Outdoor unit and refrigeration cycle device with outdoor unit

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional outdoor units for air-conditioning systems face noise issues due to rapid changes in airflow caused by non-uniform air distribution, which existing recessed partition plates fail to adequately address.

Innovation Solution

The outdoor unit design features a partition plate with a recessed area that ascends from the upper and lower ends toward the vertical center, creating a stable and uniform air suction distribution by increasing the air inflow to the propeller fan, thereby reducing noise and enhancing efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a recessed area is provided in the partition plate to increase air suction, then the amount of air flowing to the propeller fan increases, but the stepped portion or sharply curved surface causes rapid airflow change and noise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveamount of air suctionVSAvoidnoise from rapid airflow change
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The partition plate incorporates a curved surface instead of a stepped portion or sharply curved surface. The curvature radius is specifically designed to be 50mm or more at the lower end, 50mm or more at the upper end, and 100mm or more at the center, creating a smooth transition that prevents rapid airflow changes and reduces noise while maintaining increased air suction capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the partition plate by defining specific curvature radius values (50mm or more at ends, 100mm or more at center) and recess dimensions (100mm or more in width, 50mm or more in depth). These parameter specifications optimize both air suction quantity and airflow smoothness to reduce noise

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If the partition plate has a recessed area with stepped portion, then manufacturing is simplified, but noise from rapid airflow change cannot be sufficiently suppressed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepartition plate structureVSAvoidnoise
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The partition plate uses a curved surface design with specified radius values that can be manufactured using standard curving techniques while avoiding complex multi-step structures. The curvature provides smooth airflow transition without requiring multiple machining operations, maintaining ease of manufacture while eliminating noise from rapid airflow changes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 design results in a low-noise and high-efficiency outdoor unit by stabilizing air suction and reducing fluctuations in airflow, leading to improved performance and reduced noise levels.

Implementation Method 1

the amount of recess of the partition plate takes ascending values from the upper and lower end portions toward the vertical center portion of the partition plate. For this reason, it is possible to increase the amount of air flowing from the partition plate side to a side surface of the propeller fan

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP2801763B1Outdoor unit and refrigeration cycle device with outdoor unit
Publication Date: 2017.06.21 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP2801763B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2801763B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2801763B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

An outdoor unit according to the present invention includes an air-sending-device chamber 6 including a heat exchanger 20 disposed at least on the rear side within an outdoor unit body 1, a propeller fan 8 having a plurality of blades 10 and disposed on the front side of the heat exchanger 20, and a bell mouth 13 disposed on the front side of the propeller fan 8 to face an air outlet 3, a machine chamber 7 in which a compressor 15 is disposed, and a partition plate 5 that separates the air-sending-device chamber 6 and the machine chamber 7. The partition plate 5 has a protruding shape protruding from the air-sending-device chamber 6 toward the machine chamber 7. The partition plate 5 has, on the side of the air-sending-device chamber 6, a recessed area 5c corresponding to the protruding shape. The amount of recess of the recessed area 5c is maximized at a position equal in height to the center of rotation of the propeller fan 8.