Outdoor Unit Heat Exchanger Support for Airflow and Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outdoor air-conditioning units face challenges in supporting upper heat exchangers without reducing the strength of the bottom plate or the air flow rate, while preventing falling due to vibrations during operation or transportation, and avoiding corrosion and freezing issues.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a reinforcing member with supporting tabs and engaging tabs formed from flexible resin, which supports the upper heat exchanger without decreasing the bottom plate's strength or air flow, and includes a gap to facilitate air passage and prevent dew condensation water accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If drain ports are provided in the bottom plate to discharge dew condensation water, then the dew condensation water is discharged effectively, but the strength of the bottom plate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the bottom plate into multiple regions: a support plate portion for structural support and a drain plate portion with drain ports for water discharge. This segmentation allows different parts to fulfill different functions - the support plate maintains strength while the drain plate handles water discharge, resolving the contradiction between strength and drainage effectiveness.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the bottom plate is made sloped with drain holes to discharge dew condensation water, then the dew condensation water discharge efficiency is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom plate is segmented into a support plate portion (flat for structural integrity) and a drain plate portion (sloped for water discharge). This segmentation enables the sloped drainage function to be implemented only where needed, without requiring the entire bottom plate to be sloped, thus reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining drainage efficiency.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If louver-like cut-and-raised portions are provided in the bottom plate to maintain strength and improve dew condensation water discharge, then the discharge efficiency is improved, but the air flow rate through the heat exchanger decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom plate is divided into a support plate portion that maintains structural strength and a separate drain plate portion that handles water discharge. This segmentation avoids the need for louver-like structures that would obstruct air flow, as the drain ports are positioned and designed to minimize interference with the air passage while still effectively discharging dew condensation water.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a heat pipe is disposed at the lowest position to heat dew condensation water and prevent freezing, then freezing is avoided, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the dew condensation water discharge function from the main bottom plate structure by providing a separate drain plate portion with drain ports. This allows dew condensation water to be discharged externally without requiring additional heating components like heat pipes within the bottom plate, thereby preventing freezing through discharge rather than heating, and reducing device complexity and cost.
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 effectively prevents the upper heat exchanger from falling and reduces the risk of corrosion and freezing, maintaining air flow and structural integrity while avoiding the need for additional drainage holes, thus addressing the issues of strength, flow rate, and cost.
Implementation Method 1
a reinforcing member that supports the upper heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
includes a gap to facilitate air passage
Implementation Method 3
a heat exchanger that is disposed along a rear surface and side surfaces... heat exchange using the heat exchanger is performed
Implementation Method 4
By driving the fan, a negative pressure is formed inside, a flow of air is produced around the heat exchanger, and then heat exchange using the heat exchanger is performed
Implementation Method 5
By driving the fan, a negative pressure is formed inside, a flow of air is produced around the heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
An outdoor unit includes: a lower heat exchanger having a first heat-transfer tube; an upper heat exchanger provided above the lower heat exchanger, including a first-row heat-exchanger core and a second-row heat-exchanger core, and a second heat-transfer tube; and a reinforcing member supporting the upper heat exchanger, wherein the reinforcing member includes a first supporting tab supporting the bottom of the second-row heat-exchanger core; a second supporting tab supporting the lower side surface of the second-row heat-exchanger core and formed integrally with the first supporting tab; a third supporting tab providing a gap between the first-row heat-exchanger core and the second-row heat-exchanger core and formed integrally with the first supporting tab; an engaging tab holding the first heat-transfer tubes and formed integrally with the third supporting tab; and an engaging tab holding the second heat-transfer tubes and formed integrally with the third supporting tab.