Heat Pump Electrical Unit Ventilation to Reduce Internal Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
The heat pump apparatus's electrical equipment box, exposed to wind and rain, becomes easily filled with heat, leading to a shortened lifespan of electrical parts due to high temperatures and potential damage from falling components.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a receiving tray to catch falling electrical parts and a ventilated structure to prevent heat buildup, featuring a receiving tray and a heat sink with a support system that maintains airflow around the electrical circuit board, preventing heat accumulation and external contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electrical equipment box is sealed to prevent water entry, then the box can be provided on the blowing chamber side exposed to wind and rain, but the inside of the box becomes easily filled with heat and the temperature rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a sealed box structure made of flame-resistant resin that prevents water entry while managing heat through controlled ventilation pathways. The sealed enclosure with integrated heat dissipation features allows the box to be positioned in exposed locations without compromising electrical component reliability.
2Reliability
If the electrical equipment box is sealed, then water entry is prevented, but the lifespan of electrical parts is shortened due to high temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The sealed resin box structure prevents water damage to electrical components while maintaining structural integrity in exposed locations. The seal prevents moisture ingress that would otherwise accelerate component degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the heat management function from the sealed enclosure by providing separate ventilation pathways that allow heat to escape while maintaining the seal's water protection function. This separation enables both water protection and thermal management.
3Reliability
If a receiving tray is added to catch falling parts, then damage from falling components is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving tray is integrated into the bottom structure of the electrical equipment box, merging the protection function with the existing enclosure design. This integration minimizes additional complexity while providing effective protection against falling components.
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 solution effectively prevents damage from falling components and reduces the temperature around the electrical circuit board, thereby extending its lifespan and ensuring reliable operation.
Implementation Method 1
a heat sink for cooling the heating element
Implementation Method 2
a ventilated structure to prevent heat buildup, featuring a receiving tray and a heat sink with a support system that maintains airflow around the electrical circuit board
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
A heat pump apparatus includes an electrical unit (17) including an electrical part for driving at least one of a blower configured to blow air to an air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger and a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant. The electrical unit (17) includes an electrical circuit board (24) including an upper surface, a lower surface, and the electrical part mounted on the lower surface, a receiving tray (23) including a receiving portion (23a) that covers at least a part of the electrical circuit board (24) from below, a framework that holds the electrical circuit board (24) and the receiving tray (23), and an opening (30), which is formed between the framework and the receiving portion (23a) of the receiving tray (23) and through which air is capable of passing. A space between the electrical circuit board (24) and the receiving portion (23a) of the receiving tray (23) is an inner space (31) of the electrical unit (17). The inner space (31) of the electrical unit (17) communicates with outside of the electrical unit (17) via the opening (30).