Water collecting and spraying structure and fresh air conditioner all-in-one machine
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202522506381.7
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-11-26
- Publication Date
- 2026-10-30
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-11-26
AI Technical Summary
[0004]然而,上述目前的处理方式存在明显的问题
上述集水淋洒结构,与设备现有气流的协同作用,便实现了冷凝水的自动收集与高效雾化淋洒,达到了利用冷凝水辅助换热器散热、提升整机能效的目的,同时规避了主动式方案带来的高成本、高故障率和额外能耗的问题。
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Figure CN224920511U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of fresh air conditioning technology, and in particular to a water spraying structure and an integrated fresh air conditioning unit. Background Technology
[0002] With the development of fresh air conditioning technology, integrated fresh air conditioning units that combine fresh air exchange and air conditioning cooling functions are becoming increasingly popular. During cooling operation, these units generate a large amount of low-temperature condensate in their evaporators. How to effectively treat and utilize this condensate has become a key technical aspect for improving the overall energy efficiency of the unit.
[0003] In traditional technologies, the treatment of condensate is relatively simple. Most air conditioning units collect condensate in a condensate pan and then discharge it directly outdoors through a drain pipe. This not only wastes the cooling capacity contained in the condensate but can also pollute the building's exterior walls. To improve energy efficiency, solutions utilizing condensate for auxiliary heat dissipation have emerged, such as the structure disclosed in Chinese Patent CN114935187A. In this technical solution, the equipment collects condensate produced by the evaporator and uses a water pump to power the water through pipes to a spray head, which then actively sprays the water onto the condenser to cool it down, lowering the compressor's operating point and achieving energy savings.
[0004] However, the current treatment methods described above have significant problems. For traditional direct discharge devices, valuable low-temperature condensate is wasted, reducing the overall energy efficiency of the system. While active spraying devices like those used in CN114935187A utilize condensate, they introduce new drawbacks: First, this structure relies on additional active components such as pumps and spray heads, increasing manufacturing costs and structural complexity. The pumps themselves also consume electricity, offsetting some of the energy savings. Second, it increases the system's potential failure points. Pumps are mechanical moving parts with limited lifespan and malfunction risks. Furthermore, dust or microorganisms in the condensate can clog the delicate spray heads, causing spraying failure, reducing overall system reliability, and incurring additional maintenance costs. Utility Model Content
[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to provide an integrated unit combining a water spray structure and a fresh air conditioning system to address the above problems.
[0006] This application provides a water collection and spraying structure, including a water collection tray for collecting condensate generated after fresh air flows through the evaporator. The water collection tray is provided with a drain outlet, which is arranged opposite to the heat exchanger to guide the condensate in the water collection tray to flow toward the heat exchanger, where it is blown away and sprayed onto the heat exchanger by the heat exchange fan of the fresh air air conditioning unit.
[0007] Optionally, the vertical distance between the evaporator and the water collection tray is H1, and the vertical distance between the water collection tray and the heat exchanger is H2, wherein H1 < H2.
[0008] Optionally, the vertical projection of the evaporator falls into the water collection tray, and the vertical projection of the evaporator coincides with the vertical projection edge of the heat exchanger.
[0009] This application also provides an integrated fresh air conditioning unit, including a fresh air module and an outdoor unit module. The fresh air module includes a fan, a filter, and an evaporator, with the evaporator disposed between the filter and the fan. The outdoor unit module includes a compressor and a heat exchanger, with the compressor connected to the evaporator. In the vertical direction, the evaporator is located above the heat exchanger. A water collection and spraying structure, including a water collection tray, is provided between the evaporator and the heat exchanger to collect condensate generated after fresh air flows through the evaporator. The water collection tray has a drain outlet, which is positioned opposite the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger has a first air duct formed along the air inlet direction of the heat exchange fan, and the drain outlet is located upwind of the heat exchanger along the direction of the first air duct; it is used to guide the condensate in the water collection pan to flow toward the heat exchanger and spray it onto the heat exchanger.
[0010] Optionally, the fan has a second air duct formed along its air inlet direction, the evaporator is disposed in the second air duct, and the drain outlet is disposed downwind of the evaporator along the direction of the second air duct. The drain outlet is located at the intersection of a first direction and a second direction of the water collection tray, where the first direction is the axial direction of the first air duct and the second direction is the axial direction of the second air duct.
[0011] Optionally, the vertical distance between the evaporator and the water collection tray is H1, and the vertical distance between the water collection tray and the heat exchanger is H2, wherein H1 < H2, and the difference between H1 and H2 is in the range of 10mm-20mm.
[0012] Optionally, the vertical projection of the evaporator falls into the water collection tray, and the vertical projection of the evaporator coincides with the vertical projection of the heat exchanger.
[0013] Optionally, the water collection tray includes a side plate and a bottom plate, with adjacent side plates being parallel to the first direction and the second direction, respectively.
[0014] Optionally, the side plate located upwind along the direction of the first air duct, together with the side plate located downwind along the direction of the second air duct and the bottom plate, together form a space for setting the drain outlet, which is located on the bottom plate within this space.
[0015] Optionally, the drain outlet is provided with a water-falling structure for breaking surface tension.
[0016] Optionally, the bottom plate of the water collection tray is provided with a slope, which tends to tilt towards the drain outlet to guide the condensate in the water collection tray to flow towards the drain outlet.
[0017] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution provided in this application has the following advantages: The aforementioned water collection and spraying structure, in synergy with the existing airflow of the equipment, achieves automatic collection and efficient atomized spraying of condensate, thereby utilizing condensate to assist heat exchanger heat dissipation and improve overall energy efficiency. At the same time, it avoids the problems of high cost, high failure rate and additional energy consumption brought about by active solutions.
[0018] The aforementioned integrated fresh air conditioning unit utilizes its own operating characteristics to reuse condensate. Specifically, the evaporator in the fresh air module is vertically positioned above the heat exchanger in the outdoor unit module. This height difference allows the condensate generated by the fresh air flowing through the evaporator to drip naturally under gravity and be effectively collected by a water collection tray positioned between the two. This water collection tray has a drain outlet opposite the heat exchanger below. The core of this embodiment is that the heat exchanger has a first air duct formed along its air intake direction, and the drain outlet of the water collection tray is located "upwind" of this first air duct. When the condensate in the water collection tray falls through the drain outlet, it directly enters the air intake airflow of the heat exchanger. Under the force of the airflow, the falling water or droplets are effectively dispersed, atomizing into smaller water droplets. These lighter droplets are then carried by the airflow in the air duct, causing them to drift a longer distance and over a wider area compared to traditional large water droplets, thus evenly spraying and covering a larger surface area of the heat exchanger. This process not only utilizes condensate to assist the heat exchanger in dissipating heat, significantly improving heat exchange efficiency, but also achieves effective treatment of condensate. Attached Figure Description
[0019] Figure 1 A partial structural diagram of the integrated fresh air conditioning unit provided in this application; Figure 2 A frontal view of the overall structural diagram of the integrated fresh air conditioning unit provided in this application; Figure 3 The rear view of the overall structural diagram of the integrated fresh air conditioning unit provided in this application; Figure 4 A side sectional view of the integrated fresh air conditioning unit provided in this application; Figure 5 The image shows the overall structure of the integrated fresh air conditioning unit provided in this application from a top view.
[0020] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 100. Fresh air module; 110. Fan; 120. Filter; 130. Evaporator; 140. Water collection tray; 141. Drain outlet; 142. Side panel; 143. Base plate; 200. Outdoor unit module; 210. Compressor; 220. Heat exchanger. Detailed Implementation
[0021] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a full understanding of this utility model. However, this utility model can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this utility model. Therefore, this utility model is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.
[0022] One embodiment of this utility model provides a water collection and spraying structure, including a water collection tray 140 for collecting condensate generated after fresh air flows through the evaporator 130. The water collection tray 140 is provided with a drain outlet 141, which is arranged opposite to the heat exchanger 220 to guide the condensate in the water collection tray 140 toward the heat exchanger 220, where it is blown away by the heat exchange fan of the fresh air air conditioning unit and sprayed onto the heat exchanger 220.
[0023] In this embodiment, a water collection and spraying structure is provided, in which a water collection tray receives and collects condensate dripping from the evaporator. By positioning the drain outlet opposite the heat exchanger, it is ensured that when the condensate flows out under guidance (e.g., by gravity), its physical path will inevitably pass through the area where the heat exchanger is located.
[0024] This structure utilizes the airflow generated by the heat exchange fan in the integrated fresh air conditioning unit. When condensate falls from the drain and enters the range of this airflow, the high-speed airflow replaces the water pump pressure and spray head structure of traditional solutions, powerfully impacting and dispersing the falling water flow or droplets. This dispersion process breaks down the condensate, which might otherwise be in the form of streams or large droplets, into smaller, atomized droplets with a larger specific surface area. These lighter droplets are then carried by the fan's airflow, evenly dispersing and spraying onto the large surface area of the heat exchanger. Therefore, the synergistic effect of this structure with the existing airflow of the equipment achieves automatic collection and efficient atomization and spraying of condensate, realizing the goal of using condensate to assist heat exchanger heat dissipation and improve overall energy efficiency, while avoiding the high cost, high failure rate, and additional energy consumption problems of active solutions.
[0025] In one embodiment, the vertical distance between the evaporator 130 and the water collection tray 140 is H1, and the vertical distance between the water collection tray 140 and the heat exchanger 220 is H2, where H1 < H2.
[0026] In one embodiment, the vertical projection of the evaporator 130 falls into the water collection tray 140, and the vertical projection of the evaporator 130 coincides with the vertical projection edge of the heat exchanger 220.
[0027] See Figures 1 to 3 This utility model provides an integrated fresh air conditioning unit, including a fresh air module 100 and an outdoor unit module 200. The fresh air module 100 includes a fan 110, a filter 120, and an evaporator 130, with the evaporator 130 disposed between the filter 120 and the fan 110. The outdoor unit module 200 includes a compressor 210 and a heat exchanger 220, with the compressor 210 connected to the evaporator 130. In the vertical direction, the evaporator 130 is located above the heat exchanger 220. A water collection and spraying structure is provided between the evaporator 130 and the heat exchanger 220, including a water collection tray 140 for collecting condensate generated after fresh air flows through the evaporator 130. The water collection tray 140 is provided with a drain outlet 141, which is positioned opposite to the heat exchanger 220. The heat exchanger 220 has a first air duct formed along the air inlet direction of the heat exchange fan, and the drain outlet 141 is located upwind of the heat exchanger 220 along the direction of the first air duct; it is used to guide the condensate in the water collection pan 140 toward the heat exchanger 220 and spray it onto the heat exchanger 220.
[0028] In this embodiment, the condensate is reused by utilizing the inherent operating characteristics of the equipment. Specifically, the evaporator 130 in the fresh air module 100 is vertically positioned above the heat exchanger 220 in the outdoor unit module 200. This height difference allows the condensate generated by the fresh air flowing through the evaporator 130 to drip naturally under gravity and be effectively collected by the water collection tray 140 located between them. The water collection tray 140 has a drain outlet 141, which is opposite to the heat exchanger 220 below. The core of this embodiment is that the heat exchanger 220 has a first air duct formed along its air intake direction, and the drain outlet 141 of the water collection tray 140 is located upwind of this first air duct. When the condensate in the water collection tray 140 falls through the drain outlet 141, it directly enters the air intake airflow of the heat exchanger 220. Under the force of the airflow, the falling water or droplets are effectively dispersed and atomized into smaller water droplets. These lighter water droplets are then carried by the airflow in the duct, causing them to drift a longer distance and over a wider area compared to traditional larger water droplets, thus evenly spraying and covering a larger surface area of the heat exchanger 220. This process not only utilizes condensate to assist the heat exchanger 220 in heat dissipation, significantly improving heat exchange efficiency, but also achieves effective treatment of condensate.
[0029] See Figure 1 In one embodiment, the fan 110 has a second air duct formed along its air intake direction, the evaporator 130 is disposed in the second air duct, and the drain outlet 141 is disposed downwind of the evaporator 130 along the direction of the second air duct. The drain outlet 141 is disposed at the intersection of a first direction and a second direction of the water collection tray 140, the first direction being the axial direction of the first air duct and the second direction being the axial direction of the second air duct.
[0030] This embodiment further optimizes the condensate collection process. A second air duct is formed in the air inlet direction of the fan 110, and the evaporator 130 is disposed within this second air duct. Since the evaporator 130 is located after the filter 120, the water-containing air entering the second air duct contains fewer impurities, resulting in purer condensate. This pure condensate is more easily blown by the suction force of the fan 110 compared to water containing more impurities.
[0031] In this embodiment, the drain outlet 141 is positioned downwind of the second air duct relative to the evaporator 130. This arrangement allows the suction force of the fan 110 to actively push the easily blown condensate formed on the evaporator 130 along the direction of the second air duct, and collect it to a specific side of the water collection tray 140, namely the downwind side where the drain outlet 141 is located. Simultaneously, the drain outlet 141 is also positioned at the intersection of a first direction (the axis of the first air duct) and a second direction (the axis of the second air duct), ensuring the accuracy of water flow collection. Under the continuous suction force of the fan 110, the water on this side of the water collection tray 140 changes from stagnant to flowing. This flowing trend, compared to a stagnant state, further accelerates the process of condensate flowing out of the drain outlet 141, providing stable support for subsequent efficient spraying into the first air duct.
[0032] See Figure 4 In one embodiment, the vertical distance between the evaporator 130 and the water collection tray 140 is H1, and the vertical distance between the water collection tray 140 and the heat exchanger 220 is H2, where H1 < H2, and the difference between H1 and H2 is in the range of 10mm-20mm.
[0033] In this embodiment, the vertical relative positions of the evaporator 130, the water collection tray 140 and the heat exchanger 220 are further defined. The vertical distance between the evaporator 130 and the water collection tray 140 is set to H1, while the vertical distance between the water collection tray 140 and the heat exchanger 220 is set to H2, and H1 is made smaller than H2. This asymmetric spacing setting of H1 < H2 is designed to synergistically optimize the two stages of condensate collection and spraying: On the one hand, the smaller spacing H1 shortens the distance from the evaporator 130 to the collection pan 140, effectively reducing the interference of the second airflow during the droplet's descent and ensuring that the condensate can be collected stably and efficiently into the collection pan 140; on the other hand, the larger spacing H2 provides a longer working distance and more space for the condensate to fall from the drain outlet 141 of the collection pan 140 to the heat exchanger 220, allowing the airflow in the first airflow to more fully disperse and atomize the falling droplets, making the water droplets spread farther and more evenly, thereby significantly increasing the coverage area on the heat exchanger 220 and enhancing the heat dissipation effect.
[0034] See Figure 5 In one embodiment, the vertical projection of the evaporator 130 falls into the water collection tray 140, and the vertical projection of the evaporator 130 coincides with the vertical projection of the heat exchanger 220.
[0035] This embodiment further clarifies the spatial correspondence between key components. The vertical projection of the evaporator 130 falls entirely within the range of the water collection tray 140. This arrangement ensures that the water collection tray 140 has sufficient coverage area to fully receive and collect the condensate dripping from the evaporator 130, thereby maximizing water collection efficiency and preventing condensate leakage to other areas of the equipment. Simultaneously, the vertical projection of the evaporator 130 partially overlaps with the vertical projection of the heat exchanger 220. This partially overlapping staggered layout allows the downwind portion of the second air duct of the evaporator 130 to be positioned above the upwind portion of the first air duct of the heat exchanger 220. This ensures that the drain outlet 141 located at this intersection can efficiently collect the condensate propelled by the airflow from the second air duct and release water droplets into the optimal action area of the airflow from the first air duct, achieving maximum dispersion, atomization, and large-area spraying, thereby enhancing the heat dissipation effect of the heat exchanger 220.
[0036] See Figure 1 In one embodiment, the water collection tray 140 includes a side plate 142 and a bottom plate 143, with adjacent side plates 142 being parallel to a first direction and a second direction, respectively.
[0037] In this embodiment, the geometry of the water collection tray 140 is defined, comprising a base plate 143 and adjacent side plates 142 parallel to the first direction (the direction of the first air duct axis) and the second direction (the direction of the second air duct axis), respectively. This structure of the side plates 142 parallel to the air duct axis ensures that the shape of the water collection tray 140 (e.g., forming a rectangular corner) matches the aerodynamic flow field within the device. This structural design ensures that the water collection tray 140 effectively encloses a specific water collection space, namely the intersection of the first and second directions mentioned above. In this way, the condensate propelled by the airflow from the second air duct is guided and constrained by the side plates 142 parallel to the second direction, thus being collected at the corner of the intersection. This ensures that the condensate stably accumulates above the drain outlet 141 (located at the intersection), providing a stable water source for subsequent spraying using the airflow from the first air duct.
[0038] In one embodiment, a side plate 142 located upwind along the direction of the first air duct, together with a side plate 142 located downwind along the direction of the second air duct and a bottom plate 143, forms a space for setting a drain outlet 141, which is located on the bottom plate 143 within the space.
[0039] In this embodiment, the space on the water collection tray 140 for setting the drain outlet 141 is specifically defined. By setting a side plate 142 located upwind along the first air duct direction and a side plate 142 located downwind along the second air duct direction, and having them together with the base plate 143 to enclose the space, a physical intersection of the first and second directions is formed. The side plate 142 located downwind along the second air duct direction serves to guide and block, ensuring that the condensate pushed by the airflow of the second air duct can be collected and confined within the enclosed space. The drain outlet 141 is set on the base plate 143 within this space, which allows the condensate collected by the airflow of the second air duct to flow out stably and centrally from the drain outlet 141 and be directly released into the upwind area of the first air duct directly below, providing an optimal release point for subsequent airflow to disperse and atomize it, thus enhancing the overall spraying and heat dissipation effect.
[0040] In one embodiment, the drain outlet 141 is provided with a water-falling structure for disrupting surface tension. In this embodiment, a water-falling structure for disrupting surface tension is further provided on the drain outlet 141. The presence of this structure can effectively overcome the accumulation and adhesion effect of condensate at the edge of the drain outlet 141 due to surface tension. This makes it difficult for condensate to gather into large water droplets or clumps at the outlet, but instead causes it to fall in a smaller, more easily separated form (e.g., a finer stream or smaller droplets). These droplets have a smaller mass and a larger specific surface area, and when they enter the first air duct below, they are more easily captured, dispersed, and atomized by the airflow, thereby further improving the uniformity and coverage of condensate spraying on the heat exchanger 220 and enhancing the heat dissipation effect.
[0041] In one embodiment, the bottom plate 143 of the water collection tray 140 is provided with a slope, which tends to slope toward the drain outlet 141 to guide the condensate in the water collection tray 140 to flow toward the drain outlet 141.
[0042] In this embodiment, to further enhance the collection effect of condensate and ensure smooth drainage, a slope is specially provided on the bottom plate 143 of the water collection tray 140. This slope tends to tilt towards the side where the drain outlet 141 is located. Through this structural design, gravity is used to passively guide the condensate in the water collection tray 140. In this way, even when the airflow in the second duct is weak, or when the equipment is operating at low wind speed, the condensate on the bottom plate 143 can automatically and continuously flow towards the drain outlet 141 under the pull of gravity. This effectively avoids large-area accumulation or stagnation of condensate on the bottom plate 143, ensuring that the water flow can be stably collected at the drain outlet 141, providing a continuous and reliable water supply for subsequent spraying and atomization in the first duct.
[0043] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.
[0044] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementations of this utility model, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the utility model patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this utility model, and these all fall within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model patent should be determined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A water collection and spraying structure, characterized in that, It includes a water collection tray (140) for collecting condensate generated after fresh air flows through the evaporator (130). The water collection tray (140) is provided with a drain outlet (141). The drain outlet (141) is arranged opposite to the heat exchanger (220) to guide the condensate in the water collection tray (140) to flow toward the heat exchanger (220) and be blown away and sprayed onto the heat exchanger (220) by the heat exchange fan (230) of the fresh air air conditioning unit.
2. The water collection and spraying structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vertical distance between the evaporator (130) and the water collection tray (140) is H1, and the vertical distance between the water collection tray (140) and the heat exchanger (220) is H2, wherein H1 < H2.
3. The water collection and spraying structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vertical projection of the evaporator (130) falls into the water collection tray (140), and the vertical projection of the evaporator (130) coincides with the vertical projection edge of the heat exchanger (220).
4. A fresh air conditioning unit, comprising a fresh air module (100) and an outdoor unit module (200), wherein the fresh air module (100) includes a fan (110), a filter (120), and an evaporator (130), the evaporator (130) being disposed between the filter (120) and the fan (110), and the outdoor unit module (200) including a compressor (210) and a heat exchanger (220), the compressor (210) being connected to the evaporator (130), characterized in that, In the vertical direction, the evaporator (130) is located above the heat exchanger (220). A water collection and spraying structure is provided between the evaporator (130) and the heat exchanger (220), including a water collection tray (140) for collecting condensate generated after fresh air flows through the evaporator (130). The water collection tray (140) is provided with a drain outlet (141), which is arranged opposite to the heat exchanger (220). The heat exchanger (220) has a first air duct formed along the air inlet direction of the heat exchange fan, and the drain outlet (141) is located upwind of the heat exchanger (220) along the direction of the first air duct; it is used to guide the condensate in the water collection pan (140) to flow toward the heat exchanger (220), and to blow and spray onto the heat exchanger (220).
5. The integrated fresh air conditioning unit according to claim 4, characterized in that, The fan (110) has a second air duct formed along its air intake direction, the evaporator (130) is disposed in the second air duct, and the drain outlet (141) is disposed downwind of the evaporator (130) along the direction of the second air duct. The drain outlet (141) is located at the intersection of the first direction and the second direction of the water collection plate (140), where the first direction is the axial direction of the first air duct and the second direction is the axial direction of the second air duct.
6. The integrated fresh air conditioning unit according to claim 4, characterized in that, The vertical distance between the evaporator (130) and the water collection tray (140) is H1, and the vertical distance between the water collection tray (140) and the heat exchanger (220) is H2, wherein H1 < H2, and the difference between H1 and H2 is in the range of 10mm-20mm.
7. The integrated fresh air conditioning unit according to claim 4, characterized in that, The vertical projection of the evaporator (130) falls into the water collection tray (140), and the vertical projection of the evaporator (130) coincides with the vertical projection of the heat exchanger (220).
8. The integrated fresh air conditioning unit according to claim 4, characterized in that, The water collection tray (140) includes a side plate (142) and a bottom plate (143), with adjacent side plates (142) being parallel to a first direction and a second direction, respectively.
9. The integrated fresh air conditioning unit according to claim 8, characterized in that, The side plate (142) located upwind along the direction of the first air duct, together with the side plate (142) located downwind along the direction of the second air duct and the bottom plate (143), form a space for setting the drain outlet (141), which is located on the bottom plate (143) within the space.
10. The integrated fresh air conditioning unit according to claim 8, characterized in that, The bottom plate (143) of the water collection tray (140) is provided with a slope, which tends to tilt toward the drain outlet (141) to guide the condensate in the water collection tray (140) to flow toward the drain outlet (141).
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Energy-saving spray-type integrated air conditioner unit for both winter and summer operation and temperature-controlled ventilation method
CN114935187A