Outdoor unit for refrigeration cycle device
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing cuboid electric component box in outdoor units is inclined, requiring increased length and height, which prevents it from fitting above the air-sending device without increasing the lateral width, leading to space constraints.
Innovation Solution
The electric component box is designed with an inclined portion and a horizontal portion on its bottom plate, positioned such that the upstream side is above the downstream side in the airflow, allowing for increased area without increasing vertical width, and includes a heat sink with fins arranged orthogonally to the airflow for efficient cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the electric component box is inclined to increase the area for control components, then the area for control components is increased, but the vertical width increases and it does not fit in the space above the air-sending device
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom plate transitions from a purely horizontal surface to an inclined surface, changing the spatial dimension of component placement. This inclination allows the control components to be arranged on a sloped surface that utilizes the vertical space more efficiently, increasing the effective area without proportionally increasing the vertical width of the box itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom plate is divided into two distinct portions: a horizontal portion and an inclined portion. This segmentation allows different functional areas to be optimized independently - the horizontal portion provides stable mounting for certain components while the inclined portion maximizes the area for control components without increasing the overall vertical footprint of the electric component box.
2Ease of operation
If the electric component box is inclined to guide airflow smoothly, then the airflow guidance is improved, but the vertical width increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inclination is applied locally to the bottom plate rather than the entire electric component box. This localized inclination specifically addresses the airflow guidance requirement in the region where air passes over the heat sink, while keeping the overall vertical width of the box constrained by the horizontal portion and the casing dimensions.
3Productivity
If the heat sink is placed on an inclined surface, then the airflow cooling efficiency is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat sink mounting is integrated with the inclined bottom plate design, combining the structural support function with the airflow guidance function. The inclined portion serves dual purposes: it provides the mounting surface for the heat sink and simultaneously guides the airflow over the heat dissipation fins, reducing the need for separate airflow directing components.
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 enables the electric component box to accommodate more control components while maintaining a compact vertical width, ensuring efficient airflow and cooling without obstructing the airflow path, thus optimizing space utilization and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a heat sink is disposed on the inclined portion and includes a base plate and a plurality of fins, wherein the plurality of fins is arranged side by side in a direction orthogonal to the airflow
Implementation Method 2
the airflow having passed through the heat exchanger and through the heat sink is smoothly guided to the air outlet to have a sufficient air speed for cooling of the heat sink
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
An outdoor unit for a refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a casing that is an outer shell, an air-sending device housed in the casing and configured to generate an airflow, and an electric component box housed in the casing, disposed above the air-sending device, and including a bottom plate on which control components are placed. The bottom plate of the electric component box includes an inclined portion on which a first component among the control components is placed. The inclined portion is inclined such that an upstream end of the inclined portion on an upstream side of the airflow is positioned above a downstream end of the inclined portion on a downstream side of the airflow. The bottom plate further includes a horizontal portion on which a second component among the control components is placed. The horizontal portion horizontally extends to the downstream side of the airflow and has an upstream end on the upstream side of the airflow that is connected to the downstream end of the inclined portion on the downstream side of the airflow.