US20230040810A1

US20230040810A1 - Outdoor unit exhaust cooling device

Info

Publication number: US20230040810A1
Application number: US17/862,335
Authority: US
Inventors: Masanori Udagawa
Original assignee: Funabori Co Ltd
Current assignee: Funabori Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-08-04
Filing date: 2022-07-11
Publication date: 2023-02-09
Also published as: JP2023023222A

Abstract

An air blowing from an outdoor unit passes through a vaporization filter installed to face an air outlet of an outdoor unit. The working water W is dropped from a water supply pipe above the vaporization filter, and the working water W flowing down from a filter constituent plate is collected in a water storage tank. The working water W is supplied to the water supply pipe by using a water supply pump. The working water W is circulated between the water storage tank, the water supply pipe, and the vaporization filter. The air blowing discharged from the outdoor unit and passed through the vaporization filter is deprived of the heat of vaporization, and the temperature of the air blowing from the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device is lowered.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an outdoor unit exhaust cooling device that lowers the temperature of air blowing discharged from an outdoor unit equipped with an air conditioner and that discharges it to the outside air.

BACKGROUND ART

It is known that in urban areas, the temperature is higher than that in suburban areas, the so-called heat island phenomenon is occurring, and that health hazards such as heat stroke increase in summer, and insects that are supposed to die in winter overwinter and become a cause of infectious diseases, etc.
One of the causes of the heat island phenomenon is considered to be the high-temperature exhaust air discharged from the outdoor unit of the air conditioner.
For example, Pat. Doc. 1 describes, as an air conditioner. outdoor unit that lowers the temperature of wind by using heat of vaporization, a configuration comprising a condenser fan for blowing wind on a condenser, and a low temperature means that is arranged at least one of the upstream side and the downstream side of the condenser fan and that lowers the temperature of the wind generated by the condenser fan by utilizing the heat of vaporization of the liquid, wherein the low temperature means is a ceramic honeycomb porous body having a plurality of ventilation holes penetrating in a direction along the flow of wind generated by the condenser fan, and can hold the liquid in the pores.

CITATION LIST

Pat. Literature

[PTL 1] Japanese Unexamined Pat. Publication No. 2012-72951

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

The air conditioner outdoor unit disclosed in Pat. Document 1 has a structure in which a low temperature means is incorporated in the main body of the outdoor unit. Therefore, the air conditioner outdoor unit is installed as an outdoor unit when a new air conditioner is installed, etc..
Since it is a newly installed outdoor unit, the installation cost will increase, and from the viewpoint of suppressing the heat island phenomenon, it cannot be expected that the air conditioner outdoor unit disclosed in Pat. Document 1 will respond quickly.
Thus, the object of the present invention is to provide an outdoor unit exhaust cooling device that can be attached to an existing air conditioner outdoor unit, can respond quickly, and cools high-temperature air blown from the outdoor unit, so that it can be discharged to the outside.

Solution to Problem

As a technical means for achieving the above-mentioned object, the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device according to the present invention, which cools and discharges warm air blown from air outlets of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, comprises a vaporization filter that is arranged at a position where the air outlets of the outdoor unit face each other and takes away heat of vaporization.
That is, the air blowing discharged from the air outlet of the outdoor unit is deprived of the heat of vaporization through the vaporization filter and is released to the atmosphere. For this reason, the air blowing released into the atmosphere is cooled and suppressed from affecting the rise in atmospheric temperature.
Further, the above-mentioned outdoor unit exhaust cooling device preferably comprises a water storage tank that is arranged below the vaporization filter and that stores working water, a water supply pipe that is arranged above the vaporization filter and that supplies the working water to the vaporization filter, a water supply pump for sucking up the working water in the water storage tank, and a water delivery pipe for connecting a discharge port of the water supply pump to the water supply pipe, wherein tap water is supplied to the water storage tank via a water supply valve.
The vaporization filter needs to be supplied with working water that takes away the heat of vaporization when the air blowing flows through it. The working water may be, for example, a structure in which tap water is constantly supplied to the water supply pipe and excess working water generated from the vaporization filter is recovered. On the other hand, a water storage tank is installed below the vaporization filter so as to store the working water, and the water supply pump is used to supply water to the water supply pipe and supply it to the vaporization filter. Then, the working water that falls through the vaporization filter is returned to the water storage tank, so that the working water is circulated between the water storage tank and the vaporization filter. In addition, when the amount of water stored in the water storage tank decreases, the water supply valve is opened so as to replenish the water storage tank with tap water. As the water supply valve, for example, a float valve can be used, and when the water level in the water storage tank drops, the water supply valve can be opened so that the water is automatically suppled.
Further, in the above-mentioned outdoor unit exhaust cooling device, it is preferable that a mounting base on which the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device is installed is a common mounting base by extending the mounting base on which the outdoor unit is installed.
This outdoor unit exhaust cooling device may be installed by connecting to the existing outdoor unit, and a mounting base for the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device may be provided separately from the mounting base on which the outdoor unit is installed, so that the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device can also be installed on the separated mounting base. On the other hand, the mounting base provided for the outdoor unit may be extended, so that the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device is installed on the mounting base common to the outdoor unit.
Further, it is preferable that the above-mentioned outdoor unit exhaust cooling device has a structure in which the outdoor unit and the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device are connected by a connecting means.
The position where the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device is installed must be set to maintain a constant relationship with the outdoor unit. Therefore, in order to maintain a certain positional relationship, the outdoor unit and the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device are connected by a connecting means. In addition, it is preferable that the mounting base is shared and fixed to the mounting base via a fixing means, and in addition, the mounting base is connected by a connecting means.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device according to the present invention, the warm air discharged from the outdoor unit can be cooled and discharged, so that the effect of suppressing the rise in the temperature of the atmosphere can be obtained. In addition, since it can be installed in an existing outdoor unit, it can be installed at low cost, it can be installed quickly, the heat island phenomenon can be suppressed, and global warming can be suppressed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a state in which an outdoor unit exhaust cooling device according to the present invention is installed on an outdoor unit.;

FIG. 2 FIG. 2 is a schematic side view illustrating a state in which the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device according to the present invention is installed on the outdoor unit.; FIG. 3

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a piping system of an outdoor unit exhaust cooling device according to the present invention, and is a schematic front view of the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device.;

FIG. 4 FIG. 4 is a table illustrating the results of installing the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device according to the present invention on an existing outdoor unit and measuring the temperature of the air blowing from the outdoor unit and the temperature of the air blowing from the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device.; and

FIG. 5 FIG. 5 is a table showing measured values following the measured values shown in FIG. 4 .

FIG. 6 FIG. 6 is a table showing measured values following the measured values shown in FIG. 5 , and also shows average values.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device according to the present invention will be specifically described based on the illustrated preferred embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device 1 and the outdoor unit 2 are separately arranged, as an outline of a case where the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device 1 according to the present invention is installed in connection with the outdoor unit 2 of an existing air conditioner.
Further, FIG. 3 shows a piping system for supplying working water W to a vaporization filter 10.
The outdoor unit exhaust cooling device 1 includes the vaporization filter 10. The vaporization filter 10 has a structure in which a large number of filter constituent plates 1 a are housed in a casing 1 b. In this embodiment, the filter constituent plate 1 a is formed in a bellows fold in which peaks and valleys are alternately folded along a direction inclined with respect to the side of the strip formed in a rectangular outer shape.
Further, it is preferable because it is cost effective that the filter constituent plate 1 a is formed of a metal plate having good thermal conductivity, and in particular, a plate material made of aluminum, aluminum alloy, copper, copper alloy or the like having high thermal conductivity is used.
The vaporization filter 10 may use a sponge, a nonwoven fabric, or the like instead of the filter constituent plate 1 a.
The filter constituent plate 1 a is housed and held in a frame-shaped casing 1 b, and the front surface and the back surface of the casing 1 b are opened, so that air can pass through the vaporization filter 10. The outdoor unit exhaust cooling device 1 is installed so that the opening 10 a faces the air outlet 2 a of the outdoor unit 2.
Water supply pipes 1 c are arranged above a large number of filter constituent plates 1 a, and openings are formed in the water supply pipes 1 c at appropriate intervals to form nozzles, and working water is supplied from the nozzles to the filter constituent plates 1 a. Further, a water storage tank 1 d is arranged below the casing 1 b, so that the working water that falls along the surface of the filter constituent plate 1 a is collected and stored in the water storage tank 1 d.
A water supply pump 11 is housed in the water storage tank 1 d, and the working water stored in the water storage tank 1 d is sucked from the suction port 11 a and supplied from the discharge port 11 b. As shown in FIG. 3 , the water supply pump 11 can use a submersible pump in which a partition wall 1 e is provided inside the water storage tank 1 d and can be installed in a portion where the working water is not stored, or an underwater pump arranged in the working water can be used.
A water delivery pipe 12 is connected to the discharge port 11 b of the water supply pump 11, and the water delivery pipe 12 is connected to the water supply pipe 1 c.
A supply valve 12 a is provided in the middle of the water delivery pipe 12.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3 , tap water TW is supplied to the water storage tank 1 d through the water pipe 13. Further, in the middle of the water pipe 13, there is provided with a float valve 14 as a water supply valve that opens and closes according to the height position of the float 14 a that raises and lowers according to the raising and lowering of the water level of the working water W. Further, a supply valve 13 a is arranged on the upstream side of the float valve 14, and when it is not necessary to supply the tap water TW, the supply valve 13 a is closed.
The existing outdoor unit 2 is installed on the upper surface of the mounting base 21 laid at the installation location such as the ground, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , in order to maintain the installed posture. Since the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device 1 must also maintain its posture, it needs to be installed on the upper surface of a fixing means such as the mounting base laid at the installation location. Therefore, the mounting base 21 on which the outdoor unit 2 is installed can be extended, so that the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device 1 can be installed on the mounting base 21. The mounting base 21 is common to the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device 1 and the outdoor unit 2, and by sharing the mounting base 21, the positional relationship between the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device 1 and the outdoor unit 2 can be kept constant, and the outdoor unit can be kept constant. The air discharged from the air outlet 2 a of the outdoor unit 2 can be easily and surely passed through the vaporization filter 10.
The operation of the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device 1 according to the present invention configured as described above will be described below.
The outdoor unit exhaust cooling device 1 according to the present invention can be installed in connection with the existing outdoor unit 2. The mounting base on which the existing outdoor unit 2 is installed is replaced with the mounting base 21 which is extended and lengthened, as well as the outdoor unit 2 and the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device 1 are installed on the mounting base 21 after the replacement. At this time, the air outlet 2 a of the outdoor unit 2 is installed so as to face the opening 10 a of the vaporization filter 10, and the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device 1 is installed as close as possible to the outdoor unit 2 as shown in FIG. 2 . The outdoor unit exhaust cooling device 1 and the outdoor unit 2 may be installed in close contact with each other.
The working water W from the tap water TW is supplied to the water storage tank 1 d of the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device 1 installed in connection with the outdoor unit 2 and stored in the water storage tank 1 d. When the working water W reaches a predetermined water level, the float valve 14 is closed by the rise of the float 14 a, and the supply of the tap water TW is stopped. The water supply pump 11 is operated in a state where the working water W is stored. The working water W discharged from the water supply pump 11 is supplied to the water supply pipe 1 c, and the working water W is discharged from the nozzle formed in the water supply pipe 1 c. The discharged working water W falls over the entire area of the filter constituent plate 1 a, travels along the surface of the vaporization filter 10, and flows down to the water storage tank 1 d.
The working water W that has flowed down into the water storage tank 1 d is sucked into the water supply pump 11 from the suction port 11 a, is discharged from the discharge port 11 b, is supplied to the water supply pipe 1 c through the water delivery pipe 12, and falls to the vaporization filter 10.
That is, the working water W is circulated by the water supply pump 11 between the water storage tank 1 d, the water supply pipe 1 c, and the vaporization filter 10.
On the other hand, when the outdoor unit 2 is in operation, the air that has been subjected to heat exchange and whose temperature has been risen is sent out from the air outlet 2 a. When the heated air passes through the vaporization filter 10 via the opening 10 a, the heat of vaporization is taken away and cooled, and the air whose temperature has been lowered is discharged from the vaporization filter 10.
Also, when the working water W circulates and decreases due to evaporation or the like, the water level of the working water W in the water storage tank 1 d is dropped, and the float 14 a drops, so that the float valve 14 is opened and the tap water TW is supplied to the water storage tank 1 d.
In the embodiment described above, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the vaporization filter 10 and the water storage tank 1 d are shown as separate bodies respectively, but the water storage tank 1 d may be provided in the lower portion of the casing 1 b. Further, the water delivery pipe 12 and the water supply pipe 1 c and the like may also be housed in the casing 1 b.
In addition, it is necessary that the positional relationship between the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device 1 and the outdoor unit 2 is maintained constant. Therefore, it is preferable to fix the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device 1 and the outdoor unit 2 to the mounting base 21 by a fixing means. Further, in order to maintain the positional relationship between the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device 1 and the outdoor unit 2, as shown in FIG. 2 , it is also preferable that the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device 1 and the outdoor unit 2 are hung and connected by a connecting means 3 using a plate material or the like fixed to each other.
Further, the water supply pump 11 of the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device 1 may be operated when the outdoor unit 2 is operating, that is, when the air conditioner is operating. Therefore, it is preferable that the water supply pump 11 is configured so as to be operated in synchronization with the operation of the air conditioner.
Next, the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device 1 according to the present invention is installed on the existing outdoor unit 2, and the temperature of the air blowing discharged from the outdoor unit 2 and the that of the air blowing discharged from the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device 1 are measured, and the results are shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 . The measurement was carried out in the applicant's Sakura factory. The measurement was performed by applying the air discharged from the outdoor unit used in the room air conditioner manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd. and by applying the working water W to the vaporization filter 10 of the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device 1 at 181 / min to the capacity of the water supply pump 11.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 , the temperature of the air blowing from the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device 1 is lower than that of the air blowing discharged from the outdoor unit 2, so that the temperature-lowered air is released into the atmosphere.
On the other hand, focusing on humidity, the air blowing from the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device 1 is higher than the air blowing from the outdoor unit 2. This is because the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device 1 uses the vaporization filter 10 to take away the heat of vaporization by the working water W and cool it, so that the air blown from the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device 1 contains moisture.
As described above, according to the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device according to the present invention, the temperature of the air blowing discharged from the outdoor unit is lowered and released to the atmosphere, so that it is possible to suppress an increase in the atmospheric temperature, and to contribute to the suppression of the heat island phenomenon and the global warming.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1 Outdoor unit exhaust cooling device
1 a Filter component plate
1 b Casing
1 c Water supply pipe
1 d Water storage tank
1 e Partition
2 Outdoor unit
2 a Air outlet
3 Connecting means
10 Vaporization filter
11 Water supply pump
11 a Suction port
11 b Discharge port
12 Water delivery pipe
12 a Supply valve
13 Water pipe
13 a Supply valve
14 Float valve
14 a Float
21 mounting base
TW Tap water
W Working water

Claims

1. An outdoor unit exhaust cooling device that cools and discharges warm air blown from air outlets of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, comprising:

a vaporization filter that is arranged at a position where the air outlets of the outdoor unit face each other and takes away heat of vaporization.

2. The outdoor unit exhaust cooling device according to claim 1, further comprising

a water storage tank that is arranged below the vaporization filter and that stores working water,

a water supply pipe that is arranged above the vaporization filter and that supplies the working water to the vaporization filter,

a water supply pump for sucking up the working water in the water storage tank, and

a water delivery pipe for connecting a discharge port of the water supply pump to the water supply pipe,

wherein tap water is supplied to the water storage tank via a water supply valve.

3. The outdoor unit exhaust cooling device according to claim 1, wherein a mounting base on which the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device is installed is a common mounting base by extending the mounting base on which the outdoor unit is installed.

4. The outdoor unit exhaust cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the outdoor unit and the outdoor unit exhaust cooling device are connected by a connecting means.