Outdoor Unit Diffuser Structure for Higher Air Volume
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional up-flow type outdoor units for refrigeration cycle apparatuses experience airflow restrictions due to sudden enlargement of airflow passages, leading to vortex generation and reduced air volume, making vertical stacking and storage inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The outdoor unit incorporates a diffuser surface below the casing's top end edge but above the bellmouth, inclined outward from the fan's rotation axis, to smoothly enlarge the airflow passage area, reducing vortex generation and enhancing air volume, while allowing for easy vertical stacking and simplified installation without screws.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the flow passage area is suddenly enlarged immediately after the bellmouth, then the airflow passage can accommodate more air, but air vortices are generated which inhibit good airflow and prevent sufficient air volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by replacing the sudden angular enlargement of the flow passage with a gradually curved diffuser surface. This curved transition smooths the airflow path, preventing vortex generation while still achieving the desired increase in flow passage area and air volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the flow passage by introducing a diffuser surface with a gradual expansion angle. This gradual parameter change from the bellmouth to the outlet prevents sudden airflow expansion that causes vortices, while still achieving the necessary flow passage area increase for higher air volume.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the top end of the casing is made flat for easy vertical stacking, then storage efficiency improves, but the overall structure becomes more complex due to integrating the diffuser surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the diffuser surface with the casing structure, making them an integrated component rather than separate parts. This combination achieves the dual function of airflow diffusion and structural stacking support, improving versatility while managing complexity through integration rather than addition of separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffuser surface-casing integration serves multiple functions: it diffuses airflow to prevent vortices, maintains a flat top surface for vertical stacking, and provides structural support. This multi-functionality improves adaptability for storage while the integrated design manages structural complexity efficiently.
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 improves airflow by reducing vortex formation, increases air volume, facilitates vertical stacking, and simplifies installation by eliminating the need for screws, enhancing both performance and storage efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the diffuser surface is provided below the top end edge of the casing but above the top end of the bellmouth and on the outer side relative to the top end of the bellmouth in plan view. The diffuser surface is inclined so as to separate outward away from the rotation axis of the fan heading upward... the airflow that has passed through the flow passage formed by the bellmouth... flows through the flow passage formed by the diffuser surface where the passage area is smoothly enlarged. As a result, it is possible to avoid the airflow passage area that suddenly enlarges immediately after the airflow passes through the bellmouth, to reduce the generation of air vortices
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
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AI summary
The present invention provides an outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus that is easily arranged so as to be vertically stacked and that enables an increase in the air volume. The outdoor unit (2) of the refrigeration cycle apparatus (1) is provided with an outdoor fan (15), a bellmouth (72), a casing (40) that houses the outdoor fan (15) and the bellmouth (72) and that has an top end edge having a flat shape, and a diffuser surface (91, 96), with the diffuser surface (91, 96) being provided below the top end edge of the casing (40) but above the top end of the bellmouth (72) and on the outer side relative to the top end of the bellmouth (72) in plan view, and inclined so as to separate outward away from the rotation axis (75) of the outdoor fan (15) heading upward.