Air conditioner

Abstract

The utility model discloses an air conditioner, and belongs to the technical field of air conditioners. The air conditioner comprises an electrical box assembly, the electrical box assembly comprises an electrical box, one side wall of the electrical box is a back plate, the back plate is provided with a refrigerant flow channel, the refrigerant flow channel is communicated with a refrigerant loop of the air conditioner, and the area, provided with the refrigerant flow channel, of the back plate is a cooling area; the space in the electrical box is divided into a first space and a second space by the middle partition plate, the second space is the space between the middle partition plate and the back plate, and the first space is communicated with the second space; the electrical part is connected to the middle partition plate and located in the first space, and the electrical part generates heat during operation; and the cooling area is used for absorbing heat in the electrical box when a refrigerant flows in the refrigerant flow channel. The air conditioner can reduce the size of the electrical box.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of air treatment, and in particular to an air conditioner. Background Art

[0002] The electrical box is an important control component of the air conditioner. The high-power devices such as the power module in the electrical box generate a lot of heat and require a heat dissipation structure to ensure normal operation.

[0003] In the prior art, a refrigerant radiator is usually installed inside the electrical box to dissipate heat for the power devices. To further enhance reliability, the electrical box can be designed as a sealed structure, and a cooling fan and circulating air duct are designed inside the electrical box to reduce the air temperature inside the electrical box.

[0004] The above heat dissipation systems are costly and require a certain amount of space inside the electrical box. In addition, the radiator inside the electrical box has the risk of condensation, which may cause risks such as short circuits to surrounding electrical components. Utility Model Content

[0005] The present application provides an air conditioner that can reduce the volume of an electrical box and prevent condensation hazards.

[0006] In one aspect of the present application, an air conditioner comprises: an electrical box assembly; the electrical box assembly comprises: an electrical box, one side wall of which is a back plate, a refrigerant flow channel is provided on the back plate, the refrigerant flow channel is connected to the refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner, and the area on the back plate where the refrigerant flow channel is provided is a cooling area; electrical components are provided in the electrical box and are not in contact with the back plate, and the electrical components generate heat during operation; the cooling area is used to absorb heat in the electrical box when refrigerant circulates in the refrigerant flow channel.

[0007] In this application, a refrigerant flow channel is provided on a side wall of the electrical box for circulating refrigerant. By allowing low-temperature refrigerant to flow through the channel, heat can be dissipated from the electrical box. Compared to the related art, which involves installing a refrigerant radiator within the electrical box, the present application omits the refrigerant radiator and instead provides the refrigerant flow channel on the side wall of the electrical box, significantly reducing the size of the electrical box.

[0008] A refrigerant flow channel is provided on the back plate of the electrical box so that the electrical components do not contact the back plate, thereby preventing condensation from affecting the electrical components. Moreover, the back plate is a side wall of the electrical box, which facilitates the condensation to flow out of the electrical box from the back plate.

[0009] On the other hand, the present application provides an air conditioner, comprising: an electrical box assembly, comprising: an electrical box, one side wall of which is a back plate, a refrigerant flow channel is provided on the back plate, the refrigerant flow channel is connected to the refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner, and the area on the back plate where the refrigerant flow channel is provided is a cooling area; a middle partition, which divides the space in the electrical box into a first space and a second space, the second space is the space between the middle partition and the back plate, and the first space and the second space are connected; an electrical component, which is connected to the middle partition and is located in the first space, and the electrical component generates heat when in operation; the cooling area is used to absorb heat in the electrical box when refrigerant circulates in the refrigerant flow channel.

[0010] In this application, a middle partition is set in the electrical box, and a second space is formed between the middle partition and the back plate. The middle partition can be used to fix and install electrical components. The middle partition and the second space separate the electrical components and the back plate at a certain distance from each other, which can prevent condensation on the back plate from flowing onto the electrical components.

[0011] In some embodiments, the first space and the second space are arranged horizontally; the upper parts of the first space and the second space are connected through a first connecting part; the lower parts of the first space and the second space are connected through a second connecting part; the first connecting part allows the air with heat in the first space to flow to the second space; the second connecting part allows the air in the second space that is cooled by the cooling area to flow to the first space.

[0012] In the present application, the characteristics of hot air flowing upward and cold air sinking downward are utilized to connect the top and bottom of the first space and the second space. In this way, the hot air in the first space can enter the second space from the top, and the cold air in the second space can flow into the first space from the bottom, which is conducive to forming an air convection circulation between the first space and the second space, so as to improve the cooling effect of the cooling area on the air in the electrical box.

[0013] In some embodiments, the first connecting portion is a plurality of heat dissipation holes, and the second connecting portion is an opening portion having an area larger than the heat dissipation holes.

[0014] In the present application, the provision of multiple heat dissipation holes allows the hot air to disperse and flow to the second space, and the dispersed hot air can fully contact the back plate, thereby improving the cooling effect of the cooling area on the air in the electrical box.

[0015] In some embodiments, the refrigerant flow path includes: a refrigerant main path, whose two ends serve as a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet respectively; an evaporation flow path connected to the refrigerant main path, and the flow cross-sectional area of the evaporation flow path is larger than that of the refrigerant main path.

[0016] In the present application, the refrigerant flow channel includes a refrigerant main path connected to the refrigerant circuit, and an evaporation flow channel connected to the refrigerant main path. The flow cross-sectional area of the evaporation flow channel is larger than that of the refrigerant main path. When the refrigerant flows from the refrigerant main path into the evaporation flow channel, the volume of the flow channel increases and the pressure decreases, and the refrigerant evaporates and absorbs heat, which can improve the heat absorption effect of the refrigerant flow channel.

[0017] In some embodiments, the area on the back plate where the evaporation channel is provided is the evaporation area;

[0018] The electrical box assembly also includes: a heat conductor connected to the back plate corresponding to the evaporation area; the heat conductor contacts the middle partition and is used to conduct the heat conducted from the electrical component to the middle partition to the evaporation area; or, the heat conductor contacts at least partially with the electrical component and is used to conduct the heat generated by the electrical component to the evaporation area.

[0019] In the present application, a heat conductor is arranged between the middle partition and the evaporation area of the back plate, and the heat conductor can conduct the heat conducted from the electrical components to the middle partition and further conduct it to the evaporation area; the heat conductor is arranged between the electrical components and the evaporation area, and the heat conductor can conduct the heat generated by the electrical components to the evaporation area, thereby accelerating the heat dissipation efficiency of the electrical components through heat conduction.

[0020] In some embodiments, the evaporation channel includes a first evaporation channel; the area on the back plate where the first evaporation channel is provided is the first evaporation area;

[0021] The electrical components include: a first electrical component, which is in contact with and connected to the middle partition;

[0022] The electrical box assembly further includes a thermal pad corresponding to the first electrical component and contactingly connected between the middle partition and the first evaporation region, for conducting heat generated by the first electrical component to the first evaporation region.

[0023] In the present application, the heat generated by the first electrical component can be conducted to the first evaporation area through the middle partition and the thermal pad, which is beneficial to improving the heat dissipation efficiency of the first electrical component.

[0024] In some embodiments, the refrigerant flow channel includes a second evaporation flow channel located on the inflow side of the first evaporation flow channel; the area on the back plate where the second evaporation flow channel is located is a second evaporation area;

[0025] The electrical component includes: a driving board assembly having a power module; a module heat sink, whose opposite sides are respectively in contact with the power module and the second evaporation area, and is used to conduct heat generated by the power module to the second evaporation area.

[0026] In the present application, the evaporation channel includes a first evaporation channel and a second evaporation channel. The second evaporation channel is located on the inflow side of the first evaporation channel. The power module with high heat generation transfers heat to the second evaporation channel through the module radiator, and the first electrical component with lower heat generation transfers heat to the first evaporation channel through the middle partition and the thermal pad, which can meet the heat dissipation requirements of the electrical components and improve the heat dissipation efficiency.

[0027] In some embodiments, at least one dividing rib is provided in the evaporation flow channel to divide the evaporation flow channel into a plurality of flow paths.

[0028] In this application, the dividing ribs branch the evaporation flow channel into multiple flow channels, and the refrigerant flows in the multiple flow channel branches, which can improve the uniformity of the refrigerant in the evaporation flow channel and ensure the low temperature effect of each part of the evaporation flow channel.

[0029] In some embodiments, the back plate includes an inner plate and an outer plate both made of metal; a first groove is provided on the inner plate, and a second groove is provided on the outer plate, and the first groove and the second groove form a refrigerant flow channel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of an air conditioner according to some embodiments;

[0031] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to some embodiments;

[0032] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of an electrical box assembly of an air conditioner according to some embodiments;

[0033] Figure 4 shows an internal structural diagram of an electrical box assembly of an air conditioner according to some embodiments;

[0034] Figure 5 An exploded view of a back panel of an electrical box of an air conditioner according to some embodiments is shown;

[0035] Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of an electrical box of an air conditioner at a back panel is shown according to some embodiments;

[0036] Figure 7 Shown Figure 6 A-axis enlarged view;

[0037] Figure 8 A schematic diagram illustrating air convection circulation within an electrical box of an air conditioner according to some embodiments is shown;

[0038] Figure 9 A schematic diagram illustrating a refrigerant flow path of an electrical box according to some embodiments is shown;

[0039] Figure 10 shows a side view of an electrical box assembly according to some embodiments with the electrical box cover omitted;

[0040] Figure 11 Shown Figure 10 Middle BB section view;

[0041] Figure 12 An exploded view of a middle partition plate and an electrical box body of an electrical box assembly according to some embodiments is shown;

[0042] Figure 13A schematic diagram of a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner according to some embodiments is shown.

[0043] In the above figures, 100, outdoor unit; 111, compressor; 112, outdoor heat exchanger; 113, four-way valve; 114, outdoor throttling device; 116, outdoor fan; 117, electronic expansion valve; 200, indoor unit; 211, indoor heat exchanger; 212, indoor throttling device; 213, indoor fan;

[0044] 10. Housing; 11. Air inlet; 12. Air outlet; 20. Heat exchanger; 30. Fan; 31. Fan motor; 32. Motor bracket; 40. Electrical box; 40a. First space; 40b. Second space; 41. Electrical box body; 42. Electrical box cover; 43. Refrigerant flow channel; 431. First groove; 432. Second groove; 433. Refrigerant inlet; 434. Refrigerant outlet; 435. Refrigerant main path; 436. First evaporation flow channel; 437. 8. Second evaporation channel; 439. Evaporation channel; 44. Back plate; 441. Inner plate; 442. Outer plate; 443. Separation rib; 444. First evaporation region; 445. Second evaporation region; 45. Connecting pipe; 46. Middle partition; 461. Heat dissipation hole; 462. Opening; 463. Supporting portion; 464. Avoidance hole; 51. Thermal pad; 52. Reactor; 53. Drive board assembly; 54. Power module; 55. Module radiator. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] In order to make the purpose and implementation of this application clearer, the exemplary implementation of this application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the exemplary embodiments of this application. Obviously, the described exemplary embodiments are only part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments.

[0046] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating the orientation or position relationship, are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and 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, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on this application.

[0047] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood to indicate or imply relative importance or implicitly specify the number of the technical features indicated. Therefore, features specified as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of such features. In the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more.

[0048] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" should be understood broadly. For example, they may refer to fixed, detachable, or integral connections; mechanical or electrical connections; direct or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0049] Reference Figure 1 According to an embodiment of the present application, the air conditioner includes: an outdoor unit 100, located in an outdoor space, for performing heat exchange between a refrigerant and outdoor air; and an indoor unit 200, located in an indoor space, for performing heat exchange between a refrigerant and indoor air.

[0050] Reference Figure 2 The outdoor unit includes a housing 10, which is in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped and constitutes the general appearance of the outdoor unit. The housing 10 can be formed by connecting multiple sheet metals. The two sheet metals can be connected by fasteners such as screws or welding.

[0051] The housing 10 includes an at least partially opened top surface, a bottom plate defining a bottom structure, and side plates whose bottom ends are connected to edges of the bottom plate.

[0052] The housing 10 includes an air inlet 11 through which outside air is introduced, and an air outlet 12 through which the air introduced through the air inlet 11 undergoes heat exchange and is then discharged to an outdoor space.

[0053] In this application, the side of the outdoor unit installed against the wall is defined as the rear side, and the side opposite to the rear side is the front side.

[0054] In some embodiments, the rear portion of the housing 10 is open to form a portion of the air inlet 11. Grille plates may be provided on the left and right sides and the front side of the housing 10, and the holes on the grille plates form another portion of the air inlet 11.

[0055] At least the opened portion of the top surface of the housing 10 forms an air outlet 12 .

[0056] The air introduced through the air inlet 11 on the side is discharged from the air outlet 12 on the top surface.

[0057] The outdoor unit includes a heat exchanger 20, which is disposed in the housing 10 corresponding to the air inlet 11 on the side of the housing 10. The heat exchanger 20 is used to perform heat exchange with the air introduced through the air inlet 11.

[0058] The heat exchanger 20 includes a refrigerant pipe through which the refrigerant flows, and fins coupled to the refrigerant pipe to increase a heat exchange area.

[0059] The outdoor unit includes a fan 30 , which may be an axial flow fan that causes air to flow out in an axial direction.

[0060] The fan 30 may include a cylindrical hub and a plurality of blades arranged along the circumference of the hub. The axis of the fan 30 may be vertical.

[0061] The fan motor 31 is connected to one side of the fan 30. The fan motor 31 is driven to provide the fan 30 with a rotational force.

[0062] The fan motor 31 is fixed to the housing 10 via a motor bracket 32. For example, opposite ends of the motor bracket 32 may be fastened to the housing 10 via fasteners such as screws, and the fan motor 31 may be connected to the motor bracket 32 via fasteners such as screws, thereby achieving installation of the fan motor 31 within the housing 10.

[0063] Figure 2 The middle arrow indicates the air flow direction. When the outdoor unit is working, driven by the fan 30, outdoor air enters the housing 10 from the air inlet 11, exchanges heat with the heat exchanger 20, and is blown out from the air outlet 12.

[0064] The outdoor unit includes an electrical box assembly, which is used to realize the electrical control function of the air conditioner.

[0065] The electrical box assembly includes an electrical box 40. The electrical box 40 may be in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped box, forming the general appearance of the electrical box assembly.

[0066] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 The electrical box 40 includes an electrical box body 41 and an electrical box cover 42. The electrical box body 41 is provided with an opening, and the electrical box cover 42 is covered on the electrical box body 41 from the opening.

[0067] The electrical box 40 contains electrical components such as a terminal block, a main control board assembly, a filter board, an inductor 52, and a drive board assembly 53, which are used to control the operation of the air conditioner.

[0068] The electrical box cover 42 is detachably connected to the electrical box body 41 , for example, the two are connected by screws, so that the electrical box cover 42 can be easily removed to perform repair and maintenance operations on the electrical components in the electrical box body 41 .

[0069] In some embodiments, the electrical box 40 is sealed to prevent rain, snow, foreign objects, etc. from entering the electrical box 40 and affecting the life and reliability of electrical components.

[0070] Heat generated during operation of the electrical components in the electrical box 40 needs to be removed promptly to prevent overheating, damage, or performance degradation.

[0071] In the prior art, a refrigerant radiator is typically installed within the electrical box 40, where low-temperature refrigerant flows to dissipate heat from the electrical box 40. However, the refrigerant radiator is relatively large, increasing the size of the electrical box 40. Furthermore, condensation generated by the refrigerant radiator can create a risk of short-circuiting electrical components.

[0072] Therefore, in the embodiments of this application, reference is made to Figure 2 A refrigerant flow channel 43 is provided on one side wall of the electrical box 40. The refrigerant flow channel 43 is used to circulate refrigerant. By allowing the low-temperature refrigerant to flow in the refrigerant flow channel 43, heat can be dissipated for the electrical box components.

[0073] The refrigerant flow channel 43 may be provided on the side wall of the electrical box body 41. Since the refrigerant flow channel 43 needs to be connected to the refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner, if the refrigerant flow channel 43 is provided on the electrical box cover 42, the electrical box cover 42 may be removed and moved during maintenance, which may affect the reliability of the refrigerant flow channel 43 in the refrigerant circuit connection.

[0074] In this application, for the convenience of description, the side wall of the electrical box 40 where the refrigerant flow channel 43 is provided is referred to as the back plate 44 .

[0075] The area on the back panel 44 where the refrigerant flow channel 43 is located is the cooling area. When low-temperature refrigerant flows through the refrigerant flow channel 43, the cooling area can absorb heat from the electrical box 40. For example, the cooling area can cool the air inside the electrical box 40 by absorbing heat from the air it contacts, or it can cool the electrical components by absorbing heat from the module heat sink 55 and thermal pad 51 (described below) in contact with it.

[0076] In some embodiments, reference Figure 5 The back plate 44 is a double-layer metal plate, which includes an inner plate 441 located at the inner layer and an outer plate 442 located at the outer layer.

[0077] The back plate 44 is made of metal material, such as steel plate, aluminum plate, etc., which has the characteristics of high strength, not easy to deform, and can ensure structural strength; it has the characteristics of good thermal conductivity, which is conducive to heat dissipation for electrical components through heat conduction; it has the characteristics of strong weldability, so that the outer plate 442 and the inner plate 441 can be welded together.

[0078] In addition, since the back plate 44 is made of metal, it can be processed by bending, casting, extrusion and the like.

[0079] A refrigerant flow channel 43 can be formed between the inner plate 441 and the outer plate 112 by stamping or blowing.

[0080] The area outside the refrigerant flow channel 43 on the back plate 44 can be connected as a whole by brazing, friction stir welding, etc. to prevent the refrigerant in the refrigerant flow channel 43 from leaking.

[0081] In some embodiments, reference Figure 6 、 Figure 7 A first groove 431 is provided on the inner plate 441 , and the first groove 431 forms a refrigerant flow channel 43 .

[0082] In the flow channel cross section of the refrigerant flow channel 43 , the opening of the first groove 431 faces the outer plate 442 .

[0083] It should be noted that the flow path cross section refers to a cross section of the refrigerant flow path 43 that is perpendicular to the refrigerant flow direction.

[0084] The first groove 431 may be formed by a portion of the inner plate 441 protruding in a direction away from the outer plate 442 .

[0085] In some embodiments, a second groove 432 is formed on the outer plate 442 , and the second groove 432 forms a refrigerant flow channel 43 .

[0086] In the flow channel cross section of the refrigerant flow channel 43 , the opening of the second groove 432 faces the inner plate 441 .

[0087] The second groove 432 may be formed by a portion of the outer plate 442 protruding in a direction away from the inner plate 441 .

[0088] In some embodiments, a first groove 431 is provided on the inner plate 441 , and a second groove 432 is provided on the outer plate 442 . The first groove 431 and the second groove 432 are arranged opposite to each other and together form a refrigerant flow channel 43 .

[0089] In some embodiments, the end of the refrigerant flow channel 43 is located at the edge of the back plate 44 to facilitate connection with the refrigerant pipe of the refrigerant circuit.

[0090] Continue to refer to Figure 5 The two ends of the refrigerant flow channel 43 serve as a refrigerant inlet 433 and a refrigerant outlet 434. The refrigerant inlet 433 and the refrigerant outlet 434 are respectively connected to a connecting pipe 45.

[0091] One end of the connecting pipe 45 can be inserted into the refrigerant flow channel 43 and connected to the back plate 44 by welding. The other end of the connecting pipe 45 is used to connect to the refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner to introduce refrigerant to participate in the heat dissipation of the electrical box assembly.

[0092] The specific position of the end of the refrigerant flow channel 43 at the edge of the back plate 44 can be set according to the actual situation inside the air conditioner. For example, the end of the refrigerant flow channel 43 can be located at the bottom of the back plate 44.

[0093] In some embodiments, the inner plate 441 may be integrally formed with the electrical box body 41 , and then the outer plate 442 may be welded to the outside of the inner plate 441 .

[0094] Alternatively, the outer plate 441 can be integrally formed with the electrical box body 41 , and then the inner plate 441 can be welded inside the outer plate 442 .

[0095] In other embodiments, the inner plate 441 and the outer plate 442 are first connected together and then connected to other side walls of the electrical box body 41 .

[0096] According to an embodiment of the present application, the electrical components do not contact the back plate 44 of the electrical box 40 to prevent condensation on the back plate 44 from causing damage to the electrical components.

[0097] When the back plate 44 is a vertical plate, the electrical components and the back plate 44 are spaced apart in the horizontal direction; when the back plate 44 is a horizontal plate, the back plate 44 is the bottom plate of the electrical box 40 , and the electrical components are located above the back plate 44 .

[0098] In some embodiments, reference Figure 4 、 Figure 6 、 Figure 8 The electrical box 40 is provided with a middle partition 46, which can separate the space in the electrical box 40 into a first space 40a and a second space 40b. The second space 40b is the space between the middle partition 46 and the back plate 44.

[0099] The electrical components are connected to the middle partition plate 46 and are located in the first space 40 a . The middle partition plate 46 and the second space 40 b can separate the electrical components from the back plate 44 so that the electrical components do not contact the back plate 44 .

[0100] In some embodiments, the middle partition 46 can be connected to the back plate 44. The edge of the middle partition 46 is provided with a support portion 463 extending toward the back plate 44, and the edge of the support portion 463 is welded to the back plate 44 or connected by screws.

[0101] The support parts 463 may be provided at the top end and the left and right ends of the middle partition plate 46 .

[0102] In other embodiments, the middle partition plate 46 may also be connected to the side wall of the shell 10 adjacent to the back plate 44 .

[0103] The first space 40 a and the second space 40 b are communicated with each other so that air can diffuse between the first space 40 a and the second space 40 b.

[0104] In some embodiments, the first space 40a and the second space 40b are connected through a first connecting portion, which is a heat dissipation hole 461 provided on the middle partition 46. The first space 40a and the second space 40b are connected through the heat dissipation hole 461.

[0105] In some embodiments, the first space 40a and the second space 40b are connected through a second connecting portion, which is an opening 462 provided between an edge of the middle partition 46 and a side wall of the housing 10, or an opening 462 provided on the middle partition 46. The area of the opening 462 is larger than that of the single heat dissipation hole 461. The first space 40a and the second space 40b are connected through the opening 462.

[0106] In some embodiments, the back plate 44 is a vertical plate, a plurality of heat dissipation holes 461 are provided on the upper portion of the middle partition plate 46 , and an opening 462 is formed between the lower end of the middle partition plate 46 and the shell 10 .

[0107] Reference Figure 8 , Figure 8 The middle arrow indicates the direction of air convection within the electrical box. When the electrical components operate, they dissipate heat, causing the air in the first space 40a to heat up. Due to the high temperature of the hot air, its volume expands, resulting in a lower density. Due to the principle of buoyancy, the low-density hot air tends to flow upward. This upward-flowing hot air diffuses through the heat dissipation holes 461 on the upper portion of the middle partition 46 into the second space 40b. Upon encountering the lower-temperature cooling area on the back panel 44, the air cools down and sinks into the second space 40b. After sinking to the bottom, the cool air diffuses through the bottom opening 462 into the first space 40a, where it continues to absorb heat from the electrical components and becomes hot air, entering the next cooling air cycle.

[0108] The plurality of heat dissipation holes 461 can disperse the hot air, and the dispersed hot air can better fully contact the cooling area and cool down, thereby improving the heat dissipation efficiency of the electrical box assembly.

[0109] If the upper portion of the middle partition 46 does not have multiple heat dissipation holes 461, but has an opening portion 462 with an area larger than the heat dissipation holes 461, then the hot air may flow through the opening portion 462 to a certain part of the second space 40b, causing the hot air to only contact a part of the cooling area, thereby reducing the heat dissipation efficiency.

[0110] The opening 46 at the bottom end of the middle partition 46 is larger than the heat dissipation holes 461 , which can reduce the obstruction to the air flow, so that the cold air can quickly flow through the opening 46 to the first space 40 a.

[0111] In some embodiments, reference Figure 9 The refrigerant flow channel 43 includes an evaporation flow channel 439 , and a flow channel cross-sectional area of the evaporation flow channel 439 is larger than a flow channel cross-sectional area of the connecting pipe 45 .

[0112] When the refrigerant flows from the connecting pipe 45 into the evaporation flow channel 439, the volume of the flow channel increases and the pressure decreases, causing the refrigerant to evaporate and absorb heat, thereby achieving the effect of using the refrigerant to dissipate heat inside the electrical box 40. The function of the evaporation flow channel 439 here is similar to the evaporator in the refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner.

[0113] The refrigerant flow channel 43 includes a main refrigerant path 435. The main refrigerant path 435 is connected between the connecting pipe 45 and the evaporation flow channel 439. The cross-sectional area of the main refrigerant path 435 is smaller than that of the evaporation flow channel 439.

[0114] A refrigerant inlet 433 and a refrigerant outlet 434 are formed at the end of the refrigerant main path 435 , and the refrigerant inlet 433 and the refrigerant outlet 434 are respectively connected to the connecting pipe 45 .

[0115] In some embodiments, at least one dividing rib 443 is provided in the evaporation channel 439. The dividing rib 443 extends along the refrigerant flow direction, branching the evaporation channel 439 into multiple flow paths. For example, if one dividing rib 443 is provided in the evaporation channel 439, the evaporation channel 439 is branched into two flow paths; if two dividing ribs 443 are provided in the evaporation channel 439, the evaporation channel 439 is branched into three flow paths.

[0116] The refrigerant is divided and flows in multiple flow paths, which can ensure the uniformity of the refrigerant in the evaporation flow channel 439 and ensure the heat absorption effect of each part of the evaporation flow channel 439.

[0117] There is a gap between the partition rib 443 and the inner wall of the evaporation flow channel 439 to prevent the partition rib 443 from obstructing the normal flow of the refrigerant.

[0118] In some embodiments, the area where the heat dissipation holes 461 are located overlaps with the evaporation flow channel 439 in the projection of the back plate 44. This ensures that the heat dissipation holes 461 are relatively close to the evaporation flow channel 439, and the hot air passing through the heat dissipation holes 461 can reach the evaporation flow channel 439 via a shorter path, thereby improving heat dissipation efficiency.

[0119] If the area where the heat dissipation hole 461 is located does not overlap with the evaporation channel 439 on the projection of the back panel 44, that is, the evaporation channel 439 is entirely arranged at the lower part of the back panel 44, the temperature of the upper hot air cannot be reduced in time, which will extend the time it takes for the hot air in the electrical box 40 to be cooled, thereby reducing the heat dissipation efficiency of the electrical box components.

[0120] Reference Figures 10 to 12 Since the power module 54 and the reactor 52 on the driving board assembly 53 generate a lot of heat, relying solely on the above-mentioned surface air convection may not meet the heat dissipation requirements. It is necessary to set up a heat conduction method to dissipate heat for the electrical components that generate a lot of heat.

[0121] In this application, electrical components that require heat conduction and heat dissipation other than the power module 54 are referred to as first electrical components. The first electrical components mainly include the reactor 52 .

[0122] In some embodiments of the present application, the area on the back plate 44 where the evaporation channel 43 is located is the evaporation area.

[0123] The electrical box assembly may include a heat conducting member that is in contact with the evaporation area on the back plate 44 .

[0124] When the heat conducting component is in contact with and connected to the middle partition, the heat conducted from the electrical component to the middle partition can be conducted to the evaporation area.

[0125] When the heat conducting component is in contact with the electrical component, the heat generated by the electrical component can be conducted to the evaporation area.

[0126] In some embodiments, the heat conducting member may be a heat conducting pad 51 , which may be connected between the middle partition 46 and the evaporation region by bonding. The heat conducting pad 51 is in contact with the middle partition 46 and the evaporation region.

[0127] The position of the reactor 51 corresponding to the thermal pad 51 is in contact with the middle partition 46. The heat of the reactor 51 is transferred to the evaporation area through the middle partition 46 and the thermal pad 51 in sequence.

[0128] The heat transfer from the reactor 51 to the evaporation region can be accelerated by heat conduction. Since the temperature in the evaporation region is relatively low, the heat dissipation rate of the reactor 51 can be increased, thereby meeting the heat dissipation requirements of the reactor 51 .

[0129] In some embodiments, the reactor 51 partially overlaps with the evaporation region, and the area where the heat dissipation holes 461 are located overlaps with the rest of the evaporation region on the projection of the back plate 44. The evaporation region can absorb heat from the reactor 51 and also cool the air.

[0130] In some embodiments, the drive board assembly 53 is connected to the middle partition 46. The middle partition 46 is provided with a through-hole 464, and the module heat sink 55 is in contact with the power module 54 on the drive board assembly 53 through the through-hole 464, and the module heat sink 55 also has an evaporation area in contact.

[0131] The module heat sink 55 is a metal block, for example, a steel block or an aluminum block, which has good thermal conductivity and can effectively conduct the heat generated by the power module 54 to the evaporation area of the back plate 44 .

[0132] The module heat sink 55 can be connected to the evaporation area of the back plate 44 by brazing or crimping with fasteners. The module heat sink 55 is connected to the power module 55 by fasteners.

[0133] In the present application, a module heat sink 55 is set between the power module 54 and the evaporation area of the back plate 44. On the one hand, it can ensure the stability of heat transfer from the power module 54 to the evaporation area through the module heat sink 55; on the other hand, it can avoid direct contact between the power module 54 and the back plate 44, which may cause condensation on the back plate 44 to spread onto the power module 54.

[0134] In some embodiments, the power module 54, the reactor 52, and the heat dissipation holes 461 overlap with different parts of the evaporation area in the projection of the back plate 44. The evaporation area can absorb heat from the power module 54 and the reactor 52, and can also cool the air.

[0135] In some embodiments, the evaporation channel 439 includes a first evaporation channel 436. The surface of the back plate 44 is parallel to the height direction, that is, the back plate 44 serves as a vertical sidewall of the electrical box 40. At least a portion of the first evaporation channel 436 may be located near the upper portion of the back plate 44. The area on the back plate 44 where the first evaporation channel 436 is located is a first evaporation area 444.

[0136] The thermal pad 51 contacts the first evaporation region 444 of the back plate 44. The reactor 51 is connected to the middle separator 46 at the position corresponding to the thermal pad 51. The heat of the reactor 51 is transferred to the first evaporation region 444 through the middle separator 46 and the thermal pad 51 in sequence.

[0137] The first evaporation flow channel 436 may extend laterally on the upper portion of the back plate 44 , and the refrigerant flows laterally in the first evaporation flow channel 436 . The position of the reactor 51 on the back plate 44 is arranged laterally with the heat dissipation holes 461 .

[0138] In some embodiments, the refrigerant flow channel 435 includes a second evaporation flow channel 438 , and the area on the back plate 44 corresponding to the second evaporation flow channel 438 is a second evaporation area 445 . The module heat sink 55 may correspond to the second evaporation area 445 .

[0139] The heat of the power module 54 is transferred to the second evaporation region 445 through the module heat sink 55 , and the low-temperature refrigerant in the second evaporation region 445 dissipates the heat of the power module 54 .

[0140] Because the power module 54 generates more heat than the reactor 51, the second evaporation region 445 requires greater heat dissipation than the first evaporation region 444. Therefore, based on the refrigerant flow direction, the second evaporation channel 438 is connected upstream of the first evaporation channel 436. That is, the refrigerant first flows through the second evaporation channel 438 and then flows into the first evaporation channel 436.

[0141] The outflow end of the second evaporation flow channel 438 is connected to the inflow end of the first evaporation flow channel 436 through the refrigerant main path 435 .

[0142] Since the first evaporation channel 436 is located on the upper portion of the back plate 44 , the second evaporation channel 438 may be located below the first evaporation channel 436 .

[0143] According to the heat generation of the electrical components, the power module 54 is set corresponding to the second evaporation area 445, and the reactor 52 is set corresponding to part of the first evaporation area 444. Except for the power module 54 and the reactor 52, other electrical components rely on air convection to dissipate heat.

[0144] In the above description, the electrical box assembly is applied to the outdoor unit 100 . It is understandable that the electrical box assembly of the present application may also be applied to the indoor unit 200 .

[0145] The following is an introduction to the refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner:

[0146] Reference Figure 13 The outdoor unit 100 includes: a compressor 111 for compressing the refrigerant; an outdoor heat exchanger 112 for performing heat exchange between the outdoor air and the refrigerant; a four-way valve 113 for selectively guiding the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 111 to the outdoor heat exchanger 112 or the indoor unit 200 according to the heating mode or the cooling mode; and an outdoor throttling device 114 for decompressing the refrigerant guided to the outdoor heat exchanger 112 in the heating mode.

[0147] When the compressor 111 is powered on, it compresses the low-pressure gaseous refrigerant to a high pressure using the rotational force of a compressor motor (not shown).

[0148] The four-way valve 113 guides the refrigerant compressed in the compressor 111 to the outdoor heat exchanger 112 in the cooling mode, and guides the refrigerant compressed in the compressor 111 to the indoor unit 200 in the heating mode.

[0149] The outdoor heat exchanger 112 condenses the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 111 in the cooling mode, and evaporates the refrigerant decompressed by the indoor unit 200 in the heating mode.

[0150] The outdoor fan 116 blows outdoor air to the outdoor heat exchanger 112 .

[0151] The outdoor throttling device 114 reduces the refrigerant's pressure by throttling the refrigerant. As the refrigerant passes through a narrow passage, its pressure decreases without exchanging heat with the outside. Specifically, the outdoor throttling device 114 can be an expansion valve or a capillary tube.

[0152] The indoor unit 200 includes an indoor heat exchanger 211 for performing heat exchange between a refrigerant and indoor air, and an indoor throttle device 212 for reducing the pressure of the refrigerant supplied to the indoor heat exchanger 211 in a cooling mode.

[0153] The indoor heat exchanger 211 evaporates the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant in the cooling mode and condenses the high-pressure gas refrigerant in the heating mode.

[0154] Hereinafter, the flow of refrigerant in the air conditioner in the cooling mode or the heating mode will be described.

[0155] When the air conditioner operates in a cooling mode, the refrigerant is compressed to a high pressure by the compressor 111 of the outdoor unit 100. As the refrigerant is compressed, the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant increase.

[0156] The compressed refrigerant is guided to the outdoor heat exchanger 112 through the four-way valve 113. The refrigerant is condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger 112, and heat exchange is performed between the refrigerant and the outdoor air while the refrigerant is condensed. Specifically, the state of the refrigerant changes from gas to liquid.

[0157] After passing through the outdoor expansion device 114 , the condensed refrigerant is supplied to the indoor unit 200 .

[0158] The refrigerant supplied to the indoor unit 200 is decompressed by the indoor throttling device 212, and the refrigerant is converted into a low-temperature and low-pressure two-phase refrigerant.

[0159] The decompressed refrigerant is evaporated by the indoor heat exchanger 222, and heat exchange is performed between the refrigerant and the indoor air while the refrigerant evaporates. Specifically, the state of the refrigerant changes to a gaseous state.

[0160] After passing through the indoor heat exchanger 222 , the evaporated gaseous refrigerant is supplied to the outdoor unit 100 , and is then supplied to the compressor 111 via the four-way valve 113 , completing one refrigerant cycle.

[0161] As described above, in the cooling mode, the air conditioner may cool the indoor air using heat exchange between the refrigerant generated in the indoor heat exchanger 211 and the indoor air.

[0162] When the air conditioner operates in a heating mode, the refrigerant is compressed to a high pressure by the compressor 111 of the outdoor unit 100 , and the temperature of the refrigerant increases with the pressure of the refrigerant.

[0163] After passing through the four-way valve 113 , the compressed refrigerant is guided to the indoor unit 200 .

[0164] The refrigerant is condensed by the indoor heat exchanger 211, and heat is exchanged between the refrigerant and the indoor air while the refrigerant is condensed. Specifically, the state of the refrigerant changes from gas to liquid.

[0165] After passing through the indoor heat exchanger 211 , the condensed refrigerant is supplied to the outdoor unit 100 again.

[0166] The refrigerant supplied to the outdoor unit 100 is decompressed by the outdoor throttle device 114 and simultaneously becomes a low-temperature and low-pressure two-phase state.

[0167] The decompressed refrigerant is evaporated by the outdoor heat exchanger 112, and heat is exchanged between the refrigerant and the outdoor air while the refrigerant is evaporating. Specifically, the state of the refrigerant changes to a gaseous state.

[0168] The gaseous refrigerant evaporated by the outdoor heat exchanger 112 is supplied to the compressor 111, completing a refrigerant cycle.

[0169] As described above, in the heating mode, the air conditioner may heat the indoor air using heat exchange between the refrigerant generated in the indoor heat exchanger 211 and the indoor air.

[0170] In this application, the outdoor heat exchanger 112 and the indoor heat exchanger 211 are collectively referred to as the heat exchanger 20. The outdoor fan 116 and the indoor fan 213 both include a fan and a fan motor.

[0171] In some embodiments, in the refrigerant circuit, the inlet end of the refrigerant flow channel 43 is connected between the outdoor heat exchanger 112 and the indoor heat exchanger 211 , and the outlet end of the refrigerant flow channel 43 is connected to the suction side of the compressor 111 .

[0172] Since the inlet end of the refrigerant flow channel 43 is connected between the condenser and the evaporator, the refrigerant flowing into the refrigerant flow channel 43 is low-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant regardless of cooling or heating. The refrigerant evaporates and absorbs heat in the refrigerant flow channel 43 to become low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant, and continues to enter the compressor suction side pipeline and return to the refrigerant main circulation.

[0173] In some embodiments, an electronic expansion valve 117 may be provided on the inflow side of the refrigerant flow channel 43 to regulate the flow of the refrigerant entering the refrigerant flow channel 43 .

[0174] The air conditioner may include a first temperature sensor for detecting the temperature Tfin of the power module 54 .

[0175] The air conditioner may include a second temperature sensor for detecting the air temperature Ti inside the electrical box 40 .

[0176] The air conditioner may include a third temperature sensor for detecting an ambient temperature Ta of the air conditioner.

[0177] When Tfin>Tfin max or Ti>Tin max, the opening of the electronic expansion valve 117 increases to increase the flow rate entering the refrigerant flow channel 43, thereby enhancing heat dissipation. Wherein, Tfin max and Tin max are preset values.

[0178] When Tfin < Ta or Ti < Ta, the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 117 is reduced to reduce the flow rate into the refrigerant flow channel 43, suppress heat dissipation, and prevent low-temperature condensation.

[0179] As can be seen from the above, according to the embodiment of the present application, a refrigerant flow channel 43 is provided on one side wall of the electrical box 40, and the refrigerant flow channel 43 is used for circulating refrigerant. By making the low-temperature refrigerant flow in the refrigerant flow channel 43, heat can be dissipated for the electrical box assembly. Compared with the problem in the related art that the volume of the electrical box 40 is large due to the installation of a refrigerant radiator in the electrical box 40, the present application omits the refrigerant radiator, and setting the refrigerant flow channel 43 on the side wall of the electrical box 40 can greatly reduce the volume of the electrical box 40.

[0180] In addition, in the related art, the refrigerant radiator is installed in the electrical box 40, and the condensation generated on the refrigerant radiator is likely to spread to the electrical components and cause a short circuit of the electrical components. In the present application, the refrigerant flow channel 43 is provided on the back plate 44 of the electrical box 40, and the electrical components do not contact the back plate 44, which can avoid the influence of condensation on the electrical components. Moreover, the back plate 44 belongs to the side wall of the electrical box 40, which is beneficial to the condensation flowing out of the electrical box 40 from the back plate 44.

[0181] In addition, a middle partition 46 is provided in the electrical box 40. A second space 40b is formed between the middle partition 46 and the back plate 44. The middle partition 46 can be used to fixedly install electrical components. The middle partition 46 and the second space 40b separate the electrical components from the back plate 44 by a certain distance, which can avoid the condensation on the back plate 44 from flowing onto the electrical components.

[0182] In addition, the back plate 44 is vertically arranged, and the condensation on the back plate 44 can flow downward along the inner wall surface, avoiding the condensation from flowing onto the electrical components.

[0183] In addition, a middle partition 46 is provided in the electrical box 40 to divide the space of the electrical box 40 into a first space 40a and a second space 40b. The electrical components are located in the first space 40a, and the first space 40a and the second space 40b are connected so that air can flow between the first space 40a and the second space 40b. The low-temperature refrigerant in the refrigerant flow channel 43 reduces the temperature of the second space 40b, and the cold air flowing into the first space 40a can reduce the temperature of the first space 40a, thereby dissipating heat for the electrical components.

[0184] In addition, a middle partition 46 is provided in the electrical box 40 to divide the space of the electrical box 40 into a first space 40a and a second space 40b. The electrical components are located in the first space 40a. A heat dissipation hole 461 is provided on the upper portion of the middle partition 46, and an opening 462 is provided at the lower end of the middle partition 46. The hot air in the first space 40a rises through the heat dissipation hole 461 and enters the second space 40b. After encountering the low-temperature back plate 44, the temperature drops and sinks to the bottom, and continues to enter the first space 40a along the opening 462, thereby realizing air circulation, and the heat is taken away by the refrigerant in the back plate 44.

[0185] In addition, the refrigerant flow channel 43 includes a refrigerant main path 435 connected to the refrigerant circuit, and an evaporation flow channel 439 connected to the refrigerant main path 435. The flow channel cross-sectional area of the evaporation flow channel 439 is larger than that of the refrigerant main path 435. When the refrigerant flows from the refrigerant main path 435 into the evaporation flow channel 439, the volume of the flow channel increases and the pressure decreases, and the refrigerant evaporates and absorbs heat, which can improve the heat absorption effect of the refrigerant flow channel 43.

[0186] In addition, the upper parts of the first space 40a and the second space 40b are connected. After the hot air of the first space 40a enters the second space 40b from the upper part, since the evaporation flow channel 439 is at least partially located at the upper part, the hot air can contact the evaporation flow channel 439 through a shorter path, thereby improving the heat dissipation efficiency.

[0187] In addition, a heat conductor is provided between the middle partition 46 and the evaporation channel 439 of the back plate 44. The heat conductor can conduct the heat from the electrical components to the middle partition 46 and further conduct it to the evaporation channel 439, thereby accelerating the heat dissipation efficiency of the electrical components through heat conduction.

[0188] In addition, the heat conducting member is provided between the electrical member and the evaporation channel 439 . The heat conducting member can conduct the heat generated by the electrical member to the evaporation channel 439 , thereby accelerating the heat dissipation efficiency of the electrical member through heat conduction.

[0189] In addition, the evaporation channel 439 includes a first evaporation channel 436 and a second evaporation channel 438. The second evaporation channel 438 is located upstream of the first evaporation channel 436. The power module 54 with high heat generation transfers heat to the second evaporation channel 438 through the module heat sink 55. The first electrical component with low heat generation transfers heat to the first evaporation channel 436 through the middle partition 46 and the thermal pad 51, which can meet the heat dissipation requirements of the electrical components and improve the heat dissipation efficiency.

[0190] In addition, a dividing rib 443 is provided in the evaporation flow channel 439 to branch the evaporation flow channel into multiple flow paths. The refrigerant flows in the multiple flow path branches, which can improve the uniformity of the refrigerant in the evaporation flow channel 439 and ensure the low temperature effect of each part of the evaporation flow channel 439.

[0191] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

[0192] For ease of explanation, the above description has been presented in conjunction with specific embodiments. However, the above exemplary discussion is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the specific forms disclosed above. Based on the above teachings, various modifications and variations are possible. The above embodiments have been selected and described to better explain the principles and practical applications, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to better utilize the embodiments and various different variations of the embodiments suitable for specific use considerations.

Claims

1. An air conditioner, characterized in that: include: An electrical box assembly comprising: An electrical box, one side wall of which is a back panel; a middle partition plate, dividing the space in the electrical box into a first space and a second space, wherein the second space is a space between the middle partition plate and the back plate, and the first space and the second space are connected; an electrical component connected to the middle partition and located in the first space, wherein the electrical component generates heat when in operation; Among them, a refrigerant flow channel is provided on the back panel, and the refrigerant flow channel is connected to the refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner. The area on the back panel where the refrigerant flow channel is provided is a cooling area, and the cooling area is used to absorb heat in the electrical box when the refrigerant flows in the refrigerant flow channel.

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that The first space and the second space are arranged horizontally; The upper parts of the first space and the second space are connected through a first connecting portion; the lower parts of the first space and the second space are connected through a second connecting portion; The first connecting portion allows the air with heat in the first space to flow to the second space; the second connecting portion allows the air in the second space cooled by the cooling area to flow to the first space.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, characterized in that The first communication portion is a plurality of heat dissipation holes, and the second communication portion is an opening portion having an area larger than that of the heat dissipation holes.

4. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The refrigerant flow channel includes: The main refrigerant line has two ends serving as the refrigerant inlet and refrigerant outlet respectively; The evaporation flow channel is connected to the refrigerant main path, and the flow channel cross-sectional area of the evaporation flow channel is larger than that of the refrigerant main path.

5. The air conditioner according to claim 4, characterized in that The area on the back plate where the evaporation channel is provided is the evaporation area; The electrical box assembly further comprises: a heat conducting member connected to the back plate corresponding to the evaporation area; The heat conducting member is in contact with the middle partition, and is used to conduct the heat conducted from the electrical member to the middle partition to the evaporation area; or, the heat conducting member is in contact with at least part of the electrical member, and is used to conduct the heat generated by the electrical member to the evaporation area.

6. The air conditioner according to claim 4, characterized in that The evaporation flow channel includes a first evaporation flow channel; the area on the back plate where the first evaporation flow channel is provided is a first evaporation area; The electrical components include: a first electrical component, which is in contact with and connected to the middle partition; The electrical box assembly further comprises: A thermal pad corresponds to the first electrical component and is in contact with and connected between the middle partition and the first evaporation region, and is used to conduct heat generated by the first electrical component to the first evaporation region.

7. The air conditioner according to claim 6, characterized in that The refrigerant flow channel includes a second evaporation flow channel located on the inflow side of the first evaporation flow channel; the area on the back plate where the second evaporation flow channel is provided is a second evaporation area; The electrical components include: a driver board assembly having a power module; The module heat sink has two opposite sides respectively in contact with the power module and the second evaporation region, and is used to conduct heat generated by the power module to the second evaporation region.

8. The air conditioner according to claim 4, characterized in that At least one dividing rib is provided in the evaporation flow channel to divide the evaporation flow channel into a plurality of flow paths.

9. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein: The back plate includes an inner plate and an outer plate both made of metal; The inner plate is provided with a first groove, and the outer plate is provided with a second groove. The first groove and the second groove form the refrigerant flow channel.

10. An air conditioner, characterized in that: include: An electrical box assembly comprising: The electrical box has one side wall serving as a back panel; an electrical component, which is disposed in the electrical box and does not contact the back plate, and generates heat when the electrical component is in operation; Among them, a refrigerant flow channel is provided on the back panel, and the refrigerant flow channel is connected to the refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner. The area on the back panel where the refrigerant flow channel is provided is a cooling area, and the cooling area is used to absorb heat in the electrical box when the refrigerant flows in the refrigerant flow channel.

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