Condenser unit

Abstract

To provide a condenser unit capable of improving condensing capacity without enlarging a condenser.SOLUTION: The condenser unit is provided with a condenser 10 in which a condensing passage having a microchannel structure is provided between a pair of refrigerant headers 22, 22, an air cooling fan 12 for air-cooling the condenser 10, and a resin shroud 14 surrounding the air cooling fan 12. The condenser 10 and the shroud 14 are connected to each other by metal connecting members 16, 16, and an air passage 36 for air flowing by driving of the air cooling fan 12 is formed between the back surface of the condenser 10 and the air cooling fan 12. The heat of the condenser 10 is radiated by the coupling member 16, and the heat exchange between the air flowing in the air duct 36 and the coupling member 16 is efficiently performed, so that the condensation capacity can be further enhanced.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a condenser unit including an air-cooled condenser and a shroud. [Background technology]

[0002] Air-cooled condensers used in refrigeration devices for cooling equipment such as ice makers, freezers, and refrigerators are configured to form an air path by assembling a resin shroud with a fan motor, and to efficiently guide the air generated by the fan motor to the condenser for air cooling (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-175419 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned refrigeration systems, R404A is generally used as a refrigerant. However, R404A has a high global warming potential and is undesirable from an environmental perspective. Therefore, R448A, which has a low global warming potential, has been proposed as an alternative to R404A. Compared to R404A, R448A has a higher compressor discharge temperature. Therefore, in order to avoid a decrease in refrigeration capacity, it is necessary to improve the condensation capacity accordingly. However, in order to improve the condensation capacity of an air-cooled condenser, the condenser must be enlarged, which requires design changes such as enlarging the shroud, resulting in problems such as an increase in the size of the system and increased manufacturing costs.

[0005] The present invention has been proposed in consideration of the above-mentioned problems inherent in the conventional technology, and aims to solve these problems in an appropriate manner, and has an object to provide a condenser unit that can improve condensing capacity without increasing the size of the condenser. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to overcome the above problems and achieve the intended purpose, the first means is: A condenser unit including a condenser, an air-cooling fan for cooling the condenser, and a resin shroud surrounding the air-cooling fan, the condenser is a condenser having a condensation path with a microchannel structure between a pair of headers through which a refrigerant can flow, The gist of the configuration is that a metal connecting member fixed so as to contact the header is fixed to the shroud, thereby defining an air path between the condenser and the air-cooled fan for air to flow when the air-cooled fan is driven. According to this configuration, the condenser and the shroud are connected by a metal connecting member, so heat from the condenser can be dissipated through the connecting member, improving condensation capacity without increasing the size of the condenser. Furthermore, because the air passage is defined by the connecting member, heat exchange between the air flowing through the air passage and the connecting member is also efficient, further improving condensation capacity. Therefore, various environmentally friendly refrigerants, such as R448A, can be used without reducing condensation capacity. Furthermore, using a condenser with a microchannel structure allows for efficient condensation of the refrigerant, and the condenser can be made more compact.

[0007] The second means is that the shroud has an extension that covers an upper surface of the condenser, The connecting member is disposed between the header and the side surface of the shroud so as to close an opening that opens to the side surface of the condenser, the upper surface of which is covered by the extension portion. According to this configuration, by changing the width dimension of the connecting member, the area of ​​the connecting member facing the air passage changes, thereby varying the heat dissipation capacity of the connecting member. Therefore, the condensation capacity of the condenser can be adjusted simply by replacing the connecting member with one having a different width dimension. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the condenser unit of the present invention, the condensing capacity of an air-cooled condenser can be improved without increasing the size of the condenser. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the condenser unit of the embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a condenser unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the condenser unit of the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a main part of a condenser unit according to another embodiment, the condenser unit being disposed in a housing. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing a condenser unit according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Next, a condenser unit according to the present invention will be described below by way of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Example]

[0011] 1 and 2, the condenser unit of the embodiment includes an air-cooled condenser 10, an air-cooled fan 12 that cools the condenser 10, and a resin shroud 14 that surrounds the air-cooled fan 12, with the condenser 10 and the shroud 14 being connected by a metal connecting member 16. The condenser unit of the embodiment is configured such that the air-cooled fan 12 is disposed on the rear side of the condenser 10, and air flows from the front side to the rear side of the condenser 10 by driving the air-cooled fan 12. The condenser unit is disposed in a machine chamber 20 defined inside a housing 18 (described later) of a cooling device such as an ice maker, freezer, or refrigerator.

[0012] The condenser 10 employs a microchannel structure for the flow path of the refrigerant. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the condenser 10 includes hollow refrigerant headers (headers) 22, 22 spaced a predetermined distance apart in the left-right direction, a plurality of heat transfer tubes (not shown) arranged in parallel to connect the refrigerant headers 22, 22, and a plurality of heat dissipation fins 24 arranged between the refrigerant headers 22, 22 so as to contact the heat transfer tubes. The heat transfer tubes connecting the pair of refrigerant headers 22, 22 form a condensation path through which the refrigerant can flow. The heat transfer tubes are microchanneled, forming narrow paths through which the refrigerant flows, enabling a high heat transfer coefficient. The condenser 10 is made of a metal, such as aluminum, but other metal materials can also be used.

[0013] As shown in Figure 3, each refrigerant header 22 has multiple (two in this embodiment) metal mounting members 26 arranged spaced apart in the vertical direction, and the connecting member 16 is detachably fixed to both mounting members 26 with screws, so that the connecting member 16 comes into contact with the refrigerant header 22 via the mounting members 26 and is configured to be able to exchange heat.

[0014] 1 to 3, the shroud 14 is provided with an upper extension (extension) 28a extending forward from the upper edge over the entire width of a main body 28 having an internal dimension set to be able to surround the air-cooled fan 12 and configured to allow air to circulate in the front-to-rear direction, and side extensions 28b, 28b extending forward from both left and right side edges over the entire height of the main body 28. The upper extension 28a has approximately the same width as the condenser 10, and is configured so that the entire top surface of the condenser 10 can be covered from above by the upper extension 28a. In addition, the left and right side extension portions 28b, 28b are set to have a shorter extension dimension forward than the upper extension portion 28a, and when the upper extension portion 28a is facing the upper side of the condenser 10, the extension ends (front ends) of the side extension portions 28b, 28b are configured to be positioned rearward and spaced apart from the back surface of the condenser 10.

[0015] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the connecting member 16 is a member that connects the condenser 10 and the shroud 14 on both the left and right sides, and each connecting member 16 has a side wall 30 that is a substantially rectangular plate extending in the vertical direction, an attachment portion 32 that is provided at the lower end of the side wall 30 and is attached to a base (not shown) for arranging the condenser unit in the housing 18, and an upper edge portion 34 that is provided at the upper edge of the side wall 30 and extends toward the other connecting member 16. The connecting member 16 is removably screwed in such a manner that the front end of the side wall 30 contacts the mounting member 26 provided on the refrigerant header 22, the upper extension portion 28a of the shroud 14 is removably screwed to the upper edge portion 34 facing the upper side of the condenser 10, and the rear end of the side wall 30 is removably screwed to the corresponding side extension portion 28b of the shroud 14, and the upper extension portion 28a, left and right side extension portions 28b, 28b of the shroud 14 and the pair of connecting members 16, 16 (side walls 30, 30) form an air passage 36 between the back surface of the condenser 10 and the air-cooled fan 12 for air that flows when the air-cooled fan 12 is driven. That is, the condenser unit is configured such that the shroud 14 has an upper extension (extension) 28a that covers the upper surface of the condenser 10, and the connecting member 16 is disposed between the refrigerant header 22 and the side surface of the shroud 14 so as to close an opening that opens to the side surface of the condenser 10 whose upper surface is covered by the upper extension 28a. In addition, a plate-shaped positioning portion 38 that extends in the same direction as the extension direction of the upper edge portion 34 is provided on the front end edge of the side wall 30, and the positioning portion 38 contacts and positions the corresponding refrigerant header 22 and increases the contact area with the refrigerant header 22. Note that the connecting member 16 is preferably formed from a hot-dip galvanized steel plate from the viewpoints of durability, corrosion resistance, etc., but may be formed from various other metals.

[0016] [Operation of the Example] Next, the operation of the condenser unit according to the embodiment will be described.

[0017] In the condenser unit of the embodiment, the condenser 10 and the resin shroud 14 are connected by metal connecting members 16, 16. This allows heat from the condenser 10 to be dissipated through the connecting members 16, 16, improving the condensing capacity without increasing the size of the condenser 10. Furthermore, the connecting members 16, 16 define the air passages 36, allowing efficient heat exchange between the air flowing through the air passages 36 and the connecting members 16, 16. This increases the heat dissipation efficiency of the connecting members 16, 16, and further enhances the condensing capacity of the condenser 10. In other words, when using R448A, which is environmentally preferable as a refrigerant, the required condensing capacity can be ensured without increasing the size of the condenser 10, providing an environmentally friendly condenser unit. Furthermore, the use of a microchannel condenser 10 allows for efficient refrigeration of the refrigerant, thereby enabling the condenser 10 to be downsized. Furthermore, in the condenser 10 having a microchannel structure, the refrigerant header 22 is the portion where the refrigerant flows in a concentrated manner, and therefore the heat dissipation effect of the connecting member 16 that comes into contact with the refrigerant header 22 is high.

[0018] In the condenser unit of the embodiment, metal connecting members 16 are disposed on both the left and right sides of the resin shroud 14 to define the air passage 36. Therefore, corners and the like on the inner surface of the air passage 36 other than the straight portions defined by the connecting members 16 can be made into smooth curved shapes by the resin shroud 14, allowing air to flow smoothly, and the air-cooling efficiency of the condenser 10 can be improved.

[0019] In the condenser unit of the embodiment, by changing the front-to-rear (width) dimension of the connecting member 16, the area of ​​the connecting member 16 facing the air passage 36 changes, and the heat dissipation capacity changes. Therefore, the condensing capacity of the condenser 10 can be adjusted simply by replacing the connecting member 16 with one having a different front-to-rear dimension. Also, if the width and extension length of the upper extension portion 28a of the shroud 14 are sized to cover the upper surfaces of various condensers 10 with different required condensation capacities, a condenser unit that can obtain the desired condensation capacity can be configured simply by replacing the connecting member 16 with one having a different front-to-rear length depending on the model.

[0020] [Another Example] 4 and 5 show another embodiment of the condenser unit, and the same members as those already described in the embodiment are given the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 4, the condenser unit of another embodiment is disposed in a machine chamber 20 defined inside a housing 18 that constitutes a cooling device such as an ice maker, a freezer, or a refrigerator. An external air inlet is formed in the housing 18 at a position facing the front of the condenser unit, and the inlet is covered from the front by a louver 40. An electrical box 42 accommodating various electrical components is disposed in the machine chamber 20 adjacent to the condenser 10 of the condenser unit. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a plurality of through holes 30a are formed in the side wall 30 of the connecting member 16 that faces the electrical box 42 of the condenser unit.

[0022] According to the condenser unit of this other embodiment, in addition to the effects achieved by the condenser unit of the embodiment, a portion of the air flowing through the air passage 36 is blown out from the through holes 30a toward the electrical box 42, thereby air-cooling the electrical box 42. This prevents the electrical components inside the electrical box 42 from exceeding their specified temperature range due to heat from the condenser 10. This allows the electrical box 42 to be located close to the condenser unit, thereby making the cooling device more compact.

[0023] [Example of change] The present application is not limited to the configurations of the above-described examples, etc., and other configurations may be adopted as appropriate. Furthermore, the configurations described in the examples, etc., are not limited to the following modifications, and various embodiments may be adopted within the scope of the gist of the present invention. (1) In the embodiments, the left and right side surfaces of the condenser and the shroud are connected by connecting members. However, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the top surface is also connected by a metal connecting member. (2) In the embodiments, the cooling fan and the shroud are disposed on the rear side of the condenser, but the cooling fan and the shroud may be disposed on the front side of the condenser. (3) The fixing structure between the refrigerant header and the connecting member is not limited to the fixing by the mounting member in the embodiment, but various structures that can fix the refrigerant header and the connecting member in a contact state can be adopted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0024] 10 condenser, 12 air-cooled fan, 14 shroud, 22 refrigerant header (header) 36 Wind path

Claims

1. A condenser unit including a condenser (10), an air-cooling fan (12) for cooling the condenser (10), and a resin shroud (14) surrounding the air-cooling fan (12), The condenser (10) is a condenser (10) having a condensation path having a microchannel structure through which a refrigerant can flow, between a pair of headers (22, 22), A metallic connecting member (16) fixed to the header (22, 22) so as to come into contact with the header (22, 22) is fixed to the shroud (14), thereby defining an air passage (36) for air flowing when the air-cooling fan (12) is driven between the condenser (10) and the air-cooling fan (12). A condenser unit characterized by:

2. The shroud (14) includes an extension (28a) that covers an upper surface of the condenser (10), 2. The condenser unit according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member (16) is disposed between the header (22) and the side surface of the shroud (14) so ​​as to close an opening that opens to the side surface of the condenser (10) whose upper surface is covered by the extension portion (28a).

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