Heat source unit and air conditioner having the heat source unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat source units for air conditioners dissipate excessive heat, leading to increased temperatures in installation environments and potential damage to refrigerant piping during maintenance, while existing cooling solutions risk condensation water contacting electrical components.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a cooling heat exchanger connected to the refrigerant circuit, positioned downstream of electrical components to minimize heat dissipation and condensation risks, with a fan configuration that directs airflow to prevent condensation water contact and enhances heat recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a cooling heat exchanger is added to cool the air passage, then heat dissipation from the heat source unit is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling heat exchanger is integrated into the existing refrigerant circuit of the heat pump, merging the cooling function with the existing refrigeration system. This allows the heat exchanger to utilize the refrigerant flow already present in the system, adding the cooling function without requiring a completely separate system and thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling heat exchanger serves multiple functions: it cools the air passage to reduce heat dissipation from the heat source unit, and simultaneously recovers heat from the refrigerant circuit. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing multiple benefits from a single component.
2Loss of energy
If the cooling heat exchanger is positioned to cool electrical components, then heat dissipation is reduced, but condensation water may contact electrical components
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling heat exchanger is positioned in a spatial arrangement that separates the condensation water collection area from the electrical components. By utilizing the three-dimensional space within the housing, the design allows condensation water to drain downward into a collection pan while the electrical components remain positioned above, thus preventing contact between condensation water and electrical components while maintaining the cooling function.
3Ease of repair
If the electric box is made accessible for maintenance, then ease of repair is improved, but refrigerant piping may be damaged during access
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into separate access points: one for the electric box and another for the refrigerant piping. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to access the electric box for repairs without needing to disassemble or risk damaging the refrigerant piping, as the refrigerant piping is accessible through a different, dedicated access point.
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
Reduces heat dissipation from the heat source unit, minimizes condensation water contact with electrical components, and improves heat recovery within the refrigerant circuit, simplifying maintenance access and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling heat exchanger (22) connected to the refrigerant circuit and arranged downstream of the electrical components (36) in the direction of the air flow (41)
Implementation Method 2
JP-A-2016-191505 discloses an electric box having an air passage comprising an air inlet and an air outlet opening into an interior of the external housing and a fan configured to induce an air flow through the air passage from the air inlet to the air outlet for cooling the electrical components
Implementation Method 3
The heat source heat exchanger (5) configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit and a heat source
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~8
AI summary
Heat source unit (2) for an air conditioner (1) comprising a refrigerant circuit, the heat source unit comprising an external housing (10) accommodating a compressor (3) to be connected to the refrigerant circuit; a heat source heat exchanger (5) to be connected to the refrigerant circuit and configured to exchange heat between a refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit and a heat source (104); an electric box (30) having a top (31) and side walls (32 to 34), the electric box accommodating electrical components (36) to configured to control the air conditioner and having an air passage (37) comprising an air inlet (38) and an air outlet (39), an air flow (41) being induced through the air passage from the air inlet to the air outlet for cooling at least some of the electrical components, wherein a cooling heat exchanger (22) is accommodated in the external housing and is to be connected to the refrigerant circuit, wherein the cooling heat exchanger (22) is arranged so as to be flown through by the air flow (41) and exchange heat between the refrigerant and the air flow (41) and is disposed downstream of electrical components (36) and/or a heat sink heat conductively connected to electrical components disposed in the air passage (37).