Outdoor Unit Control Box Cooling With Hybrid Refrigerant-Air Heat Sink
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Solution Overview
Problem
The cooling efficiency of outdoor air conditioners' outdoor units is degraded under high temperatures, as the rise in outdoor air temperature reduces air-based cooling efficiency and increased refrigerant pressure leads to lower compressor operating frequency and reduced refrigerant circulation, affecting the performance of electronic components.
Innovation Solution
An outdoor air conditioner unit with a cooling unit that combines refrigerant-based and air-based cooling systems, featuring a first heat radiation member in contact with the heat-generating electronic parts and a second heat radiation member for heat transfer with outdoor air, along with a refrigerant pipe for efficient heat exchange, manufactured using a die casting process to enhance contact area and thermal conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If cooling by using outdoor air, then cooling device structure is simple, but cooling efficiency is lowered as outdoor air temperature rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two cooling methods (outdoor air cooling and refrigerant cooling) into a single hybrid cooling device. The cooling unit includes both a heat radiation member for air cooling and a refrigerant pipe for refrigerant-based cooling, allowing the system to utilize both cooling mechanisms simultaneously or selectively based on operating conditions, thereby maintaining high cooling efficiency across a wide temperature range.
2Reliability
If cooling by using refrigerant, then cooling efficiency is high, but rise of refrigerant pressure due to high temperature requires lower operating frequency of compressor
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges refrigerant-based cooling with outdoor air cooling to compensate for the reduction in refrigerant circulation efficiency at high temperatures. The heat radiation member provides additional cooling capacity that does not depend on refrigerant pressure, allowing the compressor to maintain appropriate operating frequency even when refrigerant pressure rises due to high ambient temperatures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If electronic parts operate at high temperature, then device can operate in hot environment, but performance of electronic parts is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling unit acts as an intermediary between the electronic parts and the hot external environment. The heat radiation member and refrigerant pipe form a thermal management interface that actively removes heat from the electronic components, maintaining their operating temperature within acceptable ranges even when ambient temperatures are high, thus protecting electronic parts performance while enabling hot environment operation.
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
Maintains efficient cooling of electronic components even at high temperatures by utilizing both refrigerant and air-based cooling methods, ensuring the outdoor unit operates effectively with internal temperatures below 80°C under 58°C external conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a refrigerant pipe which extends through the first heat radiation member and which enables a refrigerant to flow through the refrigerant pipe
Implementation Method 2
a first heat radiation member installed to be in contact with the heat generating unit; and a second heat radiation member coupled with the first heat radiation member for heat transfer and installed to be in contact with outdoor air flowing into the control device
Implementation Method 3
a second heat radiation member coupled with the first heat radiation member for heat transfer and installed to be in contact with outdoor air flowing into the control device
Implementation Method 4
a compressor to compress a refrigerant
Implementation Method 5
a condenser to condense the refrigerant discharged from the compressor
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
An outdoor unit of an air conditioner is provided. The outdoor unit may include a compressor for compressing a refrigerant; a condenser for condensing the refrigerant discharged from the compressor; a control device for containing electronic parts to control the outdoor unit; and a cooling unit in contact with a heat generating part of the electronic parts to cool the heating unit, wherein the cooling unit comprises a first heat radiation member installed to be in contact with the heat generating part; a refrigerant pipe extending through the first heat radiation member and enabling a refrigerant to flow through the refrigerant pipe; and a second heat radiation member coupled with the first heat radiation member for heat transfer and installed to be in contact with outdoor air flowing into the control device.