Outdoor unit and air conditioner
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Solution Overview
Problem
The cooling capacity of a heat dissipator in an outdoor unit is reduced when a bell mouth is provided due to stagnant air flow causing pressure increase in a closed space, leading to decreased air velocity at the leeward end surfaces of the fins, which hampers efficient heat dissipation.
Innovation Solution
The outdoor unit design places the windward and leeward end surfaces of the heat dissipator between a virtual surface and the back panel, preventing air retention in the closed space and ensuring air flows efficiently through the air passage, thereby maintaining high velocity and enhancing cooling capacity without increasing the heat dissipator's width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a bell mouth is provided around the outlet of the housing to reduce pressure loss, then air discharge efficiency is improved, but a closed space is formed causing stagnant air flow and high pressure that reduces cooling capacity of the heat dissipator
Solution Approach 1:
The invention repositions the heat dissipator from a horizontal arrangement to a vertical arrangement, utilizing the depth dimension of the housing. By placing the heat dissipator in the depth direction between the bell mouth and the back panel, the design creates a separate airflow path that bypasses the stagnant closed space, thereby maintaining cooling capacity while preserving the bell mouth's air discharge efficiency.
2Volume of stationary object
If the heat dissipator is placed in the closed space formed by the bell mouth, then space utilization is improved, but air flow velocity decreases due to stagnant air flow
Solution Approach 1:
The heat dissipator is arranged vertically in the depth direction, utilizing the third dimension of the housing space. This vertical placement allows the heat dissipator to occupy the space between the bell mouth and back panel without being subjected to the stagnant horizontal air flow, thereby maintaining high air flow velocity for effective heat dissipation while achieving efficient space utilization.
3Reliability
If the heat dissipator width is increased to improve cooling capacity, then heat dissipation efficiency is improved, but device complexity and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the width of the heat dissipator, the invention utilizes the depth dimension of the housing by placing the heat dissipator vertically between the bell mouth and the back panel. This approach maintains compact dimensions while achieving sufficient cooling capacity through optimized spatial arrangement and improved air flow access.
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 improves the cooling efficiency of the heat dissipator, effectively cooling electric components and extending their lifespan, while reducing material usage and manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a heat dissipator that dissipates heat generated by the electric component
Implementation Method 2
allowing air to flow through the air passage formed in the heat dissipator
Data Source
AI summary
An outdoor unit includes a housing that includes a front panel and a back panel facing the front panel. The outdoor unit further includes a bell mouth provided on the front panel and a heat dissipator that dissipates heat generated by electric components. A windward end surface and a leeward end surface of the heat dissipator are, when viewed from above, placed in a region between a virtual surface and the back panel, the virtual surface being a virtual surface that is in contact with an end of the bell mouth on a side of the back panel and is parallel to an inner surface of the front panel.