JP7433768B2 - Outdoor unit of refrigeration cycle equipment - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments according to the present invention relate to an outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle device.

Examples of the outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle device include an outdoor unit of an air conditioner and an outdoor unit of a heat pump type water heater. The outdoor unit of the refrigeration cycle device is installed outdoors. Refrigeration cycle equipment is housed inside the outdoor unit. The outdoor unit of the refrigeration cycle device includes a casing having a bottom plate, a compressor provided inside the casing, a heat exchanger, and a blower that ventilates the heat exchanger.

By the way, in a refrigeration cycle device, if heating operation (heating operation) is continued in an environment where the outside air temperature is low, such as in a cold region or a snowy region, the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit may become frosted. When the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit is frosted, the heat exchange performance of the refrigeration cycle device is significantly reduced.

Therefore, the refrigeration cycle device periodically performs a defrosting operation (so-called defrosting operation) to melt the frost attached to the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit. In defrosting operation, high-temperature refrigerant is passed through the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit to melt frost that has adhered to the heat exchanger. Melted frost, that is, drain water (drainage, melted frost) drips onto the bottom plate. Drain water generated by this defrosting operation is drained to the outside through a drain port provided on the bottom plate of the outdoor unit.

However, in an environment where the outside temperature is below freezing, drain water generated by the defrosting operation may freeze on the bottom plate before being drained to the outside of the outdoor unit. If the drain water freezes before reaching the drain port, the drain water will not drain properly.

Therefore, the outdoor unit of the conventional refrigeration cycle apparatus is equipped with an electric heating device provided on the upper surface of the bottom plate.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-55455

A conventional electric heating device for an outdoor unit includes a sheathed heater that can be bent to some extent but is difficult to install along a free path. In other words, the conventional electric heating device for the outdoor unit needs to be manufactured in advance in a shape that fits the installation route.

Therefore, heaters (so-called cord heaters), which are flexible and can be bent freely and whose installation path can be set flexibly, are sometimes applied to electric heating devices for outdoor units. .

However, the heat generation capacity per unit area of a flexible heater is generally inferior to that of a conventional sheathed heater. In other words, there is a trade-off relationship between the degree of freedom in the installation path of the heater and the heat generation capacity per unit area of the heater.

By the way, when heating the bottom plate with an electric heating device like a conventional outdoor unit, the amount of heat from the electric heating device is widely transmitted to the bottom plate. Therefore, a considerable amount of heat is required to prevent the drain water from freezing before it reaches the drain port in the bottom plate. In other words, if the amount of heat generated by the electric heating device is insufficient, the amount of heat required to prevent the drain water dripping onto the bottom plate from freezing will be insufficient. That is, when heating the bottom plate with an electric heating device like in a conventional outdoor unit, there is a risk that the drain water on the bottom plate may freeze before reaching the drain port.

Therefore, the present invention is designed to eliminate the heat generated by defrosting operation, even when using a sheathed heater like a conventional outdoor unit, or when using a heater with inferior heat generation capacity per unit area compared to a sheathed heater. We propose an outdoor unit for a refrigeration cycle device that can reliably drain drain water.

In order to solve the above problems, an outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a bottom plate having a drain port, a heat exchanger disposed above the bottom plate, and an entire bottom surface of the heat exchanger. a plate-shaped heater heat transfer member that is in contact with and receives drain water dripping from the heat exchanger before it drips onto the bottom plate; and a plate-shaped heater heat transfer member that is provided on the heater heat transfer member and receives the drain water that is received by the heater heat transfer member. a linear heater that heats the heat exchanger; and a heat insulating material provided between the bottom plate and the heater heat transfer member , the heater heat transfer member is a plate-shaped a first section, which is disposed downstream of the first section in the flow direction of the air heat exchanged in the heat exchanger, and is disposed above the first section to connect the heater from the bottom plate. a second portion of the heater heat transfer member that is held apart , and the heat insulating material closes the second portion of the heater heat transfer member .

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an example of an outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the interior of the outdoor unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of a bottom plate and an electric heating device of an outdoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the bottom plate of the outdoor unit and the first electric heating device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the bottom plate and second electric heating device of the outdoor unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another example of the first electric heating device of the outdoor unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

An embodiment of an outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. In addition, the same code|symbol is attached|subjected to the same or equivalent structure in several drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an example of an outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the outdoor unit 1 of the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a housing 13 having an air intake port 11 and an air outlet 12, and a compressor 15 disposed within the housing 13. , a blower 16 disposed within the casing 13 , a heat exchanger 17 disposed within the casing 13 , and an electrical component box 18 disposed within the casing 13 .

The housing 13 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The width dimension (dimension in the left-right direction) of the casing 13 is larger than the depth dimension (dimension in the front-rear direction) of the casing 13. The housing 13 includes a bottom plate 21, a left side plate 22a that covers the left side, a right side plate 22b that covers the right side, a front plate 25 that covers the front, a finger board 26 that covers the back, and a top plate 27 that covers the top. and a partition plate 28 that is provided upright on the bottom plate 21 and partitions the inside of the housing 13 into left and right sides.

The bottom plate 21 has a rectangular shape in plan view. The width dimension of the bottom plate 21 is larger than the depth dimension of the bottom plate 21. The bottom plate 21 is substantially parallel to the ground plane of the outdoor unit 1. The bottom plate 21 is, for example, a processed piece of sheet metal made of an iron-based alloy. The bottom plate 21 is thicker than the front plate 25, the left side plate 22a, the right side plate 22b, and the top plate 27 in order to support each component built into the outdoor unit 1. A compressor 15, a blower 16, and a heat exchanger 17 are fixed to and supported by the bottom plate 21.

The front plate 25 is a processed product of sheet metal. The front plate 25 is thinner than the bottom plate 21. The front plate 25 has a circular air outlet 12 in the center. A fan guard 29 is provided at the air outlet 12.

The fan guard 29 has a large number of openings in a fine grid pattern. Fingered 26 covers heat exchanger 17.

The partition plate 28 is a processed product of sheet metal. The partition plate 28 is a plate-like member that extends in the vertical direction. The partition plate 28 is fixed to the bottom plate 21 by a fixing method such as screwing, for example. The partition plate 28 divides the inside of the housing 13 into two in the width direction (left-right direction) of the housing 13. A space on the right side of the housing 13 partitioned by the partition plate 28 is a machine room 31 . The space on the left side of the housing 13 partitioned by the partition plate 28 is a blower room 32 .

Compressor 15 is arranged in machine room 31. The compressor 15 includes a compression mechanism (not shown) that compresses and sends out the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle, and an electric motor (not shown) that drives the compression mechanism. The compressor 15 is connected to a refrigerant pipe 33 through which refrigerant circulates through the refrigeration cycle. Note that the refrigerant piping 33 in FIG. 1 is a part of the refrigerant piping of the entire refrigeration cycle.

The blower 16 and the heat exchanger 17 are arranged in the blower room 32.

The heat exchanger 17 is a finned tube type made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. The heat exchanger 17 extends along the inner surface of the back surface and the inner surface of the left side of the housing 13, and has an L-shape in plan view. The blower 16 includes a propeller fan 35 and an electric motor 36 that rotationally drives the propeller fan 35. The blower 16 is disposed between the front plate 25 of the housing 13 and the heat exchanger 17 with the rotation center line of the propeller fan 35 directed in the front-rear direction of the housing 13. The blower 16 is arranged above the bottom plate 21. The blower 16 faces the heat exchanger 17. That is, the propeller fan 35 is arranged above the bottom plate 21. Propeller fan 35 faces heat exchanger 17 . A propeller fan 35 rotationally driven by an electric motor 36 sucks air from the back side of the outdoor unit 1 and blows the air out to the front side of the outdoor unit 1. That is, the propeller fan 35 sucks air from the fingered 26 side and blows the air out to the air outlet 12 of the front plate 25. Therefore, the air heat exchanged by the heat exchanger 17, that is, the atmosphere around the outdoor unit 1, flows from the back side of the heat exchanger 17 toward the front side.

If the heating operation (heating operation) is continued in an environment where the outside air temperature is low, such as in a cold region or a snowy region, the heat exchanger 17 of the outdoor unit 1 will become frosted. Therefore, the refrigeration cycle device performs a defrosting operation to melt the frost attached to the heat exchanger 17 periodically or when frost formation is detected. The defrosting operation is performed with the refrigeration cycle switched to cooling operation (cooling operation) by driving a four-way valve (not shown) that can switch the flow of refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle. By switching the four-way valve, the heat exchanger 17, which had been functioning as an evaporator during heating operation, now functions as a condenser. The high temperature refrigerant then flows through the heat exchanger 17. As a result, the temperature of the heat exchanger 17 rises, the frost adhering to the fins and pipes constituting the heat exchanger 17 melts, and the melted water flows down the heat exchanger 17. Further, during the defrosting operation, the blower 16 is stopped. A portion of the frost melted by the defrosting operation turns into steam (water vapor), which condenses in the propeller fan 35 of the blower 16. Water condensed on the propeller fan 35 flows down below the propeller fan 35. The water that flows down from the heat exchanger 17 and the propeller fan 35 during the defrosting operation is hereinafter referred to as drain water or waste water.

Therefore, the bottom plate 21 has an appropriate drain port (drain hole) below the heat exchanger 17, mainly directly below the heat exchanger 17, in order to drain the drain water to the outside of the outdoor unit 1. .

However, when the outside temperature is below freezing, the water that flows down from the heat exchanger 17 to the bottom plate 21 due to the defrosting operation, before reaching the drain port of the bottom plate 21, in other words, before it is drained to the outside of the outdoor unit 1. There is a risk of freezing.

Therefore, the outdoor unit 1 according to the present embodiment includes an electric heating device that prevents drain water from freezing. The electric heating device of the outdoor unit 1 according to this embodiment will be explained.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inside of the outdoor unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bottom plate and electric heating device of the outdoor unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In addition, in FIG. 2, the front plate 25, fingered 26, left side plate 22a, right side plate 22b, and top plate 27 of the outdoor unit 1 are omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the outdoor unit 1 according to the present embodiment includes a first electric heating device 41 that prevents freezing of drain water dripping from the heat exchanger 17 during defrosting operation, and a first electric heating device 41 that prevents drain water dripping from the propeller fan 35 from freezing. A second electric heating device 42 is provided to prevent drain water from freezing and accumulating to the point of inhibiting rotation of the blower 16. The first electric heating device 41 is provided at the bottom of the heat exchanger 17. The second electric heating device 42 is provided directly below the propeller fan 35 of the blower 16.

First, regarding the heat exchanger 17, a portion along the inner surface of the back surface of the outdoor unit 1 is referred to as a back surface portion 17a, and a portion along the inner surface of the left side surface of the outdoor unit 1 is referred to as a side surface portion 17b.

The bottom plate 21 of the casing 13 has a plurality of drain ports 43 through which drain water dripping from the heat exchanger 17 is drained to the outside (outside) of the outdoor unit 1 .

The plurality of drain ports 43 include one located directly below the heat exchanger 17 so that drain water dripping from the heat exchanger 17 can be smoothly drained to the outside of the outdoor unit 1. Specifically, the plurality of drain ports 43 include a first drain port 43a, a second drain port 43b, and a third drain port 43c arranged along the back surface of the outdoor unit 1, and a third drain port 43c located on the back left side of the outdoor unit 1. A fourth drain port 43d located at a corner (corner) of the outdoor unit 1, and a fifth drain port 43e located along the left side of the outdoor unit 1.

The second drain port 43b is sandwiched between the first drain port 43a and the third drain port 43c. The second drain port 43b has a circular shape. The second drain port 43b is arranged directly behind the blower 16 in plan view. The second drain port 43b is arranged almost directly below the center of the back surface portion 17a of the heat exchanger 17.

The first drain port 43a is arranged on the right side of the second drain port 43b, and the third drain port 43c is arranged on the left side of the second drain port 43b. The third drain port 43c is closer to the left back corner (corner) of the outdoor unit 1 than the second drain port 43b. The third drain port 43c is arranged near the left back corner of the outdoor unit 1.

The first drain port 43a, the second drain port 43b, and the third drain port 43c mainly drain drain water dripping from the back surface 17a of the heat exchanger 17 to the outside of the outdoor unit 1.

The fourth drain port 43d is arranged directly below the bent portion of the L-shaped heat exchanger 17. The fourth drain port 43d mainly drains drain water dripping from the bent portion of the heat exchanger 17 to the outside of the outdoor unit 1.

The fifth drain port 43e is arranged directly below the side surface portion 17b of the heat exchanger 17. The fifth drain port 43e mainly drains drain water dripping from the side surface 17b of the heat exchanger 17 to the outside of the outdoor unit 1.

Furthermore, the bottom plate 21 of the housing 13 has a drain port 45 through which drain water dripping from the propeller fan 35 is drained to the outside (outside) of the outdoor unit 1 .

The first electric heating device 41 includes a first heater heat transfer member 51 in contact with the heat exchanger 17 and a linear heater 52 provided on the first heater heat transfer member 51. The second electric heating device 42 includes a second heater heat transfer member 55 disposed directly below the propeller fan 35 and a linear heater 52 provided on the second heater heat transfer member 55. That is, the heater 52 is shared by the first electric heating device 41 and the second electric heating device 42.

Note that the first electric heating device 41 and the second electric heating device 42 may each occupy separate heaters. In this case, the first electric heating device 41 occupies the first heater, and the second electric heating device 42 occupies the second heater. In other words, the first heater heat transfer member 51 holds the first heater, and the second heater heat transfer member 55 holds the second heater.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the bottom plate of the outdoor unit and the first electric heating device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3.

In addition to FIGS. 2 and 3, as shown in FIG. 4, the first electric heating device 41 of the outdoor unit 1 according to the present embodiment includes a bottom plate 21 in addition to a first heater heat transfer member 51 and a heater 52. A first heat insulating material 58 is provided which is sandwiched between the first heater heat transfer member 51 and the first heater heat transfer member 51 .

First, regarding the heat exchanger 17, the surface of the heat exchanger 17 facing the left side plate 22a of the housing 13 and the fingered 26 will be referred to as the upstream surface 17c of the heat exchanger 17 for convenience. The facing surface of the heat exchanger 17 is conveniently referred to as the downstream surface 17d of the heat exchanger 17.

The heater 52 shared by the electric heating devices 41 and 42 is a so-called cord heater. The heater 52 has flexibility. That is, the heater 52 can be easily bent. The electric heating devices 41 and 42 have a single linear heater 52 running along an appropriate path. Cord heaters are cheaper than sheathed heaters, but generate less heat.

The heater 52 has two wires 61 running in parallel and a covering 62 that covers the two wires. The covering 62 is made of silicone rubber, for example. One end 52a (starting end) of the heater 52 is an electrical input end for connection to a power source. At the other end 52b (terminus) of the heater 52, the two internal wires 61 are electrically connected by crimping or the like. One of the two wires 61 is a hot wire, and the other is an electric wire that conducts electricity through the hot wire.

The heater 52 is installed on the upper surface of the bottom plate 21 of the housing 13 while being held by the first heater heat transfer member 51 and the second heater heat transfer member 55. That is, after the heater 52 is installed on the first heater heat transfer member 51 and the second heater heat transfer member 55, the heater 52 is integrated with the second heater heat transfer member 55 into the housing 13 while maintaining its installation path. It is laid on the bottom plate 21.

The first heater heat transfer member 51 has an L-shape similar to the heat exchanger 17, which is bent in an L-shape in a plan view. The first heater heat transfer member 51 includes a plate-shaped first portion 65 that contacts all or part of the bottom surface 17e of the heat exchanger 17, and a second portion 66 that is connected to the first portion 65 and holds the heater 52. It is equipped with.

The first portion 65 has an L-shape similar to the heat exchanger 17, following the shape of the heat exchanger 17 which is bent in an L-shape in a plan view. The first part 65 receives the drain water dripping onto the bottom surface of the heat exchanger 17 before it drips onto the bottom plate 21, and heats it with the heat of the heater 52 transmitted from the second part 66. In other words, the first portion 65 is a heating plate for drain water.

The first portion 65 has an outer side portion 65a close to the upstream side surface 17c of the heat exchanger 17, and an inner side portion 65b close to the downstream side surface 17d of the heat exchanger 17.

The second portion 66 is located downstream of the first portion 65 in the flow direction of the air heat exchanged in the heat exchanger 17 (solid arrow f in FIG. 4). In other words, the second portion 66 is connected to the inner side portion 65b of the first portion 65. The second portion 66 prevents water flowing down from the heat exchanger 17 to the first portion 65 from flowing out or scattering in the downstream direction of the heat exchanger 17, that is, toward the blower 16.

The second portion 66 has a concave shape that opens downward. The second portion 66 surrounds and holds the heater 52 in a concave depression. The second portion 66 collectively holds a double installation section 68 in which the heaters 52 are installed in a double manner.

The first heater heat transfer member 51 includes a fixed flange 71 extending from the second portion 66 toward the bottom plate 21 . There are a plurality of fixing flanges 71, and the first heater heat transfer member 51 is fixed to the bottom plate 21 near the third drain port 43c of the bottom plate 21 and near the fifth drain port 43e of the bottom plate 21. The fixed flange 71 has a screw hole (not shown). The first heater heat transfer member 51 is fixed to the bottom plate 21 by screws 72 that are screwed into the bottom plate 21 through screw holes. In other words, the screw 72 is a fixing member that fixes the first heater heat transfer member 51 to the bottom plate 21.

The first heater heat transfer member 51 is a processed plate made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. The first heater heat transfer member 51 is preferably formed by processing a plate material having a thickness of 0.8 millimeters (mm) or more.

Furthermore, it is desirable that the first heater heat transfer member 51 be subjected to an appropriate surface treatment so as not to be corroded by the drain water flowing down from the heat exchanger 17, and not to impede heat conduction from the heater 52 to the drain water. . Therefore, the first heater heat transfer member 51 is subjected to alumite treatment.

Note that the first heater heat transfer member 51 only needs to be in contact with the heat exchanger 17 so that the heat of the heater 52 can be efficiently transferred to the heat exchanger 17, and does not need to be in contact with the bottom plate 21. Further, the first heater heat transfer member 51 may be a processed plate made of copper, copper alloy, or iron-based alloy.

The first heat insulating material 58 thermally insulates the first heater heat transfer member 51 and the heater 52 from the bottom plate 21. The first heat insulating material 58 has a lower thermal conductivity than the bottom plate 21 made of iron-based alloy and the first heater heat transfer member 51 made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. The first heat insulating material 58 is made of polyethylene foam, for example. It is preferable that the first heat insulating material 58 has a thickness of 1 millimeter (mm) or more. The first heat insulating material 58 is sandwiched between the bottom plate 21 made of iron-based alloy and the first heater heat transfer member 51 made of aluminum or aluminum alloy, and prevents contact corrosion between different metals from occurring between the two.

The first heat insulating material 58 has an L-shape when viewed in cross section in FIG. 4 . The first heat insulating material 58 includes a first plate-shaped portion 75 and a second plate-shaped portion 76 connected to the first plate-shaped portion 75.

The first plate-shaped portion 75 is sandwiched between the first plate-shaped portion 75 and the bottom plate 21 and blocks the double installation portion 68 of the heater 52 disposed in the second portion 66 opened downward from the bottom plate 21. ing.

The second plate-shaped portion 76 rises upward from the edge of the first plate-shaped portion 75 and reaches the end surface of the first heater heat transfer member 51 so as to close the second portion 66 .

The first heat insulating material 58 connects the heat exchanger 17 and the heater 52 to the bottom plate 21, which is lower temperature than the heat exchanger 17 through which high-temperature refrigerant flows during defrosting operation, and the first heater heat transfer member 51 heated by the heater 52. Prevent heat from being transmitted. Therefore, the drain water that flows down from the heat exchanger 17 to the first heater heat transfer member 51 during the defrosting operation is heated to a higher temperature than when the bottom plate is heated with a heater like in a conventional outdoor unit.

The first electric heating device 41 uses the first heater heat transfer member 51 heated by the heater 52 to keep or raise the temperature of drain water flowing down from the heat exchanger 17 during the defrosting operation. This heat-retained drain water or drain water heated to a higher temperature flows down from the outer side 65a of the first heater heat transfer member 51 to the bottom plate 21 (solid line arrow d in FIG. 4).

The drain water that has flowed down to the bottom plate 21 is drained to the outside of the outdoor unit 1 through the plurality of drain ports 43.

At this time, in a conventional outdoor unit in which the bottom plate itself is heated with a heater, the heat of the heater is diffused over a wide area of the bottom plate, making it difficult to keep or raise the temperature of the drain water flowing down from the heat exchanger 17. The iron-based alloy bottom plate radiates heat from the heater to the surroundings of the outdoor unit like a heat radiating plate, causing the drain water to drain and heat up insufficiently, causing the drain water to drain before it reaches the drain. There was a risk that it would freeze.

Therefore, in the outdoor unit 1 according to the present embodiment, a heater 52 is provided in the first electric heating device 41 that contacts the heat exchanger 17 that is heated with high-temperature refrigerant, and the drain water is kept warm and raised to a higher temperature so that the bottom plate Drain to 21. Therefore, the drain water flowing down to the bottom plate 21 reaches the drain port 43 reliably and is drained to the outside of the outdoor unit 1.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the bottom plate and second electric heating device of the outdoor unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 3.

In addition to FIGS. 2 and 3, as shown in FIG. 5, the second electric heating device 42 of the outdoor unit 1 according to this embodiment includes a second heater heat transfer member 55, a heater 52, and a bottom plate 21. A second heat insulating material 78 is provided which is sandwiched between the second heater heat transfer member 55 and the second heater heat transfer member 55 .

The second heater heat transfer member 55 extends linearly in the lower region of the blower 16 in the left-right direction (the width direction of the outdoor unit 1). The second heater heat transfer member 55 includes a plate-shaped first portion 85 disposed directly below the propeller fan 35 and a pair of second portions 86 that are connected to the first portion 85 and hold the heater 52. We are prepared.

The first portion 85 has a rectangular shape that is long in the width direction of the outdoor unit 1. In order to prevent drain water dripping from the propeller fan 35 from freezing and accumulating to the point that it obstructs the rotation of the propeller fan 35, the first part 85 is heated directly below the propeller fan 35 by the heat of the heater 52 transmitted from the second part 86. Keep or raise the temperature of the drain water dripping into the tank. This warmed drain water or drain water heated to a higher temperature is drained to the outside of the outdoor unit 1 from the drain port 45 adjacent to one short side of the second heater heat transfer member 55.

The pair of second parts 86 are connected to each of the pair of long sides of the first part 85. In other words, the pair of second parts 86 is a second part 86a provided on the long side of the first part 85 near the heat exchanger 17, and a second part 86a provided on the long side of the first part 85 far from the heat exchanger 17. and a second portion 86b.

Each second portion 86 has a concave shape that opens downward. Each second portion 86 surrounds and holds the heater 52 in a concave depression.

The second heater heat transfer member 55 has a screw hole (not shown) in the first portion 85. The second heater heat transfer member 55 is fixed to the bottom plate 21 by screws 72 that are screwed into the bottom plate 21 through screw holes. In other words, the screw 72 is a fixing member that fixes the second heater heat transfer member 55 to the bottom plate 21.

The second heater heat transfer member 55 is a processed plate made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. The second heater heat transfer member 55 is preferably formed by processing a plate material having a thickness of 0.8 millimeters (mm) or more.

Furthermore, it is desirable that the second heater heat transfer member 55 be subjected to an appropriate surface treatment so as not to be corroded by the drain water flowing down from the propeller fan 35, and not to impede heat conduction from the heater 52 to the drain water. . Therefore, the second heater heat transfer member 55 is subjected to alumite treatment.

Note that the second heater heat transfer member 55 may be a processed plate made of copper, copper alloy, or iron-based alloy.

The second heat insulating material 78 thermally insulates the second heater heat transfer member 55 and the heater 52 from the bottom plate 21. The second heat insulating material 78 has a lower thermal conductivity than the bottom plate 21 made of iron-based alloy and the second heater heat transfer member 55 made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. The second heat insulating material 78 is made of polyethylene foam, for example. It is preferable that the second heat insulating material 78 has a thickness of 1 millimeter (mm) or more. The second heat insulating material 78 is sandwiched between the bottom plate 21 made of iron-based alloy and the second heater heat transfer member 55 made of aluminum or aluminum alloy, and prevents contact corrosion of different metals between the two.

Further, the second heat insulating material 78 has a concave shape when viewed in cross section in FIG. 5 . The second heat insulating material 78 includes a first plate-shaped portion 95 and a pair of second plate-shaped portions 96 connected to the first plate-shaped portion 95 .

The first plate-shaped portion 95 is sandwiched between the first plate-shaped portion 95 and the bottom plate 21 and blocks the heater 52 disposed in the second portion 86 opened downward from the bottom plate 21 .

One second plate-shaped portion 96 rises upward from the edge of the first plate-shaped portion 95 near the heat exchanger 17, and reaches one end surface of the second heater heat transfer member 55 so as to close the second portion 86a. ing. The other second plate-shaped portion 96 rises upward from the edge of the first plate-shaped portion 95 far from the heat exchanger 17 and reaches the other end surface of the second heater heat transfer member 55 so as to close the second portion 86b. ing.

The second heat insulating material 78 prevents the heat of the heater 52 from being transmitted to the bottom plate 21 which is lower in temperature than the second heater heat transfer member 55 heated by the heater 52 . Therefore, the drain water that flows down from the propeller fan 35 to the second heater heat transfer member 52 during the defrosting operation is heated to a higher temperature than when the bottom plate is heated with a heater like in a conventional outdoor unit.

Returning to FIG. 3, the installation path from one end 52a (starting end) to the other end 52b (terminating end) for the arrangement of the single linear heater 52 will be described below.

One end 52a of the heater 52 is connected to an AC power source within an electrical component box 18 provided in the machine room 31 of the outdoor unit 1. The heater 52 extends from one end 52a and enters the blower chamber 32 through the inside of the front edge of the bottom plate 21.

The heater 52 that has entered the blower chamber 32 crosses the front of the drain port 45 below the propeller fan 35 from the right side to the left side and reaches the second heater heat transfer member 55 (portion 52c in FIG. 3).

The heater 52 that has reached the second heater heat transfer member 55 passes through the second portion 86b that is farther from the heat exchanger 17 and crosses below the propeller fan 35 from the right side to the left side. Next, the heater 52 bypasses the left side of the second heater heat transfer member 55 and reaches the second heater heat transfer member 55 again (portion 52d in FIG. 3). The heater 52 that has reached the second heater heat transfer member 55 again passes through the second portion 86a closer to the heat exchanger 17 and crosses below the propeller fan 35 from the left side to the right side.

Next, the heater 52 extends from the right side of the second heater heat transfer member 55 to the rear of the bottom plate 21, passes through the vicinity of the first drain port 43a, and reaches the right end of the second portion 66 of the first heater heat transfer member 51. (52e section in Figure 3). The heater 52 that has reached the right end of the second portion 66 of the first heater heat transfer member 51 reciprocates in the second portion 66 . The reciprocating portion of this heater 52 is a double laying portion 68. The heater 52, which has returned to the right end of the second portion 66 of the first heater heat transfer member 51 via the double laying portion 68, reaches the other end 52b.

Note that the first heater heat transfer member 51 may be divided into a plurality of parts. For example, the first heater heat transfer member 51 includes a component provided directly below the back surface 17a of the heat exchanger 17, a component provided directly below the side surface 17b of the heat exchanger 17, and a component provided directly below the back surface 17b of the heat exchanger 17. 17a and a component provided directly below the bent portion connecting side surface portion 17b.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another example of the first electric heating device of the outdoor unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, the first electric heating device 41A includes a first heater heat transfer member 51A that is in contact with the heat exchanger 17.

The first heater heat transfer member 51A has an L-shape similar to the heat exchanger 17, which is bent in an L-shape in a plan view. The first heater heat transfer member 51A includes a plate-shaped first portion 65A that contacts all or part of the bottom surface 17e of the heat exchanger 17, and a first portion 65A that surrounds the first portion 65A and is arranged above the first portion 65A. and a second portion 66A.

The first portion 65A has an L-shape similar to the heat exchanger 17, which is bent in an L-shape in a plan view. The first portion 65A receives the drain water dripping onto the bottom surface of the heat exchanger 17 before it drips onto the bottom plate 21, and heats it with the heat of the heater 52 transmitted from the second portion 66A. In other words, the first portion 65A is a heating plate for drain water.

Further, the first portion 65A has a drain port 101 through which water flowing down from the heat exchanger 17 is drained. Note that the first heat insulating material 58 also has a drain port (not shown) disposed directly below the drain port 101 of the first heater heat transfer member 51A.

The second portion 66A corresponds to a bank surrounding the edge of the first portion 65A. Further, the second portion 66A holds a heater 52 arranged so as to surround the first portion 65A. The second portion 66A prevents water flowing down from the heat exchanger 17 to the first portion 65A from flowing out or scattering from a portion other than the drain port 101 of the first portion 65A.

The second portion 66A has a concave shape that opens downward. The second portion 66A surrounds and holds the heater 52 in a concave depression. The heater 52 goes around the edge of the first portion 65A at least once, preferably twice. If it has made two revolutions, a double laying portion 68 is formed in the second portion 66A. The second portion 66 collectively holds a double installation section 68 in which the heaters 52 are installed in a double manner.

The first heater heat transfer member 51A is a processed plate made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. The first heater heat transfer member 51A is preferably formed by processing a plate material having a thickness of 0.8 millimeters (mm) or more. Since the first portion 65A of the first heater heat transfer member 51A is exposed to drain water, the first heater heat transfer member 51A is subjected to alumite treatment.

Note that the first heater heat transfer member 51A only needs to be in contact with the heat exchanger 17 so that the heat of the heater 52 can be efficiently transferred to the heat exchanger 17, and does not need to be in contact with the bottom plate 21.

The first electric heating device 41A uses the first heater heat transfer member 51A heated by the heater 52 to keep or raise the temperature of drain water flowing down from the heat exchanger 17 during the defrosting operation. This warmed drain water or drain water heated to a higher temperature flows down through the drain port 101 of the first heater heat transfer member 51A and the drain port of the first heat insulating material 58.

The drain water that has flowed down through the drain port 101 of the first heater heat transfer member 51A and the drain port of the first heat insulating material 58 is drained to the outside of the outdoor unit 1 from the drain port 43 of the bottom plate 21. It is preferable that the drain port 101 of the first heater heat transfer member 51A is arranged directly above the drain port 43 of the bottom plate 21. In that case, the drain water flowing down from the drain port 101 of the first heater heat transfer member 51A does not stay on the bottom plate 21, but is directly drained to the outside of the outdoor unit 1.

The outdoor unit 1 of the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present embodiment has a plate-shaped first portion 65 that contacts all or a part of the bottom surface of the heat exchanger 17, and a first heater transmission made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. It includes a heat member 51 and a linear heater 52 provided on the first heater heat transfer member 51. Therefore, even if the outdoor unit 1 employs a heater 52, such as a cord heater, which has a lower heat generation capacity per unit area than a conventional sheathed heater, it is possible to keep or raise the temperature of the drain water flowing from the heat exchanger 17. can be done. The higher temperature drain water is reliably drained to the outside of the outdoor unit 1 without freezing on the bottom plate 21.

Note that the heater 52 may be replaced by a portion of the refrigerant pipe 33 that circulates refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle device, through which refrigerant at a temperature of 0 degrees Celsius or higher flows.

Moreover, the outdoor unit 1 of the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a first heater heat transfer member 51 subjected to alumite treatment. Therefore, the outdoor unit 1 prevents the first heater heat transfer member 51 from being corroded by drain water flowing down from the heat exchanger 17, and can maintain drainage performance during defrosting operation for a longer period of time.

Furthermore, the outdoor unit 1 of the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a first heat insulating material 58 sandwiched between the bottom plate 21 and the first heater heat transfer member 51. Therefore, the outdoor unit 1 can easily prevent the heat of the heater 52 from being transmitted from the first heater heat transfer member 51 to the bottom plate 21 and the function of keeping or raising the temperature of the drain water of the heat exchanger 17 from being deteriorated. I can do it.

Furthermore, the outdoor unit 1 of the refrigeration cycle device according to the present embodiment surrounds the first portion 65A and the first portion 65A having the drain port 101 for draining water flowing down from the heat exchanger 17, and is larger than the first portion 65. The first heater heat transfer member 51A includes a second portion 66A disposed above and holding the heater 52. Therefore, the outdoor unit 1 can intensively drain the drain water that has been kept warm or heated in the first section 65A onto the bottom plate 21 from the drain port 101 of the first section 65A. In other words, if the drain port 101 of the first portion 65A is placed directly above the drain port 43 of the bottom plate 21, drain water can be directly drained to the outside of the outdoor unit 1, and the drain water can be drained onto the bottom plate 21. Eliminates the risk of freezing.

Furthermore, the outdoor unit 1 of the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present embodiment is arranged below the propeller fan 35, and includes a second heater heat transfer member 55 made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy; The heater 52 or a second heater different from the heater 52 is provided. Therefore, the outdoor unit 1 can smoothly drain the drain water during the defrosting operation, and can prevent the operation of the blower 16 from being hindered due to freezing of the drain water flowing down from the propeller fan 35.

Therefore, according to the outdoor unit 1 of the refrigeration cycle device according to the present embodiment, even when a sheathed heater is used like a conventional outdoor unit, the heater whose heat generation capacity per unit area is inferior to that of a sheathed heater is used. Even when used, drain water generated by defrosting operation can be reliably drained.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and gist of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention described in the claims and its equivalents.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Outdoor unit, 11... Air intake, 12... Air outlet, 13... Housing, 15... Compressor, 16... Air blower, 17... Heat exchanger, 17a... Back part, 17b... Side part, 17c... Upstream Side surface, 17d...Downstream surface, 17e...Bottom surface, 18...Electrical parts box, 21...Bottom plate, 22a...Left side plate, 22b...Right side plate, 25...Front plate, 26...Fingered, 27...Top plate, 28... Partition plate, 29... Fan guard, 31... Machine room, 32... Blower room, 33... Refrigerant piping, 35... Propeller fan, 36... Electric motor, 41, 41A... First electric heating device, 42... Second electric heating device, 43...Drain port, 43a...First drain port, 43b...Second drain port, 43c...Third drain port, 43d...Fourth drain port, 43e...Fifth drain port, 45...Drain port, 51, 51A...Third drain port - heater heat transfer member, 52... heater, 52a... one end of heater, 52b... other end of heater, 55... second heater heat transfer member, 58... first heat insulating material, 61... wiring, 62... coating, 65, 65A...first part, 65a...outer side part, 65b...inner side part, 66, 66A...second part, 68...double laying part, 71...fixing flange, 72...screw, 75...first plate shape Part, 76...Second plate-like part, 78...Second heat insulating material, 85...First part, 86, 86a, 86b...Second part, 95...First plate-like part, 96...Second plate-like part, 101 ...Drain port.

Claims (5)

a bottom plate having a drainage port;
a heat exchanger disposed above the bottom plate;
a plate-shaped heater heat transfer member that contacts the entire bottom surface of the heat exchanger and catches drain water dripping from the heat exchanger before it drips onto the bottom plate;
a linear heater that is provided on the heater heat transfer member and heats the drain water received by the heater heat transfer member;
a heat insulating material provided between the bottom plate and the heater heat transfer member,
The heater heat transfer member is
a plate-shaped first portion that contacts the entire bottom surface of the heat exchanger;
A second section that is disposed downstream of the first section and above the first section in the flow direction of the air heat exchanged in the heat exchanger, and that is disposed above the first section and holds the heater apart from the bottom plate. having two parts;
The heat insulating material is an outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle device that closes the second portion of the heater heat transfer member . The outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heater heat transfer member is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the heater heat transfer member is subjected to alumite treatment. The first part has a drain port for draining water flowing down from the heat exchanger,
The outdoor unit of the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second portion surrounds the first portion. a blower having a fan disposed opposite to the heat exchanger;
a second heater heat transfer member disposed below the fan and made of aluminum or aluminum alloy;
The outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the second heater heat transfer member includes the heater or a second heater.

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