JPH10246471A - Defrosting structure of outdoor device of air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a defrosting structure for removing frost adhered to an outdoor heat exchanger of an outdoor device of an air conditioner having a freezing cycle capable of performing a heating operation. SOLUTION: A compressor 1, an outdoor heat exchanger 4, a capillary 3 and a four-way valve 5 are installed within a frame 7 of an outdoor device. An air blowing passage 9 where the outdoor heat exchanger 4 is placed is provided with a blower 6. A partition plate 10 is arranged between the air blowing passage 9 and a mechanism such as the compressor 1 or the like. During a heating operation, the refrigerant pressurized by the compressor 1 to show a high temperature radiates heat at an indoor heat exchanger 2 and is liquefied, resulting in that the liquid refrigerant flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 4 through the capillary 3 and is gasified to cool air flowing in the air blowing passage 9. A heat sink 8 is fixed to either the compressor 1 or a discharging pipe 1a of the compressor 1, the other end of the heat sink 8 is fixed to either a frame member 4c of the outdoor heat exchanger 4 or heat radiation fins 4d, where this position is applied as a location where ice left in the outdoor heat exchanger 4 upon completion of defrosting operation is adhered to it. With this structure above, frosting is restricted during heating operation and frost adhered to the outdoor heat exchanger is melted by heat of the compressor 1 during defrosting operation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a defrosting structure for an outdoor heat exchanger provided in an outdoor unit of an air conditioner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A refrigeration cycle of an air conditioner comprises a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, and a four-way valve, and switching between heating operation and cooling operation is performed by operating the four-way valve. Then, the refrigerant that is compressed by the compressor during the heating operation and becomes high temperature and high pressure is sent to the indoor heat exchanger via the four-way valve, and is heated when the wind of the indoor fan passes through the heat exchanger, and The refrigerant in the heat exchanger is cooled and liquefied by the wind of the indoor fan.

On the other hand, a blower is provided in the vicinity of the outdoor heat exchanger to which the liquefied refrigerant is sent. The refrigerant radiated by the indoor heat exchanger and liquefied decreases its pressure when passing through the capillary. The refrigerant is vaporized inside. The outdoor heat exchanger is cooled by the heat of vaporization of the refrigerant, and the heat exchanger further cools the outdoor air in winter sent by the blower, and the gasified refrigerant repeatedly returns to the compressor again. ing.

At this time, water vapor in the air passing through the outdoor heat exchanger by the action of the blower is cooled and liquefied. When the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger falls below zero, drain water freezes and passes. This is an air obstruction. Usually, in this state, the four-way valve is temporarily switched to perform the defrosting operation.

[0005]

When freezing of the outdoor heat exchanger of the outdoor unit occurs during the heating operation, the refrigeration cycle is switched to the cooling as described above, and the outdoor heat exchanger is defrosted.
At this time, an excellent defrosting effect is obtained near the inlet of the outdoor heat exchanger where the refrigerant enters, but the heat exchange has already been completed near the outlet of the refrigerant and the amount of heat of the refrigerant does not remain. The ice in the exchanger was melted and could not be defrosted.

[0006] Usually, the completion of defrosting is performed by counting up a timer or detecting the temperature of the refrigerant. However, even though ice remains in the outdoor heat exchanger and defrosting cannot be performed completely, the completion of defrosting is completed. When the heating operation is started again with ice remaining in the outdoor heat exchanger in this way, the remaining ice comes into contact with water vapor in the air and grows rapidly, and the next time However, there is a problem that the heating time until the defrosting operation becomes shorter and the time for the defrosting operation becomes longer.

For this reason, a plurality of pipes in the outdoor heat exchanger are formed in parallel, and a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant is introduced from a plurality of places during the defrosting operation to make the whole temperature uniform and hard to melt during the defrosting operation. Although a piping structure that tries to melt the ice part of the part quickly is implemented, there is no guarantee that complete defrosting can be completed even with such a complicated piping structure, and the cost of the heat exchanger will increase significantly. Yes, it was not always the optimal method.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a refrigeration cycle having a compressor 1, an indoor heat exchanger 2, a capillary 3, an outdoor heat exchanger 4, and a four-way valve 5, Further, a blower 6 is provided near the outdoor heat exchanger 4, and the compressor 1 and the outdoor heat exchanger 4 are provided in the same outdoor unit frame 7, and the compressor 1 is operated by the four-way valve 5 during the cooling operation. The pressurized high-temperature refrigerant flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 4 from the first refrigerant pipe 4a, and the refrigerant flows through the capillary 3 during the heating operation with the first refrigerant pipe 4a as an outlet.
In the air conditioner that flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 4 from the air conditioner b and performs the air-cooling operation of the outdoor heat exchanger 4 during the heating operation, the heat sink 8
And a partition plate 10 for separating the blower passage 9 connecting the outdoor heat exchanger 4 and the blower 6 from the compressor 1 and the radiator plate 8.
The other end of the radiator plate 8 is fixed toward the frame 4c or the radiator fin 4d of the outdoor heat exchanger 4 near the second refrigerant pipe 4b, and the heat of the compressor 1 is transferred through the radiator plate 8. The heat is radiated by the outdoor heat exchanger 4 near the two refrigerant pipes 4b.

A second refrigerant pipe 4b through which the refrigerant is sent during the heating operation is connected to a lower part of the outdoor heat exchanger 4, and the heat radiating plate 8 is moved from the frame 4c of the outdoor heat exchanger 4 to the outdoor heat exchanger 4. The heat radiating plate 8 extending to the bottom surface and extending to the bottom surface of the outdoor heat exchanger 4 is constituted by two heat radiating pieces 8a and 8b, and an opening 8c is provided at the center, and the two heat radiating pieces 8a and 8b By closely adhering to the vicinity of the lower corner of the radiating fin 4d, the lower end of the radiating fin 4d of the outdoor heat exchanger 4 in which the attached ice hardly melts is mainly heated by heat transfer.

[0010]

[Function] When the air conditioner is heated, the indoor heat exchanger 2
The heat of the refrigerant is radiated to cool the outdoor heat exchanger 4 to which the refrigerant is sent through the capillary 3, and the water vapor in the air passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 4 is cooled by the outdoor heat exchanger 4. When the outdoor air is at a low temperature, the liquefied water freezes between the radiation fins 4d, and the thermal efficiency of the outdoor heat exchanger 4 is extremely reduced. Then, the icing is detected by a change in the temperature of the refrigerant or the like, and a high-temperature refrigerant is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 4 by a temporary cooling operation to perform a defrosting operation.

However, even if the completion of defrosting is detected by a timer or a return of the temperature of the refrigerant, ice may remain in the vicinity of the radiation fins 4d which do not actually touch the refrigerant pipes. When the heating operation is performed again, ice rapidly grows, and frequent defrosting and heating operation are repeated.

In the present invention, since the compressor 1 in which the air conditioner is operating is operating and the main body of the compressor 1 and the discharge pipe 1a of the compressor 1 are maintained at a high temperature, the compressor 1 is mounted on this portion. The end of the radiator plate 8 is fixed to the vicinity of the second refrigerant pipe 4b connected to the capillary 3 where ice is most likely to remain in the outdoor heat exchanger 4.

For this reason, even if the blower 6 is rotating during the defrosting operation, the radiator plate 8 covered by the partition plate 10 transfers the heat generated by the compressor 1 to the tip, so that the icing during heating is prevented. When the ice grows and the defrosting operation is started and the defrosting operation is started, the heat of the compressor 1 melts the ice of the radiating fins 4d.
The ice was also melted, and the defrost could be completely completed.

This structure is particularly effective when a simple refrigerant pipe is used at a low cost instead of a complicated refrigerant pipe for efficiently performing defrosting. When the communicating second refrigerant pipe 4b is connected to the lower part of the outdoor heat exchanger 4, it is easy for the drain to flow down and the ice to easily reach the corner at the lower part of the outdoor heat exchanger 4 where the wind of the blower 6 is difficult to reach. If the tip is composed of two radiating pieces 8a and 8b, and the radiating plate 8 provided with the opening 8c in the center is brought into close contact with the vicinity of the lower corner of the radiating fin 4d, the radiated fin 4d which has been iced is effectively heated. The ice melted quickly. The generated drain quickly flows down from the opening 8c.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the structure will be described with reference to the drawings shown in the embodiments. 1 is a compressor, 4 is an outdoor heat exchanger, 6 is a blower, 7 is an outdoor unit frame, and the compressor 1 and the outdoor heat exchanger are shown. The blower 4 and the blower 6 are arranged in the outdoor unit frame 7. 2 is an indoor heat exchanger, 11 is an indoor fan, and 12 is an indoor unit frame. The indoor heat exchanger 2 and the indoor fan 11 are arranged in the indoor unit frame 12.

1a is a discharge pipe of the compressor 1, 5 is a four-way valve attached to the end of the discharge pipe 1a, 13 is a return pipe connecting the four-way valve 5 and the compressor 1, 4a is a four-way valve and an outdoor heat exchanger. Reference numeral 4 denotes a first refrigerant pipe connecting the four-way valve 5 to the indoor heat exchanger 2. Reference numeral 3 denotes a capillary provided in the outdoor unit frame 7, 4b denotes a second refrigerant pipe connecting the capillary 3 and the outdoor heat exchanger 4, and 15 denotes a second connection pipe connecting the capillary 3 and the indoor heat exchanger 2. ,
Reference numeral 4d denotes a radiation fin of the outdoor heat exchanger 4.

A compressor 1, an indoor heat exchanger 2, and a capillary 3
The outdoor heat exchanger 4 and the four-way valve 5 constitute a refrigeration cycle capable of cooling and heating. The refrigerant which has become high temperature and high pressure in the compressor 1 during the heating operation is sent to the indoor heat exchanger 2 by the four-way valve 5. The liquefied refrigerant is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 4 via the capillary 3 and is vaporized in the outdoor heat exchanger 4. The outdoor air passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 4 which has been cooled by the vaporization of the refrigerant is cooled to promote the vaporization of the refrigerant, while the gasified refrigerant is again transmitted to the compressor 1 via the four-way valve 5. Returned, the refrigeration cycle operation is being performed.

As described above, when the refrigerant liquefied in the indoor heat exchanger 2 during the heating operation is vaporized in the outdoor heat exchanger 4, the outdoor heat exchanger 4 is strongly cooled by the heat of vaporization. The water vapor contained in the cooled air passing between the fins 4d touches the radiation fins 4d of the outdoor heat exchanger 4 at a low temperature and liquefies into water. On the other hand, when the temperature of the cooling air passing between the radiation fins 4d is low, the water vapor contained in the cooling air not only liquefies on the surface of the outdoor heat exchanger 4 but also becomes frost or ice.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a frost detection sensor attached to the refrigerant pipe of the indoor heat exchanger 2. When frost occurs on the outdoor heat exchanger 4, the heat exchange efficiency deteriorates and the refrigerant is completely removed by the outdoor heat exchanger 4. As a result, the temperature balance of the refrigerant flowing through the circulation path is lost, and frost formation can be detected by a temperature sensor mounted at an appropriate position for measuring the refrigerant temperature. When the frost is detected, the four-way valve 5 is switched,
The refrigerant that has become high temperature and high pressure in the compressor 1 is sent to the frozen outdoor heat exchanger 4, and performs substantially the same defrosting operation as the cooling operation.

The frost and ice attached to the outdoor heat exchanger 4 can be melted by the high-temperature refrigerant sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 4, and if the frost and ice no longer adhere to the refrigerant pipe of the outdoor heat exchanger 4, Since the temperature of the refrigerant is stabilized, the frost detection sensor 16 detects no frost, the four-way valve 5 is switched again, and the heating operation is started from the defrosting operation.

However, even if there is no frost or ice near the refrigerant pipe, frost or ice may remain on the radiating fins 4d of the outdoor heat exchanger 4, and in such a case, if the heating operation is started, the cooling operation is started. Frost and ice rapidly grew upon contact with water vapor in the air, and the frost detection sensor 16 detected frost again in a short time, and the heating operation had to be stopped for a long time next time. For this reason, the completion of defrosting is sometimes set by a timer.However, the time required for complete defrosting becomes longer and the heating time becomes shorter. Not something.

Reference numeral 8 denotes the main body of the compressor 1 and the compressor 1
A heat radiation plate 9 attached to the discharge pipe 1a, an air passage 9 for connecting the outdoor heat exchanger 4 and the blower 6, and an air passage 10 for separating the air passage 9 from the mechanism provided with the compressor 1, the four-way valve 5, and the like. This is a partition plate so that air flow is not generated near the compressor 1 even when the blower 6 is operated. Therefore, even when the blower 6 is operated, the radiator plate 8 is not cooled by the air flow.

Reference numeral 4c denotes a frame of the outdoor heat exchanger supporting the radiating fins 4d and the refrigerant pipes constituting the outdoor heat exchanger 4.
The end of the heat radiating plate 8 is tightly fixed to the frame 4c or extends toward the heat radiating fin 4d. The mounting position of the radiator plate 8 is determined by an experiment. If the air conditioner is operated and there is a portion where frost still remains when the defrosting operation is completed, the end of the radiator plate 8 is mounted on this portion. In the heating operation, the heat generated by the compressor 1 is transferred to the outdoor heat exchanger 4 via the radiator plate 8 to delay the occurrence of the frost phenomenon.

For this reason, the heating operation time can be reliably extended, but the frosting phenomenon of the outdoor heat exchanger 4 cannot be stopped. The frost detection sensor 16 detects this frosting and performs the defrosting operation. Will start. However, also at this time, the radiator plate 8 transfers the heat generated by the compressor 1 to the outdoor heat exchanger 4, so that the frost and ice can be quickly melted.

The mounting position of the heat radiating plate 8 is set so that frost tends to remain.
frost adhered to the radiating fins 4d can be easily melted by the heat of the compressor 1 by a structure such as close contact with the air fin or the air fin extending upstream of the air flow. When the completion of the removal is detected, the place where the conventional frost remains is already intensively melted by the heat radiating plate 8, so that when the frost detection sensor 16 detects no frost, the frost has completely disappeared. Operation is performed normally.

As described above, according to the present invention, defrosting is performed quite effectively, so that it is possible to use only one inexpensive pipe without branching and complicating the refrigerant pipe of the outdoor heat exchanger 4. That is, when the second cooling pipe 4b connected to the capillary 3 is connected to the lower part of the outdoor heat exchanger 4, and the first cooling pipe 4a is provided at the upper part of the outdoor heat exchanger, and the structure is connected to the four-way valve 5, The portion where frost or ice is likely to adhere is near the attachment of the second cooling pipe 4b.

The embodiment shown in the figure corresponds to this structure, wherein 8a and 8b are radiating pieces at the end of the radiating plate 8 extending to the bottom of the outdoor heat exchanger 4, and 8c is two radiating pieces 8a and 8a.
8b. When the shape of the heat radiating plate 8 has such a structure, the simple structure in which the second cooling pipe 4b, on which frost or ice easily adheres, is positioned at the lower part, because the wind of the blower 6 may be difficult to pass through, so that the frost remains. Even if frost or ice near the refrigerant pipe melts due to the amount of heat of the refrigerant, the ice remains in this portion, and the ice grows rapidly during the restarted heating operation. .

If the heat dissipating pieces 8a and 8b are provided by bisecting the tip of the heat dissipating plate 8 as in the present invention, the frost and ice are melted in a concentrated manner, and the water melted by the heat from the refrigerant pipe or the like from the opening 4c is removed. It can flow down quickly. Therefore, the time required for defrosting with the amount of heat of the refrigerant cannot be reduced so much due to the simple refrigerant pipe structure, but the defrosting is surely completed when the defrost end is detected.

[0029]

According to the present invention, the compressor 1 and the discharge pipe 1a of the compressor 1 during the heating / cooling / defrosting operation are maintained at a high temperature. 8 is fixed to the frame of the outdoor heat exchanger 4 or the radiation fins 4d where ice is most likely to remain. For this reason, during the heating, since the heat radiation from the compressor 1 is transmitted to a portion where a large amount of vaporization heat is generated after the capillary 3, the generation of ice is delayed, and the adhesion occurs when the defrosting operation is started. The amount of ice that is falling is reduced.

The radiator plate 8 during the defrosting operation transmits heat from the compressor 1 or the discharge pipe 1a to the outdoor heat exchanger 4, and the refrigerant flows backward to flow from the first refrigerant pipe 4a to the outdoor heat exchanger. 4 and flows toward the capillary 3 from the second refrigerant pipe 4b, so that the amount of heat of the refrigerant completes the heat radiation in the middle of the outdoor heat exchanger 4, and the ice near the second refrigerant pipe 4b where the freezing is most severe is reduced. Even if it ’s hard to melt,
By arranging the heat sink 8 on part of this ice,
It could be melted quickly, the defrosting operation was completed in a single hour, and the heating operation could be started.

At this time, as a specific mounting position of the heat radiating plate 8, a preferable position is a position near the second refrigerant pipe 4b through which the refrigerant is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 4 during the heating operation. Since the portion where water freezes, the start of freezing can be sent by attaching the radiator plate 8 to the outdoor heat exchanger 4 in this portion, and the heating operation can be continuously performed for a long time. .

The refrigerant radiated and liquefied by the indoor heat exchanger 2 is liquefied by the second refrigerant pipe 4 b flowing into the outdoor heat exchanger 4.
Since the vicinity is particularly easy to freeze, this portion is located in the center of the outdoor heat exchanger 4 where the air of the blower 6 easily flows and hardly freezes.
Refrigerant piping inside the outdoor heat exchanger 4 has to be complicated. However, according to the present invention, the heat radiation of the compressor 1 is conducted to prevent freezing, the simplest refrigerant pipe can be constituted, and the structure of the outdoor heat exchanger 4 becomes very simple. It is.

A structure in which a first refrigerant pipe 4a connected to the four-way valve 5 is provided above the outdoor heat exchanger 4, and a second refrigerant pipe 4b connected to the capillary 3 is provided below the outdoor heat exchanger 4. In this case, two radiating pieces 8a and 8b are formed at the end of the radiating plate 8, and the two radiating pieces 8a and 8b are brought into close contact with the lower corner of the radiating fin 4d. Radiation fins 4d away from ice
The heat adhering plate 8 can melt the ice adhering to the refrigerant, and the defrosting is completed when the ice adhering to the refrigerant pipe is melted, so that the next heating operation can be surely performed.

Further, since the opening 8c is provided between the heat dissipating pieces 8a and 8b at the end of the heat radiating plate 8, the opening 8c serves as a drain water drain, and the refrigerant piping can be avoided. The ice near the refrigerant pipe can be melted by the heat of the refrigerant flowing through the pipe, and the ice remaining on the radiation fins 4d can be reliably removed by the heat of the heat radiation pieces 8a and 8b.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit of an air conditioner showing a defrosting structure according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of an outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a component showing one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Compressor 1a Discharge pipe 2 Indoor heat exchanger 3 Capillary 4 Outdoor heat exchanger 4a First refrigerant pipe 4b Second refrigerant pipe 4c Frame 4d Radiating fin 5 Four-way valve 6 Blower 7 Outdoor unit frame 8 Heat radiating plate 8a Heat radiating piece 8b Heat radiating piece 8c Open part 9 Ventilation path 10 Partition plate

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A refrigeration cycle having a compressor 1, an indoor heat exchanger 2, a capillary 3, an outdoor heat exchanger 4, and a four-way valve 5, and a blower 6 is provided near the outdoor heat exchanger 4. The compressor 1 and the outdoor heat exchanger 4 have the same outdoor unit frame 7.
In the cooling operation, the high-temperature refrigerant pressurized by the compressor 1 by the four-way valve 5 flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 4 from the first refrigerant pipe 4a, and the heating is performed with the first refrigerant pipe 4a as an outlet. In operation, the refrigerant flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 4 from the second refrigerant pipe 4b via the capillary 3 into the outdoor heat exchanger 4, and the air conditioner air-cools the outdoor heat exchanger 4 during the heating operation. 1 heat transfer pipe 1a
A radiator plate 8 is attached to the air conditioner, and a ventilation path 9 for connecting the outdoor heat exchanger 4 and the blower 6 is provided with a partition plate 10 for separating the compressor 1 and the radiator plate 8. The heat of the compressor 1 is fixed to the frame 4c or the radiation fin 4d of the outdoor heat exchanger 4 near the second refrigerant pipe 4b, and the heat of the compressor 1 is transmitted through the heat radiation plate 8 to the outdoor heat exchanger 4 near the second refrigerant pipe 4b. A defrosting structure for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, which radiates heat at a temperature. 2. A second refrigerant pipe 4b through which a refrigerant is sent during a heating operation is connected to a lower portion of the outdoor heat exchanger 4, and
Is extended from the frame 4c of the outdoor heat exchanger 4 to the bottom surface of the outdoor heat exchanger 4, and the radiating plate 8 extended to the bottom surface of the outdoor heat exchanger 4 is composed of two radiating pieces 8a and 8b. 2. The defrosting structure for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein an opening 8c is provided in the air conditioner, and the two heat radiation pieces 8a and 8b are in close contact with the vicinity of a lower corner of the heat radiation fin 4d.