Outdoor Fan Protective Operation for Air Conditioner Component Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioners face challenges in managing the temperature of electric components during shutdown, leading to increased power consumption and potential overheating of low-heat resistant components due to air circulation cessation, while existing solutions do not effectively balance cooling and power efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An outdoor device with a control unit that manages the outdoor fan's operation based on detected temperature thresholds, switching to a protective rotation mode when necessary to cool components and reducing power consumption by optimizing fan operation modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the outdoor fan continues to operate for a certain time period after the air conditioner stops to cool electric components, then the temperature of electric components is reduced, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outdoor fan operates dynamically in three states: normal operation during air conditioner running, stopped when compressor stops and temperature is low, and protective operation when temperature exceeds threshold. This dynamic control adapts fan operation to actual cooling needs, avoiding unnecessary power consumption while ensuring components are cooled only when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
A temperature detector continuously monitors the temperature of electric components and provides feedback to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit adjusts the fan's operation state (stopped, protective operation, or normal operation), creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes power consumption based on actual temperature conditions.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the outdoor fan stops operating after the air conditioner stops, then power consumption is reduced, but heat is transmitted from high-heat resistant components to low-heat resistant components causing overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The outdoor fan acts as an intermediary that prevents direct thermal coupling between high-heat resistant components (reactor, wide-bandgap semiconductor) and low-heat resistant components (electrolytic capacitor). By maintaining air circulation through protective operation, the fan creates a thermal barrier that blocks heat transmission paths, protecting sensitive components from overheating.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective operation of the outdoor fan preemptively counteracts the potential harmful effect of heat transmission before it can cause damage. When the temperature threshold is exceeded, the fan starts rotating to circulate air and prevent heat from the high-heat resistant components from reaching the low-heat resistant components, thus preventing overheating before it occurs.
3Temperature
If the outdoor fan operates at high rotation number to cool components quickly, then cooling efficiency is improved, but power consumption and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of operating at full rotation number continuously, the outdoor fan applies partial action by rotating at a lower protective rotation number only when necessary (when temperature exceeds threshold). This partial operation provides sufficient cooling to prevent overheating while consuming less power and generating less noise compared to continuous high-speed operation.
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
Effectively reduces the temperature of electric components while minimizing power consumption by strategically controlling the outdoor fan's operation, preventing overheating and extending the lifespan of components.
Implementation Method 1
operate the outdoor fan at a protective rotation number that is lower than a rotation number of the outdoor fan while the compressor is in operation so as to circulate air, thereby cooling the outdoor control board
Data Source
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AI summary
An outdoor device (2) of an air conditioner includes a compressor (3), an outdoor fan (4), and an outdoor control board (5). The outdoor device (2) includes: a control unit (10) that controls the compressor (3) and the outdoor fan (4); and a temperature detector that detects an ambient temperature of an electric component. The control unit (10), when the compressor (3) is stopped, stops the outdoor fan (4) and then determines whether a temperature detected by the temperature detector is equal to or higher than a threshold, and, when it is determined equal to or higher than the threshold, operates the outdoor fan (4) at a protective rotation number that is lower than a rotation number of the outdoor fan (4) while the compressor (3) is in operation so as to circulate air, thereby cooling the outdoor control board (5).