KR20090097630A - Controll box and outdoor unit for air conditioner comprising the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A control box and an outdoor unit of an air conditioner comprising the same are provided to effectively cool automotive electric parts installed inside the control box. A control box(200) comprises one or more air inlets, one or more air outlets(213), and one or more guide members(220,230). Air is flowed into the control box through the air inlet. The air inhaled through the air inlet is discharged to the outside through the air outlet. The air inhaled through the air inlet is segmented and flown by the guide member.

Description

Control box and outdoor unit of air conditioner including same {Controll box and outdoor unit for air conditioner comprising the same}

The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly, to a control box in which a plurality of electrical components are installed and an outdoor unit of an air conditioner including the same.

An air conditioner is a home appliance that cools and / or heats an indoor space through heat exchange between a refrigerant, indoor air, and outdoor air. Among the air conditioners, a separate type air conditioner includes an indoor unit that cools or heats indoor air through heat exchange between a refrigerant and indoor air, and an outdoor unit that cools or heats outdoor air through heat exchange between a refrigerant and outdoor air.

In the outdoor unit, a compressor for compressing a refrigerant at a high temperature and a high pressure, an outdoor heat exchanger through which the refrigerant compressed by the compressor flows, a blower fan for exchanging the refrigerant flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger and outdoor air, and the blower fan. The control box is provided with a fan motor for providing a driving force and electrical components for controlling the component. And the outside of the control box is provided with a heat radiating element. The heat dissipation element is for cooling an electric component installed in the control box.

Conventionally, by cooling the heat radiating element that conducts heat of the electric component installed in the control box while the air flowing inside the outdoor unit flows, the electric component installed in the control box is indirectly. Is cooled. By the way, among the components installed in the control box, especially in the case of the reactor, the temperature is raised to about 100 ~ 110 ℃ during heating. Therefore, the conventional cooling method as described above is a disadvantage that does not sufficiently cool the electrical components installed inside the control box.

The present invention is to solve the problems caused by the prior art as described above, an object of the present invention is to provide an outdoor unit of a control box and an air conditioner including the same that is configured to more efficiently cool the electrical components. .

According to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the object as described above, the present invention, at least one air intake port to the air inlet to the inside; At least one air outlet serving as an outlet through which the air sucked into the inside through the air inlet is discharged to the outside; And at least one air guide guiding the air sucked into the inside through the air inlet to flow in a compartment. It includes.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the present invention provides a flow path comprising: a first flow path through which air sucked into the air flows and at least one first electric component is installed; A second flow passage partitioned from the first flow passage and the air sucked into the flow passage, and at least one second electric component is installed; And a third flow passage partitioned from the first flow passage and the second flow passage, the third flow passage flowing the first flow passage and the second flow passage to cool the electric component, and the air discharged to the outside flows. It includes.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the present invention, the outdoor heat exchanger through which the refrigerant flows; A blowing fan configured to flow outdoor air, which exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing in the outdoor heat exchanger, in and out; And a control box according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein an electric component is cooled by outdoor air sucked into the interior by driving the blower fan. It includes.

According to the present invention, there is an advantage that the electrical components installed inside the control box are cooled more efficiently.

Hereinafter, a configuration of an embodiment of a control box according to the present invention and an outdoor unit of an air conditioner including the same will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a control box constituting an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to this, the base fan 110 forms the bottom surface of the outdoor unit 100. The upper surface of the base fan 100 is provided with various components to be described later constituting the heat exchanger.

In addition, a front panel 112 is formed at the front end of the base fan 110 to form a front lower exterior of the outdoor unit 100. And the front grill 114 is installed on the top of the front panel 112. The front grill 114 has an entrance area in which outdoor air that exchanges heat with a refrigerant flowing in an outdoor heat exchanger 180 to be described later is sucked into the outdoor unit 100. In addition, an upper front bracket 116 to which the front end of the motor mount 174 to be described later is fastened to an upper end of the front grill 114 is installed.

Meanwhile, two compressors 120 and 120 ′ are installed on the upper surface of the base fan 110. The compressor (120, 120 ') serves to compress the refrigerant in the gas phase at high temperature and high pressure. In FIG. 1 of the upper surface of the base fan 110, a constant speed compressor 120 for constant speed operation is installed on the right side of the drawing, and an inverter compressor 120 that is a variable speed heat pump (Variable Speed Heat Pump) on the left side of the drawing. ') Can be installed.

An oil separator 122 is provided at the outlet side of the constant speed compressor 120 and the inverter compressor 120 ', respectively. The oil separator 122 filters the oil contained in the refrigerant discharged from the compressors 120 and 120 'and recovers the oil to the compressors 120 and 120'.

A check valve 122 ′ is installed at the outlet side of the oil separator 122. The check valve 122 'serves to prevent a phenomenon in which the compressed refrigerant flows back into the rest of the stationary compressor when only one of the constant speed compressor 120 and the inverter compressor 120' is operated.

The oil separator 122 is connected to the four-way valve 124 by a pipe. The four-way valve 124 serves to change the flow direction of the refrigerant in accordance with the heating and cooling operation. To this end, each port of the four-way valve 124 is the outlet (or oil separator) of the compressor (120) 120 ', the inlet (or accumulator) of the compressor (120) 120', the outdoor heat exchanger (180) ) And an indoor unit (not shown).

Meanwhile, the valve support 126 is installed at the center of the front end of the base fan 110. The valve support 126 may be configured to maintain a balance of refrigerant between the outdoor unit 210, the outdoor unit 212 through which the gas refrigerant flows, and the outdoor unit 100 when the outdoor unit 100 is plural. It serves to support and guide the high and low pressure common pipe (214). In addition, the valve support 126 is provided with a service valve 128. Meanwhile, the pipes 210, 212, and 214 supported by the valve support 126 are drawn out through the pipe inlet 188 ′ of the side panel 188 to be described later, and are connected to an indoor unit (not shown).

In addition, the subcooler 130 is installed at the rear left end of the upper surface of the base fan 110. The supercooler 130 serves to further cool the refrigerant heat exchanged in the outdoor heat exchanger 180. To this end, the subcooler 130 is located at one side of the outdoor liquid pipe 210 connected to the outlet side of the outdoor heat exchanger 180.

In addition, although not shown, a dryer is installed at one side of the outdoor liquid pipe 210. The dryer serves to remove moisture contained in the refrigerant flowing through the outdoor liquid pipe 210.

Next, an accumulator 132 is installed between the center portion of the base fan 110, that is, between the constant speed compressor 120 and the inverter compressor 120 ′. The accumulator 132 filters the liquid refrigerant so that only the gaseous refrigerant flows into the compressor 120 or 120 ′. That is, when a liquid refrigerant that is not evaporated into gas among the refrigerant flowing from the indoor unit flows into the compressors 120 and 120 ', the compressor 120 and 120' compresses the refrigerant into a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant. ) Increases the load. Therefore, among the refrigerants flowing into the accumulator 132, the liquid refrigerant that has not been evaporated is stored in the lower portion of the accumulator 132 because it is relatively heavier than the refrigerant in the gas phase, and only the gas phase refrigerant in the upper portion of the accumulator 132 is used. It is introduced into the compressor (120, 120 ').

In addition, front frames 134 and 134 ′ are installed at both front ends of the base fan 110, respectively. The front frames 134 and 134 'are provided vertically long on both front ends of the base fan 110. The front frames 134 and 134 ′ support the front upper bracket 116, the front grill 114, and the control box 200 to be described later.

Both ends of the center frame 136, which are provided to the left and right, are fixed to the center portions of the front frames 134 and 134 '. And the barrier 150 is installed in the central frame 136.

The barrier 150 divides the interior of the outdoor unit 100 into an upper space and a lower space. In other words, the barrier 150 divides the interior of the outdoor unit 100 into a lower space in which the compressors 120 and 120 'are installed and an upper space in which the outdoor heat exchanger 180 is installed. The barrier 150 may include a horizontal portion 150 'extending rearward from the center frame 136 and an inclined portion 150 "extending inclined downward at a predetermined angle from a rear end of the horizontal portion 150'. Each of the barriers 150 includes an air guide hole 152 formed in the horizontal portion 150 'of the left barrier 150 of FIG. 1. Is a place where air that cools the electrical components installed in the control box 200 flows.

On the other hand, the top panel 160 forms the top appearance of the outdoor unit (100). The top panel 160 is composed of a pair formed in a rectangular shape. In addition, the upper panel 160 is formed with a discharge port 162, respectively. In addition, the bottom surface of the upper panel 160 corresponding to the edge of the outlet 162 is provided with a cylindrical shroud 164. The shroud 164 is substantially formed integrally with the upper panel 160 to serve to guide the air forcedly blown by the blowing fan 170 to be described later. And the discharge grill 166 is mounted on the discharge port 162.

And a blowing fan 170 is installed inside the shroud 164. The blowing fan 170 forms a flow of air circulating inside and outside of the outdoor unit 100. That is, when the blower fan 170 is driven, outdoor air is sucked into the outdoor unit 100 through the front grill 114, and the outlet 162 is heat-exchanged with the refrigerant flowing through the outdoor heat exchange 180. Is discharged to the outside of the outdoor unit 100, that is, outdoor.

The blower fan 170 is provided with a fan motor 172 inside the outdoor unit 100 corresponding to the lower side. The fan motor 172 is fixed by the motor mount 174. The motor mount 174 is fixed to the front upper bracket 116 and the rear upper bracket 194, which will be described later.

In addition, the outdoor heat exchanger 180 is installed inside the outdoor unit 100 corresponding to the lower side of the upper panel 160. The outdoor heat exchanger 180 heats the outdoor air with the refrigerant flowing therein. The outdoor heat exchanger 180 includes a front heat exchanger 182 installed below the front end of the top panel 160 and a rear heat exchanger 184 installed below the rear end of the top panel 160. .

A drain pan 186 is provided below the outdoor heat exchanger 180. The drain pan 186 collects the refrigerant flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger 180 and the condensed water generated during the heat exchange process of the outdoor air and discharges the condensed water to the outside of the outdoor unit 100.

Meanwhile, side panels 188 are installed at both side ends of the upper surface of the base fan 110. The side panel 188 forms a side appearance of the outdoor unit (100). In addition, a plurality of pipe access holes 188 'is formed at the lower end of the side panel 188.

The rear panel 190 is installed at the rear end of the base fan 110. The rear panel 190 forms an outer appearance of a rear lower portion of the outdoor unit 100.

And the rear grill 192 is installed on the top of the rear panel 190. The rear grill 19, like the front grill 114, the entrance area where the outdoor air that is heat-exchanged with the refrigerant flowing through the interior of the outdoor heat exchanger 180 is sucked into the interior of the outdoor unit 100. do. To this end, the rear grill 192 is preferably formed to correspond to the size of the rear heat exchanger 184.

In addition, an upper rear bracket 194 is provided at an upper end of the rear grill 192. The rear upper bracket 194 is formed long left and right. The motor mount 174 is supported by the upper rear bracket 194.

Rear frames 196 are respectively installed at both rear ends of the base fan 110. The rear frame 196 is formed long up and down. The rear frame 196 serves to support the rear grill 192, the rear panel 190, and the upper panel 160.

On the other hand, the control box 200 is installed on the upper rear of the front panel 112. In this embodiment, the control box 200 is configured as a pair installed on the rear of the front panel 112, but is not necessarily limited thereto.

The control box 200 includes a box body 210 and a box cover 220. The box body 210 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape in which one surface is opened. The box cover 220 is formed in a rectangular plate shape corresponding to one surface of the box body 210 to be opened. The box cover 220 serves to selectively open and close one open surface of the box body 210. Therefore, the control box 200, that is, the box body 210 and the box cover 220 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole.

Referring to FIG. 2, air inlets 211 and 211 ′ are provided on the bottom of the box body 210. The air inlets 211 and 211 ′ serve as an inlet zone through which air is sucked into the control box 200. In addition, an air outlet 213 is provided at an upper end of one side of the box body 210. The air outlet 213 serves as an outlet through which air sucked into the control box 200 is discharged to the outside. The air outlet 213 is preferably located adjacent to the air guide hole 153 in a state where the control box 200 is installed on the rear surface of the front panel 112.

In addition, first and second air guides 220 and 230 are provided inside the box body 210. The first and second air guides 220 and 230 serve to guide the air sucked into the control box 200. That is, the air sucked into the inside of the control box 200 through the air inlets 211 and 211 ′ is guided by the first and second air guides 220 and 230 and the air outlet 213. It is discharged to the outside of the control box 200 through.

In more detail, the first air guide 220 extends upward from the bottom of the box body 210. At this time, the upper end of the first air guide 220 is spaced apart from the upper surface of the box body 210 by a predetermined interval. In addition, the air suction openings 211 and 211 ′ are divided left and right by the first air guide 220. Hereinafter, in FIG. 2, a right side of the first air guide 220 is referred to as a first air inlet 211 and a left side of the first air guide 220 is referred to as a second air inlet 211 ′. In addition, the first air guide 220 also serves to partition the first and second flow paths P2 to be described later.

The second air guide 230 extends from the right side to the left side in the drawing of the box body 210 corresponding to the lower side of the air outlet 213. At this time, the left end of the second air guide 230 is spaced apart from the left side of the box body 210 by a predetermined interval. The bottom surface of the second air guide 230 is spaced apart from the upper end of the first air guide 220 by a predetermined interval. In addition, the second air guide 230 extends inclined downward from the left end toward the right end. The second air guide 230 also divides the first and second passages P2 and the third passage P3 to be described later. However, the second air guide 230 extends inclined downward from the left end thereof to the right end thereof. Accordingly, the third passage P3 is partitioned from the first and second passages P2 by the second air guide 230 so that the flow cross-sectional area is gradually increased.

The first to third passages P1, P2, and P3 are provided inside the control box 200 by the first and second air guides 220 and 230 as described above. More specifically, the first flow path P1 is formed by a portion of the bottom surface and a portion of the right side of the box body 210, a part of the first air guide 220 and the second air guide 230. . The second flow path P2 is formed by a portion of the bottom surface and a portion of the left surface of the box body 210, the remaining portions of the first air guide 220 and the second air guide 230. The third flow path P3 is formed by the upper and left and right portions of the box body 210 and the second air guide 230.

In addition, lower ends of the first and second flow paths P2, that is, upstream sides of the flowing air, communicate with the first air suction port 211 or the second air suction port 211 ′, respectively. In addition, the first and second flow paths P2 communicate with each other through a space between an upper end portion of the first air guide 220 and a bottom surface of the second air guide 230. The first and second flow paths P2 and the third flow path P3 communicate with each other through a space between a left side surface of the box body 210 and a left end portion of the second air guide 230. .

On the other hand, a plurality of electrical components are installed inside the control box 200, that is, inside the box body 210. For example, a plurality of electrical components such as a reactor 240, a printed circuit board 240, and a capacitor 250 are installed in the box body 210. The reactor 240 serves to suppress the instantaneous voltage drop. A plurality of electrical components are mounted on the printed circuit board 240, and the capacitor 250 accumulates electric charges to serve as a battery having a small capacity.

In the present embodiment, the reactor 240 that generates heat at a relatively high temperature is installed on the first flow path P1. The printed circuit board 240 and the capacitor 250 which generate heat at a relatively low temperature compared to the reactor 240 are installed on the second flow path P2. However, the electrical components installed on the first and second flow paths P2 are not limited to the reactor 240, the printed circuit board 240, and the capacitor 250, and the first and second electrical components are not limited to the heating temperature. It may be selectively installed on the second flow path P2.

Hereinafter will be described the operation of the embodiment of the outdoor box of the control box and the air conditioner including the same according to the present invention.

First, the operation of the embodiment of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the present invention will be described.

When the air conditioner is cooled, the outdoor LEV 102 is opened and the refrigerant of the gaseous phase introduced from the indoor unit is introduced into the accumulator 132 through the four-way valve 124. In addition, the refrigerant of the gaseous phase in which a part of the liquid is filtered while passing through the accumulator 132 is introduced into the compressors 120 and 120 ′.

The refrigerant in the gas phase introduced into the compressors 120 and 120 ′ is compressed to a high temperature and a high pressure and then delivered to the oil separator 122. In addition, the oil contained in the refrigerant delivered to the oil separator 122 is separated and recovered to the compressors 120 and 120 '.

Meanwhile, the refrigerant passing through the oil separator 122 flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 180 through the four-way valve 124. And the refrigerant flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger 180 and the outdoor air sucked into the interior of the outdoor unit 100 through the front grill 114 and the rear grill 192 by the driving of the blower fan 170. It is cooled by heat exchange. In addition, the refrigerant passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 180 is further cooled while passing through the subcooler 130.

The refrigerant passing through the subcooler 130 passes through the dryer for removing moisture contained therein, and then flows into the indoor unit through the common liquid pipe 210. The refrigerant introduced into the indoor unit is cooled by heat exchange while flowing an indoor heat exchanger (not shown) installed in the indoor unit, and then flows back into the outdoor unit 100.

Next, the air flow for cooling the control box constituting the embodiment of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the flow of air according to an embodiment of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the present invention.

First, as described above, when the blowing fan 170 is driven, outdoor air is sucked into the outdoor unit 100 through the front grill 114 and the rear grill 192. As described above, the outdoor air sucked into the outdoor unit 100 exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger 180, and through the outlet 162 by continuous driving of the blower fan 170. It is discharged to the outside of the outdoor unit (100). This air flow is made in the upper space of the outdoor unit 100 corresponding to the barrier 150 above.

On the other hand, the air flows from the lower side upward to the inside of the outdoor unit 100 by the driving of the blower fan 170. Therefore, the air pressure of the upper end of the upper space of the outdoor unit 100 adjacent to the blowing fan 170 is lowered, so that the air in the lower space of the outdoor unit 100 passes through the air guide hole 152 to the outdoor unit 100. Flows into the upper space of the. Of course, like the upper space of the outdoor unit 100, the front grill 114 and the rear grill 194 for the entrance area where the outdoor air is sucked is not provided in the lower space of the outdoor unit 100, the outdoor unit Since the lower space of the 100 is not completely sealed from the outside, outdoor air will also be sucked into the lower space of the outdoor unit 100.

In other words, when the blowing fan 170 is driven, outdoor air is sucked into the lower space of the outdoor unit 100. As such, the outdoor air sucked into the lower space of the outdoor unit 100 flows to the upper space of the outdoor unit 100 through the air guide hole 152.

As described above, a part of the air flowing from the lower space of the outdoor unit 100 to the upper space of the outdoor unit 100 is introduced into the control box 200 through the air guide hole 152. In more detail, outdoor air is introduced into the control box 200 through the first and second air inlets 211 and 211 ′.

The outdoor air flowing into the control box 200 cools the electric component while flowing through the first and second flow paths P2. That is, the outdoor air flowing through the first flow path P1 cools the electric component that generates heat at a relatively high temperature such as the reactor 240. The outdoor air flowing through the second flow path P2 cools the electrical components that generate heat at a relatively low temperature such as the printed circuit board 240 and the capacitor 260.

As described above, in the present embodiment, among the electrical components installed in the control box 200, electrical components that generate relatively high temperatures and electrical components that generate relatively low temperatures are partitioned and cooled. Accordingly, the phenomenon in which the electric parts that generate heat at a relatively high temperature and the electric parts that generate heat at a relatively low temperature by the outdoor air cooled by the same are prevented from being heated, thereby cooling the electric parts more efficiently.

On the other hand, outdoor air that cools the electric component while flowing the first and second flow paths P2 is transferred to the third flow path P3. The outdoor air delivered to the third flow path P3 and flowing therethrough is discharged to the outside of the control box 200 through the air discharge port 213. The air discharged to the outside of the control box 200 flows to the upper space of the outdoor unit 100 through the air guide hole 152. The outdoor air flowed into the upper space of the outdoor unit 100 is driven by the blower fan 170 and the outdoor unit (162) through the outlet 162 together with the outdoor air cooled by the outdoor heat exchanger 180. Discharged outside of 100).

Within the scope of the basic technical spirit of the present invention as well as many other modifications are possible to those skilled in the art, the scope of the present invention should be interpreted based on the appended claims. .

In the above-described embodiment, the flow of air for cooling the electrical component of the control box is formed by the driving of the blower fan to form a flow of air for cooling the outdoor heat exchanger, but is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, a separate fan and a fan motor may be installed in the control box to form a flow of air flowing through the first to third flow passages.

According to the outdoor unit of the control box and the air conditioner including the same according to the present invention configured as described above, the following effects can be expected.

First, in the present invention, the electrical components installed inside the control box are cooled by outdoor air circulating inside and outside of the outdoor unit. Therefore, more efficient cooling of the electrical components installed in the control box is achieved.

In addition, according to the present invention, the electrical components installed inside the control box are partitioned into electrical components that generate heat at a relatively high temperature and electrical components that generate heat at a relatively low temperature are cooled. Therefore, by heating the electrical components that generate relatively low temperature by the electrical components that generate a high temperature, it is possible to prevent the phenomenon that the overall cooling efficiency is lowered.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a control box constituting an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the flow of air according to an embodiment of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the present invention.

Claims (9)

At least one air inlet for inlet air inlet; At least one air outlet serving as an outlet through which the air sucked into the inside through the air inlet is discharged to the outside; And At least one guide member for guiding the air sucked into the inside through the air inlet to flow in a compartment; Control box including. The method of claim 1, The guide member, A first air guide guiding to cool the electric component installed therein while being divided into two pieces of air sucked into the air through the air inlet; And A second air guide guided by the first air guide to guide the air cooling the electric component to the outside through the air outlet; Control box including. The method of claim 2, The first air guide is formed in parallel with the direction in which air is sucked through the air inlet, The second air guide, the control box is formed parallel to the direction in which the air is discharged through the air outlet. A first flow path through which the air sucked into the air flows and at least one first electric component is installed; A second flow passage partitioned from the first flow passage and the air sucked into the flow passage, and at least one second electric component is installed; And A third flow passage partitioned from the first flow passage and the second flow passage, the third flow passage flowing the first flow passage and the second flow passage to cool the electric component, and the air discharged to the outside flows; Control box including. The method of claim 4, wherein The first electronic component includes a reactor that generates heat at a relatively high temperature as compared to the second electronic component, and suppresses an instantaneous voltage drop. The method of claim 4, wherein The first and second flow passages, the control box is partitioned by an air guide formed in parallel with the direction in which air flows through the first and second flow passages. The method of claim 4, wherein And the first and second flow paths and the third flow path are partitioned by air guides formed in parallel with the direction in which air flows through the third flow path. The method of claim 7, wherein The air guide is a control box for partitioning the first and second flow paths and the third flow path in a direction in which air flows through the third flow path increases the cross-sectional area of the third flow path. An outdoor heat exchanger through which a refrigerant flows; A blowing fan configured to flow outdoor air, which exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing in the outdoor heat exchanger, in and out; And The control box according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the electrical component is cooled by the outdoor air sucked into the interior by the driving of the blower fan; Outdoor unit of the air conditioner comprising a.

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