JP2007010269A - Outdoor unit for air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an outdoor unit for an air conditioner capable of preventing enlargement of a height of the outdoor unit caused by arrangement of a heat pipe heating condensed water on a drain path. <P>SOLUTION: In the outdoor unit, the heat pipe 4 heating the condensed water on a drain pan 6 guiding the condensed water condensed by a heat exchanger 1 comprised by attaching a plurality of refrigerant tube arrangements 15 in piercing states through a plurality of heat transfer plates 11, to a drain opening, is attached in a piercing state to lower end part 11a neighborhoods of the heat transfer plates 11. By this, a vertical difference between a heating part 41 and a heat dissipation part 42 necessary for the heat pipe 4 using natural circulation of two layers of gas and liquid as a principle of operation, is absorbed within the height of the heat exchanger 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for preventing freezing on a drainage path of condensed water condensed by a heat exchanger installed in an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, and more particularly, by heating condensed water using a heat pipe. The present invention relates to a technique for preventing the condensed water from freezing.

In cold regions where the outside air is below the freezing point temperature of water (0 ° C), the condensed water condensed in the heat exchanger installed in the outdoor unit of the air conditioner is used to drain the condensed water out of the machine. May freeze in drainage channels and drains. As a result, the heat exchanger, the blower fan, or the like is damaged or deformed due to the overflow of condensed water in the outdoor unit or the growth of generated ice. Therefore, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses that the condensed water is frozen by laying a heat pipe between the outdoor unit bottom plate in which a drainage path for draining the condensed water is formed and the heat exchanger to heat the condensed water. Technology to prevent this is shown. Here, since the heat pipe is based on the natural circulation of gas-liquid two layers by the condensation (cooling) and vaporization (heating) of the liquid enclosed in the inside, the part where the internal liquid is heated and vaporized. (Hereinafter referred to as “heating unit”) is disposed in a state lower than a portion where the internal gas is condensed and liquefied by heat exchange with condensed water (hereinafter referred to as “heat radiation unit”). That is, the heat pipe is disposed in a state where a height difference is provided between the heating unit and the heat radiation unit in the heat pipe.
JP-A-6-249465

However, in order to provide a height difference between the heating unit and the heat radiating unit in the heat pipe, the heat radiating unit is located on a drainage path of a bottom plate provided below the heat exchanger. Therefore, there is a problem that the height dimension of the outdoor unit must be expanded by the height difference.
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to prevent the expansion of the outdoor unit height due to the arrangement of the heat pipe for heating the condensed water on the drainage path. An object of the present invention is to provide an outdoor unit of an air conditioner that can be used.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a heat exchanger in which a plurality of pipes through which a refrigerant circulates are mounted through a plurality of heat transfer plates, and the heat exchanger provided below the heat exchanger. A drainage path for leading the condensed water condensed in the body housing to a drain outlet provided in the main body housing, and a heat for heating the condensed water provided from a position near the drainage path to a position lower than the drainage path and guided by the drainage path And an air conditioner outdoor unit comprising a pipe, wherein the heat pipe is attached to penetrate through the vicinity of the lower ends of the plurality of heat transfer plates. It is configured as an outdoor unit for an air conditioner.
As a result, the difference in height between the heating part and the heat radiating part necessary for the heat pipe based on the natural circulation of gas-liquid two layers is absorbed within the height dimension of the heat exchanger. It is not necessary to expand the height dimension of the outdoor unit by disposing. Moreover, since the heat exchanger and the heat pipe are integrally formed, the internal configuration of the outdoor unit is simplified.
The condensation water is prevented from freezing by heat radiation from the heat pipe or the heat transfer plate in which the heat pipe is inserted to the condensed water, and further from the heat pipe to the condensed water. In order to efficiently transfer heat, it is desirable that the lower end portion of the heat transfer plate through which the heat pipe is inserted be brought close to or in contact with the drainage path.
At this time, if the lower end portion of the heat transfer plate is formed in a shape substantially along the shape of the drainage path, the proximity area or contact surface between the lower end portion of the heat transfer plate and the drainage path can be increased. Therefore, the heat transfer efficiency from the lower end of the heat transfer plate to the drainage path is further improved.

By the way, the heat transmitted from the heat pipe to the heat transfer plate is transmitted not only from the lower end portion of the heat transfer plate but also upward from the transferred portion. Thereby, the amount of heat transfer to the lower end of the heat transfer plate is reduced. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a heat transfer prevention structure between the plurality of pipes and the heat pipe in the heat transfer plate. Specifically, forming a notch between the plurality of pipes and the heat pipe in the heat transfer plate is considered as an example of the heat transfer prevention structure.
As a result, the amount of heat transferred to the heat transfer plate located above the heat pipe can be reduced, so that the heat transfer from the heat pipe to the drainage path and the condensed water through the lower end of the heat transfer plate. The amount of heat generated can be increased.

According to the present invention, the difference in height between the heating part and the heat radiating part necessary for the heat pipe based on the natural circulation of gas-liquid two layers is absorbed within the height dimension of the heat exchanger, It is not necessary to expand the height of the outdoor unit by disposing the heat pipe. Moreover, since the heat exchanger and the heat pipe are integrally formed, the internal configuration of the outdoor unit is simplified.
Furthermore, the heat transfer from the heat pipe to the condensed water can be efficiently performed by bringing the lower end portion of the heat transfer plate close to or in contact with the drainage path. At this time, if the lower end portion of the heat transfer plate is formed in a shape substantially along the shape of the drainage passage, the heat transfer efficiency from the lower end portion of the heat transfer plate to the drainage passage is further improved.
In addition, by providing a heat transfer prevention structure between the plurality of pipes and the heat pipe in the heat transfer plate, the drainage path and the condensed water are passed from the heat pipe through the lower end of the heat transfer plate. The amount of heat transferred can be increased.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings so that the present invention can be understood. The following embodiment is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a state where the inside of the outdoor unit X of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention is seen through, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of the heat exchanger 1 provided in the outdoor unit X. It is.
First, the schematic configuration of the outdoor unit X will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in the figure, the outdoor unit X includes a heat exchanger 1 that exchanges heat between air and a refrigerant, a compressor 2 that compresses refrigerant, a blower fan 3 that blows air toward the heat exchanger 1, In order to discharge condensed water condensed in the heat exchanger 1 to the outside of the apparatus, a drain outlet 61 formed in the bottom plate 5 of the main body housing, close to the lower end portion 11a of the heat exchanger 1 below the heat exchanger 1 And a drain pan 6 (an example of a drainage path) that guides the condensed water to the drain port 61, a heat pipe 4 that heats the condensed water guided by the drain pan 6, and the like. The drain pan 6 is formed integrally with the bottom plate 5 or provided as a separate body.
In the outdoor unit X configured as described above, in the heat exchanger 1, the air inhaled by the blower fan 3 is heat-exchanged with the refrigerant, so that the vapor in the air is condensed and generated. Condensed water drops on the drain pan 6 and is led to the drain port 61 by the drain pan 6 and is discharged from the drain port 61 to the outside of the machine. Here, conventionally, when the outdoor unit X is disposed in a cold district where the outside air is below the freezing point temperature of water (0 ° C.), the condensed water is discharged from the drain pan 6 and the drain port 61. Freezing is regarded as a problem. However, since the outdoor unit X is provided with the heat pipe 4 that heats the condensed water, freezing of the condensed water in the drain pan 6 and the drain port 61 is prevented. Hereinafter, the heat pipe 4 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the heat pipe 4 includes a heating part 41 (part where the liquid inside is heated and vaporized), a heat radiation part 42 joined to the heating part 41 and the joining part 44 (heat of condensed water). A portion where the gas inside is condensed and liquefied by replacement), and a heater 43. Since the heat pipe 4 is based on the principle of natural circulation of gas-liquid two layers by condensation (cooling) and vaporization (heating) of the liquid sealed inside, the heating part 41 and the heat dissipation part in the heat pipe 4 are used. 42 with a height difference between them.
The heater 43 is installed in the heating unit 41 of the heat pipe 4 and is connected to a heating control circuit included in a control unit (not shown) that controls the outdoor unit X. In the heat pipe 4, the heating unit 41 is heated by the heater 43, whereby an internal liquid is vaporized and moved to the heat radiating unit 42 positioned higher than the heating unit 41. The heat radiation part 42 is warmed.
Note that whether or not the heating unit 42 is heated by the heater 43 is controlled by the control unit (not shown). Specifically, the drive control of the heater 43 by the control unit (not shown) is that the temperature detected by the detection sensor (not shown) for detecting the temperature of the outside air is equal to or lower than the freezing point temperature of water (0 ° C.). This is done based on the decision criteria. For example, the heater 43 is driven when the detection temperature of the detection sensor (not shown) becomes equal to or lower than the freezing point temperature (0 ° C.). It is also conceivable to set the driving time of the heater 43 to a time that can prevent the condensed water from freezing. For example, the driving time is set by adding a certain amount of time to the defrosting time obtained from empirical rules so that the condensate can be frozen even if it freezes. It is possible to do.
Here, the heater 43 is an example of a heating device that heats the heating unit 41 of the heat pipe 4, and is not limited thereto, and a heating device that heats the heat pipe 4 from the outside can be used. . For example, the heating device may be a band heater that is mounted around the heating unit 41 of the heat pipe 4. In addition, what is necessary is just to select the said heating apparatus suitably so that a desired heating characteristic can be acquired according to the air temperature in the installation place of the said outdoor unit X concerned.

The outdoor unit X is characterized in that the heat pipe 4 is configured integrally with the heat exchanger 1. Next, the heat exchanger 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in the figure, the heat exchanger 1 is a so-called fin tube type in which a plurality of refrigerant pipes 15 through which a refrigerant circulates are mounted through a plurality of metal heat transfer fins 11 (corresponding to heat transfer plates). It is a heat exchanger, and the plurality of refrigerant pipes 15 are connected by a plurality of bend pipes 12. As a result, the refrigerant circulation path (refrigeration) continues from the refrigerant pipe 13 (see FIG. 1) connected to the compressor 2 to the refrigerant pipe 14 connected to the indoor unit (not shown) via the connected refrigerant pipe 15. Cycle) is formed.
On the other hand, in the vicinity of the lower end portion of the heat exchanger 1, a heat radiating portion 42 of the heat pipe 4 is attached in a state of passing through the plurality of heat transfer fins 11, and the heat pipe 4 and the heat transfer fins 11 are attached. And are thermally coupled. That is, the heat exchanger 1 and the heat pipe 4 are integrally formed.
Here, in the manufacturing process of the heat exchanger 1, the heat pipe 4 is not connected to the other refrigerant pipe 15, but is located in the vicinity of the lowest end of the plurality of refrigerant pipes 15. 42 is used. That is, the heat pipe 4 having the heat radiating part 42 can be manufactured in substantially the same process as the manufacturing process of the heat exchanger 1. Specifically, the heat radiating part 42 of the heat pipe 4 is the same as the step of thermally coupling the refrigerant pipe 15 to the heat transfer fin 11 by press-fitting a mandrel into the refrigerant pipe 15 and expanding the pipe. And thermally coupled to the heat transfer fins 11. The heat dissipating part 42 is welded to the heating part 41 at the joint part 44 in the step of welding and connecting the refrigerant pipes 15 with the bend pipe 12. Thereafter, the inside of the heating unit 41 and the heat radiating unit 42 is evacuated, and a liquid serving as a working liquid is sealed therein. Thereby, the heat pipe 4 is manufactured.
In this way, in the heat exchanger 1 in which the heat pipe 4 is incorporated, the heat of the heat radiating portion 42 is transmitted to each of the plurality of heat transfer fins 11. The heat pipe 4 is located at a position near the lower end of the heat exchanger 1 where the heat radiating part 42 is located near the drain pan 6, and the heating part 41 is located lower than the position of the heat radiating part 42. Since the heat pipe 4 is disposed with a height difference so as to be located on the bottom plate 5 (here, on the bottom plate 5), the heat pipe 4 realizes natural circulation of gas-liquid two layers, which is an operation principle. .

In the outdoor unit X configured as described above, when the heating unit 41 of the heat pipe 4 is heated by the heater 43, heat is transferred from the heat radiation unit 42 heated thereby to the heat transfer fins 11. The heat is transferred, and the heat is radiated from the lower end portion 11 a of the heat transfer fin 11 toward the drain pan 6 and the condensed water on the drain pan 6 through the heat transfer fin 11. This prevents the condensed water from freezing. Of course, it goes without saying that the heat radiation from the heat radiating portion 42 of the heat pipe 4 also contributes to the heating of the condensed water. Although details will be described later in the first embodiment, an embodiment in which the lower end portion 11a of the heat transfer fin 11 is brought into contact with the drain pan 6 is also conceivable.
Furthermore, in the outdoor unit X, since the heat radiating part 42 of the heat pipe 4 is built in the heat exchanger 1, the height difference between the heating part 41 and the heat radiating part 42 is different from that of the heat exchanger 1. Since it is absorbed within the height dimension, expansion of the height dimension of the outdoor unit X is prevented. Further, since the heat exchanger 1 and the heat pipe 4 are integrally formed, the internal configuration of the outdoor unit X is simplified.

As described above, a configuration in which the lower end portion 11a of the heat transfer fin 11 is brought into contact with the drain pan 6 can be considered as another embodiment. In this case, the condensed water on the drain pan 6 is not heated by the heat of the heat radiating portion 42 of the heat pipe 4 being radiated from the lower end portions 11a of the heat transfer fins 11 into the air, but the heat transfer. The lower end portion 11a of the heat fin 11 is heated by direct contact with the drain pan 6 and the condensed water. Therefore, heat can be efficiently transmitted from the heat radiating portion 42 of the heat pipe 4 to the condensed water.
Further, at this time, if the lower end portion of the heat transfer fin 11 is formed in a shape along the shape of the drain pan 6, the heat transfer efficiency from the heat radiating portion 42 of the heat pipe 4 to the condensed water is increased. It can be improved further.
For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the drain pan 6 has a throttle shape downward, the throttle portion 11 b having the same shape as the throttle shape is replaced with the lower end portion 11 a of the heat transfer fin 11. What is necessary is just to form. Thereby, the contact area between the constricted portion 11b of the heat transfer fin 11 and the drain pan 6 is increased, and the heat transfer efficiency from the heat transfer fin 11 to the drain pan 6 is improved. The heat transfer efficiency from the heat radiation part 42 to the condensed water is further improved. FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of the shape of the lower end portion 11a of the heat transfer fin 11, and of course, the shapes of the drain pan 6 and the lower end portion 11a are not limited to those shown in the drawing.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, in order to prevent heat radiation from the drain pan 6 to which heat is transferred by the heat transfer fins 11 into the air, a heat insulating material is formed on a part of the outer surface of the bottom plate 5 corresponding to the drain pan 6. 9 is also an effective means for improving the heat transfer efficiency from the heat transfer fins 11 to the drain pan 6, that is, for improving the heat transfer efficiency from the heat radiating portion 42 of the heat pipe 4 to the condensed water. is there.

By the way, the heat transmitted from the heat pipe 4 to the heat transfer fins 11 is more easily transmitted upward than in the heat transfer fins 11. Therefore, it is desirable to provide the heat exchanger 1 with a heat transfer prevention structure for suppressing (preventing) heat transfer from the heat pipe 4 to the heat transfer fins 11.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, each of the plurality of heat transfer fins 11 is provided with a through-hole 7 through which the refrigerant pipe 15 is inserted in the heat transfer fin 11 and the heat pipe 4. A notch 10 is formed between the through-hole 8. That is, a heat insulating air layer is formed on the plurality of heat transfer fins 11 group. Thereby, the heat transfer from the through-hole 8 upward in each of the plurality of heat transfer fins 11 is suppressed (prevented). Accordingly, it is possible to increase the amount of heat transferred downward from the through hole 8, that is, toward the lower end portion 11 a of the heat transfer fin 11, and effectively use the heat amount of the heat pipe 4 to prevent the condensed water from freezing. Can do.

The schematic diagram which shows the state which saw through the inside of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The principal part enlarged view of the heat exchanger with which the outdoor unit of the air conditioner which concerns on embodiment of this invention is provided. The figure which shows an example of the shape of the lower end part of a heat-transfer fin.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Heat exchanger 2 ... Compressor 3 ... Blower fan 4 ... Heat pipe 5 ... Bottom plate 6 ... Drain pan (an example of a drainage channel)
7, 8 ... Through port 9 ... Insulating material 10 ... Notch (an example of a heat transfer prevention structure)
11 ... Heat transfer fin (an example of a heat transfer plate)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11a ... Lower end part 11b ... Restriction part 12 ... Bend pipe 13-15 ... Refrigerant piping 41 ... Heating part 42 ... Heat radiation part 43 ... Heater 44 ... Joining part 61 ... Drain port

Claims (5)

A heat exchanger in which a plurality of pipes through which a refrigerant circulates are mounted through a plurality of heat transfer plates;
A drainage path that is provided below the heat exchanger and guides the condensed water condensed in the heat exchanger to a drain outlet provided in the main body housing;
A heat pipe that is provided from a position near the drainage path to a position lower than the drainage path and that heats the condensed water guided by the drainage path;
An air conditioner outdoor unit comprising:
The outdoor unit of an air conditioner, wherein the heat pipe is mounted so as to penetrate the vicinity of the lower end portions of the plurality of heat transfer plates.   The outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein a lower end portion of the heat transfer plate is close to or in contact with the drainage path.   The outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein a lower end portion of the heat transfer plate is formed in a shape substantially along the shape of the drainage path.   The outdoor unit for an air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a heat transfer prevention structure is provided between the plurality of pipes and the heat pipe in the heat transfer plate.   The outdoor unit for an air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein the electric heat prevention structure has a notch formed between the plurality of pipes and the heat pipe in the heat transfer plate.

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