Outdoor Unit Vertical Duct Design for Heat Sink Cooling Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing outdoor unit for air conditioners faces difficulties in increasing the air flow rate through the cooling duct to effectively cool the heat sink, as the upper end of the duct is separated from the fan, leading to insufficient cooling of the heat radiation member.
Innovation Solution
The outdoor unit design positions the upper end of the duct to protrude upward higher than the lower end of the heat exchanger, allowing for increased air flow around the duct and enhancing the flow rate within the duct, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the heat radiation member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the upper end of the cooling duct is provided on the horizontal partition plate, then the structural arrangement is simplified, but the air flow rate through the duct is insufficient to cool the heat sink effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The duct is extended in the vertical dimension to reach closer to the fan, transforming a two-dimensional planar arrangement into a three-dimensional spatial configuration. This dimensional extension allows the duct opening to be positioned near the fan without complicating the horizontal partition structure, thereby increasing air flow rate while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Productivity
If the duct opening is positioned closer to the fan, then the air flow rate increases and cooling effectiveness improves, but the duct structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The duct structure is segmented into distinct functional sections: a vertical extension portion that reaches toward the fan to capture high-velocity air, and a horizontal portion that distributes air to the heat sink. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized independently, achieving high air flow rate without excessive overall complexity.
3Temperature
If the heat radiation member is made larger to improve cooling, then the cooling capacity increases, but the space required in the machinery room increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cooling by positioning the duct opening near the fan to capture high-velocity air before it reaches the heat sink. This preliminary action of pre-conditioning the air flow allows the heat radiation member to be smaller, as the air already possesses high cooling potential from the fan's direct airflow.
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 heat radiation member by increasing the air flow rate through the duct, allowing for a smaller heat radiation member size and improved heat exchange efficiency, while also preventing external contaminants and reducing the risk of temperature rise in the machinery section.
Implementation Method 1
As the fan rotates, the air outside the outdoor unit is sucked into the outdoor unit, and thereby, refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger exchanges heat with the air sucked into the outdoor unit inside the heat exchange chamber
Implementation Method 2
refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger exchanges heat with the air sucked into the outdoor unit inside the heat exchange chamber
Implementation Method 3
The heat sink is connected to the electrical components. The heat sink protrudes into a cooling duct through which the air sucked into the outdoor unit passes
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
An outdoor unit (10) comprises a casing (11), a fan (12), a heat exchanger (13), an electrical component (14a), a heat radiation member (14b), and a duct (15). The casing (11) is provided with an air outlet (11a). The fan (12) is disposed inside the casing (11) and configured to blow air to the outside of the casing (11) via the air outlet (11a). The heat exchanger (13) is disposed inside the casing (11) at a position lower than the fan (12). The electrical component (14a) is disposed inside the casing (11) at a position lower than the heat exchanger (13). The heat radiation member (14b) is connected to the electrical component (14a) inside the casing (11). The duct (15) is configured to accommodate at least part of the heat radiation member (14b) inside the casing (11) and extend in the vertical direction. An upper end (15a) of the duct (15) is configured to protrude upward higher than a lower end of the heat exchanger (13).