Fluid Machine Compartment Cooling for Control Device Heat Resistance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The control device of a fluid machine, such as a compressor, faces challenges in heat resistance and coolability due to increased heat generation from semiconductor elements and the need for size reduction, which complicates the cooling system and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A fluid machine configuration with a housing that includes a partition wall dividing it into compartments, allowing for efficient cooling air flow between the control device and the drive source, using intake and exhaust openings to direct cooling air effectively and improve coolability without increasing size or cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the control device is disposed away from heating elements to improve heat resistance, then coolability is improved, but device size increases and arrangement flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into multiple compartments by partition walls, with the control device placed in a dedicated control device compartment separated from heating elements. This segmentation allows the control device to be positioned away from heat sources while maintaining compact overall device dimensions, as each compartment utilizes space efficiently without requiring excessive separation distance.
Solution Approach 2:
Cooling air channels and partition walls act as intermediaries between the control device and heating elements. The cooling air channels guide cool air from intake openings through the control device compartment, while partition walls provide thermal isolation. This intermediary cooling mechanism enables the control device to be positioned closer to heating elements than direct contact would allow, maintaining heat resistance without excessive size increase.
2Reliability
If additional cooling devices are provided to improve coolability, then heat resistance is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling air intake openings serve multiple functions: they provide cooling air to the control device compartment, supply air to cooling air channels that cool heating elements, and maintain pressure balance within the housing. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cooling systems for different components, reducing overall system complexity while improving coolability of both the control device and heating elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system merges the cooling requirements of the control device and heating elements into a unified cooling air flow path. Cooling air from common intake openings travels through cooling air channels that serve both the control device compartment and heating element areas. This merged cooling approach reduces the number of separate cooling devices needed, simplifying the system while maintaining effective cooling across all heat-generating components.
3Reliability
If the control device is disposed away from heating elements to improve heat resistance, then coolability is improved, but arrangement flexibility and user interface positioning are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into multiple compartments by partition walls, with the control device placed in a dedicated control device compartment separated from heating elements. This segmentation allows the control device to be positioned away from heat sources while maintaining compact overall device dimensions, as each compartment utilizes space efficiently without requiring excessive separation distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls and compartment structure utilize three-dimensional space arrangement to achieve thermal separation. Instead of requiring linear distance separation in one dimension, the design uses spatial compartmentalization across multiple dimensions, allowing the control device to be positioned in a thermally isolated zone while maintaining flexibility in overall device layout and user interface positioning.
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 efficiently cools the control device while reducing the complexity and cost of the cooling system, enhancing heat resistance and coolability while maintaining a compact design.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling fan that generates cooling air in the housing
Implementation Method 2
a partition wall that partitions an interior of the housing into at least a first compartment and a second compartment and that includes a communication portion providing partial communication between the first compartment and the second compartment
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid machine that performs efficient cooling of a control system, such as a control device. The fluid machine is provided with: a fluid machine body; a drive source; a control device; a housing in which the fluid machine body, the drive source, and the control device are housed; and a cooling fan. The housing has a plurality of intake openings for introducing cooling air into the interior thereof and one exhaust opening, and includes a partition wall which partitions the interior of the housing into a first compartment and a second compartment and which has a communication portion providing communication between the first compartment and a part of the second compartment. A first intake opening among the plurality of intake openings is disposed in a housing wall of the first compartment in which at least the control device is disposed, and a second intake opening is disposed in a housing wall of the second compartment in which at least the drive source is disposed. The exhaust opening discharges the cooling air that has flowed from the first intake opening into the second compartment via the communication portion and that has cooled one of the fluid machine body and the drive source, and the cooling air that has been taken in via the second intake opening. A part of the control device is disposed facing an area of the first compartment downstream of the first intake opening and upstream of the communication portion.