Air conditioning unit with ec fan
By adopting an integrated design of EC fan and DC brushless motor in the air conditioning unit, the problems of narrow speed range, high energy consumption and large space occupation of belt-driven volute fans are solved, achieving efficient and flexible air volume adjustment and environmental adaptability, while reducing noise and equipment costs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- AIR SERVE AIR CONDITIONING SYST SERVICE
- Filing Date
- 2025-09-02
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-28
AI Technical Summary
The belt-driven volute fans used in existing air conditioning units have problems such as narrow speed range, low precision, high energy consumption, large starting current, complex equipment and large space occupation.
The EC fan, which integrates the fan and the brushless DC motor in a direct-drive design, achieves beltless drive. Combined with the variable frequency drive of the brushless DC motor, it has a continuous speed regulation performance of 0-100%, and can be dynamically adjusted through sensor and control modules.
It improves energy efficiency, reduces operating energy consumption and equipment costs, reduces space occupation, achieves uniform airflow distribution and environmental adaptability adjustment, and reduces noise and maintenance complexity.
Smart Images
Figure CN224567561U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of air conditioning, specifically relating to an energy-saving method for an air conditioning unit fan. Background Technology
[0002] People's increasing demands for comfort in their living and working environments have spurred the widespread application of comfort air conditioning. Comfort air conditioning primarily focuses on human comfort, regulating parameters such as indoor air temperature, humidity, and airflow. Air conditioning units within comfort air conditioning systems offer multiple functions, combining cooling, heating, humidification, dehumidification, and filtration to provide personalized comfort environments for different locations.
[0003] In industrial production, many processes have strict requirements for environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, and cleanliness. For example, chip manufacturing in the electronics industry requires a dust-free, temperature- and humidity-controlled environment to ensure product quality and stability. In pharmaceutical production workshops, air conditioning units not only need to provide suitable temperature and humidity but also need to efficiently filter and purify the air to meet GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) requirements for pharmaceutical production. Furthermore, some industrial sites, such as power plants and chemical plants, also require air conditioning units to provide suitable environmental conditions for equipment operation and personnel work.
[0004] Currently, the main power-consuming equipment in the air conditioning unit is the belt-driven volute fan, which is powered by AC power. The belt-driven volute fan is equipped with an AC motor, which is typically a three-phase asynchronous motor. The motor speed is directly related to the power supply frequency (e.g., at a power frequency of 50Hz, the synchronous speed is often 3000 r / min or 1500 r / min). Traditional speed regulation methods (such as pole-changing speed regulation and voltage regulation) have a narrow speed range and low precision, leading to a significant decrease in motor efficiency and additional energy consumption. Adding a frequency converter control box to achieve variable frequency speed regulation complicates the control system. Furthermore, the starting current of AC asynchronous motors is relatively large (typically 5-7 times the rated current), which may impact the power grid, especially when starting high-power fans. This requires additional starting devices (such as autotransformers and star-delta starters), increasing equipment cost and complexity. Moreover, the structure of a three-phase asynchronous motor (including stator, rotor, windings, etc.) is relatively complex, especially the design of the core and windings of the asynchronous motor, which results in its size and weight usually being greater than that of a DC brushless motor of the same power, and thus taking up a lot of space in the air conditioning unit. Summary of the Invention
[0005] In order to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, this application discloses an air conditioning unit that uses an EC fan.
[0006] The technical solution of this application is as follows: An air conditioning unit using an EC fan, wherein the air conditioning unit is arranged in the following order according to the airflow direction: mixing section 1, primary filter 2, coil 3, fan section 4, medium-efficiency filter 5, and air outlet section 6, wherein: The mixing section 1 is provided with a fresh air inlet 1-1 and a return air inlet 1-2, which are used to introduce external fresh air and return air to the mixing section 1, respectively. The primary filter 2 is vertically installed at the end of the mixing section 1 to perform preliminary filtration on the mixed air in order to remove impurities from the air. The coil 3 is circulated with chilled water or hot water to achieve heat exchange with the air outside the coil, so that the air is cooled, dehumidified or heated to regulate the air temperature and humidity parameters. The fan section 4 is equipped with an EC fan, which is used to transport the air after heat exchange through the coil 3 to the air outlet section 6; The medium-efficiency filter 5 is vertically installed inside the air conditioning unit to further filter the air delivered by the EC fan in order to ensure air quality; The air outlet section 6 is located at the very end of the air conditioning unit and is equipped with an air outlet 6-1.
[0007] Furthermore, the mixing section 1 is also equipped with inspection doors 1-3 for maintenance personnel to enter and replace the primary filter 2.
[0008] Furthermore, the EC fan comprises two parts: a fan 4-2 and a motor 4-1. The fan 4-2 and the motor 4-1 adopt an integrated direct-drive beltless design, with the motor 4-1 providing driving force for the fan 4-2.
[0009] Furthermore, the EC fan, its fan 4-2 adopts a backward centrifugal impeller, and its motor 4-1 adopts a DC brushless motor.
[0010] Furthermore, the fan section 4 is also provided with a fan mounting plate 4-3, which is vertically fixed inside the air conditioning unit, and the EC fan is installed on the fan mounting plate 4-3 by fan fixing bolts 4-4.
[0011] Furthermore, the air conditioning unit is equipped with one or more EC fans.
[0012] The air conditioning unit of this application uses one or more EC fans instead of traditional belt-driven volute fans, which has the following advantages and beneficial effects: (1) Higher energy efficiency: EC fans have high energy efficiency, which can reduce the power distribution capacity of air conditioning unit fans, reduce operating energy consumption and operating costs. The energy efficiency advantage is more obvious under low load conditions, such as when the air volume decreases, the power consumption decreases significantly. (2) Better speed regulation performance: The speed regulation is smooth, there is no start-stop shock, and the air volume can be continuously adjusted from 0 to 100%, which has better speed regulation performance; (3) The single fan is small in size and light in weight. Multiple fans are installed in parallel, which makes the airflow distribution before reaching the air outlet section more uniform and the air conditioning box performs better. The length dimension of the fan section of the air conditioning box is smaller, the size of the air conditioning box is more compact, and the area occupied is reduced. Attached Figure Description
[0013] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the air conditioning unit structure of this utility model.
[0014] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the AA section.
[0015] Figure label: 1. Mixing section 1, 1-1. Fresh air inlet, 1-2. Return air inlet, 1-3. Inspection door. 2. Pre-filter; 3. Air coil; 4. Fan section. 4-1. Motor; 4-2. Fan; 4-3. Fan mounting plate; 4-4. Fan fixing bolts. 5. Medium-efficiency filter, 6. Air outlet section, 6-1. Air outlet. Detailed Implementation
[0016] The technical solutions provided in this application will be further described below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings. The advantages and features of this application will become clearer from the following description.
[0017] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, an air conditioning unit using an EC fan is provided. The unit contains, in sequence according to the airflow direction, a mixing section 1, a primary filter 2, a coil 3, a fan section 4, a medium-efficiency filter 5, and an air outlet section 6, wherein: The mixing section 1 is equipped with a fresh air inlet 1-1 and a return air inlet 1-2, which are used to introduce external fresh air and return air to the mixing section 1, respectively; furthermore, the mixing section 1 is also equipped with an inspection door 1-3, which is used for maintenance personnel to enter and replace the pre-filter 2. The primary filter 2 is vertically installed at the end of the mixing section 1 to perform preliminary filtration on the mixed air in order to remove impurities from the air. The coil 3 is circulated with chilled water or hot water to achieve heat exchange with the air outside the coil, so that the air is cooled, dehumidified or heated to regulate the air temperature and humidity parameters. The fan section 4 is equipped with an EC fan, which is used to transport the air after heat exchange in the coil 3 to the air outlet section 6; further, the EC fan includes two parts: a fan 4-2 and a motor 4-1. The fan 4-2 and the motor 4-1 adopt an integrated direct-drive design without belts, and the motor 4-1 provides driving force for the fan 4-2; further, the fan section 4 is also equipped with a fan mounting plate 4-3, which is vertically fixed in the air conditioning unit, and the EC fan is installed on the fan mounting plate 4-3 by fan fixing bolts 4-4; The medium-efficiency filter 5 is vertically installed inside the air conditioning unit to further filter the air delivered by the EC fan in order to ensure air quality; The air outlet section 6 is located at the very end of the air conditioning unit and is equipped with an air outlet 6-1.
[0018] The air delivery process of the above-mentioned air conditioning unit is as follows: Fresh air enters mixing section 1 from fresh air inlet 1-1, and return air enters mixing section 1 from return air inlet 1-2. Fresh air and return air are mixed inside the mixing section. After the mixed air is filtered by the primary filter 2, it exchanges heat with the water circulating in the coil 3. Specifically, in summer, chilled water circulates in the coil. After the chilled water exchanges heat with the air, the air is cooled, thus providing air conditioning for cooling. In winter, hot water circulates in the coil. After the hot water exchanges heat with the air, the air is heated, thus providing air conditioning for heating. After passing through the coil heat exchanger, the air enters fan section 4, where it is pressurized by the EC fan. After being pressurized, the air is filtered by the medium-efficiency filter 5 and then enters the air outlet section 6. The air outlet 6-1 is connected to the air supply pipe (not shown in the figure) to deliver the treated air to the outside.
[0019] Furthermore, the EC fan, specifically its fan 4-2, employs a backward centrifugal impeller, which is highly efficient and maintenance-free (requiring no lubrication). Its motor 4-1 is a DC brushless motor, which does not generate inrush current during startup. Motor 4-1 has a built-in controller, enabling stepless speed regulation from 0-100%, and operates with low noise, providing stable and efficient power to fan 4-2. Motor 4-1 also includes a built-in frequency converter driver, which can be disassembled and replaced for easy maintenance and installation. The structural implementation of the EC fan itself is well-known and is not part of the core technical solution of this application; therefore, it will not be described in detail here.
[0020] The number and type of EC fans can be designed and selected according to actual application requirements.
[0021] Preferably, a single air conditioning unit with an air volume of 30,000 m³ / h houses four EC fans (model PLFH450DL3BHEI2) connected in parallel, each with an air volume of 8,000 m³ / h, a total pressure of 954 Pa, and a power of 4 kW. The EC fans utilize DC brushless motors and are equipped with sensor and control modules. The sensor module monitors environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, and pressure, while the control module automatically adjusts the fan speed and direction based on the monitoring results to achieve optimal air volume and pressure. This air conditioning unit can flexibly adapt to load changes, featuring stepless speed regulation and on-demand air supply capabilities. It can dynamically adjust the air volume according to actual needs (e.g., full speed operation during high summer loads and low speed operation during low autumn loads), ensuring environmental comfort while avoiding energy waste. Furthermore, this air conditioning unit is characterized by low noise and a small footprint.
[0022] The above description is merely a description of preferred embodiments of this application and is not intended to limit the scope of this application in any way. Any changes or modifications made by those skilled in the art based on the above-disclosed technical content should be considered as equivalent and valid embodiments and fall within the scope of protection of the technical solution of this application.
Claims
1. An air conditioning unit employing an EC fan, characterized in that, The air conditioning unit is arranged in the following order according to the airflow direction: mixing section (1), primary filter (2), coil (3), fan section (4), medium-efficiency filter (5), and air outlet section (6), wherein: The mixing section (1) is provided with a fresh air inlet (1-1) and a return air inlet (1-2), which are used to introduce external fresh air and return air to the mixing section (1), respectively. The primary filter (2) is vertically installed at the end of the mixing section (1) to perform preliminary filtration on the mixed air in order to remove impurities from the air; The coil (3) is circulated with chilled water or hot water to achieve heat exchange with the air outside the coil, so that the air is cooled, dehumidified or heated to regulate the air temperature and humidity parameters. The fan section (4) is equipped with an EC fan, which is used to transport the air after heat exchange through the coil (3) to the air outlet section (6). The medium-efficiency filter (5) is vertically installed inside the air conditioning unit to further filter the air delivered by the EC fan in order to ensure air quality; The air outlet section (6) is located at the very end of the air conditioning unit and has an air outlet (6-1).
2. An air conditioning unit using an EC fan as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The mixing section (1) is also equipped with an inspection door (1-3) for maintenance personnel to enter and replace the primary filter (2).
3. An air conditioning unit employing an EC fan as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The EC fan consists of two parts: a fan (4-2) and a motor (4-1). The fan (4-2) and the motor (4-1) adopt an integrated direct-drive design without belts. The motor (4-1) provides driving force for the fan (4-2).
4. An air conditioning unit employing an EC fan as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The EC fan (4-2) uses a backward centrifugal impeller, and its motor (4-1) uses a DC brushless motor.
5. An air conditioning unit employing an EC fan as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The fan section (4) is also provided with a fan mounting plate (4-3), which is vertically fixed inside the air conditioning unit. The EC fan is installed on the fan mounting plate (4-3) by fan fixing bolts (4-4).
6. An air conditioning unit employing an EC fan as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The air conditioning unit is equipped with one or more EC fans.