Cooling mat, method for cooling air conditioner outdoor units, and method for cooling outdoor equipment.

Abstract

The present invention provides a cooling mat that can be easily installed and operated, and a method for cooling outdoor equipment. [Solution] The cooling mat 1 comprises a water-absorbing filler 10 and a water-permeable outer covering 11 that encloses the filler 10. The method for cooling outdoor equipment involves placing the cooling mat 1 on top of, for example, an air conditioner outdoor unit 20, which is one of the outdoor equipment, so that rainwater is absorbed into the filler 10 during rainy weather, and the air conditioner outdoor unit 20 is cooled by the heat of vaporization of water evaporating from the filler 10 during sunny or cloudy weather.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling mat that cools outdoor equipment using the heat of vaporization, an air conditioner outdoor unit using the cooling mat, and a method for cooling outdoor equipment.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in order to cool the top plate of an air conditioner outdoor unit, which is a type of outdoor equipment, by the heat of evaporation from a water supply sheet, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-138838 discloses a water-cooling adapter unit for an air conditioner outdoor unit that stores drain water in a unit-based water storage portion installed on the upper surface of the air conditioner outdoor unit main body, allows the water dripping from a small hole leading from the water storage portion to the lower part to penetrate into the sheet, and cools the air conditioner outdoor unit.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the drain pipe must be arranged near the outdoor unit and above the outdoor unit so that the drain water falls on the outdoor unit. For this reason, there is a problem that piping work is required for existing outdoor units. In addition, since rainwater cannot be effectively utilized, there is also a problem that it can be adopted for devices that produce drain water such as air conditioners, but cannot be adopted for devices that do not produce drain water.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a cooling mat that can be easily installed and operated, an air conditioner outdoor unit, and a method for cooling outdoor equipment.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] (1) The cooling mat of the present invention is A filler that has water absorption properties, It comprises an outer material that is permeable to water and encloses the filler, This method is characterized by contacting outdoor equipment and cooling the outdoor equipment using the heat of vaporization of water.

[0007] According to the present invention, the cooling mat, by combining a water-absorbing filler and a water-permeable exterior material, can collect rainwater inside the cooling mat. Therefore, simply by bringing the cooling mat into contact with the outer panel of an outdoor device, the outdoor device can be cooled by evaporative cooling. Note that the outdoor device includes air conditioner outdoor units.

[0008] (2) Preferred examples of the cooling mat of the present invention are: The aforementioned filler is rock wool.

[0009] According to a preferred example of the cooling mat of the present invention, the filling material is rock wool, which provides excellent durability and allows for long-term use. Furthermore, rock wool has excellent sound absorption properties, making it possible to reduce noise from outdoor equipment.

[0010] (3) Preferred examples of the cooling mat of the present invention are: The aforementioned filler is rock wool, and when the rock wool is immersed in water or irrigated with water after it has absorbed water and then dried, its volumetric water content becomes 70% or more within 20 minutes.

[0011] According to a preferred example of the cooling mat of the present invention, it can contain a relatively large amount of water. Therefore, depending on conditions such as the operating location and climate, cooling of outdoor equipment can be continued if there is rainfall about once a week.

[0012] (4) Preferred examples of the cooling mat of the present invention are: The surface of the filler or exterior material is coated with a photocatalytic coating.

[0013] According to a preferred example of the cooling mat of the present invention, it is possible to prevent mold or moss from growing on the filler or the exterior material.

[0014] (5) A preferred example of the cooling mat of the present invention is The bottom surface portion of the exterior material is non - water - permeable.

[0015] According to a preferred example of the cooling mat of the present invention, since the bottom surface of the exterior material is non - water - permeable, it is possible to suppress the water that has penetrated into the filler from flowing down.

[0016] (6) A preferred example of the cooling mat of the present invention is It includes a fixture for fixing the exterior material to the outer plate.

[0017] (7) A preferred example of the cooling mat of the present invention is The fixture is a magnet provided on the exterior material, and the exterior material is fixed to the outer plate with the magnet.

[0018] (8) A preferred example of the cooling mat of the present invention is The fixture is a surface fastener provided on the exterior material and the outer plate, and the exterior material is fixed to the outer plate with the surface fastener.

[0019] (9) A preferred example of the cooling mat of the present invention is The fixture is a strip - shaped member or a string - shaped member, and the exterior material is fixed to the outer plate with the strip - shaped member or the string - shaped member.

[0020] According to these preferred examples of the cooling mat of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the cooling mat from falling off the outdoor equipment.

[0021] (10) A preferred example of the cooling mat of the present invention is An information detection device for detecting current position information and transmitting the position information to the user's terminal device is provided on the filler or the exterior material.

[0022] According to a preferred example of the cooling mat of the present invention, a user can grasp the position of the cooling mat.

[0023] (11) A preferred example of the cooling mat of the present invention is where the outdoor equipment is any one of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, an outdoor unit of a refrigerator, an outdoor unit of a freezer, an air conditioner compressor, or a cubicle type high-voltage power receiving facility.

[0024] According to a preferred example of the cooling mat of the present invention, by using the cooling mat for the outdoor equipment that generates heat, the temperature of the outdoor equipment can be lowered.

[0025] (12) The cooling method for outdoor equipment of the present invention is a cooling method for outdoor equipment using the above cooling mat, where the cooling mat is placed on the outdoor equipment, and rainwater is included in the filler during rainy days, and the outdoor equipment is cooled by the heat of vaporization of the water evaporating from the filler.

[0026] (13) The cooling method for outdoor equipment of the present invention is a cooling method for outdoor equipment using the above cooling mat, where the cooling mat is brought into contact with the side surface of the outdoor equipment, and rainwater is included in the filler during rainy days, and when the filler is dry, the filler is irrigated with water, and the outdoor equipment is cooled by the heat of vaporization of the water evaporating from the filler.

[0027] According to the cooling method for outdoor equipment of the present invention, the same effects as those of the cooling mat of the present invention described above can be achieved.

[0028] (14) The cooling method for outdoor equipment of the present invention is a cooling method for outdoor equipment using the above cooling mat, where the cooling mat is brought into contact with the side surface of the outdoor equipment and a rain collector is placed on the top plate of the outdoor equipment, The system is characterized by allowing rainwater collected by the rain collector during rainy weather to be absorbed into the filler material, and then using the heat of vaporization of the water evaporating from the filler material to cool the outdoor equipment.

[0029] According to the cooling method for outdoor equipment of the present invention, a sufficient cooling effect can be obtained even when the cooling mat is installed on the side of the air conditioner outdoor unit and the outdoor equipment. [Effects of the Invention]

[0030] As described above, the cooling mat and cooling method for outdoor equipment of the present invention allow for easy installation and operation of the cooling mat. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0031] [Figure 1] This figure illustrates a cooling mat and a method for cooling outdoor equipment according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is another diagram illustrating a cooling mat and a method for cooling outdoor equipment according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a longitudinal cross-section of the cooling mat. [Figure 4] This diagram illustrates the volumetric water content of the filler material. [Figure 5] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a cooling mat according to another embodiment. [Figure 6] This diagram illustrates a cooling method for outdoor equipment according to another embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the fastener. [Figure 8] This diagram illustrates the state of the cooling mat when it is installed on other outdoor equipment. [Figure 9] This diagram illustrates the setup of a cooling mat installed on the rooftop of a building. [Figure 10] This is a diagram illustrating the operation of an information detection device. [Figure 11] This is a diagram illustrating how to manage the cooling mat. [Figure 12]This diagram illustrates a method for managing cooling mats and a cooling mat management system, showing how the cooling mats are displayed on a map. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0032] Embodiments of the cooling mat and outdoor equipment cooling method of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. The outdoor equipment cooling method of the present invention is carried out using the cooling mat of the present invention. Here, "outdoor equipment" refers to equipment installed outdoors, and in particular, equipment that generates heat through its operation and for which lowering the temperature of the equipment is beneficial. Examples of outdoor equipment include outdoor units of air conditioners, outdoor units of chillers, outdoor units of refrigerators, air compressors, and cubicle-type high-voltage power receiving equipment, among others. Furthermore, although not outdoor equipment, it is also conceivable to lay the cooling mat of this embodiment on the rooftop or roof of a building to cool the rooftop or roof in order to suppress the rise in indoor temperature. In addition, a method for managing one or more cooling mats, preferably multiple cooling mats, and a cooling mat management system are also proposed.

[0033] In describing the embodiments below, we will mainly use air conditioner outdoor units 20 and 120 and an air compressor 220 as examples of outdoor equipment. When using the cooling mat 1 with other outdoor equipment, you can understand the content by substituting the air conditioner outdoor units 20 and 120 and the air compressor 220 below with, for example, an outdoor unit for a chiller, an outdoor unit for a refrigerator, a cubicle-type high-voltage power receiving equipment, or simply outdoor equipment. Also, the air conditioner outdoor units 20 and 120 may be simply referred to as "outdoor units". Note that descriptions of piping, wiring, etc. connected to each device for the above air conditioner outdoor units 20 and 120 and air compressor 220 have been omitted.

[0034] [First embodiment of a cooling mat] First, the configuration of the cooling mat 1 will be explained. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the cooling mat 1 of this embodiment is placed (in contact with) the top plate 21 (outer plate) of the air conditioner outdoor unit 20, and cools the outdoor unit 20 with the heat of vaporization of the water contained in the cooling mat 1. The cooling mat of this embodiment comprises a filling material 10, an outer material 11, a fixing device (30) 31, and an information detection device 40.

[0035] The filler material 10 is absorbent. Examples of absorbent materials include various fibers in the form of cotton, mats, or fabrics, or sponge-like materials with countless fine pores inside. The filler material 10 preferably has a certain volume to hold water; for example, one with a thickness of 40 millimeters, a width of 500-900 millimeters, and a depth of 250 millimeters is used. That is, the filler material 10 in this embodiment has a volume of approximately 5-9 liters. However, the size of the cooling mat 1 including the filler material 10 is not limited to this, and various sizes and shapes can be used.

[0036] In this embodiment, rock wool 10 in mat form is used as the filler material 10. It is preferable that the rock wool has excellent water retention properties once it has absorbed water and dried. This is because, generally, rock wool has a high volumetric moisture content when new, but once it has absorbed water and dried, the volumetric moisture content tends to decrease considerably. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, rock wool is used in which, even when immersed in water or irrigated after it has absorbed water and dried, the volumetric moisture content value will be 70 percent or more within 20 minutes.

[0037] Furthermore, unlike typical sponges, once the rock wool used in the cooling mat of this embodiment absorbs water, very little water will drip out even if the rock wool is lifted. Also, unlike typical sponges, which allow water to drain away, the rock wool can retain water even if left untouched. Applying this to the volume of the filler material 10, which is 5 to 9 liters, and calculating with a volume moisture content of 70 percent, the rock wool can hold 3.5 to 6.3 liters or more of water. However, the above volume moisture content of 70 percent or more may decrease slightly with age. This rock wool has a volume moisture content of 80 to 90 percent when new. As the rock wool used in this embodiment, for example, Water Natural Mat from Minamide Co., Ltd. can be used.

[0038] Returning to Figures 1-3, the surface of the filler material 10 is coated with a photocatalytic coating to suppress the growth of moss and mold. For this photocatalytic coating, for example, a titanium dioxide-based coating solution is sprayed onto the surface of the filler material 10. Note that the surface of the filler material 10 refers to the surface of the mat-like rock wool, not the surface of each individual rock wool fiber. Of course, it is also possible to apply a photocatalytic coating to the surface of each individual fiber during the manufacturing of the rock wool. Furthermore, it is preferable to use a material that transmits a certain amount of light for the exterior material 11. This transmitted light activates the photocatalytic coating applied to the surface of the filler material 10.

[0039] The exterior material 11 is permeable to water and encloses the filler material 10. This exterior material 11 allows water such as rainwater to permeate the filler material 10 and also allows moisture evaporating from the filler material 10 to permeate. It also protects the filler material 10 from direct sunlight and wind and rain, and transfers the heat of vaporization acting on the filler material 10 to the top plate 21 of the outdoor unit 20. Various materials can be used for the exterior material 11 as long as they meet the above conditions, but in this embodiment, polypropylene nonwoven fabric is used. In addition, a photocatalytic coating can be applied to the surface of the exterior material 11.

[0040] The fastener 30 is provided on the exterior material 11 or the outer panel 21 of the outdoor equipment 20, and is used to fix the exterior material 11 (cooling mat 1) to the outdoor equipment 20. An example of this fastener 30 is the magnet 31 shown in Figure 1. This magnet 31 is attached to the bottom surface of the exterior material 11 and is fixed to the top surface 21 of the outdoor unit 20 by magnetic force. Another example of the fastener 30 is that a strip-shaped member 32 or a string-shaped member can be provided on the exterior material 11 or the side panel 123 (outer panel), as shown in Figure 6. Here, the strip-shaped member 32 is used to wrap and fix the cooling mat 1 and the outdoor equipment 120. Although not shown, the strip-shaped member may also be sewn to the exterior material 11. Furthermore, as another example of the fastener, as shown in Figure 7, strip-shaped members 33 and 34 can be wrapped around the cooling mat 1 and the outdoor equipment 20, and hook-and-loop fasteners 35 and 36 can be provided at opposing points. However, instead of using strip-shaped members, one end of the hook-and-loop fastener may be attached to the bottom surface of the exterior material 11, and the other end to the top plate 21 of the outdoor unit 20. For fixing the strip-shaped members 32, 33, and 34 shown in Figures 6 and 7, for example, D-rings (not shown) or the like may be used.

[0041] Returning to Figures 1 to 3, the information detection device 40 (shown by the dashed line) is installed between the exterior material 11 and the filler material 10, or inside the filler material 10. It is preferable that the information detection device 40 be installed closer to the bottom surface of the exterior material 11. This is because it allows for a more accurate determination of the temperature near the outer casing 21 of the outdoor equipment. As shown in Figure 10, the information detection device 40 transmits information such as its current location to the user's terminal device 43 using the telecommunications line 41, informing the user of the current location of the cooling mat 1. Furthermore, as will be described in detail later, the information detection device 40 also incorporates a temperature sensor, allowing it to also inform the user's terminal device 43 of the current temperature.

[0042] [Second embodiment of the cooling mat] Next, with reference to Figure 5, a cooling mat 101 according to another embodiment will be described. The cooling mat 101 of this embodiment is placed on the top plate 21 (outer plate) of the air conditioner outdoor unit 20 and comprises a filling material 10 and an exterior material 111. The filling material 10 is the same as in the first embodiment, so its description will be omitted.

[0043] The exterior material 111 comprises an upper portion 112, a lower portion 113, and a joint portion 114. The upper portion 112 is the same as the exterior material 11 described in the first embodiment. The lower portion 113 is made of a non-permeable sheet-like material. The joint portion 114 is the point where the upper portion 112 and the lower portion 113 are joined. In this embodiment, the ends of the upper portion 112 and the lower portion 113 (left and right ends in Figure 5) are bent downward or upward, respectively, and joined approximately in the center in the height direction. Therefore, water such as rainwater can be accumulated up to the height of the joint portion 114. This is effective when a general sponge or the like is used for the filler material 10. General sponges and the like tend to dry relatively quickly as the water drips off over time, even after absorbing water. In such cases, accumulating water in the lower portion 113 allows the outdoor unit 20 to be cooled for a relatively long period of time.

[0044] Furthermore, by changing the height of the joint 114, it is possible to adjust the amount of water that accumulates in the exterior material 111. In addition, by providing a side section (not shown) that is independent of the top section 112 and bottom section 113, and making this side section impermeable, as well as adjusting the height of the side section, the amount of water that accumulates in the exterior material 111 can also be adjusted.

[0045] [First embodiment of a method for cooling an air conditioner's outdoor unit] Next, the cooling method for the air conditioner outdoor unit of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. First, the cooling mat 1 (including the cooling mat 101) is placed (in contact with) the top plate 21 of the air conditioner outdoor unit 20. At this time, it is preferable to fix the cooling mat 1 to the outdoor unit 20 with a fastener 30 or the like. Also, it is preferable that the size of the cooling mat 1 matches the size of the top plate 21 of the outdoor unit 20.

[0046] Next, if it is raining when the cooling mat 1 is placed on top of the outdoor unit 20, it is fine to leave it as is. Otherwise, it is preferable to first pour water over the cooling mat 1 to allow the packing material 10 to absorb water. After that, under normal weather conditions, it is fine to leave it as is. In rainy weather, the packing material 10 will absorb and hold rainwater, and in sunny or cloudy weather, the heat of vaporization from the water evaporating from the packing material 10 will cool the air conditioner outdoor unit 20. However, if sunny weather continues and the packing material 10 dries out, it is preferable to artificially irrigate it.

[0047] When the cooling mat 1 has dried to a certain extent, the upper side of the cooling mat may be relatively dry, while the lower side remains damp with water. In this case, the upper side of the cooling mat 1 suppresses the temperature rise of outdoor equipment due to direct sunlight due to the insulating effect of the rock wool 10, while the lower side of the cooling mat can cool the outdoor equipment due to the heat of vaporization of the water still contained in the rock wool 10. This action allows for efficient cooling of outdoor equipment even when the amount of water contained in the filler material 10 is small.

[0048] Next, the results of a field experiment using the cooling mat 1 according to the first embodiment described above will be explained. The experiment was conducted from July to September 2023 at JR Suma Station in Suma Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, and JR Kyoto Station in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. Here, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cooling mat 1 was placed on top of the outdoor unit 20, and the cooling mat 20 and the outdoor unit 20 were wrapped and secured with a polypropylene band (not shown). Immediately after installation, the cooling mat 1 was artificially watered. Once the filler material 10 absorbed water, the cooling effect on the outdoor unit 20 lasted for more than a week, so artificial watering was not performed thereafter. In addition, as a comparative example, two rooms A and B with the same room size and installed items were prepared, and the experiment was conducted with the same type of air conditioner installed in each room.

[0049] First, let's explain the effect of the cooling mat 1 on reducing temperature. In this case, with the air conditioner turned off, the temperature between the top plate 21 of the outdoor unit 20 and the cooling mat 1 was measured in the shade using a thermometer 22 (see Figure 2). When the cooling mat 1 according to the first embodiment was placed on the outdoor unit 20 in a wet state, it was confirmed that the temperature between the top plate 21 and the cooling mat 1 was 2 to 4°C lower than the ambient temperature at that time. Next, regarding the energy-saving effect of the air conditioner, when comparing the power consumption of an air conditioner with the cooling mat 1 installed and an air conditioner without it from July to September 2023, it was found that power consumption could be reduced by 30 to 60 percent. In addition, the rate at which the room temperature dropped immediately after the air conditioner was switched on was also better compared to an air conditioner without the cooling mat 1. After about a week, the same results were reproduced even when the room (air conditioner) using the cooling mat 1 was switched from room A to room B.

[0050] [Second embodiment of a cooling method for an air conditioner's outdoor unit] Next, with reference to Figure 6, a cooling method for an air conditioner outdoor unit according to another embodiment will be described. First, the cooling mat 1 is brought into contact with the side surface (side plate 123) of the air conditioner outdoor unit 120. This is effective when the air outlet 124 of the outdoor unit 120 is on the top surface. At this time, the cooling mat 1 can be fixed to the outdoor unit 120 with the strip-shaped member 32 of the fixing device 30, etc. Furthermore, it is preferable that the size of the cooling mat 1 matches the size of the side plate 123 of the outdoor unit 120.

[0051] Next, with the cooling mat 1 installed, it is sufficient if the cooling mat 1 is saturated with water from rain or other sources. However, if it is dry, it is preferable to perform artificial watering as needed. This is because, in the cooling method for the air conditioner outdoor unit of this embodiment, the wide surface of the cooling mat 1 is oriented vertically, and it may not be possible to adequately retain water in the filling material 10 (see Figure 3) of the cooling mat 1 unless the rain is blowing at an angle or during heavy rain. However, if the air conditioner's drain pipe (not shown) is nearby, it is also possible to place the end of the drain pipe on the cooling mat 1 and retain water in the cooling mat 1 with the drain water (the same applies in the "First Embodiment of Cooling Method for Air Conditioner Outdoor Unit"). In addition, a rain collector 60 can be provided on the top plate 121 of the outdoor unit 120. This rain collector 60 comprises an upper plate 62 that slopes toward the cooling mat and a vertical plate 61 that prevents rain from flowing in directions other than the cooling mat 1. With this rain collector 60, rainwater flows in the direction of arrow a during rainy weather, allowing the filling material 10 of the cooling mat 1 to absorb water.

[0052] Furthermore, when the cooling mat is installed with its wide surface oriented vertically, as in this embodiment, a non-permeable bottom portion 213 can be provided at the bottom of the cooling mat 1. For example, when using a general sponge or the like as the filling material, the bottom portion 213 may be provided in a bag-like shape with the dashed line dl as the boundary. Then, on sunny or cloudy days, the air conditioner outdoor unit 120 can be cooled by the heat of vaporization of water evaporating from the filling material 10. Note that the bottom portion 213 may also be provided when using the rock wool 10 described above as the filling material 10.

[0053] [Cooling methods for air compressors] Next, with reference to Figure 8, an embodiment of cooling the air compressor 220 will be described. The air compressor 220 shown in this figure is installed outdoors in Ueno, Tokyo. The compressor of this air compressor 220 is operated by an electric motor. When the air compressor 220 is in operation, air is compressed, generating high heat. This heat is discharged from the outlet 224 (discharge port), but if the temperature reaches a certain level, the operation of the air compressor 220 may stop in order to protect the equipment. For this reason, in this embodiment, a cooling mat 1 is used to stabilize the operation of the air compressor 220.

[0054] Here, as shown in Figure 8, three of the cooling mats 1 described above are placed side by side on the top plate 221 (outer plate) of the air compressor 220. The procedure for watering the cooling mats 1 upon initial installation is the same as in the above embodiment. The temperature of the air outlet 224 while the air compressor 220 was operating was measured by taking a picture with a thermographic camera. The temperature of the air outlet 224 before the installation of the cooling mats 1 was 96°C (measured on July 8, 2025). Next, when the cooling mats 1 were placed under the same conditions and measured again, the temperature of the air outlet 224 decreased to 86°C. Also, on July 8, 2025, the maximum temperature in central Tokyo rose to 35.8°C, but the surface temperature of the cooling mats 1 was 30.6°C, several degrees lower than the ambient temperature, while the air compressor 220 was operating.

[0055] [Building cooling methods] Next, with reference to Figure 9, the cooling method for building 50 will be explained. Here, multiple cooling mats 1 described above are laid on the rooftop 51 of building 50 to cool the rooftop 51. This is because, in recent years, due to concerns about global warming and the promotion of energy conservation, it has been desirable to suppress the rise in indoor temperature during the summer. As an effect, by lowering the temperature of the rooftop 51 and the roof (not shown), it is possible to suppress the rise in indoor temperature.

[0056] When installing this cooling mat 1 on the rooftop 51, for example, it is preferable to use the fixture 30 already described or place a weight (not shown) on the cooling mat 1 to prevent the cooling mat 1 from scattering. However, since the cooling mat 1 of this embodiment has a volumetric water content rate of 70% or more and contains water for about one week to have a certain weight, it is less likely to scatter under normal weather conditions. Also, although not shown, as another embodiment, it can be installed on an inclined roof. Also in this case, with the cooling mat 1 of this embodiment, water does not drip like ordinary sponges, etc., and water can be retained in the filler, so it is possible to maintain the cooling performance. Furthermore, when the cooling mat 1 is installed on the rooftop or the roof, even if sunny days continue and the filler 10 dries out, this time the cooling mat 1 itself blocks sunlight and acts as a heat insulating material, and can lower the temperature of the rooftop 51 or the roof. Therefore, there is no need for labor such as watering, and once the cooling mat 1 is laid, the temperature rise indoors can be suppressed in a substantially unmanned state.

[0057] [Method for managing the cooling mat] Next, referring to FIGS. 10 to 12, a method for managing the cooling mat using the information detection device 40 will be described. This is because when the number of cooling mats 1 increases as a problem, it becomes complicated to manage information such as the installation location, target device, current temperature, current position, replacement time, etc. Also, even if there is one cooling mat 1, there is also an advantage that daily labor can be saved by managing its temperature and the like. And by using the method for managing the cooling mat of this embodiment, it becomes possible for the user to grasp the information of each cooling mat 1 with the terminal device 43 owned by the user. Note that the method for managing the cooling mat of this embodiment is performed using a computer or the like. That is, the method for managing the cooling mat is executed when a computer or the like functions as a management system for the cooling mat.

[0058] As shown in Figure 10, the cooling mat management system consists of a cooling mat 1 equipped with an information detection device 40, a telecommunications line 41, a user terminal device 43, and software (not shown) for operating the system. In this system, the information detection device 40 and the telecommunications line 41 may be directly connected, or short-range wireless communication 42 capable of communication within a range of several tens of meters may be used to access terminal devices 143 owned by other people staying nearby, and connect to the telecommunications line 41 via the other person's terminal device 143. In this case, the other person's terminal device 143 is also included in the system configuration. Furthermore, the cooling mat management system may be modified as needed to include a server or increase the number of user terminal devices 43.

[0059] Next, referring to Figure 11, a table containing information such as current location and temperature, sent from the information detection device 40 to the user's terminal device 43 via the telecommunication line 41, will be described. The table shown in Figure 11 includes items such as group ID, mat ID, installation location, detailed location, target equipment, temperature, irrigation, current location, theft alarm, installation date, and replacement date. This table is displayed on the screen of the terminal device 43, such as a computer, tablet, or smartphone, which is operated or viewed by the user.

[0060] In this embodiment, the group ID groups together cooling mats located in the same installation location and with similar or nearby installation environments. For example, group ID "G1" groups together cooling mats installed on the south side of the first factory. However, it is also possible to create higher and lower levels of group IDs to create a multi-level hierarchy. For example, the Suzuka City business office and the Nagoya City business office could be grouped together as a higher level group, or mats with the same installation environment could be further distributed into lower levels of groups based on their installation date.

[0061] The mat ID is an ID assigned to each individual cooling mat. Each information detection device also has its own individual ID, and the mat ID and the information detection device ID are linked.

[0062] The installation location and detailed location are installation information indicating which cooling mat is installed where. For example, mat ID "M1" is installed on the "south side" of "Factory No. 1". In this embodiment, the detailed location is divided by the south side, north side, etc., which have different climatic conditions, but it is not limited to this, and could also be divided by, for example, the first floor, second floor, etc. of a building.

[0063] The target equipment indicates the types of outdoor equipment, etc., in which cooling mats are used. Here, they are divided into air conditioners (20), compressors (220, air compressors), and buildings (50) (see Figure 12).

[0064] The temperature is measured and displayed. When the cooling mat 1 contains water, it cools down due to the heat of vaporization, resulting in a relatively low temperature. On the other hand, when the cooling mat is dry, cooling by the heat of vaporization is not expected, and the temperature rises due to the heat from the air conditioner outdoor unit 20, etc. When this temperature exceeds a predetermined level, it is possible to determine whether the cooling mat 1 contains water or is dry. Note that the temperature shown in Figure 11 is an example and may differ from the actual temperature.

[0065] The irrigation function predicts the dryness of cooling mat 1 based on its current temperature and indicates whether or not irrigation is advisable. Here, the temperature of mat ID "M9" has risen to 65°C, and the warning "Required" is displayed in the corresponding cell (symbol c1) in Figure 11, indicating that irrigation is preferable. Additionally, in map 44 shown in Figure 12, the frame of "M9" is hatched to indicate another warning. At this time, cooling mats with similar installation environments (mat ID "M8") located on the south side of the management building 50 are grouped together under the same group ID "G4". Therefore, it is clear that it is also preferable to preventively irrigate the other mats with the same group ID "M8" that belong to group ID "G4". This warning about preventive irrigation can also be displayed, for example, by changing the color of the cell for the "Irrigation" item in the record of mat ID "M8". Furthermore, cooling mat 1 with mat ID "M11" is installed on the rooftop 51 of building 50, which does not generate heat itself, and acts as an insulating material when dry, so watering is basically unnecessary.

[0066] The current location indicates the current position of the cooling mat 1. While all the cooling mats 1 shown in the table in Figure 11 are originally installed at the business premises in Suzuka City, mat ID "M5" is located in Tsu City. This indicates that cooling mat 1 may have been stolen. Furthermore, if stolen, the current location of cooling mat 1 can be determined. The theft alarm is issued when, as described above, cooling mat 1 is located away from its original installation location and there is a possibility of theft. Here, the relevant cell (symbol c2) in Figure 11 is set to "Yes" to indicate a theft alarm. Additionally, in the map 44 shown in Figure 12, mat ID "M5" is hatched to indicate a theft alarm. Furthermore, although not shown, the current location of mat IDs for which a theft alarm has been issued can also be displayed on the map.

[0067] The installation and replacement timings are set up to manage the timing of replacement, for example, because it is preferable to replace cooling mat 1 with a new one after about 5 years from installation. Here too, an alert can be issued to prompt replacement for mat IDs that have passed their replacement period, for example, by changing the color of the cell or by hatching the mat ID on the map shown in Figure 12.

[0068] Furthermore, to facilitate the linking of the information detection device 40 with the cooling mat 1, an information code (not shown) with a two-dimensional code such as a barcode or QR code (registered trademark) can be attached to the surface of each cooling mat 1. This information code records information such as the individual ID of the information detection device. By reading this information code with a terminal device 43 such as a user's smartphone, the linking of the information detection device 40 with the cooling mat 1 becomes easy. It is also possible to attach an information code to each outdoor device, and when the cooling mat 1 is installed, the information code attached to the outdoor device can be read by the terminal device 43 to link the cooling mat 1 with the outdoor device. In addition, by including the location of the outdoor device in the information code attached to the outdoor device, the installation location and detailed location of the cooling mat 1 can be automatically added simply by linking the cooling mat 1 with the outdoor device.

[0069] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 12, the installation locations for each mat ID can be shown on the map 44. This map 44 is a simplified representation of the business premises, but it can also be displayed on an actual map. Here, when you move the cursor 45 to the location of an individual mat ID or perform an operation such as tapping, the information for that mat ID will be displayed in a pop-up bubble. For example, when you move the cursor 45 to mat ID "M9", information such as the mat ID, current temperature, whether or not watering is needed, and replacement time will be displayed. In this case, mat ID "M9" is hatched as an alarm because watering is needed. Also, the mat with mat ID "M5" is not at its installation location and may have been stolen, so it is also hatched to trigger an alarm.

[0070] Furthermore, it is not necessary to incorporate temperature sensors into all information detection devices 40. It is possible to incorporate only one temperature sensor per group ID with similar installation environments, while the other information detection devices 40 transmit only location information. This is because, if the operating status of the outdoor equipment is the same, the moisture content of the cooling mat 1 is likely to change similarly depending on the installation environment. Also, when installing cooling mats on the rooftop 51 or roof of a building 50, there is generally no concern about theft. In this case, information detection devices 40 equipped only with temperature sensors can be installed. Moreover, on the rooftop 51 of a building 50, since the entire surface is in roughly the same environment, it may be sufficient to install an information detection device 40 on only one of the multiple cooling mats 1. If the cooling mat 1 is installed on a roof, one information detection device 40 should be installed on each side (south, north, etc.) according to the roof's slope.

[0071] As explained above, the cooling mat according to the first embodiment can quickly and abundantly absorb rainwater during rainfall. Furthermore, the absorbed water does not fall out and can be retained. As a result, water replenishment is unnecessary for a long period of time, approximately one week, and outdoor equipment can be cooled without any modifications under normal weather conditions.

[0072] Furthermore, the rock wool mat used in the first embodiment is composed of fine fibers and has excellent water retention properties. As a result, the water contained in it diffuses throughout the mat by capillary action, and the surface of the filler material also easily becomes moist. In addition, because the rock wool mat is composed entirely of fibers, it has a large surface area and easily generates heat through evaporation. This allows for effective cooling of outdoor equipment. Moreover, even if all the water contained in the filler material evaporates and the filler material dries out, rock wool has excellent heat insulation properties, so it can be expected to suppress the temperature rise of outdoor equipment and rooftops caused by direct sunlight.

[0073] Furthermore, in the cooling mat according to the second embodiment, in addition to rock wool, which has excellent volumetric moisture content and is used in the cooling mat of the first embodiment, other fillers can be used. In this embodiment, water can be stored in the exterior material, so water replenishment is not required for a long period of time.

[0074] Furthermore, the cooling method for the outdoor unit of the air conditioner described above largely eliminates the need for artificial watering and other maintenance, and energy savings can be achieved simply by placing the cooling mat in contact with the outdoor unit.

[0075] Furthermore, in terms of building cooling methods, it is possible to suppress the rise in indoor temperature using simple methods, and even if the cooling mat dries out due to a prolonged period of sunny weather, the high insulation effect will still suppress the rise in indoor temperature.

[0076] Furthermore, the cooling mat management system allows for tracking the location, temperature, replacement timing, and theft of the mats, ensuring reliable operation in situations where many cooling mats are used, such as in a business premises. Additionally, it allows for monitoring the timing of watering, preventing the cooling mats from drying out.

[0077] The cooling mat, the method for cooling outdoor equipment including an air conditioner outdoor unit and air compressor, the method for cooling a building, and the method for managing the cooling mat described above are examples of the present invention, and their configurations can be appropriately modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0078] 1,101 ··Cooling mat, 10. Filling material (rock wool), 11, 111. Exterior material, 112. Top surface, 113, 213. Bottom surface, 114. Joints, 20, 120...Air conditioner outdoor unit, 220...Air compressor, 21, 121, 221...Top plate (outer panel), 22...Thermometer, 123...Side panel, 124, 224...Air outlet, 30... Fixing device, 31... Magnet, 32, 33, 34... Strip-shaped member, 35, 36... Hook and loop fastener, 40. Information detection equipment, 41. Telecommunication lines, 42. Short-range wireless communication, 43, 143. Terminal equipment, 44. Maps, 45. Cursors 50...Building, 51...Rooftop, 60... Rain collector, 61... Vertical board, 62... Top board,

Claims

1. A filler that has water absorption properties, It comprises an outer material that is permeable to water and encloses the filler, A cooling mat characterized by being placed in contact with an air conditioner's outdoor unit and cooling the air conditioner's outdoor unit using the heat of vaporization of water.

2. The cooling mat according to claim 1, wherein the filler is rock wool.

3. The cooling mat according to claim 1, wherein the filler is rock wool, and when the rock wool is immersed in water or irrigated with water after it has absorbed water and then dried, its volumetric water content becomes 70% or more within 20 minutes.

4. The cooling mat according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the filler material is coated with a photocatalytic coating.

5. The cooling mat according to claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the exterior material is non-permeable to water.

6. The cooling mat according to claim 1, wherein the filling material or the outer material is provided with an information detection device that detects the current location information and transmits the location information to the user's terminal device.

7. A filler that has water absorption properties, It comprises an outer material that is permeable to water and encloses the filler, By bringing it into contact with the outdoor equipment, the outdoor equipment is cooled by the heat of vaporization of water, A cooling mat characterized in that the filling material or the outer material is provided with an information detection device that detects the current location information and transmits the location information to the user's terminal device.

8. A method for cooling an air conditioner outdoor unit using a cooling mat according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The cooling mat is placed on top of the air conditioner's outdoor unit. A method for cooling an air conditioner's outdoor unit, characterized by allowing rainwater to be absorbed into the filler material during rainy weather, and cooling the air conditioner's outdoor unit with the heat of vaporization of the water evaporating from the filler material.

9. A method for cooling an air conditioner outdoor unit using a cooling mat according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The cooling mat is brought into contact with the side of the air conditioner's outdoor unit. A method for cooling an air conditioner's outdoor unit, characterized by allowing rainwater to be absorbed into the filler during rainy weather, and irrigating the filler with water when it dries, thereby cooling the air conditioner's outdoor unit with the heat of vaporization of the water evaporating from the filler.

10. A method for cooling an air conditioner outdoor unit using a cooling mat according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The cooling mat is brought into contact with the side of the air conditioner's outdoor unit, and a rain collector is placed on top of the air conditioner's outdoor unit. A method for cooling an air conditioner's outdoor unit, characterized by soaking the packing material with rainwater collected by the rain collector during rainy weather, and cooling the air conditioner's outdoor unit with the heat of vaporization of the water evaporating from the packing material.

11. A filler that has water absorption properties, It comprises an outer material that is permeable to water and encloses the filler, A method for cooling outdoor equipment using a cooling mat that is placed in contact with the outdoor equipment and cools the outdoor equipment by the heat of vaporization of water, The cooling mat is brought into contact with the side of the outdoor equipment. A method for cooling outdoor equipment, characterized by allowing rainwater to be absorbed into the filler material during rainy weather, and irrigating the filler material with water when it dries, thereby cooling the outdoor equipment with the heat of vaporization of the water evaporating from the filler material.

12. A filler that has water absorption properties, It comprises an outer material that is permeable to water and encloses the filler, A method for cooling outdoor equipment using a cooling mat that is placed in contact with the outdoor equipment and cools the outdoor equipment by the heat of vaporization of water, The cooling mat is brought into contact with the side of the outdoor equipment, and the rain collector is placed on the top plate of the outdoor equipment. A method for cooling outdoor equipment, characterized by soaking the packing material with rainwater collected by the rain collector during rainy weather, and cooling the outdoor equipment with the heat of vaporization of the water evaporating from the packing material.

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