cooling of the compressor. Once the temperature returns to normal, control unit 6 switches modes again.

[0070] This embodiment utilizes a selectable control strategy based on real-time temperature sensing to automatically realize the dual functions of waste heat recovery for anti-icing and emergency cooling of the compressor, efficiently and reliably resolving the contradiction between noise reduction and heat dissipation, and between anti-icing and energy consumption in traditional solutions.

[0071] Example 2

[0072] This embodiment provides a heat recovery and utilization method, which employs the heat recovery and utilization device described in Embodiment 1, such as... Figure 8 As shown, it includes:

[0073] The waste heat generated during compressor operation is collected through the heat collection hood 1;

[0074] Monitor the temperature in the compressor area at the compressor and the temperature in the air outlet area at the fan outlet;

[0075] When the temperature in the air outlet area is lower than the first preset temperature, the waste heat is guided and diffused to the air outlet area through the heat conduction pipe 2; when the temperature in the compressor area is higher than the second preset temperature, the cooling medium is introduced into the heat conduction pipe 2 and flows through the heat collection cover 1 to absorb and remove the heat from the compressor.

[0076] The method provided in this embodiment begins by collecting waste heat generated during compressor operation through a heat collection hood 1. This utilizes its multi-layered composite structure, with an inner metal heat-conducting layer 11 efficiently capturing heat, a middle sound-insulating layer 12 absorbing noise, and an outer heat-insulating layer 13 preventing heat loss, thereby concentrating the waste heat inside the device. The core of the method lies in continuously monitoring the temperature at two key locations: the compressor area temperature at the compressor and the air outlet area temperature at the fan outlet. This is typically performed by a first temperature sensor 4 and a second temperature sensor 5, respectively located inside the heat collection hood 1 and on the heat diffusion plate 3, providing a real-time data basis for subsequent decision-making. The control logic of the method is reflected in two conditional branches that can be triggered in either direction: When the temperature in the air outlet area is detected to be lower than the first preset temperature, the system executes the de-icing procedure. At this time, the heat gathered in the heat collection shroud 1 is allowed to be directionally transferred through the heat conduction pipe 2, and finally the heat diffuser plate 3 at the end diffuses the heat to the air outlet area, thereby raising the temperature there and preventing icing. When the temperature in the compressor area is detected to be higher than the second preset temperature, the system prioritizes the compressor protection procedure. At this time, the cooling medium is controlled to flow into the heat conduction pipe 2 and flow through the spiral coil section 21 inside the heat collection shroud 1. The high specific heat capacity of the cooling medium absorbs and removes the accumulated excess heat, thereby cooling the compressor. When the temperature in the compressor area is not higher than the second preset temperature and remains so for a fixed period of time, such as ten minutes, the water valve is closed and the water in the spiral coil section 21 is drained.

[0077] This embodiment employs an intelligent control strategy to provide a single device with two distinct operating modes, thereby completely resolving the fundamental contradiction of balancing anti-icing and cooling in traditional technologies at the system level. Its effectiveness is first reflected in its extremely high energy efficiency. It prioritizes utilizing the system's own waste heat resources to meet the primary requirement of anti-icing, only activating active cooling when absolutely necessary, achieving true energy savings. Second, its effectiveness lies in complete automation and intelligence. Through continuous temperature monitoring and clear logical judgment, the method enables the system to autonomously, promptly, and accurately switch between the two key functions without manual intervention, greatly improving equipment reliability and user experience. Finally, this method creatively unifies contradictory goals: it achieves efficient anti-icing by guiding heat and emergency cooling by guiding the cooling medium, while the heat collection hood 1 structure continuously provides noise reduction during the process. Thus, in a low-cost, integrated solution, it simultaneously achieves multiple advantages such as energy saving, anti-icing, noise reduction, and equipment protection—something traditional single-function solutions cannot achieve.

[0078] Example 3

[0079] This embodiment provides an air conditioner, which includes the heat recovery and utilization device described in Embodiment 1.

[0080] This embodiment integrates the heat recovery and utilization device described in Embodiment 1 into the air conditioner, enabling the air conditioner to utilize the compressor's own waste heat for air outlet anti-icing. At the same time, the heat collection cover 1 of the device also has a sound insulation and noise reduction function, thereby improving the overall reliability, energy efficiency and quietness of the air conditioner during cold winter operation.

[0081] In summary, it is readily understood by those skilled in the art that, without conflict, the aforementioned advantageous technical features can be freely combined and superimposed.

[0082] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. A heat recovery and utilization device, characterized in that, The heat recovery and utilization device is used to collect heat from the compressor and apply it to the outdoor unit of the air conditioner. It includes a heat collection cover, a heat conduction pipe, and a heat diffusion plate. The heat collection cover covers the outside of the compressor and is used to collect the heat generated when the compressor is running. The heat conduction pipe passes through the heat collection cover and extends to the air outlet of the fan of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner. The heat diffusion plate is connected to the end of the heat conduction pipe and is set at the air outlet to diffuse the conducted heat to prevent icing.

2. The heat recovery and utilization device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat collection cover includes a heat-conducting layer, a sound-insulating layer, and a heat-insulating layer stacked sequentially from the inside to the outside; wherein, the heat-conducting layer is used to absorb heat from the compressor, the sound-insulating layer is used to absorb operating noise from the compressor, and the heat-insulating layer is used to reduce heat loss to the outside.

3. The heat recovery and utilization device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The thermally conductive layer is made of metal; the sound insulation layer is made of polyurethane foam; and the thermal insulation layer is made of PE insulation material.

4. The heat recovery and utilization device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The heat-conducting pipeline includes a spiral coil section located inside the heat collection shroud. The spiral coil section is embedded in the heat-conducting layer or closely attached to its inner surface, and forms a heat exchange interface with the heat-conducting layer.

5. The heat recovery and utilization device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The spiral coil section has an inlet end located at the center of its spiral and an outlet end located on the outer periphery of its spiral, the inlet end and the outlet end forming a spiral flow path from the inside to the outside.

6. The heat recovery and utilization device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The heat-conducting pipeline also includes a connecting pipe section, one end of which is connected to the spiral coil section and the other end of which is connected to the heat diffusion plate; the connecting pipe section is covered with an insulation layer.

7. The heat recovery and utilization device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat diffusion plate is an aluminum plate with a downward tilt angle relative to the horizontal plane and its surface is coated with a black heat-absorbing coating; and / or the tilt angle is 15° to 30°.

8. The heat recovery and utilization device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat recovery and utilization device further includes a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor. The first temperature sensor is disposed inside the heat collection hood to monitor the temperature of the compressor area, and the second temperature sensor is disposed on the heat diffusion plate to monitor the temperature of the air outlet area.

9. The heat recovery and utilization device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The heat recovery and utilization device also includes a control unit, which is connected to the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor and is configured to selectively control the heat conduction pipeline to switch between the de-icing working mode and the compressor cooling working mode based on the compressor area temperature and the air outlet area temperature.

10. The heat recovery and utilization device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The control unit is also configured to: switch to the de-icing working mode when the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor is lower than the first preset temperature; and switch to the compressor cooling working mode when the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor is higher than the second preset temperature, controlling the coolant to flow into the heat-conducting pipe.

11. A method for heat recovery and utilization, characterized in that, The heat recovery and utilization method employs the heat recovery and utilization device according to any one of claims 1-10, comprising: The waste heat generated during compressor operation is collected by the heat collection hood; Monitor the temperature in the compressor area at the compressor and the temperature in the air outlet area at the fan outlet; When the temperature in the air outlet area is lower than the first preset temperature, the waste heat is guided and diffused to the air outlet area through the heat-conducting pipe; when the temperature in the compressor area is higher than the second preset temperature, the cooling medium is introduced into the heat-conducting pipe and flows through the heat collection cover to absorb and remove the heat from the compressor.

12. An air conditioner, characterized in that, The air conditioner includes the heat recovery and utilization device according to any one of claims 1-10.

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