Freeze Prevention Pipe Layout for Air Conditioner Drain Outlet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioner designs face challenges in preventing drain water from freezing, leading to potential damage, and suffer from high power consumption when using heaters or refrigerant piping for defrosting, as previous solutions do not effectively utilize heat dissipated by high-pressure-side refrigerant piping to thaw frost efficiently.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner with a refrigerating cycle that includes a base plate below the outdoor heat exchanger and a freeze prevention pipe positioned between the outdoor heat exchanger and the base plate, allowing the refrigerant to pass through the drain outlet region, utilizing heat from the refrigerant to prevent freezing and thaw frozen drain water while minimizing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a heater is used to heat the drain pan to prevent drain water freezing, then drain water discharge is maintained, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The high-pressure-side refrigerant piping serves dual functions: cooling the outdoor heat exchanger during normal operation and heating the drain pan during defrosting operation. The system uses its own refrigerant to prevent drain water freezing without requiring external heating energy, achieving self-service freeze prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The high-pressure-side refrigerant piping is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as a cooling element for the outdoor heat exchanger during heating/cooling modes and as a heating element for the drain pan during defrosting mode. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate heating devices and reduces overall power consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If high-pressure-side refrigerant piping is used to heat the drain pan, then power consumption is reduced compared to heaters, but thawing of frost on the drain pan cannot be effectively performed
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant piping is positioned to make direct contact with or be in close proximity to the drain pan surface, concentrating the heating effect specifically at the drain outlet area where frost formation is most problematic. This localized heating approach ensures effective frost thawing while minimizing overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigerant piping begins heating the drain pan before frost fully forms or blocks the drain outlet, and continues heating during the defrosting cycle. This preliminary and continuous action prevents frost accumulation and ensures effective thawing before drainage is blocked.
3Reliability
If the drain outlet is positioned below the outdoor heat exchanger with a base plate heater, then drain water discharge is maintained, but heat loss increases due to heating of frost through the base plate
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is extracted from the base plate and transferred to the high-pressure-side refrigerant piping that is in direct contact with or adjacent to the drain pan. This extraction eliminates the need for base plate heating and reduces heat loss through the base plate structure, as the refrigerant piping provides localized heating only where needed.
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 maintains drain water discharge by preventing freezing and thawing frozen water efficiently, achieving lower power consumption by effectively utilizing heat from the refrigerant, thus reducing the risk of damage to the outdoor heat exchanger and fan.
Implementation Method 1
a freeze prevention pipe arranged between the outdoor heat exchanger and the base plate in a manner, in plan view, to at least partially pass inside the region of the drain outlet. The freeze prevention pipe is connected between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger.
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner includes a refrigerating cycle including a compressor (10) compressing a refrigerant, an indoor heat exchanger (30) exchanging heat between the refrigerant and indoor air, a pressure-reducing expansion valve (50) reducing pressure of and expanding the refrigerant, and an outdoor heat exchanger (60) exchanging heat between the refrigerant and outdoor air. The air conditioner further has a base plate (70) arranged below the outdoor heat exchanger (60) and having a drain outlet (71) formed at a position opposing an undersurface of the outdoor heat exchanger (60). Between the outdoor heat exchanger (60) and the base plate (70), a freeze prevention pipe (41) is disposed in a manner, in plan view, to at least partially pass inside the region of the drain outlet (71). The freeze prevention pipe (41) is connected between the outdoor heat exchanger (60) and the indoor heat exchanger (30). With such a configuration, discharge of drain water can be maintained by preventing drain water from freezing or by thawing frozen drain water, while achieving lower power consumption.