Outdoor Unit Support Structure for Condensate Freeze Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
The outdoor unit of split air conditioners faces issues with condensed water freezing, which can damage the unit and reduce efficiency, as existing designs do not effectively manage water drainage and heater replacement.
Innovation Solution
The outdoor unit features a heat exchanger coupled to a base through a support member, with a drain channel on the lower portion to collect condensed water and a base heater easily replaceable, and an outer side of the heat exchanger spaced from the base to prevent freezing, utilizing a support structure that includes a detachable support plate and guide plate to maintain the heat exchanger's position and facilitate drainage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the heat exchanger is directly coupled to the base, then the structural stability is improved, but the outer side of the heat exchanger is prone to freezing
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple components: a support plate that couples to the base and an outer plate that supports the heat exchanger. This segmentation allows the heat exchanger to be supported while maintaining spacing from the base, preventing freezing while ensuring structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure acts as an intermediary between the base and the heat exchanger. It provides the necessary support while maintaining a gap that prevents condensed water from freezing against the heat exchanger outer surface.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the base heater is fixed in position, then the structural integrity is improved, but the ease of replacement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The base heater is separated from the base structure and positioned on the support plate. This segmentation allows the heater to be easily removed and replaced without damaging the base structure, while the support plate maintains structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support plate is designed to be movable relative to the base, allowing the base heater to be accessed and replaced easily. The dynamic design enables maintenance operations without compromising the overall structural integrity of the unit.
3Device complexity
If the drain channel is not properly positioned, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to water freezing
Solution Approach 1:
The drain channel is specifically positioned and shaped to collect condensed water from the heat exchanger and guide it to the base heater area. This local optimization ensures proper drainage functionality while maintaining a simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The drain channel is pre-configured to direct condensed water toward the base heater before freezing can occur. This preliminary arrangement of water flow paths prevents freezing issues without requiring complex additional 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 effectively prevents or reduces freezing of the outer side of the heat exchanger, ensures easy replacement of the base heater, and maintains the unit's efficiency by ensuring proper drainage of condensed water, thus enhancing the operational reliability of the air conditioner.
Implementation Method 1
a base heater located in the drain channel to prevent the condensed water from freezing
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger that exchanges heat with air drawn into the outdoor unit
Implementation Method 3
an outer side of the heat exchanger is spaced from a base, thereby preventing and/or reducing the outer side of the heat exchanger from freezing
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is an outdoor unit of an air conditioner including a heat exchanger, a base disposed on a lower side of the heat exchanger to support the heat exchanger and having a drain channel to collect condensed water flowing from the heat exchanger, and a support disposed on an upper side of the drain channel to support the heat exchanger, wherein the support includes a support plate detachably coupled to the base at one end and extending from an one end to cover a portion of the drain channel to support the heat exchanger, and an outer plate extending upward from the other end of the support plate to support an outer side of the heat exchanger.