Outdoor unit control for air conditioner
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Solution Overview
Problem
In split-type air conditioners, the outdoor unit generates excessive heat due to the operation of electronic components, which can lead to damage of components mounted on the substrate if not properly cooled.
Innovation Solution
The outdoor unit incorporates a barrier partitioning the space into a heat exchange chamber and a machine room, with a blowing fan in the heat exchange chamber and inflow and discharge passages defined between the barrier and the control box, allowing air to flow efficiently and cool the control box without additional power, using a heatsink and PCBs mounted on a base and cover plate to enhance heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electronic components are concentrated in the control box to improve functionality, then the control capability is enhanced, but excessive heat is generated causing component damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat-generating electronic components from the main control box and relocates them to a separate heat dissipation chamber. This spatial separation allows the control box to maintain its functional integrity while the heat-generating components are isolated in a dedicated cooling zone, resolving the contradiction between control capability and heat damage risk
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a heat dissipation chamber as an intermediary space between the control box and the external environment. This intermediary chamber equipped with a fan and air inlet/outlet passages acts as a buffer zone that actively manages heat transfer, allowing the electronic components to operate in a controlled thermal environment while protecting the main control box from excessive heat
2Temperature
If a heatsink and cooling guide are added to improve heat dissipation, then the heat dissipation effect is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heatsink, cooling guide, fan, and air passage structures into an integrated heat dissipation chamber assembly. By combining these heat dissipation components into a unified modular structure, the patent achieves effective heat dissipation while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity through functional integration
Solution Approach 2:
The heat dissipation chamber serves multiple functions: it houses the electronic components, provides active cooling through the fan and air passages, and acts as a thermal barrier. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated cooling systems, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining effective heat dissipation
3Temperature
If the control box is cooled by external air flow, then the heat dissipation is improved, but foreign substances and noise are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The heat dissipation chamber acts as an intermediary barrier between the external environment and the control box. It allows controlled air flow for cooling purposes while filtering out foreign substances and dampening noise before they reach the sensitive electronic components in the control box, thus resolving the contradiction between cooling effectiveness and protection from harmful factors
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 effectively cools the control box by utilizing air flow paths created between the heat exchange chamber and the control box, reducing the risk of component damage from heat and minimizing noise and foreign substance introduction, while maintaining a compact installation space.
Implementation Method 1
a heatsink for cooling a printed circuit board (PCB) is disposed on one side of a control box
Implementation Method 2
a cooling guide for defining a passage that guides air flowing by a fan motor assembly toward the heatsink
Implementation Method 3
a cooling guide for defining a passage that guides air flowing by a fan motor assembly toward the heatsink
Implementation Method 4
an outdoor heat exchanger (i.e., an outdoor heat exchanger) and a compressor, and the indoor unit (i.e., an indoor heat exchanger) includes an evaporator
Implementation Method 5
the outdoor unit includes an outdoor heat exchanger (i.e., an outdoor heat exchanger) and a compressor
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is an outdoor unit of an air conditioner. A control box of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner is configured so that heat exchange chamber-side air flows toward a fan motor assembly via the inside of the control box by an operation of the fan motor assembly. Thus, the inside of the control box may be efficiently cooled.