Outdoor Unit Storage Case Drain Passage to Prevent Condensation Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioner control units experience condensation issues during heating mode, leading to dew formation and potential short-circuits due to water accumulation on the control board within the storage case.
Innovation Solution
An outdoor unit design featuring a drain passage and watershoot system in the control unit's storage case, where condensation water is directed through a slit-shaped hole and discharged externally via a drain outlet, preventing water accumulation and potential malfunctions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the control unit is placed inside the outdoor unit during heating mode, then the control function is integrated and compact, but condensation water accumulates on the control board causing short-circuits and malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom plate is segmented into a slope portion and a discharge portion, creating distinct functional zones. The slope portion directs condensation water toward the discharge hole, while the discharge portion facilitates water ejection. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining compact integration while ensuring reliable water discharge through functional division.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom plate structure acts as an intermediary between the control board and the external environment. By designing the bottom plate with a slope portion and discharge hole, it mediates the condensation water flow, directing it away from the control board and out of the housing, thus protecting the control board while maintaining integration.
2Ease of manufacture
If the storage case bottom is flat and simple, then manufacturing is easy and cost-effective, but condensation water accumulates and causes damage to circuit components
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom plate is designed with local quality differentiation: the slope portion has a specific inclination angle to facilitate water flow, while the discharge portion has a specific geometry for water ejection. This localized structural optimization protects against condensation water damage without requiring complete redesign of the entire storage case, maintaining ease of manufacture while eliminating harmful water accumulation.
3Device complexity
If no water discharge mechanism is provided, then the device structure remains simple, but moisture accumulates causing short-circuits and unexpected malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom plate structure enables self-service water discharge through gravity-driven flow along the slope portion and ejection through the discharge hole. This passive mechanism eliminates the need for active pumping or complex discharge systems, maintaining structural simplicity while ensuring reliable protection against condensation water through automatic water ejection.
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
Effectively discharges condensation water from the storage case, preventing damage and malfunctions by ensuring water does not adhere to the control board, thus enhancing the reliability and longevity of the control unit components.
Implementation Method 1
a bottom plate (31) of the box main body (25), wherein a bottom plate slope portion (31a) directing water toward a discharge hole and a discharge portion (31b) allowing the water to be ejected outside the housing are formed integrally in this order on the bottom plate (31)
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
An outdoor unit of a refrigerating cycle apparatus includes an outdoor unit body (2). A storage case (20) in which circuit components (33, 34) are accommodated is arranged inside the outdoor unit body (2). The storage case (20) includes a bottom plate (31) positioned below the circuit components (33, 34). The bottom plate (31) of the storage case (20) is provided with a drain passage (51). The drain passage (51) is configured to discharge water produced within the storage case (20) by a condensation phenomenon outside the storage case (20). By the above structure, the water produced within the storage case by the condensation phenomenon can be immediately discharged outside the storage case, and damage and malfunction of the circuit components can be prevented.