Outdoor units and air conditioners

Abstract

This outdoor unit comprises: a housing; a fan that is accommodated in the housing, and that generates an airflow that passes through the housing; a compressor accommodated in the housing and serving to compress a refrigerant; a partition plate for partitioning the interior of the housing into a machine chamber in which the compressor is installed and an air blowing chamber in which the fan is installed; a heat sink (6) that is disposed at an upper part of the partition plate, and that separates the air blowing chamber and the machine chamber together with the partition plate; and a first control board (9a) and a second control board (9b) that generate heat when the compressor and / or the fan is driven. The heat sink (6) has a plate-shaped base section (61), and a heat dissipation section (62) provided on one surface of the base section (61), the heat dissipation section (62) includes flat plate-shaped first fins (621) and second fins (622) having different fin lengths, and the first control board (9a) and second control board (9b) are arranged such that at least a portion of each board covers a region of the other surface of the base section (61) corresponding to where the first fins (621) are arranged on said one surface.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an outdoor unit having a housing and a heat exchanger, and an air conditioner including the outdoor unit. [Background technology]

[0002] An air conditioner includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit connected to each other via a refrigerant pipe. The outdoor unit includes a compressor that compresses the refrigerant, an expansion valve that reduces the pressure of the compressed refrigerant, a four-way valve that switches the refrigerant flow path, a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and air, and a fan that generates an airflow that passes through the heat exchanger.

[0003] In the outdoor unit of an air conditioner, the inside of the housing is divided into an air blowing chamber and a machine room by a partition plate, with the blower and heat exchanger etc. located in the air blowing chamber and the compressor, expansion valve, four-way valve etc. located in the machine room. A first control board that controls the compressor, expansion valve and four-way valve, and a second control board that controls the fan are located on a heat sink that is installed above the partition plate and that, together with the partition plate, divides the air blowing chamber and the machine room.

[0004] When the air conditioner is operating, the first control board and the second control board generate heat. Thus, the outdoor unit of the air conditioner contains multiple heat generating elements. The heat sink has fins that protrude toward the air blower chamber to dissipate the heat generated by these heat generating elements.

[0005] Patent Document 1 discloses an outdoor unit in which the fins are gradually increased in length from the bottom to the top of the heat sink to avoid interference with the fan. In the outdoor unit disclosed in Patent Document 1, the upper part of the heat sink, where long fins are installed, has high heat dissipation performance, while the lower part of the heat sink, where short fins are installed, has low heat dissipation performance. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-180709 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, in the outdoor unit disclosed in Patent Document 1, when there are multiple heat-generating elements to be cooled by the heat sink, there is a problem in that the heat dissipation performance of the heat-generating elements arranged above the heat sink is reduced due to the effect of heat from the heat-generating elements arranged below the heat sink.

[0008] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide an outdoor unit that prevents the occurrence of a heat-generating body that is insufficiently able to dissipate heat due to being placed below a heat sink on which fins with short fin lengths are installed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the outdoor unit according to the present disclosure includes a housing, a fan housed in the housing and generating an airflow passing through the housing, a compressor housed in the housing and compressing a refrigerant, a heat exchanger housed in the housing and exchanging heat between the refrigerant and the airflow, a partition plate separating the interior of the housing into a machine chamber in which the compressor is installed and an airflow chamber in which the fan is installed, a heat sink installed above the partition plate and, together with the partition plate, separating the machine chamber from the airflow chamber, and multiple heat-generating elements that generate heat when at least one of the compressor and the fan is operating. The heat sink has a plate-shaped base and a heat dissipation section provided on one surface of the base, and the heat dissipation section includes flat fins with at least two stages of varying fin length. Each of the multiple heat-generating elements is positioned so that at least a portion overlaps an area of ​​the other surface of the base where a fin with a length other than the shortest is installed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The outdoor unit according to the present disclosure has the advantage of being able to prevent the occurrence of a heat-generating body that is insufficiently able to dissipate heat due to being placed below a heat sink on which fins with short fin lengths are installed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] Front view of the outdoor unit according to the first embodiment [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view of an outdoor unit according to a first embodiment; [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing some components of an outdoor unit according to a first embodiment; [Figure 5] 1 is a side view of a heat sink of an outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 6] 10 is a side view of a heat sink of an outdoor unit according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is a side view of a heat sink of an outdoor unit according to a third embodiment. [Figure 8] 13 is a side view of a heat sink of an outdoor unit according to a modification of the third embodiment. [Figure 9] 10 is a side view of a heat sink of an outdoor unit according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a heat sink of an outdoor unit according to a fifth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, an outdoor unit and an air conditioner according to an embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0013] Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioner according to Embodiment 1. The air conditioner 100 comprises an indoor unit 1 and an outdoor unit 2. The indoor unit 1 and the outdoor unit 2 are connected via a gas connection pipe 3a and a liquid connection pipe 3b. The gas connection pipe 3a and the liquid connection pipe 3b are collectively referred to as the refrigerant pipe 3. The refrigerant pipe 3 is filled with refrigerant, which circulates between the indoor unit 1 and the outdoor unit 2 via the refrigerant pipe 3, allowing the air conditioner 100 to exchange heat between the indoor and outdoor areas.

[0014] Fig. 2 is a front view of the outdoor unit according to the first embodiment. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the outdoor unit according to the first embodiment. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing some of the components of the outdoor unit according to the first embodiment. Note that the housing 20 is not shown in Fig. 3. The outdoor unit 2 includes a housing 20, a compressor 4, an expansion valve 5, a heat exchanger 7, a fan 8, a control board 9, and a partition plate 11. The housing 20 accommodates the compressor 4, the expansion valve 5, the heat exchanger 7, the fan 8, the control board 9, and the partition plate 11 inside. A refrigerant pipe 3 is connected to the housing 20.

[0015] A refrigeration cycle is formed by circulating a refrigerant through the refrigerant pipe 3, the compressor 4, the expansion valve 5, the heat exchanger 7, and the heat exchanger provided in the indoor unit 1. The compressor 4 compresses the refrigerant. The heat exchanger 7 exchanges heat between the refrigerant and air. The fan 8 rotates to draw in air from outside the housing 20 and blow the air out of the housing 20. The air drawn in from outside the housing 20 passes through the heat exchanger 7. As the air passes through the heat exchanger 7, heat is exchanged between the air and the heat exchanger 7. The control board 9 includes a first control board 9a that controls the compressor 4 and a second control board 9b that controls the fan 8. The first control board 9a is a first heating element that generates heat when the compressor 4 is driven. The second control board 9b is a second heating element that generates heat when the fan 8 is driven. In this way, the control board 9 includes multiple heating elements that generate heat when at least one of the compressor 4 and the fan 8 is driven. The first control board 9a generates more heat than the second control board 9b. The partition plate 11 and the heat sink 6 installed above the partition plate 11 separate the interior of the housing 20 into an air blower chamber 50 where the heat exchanger 7 and the fan 8 are installed, and a machine chamber 51 where the control board 9, the compressor 4, and the expansion valve 5 are installed.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a side view of the heat sink of the outdoor unit according to the first embodiment. The heat sink 6 includes a base 61 and a heat dissipation section 62. The base 61 is plate-shaped and forms part of the wall separating the air blower chamber 50 and the machine chamber 51. The heat dissipation section 62 rises from one surface of the base 61 and is disposed on the air blower chamber 50 side. The heat dissipation section 62 includes a first fin 621 and a second fin 622. The first fin 621 and the second fin 622 are aligned vertically, with the first fin 621 disposed above the second fin 622. To avoid interference with the fan 8, the fin length of the second fin 622 is shorter than the fin length of the first fin 621. In the following description, the portion of the heat sink 6 where the first fin 621 is provided is referred to as a first heat sink region 611, and the portion where the second fin 622 is provided is referred to as a second heat sink region 612. Since the fin length of the second fin 622 is shorter than the fin length of the first fin 621, the heat dissipation performance of the entire first fin 621 in the first heat sink region 611 is higher than the heat dissipation performance of the entire second fin 622 in the second heat sink region 612.

[0017] The first control board 9a and the second control board 9b are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction and in contact with the other surface of the base part 61. Each of the first control board 9a and the second control board 9b is arranged so that at least a portion thereof overlaps the first heat sink area 611.

[0018] If one of the first control board 9a and the second control board 9b were arranged so as to overlap only the second heat sink area 612, the heat generated during operation could not be completely dissipated from the second fins 622, and the heat could become trapped, causing the temperature to rise. If the temperature of one of the first control board 9a and the second control board 9b rises, the heat radiated from the first control board 9a and the second control board 9b heats the other of the first control board 9a and the second control board 9b. Therefore, if one of the first control board 9a and the second control board 9b were arranged only in the second heat sink area 612, the temperatures of both the first control board 9a and the second control board 9b would rise, which could cause malfunction.

[0019] In the outdoor unit 2 according to Embodiment 1, the first control board 9a and the second control board 9b are each arranged so that at least a portion thereof overlaps the first heat sink area 611. Therefore, the heat generated by each of the first control board 9a and the second control board 9b is dissipated not only from the second fins 622 but also from the first fins 621. Therefore, the outdoor unit 2 according to Embodiment 1 can prevent insufficient heat dissipation from the portions of the first control board 9a and the second control board 9b that are arranged in the second heat sink area 612 below the heat sink 6 on which the second fins 622 with short fin length are installed. Therefore, the outdoor unit 2 according to Embodiment 1 can prevent heat generated from one of the first control board 9a and the second control board 9b from adversely affecting the other of the first control board 9a and the second control board 9b. Therefore, there is no need to increase the size of the heat sink 6 to improve heat dissipation performance or to increase the size of the first control board 9a and the second control board 9b to increase the amount of heat stored.

[0020] Although the heat dissipation unit 62 has been described here as having two types of fins with different lengths, the first fin 621 and the second fin 622, the heat dissipation unit 62 may have three or more types of fins with different lengths. In this case, each of the first control board 9a and the second control board 9b may have at least a portion other than the heat sink area where the shortest fins are arranged. of By arranging them so as to overlap each other, it is possible to suppress an increase in the temperature of the first control board 9a and the second control board 9b.

[0021] Embodiment 2 6 is a side view of a heat sink of an outdoor unit according to embodiment 2. The heat sink 6 of the outdoor unit 2 according to embodiment 2 has a heat transfer sheet 63 installed on a base portion 61, and the first control board 9a and the second control board 9b are installed on the base portion 61 via the heat transfer sheet 63. The heat transfer sheet 63 is arranged across a first heat sink region 611 and a second heat sink region 612.

[0022] The first control board 9a and the second control board 9b are arranged side by side in the vertical direction. The first control board 9a abuts against the heat transfer sheet 63 in the first heat sink area 611, and the second control board 9b abuts against the heat transfer sheet 63 in the second heat sink area 612.

[0023] A portion of the heat generated in the second control board 9b is transferred to the first heat sink area 611 via the heat transfer sheet 63. Therefore, by transferring the heat from the second control board 9b arranged in the second heat sink area 612 to the first heat sink area 611 via the heat transfer sheet 63, it is possible to prevent heat from being trapped in the second control board 9b arranged in the second heat sink area 612. Therefore, the outdoor unit 2 according to the second embodiment can prevent insufficient heat dissipation from the second control board 9b arranged in the second heat sink area 612 below the heat sink 6 on which the second fins 622 having short fin lengths are installed, without increasing the size of the second control board 9b arranged in the second heat sink area 612 to increase the amount of heat storage. Therefore, the outdoor unit 2 according to the second embodiment can prevent the heat generated by the second control board 9b from adversely affecting the first control board 9a.

[0024] Embodiment 3 7 is a side view of a heat sink of an outdoor unit according to embodiment 3. In the heat sink 6 of the outdoor unit 2 according to embodiment 3, the thickness of the base portion 61 differs between the first heat sink region 611 and the second heat sink region 612. The thickness of the base portion 61 in the second heat sink region 612 is greater than the thickness of the base portion 61 in the first heat sink region 611. Therefore, the amount of heat stored per unit area of ​​the base portion 61 in the second heat sink region 612 is greater than the amount of heat stored per unit area of ​​the base portion 61 in the first heat sink region 611. The thickness of the base portion 61 varies so that the side on which the heat dissipation portion 62 is formed is convex.

[0025] In the outdoor unit 2 according to the third embodiment, the amount of heat stored per unit area of ​​the base portion 61 in the second heat sink region 612 is greater than the amount of heat stored per unit area of ​​the base portion 61 in the first heat sink region 611, so the base portion 61 in the second heat sink region 612 is less likely to become thermally saturated. Therefore, heat generated by the second control board 9b arranged in the second heat sink region 612 is less likely to be trapped in the second control board 9b. This makes it possible for the outdoor unit 2 according to the third embodiment to prevent insufficient heat dissipation from the second control board 9b arranged in the second heat sink region 612 below the heat sink 6 on which the second fins 622 having short fin lengths are installed. Therefore, the outdoor unit 2 according to the third embodiment can prevent the heat generated by the second control board 9b from adversely affecting the first control board 9a.

[0026] FIG. 8 is a side view of a heat sink for an outdoor unit according to a modification of the third embodiment. In the heat sink 6 of the outdoor unit 2 according to the modification of the third embodiment, the thickness of the base portion 61 is varied so that the surface opposite to the surface on which the heat dissipation portion 62 is formed is convex. In the heat sink 6 according to the modification of the third embodiment, the surface of the base portion 61 on which the heat dissipation portion 62 is provided is flat, so the fin length of the second fins 622 can be made longer than in the heat sink 6 according to the third embodiment. Therefore, the heat sink 6 according to the modification of the third embodiment can improve the heat dissipation performance in the second heat sink region 612 compared to the heat sink 6 according to the third embodiment. Therefore, the heat sink 6 according to the modification of the third embodiment can prevent heat generated by the second control board 9b from adversely affecting the first control board 9a.

[0027] Embodiment 4 9 is a side view of a heat sink of an outdoor unit according to embodiment 4. In the heat sink 6 of the outdoor unit 2 according to embodiment 4, the fin pitch of the first fins 621 is different from the fin pitch of the second fins 622. The fin pitch of the first fins 621 is greater than the fin pitch of the second fins 622, and the number of first fins 621 is less than the number of second fins 622. Therefore, the fin surface area of ​​the entire first fins 621 in the first heat sink region 611 is smaller than the fin surface area of ​​the entire second fins 622 in the second heat sink region 612.

[0028] In the outdoor unit 2 according to embodiment 4, the total surface area of ​​the second fins 622 arranged in the second heat sink area 612 is larger than the total surface area of ​​the first fins 621 arranged in the first heat sink area 611, and so the heat generated in the second control board 9b can be efficiently dissipated. Therefore, the heat generated by the second control board 9b arranged in the second heat sink area 612 is less likely to be trapped in the second control board 9b. This makes it possible for the outdoor unit 2 according to embodiment 4 to prevent insufficient heat dissipation from the second control board 9b arranged in the second heat sink area 612 below the heat sink 6 on which the second fins 622 with short fin length are installed. For this reason, the outdoor unit 2 according to embodiment 4 , th This can prevent the heat generated by the second control board 9b from adversely affecting the first control board 9a.

[0029] Embodiment 5 FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a heat sink of an outdoor unit according to embodiment 5. In FIG. 10, only one first fin 621 and one second fin 622 are shown, and the remaining fins are not shown. In the heat sink 6 of the outdoor unit 2 according to embodiment 5, the circumferential length-to-cross-sectional area ratio of the first fin 621 is different from the circumferential length-to-cross-sectional area ratio of the second fin 622. The circumferential length-to-cross-sectional area ratio is the ratio of the circumferential length to the cross-sectional area of ​​the fin cross-section, and is defined as the value obtained by dividing the circumferential length by the cross-sectional area. The circumferential length-to-cross-sectional area ratio of the second fin 622 is greater than the circumferential length-to-cross-sectional area ratio of the first fin 621.

[0030] The amount of heat that can be stored in one fin depends on the volume of the fin, provided the fin is made of the same material. Therefore, if the fin length is the same, the amount of heat that can be stored in one fin depends on the cross-sectional area of ​​the fin. On the other hand, the heat dissipation performance from the fin depends on the surface area of ​​the fin, and the larger the surface area, the higher the heat dissipation performance. Therefore, if the fin length and cross-sectional area are the same, the larger the surface area of ​​the fin, the higher the fin efficiency.

[0031] The surface area of ​​a fin is expressed as the product of the fin's perimeter and fin length. A fin with a rectangular cross section having a thickness d and a width W has a cross-sectional area of ​​dW and a perimeter of 2(d+W). Here, the first fin 621 has a thickness d1 and a width W1, and the second fin 622 has a thickness d2 and a width W2. The perimeter-to-cross-sectional area ratio of the first fin 621 is 2(d1+W1) / (d1×W1), and the perimeter-to-cross-sectional area ratio of the second fin 622 is 2(d2+W2) / (d2×W2). Therefore, the heat sink 6 according to the fifth embodiment satisfies the condition {2(d2+W2) / (d2×W2)}>{2(d1+W1) / (d1×W1)}. Here, if the fin length of the first fin 621 is L1 and the fin length of the second fin 622 is L2, then if L1×2(d2+W2) / (d2×W2)>L2×2(d1+W1) / (d1×W1), the fin efficiency of the second fin 622 will be higher than the fin efficiency of the first fin 621.

[0032] In the heat sink 6 according to the fifth embodiment, the fin efficiency of the second fins 622 is higher than the fin efficiency of the first fins 621. Therefore, the heat generated by the second control board 9b arranged in the second heat sink area 612 is less likely to be trapped in the second control board 9b. As a result, the outdoor unit 2 according to the fifth embodiment can prevent insufficient heat dissipation from the second control board 9b arranged in the second heat sink area 612 below the heat sink 6 on which the second fins 622 having a short fin length are arranged. For this reason, the outdoor unit 2 according to the fifth embodiment , th This can prevent the heat generated by the second control board 9b from adversely affecting the first control board 9a.

[0033] In the third, fourth and fifth embodiments, a heat sink 6 is shown having a heat transfer sheet 63, but the heat transfer sheet 63 may be omitted and the first control board 9a and the second control board 9b may be abutted against the other side of the base portion 61.

[0034] The configurations shown in the above embodiments are merely examples of the content, and may be combined with other known technologies, and parts of the configurations may be omitted or modified as long as they do not deviate from the gist of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 1 indoor unit, 2 outdoor unit, 3 refrigerant piping, 3a gas connection piping, 3b liquid connection piping, 4 compressor, 5 expansion valve, 6 heat sink, 7 heat exchanger, 8 fan, 9 control board, 9a first control board, 9b second control board, 11 partition plate, 20 housing, 50 ventilation chamber, 51 machine chamber, 61 base portion, 62 heat dissipation portion, 63 heat transfer sheet, 100 air conditioner, 611 first heat sink area, 612 second heat sink area, 621 first fin, 622 second fin.

Claims

1. The housing and a fan housed in the housing and configured to generate an airflow passing through the housing; a compressor housed in the housing and configured to compress a refrigerant; a heat exchanger housed in the housing for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and the airflow; a partition plate separating the interior of the housing into a machine chamber in which the compressor is installed and an air blower chamber in which the fan is installed; a heat sink disposed on an upper portion of the partition plate and separating the machine chamber and the ventilation chamber together with the partition plate; a first heating element that generates heat when the compressor is driven; a second heating element that generates heat when the fan is driven, the heat sink has a plate-shaped base portion and a heat dissipation portion provided on one surface of the base portion, the heat dissipation portion includes a first fin and a second fin having a shorter fin length than the first fin and disposed below the first fin, the first heating element and the second heating element are in contact with the other surface of the base portion, In the outdoor unit, the thickness of the base portion increases as the fins with shorter lengths are installed.

2. The outdoor unit according to claim 1 , wherein the heat dissipating portion has a fin with a shorter fin length having a larger overall surface area of ​​the fin.

3. The outdoor unit according to claim 1 , wherein the fins of the heat dissipation section have a shorter fin length, and the fin efficiency is higher.

4. the heat sink includes a heat transfer sheet disposed across a first heat sink region on the other surface of the base, the first fin being disposed therein, and a second heat sink region on the other surface of the base, the first fin being disposed therein, and the second fin being disposed therein; the first heating element is disposed in a portion of the heat transfer sheet that is associated with the first heat sink region, The outdoor unit according to claim 1 , wherein the second heating element is disposed in a portion of the heat transfer sheet that is associated with the second heat sink region.

5. An air conditioner comprising the outdoor unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and an indoor unit.

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