EP4675194A1 - Outdoor unit - Google Patents

Outdoor unit

Info

Publication number
EP4675194A1
EP4675194A1 EP23925411.3A EP23925411A EP4675194A1 EP 4675194 A1 EP4675194 A1 EP 4675194A1 EP 23925411 A EP23925411 A EP 23925411A EP 4675194 A1 EP4675194 A1 EP 4675194A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
water
heat exchanger
surface protection
protection portion
refrigerant heat
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP23925411.3A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Keizo Kawakami
Hiroshi Moribe
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd filed Critical Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Publication of EP4675194A1 publication Critical patent/EP4675194A1/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F1/00—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
    • F24F1/06—Separate outdoor units, e.g. outdoor unit to be linked to a separate room comprising a compressor and a heat exchanger
    • F24F1/46—Component arrangements in separate outdoor units
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
    • F24F13/22—Means for preventing condensation or evacuating condensate
    • F24F13/222—Means for preventing condensation or evacuating condensate for evacuating condensate
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
    • F24H4/00—Fluid heaters characterised by the use of heat pumps
    • F24H4/02—Water heaters

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to an outdoor unit.
  • Patent Literature 1 discloses a heat pump hot water heating device including a water-refrigerant heat exchanger.
  • the heat pump hot water heating device is configured such that a water-refrigerant heat exchanger provided inside is covered by a main insulation material, and the main insulation material is further covered from the outside by a holding plate.
  • Patent Literature 1 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2014-20585
  • the present disclosure provides an outdoor unit that can restrict a direction in which liquid droplets flow that have dropped onto a water-refrigerant heat exchanger.
  • An outdoor unit of the present disclosure includes: a gas-liquid separator that separates gas and liquid of refrigerant; a water-refrigerant heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and heat medium; a main insulation material that covers the water-refrigerant heat exchanger; and a holding plate that covers an outside of the main insulation material, wherein the water-refrigerant heat exchanger is provided below the gas-liquid separator, the main insulation material has a top surface protection portion in contact with a top surface of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and a first side surface protection portion in contact with a first side surface of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger, the top surface protection portion is inclined in a downward direction toward the first side surface protection portion, and the first side surface protection portion has an eave protruding outward toward the holding plate.
  • the outdoor unit disclosed herein receives liquid droplets, which drop from the gas-liquid separator onto the water-refrigerant heat exchanger, at the top surface protection portion of the main insulation material, and allows them to flow between a first side surface protection portion and the holding plate. This makes it possible to restrict the direction in which liquid droplets flow that have dropped onto the water-refrigerant heat exchanger.
  • liquid droplets dropping from above onto the water-refrigerant heat exchanger are received by a holding plate and the top surface of the main insulation material formed substantially horizontally.
  • the inventors has discovered a problem in which liquid droplets dripping onto the top surface can flow in any horizontal direction, and came to form the subject matter of the present disclosure in order to solve this problem.
  • the present disclosure then provides an outdoor unit that can restrict the direction in which liquid droplets flow that have dropped onto the water-refrigerant heat exchanger.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an outdoor unit 1 according to Embodiment 1, showing the outdoor unit 1 as viewed from the left front.
  • the outdoor unit 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an outdoor unit that can be used for a so-called heat pump hot water heater.
  • the outdoor unit 1 has a box-shaped housing 10. In this embodiment, all parts of the housing 10 are formed of steel plates.
  • a partition plate 11 extending in the up-down direction is provided inside the housing 10.
  • the internal space of the housing 10 is divided into a blower room 12 and a machine room 13 by the partition plate 11.
  • a cutout is formed in the upper part of the partition plate 11, and the electrical equipment box 26 is installed in this cutout.
  • the housing 10 has a bottom plate 14 that forms the bottom surface of the housing 10, a pair of side surface panels 15 that cover the machine room 13 of the housing 10 from the front and rear, a front surface panel 16 that covers the front surface of the blower room 12, and a top plate 17 that covers the upper surface of the housing 10.
  • the front surface panel 16 is provided with a ventilation portion 18 through which air passes.
  • the ventilation portion 18 is covered by a mesh cover.
  • the blower room 12 is provided with a heat exchanger 20 and a blower 21.
  • the heat exchanger 20 of this embodiment extends over the almost entire housing 10 in the height direction, and is formed in a substantially L-shape in a plan view of the housing 10 so as to face the back surface 10A and side surface 10B of the housing 10.
  • the heat exchanger 20 uses, for example, a fin-tube type heat exchanger.
  • the blower 21 uses, for example, an axial fan including a propeller-shaped impeller.
  • the blower 21 is disposed so that the axial flow direction faces the ventilation portion 18.
  • the machine room 13 has the inside that houses various devices such as a compressor 22, a water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30 having a water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31, an expansion device, a four-way valve, and a gas-liquid separator 29 to be described below, as well as a refrigerant pipe 25 connecting these together.
  • Each device in the machine room 13 is connected to the heat exchanger 20 of the blower room 12 via the refrigerant pipe 25 to form a refrigeration cycle circuit.
  • the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 is a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between water (heat medium) and refrigerant inside, and is a plate-type heat exchanger in this embodiment.
  • the outdoor unit 1 exchanges heat between water introduced into the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 via a water supply pipe on the inlet side and refrigerant introduced into the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 from the refrigerant pipe 25.
  • the outdoor unit 1 supplies the water after heat exchange from the water supply pipe on the outlet side of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 to the indoor unit, and thereby air-conditions the inside of the room.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the machine room 13 as viewed from the right rear.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the compressor 22 and the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30 as viewed from the right rear.
  • the gas-liquid separator 29 is disposed in the machine room 13.
  • the gas-liquid separator 29 separates the gas-liquid mixed refrigerant that flows into it into gas and liquid, and discharges the liquid refrigerant and gas refrigerant separately.
  • the gas-liquid separator 29 is disposed above the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30 in the machine room 13. In other words, the gas-liquid separator 29 is disposed above the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30, in a position that overlaps with the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30 in a plan view.
  • the machine room 13 is provided with a machine room partition plate 13a that divides the machine room 13 into two.
  • the machine room partition plate 13a is disposed between the compressor 22 and the gas-liquid separator 29, and separates the gas-liquid separator 29 on the rear side from the compressor 22 on the front side.
  • the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30 is disposed over the two spaces separated by the machine room partition plate 13a in the front-rear direction.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30, showing the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30 as viewed from the left rear.
  • FIG. 5 is a right side view of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30.
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a raised portion 44b, showing the raised portion 44b as viewed from the right rear.
  • the flow of liquid droplets which is to be described below, is indicated by imaginary arrows.
  • the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30 is fixed to the bottom plate 14 and the fixing plate 13b.
  • the fixing plate 13b is a plate-shaped member disposed in the machine room 13 and is fixed to the bottom plate 14.
  • the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30 is fixed to the fixing plate 13b via the gas-liquid separator 29 and water supply pipes connected to the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31. Also, the lower end of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30 is fixed to the bottom plate 14.
  • the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30 has the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31, a main insulation material 40 that covers the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 from the outside, and a holding plate 50 that covers the main insulation material 40 from the outside.
  • the holding plate 50 is fixed to the above-described fixing plate 13b and the bottom plate 14 by fastening.
  • the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the up-down direction.
  • the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 has two water supply pipe connection ports 33a and two refrigerant pipe connection ports 33b on the right side surface 33 facing the right side.
  • the two water supply pipe connection ports 33a are both ends of the water flow path in the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31, and are respectively connected to the water supply pipes on the inlet side and on the outlet side.
  • the two refrigerant pipe connection ports 33b are both ends of the refrigerant flow path in the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31, and are each connected to the refrigerant pipe 25.
  • the main insulation material 40 is a member that covers the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 to protects it.
  • the main insulation material 40 is a foamed resin obtained by foaming resin, and in this embodiment, it is polystyrene foam.
  • the main insulation material 40 has a recess 41 that is recessed toward the left, and holds the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 inserted into the recess 41 from the right side.
  • the recess 41 is formed by being surrounded by a top surface protection portion 42, a front surface protection portion 43, a rear surface protection portion (first side surface protection portion) 44, a lower surface protection portion 45, and a left side surface protection portion 46 that are plate-shaped portions of the main insulation material 40.
  • the top surface protection portion 42 is in contact with the top surface 32 of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 from above, and protects the top surface 32.
  • the front surface protection portion 43 is in contact with the front surface 34 of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 from the front, and protects the front surface 34.
  • the rear surface protection portion 44 is in contact with the rear surface (first side surface) 35 of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 from behind, and protects the rear surface 35.
  • Th lower surface protection portion 45 is in contact with the lower surface 36 of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 from below, and protects the lower surface 36.
  • the left side surface protection portion 46 is in contact with the left side surface 37 of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 from the left, and protects the left side surface 37.
  • the upper surface 42a of the top surface protection portion 42 of the main insulation material 40 is not covered by the holding plate 50 and is exposed, and the entire surface is inclined downward toward the rear.
  • the upper surface 42a of the top surface protection portion 42 is inclined downwardly toward the rear surface protection portion 44.
  • the inclination angle of the upper surface 42a is set to 3 degrees or more with respect to the horizontal direction in order to improve the flow of liquid droplets as described below.
  • a partition groove 42a1 is formed and extends in the left-right direction. In the partition groove 42a1, the machine room partition plate 13a is disposed.
  • the rear surface protection portion 44 of the main insulation material 40 has an eave 44a and a raised portion 44b each protruding rearward, that is, toward a rear surface holding portion 51b of the holding plate 50 to be described below.
  • the eave 44a is formed on the upper end of the rear surface protection portion 44.
  • the outer surface 44a1 of the eave 44a is smoothly connected to the upper surface 42a of the top surface protection portion 42, and curves from the rear end of the upper surface 42a and inclines downward toward the rear.
  • the distance by which the eave 44a protrudes rearward from the rear surface protection portion 44 that is, the height of the eave 44a
  • the height of the eave 44a is preferably 3 mm or more in order to form a gap G through which liquid droplets is likely to flow down, as described below.
  • the raised portion 44b is formed on the lower part of the rear surface protection portion 44, and is substantially trapezoidal in a side view from the right.
  • the distance by which the raised portion 44b protrudes rearward from the rear surface protection portion 44 that is, the height of the raised portion 44b, is 8.5 mm that is substantially equal to the height of the eave 44a.
  • the raised portion 44b is brought into contact with the holding plate 50 to make it easier to position the main insulation material 40 relative to the holding plate 50.
  • the raised portion 44b has a flat portion 44b1 and inclined surface portions 44b2.
  • the flat portion 44b1 is located at the protruded end of the raised portion 44b and is perpendicular to the front-rear direction.
  • the inclined surface portions 44b2 extend outward from the flat portion 44b1 to the rear surface protection portion 44 obliquely in the up-down direction.
  • the inclined surface portion 44b2 is a surface that inclines outward of the raised portion 44b from the rear surface holding portion 51b of the holding plate 50 toward the rear surface protection portion 44. Forming the inclined surface portion 44b2 causes the raised portion 44b to be less likely to get caught on a holding plate body 51 when the main insulation material 40 is inserted into the holding plate 50. This makes it easy to insert the main insulation material 40 into the holding plate 50.
  • the flat portion 44b1 is in surface contact with the holding plate 50. This makes it easy to position the main insulation material 40 with respect to the holding plate 50.
  • the raised portion 44b has a grooves 44b3 extending over the entire flat portion 44b1 in the up-down direction.
  • Three grooves 44b3 are formed in a row in the left-right direction, and each of them penetrates the raised portion 44b in the up-down direction.
  • the holding plate 50 is formed by bending a metal plate. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the holding plate 50 has a holding plate body 51 that covers the main insulation material 40, and a holding band 53 and a support plate 55 attached to the holding plate body 51.
  • the holding plate body 51 has a front surface holding portion 51a that covers the front surface protection portion 43 from the front, a rear surface holding portion 51b that covers the rear surface protection portion 44 from the rear, and a left side surface holding portion 51c that covers the left side surface protection portion 46 from the left.
  • the front surface holding portion 51a and the left side surface holding portion 51c are in contact with the front surface protection portion 43 and the left side surface protection portion 46.
  • the rear surface holding portion 51b is a flat plate-like portion that extends above the protruded end of the eave 44a.
  • the rear surface holding portion 51b is positioned at a position spaced rearward from the rear surface protection portion 44 by the eave 44a and the raised portion 44b that protrude rearward from the rear surface protection portion 44.
  • a gap G is formed between the rear surface holding portion 51b and the rear surface protection portion 44.
  • the rear surface holding portion 51b is in contact with the flat portion 44b1 of the raised portion 44b, and is slightly spaced apart from the protruded end of the eave 44a.
  • the holding band 53 is a band-shaped metal member having two ends, one of which is attached to the right end of the front surface holding portion 51a and the other of which is attached to the right end of the rear surface holding portion 51b, at the upper part of the holding plate body 51.
  • the holding band 53 is in contact with the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 and the main insulation material 40 disposed inside the holding plate body 51 from the right direction, and holds the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 and the main insulation material 40 within the holding plate body 51.
  • the support plate 55 is a plate material that is attached to the left side surface holding portion 51c of the holding plate body 51 and that supports the main insulation material 40 and the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 from below.
  • the support plate 55 is in contact with the lower surface protection portion 45 of the main insulation material 40 from below.
  • the support plate 55 is spaced in the front-rear direction from the front surface holding portion 51a and the rear surface holding portion 51b.
  • the refrigerant flows inside the gas-liquid separator 29.
  • the gas-liquid separator 29 may be cooled to produce condensation water, or liquid refrigerant may leak from the gas-liquid separator 29.
  • liquid droplets of water or refrigerant drop from the gas-liquid separator 29 to the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30.
  • the eave 44a creates a gap G between the upper part of the rear surface protection portion 44 and the upper part of the rear surface holding portion 51b. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the raised portion 44b causes the gap G to extend downward to between the lower part of the rear surface protection portion 44 and the lower part of the rear surface holding portion 51b. Therefore, the liquid droplets, which have been brought into contact with the inner surface of the rear surface holding portion 51b, flow downward along the inner surface of the rear surface holding portion 51b through the gap between the rear surface protection portion 44 and the rear surface holding portion 51b.
  • the raised portion 44b has a grooves 44b3 for draining water, so that liquid droplets can flow below the raised portion 44b through the grooves 44b3.
  • the liquid droplets running along the rear surface holding portion 51b then pass through the gap between the rear surface holding portion 51b and the support plate 55 and flow further downward to the bottom plate 14.
  • the liquid droplets having flowed onto the bottom plate 14 are drained to the outside through a drainage hole formed in the bottom plate 14.
  • FIG. 7 is a diagram showing deformation of the main insulation material 40 when the outdoor unit 1 of this embodiment is dropped.
  • the deformation of the main insulation material 40 is shown enlarged to five times the actual amount.
  • the outdoor unit 1 When the outdoor unit 1 is installed, the outdoor unit 1 may be dropped or otherwise to be subjected to an impact.
  • the compressor 22 installed in the machine room 13 of the outdoor unit 1 may tilt and lean against the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30.
  • the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30 is subjected to a load of about 60 percent of the weight of the compressor 22.
  • the lower side of the main insulation material 40 rotates rearward and deforms, generating stress due to deformation.
  • FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the stress distribution in the main insulation material 40 when the outdoor unit 1 of this embodiment is dropped.
  • FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the stress distribution in a main insulation material 140 of a comparative example when the outdoor unit 1 is dropped.
  • the stress distribution of this embodiment in FIG. 8 and the stress distribution of the comparative example in FIG. 9 are obtained by a simulation in which the compressor 22 tilts and leans against the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30.
  • the main insulation material 140 of the comparative example does not have a raised portion 44b, unlike the main insulation material 40 of this embodiment.
  • FIGS. 8 and 9 show distributions of stress at the stress concentration portion S where stress is particularly concentrated, and as the stress that is generated increases, the portion is displayed darker.
  • the rear surface protection portion 44 of the main insulation material 40 has the upper end having the eave 44a, and the lower part having the raised portion 44b.
  • the raised portion 44b is in contact with the holding plate 50 and the eave 44a is slightly spaced apart from the holding plate 50. This secures a gap G through which liquid droplets flow between the rear surface protection portion 44 and the holding plate 50 while preventing unsteadiness of the main insulation material 40 against the holding plate 50.
  • the compressor 22 leans or tilts against the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 or the main insulation material 40, the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 and the main insulation material 40 is less likely to move relative to the holding plate 50. Therefore, deformation of the main insulation material 40 can be prevented.
  • the eave 44a and the raised portion 44b prevent the main insulation material 40 of this embodiment from unsteadiness against the holding plate body 51.
  • the eave 44a and the raised portion 44b also prevent the main insulation material 40 from deformation, reducing the stress generated due to the deformation.
  • the main insulation material 140 of the comparative example which does not have the raised portion 44b, has the lower side that is more likely to rotate rearward and deform than the main insulation material 40 of this embodiment. This causes the main insulation material 140 to be more likely to be subjected to greater stress at the stress concentration portion S than the main insulation material 40 of this embodiment.
  • the raised portion 44b is formed in a shape that hardly deforms when a load of 60 percent of the weight of the compressor 22 is applied toward the rear surface holding portion 51b of the holding plate 50.
  • the area of the flat portion 44b1 that is in contact with the rear surface holding portion 51b is so large that the raised portion 44b hardly deforms if the load of 60 percent of the weight of the compressor 22 is applied to the main insulation material 40.
  • the area of the flat portion 44b1 is an area that does not cause the raised portion 44b to be compressed by 0.2 mm or more in the front-rear direction when the load of 60 percent of the weight of the compressor 22 toward the rear surface holding portion 51b is applied to the main insulation material 40.
  • the main insulation material 40 of this embodiment is less likely to deform than the comparative example, the stress generated in the stress concentration portion S is smaller, and the main insulation material 40 is less likely to break.
  • the area of the flat portion 44b1 required to prevent compression of the raised portion 44b as described above is also affected by the material of the main insulation material 40, and the required area increases as the foamed material constituting the main insulation material 40 is more likely to deform.
  • the outdoor unit 1 includes: a gas-liquid separator 29 that separates gas and liquid of refrigerant; a water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and water as heat medium; a main insulation material 40 that covers the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31; and a holding plate 50 that covers an outside of the main insulation material 40, wherein the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 is provided below the gas-liquid separator 29, the main insulation material 40 has a top surface protection portion 42 in contact with a top surface 32 of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31, and a rear surface protection portion 44 in contact with a rear surface 35 of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31, the top surface protection portion 42 is inclined in a downward direction toward the rear surface protection portion 44, and the rear surface protection portion 44 has an eave 44a protruding outward toward the holding plate 50.
  • a gas-liquid separator 29 that separates gas and liquid of refrigerant
  • a raised portion 44b that protrudes outward toward the holding plate 50 is formed on the lower part of the rear surface protection portion 44, and the eave 44a is provided on the upper part of the rear surface protection portion 44, with the raised portion 44b and the eave 44a each protruding by an equal distance from the rear surface protection portion 44.
  • the gap G between the rear surface protection portion 44 and the holding plate 50 causes the gap G between the rear surface protection portion 44 and the holding plate 50 to be more likely to be formed over the entire rear surface protection portion 44 in the up-down direction, and makes liquid droplets more likely to flow down through the gap G.
  • the eave 44a and the raised portion 44b can prevent the unsteadiness of the main insulation material 40 against the holding plate 50. This makes it easier to place the main insulation material 40 on the holding plate 50.
  • the main insulation material 40 is subjected to an external load, it is less likely to move relative to the holding plate 50, and therefore deformation and stress of the main insulation material 40 are prevented.
  • the raised portion 44b may be configured to have grooves 44b3 for draining water that penetrates the raised portion 44b in the up-down direction.
  • the raised portion 44b may be configured to have inclined surface portions 44b2 that incline outward from the raised portion 44b, from the holding plate 50 side toward the rear surface protection portion 44.
  • Embodiment 1 has been described as an example of the technique disclosed in the present application.
  • the technique disclosed herein is not limited to this, and can be applied to embodiments in which modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, and the like are made. It is also possible to combine the components described in the above Embodiment 1 to create a new embodiment.
  • the outdoor unit 1 can be used for a so-called heat pump hot water heater, but this is just an example.
  • the outdoor unit 1 may be an outdoor unit of a heat pump type water heater.
  • the eave 44a is formed at the upper end of the rear surface protection portion 44, but this is just an example.
  • the eave 44a may be provided in the center of the rear surface protection portion 44 in the up-down direction.
  • the upper surface 42a of the top surface protection portion 42 is entirely inclined downward toward the rear, but this is an example.
  • the upper surface 42a of the top surface protection portion 42 may be configured such that only a part that receives liquid droplets dropping from the gas-liquid separator 29 is inclined downward toward the rear.
  • a machine room partition plate 13a which fits into the partition groove 42a1 formed on the upper surface 42a of the top surface protection portion 42, is disposed between the gas-liquid separator 29 and the compressor 22.
  • the upper surface 42a may be formed such that only the portion rearward of the partition groove 42a1 is inclined rearward.
  • the eave 44a and the raised portion 44b are each formed on the rear surface protection portion 44, but this is an example.
  • the eave 44a and the raised portion 44b may be formed on another part of the main insulation material 40 facing the holding plate 50, the part being a part other than the rear surface protection portion 44.
  • the eave 44a and the raised portion 44b may be formed on the front surface protection portion 43 facing the front surface holding portion 51a, or on the left side surface protection portion 46 facing the left side surface holding portion 51c.
  • the above embodiment supports the following configurations.
  • An outdoor unit including: a gas-liquid separator that separates gas and liquid of refrigerant; a water-refrigerant heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and heat medium; a main insulation material that covers the water-refrigerant heat exchanger; and a holding plate that covers an outside of the main insulation material, wherein the water-refrigerant heat exchanger is provided below the gas-liquid separator, the main insulation material has a top surface protection portion in contact with a top surface of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and a first side surface protection portion in contact with a first side surface of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger, the top surface protection portion is inclined in a downward direction toward the first side surface protection portion, and the first side surface protection portion has an eave protruding outward toward the holding plate.
  • the inclined top surface protection portion restricts the flow direction of liquid droplets, which have dropped from the gas-liquid separator onto the water-refrigerant heat exchanger, to a direction toward the first side surface protection portion.
  • a gap is likely to be formed between the first side surface protection portion and the holding plate by the eave. This makes it possible to restrict the flow direction of liquid droplets, which have dropped onto the water-refrigerant heat exchanger, so that the liquid droplets flow into the gap between the first side surface protection portion and the holding plate and flow downward through the gap.
  • the gap between the first side surface protection portion and the holding plate causes the gap between the first side surface protection portion and the holding plate to be more likely to be formed over the entire first side surface protection portion in the up-down direction, and makes liquid droplets more likely to flow down through the gap.
  • the eave and the raised portion can prevent unsteadiness of the main insulation material against the holding plate. This makes it easier to place the main insulation material on the holding plate.
  • the main insulation material is subjected to an external load, it is less likely to move relative to the holding plate, and therefore deformation and stress of the main insulation material are prevented.
  • the present disclosure is applicable to an outdoor unit having a water-refrigerant heat exchanger that exchanges heat between water and refrigerant. Specifically, the present disclosure is applicable to outdoor units of heat pump hot water heaters and heat pump type water heaters.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Other Air-Conditioning Systems (AREA)
  • Details Of Fluid Heaters (AREA)
  • Heat-Pump Type And Storage Water Heaters (AREA)

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an outdoor unit that can restrict a direction in which liquid droplets flow that have dropped onto a water-refrigerant heat exchanger. An outdoor unit of the present disclosure includes: a gas-liquid separator that separates gas and liquid of refrigerant; a water-refrigerant heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and heat medium; a main insulation material that covers the water-refrigerant heat exchanger; and a holding plate that covers an outside of the main insulation material, wherein the water-refrigerant heat exchanger is provided below the gas-liquid separator, the main insulation material has a top surface protection portion in contact with a top surface of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and a first side surface protection portion in contact with a first side surface of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger, the top surface protection portion is inclined in a downward direction toward the first side surface protection portion, and the first side surface protection portion has an eave protruding outward toward the holding plate.

Description

    Technical Field
  • The present disclosure relates to an outdoor unit.
    • Background Art
  • Patent Literature 1 discloses a heat pump hot water heating device including a water-refrigerant heat exchanger. The heat pump hot water heating device is configured such that a water-refrigerant heat exchanger provided inside is covered by a main insulation material, and the main insulation material is further covered from the outside by a holding plate.
    • Citation List Patent Literature
  • Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2014-20585
    • Summary of Invention Technical Problem
  • The present disclosure provides an outdoor unit that can restrict a direction in which liquid droplets flow that have dropped onto a water-refrigerant heat exchanger.
    • Solution to Problem
  • This description includes all of the contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-029531 filed on February 28, 2023 .
  • An outdoor unit of the present disclosure includes: a gas-liquid separator that separates gas and liquid of refrigerant; a water-refrigerant heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and heat medium; a main insulation material that covers the water-refrigerant heat exchanger; and a holding plate that covers an outside of the main insulation material, wherein the water-refrigerant heat exchanger is provided below the gas-liquid separator, the main insulation material has a top surface protection portion in contact with a top surface of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and a first side surface protection portion in contact with a first side surface of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger, the top surface protection portion is inclined in a downward direction toward the first side surface protection portion, and the first side surface protection portion has an eave protruding outward toward the holding plate.
    • Advantageous Effects of Invention
  • The outdoor unit disclosed herein receives liquid droplets, which drop from the gas-liquid separator onto the water-refrigerant heat exchanger, at the top surface protection portion of the main insulation material, and allows them to flow between a first side surface protection portion and the holding plate. This makes it possible to restrict the direction in which liquid droplets flow that have dropped onto the water-refrigerant heat exchanger.
    • Brief Description of Drawings
    • [FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an outdoor unit according to Embodiment 1.
    • [FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a machine room as viewed from the right rear.
    • [FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a compressor and a water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit as viewed from the right rear.
    • [FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit.
    • [FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is a right side view of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit.
    • [FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a raised portion.
    • [FIG. 7] FIG. 7 shows deformation of a main insulation material when the outdoor unit is dropped.
    • [FIG. 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a stress distribution in the main insulation material when the outdoor unit of Embodiment 1 is dropped.
    • [FIG. 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a stress distribution in a main insulation material of a comparative example when the outdoor unit is dropped.
    Description of Embodiments (Knowledge etc. on which the present disclosure is based)
  • At the time when the inventors came up with the present disclosure, there was a technique in an outdoor unit having a water-refrigerant heat exchanger. In the technique, the water-refrigerant heat exchanger was protected by a main insulation material of a foamed material and they were held by a holding plate. In this outdoor unit, an opening was provided in the main insulation material, a raised portion of the holding plate was inserted into the opening, and the raised portion was fixed to a protruding portion of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger, thereby fixing the main insulation material, the water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and the holding plate to form an integrated structure. This prevents excessive load from being applied to the main insulation material.
  • However, in conventional technique, liquid droplets dropping from above onto the water-refrigerant heat exchanger are received by a holding plate and the top surface of the main insulation material formed substantially horizontally. The inventors has discovered a problem in which liquid droplets dripping onto the top surface can flow in any horizontal direction, and came to form the subject matter of the present disclosure in order to solve this problem.
  • The present disclosure then provides an outdoor unit that can restrict the direction in which liquid droplets flow that have dropped onto the water-refrigerant heat exchanger.
  • The embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, unnecessarily detailed description may be omitted. For example, detailed description of well-known matters or redundant description of substantially the same configurations may be omitted. This is to prevent the following description from being unnecessarily redundant and to facilitate understanding of those skilled in the art.
  • The attached drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.
    • (Embodiment 1)
  • The following describes Embodiment 1 with reference to the drawings.
    • [1-1. Configuration]
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an outdoor unit 1 according to Embodiment 1, showing the outdoor unit 1 as viewed from the left front. The outdoor unit 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an outdoor unit that can be used for a so-called heat pump hot water heater. The outdoor unit 1 has a box-shaped housing 10. In this embodiment, all parts of the housing 10 are formed of steel plates.
  • A partition plate 11 extending in the up-down direction is provided inside the housing 10. The internal space of the housing 10 is divided into a blower room 12 and a machine room 13 by the partition plate 11. A cutout is formed in the upper part of the partition plate 11, and the electrical equipment box 26 is installed in this cutout.
  • The housing 10 has a bottom plate 14 that forms the bottom surface of the housing 10, a pair of side surface panels 15 that cover the machine room 13 of the housing 10 from the front and rear, a front surface panel 16 that covers the front surface of the blower room 12, and a top plate 17 that covers the upper surface of the housing 10.
  • The front surface panel 16 is provided with a ventilation portion 18 through which air passes. The ventilation portion 18 is covered by a mesh cover.
  • The blower room 12 is provided with a heat exchanger 20 and a blower 21.
  • The heat exchanger 20 of this embodiment extends over the almost entire housing 10 in the height direction, and is formed in a substantially L-shape in a plan view of the housing 10 so as to face the back surface 10A and side surface 10B of the housing 10.
  • The heat exchanger 20 uses, for example, a fin-tube type heat exchanger.
  • The blower 21 uses, for example, an axial fan including a propeller-shaped impeller. The blower 21 is disposed so that the axial flow direction faces the ventilation portion 18.
  • The machine room 13 has the inside that houses various devices such as a compressor 22, a water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30 having a water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31, an expansion device, a four-way valve, and a gas-liquid separator 29 to be described below, as well as a refrigerant pipe 25 connecting these together. Each device in the machine room 13 is connected to the heat exchanger 20 of the blower room 12 via the refrigerant pipe 25 to form a refrigeration cycle circuit.
  • The water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 is a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between water (heat medium) and refrigerant inside, and is a plate-type heat exchanger in this embodiment. The outdoor unit 1 exchanges heat between water introduced into the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 via a water supply pipe on the inlet side and refrigerant introduced into the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 from the refrigerant pipe 25. The outdoor unit 1 supplies the water after heat exchange from the water supply pipe on the outlet side of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 to the indoor unit, and thereby air-conditions the inside of the room.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the machine room 13 as viewed from the right rear. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the compressor 22 and the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30 as viewed from the right rear.
  • The gas-liquid separator 29 is disposed in the machine room 13. The gas-liquid separator 29 separates the gas-liquid mixed refrigerant that flows into it into gas and liquid, and discharges the liquid refrigerant and gas refrigerant separately. The gas-liquid separator 29 is disposed above the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30 in the machine room 13. In other words, the gas-liquid separator 29 is disposed above the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30, in a position that overlaps with the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30 in a plan view.
  • As shown in FIG. 2, the machine room 13 is provided with a machine room partition plate 13a that divides the machine room 13 into two. The machine room partition plate 13a is disposed between the compressor 22 and the gas-liquid separator 29, and separates the gas-liquid separator 29 on the rear side from the compressor 22 on the front side. The water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30 is disposed over the two spaces separated by the machine room partition plate 13a in the front-rear direction.
    • [1-1-2. Configuration of water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit]
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30, showing the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30 as viewed from the left rear. FIG. 5 is a right side view of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a raised portion 44b, showing the raised portion 44b as viewed from the right rear. In FIG. 5, the flow of liquid droplets, which is to be described below, is indicated by imaginary arrows.
  • As shown in FIG. 4, the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30 is fixed to the bottom plate 14 and the fixing plate 13b. The fixing plate 13b is a plate-shaped member disposed in the machine room 13 and is fixed to the bottom plate 14. The water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30 is fixed to the fixing plate 13b via the gas-liquid separator 29 and water supply pipes connected to the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31. Also, the lower end of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30 is fixed to the bottom plate 14.
  • As shown in FIG. 5, the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30 has the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31, a main insulation material 40 that covers the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 from the outside, and a holding plate 50 that covers the main insulation material 40 from the outside. The holding plate 50 is fixed to the above-described fixing plate 13b and the bottom plate 14 by fastening.
  • The water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the up-down direction. The water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 has two water supply pipe connection ports 33a and two refrigerant pipe connection ports 33b on the right side surface 33 facing the right side. The two water supply pipe connection ports 33a are both ends of the water flow path in the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31, and are respectively connected to the water supply pipes on the inlet side and on the outlet side. The two refrigerant pipe connection ports 33b are both ends of the refrigerant flow path in the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31, and are each connected to the refrigerant pipe 25.
  • The main insulation material 40 is a member that covers the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 to protects it. The main insulation material 40 is a foamed resin obtained by foaming resin, and in this embodiment, it is polystyrene foam. The main insulation material 40 has a recess 41 that is recessed toward the left, and holds the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 inserted into the recess 41 from the right side.
  • The recess 41 is formed by being surrounded by a top surface protection portion 42, a front surface protection portion 43, a rear surface protection portion (first side surface protection portion) 44, a lower surface protection portion 45, and a left side surface protection portion 46 that are plate-shaped portions of the main insulation material 40. The top surface protection portion 42 is in contact with the top surface 32 of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 from above, and protects the top surface 32. The front surface protection portion 43 is in contact with the front surface 34 of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 from the front, and protects the front surface 34. The rear surface protection portion 44 is in contact with the rear surface (first side surface) 35 of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 from behind, and protects the rear surface 35. Th lower surface protection portion 45 is in contact with the lower surface 36 of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 from below, and protects the lower surface 36. The left side surface protection portion 46 is in contact with the left side surface 37 of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 from the left, and protects the left side surface 37.
  • As shown in FIG. 5, the upper surface 42a of the top surface protection portion 42 of the main insulation material 40 is not covered by the holding plate 50 and is exposed, and the entire surface is inclined downward toward the rear. In other words, the upper surface 42a of the top surface protection portion 42 is inclined downwardly toward the rear surface protection portion 44. The inclination angle of the upper surface 42a is set to 3 degrees or more with respect to the horizontal direction in order to improve the flow of liquid droplets as described below. On the upper surface 42a, a partition groove 42a1 is formed and extends in the left-right direction. In the partition groove 42a1, the machine room partition plate 13a is disposed.
  • The rear surface protection portion 44 of the main insulation material 40 has an eave 44a and a raised portion 44b each protruding rearward, that is, toward a rear surface holding portion 51b of the holding plate 50 to be described below. The eave 44a is formed on the upper end of the rear surface protection portion 44. The outer surface 44a1 of the eave 44a is smoothly connected to the upper surface 42a of the top surface protection portion 42, and curves from the rear end of the upper surface 42a and inclines downward toward the rear. In this embodiment, the distance by which the eave 44a protrudes rearward from the rear surface protection portion 44, that is, the height of the eave 44a, is 8.5 mm. The height of the eave 44a is preferably 3 mm or more in order to form a gap G through which liquid droplets is likely to flow down, as described below.
  • As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the raised portion 44b is formed on the lower part of the rear surface protection portion 44, and is substantially trapezoidal in a side view from the right. In this embodiment, the distance by which the raised portion 44b protrudes rearward from the rear surface protection portion 44, that is, the height of the raised portion 44b, is 8.5 mm that is substantially equal to the height of the eave 44a. The raised portion 44b is brought into contact with the holding plate 50 to make it easier to position the main insulation material 40 relative to the holding plate 50.
  • The raised portion 44b has a flat portion 44b1 and inclined surface portions 44b2. The flat portion 44b1 is located at the protruded end of the raised portion 44b and is perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The inclined surface portions 44b2 extend outward from the flat portion 44b1 to the rear surface protection portion 44 obliquely in the up-down direction. In other words, the inclined surface portion 44b2 is a surface that inclines outward of the raised portion 44b from the rear surface holding portion 51b of the holding plate 50 toward the rear surface protection portion 44. Forming the inclined surface portion 44b2 causes the raised portion 44b to be less likely to get caught on a holding plate body 51 when the main insulation material 40 is inserted into the holding plate 50. This makes it easy to insert the main insulation material 40 into the holding plate 50. The flat portion 44b1 is in surface contact with the holding plate 50. This makes it easy to position the main insulation material 40 with respect to the holding plate 50.
  • As shown in FIG. 6, the raised portion 44b has a grooves 44b3 extending over the entire flat portion 44b1 in the up-down direction. Three grooves 44b3 are formed in a row in the left-right direction, and each of them penetrates the raised portion 44b in the up-down direction.
  • The holding plate 50 is formed by bending a metal plate. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the holding plate 50 has a holding plate body 51 that covers the main insulation material 40, and a holding band 53 and a support plate 55 attached to the holding plate body 51.
  • The holding plate body 51 has a front surface holding portion 51a that covers the front surface protection portion 43 from the front, a rear surface holding portion 51b that covers the rear surface protection portion 44 from the rear, and a left side surface holding portion 51c that covers the left side surface protection portion 46 from the left. The front surface holding portion 51a and the left side surface holding portion 51c are in contact with the front surface protection portion 43 and the left side surface protection portion 46.
  • The rear surface holding portion 51b is a flat plate-like portion that extends above the protruded end of the eave 44a. The rear surface holding portion 51b is positioned at a position spaced rearward from the rear surface protection portion 44 by the eave 44a and the raised portion 44b that protrude rearward from the rear surface protection portion 44. In other words, a gap G is formed between the rear surface holding portion 51b and the rear surface protection portion 44. The rear surface holding portion 51b is in contact with the flat portion 44b1 of the raised portion 44b, and is slightly spaced apart from the protruded end of the eave 44a.
  • The holding band 53 is a band-shaped metal member having two ends, one of which is attached to the right end of the front surface holding portion 51a and the other of which is attached to the right end of the rear surface holding portion 51b, at the upper part of the holding plate body 51. The holding band 53 is in contact with the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 and the main insulation material 40 disposed inside the holding plate body 51 from the right direction, and holds the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 and the main insulation material 40 within the holding plate body 51.
  • The support plate 55 is a plate material that is attached to the left side surface holding portion 51c of the holding plate body 51 and that supports the main insulation material 40 and the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 from below. The support plate 55 is in contact with the lower surface protection portion 45 of the main insulation material 40 from below. The support plate 55 is spaced in the front-rear direction from the front surface holding portion 51a and the rear surface holding portion 51b.
    • [1-2. Actions]
  • Actions of the outdoor unit 1 configured as above will be described below.
    • [1-2-1. Action when liquid droplets drop]
  • When the outdoor unit 1 is in operation, the refrigerant flows inside the gas-liquid separator 29. As a result, the gas-liquid separator 29 may be cooled to produce condensation water, or liquid refrigerant may leak from the gas-liquid separator 29. In such a case, liquid droplets of water or refrigerant drop from the gas-liquid separator 29 to the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30.
  • Most of the liquid droplets having dropped onto the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30 are received by the upper surface 42a of the top surface protection portion 42 of the main insulation material 40. Since the upper surface 42a is inclined downward toward the rear, the liquid droplets received on the upper surface 42a flow backward on the upper surface 42a due to gravity, as shown by the imaginary arrow in FIG. 5. In other words, because the upper surface 42a is inclined downward toward the rear, the flow direction of the liquid droplets, which have dropped on the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30, can be restricted to the rear side.
  • The liquid droplets, which have flowed rearward from the upper surface 42a, flow on the outer surface 44a1 of the eave 44a located at the upper end of the rear surface protection portion 44. Since the outer surface 44a1 is smoothly connected to the upper surface 42a, the liquid droplets having flowed on the upper surface 42a is likely to flow smoothly to the outer surface 44a1. The liquid droplets, which have flowed on the outer surface 44a1, flow to the protruded end of the eave 44a and then comes into contact with the inner surface of the rear surface holding portion 51b.
  • The eave 44a creates a gap G between the upper part of the rear surface protection portion 44 and the upper part of the rear surface holding portion 51b. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the raised portion 44b causes the gap G to extend downward to between the lower part of the rear surface protection portion 44 and the lower part of the rear surface holding portion 51b. Therefore, the liquid droplets, which have been brought into contact with the inner surface of the rear surface holding portion 51b, flow downward along the inner surface of the rear surface holding portion 51b through the gap between the rear surface protection portion 44 and the rear surface holding portion 51b.
  • The liquid droplets flowing downward along the rear surface holding portion 51b come into contact with the raised portion 44b from above. In this embodiment, the raised portion 44b has a grooves 44b3 for draining water, so that liquid droplets can flow below the raised portion 44b through the grooves 44b3.
  • The liquid droplets running along the rear surface holding portion 51b then pass through the gap between the rear surface holding portion 51b and the support plate 55 and flow further downward to the bottom plate 14. The liquid droplets having flowed onto the bottom plate 14 are drained to the outside through a drainage hole formed in the bottom plate 14.
    • [1-2-2. Action when outdoor unit receives impact]
  • FIG. 7 is a diagram showing deformation of the main insulation material 40 when the outdoor unit 1 of this embodiment is dropped. Here in FIG. 7, the deformation of the main insulation material 40 is shown enlarged to five times the actual amount.
  • When the outdoor unit 1 is installed, the outdoor unit 1 may be dropped or otherwise to be subjected to an impact. In such a case, the compressor 22 installed in the machine room 13 of the outdoor unit 1 may tilt and lean against the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30. At this time, it is said that the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30 is subjected to a load of about 60 percent of the weight of the compressor 22. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 7, the lower side of the main insulation material 40 rotates rearward and deforms, generating stress due to deformation.
  • FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the stress distribution in the main insulation material 40 when the outdoor unit 1 of this embodiment is dropped. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the stress distribution in a main insulation material 140 of a comparative example when the outdoor unit 1 is dropped. The stress distribution of this embodiment in FIG. 8 and the stress distribution of the comparative example in FIG. 9 are obtained by a simulation in which the compressor 22 tilts and leans against the water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit 30. Note that the main insulation material 140 of the comparative example does not have a raised portion 44b, unlike the main insulation material 40 of this embodiment. FIGS. 8 and 9 show distributions of stress at the stress concentration portion S where stress is particularly concentrated, and as the stress that is generated increases, the portion is displayed darker.
  • In this embodiment, the rear surface protection portion 44 of the main insulation material 40 has the upper end having the eave 44a, and the lower part having the raised portion 44b. The raised portion 44b is in contact with the holding plate 50 and the eave 44a is slightly spaced apart from the holding plate 50. This secures a gap G through which liquid droplets flow between the rear surface protection portion 44 and the holding plate 50 while preventing unsteadiness of the main insulation material 40 against the holding plate 50. As a result, if the compressor 22 leans or tilts against the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 or the main insulation material 40, the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 and the main insulation material 40 is less likely to move relative to the holding plate 50. Therefore, deformation of the main insulation material 40 can be prevented.
  • This causes the stress, which is applied to the stress concentration portion S of the main insulation material 40 of this embodiment when the outdoor unit 1 is dropped as shown in FIG. 8, to be smaller than the stress applied to the stress concentration portion S of the main insulation material 140 of the comparative example in the same case as shown in FIG. 9. The eave 44a and the raised portion 44b prevent the main insulation material 40 of this embodiment from unsteadiness against the holding plate body 51. The eave 44a and the raised portion 44b also prevent the main insulation material 40 from deformation, reducing the stress generated due to the deformation. Contrarily, the main insulation material 140 of the comparative example, which does not have the raised portion 44b, has the lower side that is more likely to rotate rearward and deform than the main insulation material 40 of this embodiment. This causes the main insulation material 140 to be more likely to be subjected to greater stress at the stress concentration portion S than the main insulation material 40 of this embodiment.
  • In particular, in this embodiment, the raised portion 44b is formed in a shape that hardly deforms when a load of 60 percent of the weight of the compressor 22 is applied toward the rear surface holding portion 51b of the holding plate 50. In other words, the area of the flat portion 44b1 that is in contact with the rear surface holding portion 51b is so large that the raised portion 44b hardly deforms if the load of 60 percent of the weight of the compressor 22 is applied to the main insulation material 40. Specifically, the area of the flat portion 44b1 is an area that does not cause the raised portion 44b to be compressed by 0.2 mm or more in the front-rear direction when the load of 60 percent of the weight of the compressor 22 toward the rear surface holding portion 51b is applied to the main insulation material 40. As a result, the main insulation material 40 of this embodiment is less likely to deform than the comparative example, the stress generated in the stress concentration portion S is smaller, and the main insulation material 40 is less likely to break. The area of the flat portion 44b1 required to prevent compression of the raised portion 44b as described above is also affected by the material of the main insulation material 40, and the required area increases as the foamed material constituting the main insulation material 40 is more likely to deform.
    • [1-3. Effects, etc.]
  • As described above, in this embodiment, the outdoor unit 1 includes: a gas-liquid separator 29 that separates gas and liquid of refrigerant; a water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and water as heat medium; a main insulation material 40 that covers the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31; and a holding plate 50 that covers an outside of the main insulation material 40, wherein the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31 is provided below the gas-liquid separator 29, the main insulation material 40 has a top surface protection portion 42 in contact with a top surface 32 of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31, and a rear surface protection portion 44 in contact with a rear surface 35 of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31, the top surface protection portion 42 is inclined in a downward direction toward the rear surface protection portion 44, and the rear surface protection portion 44 has an eave 44a protruding outward toward the holding plate 50.
  • This causes the inclined top surface protection portion 42 to restrict the flow direction of the liquid droplets, which have dropped from the gas-liquid separator 29 onto the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31, to the rear. Furthermore, a gap G is likely to be formed between the rear surface protection portion 44 and the holding plate 50 due to the eave 44a. This makes it possible to restrict the flow direction of the liquid droplets, which have dropped onto the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 31, so that the liquid droplets flow into the gap G and flow downward from the gap G.
  • There may be a configuration such that, as in this embodiment, a raised portion 44b that protrudes outward toward the holding plate 50 is formed on the lower part of the rear surface protection portion 44, and the eave 44a is provided on the upper part of the rear surface protection portion 44, with the raised portion 44b and the eave 44a each protruding by an equal distance from the rear surface protection portion 44.
  • This causes the gap G between the rear surface protection portion 44 and the holding plate 50 to be more likely to be formed over the entire rear surface protection portion 44 in the up-down direction, and makes liquid droplets more likely to flow down through the gap G. In addition, while providing the gap G between the rear surface protection portion 44 and the holding plate 50, the eave 44a and the raised portion 44b can prevent the unsteadiness of the main insulation material 40 against the holding plate 50. This makes it easier to place the main insulation material 40 on the holding plate 50. In addition, also when the main insulation material 40 is subjected to an external load, it is less likely to move relative to the holding plate 50, and therefore deformation and stress of the main insulation material 40 are prevented.
  • As in this embodiment, the raised portion 44b may be configured to have grooves 44b3 for draining water that penetrates the raised portion 44b in the up-down direction.
  • This allows liquid droplets flowing down the gap G between the rear surface protection portion 44 and the holding plate 50 to be more likely to pass through the raised portion 44b via the grooves 44b3.
  • As in this embodiment, the raised portion 44b may be configured to have inclined surface portions 44b2 that incline outward from the raised portion 44b, from the holding plate 50 side toward the rear surface protection portion 44.
  • This makes the raised portion 44b to be less likely to get caught on the holding plate 50, making it easier to insert the main insulation material 40 into the holding plate 50.
    • (Other embodiments)
  • As described above, Embodiment 1 has been described as an example of the technique disclosed in the present application. However, the technique disclosed herein is not limited to this, and can be applied to embodiments in which modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, and the like are made. It is also possible to combine the components described in the above Embodiment 1 to create a new embodiment.
  • Here, other embodiments are exemplified below.
  • In Embodiment 1, it has been explained that the outdoor unit 1 can be used for a so-called heat pump hot water heater, but this is just an example. For example, the outdoor unit 1 may be an outdoor unit of a heat pump type water heater.
  • In Embodiment 1, it has been described that the eave 44a is formed at the upper end of the rear surface protection portion 44, but this is just an example. For example, the eave 44a may be provided in the center of the rear surface protection portion 44 in the up-down direction.
  • In Embodiment 1, it has been described that the upper surface 42a of the top surface protection portion 42 is entirely inclined downward toward the rear, but this is an example. For example, the upper surface 42a of the top surface protection portion 42 may be configured such that only a part that receives liquid droplets dropping from the gas-liquid separator 29 is inclined downward toward the rear. As described above, in Embodiment 1, a machine room partition plate 13a, which fits into the partition groove 42a1 formed on the upper surface 42a of the top surface protection portion 42, is disposed between the gas-liquid separator 29 and the compressor 22. As a result, liquid droplets dropping from the gas-liquid separator 29 are received by a part of the upper surface 42a that is rearward of the partition groove 42a1. For this reason, the upper surface 42a may be formed such that only the portion rearward of the partition groove 42a1 is inclined rearward.
  • In Embodiment 1, it has been described that the eave 44a and the raised portion 44b are each formed on the rear surface protection portion 44, but this is an example. The eave 44a and the raised portion 44b may be formed on another part of the main insulation material 40 facing the holding plate 50, the part being a part other than the rear surface protection portion 44. For example, the eave 44a and the raised portion 44b may be formed on the front surface protection portion 43 facing the front surface holding portion 51a, or on the left side surface protection portion 46 facing the left side surface holding portion 51c.
    • [Configuration supported by the above embodiment]
  • The above embodiment supports the following configurations.
    • (Supplementary notes)
  • (Technique 1) An outdoor unit, including: a gas-liquid separator that separates gas and liquid of refrigerant; a water-refrigerant heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and heat medium; a main insulation material that covers the water-refrigerant heat exchanger; and a holding plate that covers an outside of the main insulation material, wherein the water-refrigerant heat exchanger is provided below the gas-liquid separator, the main insulation material has a top surface protection portion in contact with a top surface of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and a first side surface protection portion in contact with a first side surface of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger, the top surface protection portion is inclined in a downward direction toward the first side surface protection portion, and the first side surface protection portion has an eave protruding outward toward the holding plate.
  • As a result, the inclined top surface protection portion restricts the flow direction of liquid droplets, which have dropped from the gas-liquid separator onto the water-refrigerant heat exchanger, to a direction toward the first side surface protection portion. A gap is likely to be formed between the first side surface protection portion and the holding plate by the eave. This makes it possible to restrict the flow direction of liquid droplets, which have dropped onto the water-refrigerant heat exchanger, so that the liquid droplets flow into the gap between the first side surface protection portion and the holding plate and flow downward through the gap.
  • (Technique 2) The outdoor unit according to technique 1, wherein a raised portion that protrudes outward toward the holding plate is formed on a lower part of the first side surface protection portion, the eave is provided on an upper part of the first side surface protection portion, and the raised portion and the eave protrude from the first side surface protection portion by an equal distance.
  • This causes the gap between the first side surface protection portion and the holding plate to be more likely to be formed over the entire first side surface protection portion in the up-down direction, and makes liquid droplets more likely to flow down through the gap. In addition, while providing a gap between the first side surface protection portion and the holding plate, the eave and the raised portion can prevent unsteadiness of the main insulation material against the holding plate. This makes it easier to place the main insulation material on the holding plate. In addition, also when the main insulation material is subjected to an external load, it is less likely to move relative to the holding plate, and therefore deformation and stress of the main insulation material are prevented.
  • (Technique 3) The outdoor unit according to technique 2, wherein the raised portion has a groove for draining water, the groove penetrating the raised portion in an up-down direction.
  • This allows liquid droplets flowing down the gap between the first side surface protection portion and the holding plate to be more likely to pass through the raised portion via the groove.
  • (Technique 4) The outdoor unit according to technique 2 or 3, wherein the raised portion has an inclined surface portion that is inclined outward of the raised portion from a side of the holding plate toward the first side surface protection portion.
  • This makes the raised portion to be less likely to get caught on the holding plate, making it easier to place the main insulation material on the holding plate.
    • Industrial Applicability
  • The present disclosure is applicable to an outdoor unit having a water-refrigerant heat exchanger that exchanges heat between water and refrigerant. Specifically, the present disclosure is applicable to outdoor units of heat pump hot water heaters and heat pump type water heaters.
    • Reference Signs List
    • 1 outdoor unit
    • 10 housing
    • 10A back surface
    • 10B side surface
    • 11 partition plate
    • 12 blower room
    • 13 machine room
    • 13a machine room partition plate
    • 13b fixing plate
    • 14 bottom plate
    • 15 side surface panel
    • 16 front surface panel
    • 17 top plate
    • 18 ventilation portion
    • 20 heat exchanger
    • 21 blower
    • 22 compressor
    • 25 refrigerant pipe
    • 26 electrical equipment box
    • 29 gas-liquid separator
    • 30 water-refrigerant heat exchanger unit
    • 31 water-refrigerant heat exchanger
    • 32 top surface
    • 33 right side surface
    • 33a water supply pipe connection port
    • 33b refrigerant pipe connection port
    • 34 front surface
    • 35 rear surface (first side surface)
    • 36 lower surface
    • 37 left side surface
    • 40 main insulation material
    • 41 recess
    • 42 top surface protection portion
    • 42a upper surface
    • 42a1 partition groove
    • 43 front surface protection portion
    • 44 rear surface protection portion (first side surface protection portion)
    • 44a eave
    • 44a1 outer surface
    • 44b raised portion
    • 44b1 flat portion
    • 44b2 inclined surface portion
    • 44b3 groove
    • 45 lower surface protection portion
    • 46 left side surface protection portion
    • 50 holding plate
    • 51 holding plate body
    • 51a front surface holding portion
    • 51b rear surface holding portion
    • 51c left side surface holding portion
    • 53 holding band
    • 55 support plate
    • 140 main insulation material
    • G gap
    • S stress concentration portion

Claims (4)

  1. An outdoor unit, comprising:
    a gas-liquid separator that separates gas and liquid of refrigerant;
    a water-refrigerant heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and heat medium;
    a main insulation material that covers the water-refrigerant heat exchanger; and
    a holding plate that covers an outside of the main insulation material, characterized in that
    the water-refrigerant heat exchanger is provided below the gas-liquid separator,
    the main insulation material has a top surface protection portion in contact with a top surface of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and a first side surface protection portion in contact with a first side surface of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger,
    the top surface protection portion is inclined in a downward direction toward the first side surface protection portion, and
    the first side surface protection portion has an eave protruding outward toward the holding plate.
  2. The outdoor unit according to claim 1, wherein
    a raised portion that protrudes outward toward the holding plate is formed on a lower part of the first side surface protection portion,
    the eave is provided on an upper part of the first side surface protection portion, and
    the raised portion and the eave protrude from the first side surface protection portion by an equal distance.
  3. The outdoor unit according to claim 2, wherein the raised portion has a groove for draining water, the groove penetrating the raised portion in an up-down direction.
  4. The outdoor unit according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the raised portion has an inclined surface portion that is inclined outward of the raised portion from a side of the holding plate toward the first side surface protection portion.
EP23925411.3A 2023-02-28 2023-12-12 Outdoor unit Pending EP4675194A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2023029531A JP2024122152A (en) 2023-02-28 2023-02-28 Outdoor unit
PCT/JP2023/044469 WO2024180859A1 (en) 2023-02-28 2023-12-12 Outdoor unit

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4675194A1 true EP4675194A1 (en) 2026-01-07

Family

ID=92590258

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP23925411.3A Pending EP4675194A1 (en) 2023-02-28 2023-12-12 Outdoor unit

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4675194A1 (en)
JP (1) JP2024122152A (en)
WO (1) WO2024180859A1 (en)

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2014020585A (en) 2012-07-12 2014-02-03 Panasonic Corp Heat exchanger unit and heat pump hot-water heating apparatus including the same
JP2023029531A (en) 2020-12-11 2023-03-03 株式会社三洋物産 game machine

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4904856B2 (en) * 2006-03-10 2012-03-28 パナソニック株式会社 Heat pump water heater
JP5511414B2 (en) * 2010-02-02 2014-06-04 三菱電機株式会社 Hot water supply outdoor unit
JP5845925B2 (en) * 2012-01-25 2016-01-20 三菱電機株式会社 Heat pump outdoor unit

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2014020585A (en) 2012-07-12 2014-02-03 Panasonic Corp Heat exchanger unit and heat pump hot-water heating apparatus including the same
JP2023029531A (en) 2020-12-11 2023-03-03 株式会社三洋物産 game machine

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO2024180859A1

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2024180859A1 (en) 2024-09-06
JP2024122152A (en) 2024-09-09

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