Method for reducing size, thickness and weight of outdoor unit of air conditioner by cooling method using thermal energy conversion effect

Abstract

To solve the problem that since outdoor units for air conditioners (heating and cooling equipment) are generally large and heavy, there are restrictions on where they are installed, and the task of transporting and installing them is difficult.SOLUTION: A pyroelectric material, which has material properties known as the pyroelectric effect, or metal is machined to coat an outer periphery of a refrigerant pipe of an outdoor unit, or form a cylindrical member is created, thereby wrapping the refrigerant pipe multiple times. When a cable is connected to a coating material of the refrigerant pipe or a member around which the refrigerant pipe is wrapped, and connected to a power system of an air conditioner, the pyroelectric effect can be used to power the air conditioner. Consequently, the heat of a high-temperature refrigerant is converted into electricity to lower a temperature, thereby eliminating the need for conventional cooling and heat radiation devices and allowing the outdoor unit to be made compact.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the material properties of pyroelectrics and metals (pyroelectric effect) and to applied technology of fluid dynamics. [Background technology]

[0002] Air conditioning (heating and cooling equipment) technology

[0003] Windmill and watermill fan blowing technology Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional air conditioner outdoor units, both for commercial and home use, are large and heavy equipment, so there were restrictions on where they could be installed due to issues such as securing space and weight durability. There was also the problem that the work of transporting and setting up the device was difficult. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The reason why conventional air conditioner outdoor units are large and heavy is that when the cooling function is used indoors, the refrigerant that is compressed and heated in the outdoor unit is cooled and the refrigerant pipes are cooled and dissipated heat by wrapping the long refrigerant pipes around a heat sink (radiator) and cooling them with a large blower fan. (The heat sink and the outer frame (box) are particularly heavy.) (1) A cylindrical component made of a "pyroelectric material or metal" that has the material property of a pyroelectric effect is fixed inside the outdoor unit. The refrigerant pipe is wrapped around the outer circumference of this component in multiple layers. (2) A material that has the material property of a pyroelectric effect and is processed into a powder or liquid form is used to coat (apply) the outer periphery of the refrigerant pipe. When the compressed, heated refrigerant passes through the refrigerant pipe, the heat of the refrigerant is transferred to the component (1) and the coating material (2), generating electricity due to the pyroelectric effect. When an electrode and a cable are connected to the component (1) or the coating material (2) and then connected to the power system of an air conditioner, the component (1) or the coating material (2) becomes the power source and provides electricity for the air conditioner. In this way, the thermal energy of the compressed and heated refrigerant is converted into electrical energy to lower the temperature. This method eliminates the need for a heat sink that was previously installed inside the outdoor unit, and allows the refrigerant pipes, which were previously designed to be long in order to improve heat dissipation, to be shortened. Also, since a heavy heat sink is not required, the outer frame of the outdoor unit can be made from lighter materials (aluminum, resin, etc.) instead of sturdy steel. (3) Conventionally, it was common to use one large windmill-type blower fan for cooling, but in this new system, multiple small waterwheel-type blower fans are arranged vertically on one surface. A method that contributes to making air conditioner outdoor units smaller, thinner, and lighter by using methods (1), (2), and (3).

Claims

1. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner (heating and cooling equipment) is constructed so that the compression device, pressure reduction device, heat sink (radiator), blower fan, refrigerant pipes, etc. are housed in an outer frame (box) made of steel or other material. When cooling a room, an air conditioner compresses the refrigerant in the outdoor unit to heat it up, and when heating a room, it reduces the pressure of the refrigerant to heat it up. The heat sink for cooling and dissipating heat from the compressed, high-temperature refrigerant and refrigerant pipes, the blower fan, the long refrigerant pipes, and the outer frame that houses these are the main factors in the size and weight of the outdoor unit. A cylindrical component made of a "pyroelectric material or metal" that has a material property known as the pyroelectric effect, which converts thermal energy into electrical energy, is fixed inside the outdoor unit. The refrigerant pipe is wrapped around the outer circumference of this component in multiple layers. When the compressed and heated refrigerant passes through this refrigerant pipe, the heat of the refrigerant is transferred to the component that has the pyroelectric effect, and the thermal energy is converted into electrical energy. (The component that receives the heat becomes a power generator.) By connecting electrodes and cables to this component and then to the air conditioner's power system, the component becomes a power source and provides electricity for the air conditioner. In this way, rather than lowering the temperature of the compressed, high-temperature refrigerant by the heat dissipation action of a heat sink or the cooling action of a blower fan, the temperature is lowered by converting the thermal energy of the high-temperature refrigerant into electrical energy by the pyroelectric effect. This eliminates the need for the heat sink and blower fan that were previously found in the outdoor unit, and also makes it possible to shorten the refrigerant pipes that were previously designed to be long in order to improve heat dissipation. In addition, since a heavy heat sink is not required, the outer frame of the outdoor unit can be made of lighter materials (aluminum, resin, etc.) instead of sturdy steel. This method contributes to making air conditioner outdoor units smaller, thinner, and lighter.

2. The outer circumference of the refrigerant pipe is coated with a powder or liquid material made from a "pyroelectric material or metal" that has the material property of converting thermal energy into electrical energy, known as the pyroelectric effect. When the compressed and heated refrigerant passes through the refrigerant pipes, the heat is transferred to the coating material, which has a pyroelectric effect, and the thermal energy is converted into electrical energy. (The coating material that receives the heat becomes a power generator.) By connecting electrodes and cables to this coating material and then connecting it to the air conditioner's power system, the coating material becomes a power source and provides electricity for the air conditioner. In this way, rather than lowering the temperature of the compressed, high-temperature refrigerant by the heat dissipation action of a heat sink or the cooling action of a blower fan, the heat energy of the high-temperature refrigerant is converted into electrical energy by the pyroelectric effect, eliminating the need for the heat sink and blower fan that were previously found in the outdoor unit, and also shortening the refrigerant pipes that were previously designed to be long in order to improve heat dissipation. Also, the coated refrigerant pipe is folded compactly and stored inside the outdoor unit. In addition, since a heavy heat sink is not required, the outer frame of the outdoor unit can be made of lighter materials (aluminum, resin, etc.) instead of sturdy steel. This method contributes to making air conditioner outdoor units smaller, thinner, and lighter.

3. Conventional air conditioner outdoor units generally use one large windmill-type blower fan for cooling, but this method contributes to making the outer frame (box) of the outdoor unit smaller and thinner by using multiple small waterwheel-type blower fans arranged vertically on one surface. Waterwheel fans have a stronger air blowing function than windmill fans, so even if they are small (small radius), by arranging multiple them vertically, they can blow a large amount of air even on a narrow installation surface. Using such a cooling air blowing method contributes to making the outer frame (box) of an air conditioner outdoor unit smaller and thinner.

4. An apparatus or facility using the method according to claim 1, claim 2, or claim 3.

5. A service or business using the device or facility according to claim 4.