Outdoor unit of air conditioner

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing outdoor units for air-conditioning apparatuses inadequately cool electric components not in direct contact with radiation fins, leading to excessive temperatures and potential damage or degradation.

Innovation Solution

The outdoor unit design includes a ventilation passage at the partition plate between the ventilation chamber and the electric component chamber, allowing external air to be supplied to the electric component chamber, which includes a heat sink and electric power and control boards, thereby cooling the entire electric component chamber effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the electric component box is isolated from ventilation passages, then structural simplicity is maintained, but heat release from electric components is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural complexity of electric component boxVSAvoidheat release efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The partition plate serves dual functions: it provides structural separation between the electric component box and ventilation chamber while simultaneously acting as a cooling device through integrated ventilation passages, eliminating the need for separate cooling structures and maintaining structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The ventilation passages are merged directly into the partition plate structure, combining the separation function and cooling function into a single integrated component, thereby improving heat release efficiency without increasing overall structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 configuration ensures sufficient cooling of the electric components, preventing temperature-related damage and degradation by distributing cooling air throughout the electric component chamber, enhancing the overall cooling efficiency and preventing water ingress.

Implementation Method 1

A partition plate configured to partition between the ventilation chamber and the electric component chamber includes a ventilation passage configured to allow communication between the ventilation chamber and the electric component chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

an electric power board for driving the compressor disposed in the machine chamber, and a control board for controlling a refrigerant circuit configured with a compressor and other devices are accommodated. The electric components generate heat while the air-conditioning apparatus is being driven

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3327362B1Outdoor unit of air conditioner
Publication Date: 2019.09.11 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3327362B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3327362B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3327362B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

In an outdoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus, the outdoor unit includes a plurality of accommodating chambers that are respectively adjacent to each other, and the plurality of accommodating chambers are formed by partitioning a casing including an air inlet and an air outlet wit partition plates. The plurality of accommodating chambers includes: a machine chamber in which a refrigerant circuit including a compressor is disposed; an electric component chamber in which an electric power board for driving the compressor and a control board for controlling the compressor are disposed; a ventilation chamber, in which a heat sink including a cooling fin is disposed, configured to suck external air through the air inlet of the casing; and a heat exchanger chamber in which a heat exchanger and a fan are disposed. A partition plate configured to partition between the ventilation chamber and the electric component chamber includes a ventilation passage configured to allow communication between the ventilation chamber and the electric component chamber.