Cooling system for outdoor units of household air conditioners.

Abstract

To provide an outdoor unit cooling system that allows for easy flow rate adjustment, enables the entire water-retaining material to absorb water even with a small water flow rate, and effectively cools the entire outdoor unit. [Solution] An outdoor unit cooling system for an air conditioner, comprising a water retention and evaporation section 20 provided on two sides of the intake side of the outdoor unit A, a water storage tank 5 for supplying water to the water retention and evaporation section, and a pipe 10 for supplying water to the water retention and evaporation section, wherein the pipe has a plurality of discharge holes provided at the same circumferential positions along the longitudinal direction of the pipe, the discharge holes are provided perpendicular to the direction of water dripping, the pipe is covered all around with a cloth member, the cloth member has a lower end from which water is dripped, the lower end is formed by a mountain-shaped protrusion provided along its entire length, and the pipe is configured to drip from the apex of the mountain-shaped protrusion.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling system for an outdoor unit, which allows easy flow rate adjustment, enables the entire water retaining material to be impregnated with water even when the water flow rate is small, and can satisfactorily cool the entire outdoor unit. [Background Art]

[0002] Since heat is generated in an air conditioner outdoor unit during use, there are problems from the perspective of energy saving such as a decrease in cooling efficiency. For this reason, various techniques for cooling the heat radiating part of an outdoor unit have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an auxiliary cooling device for a condenser, which supplies water to a water retaining material provided on the windward side of the condenser of an outdoor unit for the purpose of reducing the size of the entire auxiliary cooling device for the condenser, and reduces the temperature of air drawn into the condenser by latent heat generated when water vaporizes in the water retaining material. The auxiliary cooling device comprises: a rectangular water retaining material; an upper structure provided at the upper end of the water retaining material and allowing water to flow to the water retaining material; a lower structure provided at the lower end of the water retaining material for receiving water falling from the water retaining material; and a supply mechanism for supplying water from the lower structure to the upper structure, wherein the upper structure is provided above the water retaining material and has a water sprinkling part for sprinkling water onto the water retaining material, the lower structure has a holding part that covers at least a part of the lower end of the water retaining material to hold the water retaining material, and a storage part provided below the holding part for storing water flowing out from the water retaining material, and the auxiliary cooling device has a supply pump and a supply pipe for supplying the water in the storage part to the water sprinkling part. Furthermore, Patent Document 2 proposes a cooling unit for an air conditioner outdoor unit that can stably obtain cooling performance regardless of outside air conditions, and is less susceptible to deterioration and corrosion of components during long-term use, making it easy to maintain. Specifically, the proposed cooling unit for an air conditioner outdoor unit includes a drain water storage container installed on the top of the outdoor unit to receive and store drain water discharged from the indoor unit of the air conditioner, and a water guide hose extending downward from the drain water storage container to a base pan located at the bottom of the outdoor unit, so that the drain water is supplied into the base pan via the water guide hose, and the inside of the outdoor unit is cooled by the drain water held in the base pan. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2024-66205 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 7855187 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0004] However, while the technology described in Patent Document 1 allows for overall cooling by using a water-retaining material, it employs a water circulation system with a supply pump and supply piping, making flow rate adjustment difficult and resulting in the problem of supplying too much water to the entire water-retaining material. Furthermore, since the supply pump operates continuously, the performance and durability of the pump must be carefully considered. Additionally, while the technology described in Patent Document 2 allows for partial cooling by supplying water only to the bottom plate of the outdoor unit, it is currently not possible to efficiently cool the entire outdoor unit, especially the part where the power unit is located.

[0005] Therefore, the objective of this invention is to provide an outdoor unit cooling system that allows for easy flow rate adjustment, enables the entire water-retaining material to be saturated with water even with a small water flow rate, and effectively cools the entire outdoor unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] As a result of diligent research to resolve the above problems, the inventors have found that by installing a water storage tank above the outdoor unit of a household air conditioner, and supplying water from the tank using a combination of tubes, flow control valves, pipes, etc., the amount of water sprayed can be adjusted, the entire water retention and evaporation section can be uniformly moistened with a small amount of water, and the intake air temperature of the outdoor unit can be lowered by the heat of vaporization. This led to the completion of the present invention. In other words, this invention provides the following inventions. 1. A cooling system for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, comprising: water retention and evaporation sections provided on two sides of the intake side of the outdoor unit; a water storage tank for supplying water to the water retention and evaporation sections; and a pipe for supplying water to the water retention and evaporation sections. The above pipe has multiple discharge holes provided at the same circumferential positions along the longitudinal direction of the pipe. The aforementioned discharge holes are positioned perpendicular to the direction in which the water drips. The above-mentioned pipe is covered all around with a cloth member, and the cloth member has a lower end from which water is dripped, and the lower end is formed by a mountain-shaped protrusion that extends along its entire length, and water is configured to drip from the apex of the mountain-shaped protrusion. Cooling system for the outdoor unit of an air conditioner. 2. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the discharge hole is 1 to 2.5 mm and the water flow rate can be 5 to 30 liters / hour. 3. The cooling system according to claim 1, configured such that water is supplied from a water storage tank by gravity through a tube and flow control valve. 4. The cooling system according to claim 1, further comprising a water diffusion section positioned in close contact with the upper part of the water retention and evaporation section. 5. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the above-mentioned water storage tank is connected to the drain water discharge pipe of the air conditioner and is configured to store drain water. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The cooling system for the outdoor unit of this invention allows for adjustment of the amount of water sprayed, enabling the entire water-retaining and evaporation section to be saturated with water even with a small water flow rate, thereby effectively cooling the entire outdoor unit. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the cooling system of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2(a) is a view from arrow C in Figure 1, (b) is a cross-sectional view of (a) at DD, and (c) is a view from arrow B in Figure 1; all are schematic diagrams. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram showing only the pipe shown in Figure 2. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the installation state of the pipe and the fabric member covering the pipe as shown in Figure 2. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0009] A Outdoor unit: 1 Cooling system: 5 Water storage tank: 6 Flow control valve: 7 Tube: 10 Pipe: 11 Discharge hole: 12 Fabric member: 12a Lower end: 20 Water retention and evaporation section: 21 Water retention and diffusion section: 22 Drain gutter: 23 Drain hose: 24 Drain tank: 25 Circulation pump: 26 Hose [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The present invention will be described in more detail below. The cooling system 1 for the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the present invention, as shown in Figure 1, is a cooling system for the outdoor unit A of the air conditioner, comprising a water retention and evaporation section 20 provided on the intake side of the outdoor unit A, a water storage tank 5 for supplying water to the water retention and evaporation section 20, and a pipe 10 for supplying water to the water retention and evaporation section 20. The pipe 10 has a plurality of discharge holes 11 provided at the same circumferential positions along the longitudinal direction of the pipe 10, and the discharge holes 11 are provided perpendicular to the direction of water dripping (direction of free fall). The entire circumference of the pipe 10 is covered with a cloth member 12 that has good water absorption and water retention properties, and a lower end portion 12a from which water drips is provided below it, and the lower end portion 12a is formed by a mountain-shaped protrusion 12a-1 provided along its entire length (the entire length of the lower end). Water drips from the apex of this mountain-shaped protrusion 12a-1. Further details are provided below.

[0011] 〔tube〕 As shown in Figures 1 and 2, pipe 10 is a hollow cylindrical member installed horizontally above the water retention and evaporation section 20. Although not shown, the pipe, which is installed in the direction of the intake side, is connected with an elbow or the like for water supply facilities. It is also preferable to fix it in place using an adjustment jig for horizontal installation. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the pipe 10 is provided with multiple discharge holes 11. The discharge holes 11 are positioned perpendicular to the direction of water dripping. Here, the direction of water dripping is the direction in which an object naturally falls due to gravity, and is the direction in which the lower end 12a of the cloth member 20 covering the pipe in Figure 4 is facing (the direction in which it naturally faces due to the action of gravity). The diameter of the discharge holes 11 is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to have a larger diameter of 1 to 2.5 mm than usual in order to facilitate flow rate adjustment and to allow the entire water-retaining material to absorb water with a small flow rate. The materials that make up the pipe 10 and the materials that form the other installation frame 3 are not particularly limited, and plastics, metals, etc., can be used.

[0012] [Cloth material] The cloth member 12, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, is preferably made of a material with good water absorption and water retention properties. Woven fabrics and non-woven fabrics (including felt materials), specifically microfibers, PVA sponge cloths, ultrafine fiber non-woven fabrics, as well as gauze, linen, pile and the like can be preferably used. As materials for the woven fabrics and non-woven fabrics, various materials such as natural materials like cotton and synthetic fibers can be used. The cloth member is made of cloth, and as shown in FIG. 4, it is attached in close contact with the discharge hole 11. Due to the water absorption property of the cloth, clogging of the discharge hole is less likely to occur even with a small flow rate, and the diameter of the discharge hole can be made larger than usual. In addition, due to the water retention property of the cloth and the mountain-shaped convex portion extending over the entire circumference of the lower end, water can be uniformly dripped and sprinkled onto the water-retaining transpiration portion.

[0013] [Water Supply System] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 2, water is uniformly supplied to the water-retaining transpiration portion by the water storage tank 5, the flow rate adjustment valve 6, the tube 7, the pipe 10, and the cloth 12 covering the pipe. The water storage tank 5 is installed above the outdoor unit A, and is connected to a drain water discharge pipe of an air conditioner. In the case of a cooling system for a household air conditioner outdoor unit, only a small amount of water is required to impregnate the water-retaining transpiration portion with water and evaporate the water. When the water storage tank 5 is installed at an upper position to reduce water pressure and water is supplied by natural falling through the flow rate adjustment valve 6 and the tube 7, water volume adjustment is easy and a required small amount of water can be obtained. An appropriate water volume for the cooling system is 5 to 30 liters per hour. If the cooling system is operated for a short period of time, it can be of a drainage type instead of a circulating water supply type, and the drainage hose 23 shown in FIGS. 1 to 2 can be connected to a drainage ditch. (Not shown) In the case of the drainage type, tap water or well water can be injected into the water storage tank 5 for use. Similarly to the circulating type described later, a sensor for detecting water volume can be attached to perform intermittent water supply. (Not shown) When the cooling system is operated for a long time and it is desired to operate several units, it is preferable to adopt a circulation type as shown in FIGS. 1 to 2. In the circulation type, a sensor for detecting the amount of water is attached to a water storage tank 5 (not shown), a circulation pump 25 operates when the water level is low, and the pump stops when the water level is high. The pump can be set not to operate until a low water level is detected. The operating time of the pump is determined by the amount of water in the water storage tank and the amount of water supplied to the cooling system. The pump operates intermittently, and can be set to operate for 1 minute and stop for 30 minutes, whereby the pump can be configured not to apply an extra load to the pump.

[0014] [Water Retention and Transpiration Section] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 2, the cooling system of the present embodiment is configured such that air taken in from the water retention and transpiration section 20 is cooled by heat of vaporization, cools an outdoor unit of a household air conditioner, and does not degrade the performance thereof. Therefore, the water retention and transpiration section needs to be formed using a material with good air permeability and good water evaporation performance. Any product made of paper, cloth, or non-woven fabric can be used as long as it has air permeability, can transpire stored water, and can utilize the heat of vaporization thereof. Specifically, materials that can be used as the above-mentioned cloth member can be mentioned. Further, as shown in the drawings, it is preferable to provide a certain degree of thickness (by stacking a plurality of sheets, or combining a thick sponge with cloth or non-woven fabric) instead of arranging an ordinary sheet-like member. The water retention and transpiration section 20 is installed on the frame 3. The installation can be performed using known methods and jigs. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a water diffusion section 21 is installed in close contact with an upper portion of the water retention and transpiration section 20. This allows dropped water to be uniformly supplied to the water retention and transpiration section 20. The water diffusion section 21 is in the form of a thin sheet and can be formed using the same material as the above-mentioned cloth member.

[0015] [Manufacturing] The cooling system of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 can be manufactured by manufacturing and assembling each member appropriately by a known method. [Use] Figure 1 of the cooling system in this embodiment shows that the storage tank 5 contains drain water from the air conditioner and tap water. etc. The appropriate amount of water is injected and dripped, and the amount of water is adjusted according to the outside temperature and the intensity of sunlight as water flows through the pipe 10. The water that flows through the pipe 10 moves from the discharge hole 11 through the cloth member 12 and further through the water diffusion section 21 to the water retention and evaporation section 20. This allows the water-retaining and evaporation section 20 to retain water and evaporate it, and the heat of vaporization of the water can cool the intake air of the outdoor unit.

[0016] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited in any way to the embodiments described above, and can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cooling system for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, comprising: water retention and evaporation sections provided on two sides of the intake side of the outdoor unit; a water storage tank for supplying water to the water retention and evaporation sections; and a pipe for supplying water to the water retention and evaporation sections, The above pipe has multiple discharge holes provided at the same circumferential positions along the longitudinal direction of the pipe. The above-mentioned discharge hole is provided perpendicular to the direction in which the water drips. The above-mentioned pipe is covered all around with a cloth member, and the cloth member has a lower end from which water is dripped, and the lower end is formed by a mountain-shaped protrusion that extends along its entire length, and water is configured to drip from the apex of the mountain-shaped protrusion. Cooling system for the outdoor unit of an air conditioner.

2. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the discharge hole is 1 to 2.5 mm and the water flow rate can be 5 to 30 liters / hour.

3. The cooling system according to claim 1, configured such that water is supplied from a water storage tank by gravity through a tube and a flow control valve.

4. Furthermore, the cooling system according to claim 1 is provided, wherein a water diffusion section is arranged in close contact with the upper part of the water retention and evaporation section.

5. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the above-mentioned water storage tank is connected to the drain water discharge pipe of the air conditioner and is configured to store drain water.

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