US20180347889A1

US20180347889A1 - Air conditioner

Info

Publication number: US20180347889A1
Application number: US15/779,872
Authority: US
Inventors: Shigeru Kawano
Original assignee: Denso Corp
Current assignee: Denso Corp
Priority date: 2015-12-02
Filing date: 2016-11-28
Publication date: 2018-12-06
Also published as: JP2017106706A; DE112016005514T5; JP6742217B2; CN108369027B; CN108369027A

Abstract

An air conditioner includes an evaporator which evaporates a refrigerant, the evaporator forming a refrigeration cycle, a condenser which condenses the refrigerant, the condenser forming the refrigeration cycle together with the evaporator, a centrifugal fan which sends air toward the evaporator and the condenser, and a casing that houses the evaporator, the condenser, and the centrifugal fan, where the evaporator and the condenser are disposed so as to surround at least a portion of the centrifugal fan when viewed along a rotation axis direction of the centrifugal fan.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims the benefits of priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-235322 filed on Dec. 2, 2015 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-210382 filed on Oct. 27, 2016, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an air conditioner.

BACKGROUND ART

As one example of vapor-compression type air conditioners, an integrated type air conditioner may include a condenser, an evaporator, and a compressor all together within a single body. Such an integrated type air conditioner is not separated into an outside device and an inside device, and therefore may be disposed in a variety of locations.
For example, in Patent Literature 1, there is disclosed a dehumidifier which includes an evaporator and a condenser. The evaporator of Patent Literature 1 includes a first intake port for intaking air into the evaporator, and a second intake port for intaking air into the condenser. The humidifier includes a first ventilator device for blowing air from the first intake port to a first blowout port, and a second ventilator device for blowing air from the second intake port to a second blowout port. The first ventilator device and the second ventilator device are each provided with a separate, independent fan.

PRIOR ART LITERATURE

Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: JP 2011-127891 A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to Patent Literature 1, as described above, the first ventilator device for air flow to the evaporator and the second ventilator device for air flow to the condenser are provided. Wall portions and ducts are needed to form air passages in each of the ventilator devices. In addition, a fan must be provided in each of the ventilator devices. For this reason, there are problems such as being difficult to avoid a device with a large size, or being difficult to flatten or reduce the size of the device.
It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a flat and small air conditioner with internal devices that form a refrigeration cycle.
In the present disclosure, an air conditioner (100, 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D, 100E) includes an evaporator (130, 130B, 130C, 130D) which evaporates a refrigerant, the evaporator forming a refrigeration cycle, a condenser (120, 120D, 120C, 120D) which condenses the refrigerant, the condenser forming the refrigeration cycle together with the evaporator, a centrifugal fan (150) which sends air toward the evaporator and the condenser, and a casing (110, 110A, 110C, 110D, 110E) that houses the evaporator, the condenser, and the centrifugal fan. The evaporator and the condenser are disposed so as to surround at least a portion of the centrifugal fan when viewed along a rotation axis direction of the centrifugal fan.
According to the present disclosure, the evaporator and the condenser are disposed in a region into which the centrifugal fan sends air, and surround the centrifugal fan. Accordingly, a single centrifugal fan is able intake air through a single intake port to send air to both the evaporator and the condenser, and by sharing the centrifugal fan and intake port in this manner, the size of the air conditioner may be reduced. Further, there is no need to provide a wall for separating the air passing through the evaporator and the air passing through the condenser, and so the size of the air conditioner may be reduced. Further, the evaporator and the condenser are disposed so as to surround the centrifugal fan when viewed along a rotation axis direction of the centrifugal fan, so there is no need to stack the fan with the evaporator and the condenser in a thickness direction, the casing may be made to be flat along a stacking direction of the centrifugal fan, and the air conditioner may be made to be flat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plane view showing an air conditioner of a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cross section view along cross section II-II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross section view along cross section III-III of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross section view along cross section IV-IV of FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a plane view showing an air conditioner of a modified example of a first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plane view showing an air conditioner of a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a plane view showing an air conditioner of a modified example of a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a plane view showing an air conditioner of a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a plane view showing an air conditioner of a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a plane view showing an air conditioner of a modified example of a first embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same reference numerals are attached to the same or equivalent portions in each of the drawings where possible, and overlapping explanations are omitted for brevity.
First, an air conditioner according to a first embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. Further, FIG. 2 is a cross section view along cross section II-II of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross section view along cross section III-III of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a cross section view along cross section IV-IV of FIGS. 2 and 3.
An air conditioner shown in FIG. 1 includes a casing 110, a condenser 120, an evaporator 130, a compressor 140, and a centrifugal fan 150. The condenser 120, the evaporator 130, the compressor 140, and the centrifugal fan 150 are all provided together within the casing 110.
The condenser 120 is disposed around the centrifugal fan 150. Specifically, the condenser 120 is disposed so as to surround the centrifugal fan 150 on one side of a straight line which passes through a center 151 of the centrifugal fan 150. In other words, the condenser 120 is disposed in one region of a circular area which surrounds the centrifugal fan 150 with the center 151 of the centrifugal fan 150 as the origin. That is, in a cross section are which is orthogonal to a rotation axis through the center 151, a portion of that cross section area is a partial cross section in which the condenser 120 is positioned. Further, the straight line which passes through the center 151 of the centrifugal fan 150 is not limited to being a single straight line, and may be a plurality of straight lines instead. This point will be described in detail later.
The condenser 120 is a heat exchanger which dissipates heat from high pressure and high temperature refrigerant that has been compressed by the compressor 140 to outside, thereby condensing this refrigerant. The physical size of the condenser 120 is equal or greater than that of the evaporator 130. In the air conditioner 100 shown in FIG. 1, the physical size of the condenser 120 is substantially equal to that of the evaporator 130.
The evaporator 130 is disposed around the centrifugal fan 150. Specifically, the evaporator 130 is disposed so as to surround the centrifugal fan 150 on one side of a straight line which passes through a center 151 of the centrifugal fan 150, and is disposed on an opposite side as the condenser 120 with respect to the centrifugal fan 150. In other words, the evaporator 130 is disposed in one region of a circular area which surrounds the centrifugal fan 150 with the center 151 of the centrifugal fan 150 as the origin. That is, in a cross section are which is orthogonal to a rotation axis through the center 151, a portion of that cross section area is a partial cross section in which the evaporator 130 is positioned. Accordingly, the cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis is divided into a partial cross section in which the condenser 120 is positioned and a partial cross section in which the evaporator 130 is positioned.
The evaporator 130 is a heat exchanger that absorbs heat from outside to evaporator the refrigerant supplied from the condenser 120 through an expansion valve.
A shown in FIG. 1, the condenser 120 and the evaporator 130 are arranged in a circular area surrounding the centrifugal fan 150 so as to substantially completely surround the centrifugal fan 150. The condenser 120 and the evaporator 130 are divided between regions of the circular area surrounding the centrifugal fan 150 with the center 151 of the centrifugal fan 150 as an origin.
The compressor 140 is disposed outside of the region surrounded by the condenser 120 and the evaporator 130. The compressor 140 is configured to intake low pressure and low temperature which has been evaporated in the evaporator, then compress this refrigerant into a high pressure and high temperature refrigerant.
The centrifugal fan 150 is disposed in a central region of the casing 110, and is positioned in the region surrounded by the condenser 120 and the evaporator 130. In the air conditioner 100 shown in FIG. 1, the region surrounded by the condenser 120 and the evaporator 130 has a substantially rectangular shape in the direction of the centrifugal fan 150 intaking air. Here, the direction of the centrifugal fan 150 intaking air refers to the direction shown by arrow A1 in FIG. 2 and arrow A11 in FIG. 3.
As shown by arrow A1 in FIG. 2 and arrow A11 in FIG. 3, the centrifugal fan 150 sucks in air from below of the casing 110. In addition, as shown by arrows A2 and A3 in FIGS. 1 and 2, the centrifugal fan 150 sends air toward the condenser 120. In addition, as shown by arrows A12 and A13 in FIGS. 1 and 3, the centrifugal fan 150 sends air toward the evaporator 130.
As shown in FIG. 2, inside the casing 110, a warm air passage 115 is provided above the area in which the condenser 120 is disposed. As shown by arrow A4, arrow A5, arrow A6, and arrow A7 in FIGS. 2 and 4, the air sent from the centrifugal fan 150 toward the condenser 120 is warmed by the condenser 120, passes through the warm air passage 115, and is guided through a warm air blowout port 111 provided in the casing 110 to outside of the air conditioner 100.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, inside the casing 110, a cool air passage 116 is provided above the area in which the evaporator 130 is disposed. As shown by arrow A14, arrow A15, arrow A16, and arrow A17 in FIGS. 3 and 4, the air sent from the centrifugal fan 150 toward the evaporator 130 is cooled by the evaporator 130, passes through the cool air passage 116, and is guided through a cool air blowout port 112 provided in the casing 110 to outside of the air conditioner 100.
According to the air conditioner 100 of the present embodiment, the condenser 120, the evaporator 130, and the centrifugal fan 150 are provided together within the casing 110. Further, the centrifugal fan 150 is disposed in a region surrounded by the condenser 120 and the evaporator 130. For this reason, both heat exchangers, i.e., the condenser 120 and the evaporator 130, may be provided in a compact manner. At the same time, both warm air provided by the condenser 120 and cool air provided by the evaporator 130 may be blown out of the air conditioner 100 while effectively utilizing space. Due to this, the air conditioner 100 of the present embodiment may be provided in a flat and physically small manner.
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the condenser 120 includes a guide portion 121 disposed in the boundary region between the condenser 120 and the evaporator 130. The guide portion 121 corresponds to a control portion of the present disclosure. The guide portion 121 includes a first section 121 a and a second section 121 b. The first section 121 a extends in a direction along a surface 125 of the condenser 120 which faces toward the centrifugal fan 150. The second section 121 b protrudes outward so as to be further away from the surface 125 of the condenser 120 as compared to the first section 121 a. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, when a plurality of condensers 120 are provided, the guide portion 121 may also be disposed in the boundary region between adjacent condensers 120.
As an example, consider a case where a portion of the air sent from a centrifugal fan toward a condenser does not directly pass through the inside of the condenser in the manner shown by arrow A3 of FIG. 1, and instead flows along the surface of the condenser. The air flowing along the surface of the condenser is warmed by the condenser and may flow toward the evaporator to mix with air cooled by the evaporator. If this occurs, the performance of the air conditioner may degrade.
In this regard, the condenser 120 of the present embodiment includes the guide portion 121 which extends in a direction parallel to the surface 125. The guide portion 121 is able to guide any air flowing along the surface 125 of the condenser 120 toward the inside of the condenser 120. More specifically, when the centrifugal fan 150 rotates in the direction of the arrow around the center 151 in FIG. 1, air is sent toward the condenser 120, and air may flow along the surface 125 of the condenser 120. In this case, the guide portion 121 is able to suppress any air flowing along the surface 125 of the condenser 120, which is warm air having been warmed by the condenser 120, from flowing toward the evaporator 130. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the performance of the air conditioner 100 from degrading. It should be noted that the guide portion 121 is not limited to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. For example, an air conditioner 100F shown in FIG. 10 is a modified example which includes guide portions 121F that are short protruding portions. As long as the above described effects of controlling the flow of air are exhibited, a variety of embodiments are contemplated for the control portion.
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the evaporator 130 includes a guide portion 131 disposed in the boundary region between the evaporator 130 and the condenser 120. The guide portion 131 includes a first section 131 a and a second section 131 b. The first section 131 a extends in a direction along a surface 135 of the evaporator 130 which faces toward the centrifugal fan 150. The second section 131 b protrudes outward so as to be further away from the surface 135 of the evaporator 130 as compared to the first section 131 a. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, when a plurality of evaporators 130 are provided, the guide portion 131 may also be disposed in the boundary region between adjacent evaporators 130.
As an example, consider a case where a portion of the air sent from a centrifugal fan toward a evaporator does not directly pass through the inside of the evaporator in the manner shown by arrow A12 of FIG. 1, and instead flows along the surface of the evaporator. The air flowing along the surface of the evaporator is cooled by the evaporator and may flow toward the condenser to mix with air warmed by the condenser. If this occurs, the performance of the air conditioner may degrade.
In this regard, the evaporator 130 of the present embodiment includes the guide portion 131 which extends in a direction parallel to the surface 135. The guide portion 131 is able to guide any air flowing along the surface 135 of the evaporator 130 toward the inside of the evaporator 130. More specifically, when the centrifugal fan 150 rotates in the direction of the arrow around the center 151 in FIG. 1, air is sent toward the evaporator 130, and air may flow along the surface 135 of the evaporator 130. In this case, the guide portion 131 is able to suppress any air flowing along the surface 135 of the evaporator 130, which is warm air having been warmed by the evaporator 130, from flowing toward the condenser 120. It should be noted that the guide portion 131 is also not limited to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. For example, an air conditioner 100F shown in FIG. 10 is a modified example which includes guide portions 131F that are short protruding portions.
Next, a modified example of an air conditioner according to the first embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 5. In the air conditioner 100, the direction of arrow A7, which is the direction of warm air blown from the warm air blowout port 111, is substantially the same as the direction of arrow A17, which is the direction of cool air blown from the cool air blowout port 112. In contrast, according to an air conditioner 111A shown in FIG. 5, the direction of arrow A8, which is the direction of warm air blown from a warm air blowout port 111A, is the opposite of the direction of arrow A18, which is the direction of cool air blown from a cool air blowout port 112A. Other structures have the same structure as the air conditioner 100 as described with respect to FIG. 1.
As shown by arrow A2, arrow A3, and arrow A8 in FIG. 5, the air blown from the centrifugal fan 150 toward the condenser 120 is warmed by the condenser 120 and blown out through the warm air blowout port 111A provided in the casing 110 in a direction opposite to the air cooled by the evaporator 130.
Further, as shown by arrow A12, arrow A13, and arrow A18 in FIG. 5, the air blown from the centrifugal fan 150 toward the evaporator 130 is cooled by the evaporator 130 and blown out through the cool air blowout port 112 provided in the casing 110 in a direction opposite to the air warmed by the condenser 120.
According to the air conditioner 100A of FIG. 5, it is possible to more reliably suppress warm and cool air from mixing with each other.
Next, an air conditioner of a second embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 6. In the air conditioner 100, the region surrounded by the condenser 120 and the evaporator 130 has a substantially rectangular shape in the direction of the centrifugal fan 150 intaking air. In contrast, according to an air conditioner 100B shown in FIG. 6, the region surrounded by a condenser 120B and an evaporator 130B has a substantially circular shape in the rotation axis direction, i.e., the direction of the centrifugal fan 150 intaking air. Further, the gap between the condenser 120B and the evaporator 130B is greater than that of the air conditioner 100, and the condenser 120B and the evaporator 130B are disposed so as to surround a portion of the centrifugal fan 150 as seen from the rotation axis direction of the centrifugal fan 150. Other structures have the same structure as the air conditioner 100 as described with respect to FIG. 1.
The flow of air blown from the centrifugal fan 150 toward the condenser 120B is the same as the flow of air in the air conditioner 100 previously described. In other words, as shown by arrow A2, arrow A3, arrow A9, and arrow A7 in FIG. 6, the air blown from the centrifugal fan 150 toward the condenser 120B is warmed by the condenser 120B, passes through the warm air passage 115, and is guided through the warm air blowout port 111 provided in the casing 110 to outside of the air conditioner 100B.
Further, the flow of air blown from the centrifugal fan 150 toward the evaporator 130B is the same as the flow of air in the air conditioner 100 previously described. In other words, as shown by arrow A12, arrow A13, arrow A19, and arrow A17 in FIG. 6, the air blown from the centrifugal fan 150 toward the evaporator 130B is cooled by the evaporator 130B, passes through the cool air passage 116, and is guided through the cool air blowout port 112 provided in the casing 110 to outside of the air conditioner 100B.
According to the air conditioner 100B shown in FIG. 6, the region surrounded by the condenser 120B and the evaporator 130B has a substantially circular shape and resembles the external shape of the centrifugal fan 150. Accordingly, the air blown out from the centrifugal fan 150 flows along the surface of the condenser 120B and the surface of the evaporator 130B. Due to this, air blown out from the centrifugal fan 150 may be reliably guided into the condenser 120B and the evaporator 130B without disturbances in the flow.
Next, an air conditioner of a modified example of the second embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 7. In the air conditioner 100C shown in FIG. 7, a condenser 120C is disposed so as to surround the centrifugal fan 150 on one side of two straight lines L1, L2 which pass through the center 151 of the centrifugal fan 150. In this case as well, the condenser 120C is disposed in one region of a circular area which surrounds the centrifugal fan 150 with the center 151 of the centrifugal fan 150 as the origin.
Further, an evaporator 130C is disposed so as to surround the centrifugal fan 150 on one side of the two straight lines L1, L2 which pass through the center 151 of the centrifugal fan 150, and is disposed on an opposite side as the condenser 120C with respect to the centrifugal fan 150. In this case as well, in other words, the evaporator 130C is disposed in one region of a circular area which surrounds the centrifugal fan 150 with the center 151 of the centrifugal fan 150 as the origin.
As shown in FIG. 7, the size of the condenser 120C is greater than the size of the evaporator 130C. The region surrounded by the condenser 120C and the evaporator 130C has a substantially circular shape in the direction of the centrifugal fan 150 intaking air.
The direction of warm air blown out from a warm air blowout port 111C is opposite as the direction of cool air blown out from a cool air blowout port 112C. In other words, as shown by arrow A2, arrow A3, arrow A9, and arrow A8 in FIG. 7, the air sent from the centrifugal fan 150 toward the condenser 120C is warmed by the condenser 120C, then blown out through the warm air blowout port 111C formed in a casing 110C in the opposite direction as the air cooled by the evaporator 130C.
Conversely, as shown by arrow A12, arrow A13, arrow A19, and arrow A18 in FIG. 7, the air sent from the centrifugal fan 150 toward the evaporator 130C is cooled by the evaporator 130C, then blown out through the cool air blowout port 112C formed in the casing 110C in the opposite direction as the air warmed by the condenser 120C.
According to the air conditioner 100C shown in FIG. 7, air blown out from the centrifugal fan 150 may be more reliably guided into the condenser 120C and the evaporator 130C, and it is possible to more reliably suppress the warm air and cool air from mixing with each other.
Next, an air conditioner of a third embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 8. In the air conditioner 100D shown in FIG. 8, the region surrounded by a condenser 120D and an evaporator 130D has a substantially hexagonal shape in the direction of the centrifugal fan 150 intaking air.
Further, the direction of the warm air blown out from the warm air blowout port 111D is the opposite of the direction of the cool air blown out from the cool air blowout port 112D. In other words, as shown by arrow A2, arrow A3, arrow A9, and arrow A8 in FIG. 8, the air sent from the centrifugal fan 150 toward the condenser 120D is warmed by the condenser 120D, then blown out through the warm air blowout port 111D formed in a casing 110D in the opposite direction as the air cooled by the evaporator 130D.
Conversely, as shown by arrow A12, arrow A13, arrow A19, and arrow A18 in FIG. 8, the air sent from the centrifugal fan 150 toward the evaporator 130D is cooled by the evaporator 130D, then blown out through the cool air blowout port 112D formed in the casing 110D in the opposite direction as the air warmed by the condenser 120D.
Next, an air conditioner of a fourth embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 9. According to an air conditioner 100E shown in FIG. 9, a condenser 120E and an evaporator 130E are disposed on opposite sides as each other when seeing from the direction of the centrifugal fan 150 intaking air, such that the centrifugal fan 150 is positioned between the condenser 120E and the evaporator 130E. Further, although the condenser 120E and the evaporator 130E are disposed on either side of the centrifugal fan 150 so as to face each other, they made be disposed in an offset manner from each other while surrounding a portion of the centrifugal fan 150 instead. The condenser 120E and the evaporator 130E are disposed so as to surround a portion of the centrifugal fan 150 as seen from the rotation axis direction of the centrifugal fan 150.
Air sent from the centrifugal fan 150 toward the condenser 120E is warmed by the condenser 120E and then blown out through a warm air blowout port 111E formed in a casing 110E.
Air sent from the centrifugal fan 150 toward the evaporator 130E is warmed by the evaporator 130E and then blown out through a cool air blowout port 112E formed in the casing 110E.
In the casing 110E, a guide portion 121E and a guide portion 131E are disposed. The guide portion 121E and the guide portion 131E are disposed in a region which is not surrounded by the condenser 120E and the evaporator 130E so as to face the centrifugal fan 150. The guide portion 121E and the guide portion 131E perform a function of dividing the air blown out from the centrifugal fan 150 toward the condenser 120E and the evaporator 130E.
As described above, an air conditioner 100, 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D, 100E according to the present embodiment includes an evaporator 130, 130B, 130C, 130D, 130E that evaporates a refrigerant and that forms a refrigeration cycle, a condenser 120, 120B, 120C, 120D, 120E that condenses the refrigerant and that forms the refrigeration cycle together with the evaporator 130, 130B, 130C, 130D, 130E, a centrifugal fan 150 that sends air toward the evaporator 130, 130B, 130C, 130D, 130E and the condenser 120, 120B, 120C, 120D, 120E, and a casing 110, 110A, 110C, 110D, 110E that houses the evaporator 130, 130B, 130C, 130D, 130E, the condenser 120, 120B, 120C, 120D, 120E, and the centrifugal fan 150. In the present embodiments, the evaporator 130, 130B, 130C, 130D, 130E and the condenser 120, 120B, 120C, 120D, 120E are disposed so as to surround at least a portion of the centrifugal fan 150 when viewed along a rotation axis direction of the centrifugal fan 150.
The evaporator 130, 130B, 130C, 130D, 130E and the condenser 120, 120B, 120C, 120D, 120E are disposed in a region into which the centrifugal fan 150 sends air, and surround the centrifugal fan 150. Accordingly, a single centrifugal fan 150 is able to send air to both the evaporator 130, 130B, 130C, 130D, 130E and the condenser 120, 120B, 120C, 120D, 120E, and so the size of the air conditioner 100, 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D, 100E may be reduced. Further, the evaporator 130, 130B, 130C, 130D, 130E and the condenser 120, 120B, 120C, 120D, 120E are disposed so as to surround at least a portion of the centrifugal fan 150 when viewed along a rotation axis direction of the centrifugal fan 150, so the casing 110, 110A, 110C, 110D, 110E may be made to be flat along a stacking direction of the centrifugal fan 150, and the air conditioner 100, 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D, 100E may be made to be flat.
The size of the condenser 120, 120B, 120C, 120D is configured to be equal to or greater than the size of the evaporator 130, 130B, 130C, 130D.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the evaporator 130B, 130C and the condenser 120B, 120C are disposed in a curved manner around the centrifugal fan 150. With the center 151 of the centrifugal fan 150 as an origin, the projection area of the evaporator 130B, 130C in the rotation axis direction is separated from the projection area of the condenser 120B, 120C in the rotation axis direction. In other words, a cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis passing through the center 151 of the centrifugal fan 150 is divided into a partial cross section in which the evaporator 130B, 130C is disposed and a partial cross section in which the condenser 120B, 120C is disposed.
A shown in FIG. 1, the guide portion 121 is provided, which acts as a control portion which controls the flow of air which is sent out from the centrifugal fan 150 and which contacts the condenser 120 from flowing toward the evaporator 130. The guide portion 121 is only one example of a control portion of the present disclosure. For example, in FIGS. 5 and 6, a level difference on the tank perimeter disposed on the end portions of the condenser 120B, 120C may be used to control the flow of air. Further, as shown by the guide portion 121E of FIG. 9, a structure which acts as a part that serves to divide air may also be used as the control portion at the same time. As shown by the guide portion 121F in FIG. 10, a protruding structure may be used as the control portion as well.
The guide portion 121 is disposed at the end portion of the condenser 120 which is adjacent to the evaporator 130. The guide portion 121 may be disposed such that the second section 121 b is one end connected to the end portion of the condenser which is adjacent to the evaporator 130, while the first section 121 a faces toward a direction away from the evaporator 130.
The present embodiments are described with respect to a plurality of specific examples above. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. The present disclosure also encompasses various modifications or variations within the equivalent scope, and as long as the features of the present disclosure are included, such modification are included in the scope of the present disclosure. The components described as included in the above examples as well as their placement, conditions, shapes, etc. are exemplary in nature and may be modified where appropriate. In addition, the components described as included in the above examples may be appropriately combined with each other as long as no technical contradictions occur.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An air conditioner, comprising:

an evaporator which evaporates a refrigerant, the evaporator forming a refrigeration cycle;

a condenser which condenses the refrigerant, the condenser forming the refrigeration cycle together with the evaporator;

a centrifugal fan which sends air toward the evaporator and the condenser; and

a casing that houses the evaporator, the condenser, and the centrifugal fan, wherein

the evaporator and the condenser are disposed so as to surround at least a portion of the centrifugal fan when viewed along a rotation axis direction of the centrifugal fan.

2. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein

a size of the condenser is equal to or greater than a size of the evaporator.

3. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein

the evaporator and the condenser are disposed in a curved manner surrounding the centrifugal fan, and

a cross section orthogonal to the rotation axis is divided into a partial cross section in which the evaporator is disposed and a partial cross section in which the condenser is disposed.

4. The air conditioner of claim 3, further comprising:

a control portion that controls a flow of air, which is sent from the centrifugal fan and which comes into contact with the condenser, toward the evaporator.

5. The air conditioner of claim 4, wherein

the control portion is disposed at an end portion of the condenser which is adjacent to the evaporator.

6. The air conditioner of claim 5 wherein,

the control portion includes one end connected to the end portion and an other end which faces toward a direction away from the evaporator.