Electronics Box Dual Cooling in Environmental Control Units
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional environmental control units, such as HVAC and heat pump systems, face challenges in effectively cooling their controllers and electronics, which can lead to reduced performance and reliability.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a dual cooling system where the controller and ancillary electronics are exposed to airflow from a blower and also utilize a cooling plate in direct contact with a refrigerant line for conductive cooling, providing two independent modes of cooling: convective cooling via airflow and conductive cooling via a refrigerant-cooled plate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If only blower-drawn airflow cooling is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cooling efficiency of the controller and electronics is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two cooling mechanisms into a unified system: the blower-drawn airflow cooling and the refrigerant line conductive cooling. The electronics box is positioned to receive both convective cooling from the blower airflow and conductive cooling from the refrigerant line, combining both cooling modes to achieve superior cooling efficiency while maintaining reasonable system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The electronics box serves as an intermediary component that bridges the blower region and the refrigerant line. It is strategically positioned to be cooled by both the blower airflow and the refrigerant line simultaneously, acting as a heat dissipation node that receives thermal energy from both cooling sources
2Reliability
If the electronics box is positioned to maximize cooling, then the cooling efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electronics box is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it houses the controller and ancillary electronics, provides a heat dissipation node for both cooling modes, and acts as a structural bridge between the blower region and the refrigerant line. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated cooling components
Solution Approach 2:
The electronics box is strategically positioned in a specific location where it can receive both convective cooling from the blower and conductive cooling from the refrigerant line. This localized positioning optimizes heat dissipation for the electronics without requiring complex cooling system architecture
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances the cooling efficiency of the controller and electronics, improving the overall performance and reliability of the environmental control unit compared to systems relying solely on blower-drawn cooling.
Implementation Method 1
The first side is cooled by airflow from the blower
Implementation Method 2
The second side is cooled by a coolant line that is connected to the refrigerant line
Data Source
AI summary
An environmental control unit (ECU) such as a heat pump includes a housing having a divider panel. The divider panel is surrounded by a sidewall and segregates an interior space of the housing into an air-handling portion and a condensing portion. The ECU includes a blower disposed in the air-handling portion, a heat exchanger disposed in the air-handling portion, a compressor disposed in the condensing portion and a fluid circuit including a refrigerant line that connects the heat exchanger to the compressor. In addition, the ECU includes an electronics box that is mounted on the divider panel and houses a control board, the electronics box being provided with two independent modes of cooling. The first mode includes convective cooling via air flow generated by the blower, and the second mode includes conductive cooling via a cooling plate that is cooled by the refrigerant line.