Outdoor Unit Cooling Layout for Compressor and Fan Control Boards
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Solution Overview
Problem
In outdoor units for refrigeration apparatuses, the current layout often results in unsatisfactory cooling of heat-generating components, leading to reliability issues due to inadequate temperature differences and airflow volumes, particularly when the fan is positioned higher than the compressor, causing the fan's controlling electric component to be unfavorably cooled by air heated by the compressor.
Innovation Solution
The configuration includes a first cooler with heat radiating fins adjacent to the compressor controlling electric component, positioned lower than the fan and higher than the fan controlling electric component, ensuring the fan controlling electric component is cooled by air flows prior to the compressor, and the compressor is cooled by air flows with a larger volume, thus maintaining a satisfactory temperature difference and airflow volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a heat exchanger is exposed to an outdoor environment, then heat exchange function is achieved, but dust, insects, and foreign objects accumulate on the heat exchanger
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is divided into multiple heat exchange fins that are spatially separated and arranged in a scattered pattern, preventing continuous surfaces where dust and insects can accumulate, while maintaining effective heat exchange area
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger is extracted from the indoor environment and placed in the outdoor environment to utilize outdoor air for heat exchange, achieving the heat exchange function while accepting the trade-off of outdoor exposure hazards
2Temperature
If the refrigeration device operates in high temperature environment, then cooling function is provided, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
A fan is operated in advance during the defrosting process to actively remove hot air from around the heat exchanger before it can significantly increase the ambient temperature, thereby preventing the temperature rise that would lead to increased power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The fan operates periodically - specifically during the defrosting process when hot air generation occurs - rather than continuously, balancing the need to control temperature with energy conservation
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a cover is added to protect the heat exchanger, then protection from dust and insects is achieved, but heat exchange efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a continuous cover that would block heat exchange, the heat exchanger is segmented into multiple fins with gaps between them, allowing heat exchange to occur through the gaps while still providing protection when the cover is closed
Solution Approach 2:
The cover is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be opened when heat exchange is needed and closed when protection is needed, dynamically adapting to different operational requirements
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 suppresses the decrease in reliability by ensuring both the compressor and fan controlling electric components are adequately cooled, improving the overall cooling performance and reliability of the outdoor unit.
Implementation Method 1
a fan to move hot air generated during defrosting
Implementation Method 2
a heating element integrated into the heat exchanger to melt accumulated snow and ice
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided is an outdoor unit for a refrigeration apparatus, the outdoor unit being capable of suppressing decrease in reliability. An outdoor unit (10) includes: a compressor (12); an outdoor fan (18) configured to provide outdoor air flows (AF), the outdoor fan (18) being higher in heightwise position than the compressor (12); a high-heat generating electric component (65) configured to control the compressor (12); a fan controlling electric component (66) configured to control the outdoor fan (18); a board unit (75) including a compressor controlling electric component mount portion (75a) and a fan controlling electric component mount portion (75b); a first cooling unit (80); and an outdoor unit casing (40). The outdoor air flows (AF) flow from below upward in the outdoor unit casing (40), and flow out of the outdoor unit casing (40) through a blow-out port (402). The first cooling unit (80) includes a plurality of first cooling unit fins (81) located on flow paths of the outdoor air flows (AF), the first cooling unit fins (81) being adjacent to the compressor controlling electric component mount portion (75a). The high-heat generating electric component (65) is lower in heightwise position than the outdoor fan (18) and higher in heightwise position than the fan controlling electric component (66).